The Substitute Bride

"Just stop your charade right here. I will not have any more of this drama!" Charles stared at Leila and warned her, "This is my house, not Shining Company. Please do me a favor and do not to come here unless it's urgent." He treated Leila as his secretary, it seemed that she thought of herself as Mrs. Lu-to-be though. She wanted to replace Autumn. It finally dawned on him why Autumn so strongly disliked Leila.

"I…" After seeing Charles' disgusted expression, Leila choked up realizing what a big mistake she had made. She was anxious and thought to herself, 'I shouldn't have come here. Besides, if I knew Charles would mind me buying the same necklace that he bought for Autumn, I wouldn't have done that to provoke him to anger. My action today was so reckless and miscalculated. Fortunately, I brought a document with me. It's a reasonable excuse to explain my visit.' She took out the document from her arms and said fawningly, "Our factory will halt the production unless you sign this document. So I had no option but to come here. If it was not an emergency, I would not have bothered you this way."

Charles scanned the document and signed his name fleetly. After handing over the document to Leila and notified as he wrinkled his forehead, "Take this document back to the company. I will call the HR Department to handle with your handover. There is no need for you to go to work tomorrow." He wasn't expected that Leila would take out a document, which increased his disgust at this manipulative woman. Although she was a qualified secretary, Charles insisted on dismissing her. After all, there was no need to risk Autumn's happiness and their baby's safety to make her stay in his company. It wouldn't take much time to find another good secretary.

Leila froze and was shocked at Charles' announcement. It was not appropriate for her to buy the same necklace as that one Charles bought. However, she thought there was no need to make such a big deal about it.

"Mr.…" Mr. Lu, what do you mean? Why are you asking me to quit my job over this? Did I do something wrong?" Leila stood still and asked in surprise even though she knew exactly what had happened.

"What do you think of it?" Charles retorted angrily, "Do you think you can stay in my company after what you have been doing?"

"Did you mind my visit today with the same necklace as Autumn?" Leila was surprised Charles would fire her over this, so abruptly. She mulled, 'I have been doing my job well since the day I joined as his secretary. I am sure I have created a very favorable impression. Why is he so cruel and decisive? If I am fired, how could I get close to him and make him fall in love with me? I won't be resigned to his deci

ar that if she saw his face, she might be killed off.

As the footsteps came nearer and nearer, Leila turned more and more anxious. After a long silence, the man standing across her, said flatly, "Relax. I brought you here to help you."

The man stretched his hand to untie the black cloth wrapped around Leila's eyes. There was a moment of blinding pain after seeing the light. Leila covered her eyes with her hands until her eyes eased back. She found she was in a commodious warehouse. The voice echoed back from the walls.

There was a dim light hanging over the ceiling.

Leila looked at the man talking with her. He was wearing a shiny suit. He had a long, curved scar on his good-looking face, making him look fierce. She was curious about why he had such a scar, but she concealed her expressions. 'If I rile him accidentally, he will kill me, ' she thought to herself.

"It's ugly, isn't it?" he said unhappily with a sneer. "Don't be so nervous. I won't kill you. You can trust me."

It calmed Leila's nerves a bit. But she didn't know why the man had brought her here in such a manner. Thinking about his intentions was useless, so she asked him directly, "What do you want to do? Why did you take me here? I don't know you. Did you mistake me for someone else?"

After she blurted out a series of questions, the man laughed. "You don't know me, but I know you."

After speaking, he turned away from Leila. Leila stood still and stared at the man. She knew she shouldn't trust his words, she had no choice though. He suddenly turned back and said to Leila, "I just want to ask you, do you want to be with Charles?"

"Of course, with all my heart!" Leila replied without hesitation.

She thought of being Charles' mistress or wife day and night, every day. Those thoughts consumed her.