The Substitute Bride

"What..." Leila didn't believe she could pass herself off as Autumn enough to win Charles' affection.

At most, she's had the privilege to listen to Charles talk his heart out. But she was far from becoming his lover.

And even drunk, he would not sleep with her.

So, this was Leila's greatest challenge.

Meanwhile, Chris was relentless in pushing her to complete the mission. "You think this is beyond your reach?" Chris asked. She hoped sneering at Leila would encourage the woman to hurry up.

"I'm afraid so. Definitely," Leila replied. Every day she was not making progress, which filled Leila with more doubt. "As far as we're concerned, Mr. Lu tends to sleep alone when drunk. And this is making it impossible to play my game," she told Chris.

"So, it's time to act more wisely," Charles' sister suggested. Bluntly, she told Leila her idea. "You can make it appear that Charles slept with you. And then you can use Charlie, his son who is in your charge, as leverage."

Leila looked doubtfully at Chris. She didn't believe she could rely on the boy, who she knew was too willful and capricious.

But she said confidently,"Don't worry. I know what to do." She had waited three years, and was determined to win Charles.

With Autumn supposedly dead, Leila was in a position to be made part of Lu family, passing herself off as Charlie's mother. She intended to use the child to her advantage.

Leila stood up and said,"I need to go back home now and take care of Charlie." Chris watched her leave, wondering what Leila had planned.

The following day, Chris invited Charles to have breakfast with her at the table. "Have a taste of this shrimp-filled wonton," she offered her brother.

"No, thank you. Just enjoy it yourself," he replied. Charles felt disheartened and couldn't hide it.

Worried about her brother, Chris appealed,"Please eat, even just a little. Besides, I have something to talk to you." He sighed and gave in to his sister's wishes. Charles sat down beside Chris and had a bowl of wonton, prepared by Nacy Zhang specifically to help get rid of his hangover.

Surprisingly, he enjoyed the meal much to Chris' de

his wife. If I were Autumn, I would find it very heartwarming to know my husband still adores me."

"But I'm just as devoted to you," David rushed to tell Alice. Her eyes twinkled at his words, but she put an end to the sweet talk. "Get back to work!" she snapped.

Alice truly sympathized with Autumn's fate.

She may not have known Charles' wife very long, but she found out that Autumn's life had been full of hardships and ordeals. Now, not only did she go missing, she was pregnant with no contact with her family. 'And who knows what happened to her? She may be in even bigger trouble, ' Alice thought to herself.

Back in America

Sheryl was feeling uneasy over Anthony's absence. Their constant quarreling and fights pushed him to leave.

With no one to argue with, Sheryl realized how unbearable it was to live without Anthony.

It seemed laughable that she was sitting on the couch watching a comedy show but looking petrified.

What was most frustrating for her now was Anthony not appreciating all her efforts to make sure she and Shirley live a more comfortable life. Making matters worse was his reaction to her getting a job interview.

She found it strange and somewhat terrifying when Anthony flew into a rage at the knowledge that she had left the house to go in for the interview. "Sher, are you okay?" asked a small voice.

There was no reply. Shirley then crawled up the coach and cuddled up to Sheryl.