All Chapters of The Billionaire Substitute Wife: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The house felt warmer than usual, filled with the soft scents of garlic, rosemary, and caramelizing onions. I stood at the counter, chopping vegetables with more focus than I’d had in weeks. Tonight mattered.I had spent the entire day preparing. Grocery shopping in the morning, recipe hunting in the afternoon, and now after three failed attempts at a sauce I could never get right I was finally ready.Tonight wasn’t just dinner. Tonight was my moment.I was going to tell Leonard about the baby.For a few fleeting hours, I let myself believe that this night could fix everything. That a perfect meal, some soft music, and the right words could turn us back into the couple we used to be. I could see it in my mind, the way his face would light up when I told him. The way he’d pull me into his arms, his hands cradling my stomach, whispering promises about the future we’d share.Hope was dangerous, but tonight, I let it live.The table was already set, candles lit, wine chilling, and soft

(Leonard’s POV)The office felt wrong the second I stepped inside. Maybe it was me. Or maybe it was the sharp look Lincoln gave me the moment I walked into the executive lounge like he’d been waiting all day just to rip into me.“Well, look who finally dragged his ass back to work.” Lincoln was sprawled across the couch, tie loose, coffee in one hand, phone in the other. “What’s the excuse this time? Let me guess: holding Elena’s hand again?”“Shut up,” I muttered, dropping my briefcase onto the table. “I was with Olivia.”Lincoln’s brows shot up. “No shit?”“She wasn’t feeling well.”Lincoln snorted. “So the queen needed her loyal servant for once.”I ignored him. I was too tired for his shit, but of course, that never stopped him.“Elena’s fine now,” I added quickly, needing to say it out loud. “She’s moving into the lakeside villa soon. I set it all up for her.”Lincoln whistled low. “Jesus Christ, Leonard. You really set yourself up for a death wish, huh?”I exhaled. “Meaning?”“

Olivia POVLeonard’s words hit me hard.I grip the edge of the table, trying to steady myself, but my mind is already spinning.Suicide?Elena?That can’t be right.I blink, my throat tightening. “What?”Leonard doesn’t repeat himself. He just stands there, shoulders stiff, his breathing controlled like he’s holding something back.“She called you before it happened.” His voice is firm, even. “You were the last person to talk to her.”My stomach twists.That’s impossible.“That’s not true.” I shake my head, but before I can say anything else, he reaches to the table and pulls out his phone.He turns the screen toward me. “Then explain this.”I stare at it.My number.The call log is there, clear as day. The timestamp lines up to perfect with whatever shit happened to her. I feel a chill crawl down my spine.I look back at him. “Leonard, I did talk to her. But I didn’t push her into this.”His grip tightens around his phone. “Then what did you say?”I take a slow breath. “She called m

Olivia POV As I drove into the compound, something immediately felt off. The gate was wide open. What the hell? My stomach twisted. Who did this? A thief? Had someone broken in? Panic shot through me, my heart hammering against my ribs. My fingers tightened on the steering wheel, but then, hold up. That’s when I saw him. My husband. Leonard. His car was already parked. And he wasn’t alone. A woman stood beside him, dark shades covering her eyes, a blind stick clutched in her hand. No, no, no, no, no. My breath hitched. I had to be hallucinating, right? Someone pinch me. But no one did. Because this was real. It was Elena. She stood there like some fragile, helpless little creature, tapping her blind stick against the ground while Leonard… held her. His hand was on her back. His other arm supported hers. As my eyes scanned her from head to toe, one thing became painfully obvious, she was skinny. Like, real skinny. Meanwhile, I was thick in all the right places, and let

Leonard POV“Dude, that’s some messed-up shit going on in your life right now. Like, bro….” Lincoln exhaled, shaking his head as he leaned back, watching me with a mix of disbelief and pity. “What the actual fuck, man?”I let out a bitter laugh, one that didn’t hold an ounce of humor. “You think I don’t know that?” My voice was rough, strained, like I had been screaming all night. Hell, maybe I had. “I don’t know what to do anymore, man.”I ran a hand through my hair, pacing the damn room because sitting still felt impossible.“Last night was fucking insane.”Lincoln’s gaze sharpened. “What happened? What did she do?”I stopped pacing, gripping the edge of the counter like it was the only thing keeping me grounded. “She came in asking for a divorce.”The words sat heavy in my mouth, like they were trying to choke me from the inside out.Lincoln’s eyes widened. “She actually said the words?”I let out a shaky breath. “Word for fucking word, man. I. Want. A. Divorce. That’s what she sai