Substitute Bride: Utterly Pampered by Her Billionaire Husband-Chapter 983: I Don’t Love Him Anymore, But Not Yet

Chapter 983: Chapter 983: I Don’t Love Him Anymore, But Not Yet

"Leah, Van’s father has already found clues about your parents’ car accident from years ago. Why don’t you cooperate with him? That way you can take your revenge," Madame Goldie asked.

Leah lowered her gaze, remained silent for a few seconds, and then spoke softly, "But, they’re targeting Justin Xavier..."

Madame Goldie was taken aback.

Leah continued, "I can confront him, but others shouldn’t, because I know my limits. A few scandals can help me break free from him, but won’t harm him physically. He’s strong enough not to be crushed by them, but others might... want him dead, given how audacious and flamboyant he is, making too many enemies."

Leah’s lips curved into a gentle smile, as if thinking of something.

Madame Goldie understood that Leah ultimately couldn’t bring herself to hurt him.

Madame Goldie reached out to touch Leah’s head, "Leah, you still love him, don’t you?"

Leah rested her head on Madame Goldie’s shoulder, "I said I no longer love him, but not at this moment."

"A man I’ve loved for so many years, I still don’t know how to remove him from my heart."

"Madame Goldie, at least for now, I still love him."

Madame Goldie felt a pang of pity for the girl, burdened with so much at just over twenty years old, feeling guilty about her deceased family because of her deep love for Justin.

"Leah, it’s not your fault. Love has no right or wrong."

Leah nodded lightly, "I don’t want to marry him, and I’m actually scared. He’s never said he loves me, and I don’t know when his slight affection for me might disappear."

"Because I can’t feel loved by his side, I became the one who left first."

Madame Goldie didn’t know how to comfort this girl, after all, she wasn’t Justin Xavier.

Madame Goldie let Leah rest quietly for a while before speaking, "Leah, today you stood up and accused President Xavier, causing another media frenzy. Are you really planning to leave the entertainment industry?"

Leah nodded, "Madame Goldie, I want to retire."

"Why?" Madame Goldie was shocked; she never thought Leah would want to retire from the industry.

Because her memory is getting worse, she’s already starting to forget her lines.

So she wants to speed up, fearing she’ll forget the hatred she carries, forget her parents and brother.

"There’s no real reason, just... I’m too tired. Contact Director Wright, I’ll start work again tomorrow. I want to finish ’Floating Life’ quickly, then leave here to start anew where no one knows me."

As a top agent, Madame Goldie should persuade Leah, who is her financial lifeline, but in this moment, she sees Leah’s weariness and desire to leave. Leah is really tired.

Madame Goldie smiled and nodded, "Leah, I can’t promise you, but I can give you an extended vacation, no limit. Go wherever you want, play to your heart’s content. When you’re ready, come back and find me. Isn’t making money in the entertainment industry tempting?"

Leah nodded, "Okay."

...

Madame Goldie left the villa and called Director Wright to confirm Leah’s secret return to work the next day.

After hanging up, Madame Goldie went downstairs and quickly encountered a dark figure in the shadowy stairwell—Justin Xavier.

It was very dark here with no light. Madame Goldie walked up to confirm repeatedly; it was indeed Justin Xavier.

Justin Xavier had come.

He was wearing a well-fitted black suit, standing quietly in the corner of the stairwell, one hand in his pants pocket, lazily leaning against the wall, a half-lit cigarette in his other hand.

A layer of cigarette stubs had accumulated at his feet, indicating he had been here smoking for some time. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"President Xavier, why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be in the hospital?" Madame Goldie asked.

Justin Xavier’s face was hard to see, only the scarlet glow of the cigarette in his hand was visible as he exhaled smoke slowly and softly asked, "Is Leah asleep?"

"Yes, she just went to sleep."

Justin Xavier did not speak again, leaving a heavy silence hanging.

Madame Goldie was the first to feel suffocated; his presence was overwhelming, and since she considered herself Leah’s ally, she couldn’t betray her. So she said, "President Xavier, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving now."

"Alright," Justin Xavier responded casually.

Madame Goldie hurried away.

As she reached the turn, she glanced back at Justin Xavier. He remained in the same stance, smoking without moving or attempting to enter the villa. He seemed to only come for a look.

...

Leah secretly returned to work, and the entire crew maintained strict confidentiality and security measures, leaving no room for leaks.

"Leah, are you ready?" Director Wright asked Leah, who was studying the script.

Leah nodded, "Yes."

This scene was Leah’s opposite Shane Young’s, with Director Wright formally clapping the slate, "Action!"

Shane Young reached out and grabbed Leah’s shoulder. "Anya, I’ve heard that war is about to break out. Come with me, I’ll take you away from here!"

Leah shook her head, "No, I... I..."

Leah suddenly forgot her lines.

Director Wright quickly clapped the slate, "Cut."

Shane Young released Leah, and Director Wright approached, "Leah, what’s going on? The lines aren’t long, how could you forget them?"

Leah apologized, "Sorry, Director Wright. Let me check the script, we’ll try again."

Leah checked the script but still couldn’t perform because she kept forgetting her lines. Director Wright had called "cut" many times.

The crew’s pace noticeably slowed, spending the entire morning repeating the scene.

"Leah, you seem to be off your game. Take a break and we’ll shoot other scenes," Director Wright suggested.

Madame Goldie draped a coat over Leah’s shoulders, also puzzled, "Leah, what’s happening? You’ve never made such a low-level mistake as forgetting lines before. Are you too exhausted?"

Leah knew her condition was worsening with rapid memory decline.

"Maybe I’m tired, Madame Goldie, could you get me a cup of hot water?"

"Okay."

Madame Goldie left, and Leah sat on a chair, picking up the script to memorize lines. She even copied them down with a pen.

At that moment, she heard whispers from behind her,

"Look at Leah Thorne, a whole scene took half a day. We’re all exhausted following her, and she’s been absent for days. Now completely off her game; she’s dragging down the crew’s pace. She’s going to ruin us."

"Yeah, ’Floating Life’ is a major production we fought to get into."

"Oh, Leah nearly stepped into a wealthy life, almost becoming Mrs. Xavier—we shouldn’t risk offending her!"