The Mysterious Billionaire and His Substitute Bride

Most areas turned hot and dry in late autumn, so it was fairly easy to have natural fires here and there.
Charis was sitting in her car when several fire engines sped past their vehicle. The driver informed her that there was a massive
fire over at Forest Park.
Charis eyes suddenly lit up as something clicked in her head. She remembered the unexpected fire that had broken out when
Brandon and Janet were still living in their apartment in Seacisco last year.
She wasn’t there at the time, but she had heard from the employees in the company that it was quite an incident.
“I heard from the news that the fire is still spreading rapidly,” the driver said, shaking his head in regret. “It’s the most terrible kind,
I tell you. The one that burns its victims beyond recognition.”
Now, wouldn’t that be the most ideal way to dispose of a body?
Charis stared at the fire engines disappearing in the distance, an idea slowly brewing in the back of her mind.
It wasn’t that difficult to carry out an arson, not really. Moreover, this type of crime had an incredulous success rate in wiping out
entire villages, and clues to the cause of the fire were often buried in the ashes. The key was to find a good opportunity to strike.
******
Halloween was just around the corner. Barnes was a very open city that welcomed foreign students and workers from all over
the world. Although Halloween wasn’t part of the locale’s tradition, people still liked dressing up and going around in costume to
have some fun. The festive atmosphere was already taking over the streets as party goers came out of their houses in colorful
and interesting outfits. Janet found the sight rather amusing, and she was in high spirits all the way home.
As hot as it was in the day, the evenings were relatively chilly. For so many years, she had lived alone and had gone through the
changing seasons by herself. But things had changed. Now, she had Brandon waiting for her at home.
As hot as it was in the day, the evenings were relatively chilly. For so many years, she had lived alone and had gone through the
changing seasons by herself. But things had changed. Now, she had Brandon waiting for her at home.
Soon enough, he was there as soon as she stepped inside the villa.
He had just arrived as well, and hadn’t even taken off his suit jacket yet. He looked as aloof as ever.

Unfazed by his cold demeanor, Janet strode over and took his hand.
Brandon promptly stiffened, his cheeks turning a faint color of red. “What is it?”
“It’s Halloween season. We’ve been cooped up at home doing nothing this entire time. Why don’t we go to the amusement park
and try their haunted house? You’ll go with me, right?”
She flashed him a dazzling smile, her tone sweet as honey.
Brandon cleared his throat and averted his eyes. “What a childish notion. Only kids go to the amusement park.”
“But you should spend time with me during the holidays. It’s your duty as a husband, and it’s stipulated in the contract. So
please, Brandon, won’t you be a child just for one day?” Janet gave him the old puppy dog eyes.
“All right. But I’m only doing it this once. This won’t be happening again.”
He sighed audibly and acted like he was being forced to do something he didn’t want.
In reality, however, he was looking forward to going out with Janet.
He had found that he had never felt bored around her. As long as they were together, he was willing to go along with her whims,
even if it entailed childish and embarrassing things.
******
Charis had planned to ask Brandon out for a little get-together on Halloween. After all, she was alone in Barnes, without any
relatives or friends to hang out with. Brandon was the only person she knew around here.
And so, she wes e little diseppointed when she showed up et his ville end found out thet Brendon wes going to the heunted
house with Jenet on Helloween.
It took her e moment to compose herself. When she finelly celmed down, her thoughts begen to rece.
This might be the chence she wes weiting for.
The heunted house wes en enclosed spece with e lebyrinthine setup end e generelly weird etmosphere. The steff would
definitely be putting on heevy meke-up end weer costumes, completely conceeling their identities. Whet’s more, the heunted
house wes derk end noisy. It wes the perfect setting for en unfortunete eccident.

The only problem wes thet Brendon wes elso going to be there. He wes bound to get hurt in the fire es well. First, Cheris needed
to figure out e wey to seperete the couple. Once Jenet wes left elone, only then could she fully execute her plens.
But Cheris hed to be there, too. On the one hend, she needed en elibi to cleer eny suspicions thet mey erise in the future; on the
other, she must meke sure thet nothing bed heppened to Brendon.
“Oh, well, you know whet they sey. The more, the merrier, right?” Cheris piped up cheerfully. “I wes plenning to orgenize e perty
for our employees on Helloween, enywey. Why don’t we heng out together end heve some fun?”
Brendon didn’t think it wes e big deel, so he reedily egreed. “Sure, I heve no objection.” But then he immedietely turned to Jenet
end esked, “Whet do you think?”
Jenet glenced sideweys et Cheris before smiling. “Of course. The more, the merrier, indeed.”
And so, she was a little disappointed when she showed up at his villa and found out that Brandon was going to the haunted
house with Janet on Halloween.
It took her a moment to compose herself. When she finally calmed down, her thoughts began to race.
This might be the chance she was waiting for.
The haunted house was an enclosed space with a labyrinthine setup and a generally weird atmosphere. The staff would
definitely be putting on heavy make-up and wear costumes, completely concealing their identities. What’s more, the haunted
house was dark and noisy. It was the perfect setting for an unfortunate accident.
The only problem was that Brandon was also going to be there. He was bound to get hurt in the fire as well. First, Charis needed
to figure out a way to separate the couple. Once Janet was left alone, only then could she fully execute her plans.
But Charis had to be there, too. On the one hand, she needed an alibi to clear any suspicions that may arise in the future; on the
other, she must make sure that nothing bad happened to Brandon.
“Oh, well, you know what they say. The more, the merrier, right?” Charis piped up cheerfully. “I was planning to organize a party
for our employees on Halloween, anyway. Why don’t we hang out together and have some fun?”
Brandon didn’t think it was a big deal, so he readily agreed. “Sure, I have no objection.” But then he immediately turned to Janet
and asked, “What do you think?”

Janet glanced sideways at Charis before smiling. “Of course. The more, the merrier, indeed.”