The Billionaire’s Substitute Bride

Chapter Thirteen: The First Warning

Yvonne arrived at her new office early the next morning.

She had barely stepped inside when her assistant approached her.

"Good morning, Miss Carter."

"Good morning."

"There are some documents that need your attention."

Yvonne took them.

"Leave them on my desk."

She entered her office and began working.

For the first time, she was experiencing what she had always imagined university life would lead to.

She was building something.

No one was ordering her around.

No one was telling her she wasn't important.

She was finally becoming the woman she had always wanted to be.

Around midday, her phone rang.

It was Adrian.

"Are you busy?"

Yvonne smiled.

"Very."

"Then I'll make it quick."

"What do you want?"

"Lunch."

She laughed.

"You're terrible at making things quick."

"I'll take that as a yes."

An hour later, Adrian arrived.

They ate together in her office.

Yvonne told him about the progress she'd made, and Adrian listened with genuine interest.

"You're going to do well," he said.

"I hope so."

"You will."

Yvonne smiled.

"I wish I had your confidence."

"You'll develop it."

She looked at him.

"You really believe that?"

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't."

For a moment, they simply looked at each other.

Then Adrian's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

"It's my father."

He answered.

"Hello?"

Edward's voice came through.

"I need you at the office."

Adrian's expression changed.

"Is something wrong?"

"We need to discuss the Carter agreement."

Adrian glanced at Yvonne.

"I'll be there."

He ended the call.

"I have to go."

Yvonne nodded.

"Of course."

Before leaving, he leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"I'll call you tonight."

She smiled.

"Okay."

After he left, Yvonne returned to work.

She didn't notice the woman standing across the street.

The woman had been watching the office for several minutes.

She took out her phone.

"She has already started working," she said.

A voice answered on the other end.

"Good."

The woman looked toward Yvonne's office window.

"And Adrian visits her almost every day."

There was a pause.

"Then we're on the right track."

The call ended.

Back at the Carter mansion, Charlotte sat in her room.

Her phone buzzed.

She checked the message.

I have the information you asked for.

Charlotte smiled.

She opened the file.

Yvonne's business plans.

Her finances.

Her investors.

Her schedule.

Everything was there.

Charlotte studied the documents carefully.

Then her eyes stopped on one particular detail.

Yvonne had planned to expand her company within the next year.

Charlotte smiled.

"So you finally found something you love."

She closed the file.

"Let's see how long you get to keep it."

Meanwhile, Yvonne sat alone in her office, completely unaware that the first threat to the life she was building had already begun.

And this time, it wouldn't come from her family openly.

It would come from someone smiling directly at her.