Substitute Bride: Utterly Pampered by Her Billionaire Husband Chapter 1: Stand-In Bride for a Fortunate Marriage

In the autumn of 2015, Serena Sterling found herself on a train, journeying from the quiet countryside towards the bustling city of Bayside.

At the tender age of nine, she had been sent away, and it was only today, after years away, that she was summoned back. The reason was singular: the Sterling family intended to wed their daughter to the occupant of The Elysian Manor, a union meant to avert impending disaster.

Rumor had it that the intended groom at The Elysian Manor was already gravely ill. With two daughters in the Sterling family, neither keen on the prospect of marriage, Serena had been brought back from her rural seclusion to serve as a substitute bride.

As Serena Sterling rested on the sleeper berth, engrossed in a book, the compartment door was abruptly flung open. An icy blast of wind swept in, carrying with it the faint, sweet scent of blood.

Serena looked up just in time to see a tall, strikingly handsome figure collapse into her cabin from the outside.

He had lost consciousness.

Moments later, several men clad in black burst in. "Boss, there's no one else around now, let's send him to the underworld."

"Who said there's no one else here?"

The leader of the group, a man with a noticeable scar across his face, turned his gaze towards Serena Sterling.

Serena had not anticipated such immediate peril. The man who had collapsed into her small space had brought dangerous adversaries with him. The scar-faced man's eyes were alight with murderous intent, clearly aiming to eliminate any potential witnesses.

Without a flicker of panic, Serena quickly assessed their weaponry before adopting a facade of terror. "Please don't hurt me, I didn't see anything," she pleaded.

The scar-faced man advanced, his eyes fixed on Serena's face. Though a veil concealed her features, a pair of mesmerizing, bright eyes shone through.

Those eyes were extraordinarily clear, shimmering as if alive with dancing light.

The scar-faced man had never encountered such captivating eyes. Instantly enthralled, and having been without female company for days, lust clouded his judgment.

"Little beauty, we can let you live, but you'll have to entertain my men."

Serena's long lashes fluttered as she whimpered, "I don't want to die, I'm so scared. As long as you don't harm me, I will serve you well."

The young woman's soft pleas were too much for the scar-faced man to resist. He lunged, pinning Serena beneath him.

"Boss, you go on ahead. We'll deal with him, then we can have our fun."

Amidst lewd chuckles and the enveloping warmth of a woman's presence, the scar-faced man discarded his weapon and reached to unbutton Serena's attire.

But in the very next second, a slender, pale hand clamped firmly around his.

The scar-faced man looked up, his gaze meeting the girl's captivating eyes directly. The fear was gone, replaced by a fierce, cold glitter.

"You!"

He attempted to utter a word, but Serena, with swift and practiced precision, plunged a silver needle into the scar-faced man's temple.

The man's eyes fluttered shut as he crumpled to the ground.

"Boss!"

The men in black recoiled in shock, ready to charge, but suddenly, the man who had been lying prone on the ground sprang to life, seizing a weapon from one of them.

One by one, the men in black were swiftly incapacitated and fell to the ground.

The entire encounter unfolded with astonishing speed.

Serena calmly sat up, having known all along that the man had merely been feigning unconsciousness and that the blood on him belonged to someone else.

Serena glanced up at the man, who was also observing her intently. He possessed remarkably deep-set, narrow eyes, as sharp as a hawk's, each holding a tiny abyss capable of consuming anyone who dared to look.

"Young Master, we were delayed."

Rescuers arrived, efficiently beginning the clean-up, and a trusted subordinate presented the man with a fresh handkerchief.

With elegant movements, the man wiped his hands before walking purposefully towards Serena. His defined fingers gently grasped her delicate chin.

He studied her with his narrowed eyes, his voice a low, magnetic rumble, "How do you suppose I should deal with you?"

With her chin held captive by his calloused fingers, Serena was compelled to meet his gaze. He stood tall and imposing, remarkably handsome, emanating an aura as cold and commanding as the deepest night.

Even after wiping his hands, she could still detect that faint, metallic scent and the chilling hint of brutality.

Having witnessed something she shouldn't have, escaping unscathed would be a challenge.

This man was undeniably dangerous.

Slap!

Serena forcefully pulled her chin away and declared with unwavering resolve, "How presumptuous! I am the bride-to-be of The Elysian Manor!"

The bride-to-be of The Elysian Manor?

The man's brow arched in intrigued amusement. His...bride?

"Are you from Bayside? Then you must know that a daughter of the Sterling family is betrothed to The Elysian Manor. This wedding is the talk of the town, and I am that bride. If anything were to happen to me, do you think you wouldn't face even greater repercussions? Let me go. I saw nothing, and I will remain silent!"

Serena offered a silent, grateful thought to her stepmother, Lillian Sterling. Lillian had brought her back to Bayside, albeit by arranging passage on a cheap train. The wedding, however, was designed to be a grand affair, meant to bolster Serena's public image.

The impending marriage of a Sterling family daughter to The Elysian Manor was the most significant piece of gossip in Bayside, and Serena was banking on the fact that this man would wish to avoid any ensuing complications.

With a gleam of interest, the man observed her. An ambush by business rivals had been his day's ordeal, and encountering this young woman was entirely by chance.

She appeared to be no older than twenty. Though her attire was disheveled and her complexion pale, her eyes shone with a remarkable clarity and intelligence, sparkling as if lit from within.

Most importantly, contrary to all expectations, she was his bride.

The man retracted his intense gaze and, with his retinue, departed.

Serena's tightly clasped hands slowly lost their tension.

Just then, the man leading the group turned his head, his lips forming words she could decipher: "We shall meet again soon."

...

The grand Elysian Manor was the chosen venue for the Sterling family's wedding festivities today.

Within the designated bridal lounge, Vanessa confronted her half-sister, Serena Sterling. "Serena, you lost your mother at nine, and not long after, you pushed grandpa down the stairs. Even the fortune tellers proclaimed you a jinx, which is why Dad banished you to the countryside. If it weren't for the urgent need for you to return and ward off impending disaster, you'd never have been brought back. Remember your place; you are not the Sterling family's beloved daughter, but merely a dog the Sterling family keeps!"

Seated at the vanity, Serena responded with practiced calm, "Which dog is barking now?"

Vanessa placed her hands on her hips, retorting, "It's barking at you!"

Serena offered a gentle smile. "I see. Then there's no need for you to bark any further."

A flicker of realization crossed Vanessa's face; Serena had deftly outmaneuvered her with words. She studied Serena's luminous eyes – all along, veiled, yet conveying an undeniable beauty that was striking at first glance.

An intense wave of jealousy washed over Vanessa, fueling a dark desire to gouge out Serena's captivating eyes. How could this supposed country bumpkin possibly possess such beauty? It had to be a deception; she was surely an ugly girl!

"Serena, it's time, let's go!" Gregory and Lillian Sterling entered, accompanied by a retinue of distinguished guests.