THE SPITEFUL BRIDE: Marry To Rival's Son novel Chapter 147

Chapter 147

Elena’s cheeks immediately turned red, and she looked down at her hands in her lap. Mia’s eyes widened in surprise and delight.

“Did you just blush at the mention of my brother’s name?” Mia asked, grinning widely.

“I don’t know exactly what I feel,” Elena admitted, her voice soft and uncertain. “But I know I care about him. More than I probably should, considering everything that’s happened.”

She paused and looked up at Mia, waiting to see if her friend was getting angry or upset.

“I still love Mose,” Elena continued truthfully. “I still feel something for him, and I probably always will. A part of me will always belong to the man he used to be.”

Mia nodded understandingly. “A love like that isn’t easy to let go of. It changes you, becomes part of who you are.”

“But I’m willing to see what I really feel for Ethan,” Elena continued, her voice growing stronger and more confident. “I’m willing to explore these feelings and see if they can develop into something real and lasting. So if you don’t mind, if you really don’t object, can I see if what I feel for him might turn into love?”

Mia smiled and reached for Elena’s hand.

“I don’t think I’m the right person you should be asking for permission,” she said gently.

Elena’s face fell. “But he heard everything I said earlier. What if he misunderstood everything and thinks I’m just using him? I saw the way he looked at me, like I disgusted him.”

“Then you have to find out for yourself,” Mia said. “You need to talk to him and explain everything. Tell him the truth about how you feel and let him decide for himself.”

She looked at Mia with uncertainty written all over her face.

Mia looked back at her with an expression that clearly said ‘go get your man.’

“Thank you,” Elena said, standing up and hugging Mia carefully, making sure not to disturb any of the tubes or

wires.

“Elena,” Mia called as Elena headed toward the door.

Elena paused and looked back with a raised eyebrow.

“I’d love to call you sister-in-law someday,” Mia said with a grin.

Elena’s breath caught in her throat. Before she knew what she was doing, her legs were carrying her back to Mia’s bedside, and she was hugging her friend again, this time a little tighter.

“I love you,” Mia said into Elena’s hair.

“I love you too, Mia,” Elena replied, her voice thick with emotion. “God, I fucking love you so much.”

“Don’t let Stefan hear you say that,” Mia joked. “That’s his line.”

“Well, it’s my line now too,” Elena said with a laugh, giving Mia one more quick peck on the cheek before walking toward the door.

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As Elena opened the door, she found Stefan standing right there, looking impatient like he had been waiting to come in for a while.

“I was starting to think you were never coming out,” he said with a slight scowl, though there was no real anger behind it.

Elena laughed, feeling lighter than she had in months.

Stefan stopped and looked at her more carefully, taking in the change in her demeanor.

“Why do I get the feeling I’m going to hate this new version of you?” he asked, though he was almost smiling.

“Oh, you’re really going to regret waking up the sleeping Elena,” she said with a grin that was all mischief and renewed confidence.

They both smiled at each other, and Elena felt like maybe, just maybe, things were going to be okay.

“Thank you,” she said, and this time the gratitude in her voice was genuine and deep. “For everything you said earlier. For not giving up on me.”

Stefan nodded and stepped aside so he could go into his wife’s room.

“I’m glad you’re back,” he said simply before disappearing through the doorway.

As Elena turned to leave, she saw Ethan standing at the other end of the hallway, watching her. He walked slowly toward her, and when he reached where she was standing, he paused like he wasn’t sure he wanted to say whatever was on his mind.

“Can we talk?” he finally asked, his voice careful and uncertain.

Elena smiled, feeling more confident than she had in a long time.

“Yes, but I have something important I need to do first. Can you give me fifteen minutes?”

Ethan nodded, looking curious but patient.

“I’ll wait here,” he said.

Elena walked away without looking back, her steps quick and purposeful. She had one more conversation to have before she could move forward with her life.

She searched through the hospital corridors until she found who she was looking for. James was sitting alone in the cafeteria, staring down at a cup of coffee that had probably gone cold hours ago.

When he saw her approaching, his entire demeanor changed. His friendly expression disappeared, replaced by something cold and guarded. He gave her a bitter smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Of course the sight of her disgusted him now. She had probably ruined any chance of ever having a normal relationship with him again.

“Can we talk?” she asked when she reached his table.

She thought he was going to refuse. She could see the conflict playing out on his face, the part of him that wanted nothing to do with her warring with his natural politeness.

But to her surprise, he nodded.

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “I think we probably should. Where should sit?”

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