Substitute Wife, Genius CEO novel Chapter 286

"Of course, Lydia wasn't content being his dirty little secret. She hired traffickers to snatch you away. Then, she started slipping slow-acting drugs into my food. My mental health deteriorated rapidly, but everyone just assumed I was sick with grief over losing you."

"In the end, she used her own daughter to replace you. They stole your identity, your name, and everything that belonged to you. When you were born, I bought you gold, properties, and even put company shares in your name. All of it was stolen by that fraud."

Summer was overwhelmed with emotion. A thousand words welled up inside her, but they all distilled into a single question. "So, my real name was Lily?"

Leila nodded. "Yes."

Leila laughed, her voice sharp with bitter regret. "I was an absolute idiot. I didn't suspect a thing, and they played me for years. Me ending up in this sanitarium was all Lydia's doing, too."

"She deliberately set it up so I would catch her and Bennett in bed together. She purposely told me the whole truth, trying to push me over the edge by telling me you were dead."

"I was already weakened by the drugs she'd been feeding me. Finding out the truth all at once made me snap, and I attacked her. That gave Bennett the perfect, justified excuse to commit me to this place."

"After I got here, the nurses force-fed me medication every single day. Even though I threw it up afterward, my mind and body still suffered irreversible damage. As for my face..."

Leila touched her uneven, scarred cheek. Even without looking in a mirror, she knew how hideous it was.

"Every time Lydia was in a bad mood, she loved coming here to torture me. She sliced my face up, reveling in my pain and hatred. Seeing me living like a rabid dog was the only thing that brought her joy."

"I endured it for so many years. Everyone eventually believed I was completely insane, so both Lydia and the staff lowered their guard. I was the one who started that fire. Then I stole a nurse's wallet and ran. I thought Lydia had killed my daughter, so I wanted her daughter to pay with her life."

At this, Leila suddenly began apologizing profusely. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, baby girl. I didn't recognize you that day, and I almost hurt you. I'm so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?"

Summer hugged her tight, patting her back soothingly as if comforting a child. "I'm not mad. It wasn't your fault. The Sutton family is to blame for all of this."

"What about that man from that day? Is he your husband? He seemed terrified of losing you."

Summer didn't dare agitate Leila. She was divorced, and her ex-husband had cheated on her with the very daughter of the woman who destroyed Leila's life.

If Leila found out, she would definitely lose her mind all over again.

Instead, Summer offered a warm smile. "Mom, he's just a very good friend."

Leila's eyes brimmed with guilt and self-blame. "I'm so sorry. I went crazy and hurt your friend. Please apologize to him for me, and thank him."

Thank him for protecting her daughter without a moment's hesitation.

"Don't worry, Mom," Summer said, holding Leila tight. "I promise to make them pay for everything you've suffered. They will give back every single thing they took from us. I'll make sure they lose everything."

Summer couldn't stay at the sanitarium for too long. Once she had explained everything, she took her leave.

A few days later, another massive fire broke out at the facility.

This time, Leila had set it herself. Under the horrified gaze of witnesses, she had completely lost her mind and perished in the flames.

Across the ocean.

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