THE SPITEFUL BRIDE: Marry To Rival's Son novel Chapter 40

CHAPTER 40

Stefan sat on the edge of his bed, freshened up and dressed down in a simple shirt and joggers, the glow from his laptop casting soft shadows across his face. His fingers hovered over the keys, but his mind was far from the documents before him.

His thoughts drifted to the conversation he had earlier with the doctor.

“We’ve been trying for years, Stefan. Years. And the kind of response we couldn’t get, happened in just a few minutes today.”

The doctor had called him into the office as soon as he and Mia stepped out of his mom’s room, he thought it was another usual briefing, maybe a suggestion to change meds, or update care routines.

But the doctor’s face had been different this time, it was hopeful, surprised still. He too was stunned by how his mom had reacted.

“She called you her son, she didn’t scream when you touched her, she didn’t push you away either. And your wife, she allowed her to touch her. That woman hasn’t let anyone near her like that in months. It’s a breakthrough, Stefan. A huge one.”

He’d been too stunned to speak at first. All he could do was sit there, absorbing the words that felt too good to believe. His mother… coming back? Even if just a little?

“If you can, bring your wife more often,” the doctor had added gently. “Something about her seems to calm your mother. That connection, it’s rare in cases like hers. We’d be foolish not to build on it.”

He had nodded, still barely trusting his voice. Now, in the quiet of his room, he finally exhaled. His heart was full, he was grateful. And something else, something he hadn’t felt in a while.

Peace.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, unexpected and subtle, when he remembered the stunned look on Elena’s face when he handed her the necklace earlier. She hadn’t even known he saw her admiring it days ago.

That morning, she’d been scrolling through it, her eyes quietly fixated on the screen. He was behind her on the couch, pretending to be focused on his phone.

They hadn’t exchanged a word, the air had been cold from tension, her silence biting louder.

He’d never liked noise, he used to crave silence. But this past week, filled with quiet footsteps, and forced avoidance, had almost driven him mad. The quiet was no longer peaceful, he felt suffocated.

He was always fine being alone, so he thought. But watching Elena, once so outspoken and fiery, reduced to someone who barely made more than a sentence, it struck something deep in him. He hated it.

He wasn’t used to caring. And yet…. thinking about the way Mia wouldn’t even meet his gaze, made him feel lost. That part, he couldn’t explain. He hated seeing her upset, hated how she brushed him off, how she’d stopped calling him out like before. Stupid but he missed her calling him “Husband ” funny right?

And Elena, she surprised him. He used to chase Sienna away from his space for years, but somehow, Elena never

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bothered him. He’d gotten used to her, like the quiet presence of a little sister he never had.

Maybe it was because of Mia, or because he could see Mose looking at her like she hung the stars, but was too

blind to know.

He sighed and leaned back, one arm slung behind his head.

“I went from having no one… to suddenly having two sisters and a wife, even if it’s only on paper.” The thought almost made him laugh.

Unable to resist the urge, Stefan stood and walked out of his room. He needed to see their faces, he headed for the living room.

Mia lounged on the couch, one leg tucked under her as she nibbled absentmindedly on a biscuit. Half-listening to Elena ramble for what had to be the tenth time about the necklace. Her lips twitched with a smile she tried to suppress.

“I’m telling you, Mia, it was an apology. Not direct, but still, he saw me admiring the necklace and bought it! Do you know how expensive that thing is? If I sold my kidneys, I still wouldn’t be able to afford it!”

Mia rolled her eyes, though a smile played on her lips. “You’re impossible,” she said, chuckling softly.

“But it was so sweet!” Elena grinned. “You should’ve seen the way he handed it to me without a single words.”

“I was there, Incase you’ve forgotten ” Mia said rolling her eyes.

“Really ” Elena responded with a sarcastic tone

Mia arched a brow, amused. “So… what now? You’re going to name your first child Stefan?”

“Maybe,” Elena said with a dramatic sigh, clutching the invisible necklace around her throat.

Mia chuckled and shook her head. Her heart warmed seeing Elena so giddy, it was the first time in days she looked like her old self again. If only she knew, she thought.

That Stefan had muttered a “thank you” to her after his meeting with the doctor. She hadn’t told Elena about it. Partly because she felt it was a part of Stefan he doesn’t want the world to see.

Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps made her glance toward the hallway. Stefan. He looked so casual, gray sweatpants, a loose black shirt, hair slightly tousled, but he still had that air about him. Effortlessly sharp, and annoyingly handsome.

With a delighted squeal, Elena shot to her feet. “Big bro!” she sang, sprinting toward him like a toddler seeing

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Stefan paused mid-step, his expression twisting into a look that made Mia almost drop her mug. His nose scrunched, his lips curled in mild disgust, and his eyes narrowed as though he was trying to figure out what species had just launched itself at him.

“Don’t push it,” he said flatly, sidestepping her at the last second, making Elena stumble forward and glare.

Mia laughed so hard she nearly snorted, while Elena turned back with a pout and flopped beside her.

Then Stefan’s eyes settled on her, and she quickly sat up straighter, caught off guard when he spoke. “Tell

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Sienna she’s invited. She can sleep over, too… If she wants.” The room fell into a stunned silence.

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