THE SPITEFUL BRIDE: Marry To Rival's Son novel Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Samuel’s eyes were locked on the screen the moment Stefan Sterling walked into view.

The son of Jeremiah Sterling, the very man he had spent years outwitting in the corporate world. 1

Of all people…

The muscles in his jaw clenched so tightly a vein pulsed visibly beneath his skin. His fingers, long and still, twitched once, like a beast suppressing the urge to strike. For a moment, his entire body froze, coiled in a silent fury that simmered just beneath the surface.

She chose him, the son of my rival, just to spite me.

A slow exhale passed through his nose. This wasn’t just rebellion, it was strategy. A very deliberate attempt to strike where it would wound the deepest. She was playing a game, and she thought she understood the rules. Samuel smiled, not out of joy, it was the kind of smile that made people uneasy. Cold, empty, a calculated one. “She thinks this is war,” he murmured, the words barely audible to Cassandra beside him. “She thinks this will break me. How long has she been planning this moves?”

He stood slowly, walking to his desk with a composed calm that only made the air in the room feel more suffocating. Cassandra followed him with her eyes, but didn’t speak. She could feel the storm radiating from him, barely leashed.

She had expected broken glass, a slammed fist, anything. But not this smile, this eerie, knowing smile. She watched him pick up his phone and dial, his voice sharp and decisive.

“Remove Mia’s name from every future succession document. Every board-related inclusion. She’s not to inherit a damn thing tied to my legacy. Draft it, send it to legal, and get it ready to file.” He hung up without waiting for a reply.

Then he turned back to the screen, arms crossed. “She thinks choosing Sterling is a move,” he said, eyes still locked on Mia’s defiant face on the broadcast. “But I taught her the game. I bled for this empire while she sat in silk sheets.” His voice dipped, venomous. “She’s still a child, still learning to walk on the battlefield I built.”

“She wants to poke the lion?” He chuckled darkly. “Then let her hear the roar.” And with that, he sat down, expression cold and unyielding, eyes still fixed on the screen, like his blood wasn’t boiling.

A female journalist stood up, her voice sharp with curiosity.

“Miss Mia,” she called out, microphone in hand, “you and Stefan Sterling were supposed to be fierce rivals, because of your dad. What changed?”

Mia, standing tall beside Stefan, gave a soft smile. “You’re right,” she said with grace. “Our parents are rivals. But love… has a funny way of finding you in the most unexpected places. What started as a battlefield turned into a journey of understanding. And honestly? Love is a beautiful thing when you let it in.”

Her voice was calm, warm. The answer didn’t feel rehearsed, it felt like truth. And it struck a chord.

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But the reporters weren’t done.

Another voice came from the side. “So, are you saying that your relationship with Stefan Sterling was the reason you both father named someone else as heir to the company?”

That question struck deeper.

Mia paused. Her smile faltered just slightly, and for a moment, there was a flicker of sadness in her eyes. She tilted her head as though weighing her words.

She let out a soft breath. “I don’t know about My soon to be father in-law decision, but I know about my dad” she said, voice quieter but no less firm. “My father… he’s a man of principle. He didn’t approve of my relationship with Stefan, but I’m sure it wasn’t what influenced his decision. But one thing I know is, he’s still my father, and he wouldn’t take my shares away. He’s an honest man.” She didn’t mention the inheritance directly, but her words were planted with precision, leaving just enough for the world to assume,

Behind the cameras, in homes and offices, the public took in every word, piecing together their own conclusions.

And then she took a breath, her eyes sweeping the room, before returning to the camera again.

“We know the world is still adjusting to this news,” she said. “So let me make it official. Stefan and I are getting married… in a month. Our engagement party would be held in two days time too”

A mix of gasps and stunned silence filled the air. Then, applause, loud and scattered but growing.

Stefan stepped forward, one arm protectively around her waist, the other taking the microphone. He looked every inch the alpha he was, tall, dark brown-haired, commanding. His voice low and firm.

“My fiancée has said more than enough for today,” he said. “She’s been under too much pressure already. I won’t allow her to be overwhelmed by questions that can wait.”

He looked at Mia with eyes that softened only for her. “Baby, let’s go.”

Mia’s heart did a quiet somersault in her chest. She wasn’t sure if it was his tone, or the word “baby” spoken in front of the world. Either way, her body obeyed before her brain caught up, her fingers curling around his. On her way out, she had to remind herself that this was just an act, this look was just for the camera.

They walked off the stage, together, while the world buzzed behind them, and somewhere in the depths of a darkened office, Samuel watched in silence.

Board members, investors, analysts, were Panicking. They wouldn’t stop calling.

“Sir, our shares just dropped two percent in the last twenty minutes. Social media’s buzzing with sympathy for Mia. You remove her now, they’ll accuse us of retaliation…..”

“Sir, headlines are forming. They’re calling this an emotional purge. The market will think your personal grudge is endangering your company…..’

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“Samuel, think wisely. The girl just boosted public sentiment. Pulling her now would gut the Sterling-Thorne merger strength…….”.

Call after call, warning after warning. But Samuel didn’t speak through any of it. He simply sat there, unmoving, listening to the voice of the market scream louder than the voice of a father scorned.

2/3

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