CEO's Substitute Bride

There was complete silence before Aurora quickly added, "I've been too busy in the past, so I wasn't able to find time to be with
you back then. How about you let me make it up to you now? What do you say? Let me apologize for all that lost time."
If this had happened a couple of months back, Alyssa would've been very ecstatic. In fact, whatever her mother needed, she'd
readily provide, as long as it meant that they'd grow closer together. However, after everything that had happened now, she knew
that her mother's intentions weren't that simple.
How careless of her to use being busy as an excuse!
Being busy...her mother had always used that as an excuse, but whenever Skylar was involved, she'd drop everything and race
out the front door. She never took any of Alyssa's concerns to heart, which resulted in their estranged relationship.
Besides, Aurora was a full-time housewife. She didn't even need to manage anything inside the house given the number of
maids that Jason had hired. What could she busy herself with? Counting her money?
Alyssa remembered that day when she had bought a movie ticket and asked her mother watched it with her. Although hesitant,
Aurora agreed, asking for her to wait in the cinema and that she'd meet her there.
However, up until the movie ended, Aurora never showed up.
When Alyssa returned home, she learned that it was because Skylar had gotten drunk at a party, Aurora was busy picking her up
and sending her to the hospital that she paid no attention to the movie date she had promised her. Aurora even didn’t even
bother to call Alyssa and kept her waiting until the movie ended.
A small bitter smile appeared across her lips. "Sure, send me the address."
As soon as she hung up, Hazel shook her head in disappointment.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" She raised her eyebrows.
"Your mother invited you to dinner again?" Hazel said angrily, crossing her arms over her chest. "And you're going? Do you really
want to go back to her? After everything that bitch Skylar has done? I'm sure she'll be there too."

“Yes.” Alyssa confirmed, pulling Hazel to sit on the sofa. Before the later could continue with her rant, she asked, "Hey, I asked
you to bring a brick on your way here. Did you bring it?"
"Yeah, it's in the car. I'll get it for you." Hazel responded.
Even after numerous efforts, Alyssa still couldn't break into her door. She didn't know how long she'd have to wait if she were to
call a locksmith, so she decided to take matters into her own hands. That was why she had asked Hazel to get her a brick.
“Holy Shit!" Hazel burst into laughter as soon as she figured out what Alyssa was trying to do. Just as she was about to join her,
her manager called on her once again. Since her projects doubling due to her rising fame, she had gotten busy over the last few
weeks.
Just as she was about to leave, she quickly waved Alyssa over. "Hey, do you mind taking a video of yourself? Just for
entertainment purposes of course."
Alyssa didn’t know how to reply. Did Hazel’s fans know how juvenile she was?
Once Hazel had gone, she gripped the brick and walked to the door of her room before smashing the door handle. The noise
echoed across the hallway as she did it one more time.
Emmett, who was in his study, was attracted by this noise and walked over. When he spotted the brick in her hand, the corners
of his lips tugged into a smile. He rubbed his forehead, laughing softly.
This woman was really... unpredictable!
This woman was really... unpredictable!
Just as she was going to hit the handle once again, he grabbed a hold of her wrist and leaned in a bit closer. "Cousin isn't home.
You can sleep in his room in the meantime unless you're looking into paying for this door?"
Alyssa also believed that destroying other people's properties wasn't the right answer, but she had no other choice. She pointed

at her room before waving her hand. "My things are inside."
"You're married. Cousin already asked his bodyguards to send all the female items into his room the moment you've stepped into
his house. There are even a few clothes that you can use." In reality, he actually only ordered his bodyguards recently.
Alyssa had never expected that, but she shook her head and said frankly, “But I am afraid of sleeping in his room.”
If she had stepped into his room without Emmett's permission, who knew what he'd do? She'd have to wait for him to come back
instead. It's only proper, right?
“Justin” might laugh at that, but she was just being honest.
Emmett did not see that coming. Was she the same woman who bickered with him all the time?
"I'll just smash the door open. Besides, I don't think he'll let me pay for the door. He wouldn't be so petty." After all, he had given
her a phone, hadn't he? Alyssa also didn't see him managing her issues at all, giving her all the freedom she needed. He wasn't
that bad at all.
Emmett’s black eyes flashed with a hint of shock, and then he stopped talking.
She had already complimented how generous he was; that meant that her impression of him had gotten better as compared to
the first time they've met. That was progress, wasn't it? His fingers twitched towards the brick.
At this point, he had no choice but to offer his help
He reached out for the brick in Alyssa’s hand and smashed the handle in a few moves. The door swung open within a few
seconds.
Alyssa blinked. It seemed that he became more bearable after everything that had happened last night. She paused before
saying, "Thank you."
Well, at least their friendship had progressed, at least, just a bit.

Emmett didn't say another word as he turned around and left. However, the way he was hunched over made him appear irritated
over the small matter.
He didn't walk far before he saw a few of his bodyguards coming up the steps. "Sir, did something happen?"
“It was nothing.” Emmett glanced at the group of men.
He was suggesting that they should turn back.
The bodyguards immediately understood the meaning behind his words and quickly headed down the stairs. Even then, they
were confused by the matter.
Upon hearing the big commotion just now, the bodyguards had assumed that their Young Master was fighting with Young
Madame. One of them even bet a hundred dollars that this was happening, but their boss didn't even appear fazed. Although
irritated, he certainly didn't look like he had just come from a fight.
Just as Emmett entered the room, he received a message from Xavier.
It was 40 seconds voice message. Clicking on the voice message, he placed his phone back on his table and listened.
“Am I disturbing you at this hour? Did the two of you have a good night last night? Did you use the things I had sent you earlier?
If you ever need anything, I..."
Emmett pressed the power button and locked the screen.
With a sigh, he headed into his walk-in closet.
His walk-in closet was exceptionally large. Half of the room was filled with suits and casual wear, while the other half was filled
with skirts, dresses, and jeans. All of them had been prepared for Alyssa, but it seemed that she wouldn't wear them for now.

She must've hated him with a passion to be so careless. If she had actually paid close attention, she would've realized that he
lived the master bedroom. She'd also realize that “Emmett” and “Justin” had never appeared at the same time.
Maybe it was because she had a preconceived notion that Emmett didn't like to be seen all too much.
He couldn't help but remember the time when she had heard it was Emmett who had given her that phone. Her eyes
automatically lit up with joy that it almost melted the ice in his heart. He sighed, shaking his head.
At this moment, he couldn't help but feel a little jealous of himself.
...
Alyssa closed the door behind her and lay on the bed.
She honestly felt more at ease sleeping on this bed, rather than in the Master Bedroom. After resting for a while, she got up to
wash her face and change her clothes.
Standing in front of the mirror, she hesitated for a meant before deciding not to pretend to be ugly anymore. Besides, “Justin”
already knew her appearance. If she pretended any more, it would just be troublesome for her. Moreover, she also wasn't
planning to eat lunch with Aurora anyway, so putting up a face would be even more troublesome.
Emmett had been nothing but kind to her. He had probably never seen her face, so it was best not to go into more trouble than
she could carry. With a sigh, she wiped her face with a towel before placing it on the rack.
As she did so, her fingers slid against her lips.
Her couldn't help but think the time when “Justin” had kissed her. There was something about the way his fingers swept across
her wrists and the way his breath fanned against her neck that made her feel warm inside. There was a sense of comfort that
she had never felt before, a tinge of passion that had revived her.
When Alyssa regained her senses, she realized that she had been reliving ‘Justin’s’ kiss. Her face immediately turned pale.

“Justin” was Emmett’s cousin. What was she thinking!
Even until she had changed her clothes, her face was still a bit flushed, and her eyes were still misty.
As if by her bad luck, she knocked onto “Justin” at the staircase.
Upon seeing her flushed face, he frowned. "Are you okay?"
As he spoke, he reached out to touch her forehead.
But before his touch could linger, she immediately jumped back as if she would get a 440 volt electric shock by his touch. She
then said in panic. "I...I'm fine."
Without another word, she rushed away.
Emmett stood, frozen by her sudden reaction. He glanced at his empty hand that was still in the air, and his frown deepened
even further. A part of him couldn't help but wonder if the woman really hated him that much that she'd retreat from his touch so
readily.
He walked to the banister and watched Alyssa running away with her bag on her shoulder. Although his face darkened even
further, he tilted his head in worry, apprehensively following her. Where was she going?