《The Substitute Bride 》全部章節：第 121 章 - 第 130 章

The atmosphere inside the bookstore changed so abruptly that Chloe almost felt it physically.One moment she had been reminiscing about old memories from her days at Reigns Group. The next, every instinct in her body was screaming that something was terribly wrong.Her fingers tightened around her phone.Across from her, Dylan remained perfectly composed.Too composed.The friendly smile he had greeted her with was still present, yet now Chloe noticed things she hadn't before. The smile never quite reached his eyes. His posture was relaxed, but there was an alertness beneath it, like a predator patiently observing its prey."Chloe?"Dylan tilted his head slightly."You suddenly look nervous."The concern in his voice sounded genuine.Almost convincing.Almost.A few moments ago she would have believed him without question.Now she couldn't.Not after Liam's reaction.Not after the certainty in his voice.Not after noticing the tiny communication device hidden beneath Dylan's hair."Ch

The piercing alarm continued to echo throughout the bookstore, drowning out conversations and fueling the growing panic among customers. People rushed toward the exits in a chaotic wave, knocking over displays and abandoning shopping baskets in their haste to leave.Chloe stood frozen for a moment, staring at the spot where Dylan had disappeared.It all happened too quickly.One minute he had been standing right in front of her, revealing pieces of a truth she never knew existed. The next, he was gone.Vanished into the crowd.Hilda grabbed her arm firmly."Chloe, we need to move."The urgency in her voice finally snapped Chloe back to reality.Around them, Blaze was already issuing orders."Get them out of here."His command was directed at the security team surrounding them.The men immediately sprang into action, forming a protective circle around Chloe and Hilda.Despite the apparent safety, Blaze's expression remained grim.Very grim.The warning Dylan had left behind was still r

An uncomfortable silence settled over Liam's study as everyone stared at the flash drive lying on the table.The tiny object seemed harmless, yet it carried a weight that pressed heavily on everyone present. Chloe could still feel her pulse racing from the photographs scattered before her. The image of her younger self standing outside the orphanage refused to leave her mind.Someone had been watching her.Not recently.Not after she met Liam.Not after she entered the entertainment industry.Long before all of that.Long before she even knew who she was.The realization sent a chill down her spine.Liam noticed the slight tremble in her fingers and immediately reached for her hand beneath the table. His touch was warm and steady, grounding her before her thoughts could spiral any further.Chloe looked at him briefly.Their eyes met.No words were exchanged.None were needed.His presence alone was enough.Across the room, Blaze shifted impatiently."Well, are we going to keep staring

Morning sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the master bedroom, casting a warm glow across the room. For the first time in days, the atmosphere inside the Reigns Mansion felt peaceful. No emergency meetings. No encrypted files. No surprise attacks. No life-threatening revelations.At least that was what Liam thought when he opened his eyes.The side of the bed beside him was empty.His brows furrowed instantly.Chloe was nowhere in sight.A strange sense of alertness replaced the lingering drowsiness as he sat upright. Experience had taught him that whenever Chloe was unusually quiet, trouble was usually not far behind.Throwing the blanket aside, Liam stood and walked toward the dressing area.What greeted him made him stop in his tracks.Chloe stood before the mirror dressed in a fitted cream-colored pantsuit, her hair neatly pinned behind her shoulders while subtle makeup enhanced her already striking features. A tablet rested on the counter beside her and sev

For the first time in weeks, Liam felt something close to relief.Not peace.He doubted peace truly existed anymore.But relief.The previous evening, Stuart's security reports had arrived without a single incident involving Chloe. No suspicious vehicles. No stalkers. No attempted intrusions.Nothing.Which meant Chloe had completed her first official day back at Aurora Models without trouble.As far as Liam was concerned, that alone qualified as a miracle.Unfortunately, miracles rarely lasted long.The moment he entered his office at Reigns Group the following morning, he found Fred Meyer already waiting inside.Liam stopped mid-step.Fred looked exhausted.His usually neat appearance was slightly disheveled, dark circles hanging beneath his eyes."You look terrible."Fred snorted."Good morning to you too."Liam took his seat."What happened?"Fred dropped a thick brown folder onto the desk."This happened."Liam glanced at the folder.His expression immediately sharpened.North Ri