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A Substitute Bride for the Billionaire 48.
“Come on, Iris. Tell me what happened in Iris. I’ve seen the videos online and I’ve had them on repeat but I want the exclusives” Hailey squealed as she followed Iris around her office. She hung her coat and dropped her bag before she took a seat and pinned Hailey with an amused expression.“There is no exclusive. It was just a business trip and we happened to have a dance and there were other couples there too” She chuckled, amused by her friend’s antics.“Come on, girl. Help a friend here. Feed my imagination please and don’t tell me nothing happened. I saw that Kiss in the elevator” She accused, pointing an index finger at her face.“I’m not denying anything” Iris mused with a small smile. Luca had insisted she give him a goodbye kiss in the elevator and the door had opened when they were almost getting lost in each other’s arms and unfortunately, Hailey had been waiting there.“I’m going to feed my imagination myself if you won’t help me. The new author’s book has been on a delusi
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Iris didn’t know how long she sat there, staring into thin air as she recounted what had happened earlier at work that morning. She had come home without Luca after he insisted since he had a couple more meetings and documents to go through before coming home.Helen had found out about the private after-party event even though it had not been on the media. She wondered how she had found out and who had told her or shown her pictures. She also knew about the publishing house which meant someone was feeding her information and she didn’t know who.Maybe it was Jace. After all, there was no way for her to know if they still kept in touch. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and reached for her phone to check the time. It was almost time for Luca to be home and she was yet to change out of her office clothes.She jumped at the knock on the door “Come in” she answered and waited for Loren to stick her head through the door with a frown.“You haven’t come down since you came back from
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After their usual morning struggle, Luca allowed his wife to roll out of bed so she could begin her usual morning routine before they left for work. He remained on the bed while he waited for her to take a shower since she was very demanding that he stay out of the bathroom even though he tried to make her understand they would both get things done faster if they showered together.She didn’t agree though and the sound of the lock sliding in place made a dopey half-smile grace his features. He rolled his eyes and began to construct a message he wanted to send to Dom about the things he wanted him to prepare before he arrived at the office.Luca had never thought there would be a time when he would wake up in bed with Iris and feel sated and filled with so much bliss to the extent he felt that he didn’t want anything else but here he was, wanting more than to lay in bed all day with her in his arms.She made him want to be domestic. He could see himself being with her for a lifetime a
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Helen was finding it difficult to control her excitement as she sat on a couch in a private lounge in the most exclusive club in London, a glass of whisky in her hand which she needed to reel in her feelings as she waited for Luca to arrive. When she got the call from Luca that they should meet, she was scared that he may have seen the countless messages she sent to Iris but he didn’t seem angry when they talked so that couldn’t be it.She had contemplated not coming since it could be a trap but she was desperate. She wanted to be his wife. She wanted to live the life of luxury that swine was living, after all, it was all meant to be hers until she snatched it from her.If there was one thing she didn’t delude herself for, it was Luca’s affection. The man was a cold-hearted bastard and would probably never come to like her if she succeeded in throwing Iris out and becoming his wife but who cares?She didn’t want Luca to love her, she just wanted his last name and the privilege that ca
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Iris didn’t know what happened but Helen had suddenly stopped sending her any threatening messages and she wasn’t going to call her and ask why she stopped threatening her. Three days had also passed and nothing happened when she didn’t divorce Luca.After Luca had stormed out that day, she thought he had been angry with her but he came back with a custom-made necklace for her and apologized for putting her in a situation where she was unsafe when he did nothing wrong. He had fucked her long and hard that she forgot about Helen and her blackmails for day until yesterday when she realised that she hadn't received any more threats since that morning. She wasn’t foolish enough to believe that Helen may have given up but she was thankful for finally being able to remove her phone from silent because it wouldn’t stop ringing from threats. She just hoped that Helen wasn't planning something worse than the threats.Iris was sorting out some files that had to do with the publication of the
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“Where have you been? What happened?” Ace was already on his feet and rushing towards her when she ran to her office but she made a beeline for the door, ignoring him and putting the lock in place before he could get to her.The slam of the door had startled Hailey who had been sitting in her office waiting for her. Hailey was on her feet and by her side in an instant when she saw the alarmed look and tears running down her face.“Jesus, Iris. What happened? Why do you look so pale?” Hailey had so many questions but Iris was still overwhelmed by what happened and she broke down in tears.“Oh my goodness” Hailey exclaimed as she watched her boss and friend break down but she still wrapped her hands around Iris to comfort her.“Iris!!” Ace’s worried voice came from behind the door as he pounded on it frantically “What happened? Did you get hurt?”Hailey opened her mouth to answer him but Iris shook her head and gave her a pleading look. Hailey sighed, exasperated but she answered “She
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“Iris”Iris was startled out of her mid-day thinking when Hailey shook her lightly. She quickly glanced around the room to see that pairs of curious eyes were focused on her and she flushed in embarrassment.They were in a meeting to discuss the final phase of the book in production, a meeting she should be heading but she had let guilt drag her mind somewhere while the employee in front of the room gave his presentation.“I’m sorry. Please continue” She announced after she quickly pulled herself together. The employees gave her another round of curious stares before they went back to listening to the man who had resumed his presentation.“What happened in there? You were lost in your head the entire meeting” Hailey commented as they walked back to her office.Iris glanced at Hailey and sighed but said nothing as they finally entered her office. Hailey was right. Iris could not focus on anything and it had been like this for a week now. A week since Jace kissed her and a week since sh
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Luca sat quietly while watching Jace and the clients he had brought over to discuss a business deal play poker in the VIP Lounge of Domino Bars which was owned by Ricardo play a game of pool.This wasn't his usual type of scene but the client had insisted they wanted to go to a bar and he had to call in a last-minute favour to Ricardo so he could allow him to make use of this premium VIP booth to satisfy the clients. They had finished the business deal signing and wanted to take advantage of the exquisite services the bar provided and Jace was all but willing to indulge them since Luca wasn’t one for games.Luca kept his eyes on his cousin while he played with the clients, laughing over jokes that Luca found not to be funny. He was still wondering why Jace had opted to help him with the clients today, claiming they were old friends which they were but that was not the issue. Jace had never wanted to help him so this was a suspicious development.He didn’t believe that his cousin was t
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A Substitute Bride for the Billionaire EPILOGUE
Iris was still on her bed when she heard the bedroom door open. She didn't want to wake up yet because it was her birthday and she wanted to sleep in for once while Luca did what he did best, spoiling their children. They had three kids now. Autumn was seven now and was the exact copy of her mother. Sometimes, Iris would find herself lost in her thoughts, staring at her until she was called. Their boys, Axel and Kai were 4 and 1 respectively and perfect carbon copies of their father. Iris felt like a stranger in their house and even Autumn behaved just like Luca, it was scary sometimes. "Princess?" Luca called, climbing onto the bed. She stretched and felt her bones crack before turning to see him. A smile graced her face when she saw their youngest in his arms. Kai's eyes widened and a smile wider than Iris's own graced his face and he giggled while stretching his arms for her so she could take him. She pulled herself up and reached out to take him, wincing when his fingers cur
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Iris was so comfortable laying on Luca’s chest while his breath fanned her face and his hands traced meaningless patterns on her back which made her shiver every two seconds.She didn’t want to move because that was why bliss and perfection were to her. Luca had fucked her into oblivion that even when she woke up, her legs were still shaking even though she had yet to stand up.She didn’t hate it though. It was the best way for her to wake up but Luca had other plans. He said he had something she needed to see so they couldn’t stay in bed longer as she would have liked instead of being in the back seat of the car as they drove to their destination which he also wouldn’t tell her.“Are you sure you don’t want to tell me where we are going?” She asked again and Luca rolled his eyes, taking them off his phone to stare at her again.That was also part of the reason why she was mildly irritated. He had forced her out of his arms and still wouldn't give her any attention.“Sorry, Princess.
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Iris kept turning. It was very late and yet she couldn’t get herself to fall asleep. The sleeping pills Jasmine had given her did nothing to help and she was certain that it kept her awake instead of doing its job.Her eyes watched the moon and followed the owl that flew past it. She had left the window blinds open, hoping the calming view would make her fall asleep but all she had done was count the number of stars she could see and try to trace outlines with them.At the back of her mind, something nudged her. She knew what was keeping her awake and what she needed to do but something was holding her back, pinning her so she wouldn’t move towards what her body craved.She crossed her heart and made up her mind, sitting up and flinging the covers which felt heavy instead of comforting against her skin and threw her legs off the side of the bed, getting on her feet and making her way out of the room.She was sure her guts were strong but they failed her as she stood in front of their
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Iris laid her head against the window, mind fuzzy as the car raced towards the Taylor’s mansion. The loud blaring of the sirens from the police cars trailing behind and in front of their car prevented her from thinking. She thought she knew what exhaustion was but she didn’t until now. The past few days had been hectic with compiling all the evidence Selene had against Vera and pulling strings to make sure her arrest was sure and nothing would be done by anyone wanting to interfere.Since she couldn’t bury herself in her thoughts, she was aware of the heat teasing her fingers as they tingled in anticipation of touching Luca’s hands lying in the space between them.He was on the phone, typing away furiously and Iris wondered if she should just use the opportunity to brush her fingers across his hands while pretending it was a mistake.Her decision was made for her when Luca absentmindedly lifted his hand to trace his fingers lightly over her hands and she flinched away from his touch
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Iris sat in front of the mirror in her hotel room in a pensive mood. They had arrived in New York yesterday with Selene and were staying at the penthouse in the Rutherford’s latest hotel and it was a beauty to behold. It was a four-bedroom penthouse which Iris knew would cost a fortune for a night.A knock came on the door and she softly told the person to come in. Ace peeked his head through the tiny hole.“Are you ready? We have to leave soon. Luca is waiting for you” He told her before disappearing, closing the bedroom door behind him.Iris sighed again. Luca had given her the master suite while he took the bedroom opposite much to her disappointment. She knew he did it because of their recent sleeping arrangement but he should have asked her if she wanted to stay with him but he went ahead to softly tell her to get a good sleep while gesturing at the bedroom before he disappeared into the opposite room.Since they started sharing a bed, it was the first time she had slept in a new
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“Princess” Iris heard Luca call from behind her closed door. She peeked above her computer where she stayed working on some manuscripts that the new assistant had sent her. Iris had not yet gotten used to working with Lucy who took over Hailey’s position.To her, it felt weird seeing her instead of Hailey, but the girl was nice and knew how to give her space, space that Hailey had no problem invading. Iris missed Hailey sticking her nose in her every business but now, it was so quiet in the office because Hailey had been her only friend there.“Princess? Are you sleeping?” Iris hated the uncertainty in his voice but there was nothing she could do. Something was holding her back from telling him she wasn’t angry at him and just needed time to sort out her feelings.“There is someone you need to meet. I know you don’t want to see or talk to me at the moment, but you would really like to meet her” He spoke, this time grasping her interest.She frowned in surprise and racked her head to s
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“Are you okay?” Alanna asked from where she sat beside her while Luca sat opposite her. She could feel his eyes on her the past twenty minutes they had been sitting in the court’s waiting room but she kept her gaze on the floor, adamant not to meet his lingering eyes.She snapped her head up to meet Alanna’s worried gaze and she gave her a reassuring smile “As okay as my nerves would allow me to” She replied and dared to cast a glance towards Luca’s direction where she saw him looking at her as expected and she quickly looked away to meet Alanna’s knowing gaze.“You don’t have to do it if you are not okay with it. They can’t force you to testify and it won’t stop Helen from being locked up forever. They have solid proof against her” Alanna said, holding onto her arms.Iris shook her head in refusal “No, I have to. It’s going to be some sort of closure for me” Iris replied, her voice thick with so much emotion but she was glad the tears didn’t appear.She had finally been able to get a
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Iris never meant to keep standing by the door with her ears pressed against them after she disappeared behind them before Luca could get to her.She couldn’t find the courage to face him. She had not been able to sort out her emotions. They were conflicting and dangerous and it messed with her head and her thoughts.When she moved out of Luca’s room, she had hoped it would give her the room to fix her thoughts and decide where her head was.Iris wanted to leave the house altogether but she wasn’t stupid enough to think it would be possible.Luca may think she didn’t notice but she had. There was an increase in the guards around the house; sometimes she could hear footsteps parade the hallway in front of the room.She knew when Luca left, the familiar heavy steps fading away into the hallway and Ace’s own which never left.She sighed in defeat and removed the black dress she was wearing. She had said her final but was reluctant to one of her best friends today so her head was a mess.I
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The ride home was stifling. Iris kept her gaze on the road the entire ride and when the car rolled to a stop in front of the house, she was out of the car before anyone could say a word.Luca ran after her but her legs were faster. He hurried up the stairs just as she entered the hallway and opened the door.“Princess” Luca tried to stop her before she disappeared into the guest bedroom but failed. Maverick and Ace gave him that pitiful glance that he had come to hate but he waved them off.“Is she close?” He asked Maverick before the bulky man could step out of the room with Ace.“Yes. She should be here in a few minutes” Maverick replied and gave him a nod before they disappeared.Luca leaned on the wall across the guest bedroom and folded his hands over his chest as he stared at the closed doors.She was particularly more sensitive today since it was Hailey’s burial ceremony and he understood so he would give her the space she needed no matter how much it killed him to see her in
