Alle Kapitel von The Billionaire’s Substitute Bride: Kapitel 61 – Kapitel 70

The name settled over her like a warm blanket on a cold night, familiar in a way that went deeper than memory. Liviana Blackwood. She tested it silently at first, letting the syllables roll through her mind as she stood on the terrace the following morning, the city stretching out below like a promise and a warning all at once. The sun was bright but not harsh, catching on the edges of the potted plants Aria had been nurturing. A light breeze tugged at her hair, carrying the distant hum of traffic and the faint scent of coffee from inside.She had barely slept, the weight of everything from the day before pressing on her chest. The photos. The stuffed rabbit still clutched in her hands when she woke. Adrian’s broken voice telling stories of a little girl she only half-remembered. But somewhere in the early hours, something had shifted. The name Ella had been a shield, a temporary shelter. Liviana felt like... home. Scary, but right.Marcus found her out there, sliding his arms around

The morning after the late-night talk felt like the first real breath of fresh air in the Blackwood penthouse. Sunlight poured through the tall windows, warming the marble floors and making the space feel less like a fortress and more like a home trying to stretch its arms around its newest member. Liviana woke up slowly, tangled in soft sheets that smelled faintly of lavender. For the first time in longer than she could remember, the first emotion wasn’t caution or fog. It was a tentative, fluttering hope.She found Aria in the kitchen already, humming softly while flipping eggs. The smell of breakfast wrapped around her like a hug. “Morning, sister,” Aria said with an easy smile, sliding a plate her way. “Adrian’s been up since dawn making calls. He’s in full big-brother mode.”Liviana managed a small laugh as she sat down. “Should I be worried?”“Only if you don’t like being spoiled rotten,” Aria replied, eyes twinkling.Adrian appeared shortly after, sleeves rolled up on his crisp

By the third day, the pampering had found its rhythm, settling into something that felt less like an overwhelming storm and more like a steady, nourishing rain. Adrian had fully committed to this new chapter, pushing back major deals with a precision that only someone who had built an empire could manage. He delegated with clear instructions to his most trusted lieutenants, making it clear that nothing short of an absolute emergency should reach him. For the first time in years, the head of the Blackwood family was choosing presence over power, sister over strategy.He took Liviana on a private tour of parts of the city he remembered from their early childhood—safe, quiet spots where he pointed out buildings that had once been landmarks in their family’s history. They drove in a reinforced but unassuming car, security following at a respectful distance in separate vehicles. The freedom to move without constant fear felt liberating, even with the extra layers of protection Adrian had i

The next few days blurred into a beautiful rhythm of healing and connection that felt both new and deeply right. After their first shopping trip and garden session together, Aria declared a full “sister spa day” and took charge of arranging every detail with the quiet efficiency of someone who had learned to create safe spaces for herself. She booked private appointments at an exclusive wellness center with discreet entrances and extra security protocols that never intruded on their time. Liviana was nervous at first—the idea of being touched and pampered still carried faint echoes of vulnerability and loss of control—but Aria’s easy confidence and warm reassurance made it feel safe, like stepping into something chosen rather than imposed.They started with massages in side-by-side rooms, the air filled with the soothing scent of essential oils. The therapists worked with gentle but firm hands, coaxing knots out of muscles Liviana hadn’t even realized were clenched for years. Years of

Marcus had always known his place in the world. It was a simple, solid one: loyal guard, reliable friend, the man who stood between danger and the people he cared about. He had never needed more than that. Never asked for more. But now, watching Liviana—*his* Liviana—move through the Blackwood penthouse with the effortless grace of someone who belonged there, something in his chest twisted uncomfortably, like a knot pulling tighter with every passing day. She was a Blackwood heiress now. Blood. Family. The sister Adrian had mourned for decades, the missing piece of a powerful legacy. And Marcus was still just... Marcus. The man who had carried her out of that blood-stained warehouse, who had sat with her through endless nightmares, who had fallen in love with her when she had nothing but borrowed clothes and a name that wasn’t even hers.He stood on the terrace one quiet afternoon, hands shoved deep in his pockets, the city sprawling far below like a reminder of how small he suddenly