Reborn as the Substitute Bride to the Disabled Tycoon

"Summer, I think I just found your little secret."

Alexander narrowed his eyes slightly, holding her small hand while his other reached into her sleeve and pulled out a silver needle.

The needle glinted coldly between his fingers-sharp, polished, and clearly not an everyday accessory.

Summer's large eyes widened for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure and gave him a blank, innocent look, as if she had no idea what he was talking about.

"A needle, huh? Summer, are you planning to take out your fiancé, or is this part of some. other little plan? Talk."

There was a half-smile on Alexander's face, but his voice was low and chilling, like ice cracking in a mountain stream-not warm in the slightest.

Still, Summer didn't panic.

Truth be told, she'd expected this. The moment he'd spoken those words backstage at the engagement party, it was clear-he no longer bought her "naive and clueless" act.

But now wasn't the time to drop the act.

She couldn't risk it-what if he lost interest the second he found out her mind was back to normal?

So yes, she had come prepared.

As Alexander stood there, clearly waiting for a reaction, Summer blinked her big shiny eyes at him and tilted her head."Big brother, do you like shiny little needles too?"

Alexander squinted harder, unsure what kind of game she was playing this time.

Still pretending to be dumb? Seriously?

He straightened up, his expression sharp-he wanted to see just how she planned to talk her way out of this.

"If big brother likes them, Summer can find more for you! We can play together! But you have to stay right here and be good while I go get them, okay? No sneaking off!"

She put on a very serious face as she said that, then gently pushed him aside and darted off before he could react.

Alexander:"."Was she. running away?

But thankfully, she came back soon enough-holding something behind her back like a hidden treasure.

With a little grin, she pulled it out-a stuffed doll, covered from head to toe in shiny needles-and proudly held it up to him.

"Look, big brother! Isn't it pretty? There are so many little needles in this one. We can play with it together later!"

The moment Alexander saw that doll, all the color drained from his face. His voice came out shaky, almost panicked."Throw it away!"

Summer's lips pouted."What's wrong? Don't you like it?"

She could hear the tremor in his voice, see the fear in his eyes.

But. this wasn't supposed to happen now.

That doll-it came from their past life. After Alexander had stealthily taken control of Barron Corp, Isabella Knight and James Carter lost it. So, they made that eerie needle-covered doll, stuck Alexander's birth details on it, and handed it off to Summer, telling her to give it to him as a "gift."

Maybe, just maybe, he'd be so disgusted he'd divorce her and cut her loose.

But when Alexander saw it back then, he looked absolutely terrifying. He'd thrown it off a balcony without a second thought.

As for the divorce-not a chance.

In the end, he locked her up in a villa, and little Summer, still with the mind of a six-year-old, hated him from that day on, convinced he was the ultimate villain.

That was why, in the past, Summer had ended up listening to James and helping him steal confidential files from Alexander. even contributing to his death.

But now? She was going to flip the script, and it all started with this unsettling little doll.

As soon as she asked in that soft, wounded voice, Alexander got out of bed, strode over, and snatched the ragdoll straight from her hands.

The moment he saw his birth date stuck on it, a long-buried memory slammed into him-that's where the sense of dread really came from.

His eyes darkened like ink spreading in water, deep and unreadable.

"Summer, tell me now. Who gave you this?"

With an innocent blink, she answered,"It was big bro James."

But wait-by the current timeline, this James hadn't actually given her that thing yet.

So how.?

A wild thought suddenly struck Alexander. And as crazy as it was, it made a strange kind of sense.

He let out a soft chuckle, like snow melting at the edge of spring-warm, yet full of hidden meaning.

Why hadn't he thought of that sooner?

"If big brother doesn't like Summer's treasure, then Summer doesn't like it either!"

Summer pouted, then huffed and hurled the doll hard at the floor. only to glance up and see Alexander grinning like she'd just said the funniest thing ever.

She furrowed her brow, confused, but shrugged it off. Lifting her foot, she was just about to stomp on the doll when she caught sight of all those needles stuck in it. She froze, looking awkward, and gulped hard.

Puffing out her cheeks like a clueless little hamster, she stuck out her tongue and said sheepishly,"So many tiny needles. Summer's too scared to step on it!"

Alexander shook his head at her, laughing under his breath."Summer, what am I going to do with you. Now I really want to do something bad to you."

He reached out with those long arms of his, scooping her up like a princess and carrying her straight to the bed.

With unexpected gentleness, he laid her down, treating her like a treasure he'd searched for forever, kissing her again and again like he couldn't get enough.

Summer didn't resist at all, just followed his lead. Though every now and then, she blurted things that totally killed the mood.

"Big brother, you kinda remind me of the puppy I had as a kid. Whenever I fed it, it'd lick me all over just like this!"

Then she even reached up and patted his hair like she was rewarding a pet.

Pretending to be brainless-that was her only way to act this close to him.

Only like this could she occupy even a small corner of his heart.

So, when she saw Alexander stop doubting her, she let out a long breath of relief. It felt like a huge weight had finally been lifted.

Outside the window, the moon had quietly risen to brush the tops of the willow trees, and the room was filled with a dreamy glow.

Summer dozed off first, worn out.

Alexander, now fully satisfied, lay there watching the woman beside him sleep so deeply. He lifted his hand, gently tracing each feature of her face-memorizing it, carving it into his heart.

He couldn't help but think, maybe fate had treated him better this time. It had given him her.

Leaning in close, he whispered softly into her ear, his lips brushing against her skin:

"Summer. in this life, you're mine. No one gets to come between us."

He had always planned to wait until after they were married to make Mrs. Thompson pay for what she did last time-and kick her out for good.

But now that he knew Summer, like him, had come back again. and had probably regained her full intelligence?

Then why not let her deal with Mrs. Thompson herself?

She had his full support anyway-what was there to be afraid of?