Serena Sterling was really too tired; she buried herself in Hayden Crawford’s arms and fell back into a dream. Hayden’s thin lips landed on her little face, kissing everywhere, then he held her and closed his eyes too. The Rathborne family. In the past two days, Anabelle Rathborne hadn’t been out. She was keeping an eye on the results of the DNA paternity test; only when she saw the results would she be at ease. In the morning, the private butler rushed in, holding a sealed bag, and headed straight for the study. Anabelle’s heart was pounding; she knew the DNA paternity test results were out. She quickly went upstairs and hid outside the study door to peek. This time, the study door wasn’t tightly closed; there was a crack just right for Anabelle to peek through. She saw the private butler open the sealed bag and hand the results to Julian Rathborne, reporting in a low, respectful voice, "Sir, the results are out." Julian lowered his eyes, and Anabelle couldn’t see his expression. She only heard him ask, "How are the results?" "Sir, the DNA paternity test confirms that you have no blood relation. She is not your daughter." Anabelle was immediately overjoyed. She had switched out Serena Sterling’s hair with her own, and now the results were as she had anticipated. Everything was developing smoothly, all according to her plan. Anabelle looked at Julian, only to see him glance through the DNA paternity results, then press his thin lips into a cold, sharp line, exuding a somewhat icy demeanor. In all these years, Anabelle had never seen her daddy angry. Now she could feel the chilling anger emanating from him, as if his mood could drip water. Anabelle hummed a little tune in her heart, skipping back to her room. Now she would take the next step, having her daddy help her marry Hayden Crawford! In the study, the private butler watched Anabelle’s disappearing figure, "Sir, the young lady has left. Shall we expose her now?" Julian stood up and approached the floor-to-ceiling window. Actually, when he visited Yvonne Knight in prison, he was sure that the woman from that night wasn’t her. Yvonne and Old Man Knight had deceived him for so many years! Julian slowly drew out a dangerous curve at the corner of his lips, "No rush, let’s see what Anabelle plans to do next." "Yes," the private butler nodded. In Julian’s mind flashed those mesmerizingly beautiful eyes. Very well, she really hadn’t come to find him. She really just wanted to give him a daughter, without wanting a husband. Simply put, she just wanted his seed. He now wanted to turn the world upside down to find her! At this moment, an alarmed cry from a maid came from outside, "Something’s wrong, it’s bad, the young lady is going to jump off the building!" Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs n0velfire.net The private butler immediately looked at Julian, "Sir, the young lady is using the bitter-means trick again. Crying, making trouble, threatening to hang herself, the young lady is addicted to playing this." Julian got up and walked outside, "Go and take a look." Anabelle now stood on the high balcony, not daring to look down. It was too high here, very dangerous, and just a glance made her legs go weak. But for the sake of marrying Hayden Crawford, for her lifelong happiness, Anabelle could only grit her teeth and persevere. She prayed that her daddy would come quickly. A series of footsteps approached, and Anabelle looked up quickly to see Julian. "Daddy, don’t come over." Anabelle pinched her own thigh, the pain making her eyes turn red, adding a delicate wretchedness, "Daddy, I don’t want to live anymore. If you come any closer, I’ll jump from here!" Julian stopped in his tracks, looking at Anabelle, not saying a word. Why isn’t daddy speaking? Anabelle felt a bit awkward, standing in a dangerous position while Julian just quietly watched her, those deep eyes seemingly calmly waiting for her solo performance, or coldly observing her clown act. "Dad... daddy," Anabelle could only awkwardly speak herself, "I like Hayden, I want to marry Hayden. Without him, I can’t live. Daddy, won’t you think of a way for me? I am your only biological daughter. Could you bear to watch me jump?" Julian looked at Anabelle, his thin lips moved slightly, "Standing here is just because you want to marry Hayden Crawford?" "Yes, I want to marry Hayden!" On Julian’s handsome and noble face, there was no ripple of emotion, "Come down first." Anabelle’s eyes lit up, "Daddy, you’ve agreed to help me?" Julian didn’t directly answer; he simply said, "Your marriage decision must also be known to your mommy and grandpa. Let’s meet in the prison." With that, Julian walked away. Did daddy just leave like that? Anabelle felt completely left hanging, like dried beef jerky, embarrassed and awkward. She could only carefully climb down herself. But as she descended, she slipped and nearly fell, her face changing drastically, breaking out in a cold sweat, and shouted angrily at the maid nearby, "Are you blind? Hurry up and help me down!" Yvonne was visited again, this time seeing Old Man Knight and Anabelle. Anabelle quickly shared the good news with Yvonne, "Mommy, I succeeded, daddy has agreed to help me marry Hayden Crawford!" "Really? That’s wonderful. Anabelle, soon you’ll be the lady of the Crawford family," Yvonne said with a joyful smile. At this moment, Yvonne focused her gaze on Old Man Knight, "Dad, is the poison in your body better?" These days, Old Man Knight had suffered day and night from the pain of the poison gnawing at him. He had grown much thinner, his old face sunken, now looking gloomy and mean, with a bit of malice, truly reflecting his heart. "The poison in me is almost better." Old Man Knight didn’t say how he cured the poison, but he looked at Anabelle beside him with satisfaction, "Now that Anabelle and Hayden Crawford’s marriage is settled, the union of the Crawford and Rathborne families can further consolidate the Knight family’s position. It’s a tremendously good thing!" A shadow of dimness passed through Yvonne’s eyes; she realized that if it weren’t for Anabelle nearing marriage to Hayden Crawford, her father wouldn’t even look at her in prison. She always knew her father was obsessed with power, but these days, he seemed to have reached madness. Yvonne felt Old Man Knight was acting strangely. "Anabelle, why hasn’t your daddy arrived yet?" "He should be here soon." Yvonne felt a little uneasy. Julian had been cold and distant towards her for years, so why was he so respectful now regarding their daughter’s marriage, having them all gather in a prison waiting for him?
Substitute Bride: Utterly Pampered by Her Billionaire Husband - Chapter 449
Updated: Oct 28, 2025 8:27 AM
