Substitute Bride: Utterly Pampered by Her Billionaire Husband-Chapter 1290: So She Was a Substitute

The father called.

Mr. Linden’s lifelong dream was much like his name, to become rich overnight. Unfortunately, fortune never favored him. Four years ago, he sold Celeste Linden to the 1949club, ruining his daughter’s life and entangling her with that demon, Ethan Barnes. Later, when Miles Linden returned, he cut off two of Mr. Linden’s fingers, who then swore he would never gamble again before running away, never to return.

Mr. Linden didn’t dare return, because he knew his son Miles couldn’t tolerate him. Now, he didn’t even dare call Miles but instead phoned Celeste Linden.

Celeste Linden knew that her father must have run out of options, hiding and unable to survive, and now wanted to come back to harm his two children again.

Celeste pressed the button to answer the call, "Hello."

"Hello, is that Celeste? It’s Dad. Where are you right now? Dad wants to see you." Mr. Linden’s voice was low, deliberately ingratiating.

Celeste’s eyes were cold. She did not refuse but nodded, "Okay, wait for me at home. I’ll come see you tonight. It’s inconvenient now, Miles is here."

At the mention of "Miles," Mr. Linden instantly lost his nerve, "Okay, Celeste, make sure you don’t tell Miles I’m back. He’ll kill me. I’ll wait for you at home; no hurry. Come back only when everything’s settled."

Mr. Linden gave a couple of reminders and then hung up the phone.

Celeste put down the phone. Ever since her incident, she hadn’t seen her father, Mr. Linden. In truth, she wanted to ask him if he really had a heart—how could he do such a thing?

Throughout the entire day, Celeste didn’t mention her father’s return. She acted calmly, not arousing any suspicion from Miles. In the evening, she made an excuse that she was going to sleep, then secretly slipped out of the hospital to find Mr. Linden.

...

The same dark and damp slum. Celeste extended her hand and pushed open the door. Mr. Linden had been waiting for a long time inside.

Over the years, Mr. Linden hadn’t fared well; he looked shabby, as if he hadn’t eaten in a long time. Somehow, he found some instant noodles and was wolfing them down.

"Celeste, you’re back?" Mr. Linden quickly swallowed the noodles and eagerly ran over.

Mr. Linden didn’t dare approach Miles, but his daughter had always been obedient and understanding since childhood, very filial.

Celeste looked at him coldly, "Why are you back? Haven’t you harmed me enough?"

"Ce... Celeste, are you still blaming Dad? Yes, it was Dad who sold you to the 1949club, but Dad had no choice..."

"What do you mean by no choice? Did someone hold a knife to force you to gamble? Did someone force you to sell your daughter at knifepoint? I wish you’d never given birth to me!"

"Celeste, don’t be angry. It’s Dad’s fault. Blame it all on Ethan Barnes; he’s the one who..." Mr. Linden suddenly realized he’d slipped up and quickly covered his mouth.

But Celeste had already taken it in. She was extremely sensitive to the name Ethan Barnes!

Ethan Barnes...

What does this mean?

Back then, it was her own father who sold her to the 1949club. Later, at the auction of her first night, Ethan Barnes appeared for the first time, bought her, imprisoned her, and gave her a nightmare of a life.

But now, Celeste sensed something was amiss. Her father seemed to be hiding something from her, and it was related to Ethan Barnes.

"Ethan Barnes? What about him? If you have any fatherly conscience left, you should tell me the truth right now. Speak up!" Celeste’s eyes reddened, pressing Mr. Linden.

Mr. Linden didn’t dare speak; Ethan Barnes had once threatened him to keep silent.

But now, with his daughter forcing him, he was trapped and had no choice but to speak.

"Celeste, let me tell you; it was Ethan Barnes. Ethan Barnes set me up. He knew I loved gambling, so he arranged for someone to bait me into deeper games, causing me to accumulate huge debts. Then he appeared, and I said I couldn’t repay the money. He said he’d take my daughter as payment if I sold you to the 1949club; he’d write off the debt and let me live."

Celeste’s mind exploded with a "boom." She hadn’t expected the truth to be like this, that it was all Ethan Barnes’s trap.

Ethan Barnes was the one who used her father’s hand to sell her into the 1949club, then appeared at the auction of her first night, ruining her life.

It was him!

Celeste had never thought it would be like this. A few days ago, she remembered Ethan Barnes even drove her to see those who had broken her legs. In the car, he kept brainwashing her, saying her fate was bad, that she should blame no one but fate, and that he was her savior, that she should accept it.

This demon!

Everything she suffered in 1949, it was all orchestrated by him.

He was the hidden big boss, wantonly toying with and trampling her life.

He really was a demon!

Celeste’s legs went weak, and she collapsed into a chair. But... how could this be?

She couldn’t understand, couldn’t figure it out, "Ethan Barnes and I didn’t even know each other before. Why did he target me?"

"Celeste, do you remember when you first started college, a wealthy man gave you a huge check, wanting to keep you?" Mr. Linden said.

Celeste froze, remembering. Back when she first started college, suddenly a butler-looking man had found her and handed her a check, "Miss Linden, hello. This is from my master for you."

At that time, she glanced at it, the check with many zeros, a lot of money.

She followed the butler’s gaze across the street to see a long, black luxury car parked there. The car window wasn’t rolled down, so she couldn’t see the person inside. But she sensed a pair of eyes, like a beast’s, staring at her with determination.

She didn’t accept the check but asked, "Why did your master send me a check?"

"Miss Linden, my master has taken a liking to you. Just sign this agreement, and you’ll enjoy endless wealth and prosperity." The butler handed her an agreement.

She glanced at it; it had those four big words: Sponsorship Agreement.

At that time, many boys were pursuing her, including young talents from wealthy families, who showed all kinds of gestures of goodwill, but it was the first time she had encountered such a blatant sponsorship agreement.

"Miss Linden, you can continue your studies. My master will buy you a house. As long as you serve him when needed, a few times a month will do." The butler was very straightforward.

At that moment, she felt anger and humiliation. However, she didn’t act impulsively but asked calmly, "Since your master is so wealthy, with countless beauties in this world, why did he choose me? I’ve never met him, have I?"

The butler gave a meaningful smile, "Miss Linden, you’re very clever. My master chose you because... you look very similar to someone. Sometimes resembling someone is your lifelong fortune."

Oh, so she was a stand-in.