The Billionaire’s Secret Bride

Celia blushed at the memory of the second night she had shared a bed with him—his deep kisses still vivid in her mind.

Nathaniel went to the study, while she entered the new bedroom alone. She picked up her nightgown and headed into the bathroom to take a shower.

Not long after, the door creaked open—Nathaniel had returned.

Her phone, resting on the bedside table, buzzed with a soft ding. A text message popped up on the screen.

Nathaniel hadn't intended to snoop, but the screen lit up automatically. The sender was Julian Fu.

His expression darkened instantly.

Why would Julian be texting Sylvia?

Just then, the bathroom door opened with a soft click, and Celia stepped out, trailing warm steam and the delicate scent of her shower.

Nathaniel turned to her."Julian just messaged you."

"What?" Celia froze.

Nathaniel's eyes narrowed suspiciously."Why is Julian texting you?"

Celia mentally cursed Julian. One day, that man would be the death of her.

She forced a calm smile and walked over to pick up her phone."Oh, Julian likes Su Ci—you know, the maid? He probably wants to know more about her from me."

Feigning innocence, she added, "He seems to really care about her. I think they'd make a sweet couple, don't you?"

Nathaniel's deep-set eyes gave nothing away, but his tone turned cold."No, I don't. Julian's too simple-minded. Someone like Su Ci isn't a good match for him."

She's not good enough for Julian?

So this was why he'd always opposed their connection?

Celia frowned slightly."Su Ci hasn't done anything to you. Why do you have such a strong bias against her?"

Nathaniel stepped closer, studying her flushed cheeks. Her skin was still pink from the heat of the shower, soft and glowing like porcelain. He couldn't resist the urge to reach out and pinch her cheek.

"She's just not as clean as you," he murmured.

Clean? Did he mean she was dirty?

Anger surged in Celia's chest. On impulse, she stood on tiptoe and kissed him hard on the lips.

There, now you're dirty too, she thought bitterly. Let's both be "unclean" together.

Nathaniel's body stiffened—but then he wrapped an arm around her slender waist.

That waist… it felt so familiar—slender, delicate, just like Su Ci's.

Suddenly, everything clicked.

The reason he had been drawn to Su Ci was because she reminded him of Sylvia in almost every way. Her face, her figure—it all overlapped. That familiarity had confused and captivated him.

But not anymore.

Now, he had fallen for the woman in front of him—not the illusion.

He no longer wanted to resist.

He pinched her soft waist and looked down at her, his gaze smoldering.

"I haven't even showered yet," he said, voice low and teasing. "Why so eager... Mrs. Fu?"

Mrs. Fu.

It was the first time he had called her that.

His deep, magnetic voice wrapped around those two words like velvet—gentle, playful, and unmistakably affectionate.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

Celia felt her heart pound wildly in her chest. She had kissed him to vent her frustration—but that one simple "Mrs. Fu" nearly melted her bones.

Was she... falling for him?

Falling for Nathaniel Fu?

No. No, she couldn't.

He was Sylvia's husband. And she… she was just the stand-in. She had only stepped into this role because she had no choice.

All his affection, all his gentle teasing—even the way he said "Mrs. Fu"—none of it was meant for her.

It was all for Sylvia.