Sold as a Substitute Bride, Claimed by the Ruthless CEO

Chapter 8

Word Count: 653 | Released on: Today at 10:24

oothed his expression back into one of paternal kindness.

. Eliana knew she h

e, identical to the one she'd been given, placed there for show. She quickly swapped them. Sh

aw the one on the table and suspected nothing.

other hand, she quietly picked up the drugged gla

was bored, scrolling through her phone. A young waiter

iness. She stumbled out of her room, clutching the

weakly against the wall. "I do

sed. He put an arm around her to "steady" her, intending to gui

flushed face and unsteady steps. A vicious smile tou

ed," lurching directly into t

teady it, her movements were a blur. In a single, fluid motion, she

an instant. N

os, before continuing her weak shuffl

nged a triumphant look. Ev

She impatiently snatched a glass of red wine from

owed the potent dr

l, the cold night air a welcome shock to h

n erupted from the f

ike a dark god, several men in suits

the men squarely in the chest, his voice low but leth

ked onto the estate where Branson's birthday banquet was being

he night from inside the house, fo

se and was tearing at her own expensi

d Melinda, their faces a mixture of fury and

on. He frowned, his gaze

found the sliver of white dres

'd been seen. H

alt with the kneeling men. Then, with long, deliberate

r her, a tow

ce a low rumble, "you always

Chapter End

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Sold as a Substitute Bride, Claimed by the Ruthless CEO

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“To pay for my grandmother's medical bills, my stepmother forced me to be a substitute bride for a notorious, ugly old man from the wealthy Holloway family. When I tried to escape, my stepsister deliberately tricked me into entering the wrong hotel suite. Instead of the old man, I stumbled into a hostage situation and was saved by a terrifying, icy billionaire-Branson Holloway, the king of New York. He didn't let me go. Instead, he pinned me down, his cold eyes locked onto a hidden childhood scar on my wrist as if he recognized me. Back home, my stepmother showed me photos of a hired thug standing over my frail grandmother's hospital bed, warning me to obey. I was completely trapped, a pawn in their cruel game. Then, Branson unexpectedly demanded that I attend his birthday banquet as his personal date. Insanely jealous, my stepmother and stepsister conspired to drug my wine at dinner, hoping to ruin me so my stepsister could take my place in Branson's bed. I didn't understand why this dangerous, powerful man was suddenly so fixated on me. Why did he know about my secret scar? What did he want from a pawn like me? I secretly swapped the drugged glasses, watching my stepsister make a complete fool of herself. But my small victory vanished when Branson cornered me in a private study, declaring that the marriage deal had changed. He wasn't just a powerful stranger; he was my new groom. Trapped beside him in a dark, empty movie theater later that night, I slowly pulled out my phone, ready to play a dangerous game of cat and mouse to escape the devil himself.”