All Chapters of From Substitute Wife to the CEO’s Obsession: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Victoria waited for Adrian in the living room. She wasn't sitting facing the door or checking the clock every few minutes. That part of her, the woman who used to wait for the smallest signs to convince herself that things might get better, was simply too tired. Even so, she needed to talk to him. She didn't want to confront him about Francesca. She didn't want to reproach him for what had happened at the hospital or the way everyone had explained their marriage as though it were a temporary solution. She wanted to talk about the future. About what would happen once Francesca regained her memory, her strength, and the place everyone had continued saving for her. Adrian arrived around ten. He walked in with his jacket draped over one arm, exhaustion etched across his face. Victoria could tell he was tired, but she noticed something else, too. His mind was still at the hospital. With Francesca. With the doctors. With the recovery that now occupied every conversation between the

Victoria arrived at Daniel's office with a new folder and several small samples tucked inside her purse. She had worked late the night before. Not because she wanted to impress anyone, but because she needed to prove to herself that she could finish something of her own without giving up halfway through. Every correction to the blueprints, every cost adjustment, and every technical note reminded her that she was still capable of thinking beyond the Montgomery house. Laura was already in the conference room when Victoria walked in. "You're right on time," her friend said. "Daniel wants to talk to you before we review the final proposal." Victoria set the folder on the table. "Did something happen?" "Nothing bad." Daniel came in shortly afterward, a tablet in his hand. "Victoria, good morning." "Good morning." He sat across from her and opened the presentation file. "I reviewed your revisions. The change to the assembly system lowers the cost and also makes the prod

Adrian didn't say anything for the first few minutes of the drive. Victoria sat beside him, her presentation folder resting on her lap. She was still wearing the dress she'd chosen for the event, but the quiet excitement she'd felt when she left the meeting had been fading ever since he'd appeared in the doorway. She hadn't expected Adrian to celebrate her achievement. But a stubborn part of her that had somehow survived all those years of exhaustion had wanted to hear something simple. A congratulations. A question. Maybe a comment about the presentation he'd caught a glimpse of from the doorway. Nothing came. Adrian kept his eyes on the road, his expression serious in a way that didn't seem to have anything to do with Francesca. It was a different kind of discomfort. One he didn't seem to understand, either. He'd seen Victoria surrounded by people who listened to her. He'd seen another man leaning toward his wife, paying attention to every word she said. He'd seen his wif

Regina waited until Francesca asked to rest. Adrian accompanied her to one of the guest rooms with an attentiveness that needed no explanation. All it took was watching him hold her arm, lean closer to hear her, and adjust his pace to hers for everyone to understand who still occupied the center of his world. Victoria remained in the living room, making sure the glasses were cleared and that the staff didn't forget to serve the tea Regina had requested for the guests. It was her home. And yet, that afternoon, she'd felt like an employee whose job was to make sure everything went smoothly. "Victoria." Regina's voice came from behind her, its softness carefully disguised. Victoria turned. "Yes?" Regina smiled, impeccable as always, with that elegance that seemed designed to conceal something harsher underneath. "Can we talk for a moment? It won't take long." Victoria glanced toward the hallway where Adrian had just disappeared with Francesca. Then she set the folded

Victoria read Daniel's email twice before replying. This wasn't just another blueprint review or a small collaboration like it had been at the beginning. It was a formal invitation to join a larger project: a line of furniture and decorative pieces for a high-end hotel company. The client was looking for functional, elegant pieces with a distinct identity. Daniel wanted her on the core team. Victoria set her phone down on the desk and looked at the documents spread out in front of her. The proposal was good. The opportunity was, too. Even so, she felt a familiar hesitation. She wasn't afraid of the work. She was afraid of being seen. For years, she'd learned to move quietly. In the Altomare family, standing out had always been Francesca's territory. In the Montgomery house, her role was to solve problems without drawing too much attention. To be useful, proper, available. Accepting the project meant attending important meetings, dealing with clients, defending her ideas,