The Substitute Wife is a captivating romance that blends intrigue, power, and love in a complex, emotional journey. Arielle is a woman who, through no fault of her own, is thrust into a dangerous and high-stakes situation when her stepmother forces her to marry Damien, the heir to one of the wealthiest families in the city. But there's more to this marriage than meets the eye. Damien, though incredibly handsome and successful, is cursed with a mysterious illness that prevents him from getting close to women without triggering painful and dangerous physical reactions. As Arielle enters the world of wealth and power, she's treated coldly by Damien, who views her as nothing more than a pawn in his family's game. But something unexpected happens when they touch-Arielle, unlike other women, doesn't trigger his illness. Despite the tension and the presence of Damien's long-time fiancée, a beautiful and calculating woman named Clara, the dynamics between Arielle and Damien begin to shift. What starts as a contract marriage to save both Arielle's life and Damien's family legacy soon evolves into something more. As secrets unravel, power struggles intensify, and hidden emotions surface, Arielle and Damien find themselves caught between family expectations, corporate warfare, and a love neither of them was prepared for.
Rain lashed against the grand glass windows of the Lancaster estate as Arielle Brooks stood before the heavy oak doors, her slender fingers trembling inside white lace gloves. The cold wind whipped her veil, reminding her with every sharp gust that she did not belong here-not in this mansion, not in this designer wedding dress, and certainly not at the altar waiting inside.
She was never supposed to be the bride.
"You'll marry him instead," her stepmother Marilyn had said that morning, brushing imaginary dust from her silk robe like it wasn't the most absurd thing a woman could say. "Cecilia has run off. We have no choice."
Arielle's voice had caught in her throat. "What do you mean, no choice? He's expecting Cecilia. You can't just-"
"I can, and I will," Marilyn snapped. "Do you think I'm going to let the Lancaster family cancel this marriage? This union is our golden ticket. No one will notice. Just keep the veil down. Say your vows. Then you can live a quiet life in the shadows of his wealth while we enjoy the privileges."
And now, here she was. An imposter in her stepsister's dress, moments from marrying the most feared and powerful man in the city-Damien Lancaster.
The first young master of the Lancaster Empire. Cold. Handsome. Untouchable.
Literally.
Damien had a strange illness, a condition that made his skin react violently to women's touch. Hives, rashes, difficulty breathing-no doctor had found a cure. His engagement to Vanessa Hart, a powerful heiress, was arranged years ago, but rumors swirled that even she had to keep her distance.
"Miss Brooks." A butler opened the door. "You're late."
Arielle swallowed her panic. "Let's get this over with," she muttered.
The hall inside was lined with crystal chandeliers and white roses. Guests sat in hushed confusion-none had seen the bride's face, and Damien stood at the altar, his expression carved in ice. Tall, dark-haired, dressed in a sharp black suit, his face was unreadable. Dangerous.
The ceremony was a blur. Her knees barely held her weight, and her voice cracked as she said, "I do." Damien didn't even glance at her as he muttered his vows with robotic disinterest.
The moment the officiant declared them husband and wife, Damien turned and offered his arm. She took it, heart pounding.
No rashes.
No reaction.
Damien looked down at their joined arms in mild surprise, then cold indifference returned to his face.
"Follow me," he said, voice like steel wrapped in silk.
They left the guests behind, entering a side hallway that led toward the private quarters of the estate. Damien said nothing until they reached the room-lavish, cold, and clearly untouched.
He turned to her, eyes sharp. "Take off the veil."
Arielle hesitated.
"I said take it off."
With shaking fingers, she removed the lace veil and lifted her chin. She expected him to shout, maybe even strike her.
Instead, he stared.
"You're not Cecilia."
"No."
His jaw clenched. "Who the hell are you?"
"Arielle Brooks. Her stepsister." She met his gaze. "She ran away this morning. I was forced into this."
"By who?"
"By Marilyn. My stepmother. She didn't want to lose the marriage alliance."
Damien laughed-low and humorless. "So they sent the family's backup plan?"
"I never wanted this."
"Good," he sneered, "because you're not wanted."
Arielle flinched, but forced herself to stay calm. "I understand. I'll stay out of your way."
"I don't care what you do-as long as you don't embarrass me. I'll deal with your family later." He turned his back to her. "You'll sleep in the guest wing."
"Fine."
"One more thing." He turned back, eyes narrowing. "You touched me."
Her heart skipped.
"Yes," she said quietly.
"No reaction." He stepped closer, his gaze scanning her face. "How?"
"I... I don't know."
He reached out suddenly, taking her hand.
Still nothing.
No rashes. No redness. No pain.
Damien's brow furrowed for the first time. Confusion replaced disdain-just for a second. Then he let go and turned away.
"Stay out of my sight."
The door slammed behind him.
Arielle sank into a chair, her hands still tingling from his grip. She hadn't expected his touch to feel so... warm. For a man known for his coldness, Damien's skin had felt strangely human.
A knock on the door startled her. An older woman with a kind, lined face stepped in. "I'm Madam Ava, the housekeeper."
"Nice to meet you," Arielle murmured.
The woman gave her a once-over, then said, "You're not the girl we were expecting."
"No."
"But you didn't hurt him." Ava's eyes narrowed in curiosity. "Fascinating."
Arielle's brows pulled together. "You know about his condition?"
"I've worked for this family for thirty years. I know more than anyone."
Ava stepped closer, voice low. "You might be the answer we've been waiting for, child. Don't give up-not yet."
Before Arielle could respond, Ava disappeared through the door, leaving behind only a whisper of hope.
Lena, a young woman abandoned by her father and tormented by her manipulative stepmother and stepsister. Struggling to make ends meet, Lena faces an uphill battle when her life is shattered by the need for urgent, expensive surgery. With no family to turn to and her father too weak to challenge the controlling grip of his new wife, Lena is left feeling hopeless and alone. Enter Adrian Blackwood, the city's most eligible bachelor and CEO of Blackwood Industries. Scarred by a devastating betrayal by his ex-fiancée, who slept with his worst enemy, Adrian is determined to put the past behind him. When Lena's desperation intersects with his need for a fresh start, Adrian offers a lifeline in the form of a contract marriage. In exchange for her agreement to a fake union, Adrian promises to finance her surgery, providing the only way out of her dire situation. But as the two navigate their new life together, the boundaries between business and pleasure blur. Adrian's cold exterior slowly cracks as he becomes captivated by Lena's strength, vulnerability, and resilience. Meanwhile, Lena, who has spent her life fighting against her family's emotional abuse, begins to open her heart, torn between her duty to her family and the powerful attraction she feels for Adrian. The stakes rise as Lena's stepmother continues to make decisions without consulting her father, wielding her power over the family with unrelenting control. With every passing day, Lena and Adrian's marriage-initially a business arrangement-grows more complex, filled with passion, emotional turmoil, and the threat of painful betrayals that could destroy everything they've built.
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
"Please trust me, I didn't do anything." "I don't believe you. I am rejecting you as my Queen and giving you the punishment of death." Alina was living outside her pack for five years. Her parents didn't try to contact her and always ignored her. Her best friend convinced her to go back to their pack and she agreed. But she had never imagined what was waiting there for her. She never thought she would meet her mate and had to face betrayal from everywhere. She had to pay for the crime which she never committed. Aaron Robertson is the king of Lycans. He is a very dominant and powerful King who not only rules Lycans but also rules other ranks of werewolves. Everyone is afraid of Lycans and he is the king of them. But who knew that he would get a mate who was just a simple Omega with no powers and strengths? He called her weak all the time but little did he know that his weak Omega would give him the biggest betrayal of his life for which he had to give her the sentence of death.
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
Becky endured three years of marriage to the cold-hearted Rory. In all that time, she naively reasoned that one day, he'd gradually come to like her. But the second he forced her to kneel down and humiliate herself, she knew she had been wrong about him. This man had no feelings for her at all. So why should she still love him? When Rory gave her the choice between kneeling down and divorcing, she didn't miss a beat and chose the latter. After all, why should she waste her youth on this scumbag? Wouldn't it be nicer for her to just have fun every day with her billion-dollar family fortune?
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
Sawyer, the world's top arms dealer, stunned everyone by falling for Maren—the worthless girl no one respected. People scoffed. Why chase a useless pretty face? But when powerful elites began gathering around her, jaws dropped. "She's not even married to him yet—already cashing in on his power?" they assumed. Curious eyes dug into Maren's past... only to find she was a scientific genius, a world-renowned medical expert, and heiress to a mafia empire. Later, Sawyer posted online. "My wife treats me like the enemy. Any advice?"