During the day, she was a dedicated and humble housekeeper. As night fell, she cleaned her scar and showed her breathtaking beauty to become the substitute wife of the billionaire president. Soon, the secret of her being a substitute was revealed and all the ladies in New York couldn't wait to see her falling from grace. However, no matter how long they waited, they only got to see her live an extraordinary life - she could create perfumes and make drugs. Her charisma killed all. Some president even turned into uxorious and spoiled her with his heart and soul. "She's mine. Stay away from her!"
"You have no choice, Baila. Sleep with my husband tonight, or you'll never see your grandmother again!"
Standing outside the presidential suite of the Ruy Hotel, Baila Nelson froze.
Rowan Hayes was Phoebe Nelson's husband, the man Phoebe had married two years ago only to cast him aside with disdain. To Phoebe, he was nothing more than an illegitimate heir, unworthy of her time. She had taken Baila's grandmother hostage to force Baila to take her place, using her as a substitute for herself.
Fortunately, Baila had never crossed paths with Rowan, as he had spent the past two years abroad.
But Baila had never imagined that the moment Rowan returned, Phoebe would demand that she sleep with him.
Baila's fists clenched at the thought of her grandmother, who was taken away as leverage. "Fine," she finally said through gritted teeth.
Baila walked into the presidential suite. It was dimly lit inside.
A figure lay sprawled across the massive bed. The man looked strikingly handsome.
So this was "her husband"-the man she had been "married" to for two years.
She hadn't expected him to be so young. And certainly not this handsome.
Biting her lower lip, Baila hesitated for only a moment before crawling onto the bed.
Her trembling fingers reached for his belt, fumbling at the clasp.
The second her skin brushed against his waist, she shivered.
Before she could react, a strong hand shot out, seizing her wrist. In an instant, she was yanked forward, crashing against the man's solid frame.
The scent of alcohol clung to him, heavy and intoxicating. His warm breath ghosted over her face. "Who are you?"
His voice was deep and cold.
Baila barely had time to catch her breath before she met his eyes.
At some point, he had woken up, his piercing gaze now locked onto her with an unsettling intensity.
Baila's heartbeat thundered in her ears. For a split second, she hesitated. Then, she leaned in, pressing her lips against his. "Shh," she whispered against his mouth, "if you need an answer, just know this-I'm your wife."
***
The next morning.
The Ruy Hotel was locked down. A line of bodyguards in black suits stood guard outside the presidential suite, their presence heavy with tension.
Inside, Rowan was awake, leaning against the headboard. His fingers idly tapped against his knee, his eyes sharp with anger.
Last night had been a blur. Fresh off a flight back to the country, he had been whisked off to a business dinner, only to be sent back drunk to his hotel room by his secretary.
When he had woken up, he had seen a woman straddling him.
He had never thought he would wake up while being intimate with someone else.
Over the years, countless women had tried to seduce him, yet none had dared to force themselves on him. That woman was the first.
And afterward, she had disappeared without a word.
Very well. That bold woman, reckless with desire, at least had the sense to run-knowing full well he would have destroyed her if she had been caught.
The bed was a mess, sheets rumpled, with a stark patch of dried blood standing out against the crisp white fabric.
Rowan exhaled slowly, his throat tightening. A virgin. And yet, she had been bold enough to do something like that.
"Boss." Clive Aston, Rowan's secretary, strode inside urgently. "We've found out who the woman was."
"Who was she?" Rowan asked.
"Your wife," Clive replied.
"My wife?" Rowan frowned, but as the words settled, fragments of a long-forgotten memory surfaced.
Two years ago, the Hayes and Nelson families had arranged his marriage, the matter orchestrated by his grandmother, Old Mrs. Hayes. He had never given much thought to his marriage to Phoebe, who had been brought in a car to Imperial Manor on their wedding night. Their marriage had been kept secret, known only to a select few.
And now, after two years apart, the woman in his bed last night had been his so-called wife?
"I need to return to Imperial Manor," Rowan said, his voice cold.
***
Imperial Manor.
When Baila returned, she met Phoebe's eyes. "I did what you asked me to do."
Phoebe glanced at the hickeys scattered along Baila's skin, barely concealed beneath her collar. Those imprints had been made by her husband-ones that should have belonged to her.
But Phoebe wasn't a virgin.
"Listen carefully, Baila. Last night never happened. As far as the world is concerned, I am Rowan's wife. Rowan is the head of the Hayes family. Your time as a stand-in is over. I will take my place as Mrs. Hayes now," Phoebe said.
During the day, she was a dedicated and humble housekeeper. As night fell, she cleaned her scar and showed her breathtaking beauty to become the substitute wife of the billionaire president. Soon, the secret of her being a substitute was revealed and all the ladies in New York couldn't wait to see her falling from grace. However, no matter how long they waited, they only got to see her live an extraordinary life - she could create perfumes and make drugs. Her charisma killed all. Some president even turned into uxorious and spoiled her with his heart and soul. "She's mine. Stay away from her!"
During the day, she was a dedicated and humble housekeeper. As night fell, she cleaned her scar and showed her breathtaking beauty to become the substitute wife of the billionaire president. Soon, the secret of her being a substitute was revealed and all the ladies in New York couldn't wait to see her falling from grace. However, no matter how long they waited, they only got to see her live an extraordinary life - she could create perfumes and make drugs. Her charisma killed all. Some president even turned into uxorious and spoiled her with his heart and soul. "She's mine. Stay away from her!"
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
"You're pathetic!" Brenden sneered, each word cutting deep into Corinna's heart. Years of emotional wounds had drained every ounce of love she once held. "I've wasted enough time on you. If there's a next life, I hope we never meet again." Her words severed the bond between them like a blade. From that moment on, Brenden was haunted by her absence—unable to sleep, longing for the warmth he took for granted.
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"