All Chapters of THE SUBSTITUTE HUSBAND BECAME HIS WIFE'S BOSS: Chapter 261
- Chapter 270
307 chapters
CHAPTER 163 PART 1
Diego pulled out his phone and began typing a message. "Then here's what's going to happen. You're going to do exactly what I say, when I say it, without question. And if you deviate from my instructions even slightly, I'll throw you to Alejandro and Lucia myself. Understood?""Yes! Yes, I understand! Thank you! Thank you so much!""Don't thank me yet," Diego said coldly. "You haven't heard what I'm going to ask you to do."Kenneth swallowed hard, his earlier relief already fading as he realized he'd just traded one master for another. And this master—the Ghost—was far more terrifying than Alejandro and Lucia could ever be.But he was alive. For now. And in Kenneth Bowl's current situation, that was the best he could hope for.Santiago's phone rang mid-morning, his lawyer's number flashing on the screen. He answered with the weary resignation of someone expecting more bad news about mounting legal fees and impossible odds."Santiago, I have news," the lawyer said, his voice carrying a
CHAPTER 163 PART 2
After dinner, as guests began to disperse, Isabella made her way to the estate's private bar for one final celebratory cocktail. She was ordering a French 75 when Diego appeared beside her, his presence sudden and silent."Enjoy tonight," Diego said quietly, his voice carrying that cold precision Isabella had learned to hate. "It's your last night here."Isabella laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. "Still bitter, Diego? Still jealous of my success? It's pathetic how you can't let go of the past.""I'm not bitter," Diego replied. "I'm just delivering a courtesy warning.""Courtesy? From you?" Isabella's voice rose slightly, emboldened by wine and Santiago's earlier affection. "You've never been courteous in your life. You're just jealous. Jealous that I've moved on. Jealous that I'm with a real man now instead of a crippled failure. Jealous that I hold a position of actual power instead of being some househusband leeching off his wife.""Are you finished?" Diego asked mildly."No!" I
CHAPTER 164 PART 1
Isabella sat in her car outside Vega Industries, her hands shaking as she dialed Santiago's number again. And again. Each call went straight to voicemail, his recorded voice cheerfully informing her he was unavailable."Pick up, you bastard," she hissed. "Pick up!"On the fifth attempt, someone finally answered—but it wasn't Santiago."Mr. Vega's office," his secretary said in that professionally neutral tone that meant she already knew everything."This is Isabella Rodriguez. I need to speak with Santiago immediately. It's urgent.""I'm sorry, Ms. Rodriguez, but Mr. Vega is away from the city on business. He's unavailable for the foreseeable future.""Away? What do you mean away? Where did he go?""I'm not at liberty to discuss Mr. Vega's travel schedule," the secretary replied, and Isabella could hear the barely concealed satisfaction in her voice. "Would you like to leave a message?""Yes! Tell him to call me immediately! There's been a terrible mistake with my—""I'll pass along y
CHAPTER 164 PART 2
Sobbing. Loud, ugly sobbing came through the phone, accompanied by gasping breaths and incoherent words."Isabella, calm down," Lucia commanded. "We can't understand you.""They kicked me out!" Isabella's voice was thick with tears and rage. "They kicked me out of Vega Industries! My card doesn't work! Security wouldn't let me in! Everyone saw! Everyone!"Alejandro and Lucia exchanged shocked glances. "What are you talking about?" Alejandro demanded. "You're the CEO. How could they kick you out?""Santiago fired me!" Isabella practically screamed. "Sent an email this morning saying my employment is terminated immediately! That I'm banned from working with the Vegas ever again! And when I tried to call him, they said he left the city! He's gone, Alejandro! He fired me and ran away like a coward!""That's impossible," Lucia said slowly. "Santiago needs you. He's too incompetent to run the company without your guidance. This doesn't make sense.""It gets worse," Isabella continued, her v
Chapter 165
Alejandro and Lucia stood in the penthouse, Isabella's sobbing still echoing through the speakerphone, trying to piece together the wreckage of their plans."What did she mean Diego ruined everything?" Lucia demanded, pacing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. "How would Diego even know about our involvement? We've been careful. Meticulous.""The Ghost doesn't need obvious evidence," Alejandro said, his voice tight with frustration. "He pieces things together from patterns, from timing, from connections most people wouldn't see.""But what could he possibly know? Isabella working with us? Kenneth being our pawn? Those connections aren't documented anywhere!""It doesn't matter what he can prove," Alejandro countered. "What matters is he's acting on what he suspects. And he's destroying us piece by piece without us even realizing we were under attack."Lucia turned away from the window, her expression hardening. "Then we need to—"A crash from outside the penthouse cut her off. S
CHAPTER 166 PART 1
Isabella sat in the cramped living room of the apartment Santiago had rented for her—a far cry from the luxury she'd grown accustomed to at the Vega estate. The furniture was cheap, the walls thin enough to hear neighbors arguing through them, and the whole place smelled vaguely of mildew and disappointment.She'd called Alejandro three times in the past hour. Each call had gone straight to voicemail."Where the hell is he?" Isabella muttered, dialing again. "He's supposed to help me. He promised—""Stop calling that man and start thinking!" Her mother's shrill voice cut through her thoughts like nails on a chalkboard. Maria Rodriguez stood in the doorway, hands on her hips, her face twisted with frustration. "You need to fix this mess! Now!""I'm trying, Mama—""Trying isn't good enough!" Maria stormed into the room, her voice rising to a near-scream. "You had everything! CEO! Dating the richest man in the city! And you threw it all away! Again!""I didn't throw anything away," Isabe
CHAPTER 166 PART 2
"The baby!" Maria grabbed Isabella's shoulders, forcing her to focus. "You're carrying Santiago's child! Or at least, that's what we tell him. Doesn't matter whose it really is. What matters is making Santiago believe it's his.""Mama, I can't—""Yes, you can!" Maria's grip tightened. "You call Santiago right now. Tell him you're pregnant with his baby. Make him feel guilty for abandoning you. For firing you. For treating the mother of his child like trash!""But what if it's not his?" Isabella whispered. "What if it's Alejandro's?""It doesn't matter!" Maria insisted. "Santiago doesn't know that. And by the time he finds out—if he ever finds out—you'll be married. Legally entitled to half his fortune. The baby gives you leverage, Isabella. Use it!"Isabella stared at her mother, seeing the desperation and greed warring in her eyes. Everything Maria was suggesting was manipulation, fraud, a trap designed to ensnare Santiago using an innocent child as bait."I need to think about this,
Chapter 167
The three-day drive to Fox City had been tense and silent, Kenneth growing more nervous with each passing mile. Now, standing outside a dilapidated warehouse in the industrial district, he looked ready to bolt."Are you sure about this?" Kenneth asked, his voice shaking. "Maybe we should reconsider. Come back with more backup or—""Take me to them," Diego interrupted calmly. "Now. The sooner we settle this debt, the sooner you can start your new life."Kenneth swallowed hard and led Diego toward the warehouse entrance. Two massive men blocked their path immediately, both armed with visible weapons and expressions that suggested they enjoyed using them."Stop right there," the first guard growled. "State your business.""I'm here to see the boss," Kenneth said, his voice barely above a whisper. "About my debt. I have someone who can pay."The guards exchanged glances, then one spoke into a radio. A crackling response came back, and they stepped aside reluctantly."Straight back. Don't
CHAPTER 168 PART 1
Alejandro crouched in the shadows across from an abandoned factory on the outskirts of Fox City, his wounded shoulder throbbing but his mind sharp with purpose. He hadn't run away. Not really. He'd made a tactical retreat, regrouped, and then followed Gerard's convoy here using skills Lucia's contact had drilled into him during those two years of training.Gerard thought he'd won. Thought he'd captured the prize and could celebrate his victory in peace.He was wrong.Through a grimy window, Alejandro watched the scene unfolding inside. Gerard stood before Lucia, who was bound to a chair, her face bruised but her eyes still blazing with defiance."It doesn't have to be like this," Gerard was saying, circling her like a predator. "You're smart, Lucia. Beautiful. Ruthless. Everything a crime lord's woman should be. Rule beside me. Help me rebuild what Vasquez left behind. Together we could control the entire city.""I'd rather die," Lucia spat, her voice dripping with contempt. "You're n
CHAPTER 168 PART 2
The remaining fight drained out of Gerard's men when they saw their leader fall. Some fled. Others surrendered. Within minutes, the factory was secure.Alejandro found Lucia outside, leaning against one of the vehicles, her face bruised but her spirit unbroken."You came back," she said, and something vulnerable flickered in her eyes before she masked it with her usual cold calculation."Did you think I wouldn't?" Alejandro replied."You ran," Lucia pointed out. "Left me there.""Tactical retreat," Alejandro corrected. "To save you properly instead of dying stupidly."Lucia studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Gerard's dead?""Very.""Good." She straightened, wincing at her injuries. "Then let's go home. We have an organization to rebuild."Back in the Wahi Gang's warehouse, chaos erupted the moment Diego finished speaking about the leader's son dying."He's threatening the boss's boy!" one gang member shouted, reaching for his weapon."He just insulted our whole operat