THE SPITEFUL BRIDE: Marry To Rival's Son novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Mia and Stefan sat in the back seat, the silence between them filled only by the hum of the car. Elena, ever the observer, sat in the front, eyes half on the road and half on the two in the rearview mirror. Mose, who was driving,said nothing, he knew how to blend into silence.

Mia kept her gaze outside the window, her fingers lightly tapping against her palm in a rhythm that betrayed her calm exterior, Stefan noticed. She was always composed, but he’d begun to recognize the subtle signs, the slight tremble in her fingers, the tightening of her jaw, the way she blinked just a bit too often.

He reached out, taking her hand gently in his.

Mia blinked, turning her head, clearly surprised. Her brow arched as their eyes met.

“You handled that well,” Stefan said, voice smooth, his thumb brushing once across her knuckles before stilling.

“So did you,” she returned. “Especially when you told the press I needed rest. That was unexpected.”

“I know when to push, and when to pull back,” he said simply. “You looked like you were about to snap.” She nodded, exhaling softly. “I was.”

“Where would you like us to have lunch? You both haven’t eaten anything today.” His voice was quiet, measured. Then he subtly nodded at Mose, signaling her to make the choice.

“The restaurant downtown will be better,” Mia said, her voice just as calm, though her eyes fell briefly to their intertwined hands.

That was when Stefan realized he was still holding her. Slowly, without a word, he released her hand.

From the front, Elena popped her head between the seats. “Remember we have an engagement to plan,” she chirped.

Mia gave a tight smile, to which Elena grinned and added, “Mia’s great with events. This won’t be a problem.” Then she winked at her before sitting back properly.

“We’ll make plans when we get home,” Mia said.

The restaurant was modest, quiet, tucked between a flower shop and a bookstore. Stefan glanced around as they stepped in, surprised, not in a critical way, but thoughtfully. He hadn’t pictured Mia eating in a place like this.

But he didn’t mind. In fact, it reminded him of a time long before now, of warm afternoons with his mother, when she’d still laugh freely and smile without fear. Before her world began to collapse under the weight of his father’s indifference. He blinked the memory away.

“The engagement is in two days,” Mia said, unfolding her napkin. “Anything you’d prefer?”

“No,” he answered plainly, sliding a black card across the table. “Do it however you please.”

She hesitated, looking at the card, confused.

“For the preparations,” he explained. “The PIN is 5432.”

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She took it wordlessly, slipping it into her purse.

They ate in silence, both lost in thought, though the air wasn’t cold, just reflective. A calm before the storm neither of them could name yet.

Later, after dropping Elena off at a secure apartment Stefan had arranged, Elena stood in the hallway staring in disbelief.

“How did you get all this here so quickly?” she murmured to herself.

Boxes were already unpacked. Clothes arranged. Furniture placed exactly the way she’d left it. It was unsettling and oddly comforting. They said their goodbyes before leaving her alone with her thoughts.

She’d never believed she’d stay in a place like this, Stefan had insisted. No, actually, he commanded me to, and I couldn’t say no.

The apartment was lovely and cozy, exactly how she loved it. She was tired and needed some rest.

Back at Stefan’s penthouse, the air was cooler, quieter.

He sat opposite Mia in the living room, his sleeves rolled to his elbows, her heels discarded on the floor beside the couch. She was going through files on her tablet, speaking thoughtfully.

“I’ve been thinking… D Enterprise is expanding into AI-driven logistics. Partnering with them now might give us long-term benefits,” she said.

He leaned back slightly, keeping his expression neutral. “D Enterprise, huh?”

“Yes,” she nodded, unaware of the flicker in his eyes. “They’ve remained under the radar, but whoever runs them is smart. Calculated. I think it’s a good move.”

Stefan hid the corner of a smirk, shifting slightly. “If you think it’s worth the effort, pursue it.”

She glanced at him. “You’re okay with it?”

“I trust your judgment,” he said.

She gave a small nod, returning to her screen.

He watched her in silence for a moment longer. The irony wasn’t lost on him, she wanted to partner with the very man she sat beside.

Mia set her tablet down and crossed one leg over the other, her expression unreadable as she looked at Stefan again. “There’s a project my father’s been circling for months now,” she said. “the federal government road project.”

Stefan’s brows lifted subtly. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “Interesting. My father has his eye on that too.”

She didn’t flinch. “Which makes it perfect. If we secure it, it’ll hit them both where it matters.’

“”

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Just then, Stefan’s phone buzzed on the table.

The screen lit up, “Father”.

He let it vibrate a few seconds, gaze still locked with Mia’s. Then he murmured, more to himself than to her, “I was expecting this.”

He picked it up and leaned back, answering with a calm, “Yes?”

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