Substitute Bride: Utterly Pampered by Her Billionaire Husband-Chapter 1235: Bar Encounter

Jodie Young turned and walked away, intending to find Mort Thorne and settle accounts.

"Mom!" Dianna Hollis grabbed Jodie Young’s arm, saying seriously, "Mom, please don’t go looking for Mort. Mort and I have been through so much together over the years, through many storms and separations. I trust him. Mom, if you trust your daughter, then please don’t act impulsively. Give Mort some time, and give me some time."

Jodie Young stopped in her tracks, looked at Dianna, and then nodded, saying, "Alright, I’ll listen to you. But you are my daughter; make sure you don’t let yourself be bullied by a man."

"Mom, don’t worry. No one can bully me."

...

Dianna Hollis had arranged to meet Raymond Alden at the bar.

Inside the bar.

Raymond Alden said, "Dianna, we were only in a fake marriage. Our marriage has been officially annulled now, and you’re free, truly free."

"Brother, thank you," Dianna said sincerely.

Raymond smiled a little. Actually, he liked Dianna. From the first moment he saw her three years ago, her unyielding determination deeply attracted him.

However, he knew Dianna was in love with Mort Thorne.

These past three years, he had silently guarded her, given his all, and now, seeing Dianna finally able to embrace happiness, he was happy too.

"By the way, brother, any news on the matter I asked you about last time?"

"Yes," Raymond nodded. "Last time you gave me the measurements, and I’ve had the prosthetic limb custom-made. It’s the most advanced high-tech product; once Mort wears it, he’ll move freely."

Dianna had secretly taken Mort’s measurements previously and asked Raymond to help her with this matter.

The high-tech prosthetic that Raymond had was not yet available domestically; even abroad, it was top-notch. With Mort wearing this high-tech prosthetic, it would be perfect.

"Dianna, how have things been between you and Mort Thorne lately?" Raymond asked.

Dianna smiled faintly, "Very good."

"Dianna, look, who’s here?" Raymond suddenly said.

Dianna turned around, seeing the bar door being pushed open and a group of people walking in, led by a tall, robust figure...

It’s Mort Thorne.

Mort came.

Today, Mort wore a black v-neck sweater and army green pants cinched at the waist, heavy military boots on his feet. Standing at the forefront, he instantly drew everyone’s attention.

The tall man, with handsome features, exuded a calm and composed aura, like a magnet tightly attracting everyone.

Behind Mort was Charles Bishop, and further behind was the Crimson Eye Soldier.

The Crimson Eye Soldier was incorporated into the elite special forces, and Mort Thorne continued to serve as the senior commander, exercising direct leadership.

They walked into a secluded private room where everyone sat down.

Dianna looked at them, her gaze falling on Mort, felt as if she hadn’t seen him in a long time, and missed him intensely.

Charles and the others were talking, Mort sat on the sofa at the back, where it was too dimly lit to see his expression clearly. He pulled out a cigarette from a pack, lighting it languidly, and began to smoke.

"Wow, look at that group of soldiers, they’re really handsome."

"That soldier smoking alone inside is really dazzlingly handsome."

"What soldier? I think he’s more like... a soldier uncle."

"These older soldier uncles are really captivating. Look at those legs, that muscle."

A group of girls chattered away, almost drooling.

Dianna’s gaze roamed over Mort, noting that when he smoked, his long legs overlapped in such an unbeatable way, and upward, a black belt cinched his muscular waist, skimming over narrow abs. The black v-neck sweater revealed some tempting chest lines, with his exposed Adam’s apple both sharp and sexy, and his whole being exuded an indescribable masculine charm.

Maybe it was because she hadn’t seen him in a long time, or maybe because he had become even more composed and reserved after rising to power, Dianna felt the current him was too daunting to stare at directly.

Time had endowed him with such a presence, making him fearsome even without anger, with an aura of stern oppression.

Perhaps this presence was the real aura of someone in a commanding position.

He really was the chief now.

In the future, whenever she saw him, she’d have to greet him as "Chief, sir."

Dianna lowered her eyelash-like wings gracefully, softly biting her lips with her small, white teeth, feeling both joyful and a bit apprehensive.

In the future, she wouldn’t know how to interact with him.

In her mind appeared scenes from over a month ago, when she’d cling to his waist, asking for his embrace; he would lift her up onto his shoulder.

Those times were truly beautiful.

But now, he was even more wonderful.

She loved him all.

At this moment, she heard the girls whispering again,

"Alright, stop being lovesick. That soldier uncle looks like he has a title; he’s not interested in you."

"You can’t say that. No matter how high the rank of the soldier uncle is, he’s still a man, and these men in the military don’t see women for months, half a year, or even a year, so they’re pretty bottled up with desire."

"Someone like soldier uncle, with a cold, aloof exterior, seemingly restrained, is the most restless heart."

"Stop right there; no need to go overboard, haha."

The girls giggled and teased each other.

Dianna’s small palm-sized face blushed slightly. Hearing them talk made her recall past intimate moments between her and him.

Raymond was right beside her, and Dianna, trying to hide her blush, drank some milk.

Now that she was pregnant, she couldn’t drink alcohol, so she ordered a chilled glass of milk.

But the milk was too cold; she took a small sip, warming it in her mouth before carefully swallowing.

"Dianna, I never thought Mort Thorne would become the chief. I’ve read all about him in the news--a people’s hero, a military legend, a true hard man. No wonder you were so devotedly in love with him without caring about the future back then. Everyone else thought Mort was too much of a mess and unworthy of you."

Losing to such a man, Raymond was wholeheartedly convinced.

Since he found out Mort was the Blood Eagle, he had accepted it.

Every man loses to their romantic rival begrudgingly, but he conceded without grievance.

Dianna smiled with red lips, having very few friends, Raymond being one of them. Her brows arched with a smile, "Brother, you’ll surely meet a girl much better than me. My life... only enough to love one person."

Actually, she understood Raymond’s feelings.

Yet in these three years, she had never given Raymond hope and was very straightforward.

The look in Raymond’s eyes flashed with a note of nostalgia; a life that only allows room for loving one person. He was keenly aware that Dianna was the best girl in the world.

He would never again meet anyone as pure, clean, and courageous as her.

"Dianna, but why do I feel that things between you and Mort Thorne are odd now, Mort came in here but has not come over?"

Hearing this, Dianna’s wings trembled a bit, but her smile remained unchanged as she softly replied, "Though I don’t know what he’s doing right now, I believe he has his reasons."