His Substitute Bride: From Heartbreak To Revenge Novel by Charis _ Novel



His Substitute Bride: From Heartbreak To Revenge Novel by Charis _ Novel

His Substitute Bride: From Heartbreak To Revenge Chapter 01

Valeria Lincoln was known for being cool–headed and sharp–a beautiful doctor who never let emotions get in the way. She was the kind of woman men admired from a distance. 
Yet she fell in love at first sight with Leroy Huxley–the withdrawn, brooding man everyone avoided. 
Leroy was the head of the Huxley Group. Six years earlier, on the day of his engagement, his fiancée’s father caused a fire while drunk. None of his family survived the fire, except him. 
After that, he cut ties with his former lover, Adelia Sinclair. He changed completely–cold, guarded, unapproachable. 
No one believed Valeria had a chance. 
But Leroy made an exception–for her alone. For three years, all his patience and tenderness belonged to her. 
Until their wedding day. Just as they reached for the rings, a woman suddenly charged forward. 
A knife flashed in her hand, aimed straight at Leroy. 
Valeria didn’t think. She moved and stepped in front of him. 
The blade pierced her chest. Her strength gave out, and she fell into his arms. 
The woman was restrained, screaming at the top of her lungs. “Leroy, we’re not done yet! How can you marry someone else?!”  
Only then did Valeria realize who she was. Adelia–the woman Leroy had fallen out with six years ago. 
Before anyone could react, Adelia broke free again. She turned the knife toward her own throat. 
“Leroy, I’ve had enough of it. Let this end here.” 
Leroy’s pupils shrank. He let go of Valeria and rushed to Adelia, seizing the falling blade with his bare hand. 
Valeria hit the ground hard. 
She watched blood soak through her wedding dress. 
She watched Leroy hold Adelia tightly, terrified she might hurt herself. 
She watched him lift Adelia–unconscious from emotional shock–and hurry past her. 
He never looked at Valeria. Not once. 
She laughed softly, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth. 
Now she understood why he had chosen her in the first place. 
The moment she saw Adelia’s face–so much like her own–it all made sense. 
She had never been the one he loved. She was only a replacement. 
As her vision faded, she heard the guests shouting in panic, “The bride is bleeding out! Call an ambulance–now! She won’t make it!” 
***  
After three hours in surgery, Valeria finally opened her eyes. 
Leroy stood by the bed and handed her a document. 
“Sign it.” 
It was a settlement waiver–for Adelia.  
Valeria tugged at the corner of her mouth. The knife had missed her heart by less than a millimeter. She still wasn’t out of danger. And the first thing her husband said when she woke up was to ask her to forgive the woman who had nearly killed her. 
“Leroy,” her voice was rough. “You are with me because I look like her? Were you good to me… because I was her substitute?” 
Leroy didn’t answer, but his silence said everything. 
That silence was deadlier than any words–like a blunt knife, sawing into her heart, stroke after merciless stroke. 
So that was it. The way he’d drop million–dollar deals when she was on her period, staying up all night to rub her stomach. The way he’d cancel all his work during her vacation and take her to Norway to see the northern lights. The way he’d bring her late–night meals during her night shifts, waiting outside the hospital at dawn to take her home. 
All that tenderness. All that devotion. It had only existed because she looked like Adelia. 
“After everything that happened, there’s no chance for Adelia and me. 
“So the only woman who can be my wife is you.” 
He paused. “But I won’t let Adelia go to prison. Vale, sign the waiver. Don’t make things difficult for me.”  
The last trace of hope inside Valeria was crushed. 
Her heart felt like it had been torn open, raw and bleeding. 
He said his wife would only ever be her–not because he loved her, but because Adelia was impossible. 
Her gaze drifted to the thick bandages around his hand. The injury he’d gotten from grabbing the blade for Adelia. 
“Even if she was trying to kill you?” Valeria asked softly. “Even if I almost died saving you–you still want me to sign?” 
Leroy lowered his eyes, avoiding her stare. 
“I never asked you to save me. 
She froze. Then her eyes burned red, and a hoarse laugh slipped out. 
She was laughing at herself–at three years of delusion, at her moth–to- the–flame foolishness, at believing she had been loved, only to discover it had all been a complete lie. 
“I overstepped,” she said. 
Three years ago, at a friend’s request, she’d gone to the Huxley’s residence to treat Leroy. 
The first time she saw him–injured, yet calmly reviewing documents— she was drawn in by his cold, lonely beauty. 
Since then, she’d fallen for him. 
Everyone said she’d lost her mind. The woman known for reason and restraint, chased a man like this.  
Yet she still did something even she couldn’t believe. She told Leroy her feelings and asked him out. 
She’d expected a cold rejection. Instead, Leroy–the man as cold and unyielding as an iceberg–smiled. 
“Dr. Lincoln,” he said, “this kind of thing should be initiated by a man. 
“Valeria, will you be my girlfriend?” 
From that moment on, the withdrawn and gloomy Leroy gave all his tenderness to her alone. 
Everyone was shocked that she’d truly moved his heart. Even she had believed she was the exception. The only one. 
But the love she thought was hers had never belonged to her at all. 
If that was the case, she didn’t want Leroy anymore. 
“I’ll sign the waiver.” 
She looked at him, her eyes colder than ever before. 
“But you’ll sign the divorce papers–with me.”  

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