Semua Bab The CEO's Substitute Bride: Bab 1 - Bab 5

The gentle smile on Dash's face froze momentarily before quickly returning to normal.He clapped his hands, and Diana's third brother, Wade York, burst into the room. He now wore an expression of impatience and malice."Why waste words on her? Diana, you've already drunk the drugged water. This marriage is happening whether you like it or not. Marry or die!"Seeing this, Dash dropped his pretense entirely. He pushed his glasses up methodically, revealing eyes devoid of any warmth—only calculation and cruelty remained."Don't blame me, Diana. That's a new drug Wade picked up from his casino connections. When it kicks in, the symptoms mimic acute heart failure, but the pain is ten times worse."He pulled two documents from his pocket and slapped them onto Diana's small vanity. "Choose one. The first: you obediently take Leila's place in this marriage. We keep the bride price, you remain a York daughter, and we remain your brothers. If the Russells ever mistreat you, we will be your safe

Alvina forcefully dragged Diana to the bridal chamber. She yanked open the curtains and led Diana to an inner room, pointing at the man lying quietly on the bed. "You cost the Russell family a fortune! If you dare show any disgust toward Rupert, I'll have you dragged out and fed to wild dogs!"Diana approached the bedside.The man lying there was Rupert Russell—her husband whom she had yet to meet.His appearance was beyond her expectation—his face was grotesquely disfigured, with flesh turned outward and covered in burn scars, features too blurred to distinguish. His chest barely rose and fell.Indeed, he appeared to be near death.Diana lifted his eyelid to check his pupils, which responded extremely slowly to light. From a medical perspective, this was certainly a deeply comatose vegetative patient with declining vital signs.But Diana frowned. Something wasn't right. It was too textbook.All these symptoms matched the most typical case studies—so standardized they seemed... delibe