Mr. CEO's Substitute Bride-Chapter 1103 - 1099: Josephine Hawthorne’s Dilemma

Nicholas Croft lit a cigar for himself, resting against the bed with his chest bare.

A thin blanket covered his lower abdomen, revealing his muscular chest and a small part of his firm abs.

After an intense workout, a lingering flush still tinged his handsome face, his short hair naturally fell over his forehead, shedding his usual gentlemanly demeanor for a bit more of a wicked allure.

His slender fingers held the cigar up to his lips for a puff, exuding an irresistible charm even as he gently exhaled the smoke.

Beatrice Hargrave leaned against his arm, a thin blanket just covering her chest, as she picked up her phone and began scrolling through the news again.

After a video of Hannah Hargrave being interviewed by reporters was released, the online insults intensified. Terms like "white lotus" and "scheming bitch" had become civilized words, with some brainless trolls resorting to vulgar language for personal attacks. Yet, seeing those insulting comments, Beatrice didn’t feel angry at all.

Really, because she knew it was Hannah who should be the angriest at this moment.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have put on such a pitiful act in front of the media, with the intent to let public opinion crush her.

However, Hannah didn’t understand her. She was like an indestructible cockroach, and after being slapped by Hannah once, she swore to herself that one day, she would deliver a fatal blow to him!

On another note, her quick reconciliation with Nicholas was largely thanks to Hannah’s credit. If it weren’t for her drugging Nicholas, she wouldn’t have forgiven him so swiftly.

Looking at the insulting comments targeting her, Beatrice exaggeratedly clicked her tongue, showed Nicholas her phone, and asked with her face upturned, "Everywhere is filled with comments scolding me. Do you think they’ll throw eggs at me during the next concert?"

Nicholas moved the phone aside with his cigar-holding fingers and slowly blew smoke at Beatrice’s face, "No, we won’t sing at the next one."

Beatrice’s eyes widened in surprise, turning around to press against Nicholas’s bare chest, "Why?"

"Aren’t you worried about being pelted with eggs?" As he spoke, Nicholas took another puff of his cigar and slowly exhaled it toward Beatrice’s face.

Beatrice frowned and waved it away, then turned to lean against the bed with a sigh, pulling the thin blanket over her chest, "Looking at the current situation, even if it’s held normally, there might not be an audience."

With such loud criticism now, it’d be a wonder if anyone came to support then.

"Then let’s cancel the few remaining shows." Taking a puff from his cigar, Nicholas said calmly. His assistant had called this morning, saying there were refund requests everywhere. Even a normal performance would probably not have many attendees, so it would be better to cancel the concert and take this opportunity to vacation abroad with her.

Beatrice turned her head back, and Nicholas extended his arm. Beatrice leaned forward, allowing his long arm to encircle her shoulders, and said with doubt, "If you cancel, won’t your investment go down the drain?"

"Losing millions to win a beauty’s smile is worth it." Nicholas, with a relaxed gaze, saw Beatrice frowning in disapproval, "Uncle Nicholas, you’re so wasteful. Don’t you feel the pain with so much money?"

"Not at all, as long as you’re happy." Nicholas stubbed out the cigar in the ashtray, turned back, cradling the back of Beatrice’s head, resting his forehead against hers, and gently said, "Let’s use this opportunity to travel, as a sort of early honeymoon."

His forehead pressed against Beatrice’s forehead, "Just a chance to go out and play, consider it an early honeymoon."

"Uncle Nicholas?" Beatrice’s breath quickened, he just said early honeymoon, "Are you saying..."

"Silly girl." Nicholas smiled, teasing Beatrice’s nose, "Really don’t need a wedding?"

Even though he wanted to give her a grand wedding, he respected her decision more.

Blinking her eyes, Beatrice said, "No wedding needed, as long as Uncle Nicholas loves me for a lifetime."

Ah! Nicholas inhaled, exhaling, looking into Beatrice’s eyes, speaking with a slightly heavy voice.

"Then let’s get the certificate first, then travel."

Previously, he wanted to wait for Sophie Foster to grow a bit before getting the certificate, but he didn’t want...

Fearing anything unexpected, Nicholas planned to get the certificate first, only feeling at ease once protected by law.

"When will we get the certificate?"

Beatrice’s clear eyes shone with hopeful light, Nicholas grinned, his eyes glittering with stars, gently rubbing the top of Beatrice’s head, softly saying.

"Whenever you want, we’ll get it immediately."

"Okay." Beatrice willingly circled Nicholas’s neck, pressing her lips together in determination and said, "Uncle Nicholas, on our wedding night, I’ll give you a big gift."

"What big gift?" Nicholas raised an eyebrow, Beatrice smiled mysteriously, "You’ll know then."

"But I want a gift now, what should I do?" Nicholas’s handsome face leaned closer, smiling with a clear hint of mischief, his voice was noticeably teasing, then without giving Beatrice a chance to react, he pressed her down again...

Two days later, Nicholas and Beatrice appeared together at the Hargrave family villa.

"Nicholas, are you really planning to marry Beatrice?" Henry Hargrave leaned on the sofa, looking at the man and woman standing hand in hand in the middle of the hall.

"Yes." Meeting Henry Hargrave’s authoritative gaze, Nicholas said firmly, tightening his grip on Beatrice’s hand, "We’re here to ask you to give me Beatrice’s household registration book. We plan to get our marriage certificate this afternoon."

"No way!" Josephine Hawthorne suddenly shot up from the sofa, tightening her shawl over her shoulders, her fierce demeanor clashing with her outfit, "Nicholas, I must have been blind. I used to think you were a gentleman, but I didn’t expect you to be enjoying both sisters! Sleeping with our Hannah and not taking responsibility is one thing, but now you want to marry this little bitch!"

"Josephine!" Henry Hargrave clapped the sofa armrest and reprimanded in a low voice, his displeased look seemed to remind his wife, while Nicholas frowned, "Madam, please think before you speak. Beatrice is also your daughter!"

Josephine understood her husband’s meaning, but in her current fit of rage, she didn’t care if it was embarrassing, glaring at her husband and continuing to shout at Nicholas, "What? Did I say something wrong? She!" Here, she raised her hand to point at Beatrice, sneering coldly before continuing.

"To seduce her future brother-in-law, isn’t she a bitch?"

"You’re the bitch! Your whole family is despicable! Can’t have Uncle Nicholas so you tried drugging him, such lowly tactics only someone from the Hargrave family could come up with!" At this point, Beatrice forgot about maintaining her pure image in front of Nicholas, curling her lips in mockery to retaliate.