Substitute Bride: Healing The Ruthless Heir

Serena burst into the hospital lobby. Her soaked canvas shoes squeaked loudly against the polished marble floor.

She practically ran down the crowded corridors. She reached the sterile isolation ward.

She pressed her hands against the cold glass, looking at her little brother, Simon. He lay there, pale and fragile, surrounded by machines.

Dr. Mason walked up to her, holding a thick stack of bills.

He looked at her with pity. He told her that Simon's trust fund account was completely empty.

Serena grabbed the doctor's sleeve. She begged him for a few more days.

Dr. Mason shook his head. He said the hospital administration gave the order. The medication would stop tomorrow.

Serena let go of his sleeve. She backed away until her shoulders hit the freezing wall.

She slid down to the floor and buried her face in her hands. Her chest heaved.

Her cracked phone vibrated in her pocket.

She pulled it out. The name of her aunt, Giselle, flashed on the screen.

She took a deep breath, forcing her voice to steady. She pressed answer.

Giselle's shrill, arrogant voice pierced her ear.

"Get back to the Sterling estate in Long Island right now," Giselle ordered. "We have a family announcement."

Serena gritted her teeth and hung up.

She stood up, took one last look at Simon through the glass, and turned toward the subway station.

Sitting on the freezing metal bench at the platform, she pulled out a battered, heavy laptop from her bag. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, the rapidly scrolling lines of encrypted code reflecting in her cold eyes. In this world, this was her only real weapon.

After a grueling subway ride and a long walk in the rain, Serena pushed open the heavy iron doors of the Sterling estate.

In the lavish living room, Giselle and her cousin Sylvia sat on a velvet sofa. They were sipping English tea.

Sylvia looked Serena up and down. Her eyes lingered on the oversized, damp men's shirt.

She sneered, calling Serena a piece of trash who spent the night in the gutter.

Serena ignored her. She stared directly at Giselle.

"What do you want?" Serena asked, her voice flat and cold.

Giselle set her teacup down on the saucer with a clink.

She stated her terms. Serena was going to take Sylvia's place and marry into the Beaumont family.

Serena's eyes widened. Everyone in New York knew the Beaumont heir, Felix, was a crippled, disfigured madman after his car crash.

Sylvia stood up. She walked over and pointed a manicured finger at Serena.

"I am not marrying a cripple," Sylvia spat. "That garbage is exactly what you deserve."

"No," Serena said instantly. She turned around, ready to walk out of this toxic house.

Giselle let out a dry laugh. She picked up a manila folder and slammed it down on the mahogany coffee table.

Serena stopped. She looked at the document. Her pupils shrank to pinpricks.

It was a mandatory transfer consent form for Simon.

Giselle smiled cruelly. She said if Serena refused the marriage, the Sterling family would cut off all medical sponsorship for Simon immediately.

Serena lunged forward. She stopped inches from Giselle.

Her hands balled into fists. Her fingernails dug so hard into her palms that drops of blood welled up.

Sylvia stepped up and poked Serena hard in the shoulder. She told her to wake up and accept her pathetic reality.

A fleeting thought flashed through her mind-with a precise angle and just enough force, she could easily snap Sylvia's neck right here in this lavish room. She forced her muscles to relax, burying that lethal instinct deeply rooted in her bones.

She closed her eyes. Simon's pale, smiling face in the isolation tank filled her vision.

The room was dead silent. The grandfather clock ticked in the corner, counting down the seconds of her freedom.

Serena opened her eyes. The anger was gone. Only a terrifying, calculating ice remained.

She slapped Sylvia's hand away. The movement was so fast and violent that Sylvia stumbled backward.

Serena locked eyes with Giselle. Her voice was hoarse but steady.

"I have conditions."

Giselle rolled her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips. She assumed Serena wanted money for a new dress.

Serena swallowed the bile in her throat. She agreed to the absurd substitute marriage, trading her life for her brother's.