The Substitute Bride and the Cripple - Chapter 55 - Catfight

Tang Qiu was a substitute bride–forced to take her half-sister’s place and marry the young master of the Jiang family, a deformed cripple with less than 6 months left to live.

“Who would have thought that even a sickly whelp like Jiang Shaocheng would find himself a bride?”

“I hear that he’s practically on his deathbed and he’s only marrying the Fengs’ daughter to improve his lifespan.”

Tang Qiu ignored the whispers around her and focused on her husband-to-be, who coughed violently in his wheelchair. At the altar, after they had said their vows, she lifted her veil and knelt in front of Jiang Shaocheng, pressing a hesitant kiss to his lips.

The marriage contract was signed. No matter his physical deformities, he was now her husband.

She wasn’t afraid of the scars that marked his face, nor was she repulsed by him being confined to a wheelchair. Every morning, she made him breakfast, attended to his needs, and thought of little else beyond her duties as a wife.

“Young Master Jiang is a cripple who can’t get it up,” her best friend argued. “When he dies, you’ll still be untouched. You should set your sights higher.”

“A sickly invalid like Jiang Shaocheng can’t give you happiness,” her ex-boyfriend insisted. “I’ll wait for you.”

But Young Master Jiang only scoffed. “I have plenty of time left to be with her.”

Later in their marriage, Jiang Shaocheng wanted to enjoy his little wife in all ways–the press of her lips against his, the brush of skin on skin; the way a husband and wife were supposed to. But Tang Qiu refused him, blushing. “No, we can’t. The doctor says you can’t exert yourself.”

Jiang Shaocheng’s desire was surging through him, a heat in his core that demanded to be satiated. He cursed, I should have gotten rid of that doctor and the wheelchair long ago.

But he yearned to make love to his little wife, and so he revealed his true identity. In the blink of an eye, the deformed cripple transformed into a powerful businessman–tall, dark, and handsome. He quieted Tang Qiu’s protests, his body positioned over hers, his arms caging her as she lay on the bed. His voice was low when he asked, “What about now?”

I am the best when it comes to taking divergent paths. With just a flip of my hand, I shall take the path less commonly travelled. I search far and wide, only to find myself unbeatable and unrivaled. So now I ask, who else can match my awesomeness?

Acting tough is second nature to me and I am a lone wolf.

The road is long and winding but I shan’t feel lonely as long as I am able to act tough!

Life and death bore me and I do whatever I deem fit.

“Young man, way back when I started acting tough, you were still learning how to put on your underpants!” Xu Que thus decided to take the path of acting tough. He decided to act tough every single god-damned day. If he wasn’t acting tough, he was scheming for the best way to act tough!

- Description from Novelupdates

WARNING: MATURE CONTENTI was eight when my world burned. My family was slaughtered; my home was reduced to ash. And the ones responsible? Gone. All they left behind was a black bandana embroidered with a nightshade thorn—a symbol of death.For ten years, I trained in the shadows. I became a weapon. Now, my hunt leads me to Prestige Supernatural Academy (PSA), the most elite werewolf school in the world—a place ruled by four Alpha heirs with too much power, arrogance, and dark desires.The night I arrive, I cross paths with Dristan, Kai, and Axel—heirs to the East, North, and West Alpha Kings.Arrogant. Vicious. Gods among wolves.They see me as nothing. A weak, powerless stray. They humiliate me, taunt me, overpower me— making me want to rip them apart.So, I make a vow: I’ll destroy them before they ever get the chance to destroy me.Then, on the eve of my 18th birthday, the Blood Moon rises. My wolf awakens. My power surges. And fate? That cruel, twisted bitch shackles me to all three of them.Mates.I want to reject them.I burn for them instead.And when I meet Xade, the wicked, silver-tongued heir to the Middle Belt Alpha King, the final bond snaps into place.Four possessive, dominant, and dangerously irresistible alphas.One vengeful, unbreakable wolf.And a deadly secret tying them to my past.Loving them could destroy me.Hating them could kill me.But in the end… who will ruin whom?And, fuck—why does my traitorous body want all four of them to do it?***************“Say it.”Dristan’s voice was smooth and controlled in a way that promised devastation underneath.I swallowed hard, my pulse hammering as he cornered me against the desk. Kai was behind me, his warmth pressing into my back, his breath teasing my neck.Axel leaned in, lips curved in a sinful smirk, his hazel green eyes dark with amusement. “Say it, sweetheart. Say you don’t want us and we’ll let you be—maybe.”I clenched my fists. I wanted to tell them to fuck off—but my traitorous body? It was already betraying me. My skin burned. My heart raced. My thighs clenched against the insufferable ache they caused just by existing.I lifted my chin, ignoring the heat curling low in my stomach. “I don’t—”“Liar.”The single word came from Xade, who had been silent until now. He was sitting in the professor’s chair, his crystal blue eyes burning into mine. He didn’t have to touch me. His voice alone was enough to undo me.He smirked, tilting his head. “You can fight it all you want, little wolf. But we can smell it.”Axel’s fingers traced the pulse at my throat. “Your heart’s pounding.”Kai’s lips brushed my ear. “Your body’s betraying you, love.”Dristan exhaled slowly, his gaze locked onto mine like a predator savouring its prey. “Your scent doesn’t lie, mate.”Fuck.My entire body was on fire. My legs trembled. My wolf purred in my head, eager to submit.I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.So, I did the only thing I could—I shoved Axel back, spun around, and tried to escape.I didn’t make it.Kai grabbed my wrist, yanking me back into his chest. I gasped, my palms slamming against his rock-solid torso.His golden eyes burned into mine. “Where do you think you’re going?”Axel was behind me now, his fingers sliding under my jaw, forcing my head up. “We’re not done with you, sweetheart.”Dristan smirked. “Not even close, mate.”“We're just getting started,” Xade drawled.I was trapped. Caged.And the worst part?I didn’t want to run.

[ Warning: Mature Content R-18 ]What to expect: Revenge, a bit of comedy, some pretty dark humor, an overpowered MC (He worked and suffered for it of course), billionaire Playboy, very cold and ruthless FL, Manipulation, Blackmail, MILFs... lots of them, lots of 'We shouldn't be doing this sex' and more steamy sex scenes.You can skip the sex scenes if you're not willing but if you're a Man (or Woman) of Culture like me, Enjoy.--------------------------------------------------------This book is quite unique, because it breaks the 4th wall quite a lot of times so be prepared for that. I think that's rare to find on webnovel these days and that's part of what sets this book apart from others.___________________________________At 18, Danladi moves to the city to live with his wealthy but neglectful uncle, hoping for a fresh start. A computer genius and gaming prodigy, he’s roped into his uncle’s shipping business, but life in his uncle's household is anything but easy. Constantly belittled and mistreated by his uncle’s wife and her sisters, Danladi endures in silence—until one fateful night changes everything. A betrayal at a Christmas Eve party sets off a chain of events that catapults him into a world of power, deception, and revenge.With the help of his cunning best friend, Eric, Danladi seizes an unexpected opportunity, stepping into wealth and influence overnight. But rather than reveal his newfound fortune, he plays a long game, exacting quiet vengeance before vanishing from their lives. Years later, he re-emerges—this time as the head of a groundbreaking gaming empire, a billionaire at just 23.But success comes at a cost. Lured into a dangerous business deal, Danladi finds himself entangled with the ruthless Italian Mafia, losing nearly everything and barely escaping with his life. Just when he thinks all is lost, he crosses paths with Jenn Carter—a brilliant but relentless MI6 agent hunting the very people who deceived him. She offers him a deal: his skills in exchange for her resources. Together, they embark on a high-stakes mission for justice, deception, and survival.As Danladi is thrust into a world of espionage, undercover operations, and a deadly game of cat and mouse, he and Jenn must navigate their growing feelings for each other while staying one step ahead of those who want them dead. But when a $50 million bounty is placed on their heads, the hunt intensifies, forcing them to fight not just for vengeance—but for their lives.Betrayal made him ruthless. Revenge made him powerful. But will love make him vulnerable?