Substitute Bride: Utterly Pampered by Her Billionaire Husband

Chapter 1518: She Must Die

Just then there was a "knock knock" at the door; someone was knocking from outside.

Celeste Linden immediately pushed Ethan Barnes. "Someone’s coming."

Reluctantly, Ethan released Celeste, then called out, "Come in."

The bedroom door was pushed open; it was a maid, carrying in a tray of fruit.

Ever since she got pregnant, Celeste Linden had been given only the best in food, clothing, and daily necessities. Lately, Ethan had even bought her loads of snacks from abroad; even the fruit was the kind you couldn’t buy outside.

"Miss Linden, it’s time for your fruit."

Because Celeste’s appetite was poor, the doctor had set her a fixed eating schedule. There was even a designated fruit time, to make sure she took in enough nutrients for both herself and the baby.

Celeste didn’t keep it all to herself. She picked up a plump cherry and held it to Ethan’s lips. "Do you want one?"

Ethan looked at her. "Being this nice to me? You’re actually feeding me yourself?"

"Of course. Right now you’re the provider for me and the baby—we’re both relying on you to support us." Celeste flattered him.

Ethan gave a small smile and said nothing. She was being modest; she hadn’t stopped working these days. The name angel was getting more and more famous, and she could earn plenty on her own.

"I don’t like sweets. You eat it."

"Alright then." Celeste raised the cherry, ready to eat it herself.

But the next second, Ethan’s big hand shot out and clamped around her slender white wrist.

Celeste jumped. "What are you doing?"

Ethan stared at the cherry in her hand. "You can’t eat that. There’s poison on it."

What?

Celeste quickly flung the cherry away.

Ethan took the fruit tray and held it under his nose, sniffing. When Celeste had offered him the cherry just now, he’d thought he’d caught a whiff of something off. Now he was certain—there was definitely something wrong with this plate of fruit.

"Someone!" A layer of frost had already settled over Ethan’s handsome face as he shouted.

The trusted aide outside rushed in with his men. "Sir, what happened?"

"This plate of fruit is poisoned. Track down every single person who had contact with it. I want that mastermind dragged out."

"Yes, sir."

Ethan looked at Celeste. She had her head bowed, no one knew what she was thinking, but her face was very pale—clearly she’d been frightened.

He immediately gripped her shoulders in reassurance. "Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, no one can hurt you or the baby."

Celeste lifted her head to look at Ethan. "If you find out who it was, you’ll definitely punish the culprit severely, right?"

Ethan nodded. "Of course."

"Good. I’ll wait for you to find that culprit."

...

In the study.

The trusted aide reported in a low voice, "Sir, I’ve already sent that plate of fruit for testing. It was laced with arsenic. Luckily Miss Linden didn’t eat any. If she had, a violent poison like arsenic would definitely have killed both Miss Linden and the child."

Ethan pressed his thin lips into a grim line. "How could there be arsenic in my territory? Have you found out who the mastermind is?"

The aide looked like he had more to say but hesitated. "We have."

"Who is it?" Ethan asked.

The aide stammered a little, cautiously watching his expression. "Sir, you’ve already guessed, haven’t you?"

Ethan said nothing. He stood up and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, then silently took out a cigar and clamped it between his lips.

He took out a lighter, and with a "click" he lit it, slowly inhaling and exhaling smoke.

"Sir, this is your turf. Our people are all clean; no one would dare stir up trouble right under your nose, much less in something as serious as poisoning Miss Linden and the child. The main suspect has always been... Miss Carlotta."

"I’ve already investigated. Miss Carlotta secretly went to the kitchen and handled Miss Linden’s fruit tray. One hundred percent, it was Miss Carlotta who poisoned it."

Ethan had actually already guessed. None of his own people were the problem; the problem lay with Carlotta, whom he had brought back from outside.

It was Carlotta who had poisoned the fruit, wanting to kill Celeste and the baby in her belly.

"Sir, how should we handle this? I think Miss Linden has probably guessed too. How do you plan to deal with Miss Carlotta?" the aide asked.

Ethan’s expression was obscured behind a haze of smoke; only the tightly furrowed line between his brows could be faintly seen.

Just then there was a "knock knock" at the door, and Carlotta’s voice came from outside. "Ethan, it’s me. Can I come in?"

Ethan moved slightly and said, "Come in."

Carlotta walked in, her face full of panic and unease. "Ethan, I heard something happened to my cousin, right? Someone poisoned her? Who was the culprit—have you found out?"

Ethan watched Carlotta. She was obviously here to test the waters, to see if he had found out it was her.

The aide glanced at Ethan, not knowing what Ethan would say.

Ethan was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Not yet."

Carlotta immediately let out a breath of relief. "Ethan, then you have to hurry and find that culprit. Otherwise everyone will be on edge. I actually find it strange too—who did my cousin offend? Why would someone want to poison her?"

Saying that, Carlotta stepped forward and hooked her arm through Ethan’s strong one, smiling innocently. "Ethan, do you think my cousin did something bad? Otherwise why would someone want to poison her to death? Oh no, could it be that she... cheated? Stole someone else’s man, became some shameful homewrecker, a despised mistress?"

Ethan looked at Carlotta. Carlotta was looking back at him, the corners of her lips curved, smiling with utter innocence.

Ethan directly pulled his arm out of her small hand, then flicked the half-smoked cigar into the ashtray. "You’re not well. Don’t concern yourself with these things. The doctor said you still need to recuperate, so from now on, just stay in your own room and rest."

Carlotta’s face changed at once. "Ethan, I’m already better. I’m in perfect health."

"You’re not." Ethan looked at her, his tone firm and word by word. "Carlotta, if I say you’re not better, then you’re not."

Their eyes met; the air between them turned silent and oppressive.

Very quickly, Carlotta nodded and smiled again. "Alright. Whatever you tell me to do, I’ll do. If you want me to stay in my room, I’ll stay in my room. Even if you wanted my life, I’d give it to you without blinking. After all, I’ve already died once for you."

With that, Carlotta lifted her feet and walked out.

Ethan didn’t turn around; he only gave a cold order to his aide. "From now on, without my command, Miss Carlotta is not allowed to leave her room. Understand?"