THE SPITEFUL BRIDE: Marry To Rival's Son novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Just immediately Elena walked it, sunglasses perched on her head and hair tied up in a loose bun. She took one step inside, overhearing Mia last sentence only.

“Wait, who doesn’t own a stove?” she asked, eyes darting between Stefan, Mia, and Mose. “And what the actual fuck is going on here?” Her voice rang through the living room like an alarm.

Mia didn’t bother hiding her amusement. She gestured vaguely toward the kitchen-in-progress. “I’m as surprised as you are.”

Elena squinted toward the noise, then walked over to the table and picked up the coffee cup that had been waiting. She sniffed it, and sipped it delicately, she let out a soft moan of pleasure. “This is exactly how I love it. Perfect.” She closed her eyes like she was experiencing a spiritual moment.

Mose cleared his throat loudly from where he stood, a polite cough that screamed you have audience in the room.

Elena cracked one eye open, shot him a sideways look, and said coolly, “Mind your business, Moses.” Mose raised his hands in surrender, he doesn’t want to deal with her today.

Elena turned back toward the chaos. “Why does this house look like it was nearly knocked down by a storm?” She scanned the equipment, wires, and unfamiliar workers trotting back and forth like ants.

Before either Stefan or Mia could answer, Mose stepped forward proudly, puffing his chest. “For your information, Miss Elena, this house was built with top-tier materials. Not even a tornado could knock it down.”

Elena froze, turned her head slowly toward him, and scrunched her nose like he’d just said something tragic. “A tunado?” she repeated, mimicking his tone with exaggerated dramatics. “Well, thank heavens the tunado didn’t hit before you decided to install a stove.” Stefan chuckled under his breath. Mia smothered a laugh behind her palm. Mose has definitely found his match.

Mose blinked, confused. “I said tornado.”

“No, sweetheart,” Elena said sweetly. “You said tunado. And now I’ll never unhear it.”

Mose blinked, his eyes narrowing with confusion as he tilted his head slightly. “Did… did she just call me sweetheart?” he asked no one in particular, looking around the room like it might provide an answer.

No one did, no one even glanced in his direction.

Stefan, with an unreadable expression, gave Mose a single pat on the shoulder as he walked past, a silent, brotherly deal with it gesture that somehow said everything and nothing at once.

Mose sighed dramatically but kept quiet.

Elena turned to Mia, brushing an invisible strand of hair from her shoulder. “So, what’s the plan today, Miss Bride-to-be? I assume we’re not just sitting here while they build you a kitchen?”

Mia smiled, shifting comfortably in her chair. “I’ve got a few things already in motion. The venue’s locked down, and the invitations will be delivered today. You and I are personally delivering a few to key people.”

1/4

THIS WAS WAS BETRAYAL WRITTEN IN GOLD (FTTERED TITLES AND MARBLE CORRIDORS

+25 Bonus

“You’ve always been so good with organizing,” Elena said with a proud smirk, lifting her coffee in salute.

Mia grinned. “We’d stop by my dad’s place and invite him personally.”

She paused, a mischievous gleam appearing in her eyes. “Actually… how about I invite Mr. Sterling too?” Mia lifted her gaze to Stefan “What do you think husband?”

Stefan, who had just returned to his seat, barely looked up. “Do as you please.”

Mia arched a brow at his cool response. “You sure you don’t mind?”

He looked at her then, calm and composed. “It’s your engagement party. You can invite the devil if it makes you happy.”

“Hmm,” Mia nodded thoughtfully. “Good to know. I’ll save the devil for our marriage then.”

Elena choked on her coffee.

Mia chuckled, then leaned forward, more animated now. “Oh! I just had an idea. Let’s take pictures of both our dads’ invitations, Stefan’s and mine. I can post it on my socials, with a little dramatic caption… family-focused.”

She turned to Elena with a grin. “You’ll help me come up with the caption, right?”

Elena rolled her eyes but smiled. “Of course. Who else can match your level of drama?”

“Exactly,” Mia said proudly.

The box of invitations arrived like twenty minutes after, it was delivered in sleek matte black envelopes with silver foil detailing. Elena practically squealed when she saw them, tearing the box open like it held treasure. Mia smiled, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

“These look expensive as hell,” Elena said, flipping one in her hand. “Like ‘if-you-don’t-RSVP-you’re-blocked ‘kind of expensive.”

Mia chuckled. “Only the best for the best fake engagement party this year”

They each took one envelope, Mia had Samuel Meyer engraved on it in elegant cursive, and Elena had Jeremiah Sterling.

“Now, let’s take some shots before we head out,” Mia said, her mood lifting. “We’ll post it after we meet up our dads.”

They posed the envelopes on the glass transparent table, then took few shots of Mia holding the invites side by side, her hands subtly showing off the dazzling engagement rings.

The towering glass structure of Meyer enterprise shimmered under the morning sun as Mia stepped through the grand revolving doors. The cool air conditioning met her skin like a quiet whisper, but it did little to cool the fire simmering inside her.

Elena walked slightly behind, observing the cold grandeur of the building. The place reeked of power, money, and pride, everything Meyer’s industries wielded with expert precision.

2/4

THIS WAS WAS BETRAYAL WRITTEN IN GOLD TETTERED TITLES AND MARBLE CORRIDORS

+25 Bonus

They didn’t stop at the front desk. The guards recognized Mia and gave a respectful nod as she made her way to the elevator. The ride to the top floor was silent. Elena could feel the tension simmering beneath Mia’s calm exterior.

When the elevator doors opened with a smooth ding, Ethan Meyer stood there like he’d been waiting all along.

“Mia,” he greeted, his voice low and warm, eyes studying her face.

She didn’t return the smile. “Is my father in?” she said deliberately emphasizing the word father.

The smile faltered, just a beat. But he covered it quickly. “Yes. He’s in his office. He said you’d be coming.”

Mia gave a curt nod, stepping past him like he was invisible.

He turned slightly toward Elena, hands clasped behind his back. “Would you mind coming with me? Mia might need a moment alone with dad.”

Elena raised a brow, her arms folding defensively. “And who exactly are you again?”

“Mia’s brother,” he said with a practiced smile. “Ethan Meyer.”

Elena didn’t return the courtesy. “Ohh, the illegitimate son” she said not caring if she hurt his feelings. She didn’t know this man, didn’t like him either.

Her gaze flicked to Mia, unsure. Mia sighed, pausing in her steps. “Go with him, Elena. I’ll find you when I’m done.”

Still skeptical, Elena relented, but not before throwing Ethan a look that warned: I bite.

Ethan gestured politely. “This way, please.”

“Where exactly is this way?” Elena asked as they walked.

Ethan’s eyes crinkled slightly. “The west wing. Second glass corridor on the right, after the boardroom.

The words hit like a slap across Mia’s chest.

She froze, just for a second.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify