The Billionaire’s Secret Bride

"Go shower first," Celia said, pushing him away gently as she crawled into bed.

Nathaniel swallowed hard, his Adam's apple shifting slightly, then turned and headed into the bathroom.

···

Celia picked up her phone and opened the new message. The sender was Julian Fu. Her pupils constricted as she read the content:

Celia, clown girl—go out with me tomorrow.

A date? Now?

She was still acting as someone else's substitute. What kind of joke was this?

Celia quickly replied:

I don't have time tomorrow.

A moment later, another message popped up:

Celia, clown girl—have you forgotten our one-month dating deal? Skip out tomorrow, and your little secret goes public!

"..."

Celia shut off her phone and buried herself under the covers.

Just then, the blanket was lifted. Nathaniel, freshly showered, got into bed."Why are you hiding under the quilt like that? Trying to suffocate yourself?" he asked, raising a brow.

No, Celia thought. I'm just afraid I'll die in your hands instead.

"...Nothing," she said softly. Then, as if on cue, she scooted closer and rested her head gently on his chest. "I have something I need to take care of tomorrow. I won't be able to stay with you and your mother, is that alright?"

Seeing her snuggle up so sweetly, Nathaniel wrapped his strong arm around her slender shoulders."My mother was hoping we'd stay here a couple of days," he said calmly. "What do you need to do tomorrow?"

Go on a forced date with your nephew. What do you think?

Celia sighed inwardly. Ever since she'd gotten involved with Nathaniel, one bad thing after another kept happening. First the substitute act, now blackmail into a relationship with Julian. If Nathaniel found out, he'd probably bury her alive. Maybe next year on this day, someone would be lighting a candle in her memory.

She gently slipped her arms around his waist, then tilted her petite face up to him and blinked."My mom's not feeling well," she said, voice soft and syrupy. "I'd like to go home tomorrow to be with her. Please... is that okay, husband~?"

She dragged the last word out like cotton candy, sweet and feathery.

Nathaniel had heard women fake this tone before. Usually it made his skin crawl. He used to scoff when his friends said men were suckers for that kind of acting. He had always found it childish and insincere.

But now… now it felt different.

He looked down at the girl in his arms, not moving to release her."No," he replied flatly.

No?

Celia blinked in disbelief. Wasn't this man the type who responded better to soft words than hard ones?

Maybe she wasn't trying hard enough.

Her lashes fluttered like butterfly wings. She leaned in again, brushing a kiss along his neck, then trailed her lips to his firm jaw."Please, hubby," she whispered sweetly. "I really need to go tomorrow. Just say yes~"

Nathaniel's eyes narrowed, the corners tinged red. Her sweet, almost mischievous tone, the soft scent of her shampoo, the way her lips touched his skin—it made something stir deep within him.

No wonder men fell for women like this.

But no one else could make him feel this way. Only she could.

Without warning, he lifted her into his arms and settled her on top of him.

Celia froze.Wait—what's he doing?!

The man gazed up at her, his voice low and husky."Mrs. Fu," he said, "do you really not remember what happened that night?"

Her heart skipped a beat.

Not this again.

His strong chest beneath her reminded her far too vividly of that night. Her cheeks flushed red enough to burn. She tried to climb off him."I don't remember," she said quickly. "Really!"

But his hands were already on her waist, holding her in place.He wasn't letting her go.

His eyes were burning now, voice dangerously low:"Mrs. Fu… you obviously remember everything."