Substitute Bride: Utterly Pampered by Her Billionaire Husband

Chapter 1484: Ugly Freak

Ethan Barnes’s face showed no emotional fluctuations. A few years ago, he had been attacked and severely injured. For some unknown reason, his route had been leaked in advance, and he was violently ambushed halfway.

At that time, his subordinates sacrificed themselves to cover his escape. He still remembered the rain of bullets and the bloody storm that day, the taste of licking the blade’s edge, and the breath of death that made him both fearful and exhilarated.

Clearly, there was a traitor among his ranks.

After narrowly escaping death and returning, he vowed to root out the traitor. Later, he entertained all the beauties that came his way, establishing a vast harem.

He knew that the force colluding internally and externally would certainly not miss this opportunity, and among those beauties, there must be a spy.

Over these years, he portrayed the image of a passionate libertine to perfection, but in reality, he never touched those beauties privately.

Those beauties, like Carlotta, never had anything to do with him either.

He extremely disliked those flamboyantly dressed women, their bodies exuding a pungent smell of disinfectant, and their deliberately coquettish voices made him want to vomit. These women reminded him of the mistresses he saw as a child under his father’s roof, the vixens who drove his mother to her death.

They were truly dirty and cheap.

In his heart, he always liked women like his mother—clean, gentle, and beautiful. Carlotta resembled his mother so much, in a white dress, dust-free and unblemished, which he loved the most.

This included Celeste Linden. When he first saw Celeste Linden back then, it was as if he saw the shadow of his mother in her.

So, in his heart, he had some fondness for Celeste Linden. She was different from those women in the harem, he regarded her more highly.

However, he did indeed use Celeste Linden. This harem appeared calm on the surface, but inside, it was turbulent and full of hidden dangers. He brought Celeste Linden back, showered her with favor, essentially pushing her into the limelight, making her a thorn in the side of those women.

The more he treated Celeste Linden well, the more those with intentions would think he had a weakness, and then they would target Celeste Linden.

By that time, he could take this opportunity to uproot these people; it was truly a brilliant opportunity and plan.

But Celeste Linden was doomed to be cannon fodder. He pushed her onto the knife’s edge, and she was completely unaware.

Ethan Barnes pressed his thin lips and then said softly, "Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trivial matters. One must not be constrained by personal feelings. You have to realize that if you are reluctant to sacrifice the child, you will definitely not catch the wolf."

The butler understood. His master intended to abandon Celeste Linden.

Perhaps, from the beginning to the end, Celeste Linden was just a pawn.

"Yes, Master."

Ethan Barnes turned and walked out.

"Master, where are you going?"

"It’s very late now, I’ll go to see... Celeste Linden." She must be very carefree and happy, after all, she wanted to shake him off, not even caring about his face.

The butler, "..."

Who was it just now who said it was all an act, and now the master turns to find that pawn. The sound of this slap on the face is really loud.

However, the butler felt too weak; he dared not say a word, only seeing Ethan Barnes’ figure quickly disappearing from his sight.

...

Celeste Linden now lived in the cold palace; the environment here was simpler, but enough to accommodate people. The surroundings were tranquil, far removed from intrigue and noise; she felt her soul purifying.

Unexpectedly, Ethan Barnes had such a good place.

Celeste Linden sat cross-legged and took out a drawing board, she began designing again.

Very soon, she was absorbed in it, not even noticing Ethan Barnes’ footsteps coming closer.

Ethan Barnes saw her at a glance, she still maintained that peaceful and unperturbed demeanor. He watched her for a while from afar, then approached and sat next to her.

His movements were very light, and since Celeste Linden was so engrossed, she didn’t notice him at all.

Ethan Barnes didn’t make a sound to disturb her either. He took out documents and began to review them; the whole world was quiet.

After some time, Celeste Linden finished a design, and she was very satisfied with it, her inspiration overflowing tonight.

She put down her sketchbook, ready to pour herself a cup of hot water, but unexpectedly, a hand suddenly appeared next to her, offering her a glass of water.

"Thank you." Celeste Linden took the glass and sipped it.

But before she could swallow the water, Celeste Linden froze. Where did that hand come from? Where did the water come from?

Celeste Linden slowly turned her head and looked at the person beside her.

Ethan Barnes looked at her, smiling amiably.

Poof~

The mouthful of water directly sprayed onto Ethan Barnes’ face.

With a "swish," Ethan Barnes’ handsome face turned completely dark.

"Sorry, sorry, I didn’t mean to; I’ll wipe it clean for you now." Celeste Linden had no idea why he suddenly came here, playing tricks on her. However, she knew he was particularly clean-loving, almost to an obsessive level. Spraying water on his face, he might even have had the urge to kill her.

Celeste Linden hurriedly used her sleeve to wipe his handsome face.

Ethan Barnes felt she did it on purpose, so he grabbed her slender wrist, "Celeste Linden, are you itching for a beating?"

His palm was about to sweep across her face.

Ah.

Celeste Linden was so frightened she ducked.

But that palm never came down, Celeste Linden peeked at him, and realized he had stopped his hand in mid-air.

"I... I really didn’t mean it, please calm down," Celeste Linden hurriedly explained.

Ethan Barnes looked at her. Though her face was ruined, her eyes were still as beautiful, like the gently flowing spring water, as if they could speak. The phrase "eyes speak emotion" must have been coined for her.

Ethan Barnes withdrew his big hand, dismissing, "Ugly! You now look like an ugly freak!"

Celeste Linden, "... Yes, I’m an ugly freak. King Hayden, why do you have the spare time to see an ugly freak? What’s so beautiful about an ugly freak?"

Celeste Linden forcefully pulled back her wrist.

However, she didn’t succeed because Ethan Barnes pulled her directly into his arms, "There’s nothing beautiful about an ugly freak, but seeing an ugly freak cry should be interesting."

"Cry? Why would I cry?"

"Haven’t you been abandoned, becoming a discarded concubine in the cold palace, shouldn’t you cry?"

Celeste Linden thought for a while. Indeed, it made sense, "Then you’d better return soon, the red spots on my face not only haven’t disappeared, but they are increasing. I fear it might really be some infectious disease, infecting you in the process."

Ethan Barnes squinted his narrow eyes, looking her up and down, "Are those red spots spreading on your body?"

What did he mean?

"Then let me check if you’ve been infected anywhere else!"