THE SPITEFUL BRIDE: Marry To Rival's Son novel Chapter 29

Chapter 29

No one looks at a woman he doesn’t fancy that way. He might not know it now, but he definitely fancies Elena. She’s never been wrong about something like this.

All these years, she had watched him from a distance, hoping, wanting. But he had always seen her as Stefan’s little sister. The one he tolerated, the one he avoided, and the enemy. Not once had he looked at her like that, not like the way he was looking at Elena now.

She swallowed hard, placing her untouched glass on a tray passing by, her fingers trembled slightly, but she quickly masked the expression with a tight smile when someone walked past.

She had never said it out loud to anyone, but she had loved Mose for as long as she could remember, since the very first day she set her eyes on him.

And tonight, she realized he had never been hers to hope for, she’d have to let go. With that in mind, she wore one of the brightest smiles on her face and headed towards Elena.

She and Elena stood together near the bar, their laughter low and easy, like two old friends. She had taken it upon herself to introduce Elena to a few familiar faces, sons and daughters of wealthy families she had grown up knowing.

“This is Elena, my friend,” she said for what felt like the tenth time, flashing a gracious smile as she gestured toward the tall brunette at her side. “She’s got a wicked sense of humor, so prepare yourself.”

Elena playfully elbowed her, drawing chuckles from the small group around them. She was polite, charming, and effortlessly radiant. Compliments flew toward her like moths to flame, and Elena accepted them all with a dazzling smile.

Mose stood several feet away, posture rigid, a glass of scotch untouched in his hand.

Though Stefan had told him to act like a guest, he still felt his job tonight to keep an eye on Stefan, make sure everything flowed smoothly. But his eyes had a mind of their own.

They kept drifting, to her.

Elena.

The way her lips curled when someone leaned in to whisper something flirtatious, the way she held eye contact just long enough. The way her hand lingered in a handshake a little too long, fingertips brushing deliberately. She wasn’t doing anything wrong, but it was enough to make his jaw tense.

She caught his stare once, her smile deepening just slightly before she returned her attention to the guest in front of her. Mose’s grip tightened around his glass. That temptress, she was playing with fire.

He should be watching Stefan, but right now, all he could watch was her.

He told himself he was making sure no one got too close, nothing inappropriate happened. For Mia, Mia was married to Stefan, so she automatically became his boss too. But even he knew that was a lie, he didn’t want anyone touching her. Didn’t want her smiling like that at another man, not when she hadn’t smiled like that at

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29 HE WANTED A REACTION EINE SHED GIVE HIM SOMETHING TO REACT TO, AND IT WOULD BURE

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him.

Mose’s struggle was quieter, hidden in the clench of his jaw. The tension in his shoulders, and the pounding in his chest every time Elena laughed a little too sweetly for someone who wasn’t him.

Across from him, Stefan caught the direction of his gaze, raising a brow briefly but saying nothing. He was too busy being the perfect fiancé, eyes on Mia like she was the only one in the room.

Mia’s eyes kept drifting to the door, scanning every new guest who walked in. She tried to keep it subtle, but Stefan noticed. Of course, he did, not when his gaze never left her.

“He’s not here yet,” he said quietly. She nodded, her face carefully blank.

“He might not come, you know. You should stop looking every time someone walks in.”

“He’ll come,” she said simply.

He turned slightly to look at her. “And how are you so sure?”

A mischievous smirk tugged at her lips. “Not after I posted the invitations that had both their names inscribed on it, on my social media.”

He stared at her for a second before something rare happened, a smile, a real one. It was subtle but she caught it.

Mia blinked up at him, caught off guard. “Wait……did you just smile?”

She reached up to touch his face playfully, cupping his cheek like she needed to confirm it was real.

“Not now, Mia. Stop being dramatic” he muttered, trying to turn his head away.

But the moment his eyes swept the crowd, they froze. His father, and hers, but they weren’t alone. They came with the two people they knew he and Mia couldn’t stand, the two people that stole both their mother’s position. They wanted a reaction from them, but he wasn’t going to let them get any.

Seems like they just got here, they really should be best friends. Their thoughts align so perfectly. They choose this time cause they wanted to steal the show, coming when the party is almost ended.

His lips curled back into that same smile, this time slower, more deliberate. His gaze locked on Mia’s again, and he let the smile linger just a heartbeat longer.

Mia stared at him, confused. “Why are you smiling like that again?”

He leaned closer, voice low in her ear. “Our main guests are here.”

Her brows lifted. And before she could react, Stefan reached forward, gently tucking a strand of her hair behind

her ear.

He didn’t say anything else, he didn’t need to, because she understood.

The show had only just begun, and now they had to play their parts a little more convincingly.

She felt their presence, by the subtle shift in the room, the hush that swept through the crowd and with the way conversations quieted mid-sentence. Even the clink of glasses seemed to pause, the air thickening with

awareness.

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29 HE WANTED A REACTION? FINE SHED GIVE HIM SOMETHING TO REACT TO, AND IT WOULD RURN

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She turned her head slightly, following Stefan’s eyes, that’s when she saw them. Samuel Meyer stood tall and unapologetic, his presence alone commanding attention. But it wasn’t just him, beside him was Cassandra, Ethan’s mom.

The same woman who he cheated on her mom with, and he dared to bring her to her engagement. Her breath hitched, rage simmered in her chest, slow and deep. She tried to keep her expression calm, but Stefan could feel the way her fingers tensed in his.

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