All Chapters of The CEO’s Wife Was Never Just a Substitute: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

She had just sat down when Linda noticed.“What happened to your hand?” she asked, concern in her voice.Lizzie pulled out the chair and sat, her tone even. “Just an accident.” She didn’t elaborate.“Lizzie…” Linda sighed, sounding every bit the concerned elder. “How have you been lately? Have you and Nathan been having problems?”Lizzie didn’t respond.Linda continued, “Every couple has their ups and downs. You argue, you cool off, and you move on—there’s no point holding onto things. If something’s bothering you about Nathan, you can talk to me. I’ll help sort it out.”Lizzie finally looked up. “Mrs. Hall, what exactly did you want to discuss?”The question caught Linda off guard for a moment.The Lizzie in front of her felt different—more resolute, nothing like the accommodating daughter-in-law she remembered.She quickly composed herself, sighing again, her tone turning gentler. “We’re family, so I won’t beat around the bush.”She took out her phone and slid it across the table.

Nathan’s steps faltered for just a moment.“Mm,” he replied, not turning back, before pushing the door open and leaving.His tone was so even, as if it were nothing more than a trivial matter.The hallway lights fell across his face, and his expression softened without him realizing.Liz… She was still the same Liz—so understanding, always thinking of the bigger picture. He wondered how her hand was now.The moment the study door closed, Linda seemed to lose all her strength and sank back into her chair.She looked down at the divorce agreement, already signed, her chest tightening with both pain and unease.She knew her son well.Over the years, Nathan had gradually taken control of the Hall family, his word final in everything. If he found out she had tricked him into signing the agreement, she didn’t dare imagine the consequences.That night, Linda took a photo of the signed page and sent it to Lizzie.[It’s signed. You’ll get the original after the acquisition is complete. This

By the time Lizzie finished recording and got back to her building, it was already late.The elevator doors slid open, and she stepped out while carrying a bag that contained some daily necessities, along with a few ready-made meals.Her right hand had been reset in a cast. She’d had it removed earlier to film the clarification video, and now the injury throbbed faintly.A low fever was creeping in. Her face was pale, her whole body heavy and chilled. The painkillers had just worn off, and the wound was slightly inflamed.She had filmed the video alone.She didn’t want to see Nathan, and she turned down Linda’s offer to send someone. She didn’t want any more unnecessary ties to the Hall family, even off camera.Now, even standing felt like an effort.With only one usable hand, her balance was already off. As she reached her door and lowered her head to enter the code, her vision suddenly blurred. Her footing slipped, and she staggered forward.Just then, the door next to hers opened.A

Noah’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment.A stray thought surfaced without warning.She looked so docile, almost as if she’d give way beneath a touch.He looked away almost immediately, as if nothing had happened.After the water and the medication, the effects slowly kicked in, and Lizzie felt some of her strength return.Cradling the cup, her eyes drifted around the room without thinking.Everything about the space carried a quiet, understated luxury.She had seen the small decorative piece by the sofa once in an auction catalog. It had sold for six figures.The cashmere rug beneath her feet muffled every step.It was so soft it almost swallowed the ground beneath her.The cost of furnishing this place probably exceeded the price of the apartment itself.It was very much Noah’s style.He’d always been like this.They had lived next door growing up, and on the surface, he had been so low-key he was almost invisible.But if one were to pay attention, they’d notice—his tea was pric

Could it be that all her efforts over the years were finally beginning to pay off?Seven years ago, she had seen Noah for the first time.That year, his grandfather had been gravely ill, the internal power struggle within the Sinclair family at its peak. Enemies had tracked him down all the way to Rivergate, where he had been living under an assumed identity.In the end, he sought help from the Grant family, who arranged for him to be escorted back to Prescott in secret.That was the first time she had truly seen him up close.He was just in his early twenties, yet already composed, powerful, and unnervingly self-possessed. Even while fleeing, there wasn’t a trace of panic in him.From that moment, she knew that this was the man she wanted.From then on, her goal became crystal clear.She knew the Grant family’s lifesaving favor would be used by her grandfather as leverage for a marriage alliance. Among the younger generation, she was the most suitable candidate.But she refused to be