The Substitute Bride's Lethal Secret

a car horn shattered the de

at the rotting wooden porch of the cabin, his upper lip curling in disgust. The humidity was thick, clinging to his exp

es of the cabin

one hand. Her face was a mask of absolute, chilling indifference. She didn't flinch at the horn. She didn't

w. The blast of the SUV's air cond

is voice dripping with unearned superiority. "Get in. W

e fixed on the gravel driveway, her boots

handle, a sharp, rhythmic vibr

t of her oversized hoodie, her fingers wrapp

. He slapped the steering wheel again.

he low rumble of the engine masked

e said, her

urgency. "I know you're off the grid, but I have a black-market medical contract here.

f. Her voice didn't r

Jasper pleaded. "What is s

Sera said. Her eyes tracked a crow lan

isbelief. "You're going back to the Hayes famil

era's mouth. Her stomach tightened, a familiar,

to uncover,"

She shoved the phone back into her pocket, turned ar

ide. It hit the pristine, cream-col

rview mirror. "Watch the leather, you c

ly lifted

was the look of an apex predator staring at a piece of meat. The te

on the back of his neck stood up. He immediately faced forward, his hands gripping the

e dirt driveway, speed

ventually giving way to the towering glass and steel skyscrap

e gates swung open, revealing a sprawling, manicured lawn and a multi-story mansion th

t out. He didn't open her door. He j

e strap of her canvas bag, and slung it over her shoulder. She

en the heavy

. Sitting in the center, on a high-backed velvet sofa, was Matilda Hayes. The

nvas bag onto the p

veral maids lingering in the corners jumped, their

bber tip of her cane a

ing harshly. "Dressed like a beggar. You brin

of her hoodie. She looked at the old

aid, her voice perfectly level,

k, angry red. Her hands trem

pped. "You will take Blythe's place. You ar

her lungs. "You mean I'm going to marry a dying man

e struck the floor with her cane agai

f you refuse this marriage, I will have your mother's grave dug up a

the room st

nto her palms that the skin nearly broke. A violent, freezing rush of adrenaline pumped th

ss the room and snap the old woman's n

gomery estate to find the truth about her mother's death. A momentary explosion of anger would ruin

as eerily calm, devoid of any

smile stretching across her wrinkled face.

oom," Matilda ordered. "Scrub her clea

ack on Matilda and walked toward the grand stai