My Substitute CEO Bride

Francel and Marcus quickly realized Chuck had not detected Zoe's true energy earlier. It dawned on them that since Zoe had never directly engaged Chuck in combat, it made sense that he was unaware of her abilities.noveldrama

As they moved to stop him, Chuck activated his powers, and a thick mist enveloped the area. Suddenly, the two could no longer sense his presence.

Back at the Heifer residence, Barther continued his slow, ominous approach toward Zoe.

"Don't resist, my dear. You're mine now," he said with a sinister smile.

Zoe backed away in fear while her father and brother lay lifeless nearby. For the first time, she felt a profound sense of despair.

As Barther reached out to seize her, a dense fog suddenly enveloped the room. When Barther regained his bearings, Zoe had vanished from sight. Furious, he slammed his fist into the ground.

"What's the meaning of this? Someone, find her! Now!"

...

It was some time before Zoe slowly opened her eyes and found herself in a different place—Chuck's room.

"W-Where am I?"

Chuck heard the rustle of movement and walked over. "You're awake."

Zoe turned to look at him. The young man before her, though not heavily muscled

or physically imposing, exuded an ethereal aura. His face was strikingly handsome, and he had a cold, elegant demeanor, like a divine being straight out of a storybook.

Chuck waved his hand. "Hello?"

Zoe was momentarily entranced by his presence. She snapped out of it only when he called out to her again. "Huh, what?"

Chuck then took out a small object in the shape of a water droplet. "What is this?"

Zoe was startled. She recognized the young man before her as Chuck from the Calhoun family. She recalled how, in her previous investigation, Chuck was said to be frail and sickly. Yet now, he seemed completely different.

Suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed through Zoe's head, and the memories of what had happened at the Heifer residence came flooding back.

"Are you okay?" Chuck asked with concern.

Zoe could not hold back her tears, and they began to flow uncontrollably.

Chuck quickly pulled out a tissue and asked with great concern, "Please don't cry. W-What happened?"

Zoe choked back her sobs as she answered, "My father and my family were all killed by the Patel family..."

Chuck was shocked. "The Patel family? Why? Who are you, really?"

Feeling utterly defeated, Zoe confessed everything, "I'm from the Heifer family. That water droplet was meant to be a means to control you, a trump card for when we fight the Patel family for the divine position.

"But now... it doesn't matter anymore... My family... I can't sense them anymore..."

She broke down and cried her heart out. Chuck sat beside her in silence, unable to fully understand her pain but knowing that all he could offer was his presence.

Zoe cried for nearly half a day, leaving her almost completely drained by the end of it. Chuck brought over some food for her. "Please eat something."

She shook her head. She did not even feel like living anymore.