The Substitute Bride: Doted by My Billionaire Husband

Chapter 15: New and Old Love

Gabriella was perplexed. Rejected by the man she liked and humiliated by Olive, she angrily stormed out of the bar.

Several thugs surrounded her. One, wearing a face cap, stared seductively and asked, “Beautiful princess, do you want to keep us company?”

Gabriella, well-protected since childhood, had never encountered such a situation. She cried, "Help!"

Her driver spotted her and rushed over. "Hey! Let go of her!"

The thugs quickly overpowered the driver, kicking him repeatedly. Gabriella trembled with fright. "Help! Help! Somebody help!"

The thugs covered her mouth and dragged her into a dimly lit corner. Unable to speak, she recalled her disdain for low-status men, her vow to marry only into one of Los Angeles's four wealthiest families. These men were beneath her.

The gang leader caressed her face. Feeling her blood run cold, she pleaded for mercy. "Look at her skimpy dress," he sneered. "I'm certain she came here to hook up with men. Why don't we help you take it off?"

Gabriella had come to meet Elvis. But as her dress was pulled, she struggled desperately, tears streaming down her face. "No, please!"

"Let her go," a voice commanded.

The thugs released her, and she fell to the ground. Tears blurred her vision as she looked up in shock. A handsome face stared down at her. She recognized Harry, the crown prince of the Heaven's family.

He puffed a cigarette in her face. "Miss Hart, this is a warning. Don't pursue relationships you shouldn't, lest you attract trouble."

He finished his cigarette, extinguishing it with his shoe. "Let's go," he muttered, and the thugs departed.

Embarrassed and sobbing, Gabriella sat on the ground. A luxurious car sped past; she saw Elvis in the driver's seat.

At the Red Villa, Olive entered her room, pulled out her phone, and sent a voice message to North Paulo. "Thank you so very much."

Having worked in the entertainment industry for years, North Paulo possessed extensive connections and a strong public relations team. Typically, sensitive, unreleased information was handled discreetly by PR. The news about Monica and Mr. Ronald could spread rapidly; it all depended on one person: North Paulo, Olive's best friend since kindergarten. North had cried when Olive was sent to an orphanage.

Olive's phone beeped. A message arrived: "You don't need to thank me. Don't worry. My manager will handle this. Sir Patrick will find nothing."

North's voice was exceptionally pleasant, the kind that could captivate anyone. Besides her beautiful voice, she was stunningly gorgeous. A former beauty queen, she'd debuted in the industry two years prior and was now a successful, high-earning actress.

Touched by North's help, Olive asked, "When are you returning to LA?"

North's reply was playfully flirtatious. "Are you missing me? I heard you've found a new love. How could you still think of me?"

"New love?" Olive replied instantly.

"Calm down, Olive, you're panicking!"

Olive was speechless.

"Tell me about the young gigolo you hired," North prompted.

North, one of LA's most beautiful women, was also a gossip.

The door creaked open. Elvis, returning from his study, entered.

Guilt-stricken, Olive, lying on the bed, sat up quickly.

Elvis unbuttoned his black shirt, revealing his physique, and turned to Olive. Their eyes met. "Is something wrong?" he asked.

"No, no," Olive replied, avoiding his gaze.

Her phone beeped again. Elvis noticed. "Why don't you answer that?"

Olive played North's voice message. "I can trust your choice. The gigolo you hired—is he handsome? Does he have a good temperament?"

Olive's face flushed crimson at North's suggestive tone; she nearly dropped her phone.

The next voice note played: "Olive, remember our promise at the movie—to find a man with good physical strength."

Silence filled the room. Olive buried her phone under the blanket, mortified. Girlfriends could discuss such things, but it was incredibly embarrassing to have the subject listen in.

"Um… Mr. Augustine, I'll go take a shower," Olive stammered, rushing to the bathroom.

She reached for a towel, feeling intensely ashamed. Looking in the mirror, she saw Elvis walking towards her.