The CEO’s Substitute Lover

On screen, Lilian Drye who was smiling happily and sweetly, is now holding a microphone and confessing, “Tredan, I have loved you since you were three years old, until today, until forever, I want to be with you for the rest of my life, you are the one I love the most!”

The applause was thunderous.

Octavia Gills watched as she stood on tiptoe and kissed Tredan Davi on the lips, her world suddenly collapsing and her heart ached so much she couldn’t breathe.

With a graceful smile on her face, Octavia Gills with tears pouring out, mumbled, “I’m just tired, just tired.”

She buried her head deep in the crook of her arm.

Eddison sat over and carefully took her in his arms, gently stroking her thin back, “Yeah Octavia, you’re so tired, just so tired, it’s okay, just lean on me and take a nap.”

Octavia Gills didn’t refuse this time, she just wanted to find a shell to shrink in and hide, but it was Tredan Davi’s magnetic voice in her ears, telling everyone about the next property projects that Group Davi and Group Drye were working on together, painting a glorious future.

Yes, no amount of love is too great for real interests.

Woodrow whispered on the phone and snarled, “I don’t care, I want you to change the live feed on the TV right now! Or I’ll smash that TV!”

It was afternoon when Gar’s operation finished.

The attending doctor was all smiles as he told everyone, “The operation was a great success.”

The crowd breathed a sigh of relief and congratulated Elda and Octavia Gills with joy.

Octavia Gills burst into tears and hugged her mum, “Mum! We did it, we did it…”

Her body went limp and Elda, startled, held her up, “Octavia, Octavia…”

Eddison grabbed Octavia Gills and shouted, “Doctor! Doctor! Doctor!”

The front of the operating theatre was a mess.

“Ms. Octavia has been worried and anxious the whole day, some external stress could have stimulated her and released all the pressure at once, nothing serious, she may also have symptoms like a fever and drowsiness, so avoid stressing her again. Also, she is malnourished and somewhat anemic, she should pay attention to her diet.” The doctor walked out of the ward and said to the crowd.

Elda cried, “Octavia has been worried about her brother’s surgery lately, isn’t that worry and anxiety? As soon as she heard that her brother’s operation had been successful, she collapsed as soon as she relaxed, the child, taking everything to heart.”

Eddison, Domino, and Woodrow all knew in their hearts that Octavia Gills was stressed by something else, but could not say anything.

Eldwin looked at the three young men in front of him, he was unsure but knew that Octavia must be feeling great pain that he and Elda were unaware of.

He patted Elda on the shoulder, “Okay, don’t cry, the doctor just said Octavia is anemic, you go back and make her some soup and bring it over tonight, give her a good tonic, I’m here so you go ahead.”

Elda wiped the tears from her eyes, she had great trust and faith in Eldwin, “Yes, I’ll be right back, I’ll make sure she’s well taken cared of, Gar is fine, and Octavia will feel so much better too.”

It was only when Elda’s figure disappeared that Eldwin said to Eddison, “Mr. Floyd, you are Octavia’s boss and you have seen how she is, please allow her to take a few more days’ leave.”

Eldwin has seen that Octavia is not as attached to this Mr. Floyd as he and Elda had hoped, and no longer addressed Eddison affectionately as ‘Eddison’.

Eddison didn’t mind, “Okay, Eldwin, don’t worry, I’ve got the company.”

At that moment, his phone rang, “Hello, Mom!”

“Eddison, it’s your brother’s engagement day, where have you been? Get over here right now!” Ottilie’s voice came over the phone, furious.

Eddison was embarrassed and covered the speaker and stepped aside to take the call.

A few moments later, he approached Eldwin and said, “Eldwin, I have to go first, I’ll be back to see Octavia in the evening.”

Eldwin nodded, “Go about your business, and don’t bother coming over tonight. We will be here for Octavia.”

Eldwin left but Domino stayed behind.

“Domino, you’re Octavia’s best friend, and I have watched Octavia growing up, I treat her like my own daughter, I don’t have much, but I’m trying to do what I can to make sure the three of them have a secure life.”

“Uncle, you may be old, but your heart still understands, Octavia started acting strangely since she watched TV this morning, can I tell you what happened?”

Domino had always known that Eldwin was good to Octavia Gills and that she treated him like a father, but thinking about how Elda treated Octavia Gills and Tredan Davi’s relationship with such vehemence, and Eldwin being a former housekeeper for the Drye Family, she couldn’t figure out which side Eldwin would take.

Domino’s hesitation was taken in stride by Eldwin.

“Domino, I’ve heard Elda talk about Octavia and Ms. Lilian and the Grand Prince of the Davi Family, I’ve watched Ms. Lilian grow up, I know what kind of temperament she has, don’t worry, no matter what, right or wrong, I’m on Octavia’s side, I won’t let her be wronged!”

She had known Octavia for so long and it hurt her more than anyone else to see her in her present condition. She told Eldwin everything.

Eldwin’s face was stony as he patted Domino’s hand, “Good girl, don’t worry, our Octavia is a strong child and will have a happy future.”

In the evening, Domino told Eldwin to go back to rest, Gar was in the ICU and did not need to be looked after, Eldwin was too old to keep watch and asked him to come with her auntie tomorrow and bring them something nice to eat.

In the middle of the night, Octavia Gills had a high fever.

Domino called Woodrow in tears, “Woodrow, you get Tredan Davi to come and see Octavia, I think Octavia simply doesn’t want to live.”

“Domino, believe me, Tredan couldn’t come, he had a hard time, and he did it for the good of Octavia.”

“Bullshit! Octavia’s fever is forty degrees and she hasn’t woken up since. I’m afraid she’ll give up and never wake up. What’s the matter with him that he can’t come and see Octavia at a time like this?

“Domino, don’t you do this, you, believe me, Tredan hates the fact that it’s her who’s lying in the hospital bed right now.”

“I don’t believe it! I can’t believe it! I hate him! I hate Tredan!” said Domino, hanging up the phone, she cried and crouched down trying to breathe.

An aunt who looked like a nurse came over and pulled Domino up, “Girl if you have time to cry here, why don’t you give your try giving your sister a sponge bath to cool her fever and talk to her, crying won’t solve anything.”

“What am I supposed to do?” Domino asked, teary-eyed.

Aunty brought over a water basin and two new towels and showed Domino how to do it herself.

As she did so, she said to Domino, “This girl has such a high fever, but the doctor didn’t take any emergency measures either, which means it’s not much of a problem. Sometimes a fever isn’t a bad thing, what’s wrong with burning off all the bad stuff in your body in one go, and when you wake up it’s a new life? Don’t let it worry you?”

Domino gave Octavia Gills a sponge bath as her aunt had shown her, rambling, “Oh, Octavia, just use this fire in your body to cleanse yourself, and when you wake up, give me back a brand new Octavia Gills.”

“Eldwin is good to you, just like a dad, you have a mum, and a healthy brother too, and most importantly, you have me, a smart and beautiful Domino, ah, I will give you all my love, from now on and only love you, not Woodrow, let’s not worry about those stinky men.”

“Octavia, let us love ourselves well, love those who are worthy of our love, and let no one else hurt us.”

Octavia Gills felt like she was in a very long tunnel, surrounded by darkness, so dark that she couldn’t see her fingers, she was scared and ran as fast as she could, there was a small light ahead that must be the end.

Running towards the little light, sweating and hot, her mouth dry, she suddenly remembered Tredan, where had she left him and where was he?

No, no, I can’t look for Tredan, he has gone off with Ms. Lilian, yes, I can’t look for him, I will just run by myself.

Suddenly she felt something cool in her mouth and heard Domino’s voice in her ear, “Look at all the blisters on your lips, you won’t be able to use lipstick for a long time.”

Octavia Gills opened her eyes slightly and Domino exclaimed, “Octavia, you’re awake!”

“Water, drink water.” Octavia Gills’ voice was hoarse and faint, and Domino brought a glass over and let her drink a little at a time with a teaspoon, shedding tears of joy.

When Octavia Gills had finished her drink, Domino put the cup down and tested her forehead with her hand, “That’s good! The fever’s gone.”

“Octavia, you know what? It was the caregiver aunt who asked me to physically cool you down, she said a fever is good too, burn off all the bad stuff out of your body like sweltering fire and be reborn when you wake up, Octavia, tell me have you been reborn?”

Octavia Gills raised her hand, slowly caressed Domino’s face, and nodded gently, “Yes, the fire did it cleansing me and be reborn.”

Early in the morning, Octavia Gills shoos Domino away and tells her to go back to bed, she’s got dark circles under her eyes after a sleepless night.

Domino refused until Eldwin and Elda came together, Domino gave Eldwin the do’s and don’ts, and reluctantly went back to rest.

“Domino is such a good girl!” Elda handed Domino a bowl of porridge, set the table, and watched her eat.

“This is the chicken soup porridge we started last night, the doctor said you were anemic and needed to be nourished, Octavia, Mum knows that you have suffered all these years.” Elda had tears in her eyes as she looked at her thin daughter.

“Mum, I’m fine.” Octavia Gills’ mouth was covered in blisters from the fever and her voice was hoarse.

She scooped a spoonful of porridge and slowly put it in her mouth, “It’s so delicious, it smells so good!”

“Then eat more, look how thin you are.” Eldwin also said heartily.

“Mmm.” Octavia Gills smiled and nodded, seeing Eldwin and suddenly remembering what Gar had said before the operation, her eyes moving between her mother and Eldwin.

“What’s wrong?” Elda asked, puzzled.

“It’s fine.” Octavia Gills smiled.

“Mum, Eldwin, why don’t you guys go and see Gar in the ICU, it’s almost time for his exploratory tests, I won’t be going over there today, I have to rehydrate and finish my drip.”

“Good, we’ll go over there when you’ve finished this bowl of porridge.” Elda was also full of joy at the mention of her son.

Octavia Gills took out her phone and found that there were two missed calls from Mr. Kawashima yesterday.

She called back in a hurry.

“Hello Octavia!” said Mr. Kawashima in a kind and gentle voice.

“Mr. Kawashima, I’m sorry, I didn’t have my phone with me yesterday.”

“It’s okay, everyone is concerned about how your brother’s surgery went and entrusted me to send you greetings.”

“Please thank everyone for me, the operation was a great success and I expect he will be discharged home in a fortnight.”

“Really? Congratulations!”

“Thanks!”

“So, Octavia Gills, when you’re done with your business, when are you going to return to our family?”

…

Octavia Gills was silent for a moment, lightly bit her lower lip, and said softly but firmly, “I want to go there by the end of this month.”

“What? Octavia Gills? Are you telling the truth?” Mr. Kawashima’s voice rose in surprise.