Chapter: The Return of a Ghost Chapter 74: The Return of a Ghost** I barely had time to process the shock before Lucien’s phone rang. His jaw clenched as he glanced at the screen, then at me. “It’s him,” he said. Blake. The name alone sent a cold wave through me, but I squared my shoulders. I wouldn’t show fear. Not now. Not ever. “Answer it,” I said. Lucien hesitated for a second before putting the call on speaker. “Blake.” A slow chuckle came from the other end. “Lucien. It’s been a while.” My stomach twisted at the sound of his voice. Smooth, confident—just as I remembered. “What do you want?” Lucien’s tone was sharp. Blake sighed dramatically. “Straight to business. No ‘how have you been?’ No pleasantries?” “You filed a lawsuit against the company,” I cut in. “We don’t have time for games.” Blake went silent for a beat. Then, his voice turned cold. “Oh, but I do. And I’m just getting started.” I exchanged a glance with Lucien. Whatever Blake was up to, it wasn’t just about money. This
Last Updated: 2025-03-09
Chapter: A Mid Night Meeting Chapter 72: A Mid Night Meeting I stared at the letter in my trembling hands, my heartbeat thundering in my ears. The words on the page felt like a slap to my face—a cruel reminder that secrets never stayed buried forever. Lucien reached for the letter, his fingers brushing against mine. "Lila, who sent this?" His voice was steady, but his eyes burned with urgency. I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "There’s no name, no return address. Just…this." I handed it over, my hands still shaking. Lucien's sharp gaze scanned the words, and I saw the moment he tensed, his jaw tightening. "They know about Reid." His voice was laced with fury. "They know everything." A chill ran through me. My fingers curled into fists at my sides as I forced myself to breathe. "What do they want?" Lucien lifted the paper slightly. "A meeting. Tonight. Midnight. They’re giving us an address." I exhaled shakily. "This could be a trap." "It could be," he admitted, his eyes flickering with dark intensity. "Bu
Last Updated: 2025-03-09
Chapter: Running out of time Chapter 72: Running Out of Time** Lucien’s grip tightened around the phone as Wallace’s voice echoed through the empty estate. **“You’re running out of time, Hunter.”** The message ended with a sharp beep. I didn't know what exactly to think, I just kept mute, I don't know what exactly to upon, but deep down I know I needed to act as fast as I could Silence filled the air, thick with tension. Caleb exhaled sharply. “Well, that’s not ominous at all.” Lucien didn’t speak. His jaw was clenched so tight I thought it might snap. I stepped closer, my pulse pounding. “Lucien, what does he mean?” His gaze flicked to me, then back to the phone. “Wallace doesn’t leave messages unless he wants us to hear them. He’s taunting me.” I crossed my arms. “Or warning you.” Lucien’s expression darkened. “No. Wallace doesn’t warn people. If he says we’re running out of time, it means he has something planned.” A chill ran down my spine. Caleb shifted, cracking his knuckles. “So, wh
Last Updated: 2025-03-04
Chapter: The TrapChapter 71: The TrapThe morning sun barely peeked through the blinds when I woke up to an empty bed. I reached out, but Lucien was gone. Panic shot through me until I heard voices from downstairs. Throwing on a robe, I hurried down, stopping at the living room entrance. Lucien stood near the window, speaking into his phone. Caleb and Luca sat on the couch, deep in discussion. “No,” Lucien said firmly. “We move first.” He turned, spotting me. His eyes softened for a second before his expression hardened again. “Yeah, I’ll handle it,” he muttered before hanging up. I crossed my arms. “What’s going on?” Lucien sighed, rubbing his jaw. “Wallace is making his move.” My stomach clenched. “How soon?” Luca leaned forward. “Tonight.” Caleb nodded. “His men are moving shipments. If we hit them first, we cripple his operation.” Lucien’s gaze locked onto mine. “I need you to stay here.” I frowned. “Lucien—” “No arguments, Lila,” he said firmly. “It’s too dangerous.”
Last Updated: 2025-03-01
Chapter: The Next MoveChapter 70: The Next MoveLucien didn’t let go of me. Even as the police sirens grew louder, as Caleb barked orders into his phone, and as Morgan lay groaning on the ground, Lucien’s arms stayed wrapped around me like a shield. “I need you to get in the car,” he murmured. I pulled back just enough to look at him. “I’m not leaving you.” “Lila.” His voice was firm, but there was something else in his eyes—something raw. “Please.” I hesitated. The last time I’d let him handle things alone, it had almost gone terribly wrong. But this time, the police were coming. This time, Morgan wasn’t walking away. I gave him a sharp nod and turned toward the car. But just as I took a step, a gunshot rang out. Lucien tackled me before I could even register what was happening. We hit the ground hard. My breath whooshed out, and my ears rang. Caleb shouted. Someone screamed. Lucien cursed. “Stay down.” I barely had time to process the words before he was on his feet, gun raised.
Last Updated: 2025-03-01
Chapter: This wasn't overChapter 69: This wasn't overLucien was silent on the drive home. His hands gripped the wheel tightly, his jaw clenched. The air between us felt heavy, charged with unspoken words. I kept stealing glances at him, hoping he’d say something—**anything**—but he didn’t. When we pulled into the driveway, he shut off the engine and exhaled slowly. “I should’ve told you what I was doing,” he finally said. I nodded. “Yeah, you should have.” His eyes met mine. “But you shouldn’t have followed me, Lila.” I crossed my arms. “What was I supposed to do? Sit at home while you put yourself in danger?” Lucien sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “This isn’t just about me.” “I know,” I said. “That’s why we need to work together.” He hesitated. “I don’t know how to do that.” I reached for his hand. “Then let’s figure it out.” For a moment, he just stared at me, his expression unreadable. Then, finally, he nodded. **It wasn’t a promise. But it was a step forward.** ---Insid
Last Updated: 2025-03-01
SUBSTITUTE BRIDE, I WANT YOU BACK LILA
."Ever have that feeling nothing you ever do matters?"
This is Lila Vitale's story, being overshadowed by her elder sister all her life no matter the efforts she puts in.
Finally, she is put in the spotlight when her elder sister, Lily, abandons her husband because he went blind, and she ( Lila) has to be the replacement by pretending to be her.
Lila is not happy about this at first but steps up to the challenge as she is finally seen and relied on by those she cares about.
Lucien, a year later regains his eyesight due to surgery. Lila, hopeful to be set free by the truth, gets disappointed when her sister Lily miraculously appears to take back the place she abandoned and the man Lila had grown to love.
To make matters worse, Lila realizes she was just a pawn being used all along and overhears death plots about her unborn child.
As the betrayal deepens, Lila tries reaching out to Lucien who treats her like a pest, hurting and giving her no choice but to disappear. Not too long after, Lucien figures out the truth and seeks out for her but isn't he too late?
Will Lila ever want to let him back into her life again, especially when she is hell-bent on revenge?
Read
Chapter: When the glove Comes Off Chapter 35: When the Gloves Come Off**Lila** I barely slept. Even with the truth out there, I knew this wasn’t over. Lily wouldn’t back down quietly—she never did. My phone buzzed non-stop with calls, messages, and notifications. Some were supportive, but others were vicious. At sunrise, I sat in Lucien’s office, staring at the headlines flashing across his large screen. **‘Battle of the Billionaire: Lucien Hunter’s Ex-Wife Speaks Out!’** **‘Lily Hunter Fires Back: The Mistress Who Stole My Husband!’** **‘Truth or Lies? Who’s Really to Blame in This Love Triangle?’** I let out a humorless laugh. "They’re turning this into entertainment." Lucien, sitting across from me, looked up from his laptop. "That’s what the media does. But we’re not here to play their game. We need to control the next move." The door burst open, and Olivia stormed in, holding her tablet. "Lily just did an exclusive live interview." My stomach twisted. "What did she say?" Olivia placed the t
Last Updated: 2025-02-23
Chapter: Just itChapter 34: Just itLila The room was still buzzing with whispers long after our press conference ended. My hands trembled slightly as I stepped away from the podium, my mind racing. The truth was finally out, but that didn’t mean the battle was over. If anything, this was just the beginning. Lucien placed a hand on my lower back, guiding me out of the pressroom and into the private hallway leading to his office. Olivia was already waiting inside, pacing anxiously. The moment we entered, she turned to us, her expression grim. "That was bold, Lila," she said. "But Lily isn’t going to take this lying down." I sighed, rubbing my temple. "I know. But what choice did we have? Let her destroy my reputation while I cowered in the shadows?" Lucien pulled off his tie, his jaw tight. "She’ll retaliate. She always does." I turned to him, my chest tightening. "What exactly is she capable of?" Olivia scoffed. "Knowing her? She’s got another trick up her sleeve already." She held up h
Last Updated: 2025-02-23
Chapter: uninformed **Chapter 33: Uninformed **Lila**I paced the living room, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. Lucien sat on the couch, his elbows on his knees, watching me with an unreadable expression. The weight of everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours pressed down on me like a boulder."We need a plan," I said, stopping to face him. "If Lily is behind the leaks, then she's not going to stop until she destroys everything."Lucien sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know. And that’s why I need you to trust me." hope you canTrust? That was a word that had lost all meaning between us. I scoffed, folding my arms. "Trust? You think trust is something you can just demand after everything?"He exhaled sharply. "Lila, I get it. I do. But this isn’t just about us anymore. It’s about our kids. And if Lily has even the slightest inkling about them, she won’t just sit back. She will come for them."My stomach clenched at the thought. I had spent years shielding my babies from
Last Updated: 2025-02-15
Chapter: A Game of Power Chapter 32: A Game of PowerLilaI had barely stepped into my boutique when Olivia grabbed my arm, her grip tight with urgency. “We have a problem,” she whispered, pulling me into the back office. My pulse spiked. “What is it?” She locked the door behind us and shoved a tablet into my hands. The screen showed a breaking news article, and my heart stopped when I read the headline: **LUCIFER HUNTER REUNITES WITH SECRET WIFE: LILA VITALE SPOTTED IN HIS ARMS** I scrolled down, my hands trembling as I saw the pictures—me and Lucien outside the gala, his arms around me. There was another photo of us in the car, his hand gripping mine. “No,” I breathed, shaking my head. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.” “It gets worse,” Olivia muttered, flipping to another article. **MYSTERY CHILDREN: DO LUCIFER AND LILA SHARE A SECRET FAMILY?** My blood ran cold. The article speculated about the twins, showing blurry pictures of them playing outside my boutique. “They were watching us,” I
Last Updated: 2025-02-13
Chapter: The Reckoning Chapter 31 – The ReckoningLILAI never thought I’d step foot in this city again. The memories alone were suffocating, but I had come back stronger, smarter. This time, I wasn’t the naive girl who let love blind her. I adjusted my sunglasses as I walked through the airport, my heels clicking against the polished floor. Olivia walked beside me, pushing the luggage cart, her expression unreadable. "You sure about this?" she asked for the hundredth time. "Positive." My voice held no hesitation. "It’s time to face them." I wasn’t here for closure. I wasn’t here for Lucien. I was here to take back everything that was stolen from me—starting with my career. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t just business. My heart still carried the weight of betrayal, the echoes of his voice when he called me a liar, a gold digger. I clenched my fists. I wasn’t that weak, lovesick girl anymore. The moment I stepped outside, a cold gust of wind hit my face. New York hadn’t changed, but I had. I h
Last Updated: 2025-02-13
Chapter: Leave now or you Regret it Chapter 30: Leave now or you regret itLila“I’m sorry, ma’am, but you can’t enter.” The burly security guard’s words sent a chill down my spine. I stood at the entrance of Lucien’s building, clutching my purse so tightly that my knuckles turned white. This wasn’t the first time I’d been turned away, but tonight it felt different. Urgent. I glanced up at the towering structure, its lights piercing through the foggy night sky. “He’s expecting me,” I lied, my voice firm. The guard’s expression didn’t waver. “Mr. Hunter left strict instructions not to allow anyone in. Especially—” He stopped, his gaze flickering over me. “Especially me,” I finished bitterly, stepping back. My heels clicked against the pavement as I turned away, my heart sinking. I had spent the entire day piecing together the fragments of the note I’d found yesterday. Each word felt like a slap, a reminder of how far someone was willing to go to destroy everything I had built. The message was clear: stay away
Last Updated: 2025-02-10
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