The Substitute Bride -- CEO's Secret Darling Wife

"Chenguang…" Emily hesitated, not knowing how to answer her brother's desperate question. Instead, she settled for a promise. "No matter what happens with the family, your second sister will make sure you finish college."

Luo Chenguang didn't respond. His eyes were filled with a deep, simmering hatred, but he said nothing.

The next day, Emily spent the entire morning running around the film set, trying to find some work. The afternoon was quieter, with no one needing her on set. With no other option, she ended up as a background extra, blending into the crowd behind the lead stars.

As a "background board"—someone who simply stands behind the actors—she earned a mere two hundred yuan for the day. But opportunities like this were rare, and with so many others competing for the same jobs, she couldn't afford to pass it up.

By four o'clock, she found herself completely idle. She wandered around the film and television city, hoping to find another crew in need of extras. After some time, luck finally struck. She found a new film set that was looking for people. The crew was shooting a war film set in the Republic of China, and the location was a mountain in the suburbs.

This time, Emily was asked to play a soldier. The production was understaffed with men, so she stepped in to fill the gap. She wasn't about to turn down the work—after all, it was money. She changed into a dirty soldier's uniform and lined up with the rest of the cast, following the director's orders.

"Alright, everyone, light the fire! Get moving, run in place!" the director barked.

The crew set fire to the barricades soaked in engine oil. As several rows of soldiers began to run in place, Emily carried her prop gun—light, but awkward to hold as she tried to keep up with the others. Even though it wasn't heavy, she had to be careful, as she was pregnant.

"Ready, soldiers, RUN!" the director shouted.

The chaos of the scene soon erupted. Explosions rang out everywhere. The sound of gunfire filled the air, and plumes of smoke rose as mud and debris flew through the sky. The nurses and intelligence officers in the tent crouched down, their faces stricken with fear.

Emily's vision blurred. She kept running, heart pounding, until the director finally shouted for a break.

"Cut! That's a wrap!" he called.

The sound of distant explosions still echoed in her ears as she stood still, disoriented. She slowly opened her eyes, staring at the clear blue sky.

After receiving her meager ten-yuan red envelope from the crew—her share of the earnings—she climbed into the truck with the other extras. They were driven back to the city, packed tightly in the back of a truck where everyone changed clothes. By the time they reached the city, it was already 6:30 p.m.

As she disembarked, Emily remembered her mother's earlier call asking her to make some soup for her father. She sighed, the weight of her responsibilities pressing down on her as she made her way back to Palm Springs.

Private Hospital

Meanwhile, Alexander was still at the hospital, sitting beside Dong Nianxue's bed. She hadn't woken up once that day. The assistant brought over a stack of documents for Alexander to review, and as the paperwork filled up nearly half the coffee table, Alexander sighed.

"President," the assistant said, breaking his concentration.

"Hmm?" Alexander muttered absently, looking up for a moment before returning his attention to Nianxue. He gave her hand a soft, affectionate kiss.

The assistant watched him with quiet judgment. Seeing the lifeless woman in the bed reminded him of Emily. If Nianxue's situation was pitiable, then Emily's was downright tragic.

As Alexander started going through the documents, the assistant left him to work in peace. Not long afterward, Alexander's phone rang. He glanced at Nianxue, noting that she was still asleep, and quietly left the room to take the call.

The moment he stepped outside, Luo Chenguang slipped into the empty VIP ward. He moved cautiously, making sure to avoid being seen as he approached Nianxue. With swift, disturbing precision, he grabbed the pillow she was resting on and smothered her face with it.

He applied more and more pressure, his face twisted in a violent, almost unrecognizable expression of hatred.

At first, Nianxue didn't react. But then, her fingers twitched and her body began to convulse slightly.

Luo Chenguang didn't notice. His vision was blurred by rage, and his eyes were bloodshot as his hatred for Alexander boiled over. He believed this was some kind of cosmic retribution—Alexander had defrauded the Roche Group, and this was the price to pay. His beloved was in pain, and now, it was his turn to suffer.

Just as the pressure intensified, Alexander returned from his call. His gaze flicked to the room and froze as he saw Luo Chenguang with a pillow over Nianxue's face. For a moment, time seemed to slow down. His heart raced, his blood turned cold.

Without thinking, Alexander dropped his phone and lunged forward, grabbing Luo Chenguang and throwing him aside. He punched him squarely in the jaw, then drove his knee into his abdomen with a sickening thud. He grabbed a nearby thermos and slammed it into Luo Chenguang's head with brutal force.

"Who the hell told you to hurt Nian Xue?" Alexander's voice was a low growl, his eyes wide and feral with rage. His forehead veins were bulging as his grip tightened around Luo Chenguang's collar.

Luo Chenguang, hunched over in pain, sputtered as he vomited up beer onto the floor. Blood began to drip from his head, his vision going dark. His body trembled as he gasped for air, barely able to focus.

"Who the hell told you to swindle my company away?" Luo Chenguang spat through gritted teeth, barely able to speak. The words came out distorted, his voice hoarse.

Alexander's face twisted in disgust as he prepared to strike again, but before he could move, Luo Chenguang passed out cold.

With a cold, final shove, Alexander tossed him to the ground. He rushed to Nianxue's side, panic flooding him as he checked her condition. Her breathing was shallow. He quickly pressed the pager next to her bed.

Within moments, Dr. Bai Geng and several nurses arrived in the room. They looked at the chaos with confusion.

"What happened here?" Bai Geng asked, his brow furrowed as he surveyed the bloody scene.

"Just check Nianxue!" Alexander barked, his voice full of anxiety.

Bai Geng didn't question further. He immediately moved to Nianxue's side and began his examination.

"She's fine, Alexander," Bai Geng said, shaking his head after a thorough check. "No serious issues."

A sigh of relief escaped Alexander, but his face remained taut with worry.

"So what's going on here? What happened?" Bai Geng asked, his eyes flicking between Alexander and Luo Chenguang's unconscious form.

Alexander didn't say a word about what had transpired. Instead, he muttered, "Call his family."

Bai Geng hesitated, but then, as if struck by an idea, he reached for his phone and made the call.

Fifteen minutes later.

Emily rushed into the VIP ward, her heart pounding. She didn't see Luo Chenguang anywhere, but she did see Alexander.

What the hell?

She had just received a call from Bai Geng, saying Luo Chenguang was in trouble and asking her to come to the hospital. But now… Why was he here instead?

Alexander's eyes locked onto Emily, narrowing slightly. His gaze made her feel like an intruder in the room.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice cold.

"I—" Emily stammered, suddenly feeling small under his intense stare. She dropped her eyes, her chin almost touching her chest as she averted her gaze.

"Sorry, I must have come to the wrong ward," she mumbled, trying to turn away and leave.

But just as she was about to turn around, she noticed Nianxue lying on the hospital bed. She froze, confusion flickering across her face.

Was this woman Alexander's lover? Wasn't he supposed to be waiting for her to wake up?

But Nianxue didn't seem like she was just asleep—she looked lifeless, like she had already given up the fight.