Alle Kapitel von The Reclusive CEO’s Substitute Bride: Kapitel 31 – Kapitel 40

Elena’s POVI quickly cross my arms over my chest, forcing my shoulders back to hide how hard my body is shaking. I lift my chin high, letting my voice ring out with Alyssa’s classic high, screeching pitch to cover the wetness on my cheeks."I am not crying, Alexander!" I snap back, glaring directly into the dark lenses of his matte-black mask. "The air in this glass dome is damp, and a piece of dirt got into my eye. My father's lawyers are annoying pests, and I do not care how many times they call your office. If you want them to stop bothering you, then just sign the papers already!"Alexander does not blink. He remains perfectly still, his massive, broad-shouldered frame standing right in front of my workbench. The warm, humid scent of greenhouse jasmine fades away as his familiar aroma of cedarwood and rich tobacco fills the small space between us."You continue to demand my signature," Alexander whispers, his low, rough baritone dropping to a dangerous, quiet purr that sends a sh

Elena’s POVThe silence between us stretches across the long mahogany table, heavy and cold. Alexander does not break his gaze. He continues to study my face through the lenses of his matte-black mask, his large hands resting flat against the white linen tablecloth.I keep my back straight against the velvet chair, my heart beating a frantic rhythm against my ribs. I am terrified that my soft, real voice just exposed my entire fraud, but I cannot take the words back now."Innocent people," Alexander repeats my words slowly, his gravelly baritone dropping to a dangerous, quiet whisper that echoes off the stone walls. He lets out a short, cynical breath. "That is a very strange phrase to hear from a Vance. Your father does not care about innocent people, Alyssa. He crushes his smaller competitors for sport, and your sister spends her life mocking anyone who has less money than her. Since when do you care about who loses everything?"My mouth stays completely dry. I look down at my white

Elena’s POVThe brilliant morning sun finally breaks through the thick grey fog, casting bright beams of light across the floor-to-ceiling windows of my West Wing suite. I stand perfectly still in the center of the room, my eyes glued to the small digital clock on my bedside table.The glowing white numbers read: 8:59 AM.My heart beats a frantic rhythm against my ribs. I pull off Alyssa's white lace gloves, tossing them onto the bed sheets as my bare palms break out in a cold sweat. I hold my personal phone tightly against my chest, my thumb hovering over the screen.The final minute crawls by like an eternity. Then, the numbers click forward.9:00 AM.The Monday morning banking deadline is officially here.Right on cue, my phone vibrates violently in my hand, a sharp ringing sound breaking the heavy silence of the suite. I look at the caller ID, expecting to see my father’s name flashing across the glass screen. Instead, it is an incoming notification from the online system of Brigh

Elena’s POVThe sound of Alexander choking behind the heavy mahogany doors sends a spike of pure adrenaline straight into my chest. I smash the sides of my fists against the thick wood, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps."Alexander!" I scream, completely dropping my sister's screechy voice. My real, soft pitch cracks with terror in the dark hallway. "Alexander, open the door! Let me in!"Another heavy thud rattles the floorboards inside the study, followed by a terrible, wet cough. He doesn't answer me. He can't. His lungs are locking up completely from the freezing soot filling his vents, and he is losing consciousness.I grab the heavy brass handles and pull with all my strength, but the lock doesn't budge an inch. I step back, looking blindly around the pitch-black corridor. A flash of lightning blinks through the arched windows, lighting up the hallway for a single second.Right near the stone pillar, a heavy iron fire poker rests inside a brass stand.I sprint over, my ba

Elena’s POV The silence inside the dark office is incredibly heavy. Alexander slowly grips the wooden armrests of his leather chair, using his massive strength to push himself up from his knees. He sits back against the heavy cushions, his chest moving up and down with steady, deep breaths. He does not have his matte-black mask on, and his sharp dark eyes drill straight into mine through the shadows.My heart jumps right into my throat. The brass bowl feels heavy and freezing cold against my bare fingertips. I need a clever answer right now, or his private investigators will look closer at my background file and find my true flower boutique.I quickly slide back into my twin sister's arrogant, proud posture. I force a loud, careless scoff to leave my lips and toss my hair over my shoulder. I quickly tuck my bare hands deep inside the wide sleeves of my dark robe to hide my rough florist calluses from his sharp eyes."High-society girls have expensive hobbies, Mr. Sterling," I snap ba