All Chapters of The CEO’s Wife Was Never Just a Substitute: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

He lifted his gaze and swept it across the room. “Any one of those pieces is worth a fortune. Damage even one, and not just you, the entire studio wouldn’t be able to afford it.”The room fell silent instantly.“The Sinclair family?” someone couldn’t help but exclaim in a low voice.“Sinclair?” Felix asked. “You mean the Sinclair Group?”“Who else could it be?” Heath shot him a glare. “They’re real heavyweights. Watch yourselves.”Lizzie lowered her head, flipping through the documents, not taking it too much to heart.The Sinclair Group had risen overseas in Prescott, with industries spread across the globe. It was an existence that the wealthy families of Rivergate could only look up to.What set them apart was that the head of the family remained an enigma. Public information was scarce, and photos were nearly impossible to find.Some said he stayed overseas year-round; others said the internal power structure of the Sinclair family was too complex, so they avoided exposing too much

Nathan stepped out of the car.He was dressed in a dark overcoat, his black hair slicked neatly back, revealing that same refined, composed face.He stopped short at the sight of Lizzie and Whitney. “What are you doing here?”The moment the words left his mouth, a soft voice came from inside the car. “Nat.”Sharon got out, wrapped in a thick coat, her face pale. A wide scarf was looped around her neck, making her look even smaller, almost fragile.Nathan immediately turned and steadied her. “Careful. The ground’s slippery.”Whitney let out a cold laugh from the side.Only then did Nathan notice Lizzie’s slightly disheveled hair and clothes. “What happened to you?”“Oh, nothing. Just had dinner and got harassed along the way.”“Harassed?” Nathan frowned. “By who?”“They’ve already been taken away by security,” Whitney cut in, stepping in front of Lizzie. “No need for your concern.”Nathan seemed not to catch the sarcasm. He simply turned back to Lizzie. “Are you hurt?”“No.”“That’s goo

He watched her unsteady steps, his voice turning colder. “In your condition, you’re not going anywhere.”“Get in the car.” His tone was a command. “Don’t make me say it twice.”She stopped, her back still to him, lips pressed tight.“Thank you,” Lizzie said. “I can make it back on my own.” She didn’t want to owe him anything.With that, she tried to walk past him.The moment she lifted her foot, a sharp pain shot through her ankle, like the tip of a blade stabbing in. Her vision went dark for a split second.Damn.Her body swayed, her sight blurring as her balance gave out completely.Just as she was about to fall, she heard Noah’s voice, sharp and low. “Lizzie!”The next second, a pair of arms caught her securely and pulled her into his chest.She went rigid almost instinctively, her mind going blank for a moment, her breathing stalling.That familiar yet distant chill wrapped around her, mixed with the cool night air, sending a faint numbness through her fingertips.Before she coul

The hallway light flicked on. Instinctively, he glanced toward the kitchen. It was empty.At this hour, she would usually already be up—the coffee machine humming, the familiar scent of coffee lingering in the air.Today, there was nothing.He frowned, tossing his coat onto the sofa. “Lizzie?”No answer.He walked into the dining room. The table was spotless—no breakfast. Even the flowers had been there for days, their petals already beginning to wilt.Something sank in his chest.“Where is Mrs. Hall?” he asked the housemaid.The maid lowered her voice. “Mrs. Hall didn’t come back last night.”Nathan paused. “Didn’t come back?”“Yes.”He took out his phone and dialed Lizzie’s number. There was no answer.His brow tightened as he called again. Still nothing.Irritation crept up on him, little by little.He turned and went into the bedroom. The wardrobe was still there. The vanity was untouched. Her usual clothes all seemed to be in place. Nothing was missing. Everything was the s

The auction was about to begin, and staff started guiding the crowd into the main hall.Suddenly, a faint stir rippled from the entrance.The room instinctively fell quiet.“He’s here.”“Who?”“Over there.”As if on cue, every gaze turned toward the entrance.A man walked in, dressed in a dark suit, his tie perfectly in place, his steps measured and unhurried.An assistant and several others followed behind him.The overhead lights fell just along his shoulders, outlining his figure.“The head of the Sinclair family,” someone murmured.Noah Sinclair.Lizzie looked up.The moment her eyes met his face, she drew in a sharp breath, her breathing nearly faltering.Felix noticed immediately and followed her line of sight. “You know him?”Lizzie didn’t answer. She just kept looking at him.He stood there, surrounded by people, distant and composed, completely at ease in a setting like this.Now and then, he gave a nod or a brief reply—polite, but never warm.In that instant, Lizzie understoo