The Substitute Bride

"Didn't I tell you this before? You don't have to prepare a meal delivery for me every day. The food here is pretty good. Aren't you tired of constantly running back and forth between the company and the hospital?" Cassie felt guilty for causing Nick so much trouble. She didn't want him to think of her as a burden.

Nick, however, never felt encumbered. Instead, he enjoyed taking care of her. He pulled Cassie into his arms and said, "Don't worry about me, babe. I'm just happy that I can see you every day!"

Cassie felt a bit embarrassed by Nick's nonchalant display of affection in front of Cora, who was chuckling and shaking her head at how adorable the couple looked.

"Well, I know that. You can let go of me now, Nick. I'm at work, remember?" Cassie pushed Nick away gently.

Looking at Cassie with loving eyes, Nick held her hands, not wanting to part from her. He said, "Okay then, I should get back to work too. Don't forget to have lunch. I will pick you up at dinner time."

While Cassie's attention was elsewhere, Nick kissed her on the cheek before leaving the hospital.

Seeing Nick and Cassie's public display of affection strengthened Cora's resolve about her decision.

At the airport

"Mr. Lu, where are we heading? The company or the Dream Garden?" the assistant asked, right after he picked up Charles at the exit.

Charles felt exhausted as soon as he got off the plane. The past few days hadn't been kind on him. The problem at the branch abroad took longer to settle than he had anticipated. And since he had been away for so many days, there were a lot of pending files and contracts that needed to be signed, waiting for him back at the office. He literally didn't have the time to take rest.

"The Dream Garden." After giving it a thought, Charles told the assistant to drive him back home. He didn't know how long he would have to be at the company once he got back to work, so he decided to go home and grab some stuff first.

The airport wasn't far away from the Dream Garden and before long, Charles arrived at his home.

In the master bedroom on the second floor, Nancy saw Charles packing his clothes in a hurry. She hesitated, but finally gathered the courage to speak up. "Mr. Lu, are yo

ce turned gloomy and he shook off Leila's hands.

Leila staggered back, almost falling to the floor. She wasn't expecting Charles to react in this way.

Nancy stood in the corner, watching them quietly, relieved to see Charles' attitude towards Leila.

Charles turned around and walked up the stairs without saying anything to Leila.

Leila clenched her fists in anger as she stood still for a while, murmuring to herself, "Charles, sooner or later, you will be mine."

Then, as if nothing had happened, Leila picked up her bag from the floor.

"Nancy, go prepare some food. Charles just got home. He must be hungry." Leila walked over to her calmly, pretending as though she hadn't seen anything.

Nancy was impressed by Leila's ability to calmly ignore Charles' utter disregard for her.

"Yes, Miss Zhang." Nancy enunciated the words "Miss Zhang," reminding Leila of her place in this family.

Leila was just a guest in the Lu family. And yet she carried herself as if she was the hostess of the family ever since the day she moved in. Nancy couldn't stand her at all.

Although Leila was furious, she didn't talk back. She watched Nancy walk to the kitchen and swore to herself, "One day, I'll make you call me Mrs. Lu."

When Nancy finished preparing the food, she went upstairs to ask Charles and the others to come downstairs to have dinner. Charles and Leila were sitting next to Melissa, comforting her.

Nancy prayed in heart that Sheryl could be here with them.