The Substitute Bride

"Oh it's nothing. I am just fine, " Leila responded as she shook her head slightly. The very next second, tears suddenly started to trickle down her flushed cheeks and then she was unable to hold it. She had worked so hard and tried especially hoping that Charles would pay special regard to her if she bagged the deal. But now her hope had shattered into small pieces. Everything was so messed up beyond repair which meant that all of her efforts were in vain.

"Are you in pain?" Charles asked softly, looking at Leila who was injured. "I will take you straight away to the hospital, " he added.

Her face was scratched while there were many bruises across her body. Her clothes were nearly torn. Upon seeing this, Charles took off his coat, and draped it around Leila. "Please put it on and wait here while I clear the bill. After that I will take you to the hospital."

After he paid the bill for the meal, he drove Leila to a hospital. On the way to get there, both of them sat in silence and did not utter a word to each other. Once they reached, the doctor began with cleaning her wounds with alcohol while Charles waited outside for her. Fortunately, it was not serious at all and she just had to apply some ointment over the bruises every day. Charles was relieved upon hearing the doctor say that she would recover very soon.

"Let me take you back." Charles insisted on dropping her back. As they arrived around her house block, she did not get off the car immediately. Slowly, she turned to Charles and said, "Mr. Lu, I am so very sorry and embarrassed for how things unfolded today. And I really appreciate what you did for me with all my heart. Thank you so very much!"

"Why are you apologizing to me? You don't have to say sorry to me without any reason, " Charles replied with confusion and honesty.

"I really did consider and plan to sign the contract with Mr. Xu today. But now I have screwed it up. And we even lost the chance to cooperate with Mr. Xu. It is all my fault. You lost face and business because of me today. I am really sorry, " Leila explained in an apologetic and sincere tone.

"Is that all?" Charles, instead of getting angry, burst into a hearty laughter.

Leila felt so guilty for what happened as she had worked hard for a long time to get the project from Mr. Xu successfully. In this way, Leila thought Charles would get impressed by her.

However, as she learned that Charles did not seem to care about it, Leila felt a little shocked and yet anxious. "Mr. Lu, why are you not worried about it?"

"Mr. Xu called me just a moment earlier and he asked me to sign a five-year contract with him tomorrow, " explained Charles. Charles received the cal

She was hospitalized twice these past days, but her bad temperament had disappeared once she was discharged from the hospital. What's more, she was no longer suspicious about Leila since she fully believed in Charles now.

"Please sleep now. It is getting late, " said Charles. He held tightly Autumn in his arms.

The next day morning, Charles sent Autumn to her company and then went to work. The preparation for the press conference of Giant Promise Company was almost finished as it was going to be held on Sunday. Therefore, all staff in the company were busy making final touches on their respective work for the event. However, they did not expect that Roger would come again.

"Why are you here again? What do you plan to do this time? I will call the police if you stay here and obstruct our work flow, " Isla said angrily. Isla was busy discussing some crucial details of the press conference with Autumn when the foreground lady took Roger in abruptly. Isla was furious when Roger showed up in front of her.

Roger had not come here since his relationship with Rachel was disclosed. However, Rachel forced him to come here today, because the shooting for the film was about to begin. Roger had no other options but to come here since he was afraid that he would displease Rachel.

"Isla, don't get so angry. Would you mind coming out for a moment? I am going to have a chat with him, " Autumn said calmly to Isla.

"No, " replied Isla firmly without hesitating for even a second. "Autumn, he is dangerous. I can't let you stay alone with him under any circumstance."

"Don't worry, Isla. I am sure he will not dare to stir any sort of trouble here with all these people around, " Autumn assured her since she too was growing eager and anxious to know why he kept badgering her.