Mr. Devilish's Substitute Bride

Chapter 1

VALERIA Pa! The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the living room. My head snapped to the side from the sheer force of it, a burning sting spreading across my cheek. For a moment, my ears rang, drowning out the world. I blinked—a disoriented look flashing in my eyes—before raising a trembling hand to touch my face. She hit me. At this realization, I turned to face my mother, my voice wavering between disbelief and anger. “You hit me?” "Because I helped Nessa escape this damned marriage? A marriage that shouldn't have existed in the first place?" For a split second, I saw something flicker in her eyes—regret? Guilt? But just as quickly, her expression hardened. "You shouldn’t have helped your sister escape!" she snapped. "Do you even realize what you’ve done or consider what happens when that man’s subordinates come looking for her?“ “You’ve put this family in danger, and you have the audacity to ask why I hit you?" "We all could no longer be bothered to care about yo...