The Billionaire’s Replacement Bride

CHAPTER 6: The Woman at the Table

Morning came too fast.

I barely slept.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw flashes, the wedding, Anita’s face, his voice, the contract… and that last warning.

Don’t trust me.

Yeah.

That was going to be a problem.

A soft knock pulled me out of my thoughts.

“Madam, breakfast is ready.”

Breakfast.

Right.

This life doesn’t pause for emotions.

“I’ll be down,” I replied.

I stood in front of the mirror for a moment, studying myself again.

Same face.

But today… I had to play a role.

Not the abandoned bride.

Not the broken girl.

Mrs. Blackwood.

I straightened my shoulders and walked out.

The dining hall was massive.

Too big for just two people.

A long table stretched across the room, perfectly set. And at the far end.

He was already seated.

Reading something on his tablet like nothing in the world could disturb him.

I walked in slowly.

“Good morning,” I said.

He didn’t look up immediately.

“Sit.”

Of course.

No greetings.

No softness.

Just instructions.

I sat.

Silence followed.

Plates were served.

Food I couldn’t even name.

Nobody spoke.

I picked up my fork, but before I could take a bite—

“Today, you’ll be coming with me.”

I looked up. “Where?”

“A meeting.”

I blinked. “Already?”

“Yes.”

“That’s fast,” I muttered.

He finally looked at me.

“You wanted this life.”

That shut me up.

Fair.

“What kind of meeting?” I asked.

“A public one.”

My stomach tightened slightly.

Public.

“So this is where I prove I’m your ‘perfect wife’?” I said.

“Not perfect,” he corrected calmly. “Convincing.”

I leaned back slightly. “And what exactly does convincing look like to you?”

His gaze held mine.

“Calm. Controlled. Observant.”

A pause.

“And silent when necessary.”

I almost smiled.

Almost.

“Sounds easy enough.”

“It isn’t.”

The way he said it…

Made me pause.

Before I could respond, footsteps echoed from the entrance.

I turned.

And immediately knew

This was not just any breakfast.

A woman walked in like she owned the space.

Elegant. Refined. Dressed in something simple but expensive enough to scream status.

Her eyes landed on me.

And stayed there.

Assessing.

Cold.

“Well,” she said slowly. “So it’s true.”

I glanced at him. “You didn’t tell me we had company.”

“I didn’t think it was necessary,” he replied.

Clearly.

The woman moved closer, her heels clicking softly.

“So this is her,” she continued, circling slightly like she was inspecting me. “The girl from the scandal.”

Girl.

Not woman.

Not wife.

Just… girl.

I kept my expression neutral.

“And you are?” I asked calmly.

Her lips curved slightly.

“I’m the one who was supposed to be sitting where you are. I am Vanessa Hart. ”

Silence.

Ah.

Now it made sense.

I turned to him slowly.

“You left that part out too.”

“She wasn’t relevant,” he said.

The temperature in the room dropped instantly.

Her smile tightened.

“Not relevant?” she repeated softly. “Is that what I am now?”

He didn’t respond.

Didn’t even look at her.

And somehow, that was worse.

Her attention snapped back to me.

“Do you even know what you’ve walked into?” she asked.

I met her gaze steadily.

“Do you?”

That hit.

I saw it.

The slight flicker in her eyes.

But she recovered quickly.

“You’re temporary,” she said. “Everyone knows it.”

“Maybe,” I replied. “But I’m still here.”

Another pause.

Longer this time.

He finally set his tablet down.

“Enough,” he said calmly.

But this time,

There was an edge to it.

“We have a schedule.”

She laughed softly.

“A schedule?” she said. “You replace me overnight and expect me to just… disappear?”

“You were never replaced,” he said.

That sounded worse.

Her expression hardened.

“Then what is she?”

Silence.

For a second,

I almost wanted to hear his answer.

Almost.

He turned his gaze to me.

And said something I wasn’t expecting.

“My wife.”

The room went still.

Even I felt it.

That word again.

But this time,

It sounded different.

Not like a role.

Not like a contract.

Something heavier.

More final.

The woman’s composure cracked slightly.

“This is a mistake,” she said quietly. “And you’ll regret it.”

He didn’t argue.

Didn’t react.

Just stood up.

“Get ready,” he said to me. “We leave in ten minutes.”

Just like that.

Conversation over.

Decision made.

I stood up slowly, my eyes still on her.

“Nice meeting you, Vanessa ” I said calmly.

Not rude.

Not polite either.

Just… enough.

Then I walked out.

But I could feel her eyes on my back.

Burning.

Promising something.

And for the first time since I entered this house

I understood something clearly.

This wasn’t just about revenge anymore.

It wasn’t just about my past.

There were other players in this game.

Other enemies.

And I had just met the first one.

---

As I got ready upstairs, one thought settled in my mind.

If I was going to survive here…

I couldn’t just play the role.

I had to become it.

Because in his world

There was no space for weakness.

And no mercy for mistakes.