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2024-10-29 19:42:56
Ress AmahAnother short chapter after promisisng less of that. I didn't want to drag out what happened in this scene so once again, forgive me.
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A Substitute Bride for the Billionaire 61
Luca sat in his office with a frown on his face. He had decided to make the call and inform Stephen, Iris’s stepfather of his decision. He knew he should have discussed this with Iris but she would probably dissuade him.Iris had dealt with Helen so well, he was still amazed at what she could do. He never thought he would see his beautiful wife put someone in her place and his chest tightened with pride whenever he thought of the fire in her eyes as she handled Helen. Luca needed to do more though. He had allowed Helen and Jace enough grace that made them think they could do whatever they liked without consequences. Luca had not yet thought of an appropriate punishment to deal with Jace. He didn't want to take it to his parents, that would be too light. He didn't need someone to point out that Jace and Helen had worked together. The event added up too perfectly to be a coincidence and Jace had not set foot in the company since then, proving his suspicions.Luca picked up his phone
A Substitute Bride for the Billionaire 62
Iris settled comfortably on the bed. She was drained even though it was noon but thankfully it was a weekend and she didn’t have work so she was going to spend the day sleeping. As she wanted to close her eyes and fall into a beautiful slumber, she noticed her phone blinking from where she had placed it on the bedside drawer. The call disconnected just as she grabbed a hold of the phone. “How did I miss these?” She gasped when she saw the four missed calls from her mother in law. She dragged her notification bar down and slapped her forehead lightly when she saw she had put the phone on do not disturb mode earlier and forgotten. Just as she made to call Evelyn back, the phone began to ring again and she quickly picked up the call. “Hey, Mom. I’m sorry I missed you calls” Iris apologized quickly, hoping Evelyn was not angry with her but her laughter glided through the speakers soothing her nerves “Not at all, dear. I was calling to check up on you. Are you okay, my dear? Luca told m
A Substitute Bride for the Billionaire 63
Do you have a place in mind? It doesn’t matter how far or expensive it is, I will make it possible for you” Luca said to Iris. His hands had found its way into her hair, and he caressed it lightly. “No. Surprise me. I want to know just how capable you are in planning a date” she said with a smile. Luca studied her for some time as he tried to see if there were some hidden emotions behind her answer before he broke into a smile. “Okay, then,” he said, getting up on his feet and extending his hands out for her to take. “Let's go” he told her, pulling her to her feet as well. "Alright, let me tidy up and change into a better dress." Iris told him with a smile. “Okay. I’ll change as well” Luca gave her a peck and disappeared into the closet while Iris went to the bathroom to take a quick bath. “A hint of what I should wear?” Iris asked as she joined Luca in the closet. He was yet to wear his outfit which Iris found hilarious. She knew she spent quite some time in there. “Something
A Substitute Bride for the Billionaire 64
Something was off and that was why Iris’s eyes flew open at 3 am. She lay in bed a bit disoriented, trying to figure out why she was forced awake. She turned to her side where Luca should be fast asleep, but it was empty, and she was lying on what should have been half of his side of the bed. She reached out to touch the empty bed and it was cold. He had been up for a while. She couldn’t go back to sleep knowing that Luca was somewhere awake, and it bothered her that he had been gone for a while and didn’t tell her. Her mind began to wander against her will and she began to pick up on his weird behavior these last few days. There was something odd about the way he seemed cautious like he was hiding something, and she didn’t know if she felt good or bad about it. She shook her head to clear the thoughts that wanted to make her suspicious. She couldn’t doubt Luca and she didn’t want to.“Maybe he went downstairs to work. He complained earlier he had a lot to do” She muttered to he
A Substitute Bride for the Billionaire 65
“I don’t like it, Ally. My guts tell me that something is wrong, but he won’t tell me anything.” Iris complained to her friend.Alanna had called Iris through face time, and she could not help but confess her worries to her when she pointed out how distant she looked and felt. “I’ve told her she’s worrying too much but you know Iris. She tends to overthink things a lot” Hailey argued from where she sat beside Iris as the both of them peered into the phone to look at Alanna.“I don’t overthink things. You know I barely worry…”“But you do” Alanna teased, and Iris glared at her. This was not the time to joke. She was serious but they kept underplaying her worries and it was starting to piss her off.“He has been acting suspiciously. He leaves the house without telling me at odd hours and wouldn’t talk to me when he gets back home. He’s become defensive whenever I ask him where he keeps disappearing off to.” Iris insisted.Iris was frustrated. Her friends didn’t understand her worries.
A Substitute Bride for the Billionaire 66
Iris felt the colour drain from her face as soon as she heard those words. She saw the regret in his eyes immediately the words slipped but it didn’t matter. Didn’t they say one said things they truly meant in the heat of the moment? Was this how Luca thought of her? As nothing more than a pretender? Everything she thought had been a lie?“You are hurting me” She whispered instead of voicing out the numerous things she wanted to say. “Luca, let go of me.”Her voice came out stronger and more demanding, enough to get him to loosen his grip and she stumbled out of his reach.Her lashes fluttered to stop the tears were quickly flooding her eyes, but she couldn’t stop them.“Iris” Luca called with a strained voice and tried to walk towards her, but she held out her hand to stop him before he could approach her.“It’s fine. I understand my place now” She choked out, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.“No, Princess. That’s not what I wanted to say. I was angry and you kept pushing me.
A Substitute Bride for the Billionaire 67
Iris was stuck. She didn’t know what to do and all efforts to draw a connection between the letter and the bank statements were futile. She couldn’t go to Luca to ask him because then she would be admitting to going through his things without permission and it would only increase the rift between them.It's been one long and excruciating week since she found the letter and also one week since Luca left the house in the middle of the night. Iris didn’t know what to make of it. She didn’t know if to be happy or more worried. Luca halting his night visits didn’t mean the problem had automatically disappeared. “Are you okay?” Luca asked and she looked up to see him with a frown on his face as he stared at her. “Yes. Why?” She asked, looking around the room and wondering if she had missed something he said while she was buried in her head.“You’ve been quiet and keep poking at your plate. Do you not like your food?” He asked her and she hated how formal he sounded. Since their argument
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“Mrs Rutherford” Josy called, pulling Iris out of her head again for the seventh time in the last ten minutes. “I’m sorry. Tell Mr Henry that I’ll see him next week to discuss the progress for the new book in the series” she told the young employee who gave her a curious stare before she left the office. Iris let out a shaky breath and sat back in her chair before she placed her hands over her eyes. Since that day when she had followed Luca, she had grown more curious about the topic of his discussion with that stranger. Not just curious, but a sort of fear had also taken over and it was messing with not only her head but her daily life. She would spend the day lost in her head because she was trying to put the half pieces together so they would make sense. She got so lost in her thoughts that she would forget where she was or even end up not doing things she was supposed to be doing and her employees were starting to notice. There was no amount of critical thinking that could
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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
A Substitute Bride for the Billionaire 103.
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
A Substitute Bride for the Billionaire 102
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
A Substitute Bride for the Billionaire 101.
“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
A Substitute Bride for the Billionaire 100.
“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
A Substitute Bride for the Billionaire 99.
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
A Substitute Bride for the Billionaire 98
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
