Substitute Bride: Utterly Pampered by Her Billionaire Husband Chapter 1523: Arranging a Blind Date

That day, Celeste Linden heard noise outside the room and the maid said, "Master, Miss Carlotta, you’re back?"

Carlotta was discharged from the hospital, and Ethan Barnes brought her back together.

Celeste Linden opened the door and walked out.

Ethan Barnes was considerately supporting Carlotta’s arm, helping her up the stairs. Carlotta looked up and saw Celeste Linden. Their eyes met, and Carlotta was the first to speak, "Cousin, hello, we haven’t seen each other for several days."

Carlotta affectionately called her "cousin", as if nothing had happened among the three of them.

Celeste Linden curved her lips, "Carlotta, are you feeling better?"

Carlotta nodded, "I’m better. Oh, cousin, I have good news to share with you. Ethan and I are getting married soon; I’m going to be your sister-in-law."

Celeste Linden smiled, her gaze fell on Ethan Barnes’ handsome face, "I know, congratulations."

"Ethan, look, cousin is congratulating us." Carlotta also looked at Ethan Barnes.

Ethan Barnes looked up and glanced at Celeste Linden.

Celeste Linden said, "Your wedding is imminent, it seems inappropriate for me to stay here. I’m thinking of leaving, is that okay?"

She brought up leaving again; this was the best time.

Since he had already chosen Carlotta, she should be allowed to leave. Celeste Linden looked at him sincerely.

Carlotta didn’t speak, she just looked at Ethan Barnes.

Ethan Barnes had no expression and just turned his gaze aside, lightly saying, "You’re not suitable to stay here. I’ll arrange a place for you outside."

Celeste Linden’s eyelashes trembled a little. Does he mean... to keep her like a mistress?

Ha.

Carlotta’s expression froze for a moment, then she said, "No need. Why let cousin move out? I feel at ease living with her here. Ethan, this is not up for discussion, you must listen to me."

Celeste Linden said nothing either. She coldly watched the turbulent waves between Carlotta and Ethan Barnes.

Ethan Barnes nodded, yielding to Carlotta, "Alright, I’ll listen to you."

Ethan Barnes took Carlotta back to their room.

Celeste Linden stood there watching them go in.

...

Back in the room, Ethan Barnes released Carlotta, "You rest first. If you need anything, just call the maid. I’m going to the study to work."

"Ethan, are you angry?"

Ethan Barnes paused his footsteps, "What?"

"Ethan, why act like you don’t know? You want Celeste to move out, what, your intention to have a mistress is so obvious, are you afraid I can’t see it?"

"Instead of sneaking around outside, it’s better to live under my nose where I can watch you both with my own eyes."

Ethan Barnes seemed accustomed to her nerves, saying nothing, "Alright, I’ll listen to you. But, you better not challenge my bottom line. I don’t want last time’s incident to happen again. I want her and the baby in her belly to be well."

Is he afraid she’d hurt Celeste and the baby?

"Ha, haha." Carlotta laughed, tears coming out of her eyes. She threw herself over, hugging Ethan Barnes from behind, choking up as she pleaded, "Ethan, I beg you, let Celeste go. Can’t you see? She also wants to leave, she doesn’t love you, she never loved you!"

"Ethan, don’t force me anymore, and don’t make things difficult for yourself and Celeste. Just let go, let Celeste leave here, so the three of us can breathe and live on."

Ethan Barnes frowned slightly, then reached out, peeled her fingers away one by one, "You rest now."

He coldly walked out.

...

In the study, Ethan Barnes sat in the office chair, smoking.

He smoked urgently, one after another, surrounded by smoke.

Documents lay open on the desk, but he hadn’t read a single page.

With a cigarette between his thin lips, he took out his phone and found Celeste Linden’s number, starting to edit a message.

He didn’t know what to send, his fingers hovered over the keys, typing and deleting, deleting and typing again, eventually editing a simple ’What are you doing?’

He sent these four words.

Waited for a response. None. She didn’t reply to him.

Ethan Barnes tapped off the ash in the ashtray and then sent another message, asking ’Why are you ignoring me?’

It went through, but still no response.

He knew she had seen it, but she didn’t reply. Maybe she just didn’t want to care about him.

Ethan Barnes laughed self-deprecatingly, amused by himself.

...

Celeste Linden went downstairs for dinner, though she didn’t really want to, but the maid said Miss Carlotta hoped she would join them.

Though she was helpless to escape there, the sick dynamic of the three made her feel suffocated. She didn’t want to go, but since Carlotta was soon to be the lady of the house, whatever game she played, she must accompany.

In the dining room, Ethan Barnes was also there, and the three began to dine.

Carlotta smiled, "Cousin, I’m curious, what type of men do you like?"

Celeste Linden, complying with the question, thought for a moment and said with a smile, "I had a marriage before, and I’m really fond of that type, a highly educated intellectual, talented and gentle."

Carlotta immediately looked at Ethan Barnes beside her, "Ethan, what a pity, you’re not at all the type that cousin likes."

Ethan Barnes, expressionless, continued cutting the steak on his plate. If you looked closely, you’d notice he slightly curled his lips in a mocking smile, obviously looking down on the type Celeste Linden liked.

"Ethan, you have lots of high-quality single men around you, why not introduce someone to cousin, arrange a blind date?" Carlotta continued.

Celeste Linden understood Carlotta’s intent and played along, "But, I’m pregnant, probably no man would be willing to accept this, take me and the baby."

"Why not? Becoming a dad is nice, marrying you cousin, and the child can call him dad right after it’s born, right Ethan?"

Clang.

Ethan Barnes dropped the knife and fork onto the plate, making a harsh sound.

The maid immediately approached, nervously asking, "Master, is there something wrong with today’s dinner? Would you like us to prepare something else?"

"No need, I’m full." Ethan Barnes pulled out the chair, took his coat, and left directly.

With a loud bang, he slammed the door, echoing in the air.

Carlotta’s face was unpleasant, she ate a bite of the steak, tastelessly like chewing wax. She glanced at Celeste Linden across, "Celeste Linden, aren’t you afraid?"

Celeste Linden, "Afraid of what?"

"With Ethan’s love for me, even if I do something to you, he wouldn’t object. Right now, your life is in my hands."

Celeste Linden looked at Carlotta, not knowing why, but the more Carlotta was like this, the clearer she saw... Ethan’s heart towards her.