The CEO's Secret Replacement Bride

The First Night in the Cold Mansion

The wooden floor of the Hale mansion was so clean Elena could see her own reflection in it. The entire house was decorated in cold black and white tones, no trace of warmth, just like the man sitting in the wheelchair in front of her.

Asher waved his hand to dismiss the maid who was about to come forward to help, his gaze fixed on Elena, his ice-blue eyes filled with undisguised contempt: "Close the door."

Elena's fingers trembled slightly, but she still turned around and closed the bedroom door softly. The moment the door clicked shut, the atmosphere in the room became even more oppressive, so heavy she could barely breathe.

Asher reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and threw a stack of printed papers onto the coffee table in front of him, the papers sliding to the edge of the table with a sharp sound. "Take it. This is the marriage contract. Sign it."

Elena walked over and picked up the papers, her eyes scanning the contents quickly. Every clause was full of humiliation:

She must never disclose that she was a substitute bride to anyone outside the family

She must obey all of Asher's orders unconditionally, and must not refuse any request he makes

She would not get a single cent of the Hale family's property, and if they divorced within three years, she would leave the house without anything

She must not fall in love with Asher, nor could she have any improper thoughts about the position of Mrs. Hale

"Sign it." Asher's voice was cold, "Otherwise, I will call the hospital right now and cancel your mother's surgery."

Elena bit her lower lip hard, the taste of blood spreading in her mouth. She picked up the pen on the table and signed her name on the last page of the contract without hesitation, her handwriting neat and calm.

"Smart." Asher sneered, flipping through the contract she had signed, "I thought you would put on a show of resistance like your sister. But you are more obedient than I thought. For money, you really can do anything, can't you?"

Elena didn't refute. She knew that any explanation would be meaningless to this man who had already labeled her as a greedy gold digger. "Can I go see my mother tomorrow after the surgery?" she asked in a low voice.

"No." Asher refused directly, "From today on, you are Mrs. Hale in name. You can't go anywhere without my permission. Your job now is to stay in this house and serve me. If you do well, I might consider letting you see your mother once a month."

He paused, his gaze falling on her pale face, and added slowly, his voice full of malice: "Of course, if you make me unhappy even once, I will stop your mother's medication immediately. You should know that I can do that."

Elena's heart sank. She nodded: "I understand. What do you need me to do now?"

"Help me take off my suit and change my clothes." Asher ordered, leaning back in his wheelchair, his expression lazy but full of commanding aura, "The maid is on leave today. You are my wife, this is your job."

Elena walked over to him, her fingers shaking as she reached for the buttons of his suit jacket. She had never been so close to a man before, the faint cold cedar scent on his body wrapping around her, making her heart beat faster unconsciously. When she unbuttoned the third button, her finger accidentally brushed against his warm chest skin, and she flinched like she had been burned.

"Don't act like you are innocent." Asher grabbed her wrist suddenly, his grip so tight it felt like he was going to break her bones, "You Carter family women are all the same, good at pretending to be pure to seduce men. How many men have you touched before you married me, huh?"

"I haven't." Elena raised her head to look at him, her eyes clear, "I'm not my sister."

Asher stared at her for a few seconds, then let go of her wrist like he was touching something dirty, a disgusted look on his face: "Whatever. Hurry up and change my clothes, then help me apply the medicine on my legs. Don't keep me waiting."

Elena suppressed the soreness in her wrist and continued to help him take off his suit, then helped him change into a loose silk pajamas. When she rolled up his pajama pants to apply the medicine, she saw the old scars crisscrossing on his strong calves, and her heart skipped a beat. Those scars looked very old, but they were still very clear, obviously left by the car accident three years ago.

"Does it hurt?" she blurted out without thinking.

Asher's face turned cold instantly, he raised his leg and kicked her hand away hard, the medicine bottle in her hand falling to the ground with a crash, the liquid spilling all over the floor. "Don't pretend to care about me." His voice was full of fury, "You and your entire family are the ones who made me like this. You have no right to ask me that."

Elena froze, her hand burning from the kick. She didn't understand what he meant. What did his car accident have to do with the Carter family?

"Get out." Asher's voice was cold, his eyes red with suppressed anger, "Sleep in the guest room next door. Don't appear in front of me before I call you tomorrow."

Elena didn't say anything, she bent down to pick up the broken glass pieces on the floor, then turned and walked out of the bedroom, closing the door softly behind her.

She walked into the cold guest room, and just as she sat down on the bed, her phone rang. It was the hospital calling, telling her that her mother's surgery had been arranged for tomorrow morning, and the Carter family had already paid the fee.

Elena let out a long breath, tears finally falling down her face. It was worth it, she told herself. Even if she had to endure three years of humiliation, as long as her mother could live, it was all worth it.

She didn't know that outside the guest room door, Asher was sitting in his wheelchair, his fingers tapping on the armrest slowly, his expression unreadable. He had heard her crying inside the room, and for some reason, his heart, which had been cold for three years, twitched slightly for a second.