All Chapters of THE SUBSTITUTE HUSBAND BECAME HIS WIFE'S BOSS: Chapter 171
- Chapter 180
212 chapters
CHAPTER 115 PART 1
The courtyard outside the medical suite erupted in gasps and angry murmurs the moment Sir Alex made his declaration. Diego had been too focused on Catalina's treatment to register the full audience—but there were at least two dozen people gathered, and not all of them were medical professionals.Young men in expensive suits lined the corridor. Heirs to fortunes, sons of nobility, entrepreneurs whose wealth was measured in billions. Each had brought their own "specialist" doctors to the Vincent estate, hoping to be the one who cured Catalina and won Sir Alex's favor.And potentially, Catalina's hand.The Vincent fortune was legendary. The Vincent connections were invaluable. Marrying into that family meant instant elevation to the highest tiers of society.These men had spent months, some even years, positioning themselves for this opportunity. Bringing the most expensive doctors, offering the most advanced treatments, making themselves indispensable to Sir Alex during his daughter's d
CHAPTER 115 PART 2
Diego didn't respond immediately, his eyes assessing the situation. Four against one. He was injured, exhausted, and in an unfamiliar location. Not ideal odds."I'm Figo Steel," the young man continued, stepping into the room. "Heir to the Steel conglomerate. Maybe you've heard of us? We own half the manufacturing capacity in this country.""I haven't," Diego said honestly.Figo's eye twitched at the casual dismissal. "Of course you haven't. Because you're nobody. A charlatan who stumbled into an opportunity way above his station.""If you have a point, make it." Diego's voice was steady despite the threatening presence."My point—" Figo moved closer, his bodyguards fanning out to block any escape route, "—is that you don't belong here. This isn't a place for crippled quacks playing at medicine. This is where real power operates. Real wealth. Real status.""And you're here to remind me of that?""I'm here to offer you a choice." Figo's smile was cold. "Leave. Tonight. Disappear back t
Chapter 116
Diego hadn't been particularly surprised when Figo Steel kicked down his door. During the commotion in the courtyard after Sir Alex's dramatic declaration, Diego had noticed the young heir staring at him with undisguised hostility and jealousy.The look of a man who'd just watched his prize being handed to someone else.Now, standing in Diego's modest room with three burly guards behind him, Figo radiated entitled rage barely held in check."To what do I owe this visit?" Diego asked calmly, remaining seated on his bed despite the obvious threat.The courteous tone seemed to infuriate Figo even more. His face flushed red. "Don't give me that polite doctor bullshit! Drop the good doctor act! We both know you're not a real physician!""You don't know me," Diego replied evenly. "So making assumptions seems erroneous.""SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Figo's shout echoed in the small room. He turned to his guards. "Search his things. Everything. I want to know exactly what kind of con this charlatan is
Chapter 117
Diego had been patient through Figo's posturing and threats, maintaining his calm demeanor despite the invasion of his privacy. But as Figo continued his tirade about worthiness and proper breeding, something inside Diego snapped."Isn't that exactly why you're here too?" Diego's voice cut through Figo's rant like a blade. "To position yourself for marriage to Lady Catalina? To claim the Vincent fortune?"Figo stopped mid-sentence, caught off guard."So stop projecting your own insecurities and greed onto me," Diego continued, his tone still calm but carrying an edge now. "If you actually cared about helping Sir Alex's daughter instead of advancing your own interests, you'd focus your energy on being useful rather than threatening anyone you perceive as competition."Figo's mouth opened and closed, stunned by the direct confrontation. No one talked to him like this. Certainly not crippled nobodies in servants' quarters."You—you dare—" Figo sputtered."I dare to speak honestly," Diego
Chapter 118 PART 1
Esperanza had been preparing to hunt down Luca and confront him about the manipulated photos when fate delivered him directly to her doorstep the next morning.She was in her home office reviewing security footage—trying to identify which staff member had been feeding information to Santiago—when her assistant informed her that her brother and Luca Andretti had arrived and were waiting in the sitting room.The audacity.Esperanza took a moment to compose herself, putting on her CEO mask—the cold, calculating expression that had intimidated countless boardroom opponents. Then she descended to the sitting room where Santiago and Luca waited, both wearing foolish grins that made her blood boil."Esperanza!" Santiago stood as she entered, his arms spread wide as if expecting a hug. "I'm so proud of you, little sister! You finally came to your senses and kicked that leech out of your house!"Esperanza stopped in the doorway, her expression neutral. "What are you talking about?""Don't be c
CHAPTER 118 PART 2
"The only truth is that you're a manipulative, pathetic excuse for a man who has to destroy other people's relationships because he can't build one of his own!"Santiago stepped between them, his hands raised placatingly. "Everyone calm down. Esperanza, I know you're upset, but—""Upset?" Esperanza turned on him. "You betrayed me, Santiago. You're my brother. You're supposed to support me, protect me, want what's best for me. Instead, you conspired to ruin my marriage for your own benefit!""I was trying to save you from making a mistake!" Santiago's voice rose to match hers. "Diego was never good enough for you! Never the right choice! I was just helping you see that!""You were helping yourself!" Esperanza's laugh was bitter. "You wanted Diego gone so you could control me again! Arrange my life like I'm one of your business deals! Well, I'm done being manipulated by you!""You're being emotional—""I'm being HONEST!" Esperanza cut him off. "Something you clearly know nothing about!"
Chapter 119 PART 1
Santiago caught up with Esperanza in the driveway as she headed for her car, his earlier confidence completely evaporated into desperation."Wait! Esperanza, you don't understand! You just put us in serious trouble!""Us?" Esperanza stopped, her hand on the car door. "There is no 'us' in this, Santiago. You and Luca created this mess. I'm just cleaning it up.""You slapped him!" Santiago's voice was urgent, almost panicked. "You threatened him! You humiliated him in his own mind! Do you have any idea what kind of enemy you just made?""I don't care." Esperanza's voice was ice. "Luca tried to destroy my marriage. He deserves worse than a slap.""But I owe him money!" Santiago blurted out.Esperanza paused, slowly turning back to face her brother. "What?"Santiago's face flushed with shame. "I owe Luca money. A lot of money. That's why I've been... why I've been helping him with his plans regarding you.""How much money?""Twenty million euros."Esperanza's eyes widened. "Twenty million
CHAPTER 119 PART 2
At the Vincent estate, Figo stood in Diego's destroyed room, still reeling from how easily this supposedly crippled man had disabled two of his bodyguards.But his obsession with Esperanza overrode his caution. If Diego had access to her, had intimate photos, knew how to get close—that information was worth any risk."So?" Figo pressed, trying to regain some confidence despite the unconscious men on the floor. "How much do you want? Fifty thousand euros for your source? One hundred thousand? Name your price."Diego's expression was utterly cold as he carefully stored the photo of Esperanza back in its hidden compartment. When he turned to face Figo, there was something in his eyes that made the young heir take an involuntary step backward."I'm going to pretend you didn't just say that," Diego's voice was quiet but carried an unmistakable threat. "And you're going to leave my room. Right now. While you can still make good use of your legs."The threat wasn't subtle. Figo's gaze droppe
Chapter 120
Esperanza stared at her phone, Santiago's voice grating through the speaker like nails on a chalkboard."You need to fix this mess, Esperanza. Our family's reputation is on the line. Father won't even look at me anymore because of you and your crippled husband's drama at the party!"She pressed her fingers to her temple, fighting the urge to throw the phone across her bedroom. "Santiago, I've already told you—""Just marry Luca already! Or at the very least, go apologize to him. He's willing to forgive everything if you just show some humility. Twenty million euros, Esperanza! That's what I owe him. Do you want me to end up on the streets?""You put yourself in this position," she snapped back, but exhaustion seeped into her bones. The past few days had drained her—discovering Diego's location, the manipulated photos, her brother's betrayal. Maybe paying off the debt would finally end this nightmare. She could afford it, and if it meant keeping Luca away from her family permanently, i
CHAPTER 121 PART 1
Diego's right hand remained steady over Catalina's chest as the last traces of dark energy fled her body. His left hand throbbed with terrible hunger beneath the glove, gorging itself on the corruption it had stolen from her meridians. The divine and cursed energies warred inside him, but he maintained his composure, refusing to let anyone see his internal struggle.Catalina's eyes fluttered open, truly clear for the first time in three years. The grayish pallor that had haunted her skin was gone, replaced by a healthy flush. Her breathing came easy and natural, no longer the labored rasps that had become her constant companion.But something else stirred in those newly awakened eyes as they focused on Diego's face.Her heart raced—not from illness this time, but from something far more dangerous. The sensation of his touch still lingered on her skin like phantom fire, his energy having flowed through every cell of her body in a way that felt impossibly intimate. No man had ever touch