Substitutee Marriage: Fallingg For My Ugly Wifee

Upon turning and discovering the deserted alley, the assistant’s confusion was palpable.

“Bizarre. Where did she go?”

Humphrey also scanned their surroundings, finding no conceivable hiding spots.

“Mr. Morgan, could she have leaped into the river? I thought I heard something plunge into the water,” the assistant conjectured.

Nancy’s brow furrowed as she advanced toward the riverbank. However, her steps faltered, causing her to nearly lose her balance as she neared the water’s edge.

“Be careful!” Acting swiftly, Humphrey managed to grasp her just in time.

“Damn it. The ground is incredibly slippery,” Nancy’s face blanched with fear, and another telltale skid mark marred the ground.

Squinting, she contemplated whether Millie had indeed plunged into the river due to her frantic sprint.

The assistant reasoned aloud, “If she didn’t jump into the river, where else could she have escaped to?”

Angela’s Library

“Even I couldn’t climb over that wall,” the assistant added. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Let alone her.”

“It appears that jumping into the river is the most plausible scenario,” Humphrey concluded, his gaze sharpened.

Once they had departed, Millie could finally draw a deep, relieved breath.

“Harlan, what brought you here?” Millie inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Millie’s face flushed a deep shade of red, akin to a ripe apple. The situation had been perilous — had Harlan not intervened, her options had been narrowed to either leaping into the river or facing capture.

The memory resurfaced of the previous instance when Nancy had orchestrated her involvement with an illicit organization, a move that had nearly cost Millie her life. Given her present predicament, if she were apprehended, the outcome would undoubtedly be dire.

“You’re quite the runner. Impressive physical prowess,” Harlan commented.

Leaning against the wall, Harlan regarded the breathless Millie with a smile, his arms folded.

He had been closely monitoring Millie’s movements and calculated that she had traversed eight streets in her escape.

What!? Had Harlan been jesting with her? The quirk of his lips was undeniably playful.

“What’s your take on it?”

It was a matter of survival, so naturally, she had to sprint with all her might.

“Remember when you asked me why I was here earlier? Well, Marcus requested that I keep a discreet watch over you. He can’t be by your side constantly and he’s concerned for your safety,” Harlan added lazily, assuming a relaxed posture as he leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

The revelation that Marcus had covertly enlisted Harlan’s protection left Millie both surprised and touched by the unexpected gesture.

However, it appeared that Harlan had been discreetly keeping an eye on her.

Then why hadn’t he intervened directly? Millie wondered. Her legs had been sore from the running, rendering her unable to stand upright.

Observing the reproachful glint in Millie’s eyes, Harlan arched an eyebrow in response.

“I simply wanted to gauge how far those slender legs of yours could carry you. Turns out, I underestimated you. Working as a maid has certainly honed your physical prowess.”

Millie rolled her eyes, rendered momentarily speechless by Harlan’s teasing.

What a rascal! He should have intervened the moment she was in peril.

Instead, he had watched her run frantically through the streets.

And she had nearly plunged into the river. He seemed Like an inept bodyguard.