The Substitute Bride

Sam's face dimmed as he came out of the doctor's office. He was worried about Autumn because she always had to endure attacks, hatred and bitterness from so many people. Despite all that, she never complained to anybody about it. Her mild mannered nature was an open invitation to those who wanted to cause her trouble.

"Is she all right? What did the doctor say?" Chris asked him with much worry. "Is Autumn going to be okay?"

"She'll be fine." Sam added, "The doctor told me that she was overwhelmed by work and caught a cold. But don't worry. She will get through this. It will be easier to recover once the fever is gone."

He didn't tell Chris everything. Chris felt better after hearing his reassurances, but Sam remained wary of Autumn's condition.

"Mr. Lu." Sam approached Gary and said, "It's getting late. You should go home and rest. Chris and I will stay here and take care of her."

"Okay." Gary nodded and said, "Thank you."

"You are welcome." Sam asked his driver to drive Gary home, then he said to Chris, pointing at an empty bed, "Stop crying. If you won't, your eyes will be swollen in the morning. You look really tired. You can have this bed and rest here."

"I'm fine." Chris said wiping the tears from her eyes. "Please stay and watch over Autumn for a moment. I am going to wash my face."

Then she left the ward. After washing her face, she called Charles. She wondered how Charles could fully concentrate on his work while his wife was so sick. Did he know that Autumn was rushed to the hospital?

Chris was ready to lose her temper, ready to give him an earful. Charles had better answer the phone immediately.

Charles had just lost a program that day. To drown his disappointment, he had drunk some wine at a party. That was when his phone rang. Unfortunately he couldn't hear it because of the loud music.

Leila was enjoying the situation and persuaded him to drink a lot of wine, making sure tha

y to listen to any sound coming from it.

Autumn grabbed his hand desperately and cried, "Charles, this is not true, this can't be true..."

She tried to pull Charles back to her side but he pushed her away heavily and said seriously, "Autumn, I want a divorce. I love Leila. She is the one I should have married."

"Noooooo!" Autumn woke up with a scream. She found her clothes drenched in sweat and tears flooding her face. The dream was so clear that it almost felt like it really happened.

"Autumn."

"Little Ye." Chris and Sam were glad to see her awake. They had just recovered from the fright they got when Autumn woke up screaming again.

"Are you all right? Did you have a nightmare just now?" Chris wiped her face with tissue and asked with concern, "How do you feel now? Do you feel better?"

"I'm all right." Autumn calmed down as she realized that Chris and Sam were keeping her company. She told her that it was just a dream and it wouldn't happen in the real world.

"Little Ye, are you sure you are fine? Do you feel any discomfort in any part of your body?" Sam asked. He worried that Autumn couldn't get over the mental and emotional distress.

"I'm fine, really." Autumn slightly shook her head and said to Sam, "I'm thirsty. Could you get me some water, Sam?"