Rebirth Swapped Bride: Married to a Ruthless Cursed billionaire Book2-Chapter 157: He doesn’t love you. You just look like his late wife

Chapter 157: He doesn’t love you. You just look like his late wife
For a moment, she was at a loss for how to retaliate.
After all, no one outside knew she was Lucas’s wife—at best, they assumed she was just some nameless plaything he kept.
A pang of regret hit her.
She had insisted on keeping their marriage secret—no wedding, no public announcements, no disturbances.
Now, she certainly had her peace, but others were setting their sights on her man.
Enough was enough!
"Miss Nathalie, I think you might be mistaken.
His kindness toward you is purely professional.
At most, he sees a faint resemblance between you and his late ex-wife, which is why his gaze might linger a little longer.
But I know Lucas—he wouldn’t develop feelings for you just because you look like her."
The words rolled off her tongue so convincingly that she almost believed them herself.
A cold, mocking laugh echoed in her mind.
Seems I’m getting better at playing the dutiful wife, she thought wryly.
Now I’m even handling his trivial distractions.
Her sudden counterattack caught Nathalie off guard, leaving the woman momentarily speechless.
The haughty arrogance she had flaunted earlier vanished without a trace.
Of course, Nathalie knew about the resemblance.
Samantha had made sure to inform her, even sending photos of Amelia’s past looks.
Step by step, she was mimicking Amelia’s style, hoping to win Lucas’s heart.
"I know I only resemble his ex-wife a little.
Right now, he sees me as her shadow—but I don’t care who he thinks I am.
The truth is, we’ve already crossed that line.
There’s been... physical intimacy between us."
The words struck like a bolt of lightning.
Beauty’s mind buzzed violently, as if she hadn’t just bruised her forehead earlier but shattered her brain entirely.
Her chest ached as though slashed by a blade, the pain radiating through her entire body.
Nathalie seemed to have come solely to gloat.
After delivering her blow, she left without another word, leaving Beauty seething alone in the room.
Her phone screen nearly cracked under the force of her jabs.
Still, no message from *him* appeared.
Typical man.
Once they get what they want, they stop valuing it.
Around seven o’clock, a buzzing vibration jolted her awake.
The words "Perverted Old Man" flashed on her phone screen. After hesitating for two seconds, she finally answered the call.
Lucas’s voice came through the receiver, low and steady: "Sweetheart, I won’t be coming home tonight.
Get some rest early and take care of yourself.
Drake’s got some trouble, and I need to stay with him."
Her heart twisted violently, as if something had stabbed deep into it, leaving her breathless with pain.
"Oh...
Then you should rest early too.
Goodnight."
She hung up before he could respond, terrified of hearing even the slightest sound she didn’t want to hear.
So he’s already staying out all night right after the wedding.
The tenderness he showed her these past few days must have been nothing but an act.
Lucas was still Lucas—but was she still the same thorny Beauty from before?
Those thorns had nearly been worn down by his feigned affection, leaving only this raw, aching hurt behind. ...
In the grand living room, Lucas lounged lazily on the sofa, his expression flickering between shadow and light, impossible to read.
Drake was already wasted beyond recognition—even if Sarah stood right in front of him, he probably wouldn’t be able to tell who she was.
This time, after meddling in Sarah’s family affairs, he’d been kicked out by the old man with nowhere to go.
The only option was to crash at one of Lucas’s other villas.
"This is the new home Beauty and I will share it after marriage.
I couldn’t bear to let her live in the same place where Amelia and I... had our happiness.
I bought this place after Amelia left.
Soon, I’ll have it renovated—so don’t even think about squatting here forever."
Lucas held a cigarette between his fingers, his eyelids half-lowered as he shot Drake a look of utter disdain.
Drake immediately glared back, slamming his glass down before rubbing his temples with a grimace.
Slurring his words, he retorted, "Y-you... you heartless bastard.
I’m just crashing here for a couple of days.
No need to be such a jerk about it."
Lucas immediately retorted, stubbing out his cigarette with a flick of his fingers.
"Me, ditching friends for a woman?
If I were that kind of guy, I’d have left you—this homeless, wandering playboy—right here and gone home to my wife.
You know how it is with newlyweds—Beauty and I are all lovey-dovey.
How could you bear to leave me lying alone in bed all night?"
"Then I’ll sleep with you.
Problem solved."
Drake leaned in with a smirk, only to be shoved away by Lucas, whose icy glare could cut like a knife.
"Honestly, how does your love life keep hitting so many roadblocks?
Now you’re homeless, fighting with your girlfriend, and—worst of all—your reputation in Sarah’s eyes just took another nosedive."
Lucas listed Drake romantic misfortunes one by one, a smug grin playing on his lips.
Finally, the tables had turned, and it was his turn to tease.
Drake scoffed, rolling his tongue.
"If you dare leave, I swear I’ll call ten escorts over and have them sleep in every single room of this place.
Let’s see how well that works as your honeymoon suite."
"Then I’ll just buy another house.
Money’s no issue for me—anything solvable with cash isn’t even a problem."
With that, Lucas gave Drake a pat on the shoulder and headed to the kitchen to ask the chef to prepare some late-night snacks.
After all that drinking, neither of them had eaten properly, and their stomachs were protesting.
Now that he was ten years older than his wife, he had to take care of himself—exercise, maintain his health—so that when she reached her prime, he wouldn’t be left struggling to keep up.
Earlier, when his wife had hung up on him, he’d found it odd.
Now, when he tried calling back, her phone was off.
Frowning, he dialed the house staff instead and only relaxed after learning she’d already gone to bed.
Raising a wife really was like raising a daughter—always something to worry about.
"Even if Sarah’s family troubles are tied to Samantha, Sarah’s father did embezzle a lot of dirty money.
That alone is enough for a conviction.
At best, with our connections, we might get his sentence reduced by a few years.
But getting him off scot-free?
Impossible.
We can’t exploit legal loopholes."
Despite the alcohol, Lucas’s mind remained sharp, his analysis methodical.
"I know Sarah’s family is done for.
They were such a close-knit family before.
Sarah grew up being treated like a princess.
I’m afraid she won’t be able to handle this."
Drake massaged his temples, his voice cold.
His dark eyes fixed on the night sky outside as he let out a heavy sigh.
Raising a wife really was like raising a daughter—always something to worry about.
"Even if Sarah’s family troubles are tied to Samantha, Sarah’s father did embezzle a lot of dirty money.
That alone is enough for a conviction.
At best, with our connections, we might get his sentence reduced by a few years.
But getting him off scot-free?
Impossible.
We can’t exploit legal loopholes."
Despite the alcohol, Lucas’s mind remained sharp, his analysis methodical.
"I know Sarah’s family is done for.
They were such a close-knit family before.
Sarah grew up being treated like a princess.
I’m afraid she won’t be able to handle this."
Drake massaged his temples, his voice cold.
His dark eyes fixed on the night sky outside as he let out a heavy sigh.
And I don’t know why she keeps refusing to let me help her and her family. I know I made a mistake but it’s been ages already.