The CEO’s Substitute Lover

Eldwin was his usual self, having that sunny smile on his face, looking at Octavia Gills heartily, turning back to Elda and saying, “She got thinner! Thinner again.”

Elda pulled her daughter to her with tears in her eyes, “Yes, why are you so thin, you can’t take care of yourself at all.”

Octavia Gills smiled, it felt so good to be home, it felt so good to have someone love her.

Mum is looking good, and Gar was right, Mum deserves her happiness too.

Eldwin shouted inside, “Oh, Gar! Your sister is back, hurry down.”

“Hey, I’m coming.” Gar’s pleasant voice was heard from downstairs.

Octavia Gills was surprised to see Gar bouncing down, “Don’t you have to work?”

“I’ll be leaving in a minute, I called the manager this morning.” Gar picked up Octavia Gills’ bags and carried them upstairs.

Eldwin hastened to stop him, “Hey, go on your way, there’s no need for you to do this,” grabbing the luggage out of his hands.

Elda looked on with a smile and said to Octavia Gills, ” Eldwin doesn’t let Gar do heavy work until now, always saying he has to be careful and to take good care of himself. He is spoiling Gar too much, you should talk with him later.”

Eldwin turned back to them and said, “Why do you say I spoil him? He’s such a good boy, I can’t even spoil him!”

“That’s right, that’s right, sis, talk to mum properly, Eldwin is good to me and she’s always stopping him from taking care of me, now I’m wondering if I’m her real son?” Gar came back from helping Eldwin put her things away and made a face at his mum.

Elda made a move to hit him and he ducked to the side and said to Octavia Gills, “Sis, I’m off to work, I’ll be back to talk to you tonight!”

After saying that, he went away.

Octavia Gills looked at his back, at this little restaurant, and suddenly her heart was filled with happiness.

I have traveled to the ends of the earth, but not as far from the little home in the corner.

Love over a thousand hills is no match for the laughter of a family reunion.

Octavia Gills felt it was right to come back.

Turning back, she smiled gently at Eddison, “Thank you, Eddison, it’s good to be home.”

Eddison smiled, “Thank goodness I’ve finally done something good for once.”

The exchange of smiles and whispers between the two was, to Elda’s eyes, showing the intimacy of a loving couple.

She said to Eddison, “Eddison, it’s been a while since you’ve been here, try Eldwin’s specialties later.”

“Hey, Auntie, my mouth is already watering,” Eddison responded loudly.

Only Domino was sullen.

Octavia Gills dragged her upstairs to see the room Gar had prepared for her.

“Domino, understand Woodrow, he and Tredan?? have been friends for a long time, as you and I are?? ah… He’ll go back to you soon.”

Domino was aggrieved, “He chose Tredan over me!”

Octavia Gills laughed lightly, “Don’t be a child, you know in your heart that these are two different things.”

Domino looked at Octavia Gills with resignation, “Octavia, then you and Tredan?? that’s it?”

Octavia Gills stroked the workbench Gar had set up for her to draw on, nodded, and said slowly, “That’s it, I was the one who got into his space by mistake, now everything is back in its place and it’s good.”

Lilian Drye and Woodrow brought Tredan Davi back to the old house.

Tredan Davi locked himself into his bedroom.

Lilian Drye, on the other hand, stomped around the living room.

Woodrow just sat on the sofa in silence.

“Woodrow, do something, Tredan can’t be like this all the time.”

“It’s good enough for him to go back to bed, as long as he doesn’t drink anymore, I’ll be satisfied.” Woodrow was subdued.

Lilian Drye stomped her foot and sat down on the couch, “Why did he turn out that way? Is it just because of that Octavia Gills?”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Woodrow looked at her and didn’t make a sound.

“That bitch!” Lilian Drye gnashed her teeth in hatred.

“I will not let her get away with it.”

“Lilian, you shouldn’t mess around!” Woodrow warned her.

Lilian Drye gave him a dismissive look, a “What do you care” look.

“Lilian, weren’t you quite nice when you fed Tredan his porridge today? Didn’t you see that Tredan didn’t reject you either, so you should control your behavior, don’t you think so?”

Lilian Drye fell silent and did not speak.

“You go back, It’s fine for me to watch over Tredan for now. You can just come back tomorrow and don’t forget to bring him something to eat.” Woodrow said to Lilian Drye.

Lilian Drye decided that there was no point in her staying even if she wanted to, so she left unhappily.

Woodrow sighed, “Tredan, don’t say that I’m not good enough as a friend, this is all I can do for you.”

Lilian Drye arrived home just as dinner was being served, and Grimm Drye had just arrived home.

Grimm Drye has been so busy and exasperated lately, but today, his subordinate gave him an idea that he considered and thought was good enough for him to go home early and discuss with his wife and daughter.

Seeing Lilian Drye come back from outside, still full of displeasure, he couldn’t help but ask, “Lilian, what have you been up to? Why are you always missing?”

The project she and Tredan Davi are working on is currently on hold. Since Group Davi can’t afford to unilaterally terminate his contract, it was still ongoing, but Floyd is worried that Freeman Gellings will deal with him. With a third of Group Drye’s fortune at stake in this project, Grimm Drye is anxious but at a loss as to what to do.

Lilian Drye gave a pout, “Tredan is sick and I’m taking care of him, he just got discharged today.”

“Oh?” Grimm Drye raised an eyebrow, “You’ve been with him lately?”

Lilian Drye nods.

“What the hell is the matter with you two?” Grimm Drye asked.

“It’s not much of a situation, that’s all.” Lilian Drye stammered.

“What’s that like? Did he mention anything to you about when you’re getting married?” Grimm Drye was a little anxious.

“Didn’t we all say last time that we’d wait until the project was over? By the way, Dad, what’s going on with you and Uncle Floyd, why are you holding down our progress properly?” Lilian Drye asked rhetorically.

“I?? how is it that I’m pressuring you guys, it’s a unilateral decision on Floyd’s side.”

“Why?” Lilian Drye was baffled.

Grimm Drye opened his mouth and felt there was no way to make sense of it.

“Lilian, I’m telling you, if you’re still spending every day with Tredan, then you need to get a grip of yourself and push him to marry you soon, if you do, Floyd can’t hold the project down anymore and our funding will be released.”

“But, Tredan?? he??” Lilian Drye was having a hard time too.

“No buts, my good girl, you need to get a grip, the future of this project is in your hands, and even the Drye Family is depending on you.” Grimm Drye intensified his tone.

“Grimm, what’s the matter with you? What is wrong with you? Why are you pushing your daughter so hard?” Mrs. Drye asked in disbelief.

Grimm Drye sighed, “Ugh, you don’t understand, don’t ask so many questions.”

Mrs. Drye rarely goes out of the house, nor did she have the card-playing and shopping habits of the wealthy noblewomen. She spent her time growing flowers and plants and did not know anything about the business of her husband and daughter.

Hearing this, she said nothing more and instructed the maids to prepare the meal.

“Lilian, have you ever lived with Tredan?” Grimm Drye asked suddenly as he ate his meal.

Lilian Drye jerked her head up to look at her father and then shook her head violently.

Grimm Drye sighed, “Otherwise, you could move in with him at the old house since you’re engaged anyway.”

“What are you babbling about?” Mrs. Drye was the first to object.

Grimm Drye glared at her, “We have to get them married, their marriage is a matter of money flowing through the Drye Family! Didn’t she grow up wanting to marry him? Then she should get him to marry her! The sooner, the better!”

“But Daddy??!” Lilian Drye felt that something was wrong, she just couldn’t put her finger on it. Although her dad wasn’t in favor of it, she wanted to marry Tredan Davi, but not like this. She couldn’t help but look at her dad with some uncertainty but did not say anything.

Grimm Drye said in a relaxed tone, “Lilian, you’ve been a great girl since you were a kid, and a girl like you is hard to find for Tredan. What does he want? To just drag you out and not get married? You need to show your charm and attract him so that he can’t leave you, you cannot just chase him all over the world. Didn’t he use to chase you and beg you? How come it’s the other way around now? Do some soul-searching, this matter must be taken care of right away, and if you need any help, just tell Dad who fully supports you. In a month, within a month, you should reel Tredan in!”

Lilian Drye was puzzled but her dad’s encouragement lifted her spirits, “Dad, then talk to Uncle Floyd too, and ask him to also put some pressure on Tredan. That way it will work out.”

Grimm Drye is full of bitterness that he can’t tell his wife and daughter about the things he did to Tredan’s mother that led Floyd to flip out.

“Lilian, I can help you on my own, but you can’t let Uncle Floyd help you anymore, doing so will not give you the upper hand when you enter your in-laws’ home. During this period, you don’t have to do anything, just take care of Tredan with all your strength, 24 hours of personal service. I don’t believe that you can’t touch him, even if he is a block of ice, you will melt him. Dad will prepare a grand wedding for you, and marry you off in style.”

Mrs. Drye also thought her husband had a point, “Lilian, Dad is right, you can’t let Uncle Floyd help you. You and Tredan grew up together, and although there have been conflicts at times, it had always been a good relationship. You have to be more caring and understanding of this man, so that he would feel happy with you at all times.”

Grimm Drye nodded his head in agreement.

After dinner, Lilian Drye went for a walk in the small garden, thinking about what her mum and dad had said and knowing there was some truth to it. She couldn’t help but envision a bright future for her and Tredan Davi.

Two maids were chatting behind the flowering trees.

“Eldwin and Elda are married and Elda is looking great now!”

“Is that so? I told you they had a relationship, Eldwin takes more care of Elda!”

“Yeah, they’ve got a little restaurant now, it’s called Elda’s Bistro, Elda’s good at her craft and runs it with Eldwin, and it’s doing well.”

“Really? I didn’t think they would be better off than before they left this house.”

“Yes! Elda’s son had his heart surgery and I hear he’s also working for a big company. I also heard recently that her daughter is coming back from Japan for a reunion… I’m so jealous!”

“Yes, good things indeed come to good people, Elda and Eldwin are so good to people, look at this now, isn’t that a good thing?”

“Which Eldwin and Elda are you talking about?” asked Lilian Drye in a cold voice as she went out from behind the flowering tree and asked the two maids.

Lilian Drye’s appearance startled the two maids.

“I’m asking you guys? Which Eldwin and Elda are you talking about?” Lilian Drye asked impatiently.

The two servants looked at each other and hastily bowed their heads, fearful of the Princess’ unpredictable temper.

One of them, boldly, stammered, “It’s, it’s the former housekeeper, and, and Elda who cooks the food.”

“It’s them, huh?” The grin on Lilian Drye’s face looked a little grim under the cover of the night.

Only when she had gone did the two servants dare to breathe a sigh of relief.

One of them said worriedly, “Nothing’s going to happen, right? It looks to me like the princess is a bit upset.”

The other one also said worriedly, “Yes, I heard that Elda was beaten by the lady before she left and Eldwin quit because he couldn’t stand the princess.”

“Shh, be careful! If she hears you, we’re in for a treat.”