The Mysterious Billionaire and His Substitute Bride (Ethan and Janet)

Garrett's grip on her shoulder was so tight that it made Kailee wince in pain. Leaning gently against his shoulder, she complained, "Garrett, you're hurting me.'

Garrett released her hand at once. He stepped away from her, face twisting in disgust.

The last thing he wanted was to be close to such a vicious woman. He would rather die than have any physical contact with her.

Garrett's avoidance was lost in Kailee. Instead of moving away she leisurely pulled out her phone and opened the photo of them intimately lying together. A satisfied smirk appeared on her lips as she studied the photo. "Look at us! This is the evidence of our love."

Enraged, Garrett laughed sarcastically, "Do you even deserve to be in love with me?"

"It's not for you to decide if I'm worthy or not," Kailee retorted. She kept her phone on display, smiling wickedly at Garrett. "Weren't you the one who forced yourself on me while drunk, Garrett? I'm just a victim!" Garrett was consumed with fury. He wanted nothing more than to tear this woman into pieces. "You better tell me the truth now, Kailee," he threatened. "If you keep up this charade, I can't promise I can deal with you calmly!"

Kailee couldn't care less that Garrett was fuming with anger.

She sat leisurely on the couch, unfazed by his threats. Smiling, she said, "I'm telling the truth. That day, you were at a dinner party, drunk. I happened to be on vacation and was checked in at

the same hotel. I simply meant to help you back to your room, yet you forced me to spend the night with you."

Garrett tried his best to recall the events of that day. His brows furrowed in deep thought but his mind was completely blank.

Yes, he was at a social gathering that day and had drunk a few glasses of alcohol. But what happened after that seemed to be erased from his memories.

"And you promised me that you would divorce Laney once you return. I wouldn't have agreed to have sex with you otherwise," Kailee said, shrugging. Then, she lowered her head all of a sudden, looking dejected. When Kailee continued, her tone was very aggrieved. "The only reason I took the photo was so I had proof. I was afraid you wouldn't keep your promise."

"You are lying!" Garrett believed none of her words.

Ever since the class reunion, his resentment of Kailee surfaced. How could he possibly liaison with someone he utterly detested? Alcohol was hardly a reason.

"I'm telling the truth. As a lady, why would I use my own reputation to slander you?" Kailee protested in her own defense. Like she shouldn't be facing such injustice.

Garrett bought none of it. The thought of Kailee, Lola, and what they put Laney through fueled his hatred. Laney almost died. His anger was now a sharp blade aimed at the woman in front of him. "Stop pretending like you're the victim here!"

Garrett's eyes were ice-cold and icicle sharp. Seething with anger, his hatred oozed from his harsh gaze on Kailee. "You were behind all this, weren't you? Why were you trying to hurt Laney?" Kailee looked down. The next second, tears were flooding down her cheeks. "I didn't do anything. All I did is like you. That's the reason I slept with you

that day. I thought what we felt for each other was mutual."

Nothing she said could sway Garrett. He said coldly, "You know exactly what your intentions were."

Kailee raised her tearful eyes to meet Garrett's gaze. A sorrowful expression settled on her tear-stained face. "The Gibson family may not be as powerful as the Harding family but we are still a wealthy and influential clan. Do you really think I desire to be just someone's mistress?"

Frustration took over him. Garrett pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to relieve the stress. "I have no feelings for you. Delete the photos now, and I'll pretend this never happened."

He preferred not to get entangled with a woman like Kailee. He was done with her.

"I will delete the photos," Kailee sobbed. "But I have one request."

A surge of annoyance bubbled inside Garrett but he suppressed it. Kailee still had the photos in her hands. "What do you want?" he asked despite his unwillingness.

Kailee lowered her gaze, hiding the shrewd glint that flashed in her eyes. She spoke softly. "I'd like one last date with you, to make up for our past regrets."

"I have no regrets about you," Garrett refused without hesitation.

Tears welled up in Kailee's eyes once more. "When we broke up and I left for abroad, you didn't even come to see me off. Your mother was the only one who showed up. We never had a proper closure and that always made me regretful. Maybe that's why I can't forget you."