Share

CHAPTER THIRTY

Author: STAR
last update Last Updated: 2025-04-08 14:56:48

ADRIAN.

I deliberately delayed for as long as I could, taking time trimming off excesses in my dressing and trying so desperately to appear more casual than corporate.

I knew Diana wouldn't like it if I dressed casually for a fancy dinner — I knew all her likes and dislikes.

I spent a full twenty minutes adjusting the cuffs of my shirt, debating whether to leave the third button open or not. I went with it—subtle rebellion. A suit, but no tie. Casual, but not careless. Sleek, but a little undone. Exactly how I felt.

The silver chain around my neck caught the light as I leaned over to grab my watch. I checked my reflection one last time—more times than I care to admit—and then sprayed on a light mist of cologne. Not too heavy. Just enough for her to recognize it and remember things she probably tries not to.

So I opted for a suit but no tie and with the first three buttons undone showing a peak of my chiseled chest, and a neck chain to complete the look. I looked at myself in the full
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Related chapters

  • SUBSTITUTE WIFE TO THE DISABLED BILLIONAIRE   CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

    DIANA.I could feel his eyes on me, Adrian couldn't look away.This was how it was supposed to be, me enjoying his undivided attention. Afterall, it was us two before Heaven came into the picture.Heaven — I chastised myself for letting her have room in my thoughts at such auspicious moments. She didn't deserve it. I had allowed her to gain more importance in my head than Adrian himself.And I claimed to love him.Tsk tskI'll have to get rid of her sooner than I thought.I pretended to not know Adrian was drinking in the sight of me—as intended, instead I focused on the menu noticing they didn't have the kind of food I'd have preferred to eat.Sighing, I put the menu down, and made eye contact with Adrian.He was caught unawares and so we didn't say anything to each other for a little while. The silence stretched on. Then he cleared his throat, —”I don't know where to begin Diana.”“I've done you wrong the last couple of days and well now we're here. I'm glad we're having dinner to

    Last Updated : 2025-04-10
  • SUBSTITUTE WIFE TO THE DISABLED BILLIONAIRE   CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

    ADRIAN.The night had been going well and not well. It was a difficult mixture for us.We've spent our time reminiscing, regretting and now looking at the present and if we have hope for the future.The restaurant Diana had chosen was pricey but worth it. The food had us mesmerised, we couldn't even have the conversation I had rehearsed the entire drive over.I enjoyed the smooth jazz and I basked in the warm glow of the lights and the serene atmosphere. She's always had good taste.After dinner I was surprised about our desert location but as usual I trusted Diana's choices and went with it.The candy shop was a stark contrast to the fancy restaurant but I wasn't complaining at all. I was just enjoying her company.She got the desserts and I took us to the best location to have it.I recall always coming to the water side whenever I felt troubled by my life and everything in it, now once again I was troubled.I was caught between two women, I had already convinced myself that I didn

    Last Updated : 2025-04-11
  • SUBSTITUTE WIFE TO THE DISABLED BILLIONAIRE   CHAPTER ONE

    CHAPTER ONEHeaven’s POVI let out a shaky exhalation, my eyes brimming with unshed tears as I darted my gaze towards Avery, who was lying on her back, hoisted on both of her elbows, clad in nothing but shamelessness. “Get up and put some clothes on, now.” The calmness in my voice was a maddening contrast to the anger that brewed inside me, boiling my blood. “What on earth is your problem, huh?” She rose to her feet with suddenness that had me taking a step back, my brows furrowed slightly at her outburst. “I will not do this with you,” I shook my head, turning away from her to walk out of the room, but her hand on my wrist halted my movements. “You know, I’m glad you found out the truth,” she said, the corner of her lips tugging up in a smirk. “I was honestly tired of snooping around behind your back to get some good sex.”I turned around abruptly, her lack of remorse for her actions shocking me to the marrow of my bones, and she continued like she never stopped, throwing her ha

    Last Updated : 2024-11-05
  • SUBSTITUTE WIFE TO THE DISABLED BILLIONAIRE   CHAPTER TWO

    CHAPTER TWOHEAVEN’s POVI was crammed into the opulent dressing room, surrounded by silks and satins that felt more like chains than bridal attire. My heart was a storm of emotions—anger, betrayal, heartbreak—all swirling into a tempest that threatened to tear me apart from the inside. The dress I was being forced into felt like a straightjacket, binding me to a fate I never chose.The wedding dress felt like a shackle, each lace detail, a testament to my suffocating reality. My hands shook, not from the anticipation of joy but from the desperation of a trapped soul seeking escape. My life, once so full of promise and dreams, had crumbled to dust in the span of a few weeks, and now I was being pushed into a marriage with Adrian, a man I didn’t know at all, all because of my sister's selfish actions.In a moment of desperation, I scanned the room for an escape, craning my head this way and that—an action that created an inconvenience for the make up artist, but if she was frus

    Last Updated : 2024-11-05
  • SUBSTITUTE WIFE TO THE DISABLED BILLIONAIRE   CHAPTER THREE

    CHAPTER THREE HEAVEN’s POVThis was what every girl would have termed as a dream wedding. A luxurious, extravagant wedding—that was trending right now on the internet, to a very successful billionaire, hot, dashing, handsome, breathtaking even, standing out amongst the crowd, his demeanor screaming power and bizarre authority. Wearing it clearly on his face that he shouldn’t be messed with, and honestly, I could count the amount of times I’d seen the corner of his lips tug up in what barely resembled a smile. We all gushed about these kind of men in the books we read, hoping we’d be lucky enough to get married to someone just like them. Funny how you have to be put in a constricting position, have everything you’ve ever dreamt about, everything you’ve ever hoped for, everything you’ve ever believed in, grasped from your reach. Having your heart heavy, yet the tears don’t come out, causing the constant pang in your chest threaten to tear down your rib cage. Being put in a situatio

    Last Updated : 2024-11-05
  • SUBSTITUTE WIFE TO THE DISABLED BILLIONAIRE   CHAPTER FOUR

    HEAVENThe transition from the somber, almost grave-like atmosphere of the car ride to our new residence was abrupt, the serene, ominous silence giving way to a scene of somewhat orchestrated chaos as the vehicle rolled to a gentle stop. Adrian hadn’t so much as spared me a glance, his eyes and attention fixated on his phone as he typed away on the device throughout the whole drive. Clearly, I wasn’t worth a whit of his attention. My heart constricted, sighs eluded my mouth at intervals, as I fondled with my perfectly manicured fingers, my gaze floundering everywhere but him. I darted my eyes to the windows, staring at the intricately designed structure that stood tall, right in the middle of the space. Despite the elegance of the vast structure that towered before us, it was impossible not to feel its walls already closing in, a luxury prison designed with an aesthetic charm that felt more like a taunt to my inner turmoil. This was my prison for—God knows how long. As if on cue, a

    Last Updated : 2024-12-18
  • SUBSTITUTE WIFE TO THE DISABLED BILLIONAIRE   CHAPTER FIVE

    CHAPTER FIVE HEAVENThe morning sunlight trickled in through the gaps in the curtains, gently rousing me from my slumber. My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the soft glow of dawn. The other side of the bed was empty, the sheets cold, indicating that Adrian had been gone for a while. I sat up, wrapping the silk robe around my frame, a shiver running down my spine as memories of the previous night cascaded through my mind like a relentless wave.Adrian’s commanding voice echoed in the recesses of my memory, his words stark, devoid of warmth. " Strip." His directive had been laced with an impatience that brooked no argument, his eyebrow arching in a silent challenge. I remembered the tremble in my hands, the quickening of my heartbeat, and the uneasy knot in my stomach. Despite my hesitations, the night had unfolded in a way that quashed all the whispered rumors about Adrian Miller's supposed impotency. Those moments of intimacy, veiled in the shadows of the night, had revealed a tru

    Last Updated : 2024-12-19
  • SUBSTITUTE WIFE TO THE DISABLED BILLIONAIRE   CHAPTER SIX

    HEAVEN I had just come out of the bathroom when I heard a knock on the door. Adrian was at the other corner of the room, eyes trained on his laptop, he didn't look like he was planning to get up anytime soon. I sighed, making my way over to the door to check who it was. "Oh, hello." I forced a smile at the maid who stood in front of me. She held an envelope in her hands, her eyes downcast."Good evening ma'am. This came for you a few minutes ago." She outstretched her hand holding the envelope. I took it from her and realized it wasn't an envelope, it was an invitation card.Could it be....“Thank you." I said to the girl politely before slamming the door on her face. I stared at the invitation card as if it were a bomb in my hand, contemplating wether to open it or not. A shaky breath left my lips as I turned it over to read what was written on the front. Avery Weds Kyle.Oh God.Avery sent me an Invite to her wedding. She invited me to watch her marry the man she s

    Last Updated : 2024-12-21

Latest chapter

  • SUBSTITUTE WIFE TO THE DISABLED BILLIONAIRE   CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

    ADRIAN.The night had been going well and not well. It was a difficult mixture for us.We've spent our time reminiscing, regretting and now looking at the present and if we have hope for the future.The restaurant Diana had chosen was pricey but worth it. The food had us mesmerised, we couldn't even have the conversation I had rehearsed the entire drive over.I enjoyed the smooth jazz and I basked in the warm glow of the lights and the serene atmosphere. She's always had good taste.After dinner I was surprised about our desert location but as usual I trusted Diana's choices and went with it.The candy shop was a stark contrast to the fancy restaurant but I wasn't complaining at all. I was just enjoying her company.She got the desserts and I took us to the best location to have it.I recall always coming to the water side whenever I felt troubled by my life and everything in it, now once again I was troubled.I was caught between two women, I had already convinced myself that I didn

  • SUBSTITUTE WIFE TO THE DISABLED BILLIONAIRE   CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

    DIANA.I could feel his eyes on me, Adrian couldn't look away.This was how it was supposed to be, me enjoying his undivided attention. Afterall, it was us two before Heaven came into the picture.Heaven — I chastised myself for letting her have room in my thoughts at such auspicious moments. She didn't deserve it. I had allowed her to gain more importance in my head than Adrian himself.And I claimed to love him.Tsk tskI'll have to get rid of her sooner than I thought.I pretended to not know Adrian was drinking in the sight of me—as intended, instead I focused on the menu noticing they didn't have the kind of food I'd have preferred to eat.Sighing, I put the menu down, and made eye contact with Adrian.He was caught unawares and so we didn't say anything to each other for a little while. The silence stretched on. Then he cleared his throat, —”I don't know where to begin Diana.”“I've done you wrong the last couple of days and well now we're here. I'm glad we're having dinner to

  • SUBSTITUTE WIFE TO THE DISABLED BILLIONAIRE   CHAPTER THIRTY

    ADRIAN.I deliberately delayed for as long as I could, taking time trimming off excesses in my dressing and trying so desperately to appear more casual than corporate.I knew Diana wouldn't like it if I dressed casually for a fancy dinner — I knew all her likes and dislikes.I spent a full twenty minutes adjusting the cuffs of my shirt, debating whether to leave the third button open or not. I went with it—subtle rebellion. A suit, but no tie. Casual, but not careless. Sleek, but a little undone. Exactly how I felt.The silver chain around my neck caught the light as I leaned over to grab my watch. I checked my reflection one last time—more times than I care to admit—and then sprayed on a light mist of cologne. Not too heavy. Just enough for her to recognize it and remember things she probably tries not to.So I opted for a suit but no tie and with the first three buttons undone showing a peak of my chiseled chest, and a neck chain to complete the look. I looked at myself in the full

  • SUBSTITUTE WIFE TO THE DISABLED BILLIONAIRE   CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

    DIANA.The world tilted under the weight of his words. Heaven?Heaven, if I was being honest, was a nightmare wrapped in silk and secrets. She sounded and acted oh so very innocently but I could see through her entire facade.Heaven was bad news.I couldn't do what Justin wanted me to do, it was too risky.“What if she tells Adrian?” I asked, knowing fully well that my relationship with Adrian was already on shaky grounds and that I couldn't push my luck anymore.“Adrian will never find out,” he said. His confidence is even more upsetting.“And what's your assurance for that?” I asked again.“Heaven would be too busy eating into her doubts to want to talk to Adrian. I already triggered the thoughts when I found her at the gym.” He said.I wondered what it was Justin had said to Heaven.I decided not to think about it like he said, it's just easier that way.“What am I supposed to do?” I asked, and I sat there listening to Justin talk about his huge master plan.The more I listened the

  • SUBSTITUTE WIFE TO THE DISABLED BILLIONAIRE   CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

    ADRIAN.I sat in my office after Ethan had left, thinking about everything. The therapy, the nightmares, everything.I hadn't done Heaven right in any of this. It wasn't her fault I was messed up, I decided to finish everything pressing at work and go home early.The rest could wait.I quickly went through the days work, calling in staffs to clear and confirm certain contracts when needed, and to transfer files and messages from one office to another.In record time, I was done.A clerk came in to ask me about lunch preparations and I turned him down. Eating with Heaven was top on my list for today.I packed up my briefcase and left the office. I could've skipped to my car if I wasn't a grown ass man.In the car, I played a happy tune and I sang along all the way home.Once I got home, I headed straight for our room so I could surprise Heaven. I had been thinking about it and I decided to make lunch for the both of us, and maybe a simple side dish.My cooking skills are at least above

  • SUBSTITUTE WIFE TO THE DISABLED BILLIONAIRE   CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

    HEAVEN.I sat there thinking about what Justin had said.What did he mean by saying he would never lie to me?...What was Adrian not telling me.I finished my workouts in a blur, my near perfect day gone to the shadows once again.My mind had immediately gone back to the call I had received a while back and I began to wonder what it was these people knew, that I didn't.By the time I finished, my muscles ached, but the tension in my chest refused to fade. I wiped the sweat from my face with a towel, inhaling deeply in an attempt to steady myself. The gym felt colder now, emptier, as if the weight of my thoughts had pushed all warmth away.I needed answers.The shower was hot, but it didn’t wash away my frustration. My skin prickled as I dressed in a simple black hoodie and jeans, my fingers moving numbly as I grabbed my phone. I hesitated for a second before calling Adrian. No answer. I tried again. Still nothing.A slow, creeping frustration settled in my bones. He was avoiding me. I

  • SUBSTITUTE WIFE TO THE DISABLED BILLIONAIRE   CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

    HEAVEN.I've been thinking about Adrian a lot lately. Not that it's wrong to, but then.It's so obvious he needs help but he's not accepting what I have to offer.It saddens me.I absentmindedly picked up the croissant I was eating, and I continued to stuff my face with the buttery goodness.I realized I had been stressed eating or more accurately, overeating lately and I had put on a considerable amount of weight.But that was fine. I'd just burn it in the home gym.I searched my wardrobe for the most comfortable wear I could find fit for the gym and I put them on, tying my hair in a loose nut, I headed downstairs to check out the gym.It's a part of the house I've never had cause to visit given the fact that I'm always in good shape, but recently I had let myself go a lot.I touched my protruding belly after I had finished dressing up. Standing in front of a mirror it looked worse than I felt.In reality, it wasn't that large nor was I too fat, I had been skinny as a child and the

  • SUBSTITUTE WIFE TO THE DISABLED BILLIONAIRE   CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

    ADRIAN.I lay in bed unmoving. I could hear Heaven breathing beside me, I couldn't afford to face her.I was scared beyond my edges, my nerves were frayed.I realise now that I actually do need help. I can't keep putting this off forever, it's driving me crazy.If I faced Heaven now I'm sure she would find the cracks in my exterior and realise I'm not as stable as my voice had let on earlier.I decided to call Ethan in the morning and talk to him about fixing me for a session with his therapist.For now, I needed to sleep. I had to follow through with my facade with Heaven.We were supposed to talk things out and settle our issues but I couldn't even manage that.I was mentally beating myself about everything.I exhaled quietly, trying not to shift too much in bed. If I did, she’d know I was awake. She’d turn, her dark eyes would meet mine, and I wouldn’t be able to hold my composure. I was already splintering at the edges, barely keeping my head above water.God, I was so tired.Tire

  • SUBSTITUTE WIFE TO THE DISABLED BILLIONAIRE   CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

    HEAVEN.The day stretched on, but I couldn’t focus on anything.Adrian’s distance weighed on me. I wanted to help, but how do you help someone who refuses to be helped?I was still lost in thought when my phone rang.Unknown Number.I frowned before answering. “Hello?”Silence.And then“You should leave him.”The voice was distorted, mechanical.My heart slammed against my ribs. “Who is this?”“No good can come from being with Adrian. Walk away while you still can.”Cold fear crept up my spine. “Why are you—”Click.The line went dead.I stared at my phone, my pulse hammering.What the hell was that?And why did it feel like a warning?I didn’t tell Adrian about the call.Not yet.I didn’t want to add to whatever he was already dealing with.But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was coming.And I wasn’t sure any of us were ready for it.DIANA.I had just gotten to Adrian's office when I saw him walking out of the building with Ethan.I have to say I was completely surprised

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status