THE SPITEFUL BRIDE: Marry To Rival's Son novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28

They were coming down the stairs, one by one, but all he could see was Mia.

She wore a flowing champagne-colored gown that shimmered with every step. The bodice was delicately fitted, hugging her curves in all the right places, embroidered with pearl-like beads that sparkled under the lights. The neckline dipped just enough to tease without revealing, and a soft slit on one side ran up her thigh, showing off long, elegant legs. But it was the cutout at her waist, a delicate oval of bare skin, that held his attention. His eyes dropped there, lingered, then forced themselves away. She looked… stunning. Too stunning, she looked like a dream.

It was her engagement party, and she wore the moment like a crown, elegant, poised, and breathtakingly beautiful. But there was something else too, something different about her tonight. It wasn’t just the dress, or her hair pinned back in soft waves. It was the quiet confidence in her eyes… the softness in her smile.

Stefan forced his expression to remain neutral. He was never one to let emotions show, not even for a moment. But his eyes, they stayed on her. Unblinking, almost possessive.

She had tried not to let her eyes wander when she first came down, but her gaze had instinctively gone to him. Stefan, in a fitted navy-blue blazer, that looked like it had been carved onto his frame. No tie, no overdone effort and yet… he looked sharper than anyone she’d ever seen. The clean lines of his jacket, the subtle watch on his wrist, the crisp white shirt beneath it, it was quiet sophistication. She swallowed hard, thinking how unfair it was that a man could dress so casually and still look like sin in a suit.

Her heart fluttered, and she looked away.

Beside them, Mose was experiencing his own internal war. Elena had walked down in a satin emerald dress, the color kissing her warm skin like it was made for her. It hugged her figure, cinched at the waist and flowed out slightly at the knees. Her hair was swept up, showing off her neck and delicate shoulders. She looked… different. Her makeup was soft but flawless, giving her a touch of elegance he hadn’t expected. She didn’t look like the girl who always had a sarcastic remark ready. She looked like someone who could own the entire room, a woman every man in that room would turn to stare at.

And Mose already hated it. His eyes lingered a second too long, his fists briefly clenched by just the thought of it.

Elena had seen him too, tall, broad, dressed in a fitted black tux that made him look like he belonged on the cover of some luxury magazine. The quiet intensity in his eyes, the calmness in his expression, the way he stood, there was no trace of assistant or bodyguard there. He looked… free. Confident, powerful. And for a second, she forgot how to breathe.

They all moved in silence after that, descending the stairs like the final pieces of a picture-perfect scene.

The drive to the hotel was quiet, Mose wasn’t driving today. Stefan told him to act like a guest, though it wasn’t said but he was acting like Elena’s date. The city lights painting golden streaks on the windows.

By the time they arrived, camera flashes were already waiting for them outside the grand venue. Reporters and paparazzi huddled like wolves, shouting questions, fighting for angles.

Stefan reached for Mia’s hand, their fingers were locked together as they stepped forward.

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Cameras clicked.

And Stefan played his part perfectly, because his eyes never left her. As they walked inside, his hand slipped around her waist, settling right on the small open cut of her dress. His thumb brushed bare skin like a quiet claim. And Mia felt it, every inch of it. She swallowed hard.

He was acting, they both were. That was the plan, pretend, smile, look each other with love. Be the perfect couple for the world to see, but standing in front of him now, she couldn’t quite remember where the acting began… or if it ever did.

Inside the grand ballroom, elegance poured from every corner. Crystal chandeliers glittered above like stars trapped in gold, casting a warm glow on the polished marble floors. Soft classical music played in the background, a live quartet tucked near the stage. The tables were adorned with ivory linens, fresh roses, and gold -trimmed dinnerware, everything just as Mia had envisioned. Pride surged on her chest.

Guests turned the moment they walked in, some whispered, others stared. But Mia was already used to the attention, she loves it actually. Clicks of cameras could be heard, Mia maintained her smiles, while Stefan wore his cool look. Not smiling, nor frowning, that was the best he could give them.

His hand stayed firm on Mia’s waist, his thumb absently brushing her skin like he didn’t even realize he was doing it. They moved together in quiet sync, nodding to greetings, exchanging practiced smiles, an image of perfection. Introducing her to several high-profile guests. His voice remained calm, sharp, and collected as he exchanged pleasantries with investors, CEOs.

Everyone knew who she was, Meyer’s daughter. She had made her own name in business long before this engagement. She’d sat in boardrooms with half the people present. Yet he still introduced her to them, they weren’t here for business.

They were here to see if the impossible was true, if Meyer’s daughter was truly engaged to Sterling’s son.

Stefan knew that, so he introduced her, personally, deliberately, one by one.

“This is Mia,” he’ll say when they approached the first small group of men in tailored suits, their expressions curious and calculating.

“My fiancée.”

Mia caught the subtle pause in their reactions, the quick reassessment in their eyes. Still, she didn’t care.

He did the same with the next group. And the next. Introducing her with steady eyes and the same phrase: “My fiancée.”

At one point, Stefan paused when he noticed a small cluster of familiar faces in the corner, people he hadn’t expected to see tonight. Business associates he only met in high-profile boardrooms and tightly guarded investor circles. A flicker of surprise crossed his face.

He knew immediately, this was Mose’s and Mia’s doing. She didn’t just made today about herself, she included him too. Few of his family and friends, that’s if he would call them that.

He didn’t mind though, if anything, it worked in their favor. Everything tonight had to be perfect, and look real. Mia smiled politely, exchanged pleasantries with ease, her posture calm though her heart raced.

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They all greeted her with guarded respect. Some offered tight congratulations, others with slightly raised brows, as if still trying to wrap their minds around it. The tension between Meyer and Sterling was no secret, their rivalry was etched into Manhattan’s business history.

When they were alone, he leaned in slightly, brushing his lips against her ear to say, “You’re doing great.”

The words were simple. But it was the way he said them, the softness, the warmth, it did somethings to her. Things she hadn’t felt before.

“Thank you,” she whispered back, her eyes locking with his. And then silence fell between them again.

Around them, the party continued. Toasts were made, laughter echoed, champagne glasses clinked.

Sienna stood near the edge of the crowd, a glass of champagne in her hand, her deep emerald gown flowing around her like a soft breeze. The satin hugged her curves and flared slightly at her feet, her hair swept into soft waves that fell down her back. She looked stunning, she knew that, she’d done everything to look her best tonight.

But her eyes were on Mose. 1

He stood tall in his fitted black tuxedo, tailored to perfection, crisp shirt collar open just enough to make him look both elegant and effortlessly masculine. His hair was neatly styled, and he had that subtle, commanding presence, even without speaking.

Sienna’s heart clenched a little as she stared.

He looked different tonight. Relaxed, almost… charming.

And for a moment, she imagined what it would be like if he looked at her that way. If he ever truly saw her.

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