All Chapters of THE SUBSTITUTE HUSBAND BECAME HIS WIFE'S BOSS: Chapter 151
- Chapter 160
212 chapters
Chapter 103
Fueled by Santiago's unexpected support, Luca found his second wind of false bravado. His swollen face twisted into something ugly as he turned his attention fully on Diego, who remained seated in his chair, exhausted from using the cursed hand."You know what?" Luca's voice rose again. "The least your crippled husband could do is show some gratitude to his savior!"Esperanza was the only one who'd been paying close enough attention to see what actually happened when Diego touched that enforcer's wrist. She hadn't understood the mechanics—hadn't seen the red streaks that had appeared and vanished so quickly—but she'd felt something. A wrongness in the air. A darkness that radiated from Diego's left hand for just a moment.And it had terrified her in a way nothing else had.Not fear of Diego. Fear for him. Fear of what that power might cost him.While her brother and Luca continued running their mouths, Esperanza stood frozen, trying to process what she'd witnessed.Diego sat in his ch
Chapter 104
Santiago's sudden laughter cut through the building tension like a blade, the sound echoing across the destroyed ballroom. It was forced, theatrical, but effective enough to shift the dangerous atmosphere."Alright, alright!" Santiago held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Let's all calm down here. Luca, my friend, while it's true that Diego was fortunate to have you there tonight to save him, I don't think there's really a need for him to get on his knees. That's a bit much, don't you think?"Luca's face was still flushed with rage and humiliation, but Santiago's intervention gave him an out. He read the situation quickly, recognizing that pushing Diego further might have consequences he wasn't prepared for."You're right, of course." Luca's tone shifted abruptly, his anger transforming into condescension. "I was just teasing the poor cripple. Having a bit of fun. I'm far too generous a man to actually expect gratitude for my acts of valor.""Acts of valor," Esperanza repeated un
CHAPTER 105 PART 1
Diego saw Esperanza's hand moving toward his gloved left hand, her eyes distant and unfocused, and panic shot through him. The dark energy inside the glove was calling to her, trying to reestablish its hold, to jump back into its former host.He dropped his right crutch and lunged forward, catching her wrist with his ungloved right hand just inches before she could make contact with the cursed glove."STOP!" His voice cut through whatever trance had gripped her.Esperanza jerked back, gasping, her eyes snapping into focus. She shook her head as if clearing cobwebs, looking around in confusion."What—what just happened?" Her voice was dazed, genuinely unaware of what she'd been about to do."You were about to touch my left hand," Diego said, his grip on her wrist firm but gentle. "The glove. You don't remember?""I..." Esperanza's confusion deepened. "No. I remember us talking, and then... nothing. Just a blank space. And now you're holding my wrist."Diego released her and stepped bac
CHAPTER 105 PART 2
"Because I chose to show mercy. But the choice was mine to make." Diego flexed his gloved fingers. "That's the terrifying part, Esperanza. I have this power now. This ability to end lives with a single touch. And part of me—the dark part that's growing inside me—wants to use it."They sat in silence, the weight of this revelation hanging between them."Is that why you've been keeping your distance from me?" Esperanza asked finally. "Not just because the curse might spread, but because you're afraid of what you might do?""Both," Diego admitted. "The curse actively tries to spread to you because it recognizes you as a former host. And I'm terrified that in a moment of weakness, in a moment when the darkness takes over, I might hurt you without meaning to.""You would never—""You don't know that!" Diego's voice rose. "Neither do I! That's the problem! I feel myself changing, Esperanza. Becoming something darker. Something that sees violence as a solution rather than a last resort. What
CHAPTER 106 PART 1
Neither Diego nor Esperanza knew that Santiago had planted a spy within their household weeks ago. Maria, a junior maid who cleaned the upper floors, had been accepting substantial payments from Santiago in exchange for information about his sister's marriage.The arrangement had been simple: report anything unusual, anything that suggested problems between Diego and Esperanza, and Santiago would ensure Maria's family was well compensated.So when Maria saw Diego moving his belongings from the master bedroom to a guest suite late that night—carrying clothes on hangers, relocating personal items, clearly establishing separate sleeping arrangements—she didn't hesitate.Within minutes, she'd sent Santiago a detailed text message describing everything she'd witnessed.Santiago read the message three times, a slow smile spreading across his face.Diego had moved out of the master bedroom. Was sleeping separately from Esperanza. Had been banished from the marital bed.Santiago didn't unders
CHAPTER 106 PART 2
"Arrogant even in defeat!" Santiago stood, pacing. "You've lost, Diego! Lost your wife's affection, lost your place in this family, lost everything! The least you could do is have the dignity to admit it!"Diego finally focused his full attention on Santiago. "I haven't lost anything that matters.""You're sleeping in a guest room!""By choice. To protect Esperanza.""That's what you're telling yourself?" Santiago laughed. "That's the lie you're using to cope with being rejected? 'I'm protecting her'? Pathetic!"Diego felt irritation beginning to build. Santiago's voice was like nails on a chalkboard—constant, grating, impossible to ignore."You should leave," Diego said quietly."I'm not done—""I'm giving you a warning, Santiago." Diego's voice dropped to something colder. "Keep pushing, and you might find yourself with... problems. Medical problems. The kind I fixed for you before."Santiago froze mid-word. His face went pale as memory crashed over him.Two years ago, before Diego
Chapter 107 PART 1
Esperanza couldn't accept it. Wouldn't accept it.Diego had moved into a separate bedroom to protect her—she understood his reasoning intellectually. But emotionally? It felt like punishment for a crime she didn't commit. Like being forced to watch her marriage disintegrate from across a hallway.And the worst part? It was her fault. Diego had absorbed that curse to save her life. He was suffering, isolated, trapped with darkness in his left hand because of her.She couldn't just sit by and accept this as permanent.Late at night, while Diego slept in his separate suite, Esperanza sat at her desk researching. Medical journals, alternative medicine practitioners, specialists in rare conditions. Anyone who might have insight into curse-based afflictions or mystical poisons.She contacted doctors discreetly, careful not to reveal too many details. Describing Diego's condition in vague terms, fishing for any lead that might help.Most dismissed her inquiries as fantasy or referred her to
CHAPTER 107 PART 2
Diego ran his ungloved right hand through his hair, exhaustion evident. "What do you want me to say? That I'll ignore the danger? Pretend the curse won't try to spread to you? I can't do that.""Then figure out a way to make it safe!" Esperanza's voice dropped to desperate pleading. "Find a technique, a barrier, something that lets us be close without risking infection!""If there was a way, don't you think I'd have found it already?" Diego's own desperation showed through. "I've been researching, asking Gael, trying everything I can think of. There's nothing! The curse is too intelligent, too persistent. It wants you. And the only way to keep it from getting you is distance."They stood across the room from each other, the physical space between them feeling like an ocean."I hate this," Esperanza whispered. "I hate that you saved me but lost yourself in the process.""I didn't lose myself. I'm still here.""Are you?" She met his eyes. "Because the Diego I married wouldn't shut me ou
CHAPTER 108 PART 1
Luca sat in his expensive penthouse apartment, swirling wine in a crystal glass, his swollen face from the party slaps finally returning to normal. Santiago's information played on repeat in his mind—Diego had been kicked out of the marital bedroom. Esperanza was clearly losing patience with her useless husband.Just a little more pressure. One more nudge. And Diego would be completely out of the picture.Then Esperanza would be available. And Luca would be there, ready to step in as the better alternative.He just needed the right plan. The right leverage.Luca made some calls, greased some palms, and within two days had identified a weak link in Esperanza's organization—her junior personal aide, a young woman named Carmen who was drowning in student debt and family medical bills.The bribe was substantial. Enough to solve all of Carmen's immediate problems and leave her with a comfortable cushion.In exchange, Carmen provided information about Esperanza's recent activities."She's b
CHAPTER 108 PART 2
"Because you wouldn't have listened!" Luca's frustration showed through. "Every time I try to talk to you, you shut me down. You won't take my calls, won't respond to my messages. This was the only way to get you to actually hear me out!"Esperanza studied him, trying to determine if he was lying again. "You really have connections to specialists?""I do. My family's import business includes pharmaceuticals. We work with research facilities across Switzerland, Germany, Japan. Places that are doing cutting-edge work on conditions mainstream medicine can't touch." Luca moved back to the table. "Just sit down. Give me ten minutes to explain. If you don't like what you hear, you can leave. No strings attached."Esperanza wanted to storm out. Wanted to tell Luca exactly what she thought of his manipulation and deception.But if he really did have connections that could help Diego..."Ten minutes," she said finally, moving to the table but not sitting. "And this better not be another game."