《The Substitute Bride 》全部章節：第 111 章 - 第 120 章

The warmth that had briefly filled the kitchen slowly followed them into the rest of the evening. For the first time in what felt like forever, Chloe found herself relaxing enough to laugh. The sound surprised even her. After everything that had happened over the past few days—the revelations, Rose's return, the phone call, the surveillance footage, and Liam's sudden departure—she hadn't thought herself capable of feeling anything other than worry.Yet somehow Blaze had managed to do what he always did best.Distract everyone.The group eventually settled into one of the larger sitting rooms adjacent to the main living area. The mansion remained heavily guarded, with security personnel moving discreetly through the estate. Liam had left detailed instructions before departing, and nobody intended to disregard them.Chloe sat curled up on one end of the sofa with a cup of tea in her hands. Across from her, Blaze occupied an armchair with the confidence of someone who believed every piec

The journey to North Ridge Estate took nearly four hours. By the time Liam's convoy left the highway and entered the winding forest road leading toward the estate, darkness had completely settled over the landscape. Thick clouds hung low in the sky, blocking out the moonlight, while a cold drizzle fell steadily over the dense woodland surrounding the area. Liam sat quietly in the backseat of the SUV, his eyes fixed on the digital map displayed on his tablet. The coordinates Rose had managed to relay through Chloe during that brief phone call were highlighted on the screen. For three years, Rose had vanished without a trace. For three years, every lead had ended in disappointment. Yet something about this felt different. The desperation in her voice had not escaped him. Rose had sounded frightened. Not the fear of someone worried about herself, but the fear of someone who had discovered something she wasn't supposed to know. And that was what troubled Liam the most. Rose

The storm raging outside mirrored the chaos brewing inside Rivero Luke's mind.Rain hammered against the rusted roof of the abandoned warehouse that served as one of his temporary bases. The sound echoed through the vast structure while several of his men moved about quietly, sensing their leader's foul mood and wisely keeping their distance.Rivero stood motionless beside a large wooden table littered with photographs, documents, and surveillance reports.For nearly twenty years, one belief had sustained him.One belief had fueled every decision he made.One belief had kept his hatred alive.William Reigns and his family had destroyed the Lukes.The Reigns owed him blood.Yet tonight, that certainty was beginning to crack.His gaze settled on the photograph lying before him.The picture had been recovered from North Ridge Estate by one of Klaus' informants.Three men stood together in the image.Gary Luke.William Reigns.Simon Jones.The photograph appeared ordinary.Harmless.Yet R

The atmosphere inside the Reigns Mansion had become unusually tense over the past few days.Although Chloe had returned home safely and Liam had strengthened security around the estate, nobody was truly at ease.Everyone understood that they were standing on the edge of something much bigger than they had imagined.For years they had been chasing fragments of a puzzle. Now those fragments were beginning to fit together, revealing a conspiracy that stretched far beyond Marcello Jones.Even Liam, who was known for maintaining absolute composure under pressure, found himself carrying a burden heavier than before.The truth was finally within reach.Yet the closer he got to it, the more dangerous everything became.Inside his study, Liam sat behind his desk reviewing several files recovered from North Ridge Estate. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the tall windows, illuminating the mountain of evidence spread before him.Photographs.Financial statements.Property records.Medical

The bookstore was far quieter than the bustling streets outside.Soft instrumental music drifted through the air while customers moved leisurely between shelves, occasionally stopping to browse through books before continuing on their way.For Chloe, the atmosphere felt refreshing.After spending weeks inside the Reigns Mansion, surrounded by security personnel and endless concerns about her safety, being able to walk around freely felt like reclaiming a small piece of herself.Not Chloe Reigns.Not Liam's wife.Not the woman caught in the middle of a decades-old conspiracy.Just Chloe.A woman browsing books on a peaceful afternoon.Meanwhile, Hilda had disappeared toward another section after spotting a collection of romance novels, claiming she needed "something to heal her damaged soul after living with paranoid billionaires."Chloe had laughed so hard she nearly dropped the book in her hand.Now she stood alone near a shelf filled with business and self-development titles, absent