The Mysterious Billionaire and His Substitute Bride

“You haven’t changed at all.” Charis looked down at her glass of wine, unable to hide the disappointment in her eyes.

Ethan swept a glance over the room, then made a point of glancing at his watch. Without another word, he stood up and buttoned his suit jacket. “It’s getting late, and I still have work to do. Enjoy yourself.”

He had only attended the party for formality’s sake. Charis’ return was no small matter, after all, and Brandon Larson certainly had to be present at her welcome party.

Charis’ head immediately shot up. “Oh, you’re not done for the day yet?” she blurted out. “Do you need my help with anything?” They had only been talking for a few minutes. She was reluctant to see him leave so quickly.

Her offer made Ethan frown, but his tone remained polite. “This party is all about you. There’s no point in you disappearing in an event held in your honor.”

In the end, Charis could only sit back and watch dejectedly as Ethan walked away. When he was finally gone from sight, she downed her wine glass in one gulp.

“Oh, did you not have a pleasant conversation?” Garrett asked, plopping down on the seat beside her. “Didn’t he give you an update on what has been happening to him recently?”

her glass with more wine. “How do you expect us to catch up with anything? He said he was busy with work and took

to the side and rubbed his chin. So Ethan hadn’t told her anything. He watched her drink her sorrows away out of the corner of his eye. “I know you came back

seriousness in his tone and paused. She already knew what was coming. “You’re going to

need for that, I’m afraid. I’ve loved him all these years. I’m not giving up until I have absolutely no choice but

I’m not telling you to give up, I just wanted you to understand something. Now, if you don’t want to hear it, then I won’t say anything. But know that if you act carelessly in the future, it might affect

his warning. After a while, she asked,

was a catch; there was no way someone so brilliant would stay single for years at a time. That was all okay, because she could wait. She had already waited for the better half of her

married,” Garrett

struck her like lightning, and

How was this possible?

could Ethan have gotten married

of this?” Charis demanded. “I’ve been paying attention to his every move, even when