The Substitute Bride

This was all she ever dreamed of and all she wanted for herself.

"Well, that sounds right." The man smiled grimly and pinched Leila's chin, taking a glimpse at her face under the dim light. A second later, he said with satisfaction, "You look pretty. I like it."

Leila remained motionlessly since she was gripped by fear not knowing his intentions. She was afraid the man would snap her neck if he got irritated and was not pleased by what she said.

Slowly, the man put down his hands and loosened his grip. Gazing at Leila, he addressed her in a vicious tone, "If you really want to be with Charles, then you have to listen to me and follow my directions carefully, or..."

However, before the man could finish his sentence, Leila interrupted him after seconds' hesitation. "Are you serious? Do you really get a way to let me be with Charles?" Though frightened, Leila still wanted to ensure if the man was telling the truth.

"Of course I am not joking, " replied the man with a sneer. "I promise you that you could be with him within half a year as long as you would follow my words. Just wait and watch, " he added.

"Okay, I will make the deal with you." Leila replied without any hesitation, when she heard this assurance from the man, especially as she got fired today and had not other hope.

Now that Charles dismissed her, Leila had no chance to get close to him at all. If she wanted to be with him, the only choice was to obey the man standing in front of her. He was the last straw that could save her from drowning alone.

"What do you want me to do?" Leila asked in a resolute tone; she had made up her mind.

She would like to do anything as long as she could be with Charles.

"Good girl, I like the sound of your determination!" After hearing this from Leila, the man patted her face with great content. "Go back and submit your resignation letter. Finish the handover procedure today itself. Then you could go back home and have a good rest. But you have to keep your phone alive all day long and I will call you if necessary. Remember that."

"That's it?" Shocked by the man's words, Leila widened her eyes as she didn't expect things would be so smooth. She did trust the man a moment ago, but now she began to be suspicious as to how things could unfurl in her favor so simply.

"Are you doubting me?" The man looked severe as he sensed the growing suspicioun in her eyes. "The most annoying thing in my life is to be suspected by others. And I don't hope it will happen again, " he said in a harsh voice.

"No... That is not what is happening." Leila hastily explained. She was frightened by the man'

ain like a thorn deep in Autumn's heart and it would cause her to explode at any time.

Leaning on the couch in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, Autumn was enjoying the sun bath. After Charles finished speaking, Autumn replied leisurely, "What do you want to talk?"

"Leila. I want to talk about it with you." As Autumn heard this name from Charles, Autumn felt astonished but soon she calmed down. Hesitating for a few seconds, she then turned to Charles and said seriously, "Well, then let's talk and get over with this."

After all, it had to be solved sooner or later.

Moving closer to Autumn, Charles started first, "Autumn, I didn't know anything about the necklace until today. Please do not pay any heed to it."

"I know and I understand everything. You do not need to explain anything, " replied Autumn in a low voice. Though she was in a bad mental space, she was now able to distinguish truth from false.

It was obvious that Leila strived to irritate Autumn. But it was fortunate that Charles went back in time, or she would be deceived.

"We quarreled several times because of Leila, and I always said that you may overthink about it. But I found that you were right today. It was me who was too careless."

'Now that I have made the mistake, I have to rectify it and take good care of Autumn since she has been wronged for such a long time.' Charles thought to himself.

Upon hearing this, Autumn still kept silent and said nothing. All she cared about was her baby and she would protect her baby from hurt at any cost.

"Autumn..." Charles held her hands gently and went on, "I just received the call from HR Department. They told me that Leila has been suspended from office. And we have no common ground with her anymore."