THE SPITEFUL BRIDE: Marry To Rival's Son novel Chapter 54

54 JUST REMINDING YOU WHO YOU’RE MARRIED TO

Chapter 54

Stefan walked back to where his friends were waiting for hin, didn’t apologize or gave a reason. He just took his empty sit and sat back on it, his eyes still darting towards Mia occasionally.

Brandon and Jace, his closest buddies since high school, laughed and joked. While the two girls with them, clung a little too closely.

One of them, Joyce, had been trying to get his attention all afternoon. She laughed at everything he didn’t say, brushed her hand against his, and leaned into his space whenever she could. But he had acted like he didn’t notice.

He hadn’t said much since they arrived, he wasn’t even paying attention to the conversation. His mind was miles away, tied to a certain table not too far from his own.

It was ironic, because the lunch had been arranged to celebrate his marriage to Mia. A start of new life, yet the only person not celebrating was the groom.

They’d wanted a bar, something rowdy and wild to toast his marriage the way they thought a billionaire should celebrate. They’d insisted he invited Mia but he’d told them that’ll be after their upcoming wedding.

He never wanted to come, the only reason he agreed was because he’d insisted they meet at this specific restaurant. The one Mia and Dave happened to be dining in

And he’d seen her the moment he walked in. Sitting across from another man, laughing like she just won a medal. She was still smiling at him even now.

His jaw tensed as he turned his gaze back to his table, ignoring the flirtatious hand that now rested on his shoulder. The laughter around him swirled like background noise, they were unimportant.

All he could think about was her.

Mia hadn’t realized how quickly time had passed.

When she glanced at her phone, her eyes widened. “It’s already past five?”

Dave chuckled, glancing at his own watch. “Guess we got carried away.”

They had.

Their lunch had morphed into long conversations, warm silences, teasing remarks. It felt… familiar.

“I didn’t realize I needed this,” she admitted softly, her fingers wrapping around her now-empty glass.

Dave smiled gently. “You never really did know when you needed people. You just held everything in and smiled like it didn’t hurt. Let’s spend sometime again before your wedding”

She stood slowly, her bag slung over her shoulder, as she reached for her coat. “Alright, just give tell me the date. I’ll come with Elena.” Her eyes flickered towards where Stefan sat, the lady was still beside him. She had her hand lightly on on his arm, leaning toward him with a practiced ease that made her stomach twist.

She locked eyes with him, but immediately dropped her gaz. Her heart thudded against her chest. She shouldn’t care this much, what was wrong with her.

Dave placed his hand at her lower back as he directs her from the restaurant. And that’s when Stefan moved.

The woman tried to hold him back, her arm slipping around his.

He turned slowly, eyes glinting like cold steel.

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54. JUST REMINDING YOU WHO YOURE MARRIED TO

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“Do you like your hands?” he asked her quietly, his voice lige ice.

She blinked, confused. “What?”

“I don’t think you do” he said, eyes narrowing. “And, I’m sure you’ve seen the news. So unless you’re blind, you know I’m married. Have some self-respect. Even if you dont, that has nothing to do with me. But the next time you put your hands on me again, I’ll take it that you hate your hands.” And with that, he pulled his arm away without waiting for a response because he knew there won be any.

He stood up, and began walking away. But paused, and turned back. “I have eyes for only one woman. And that’s my wife, Mia Sterling. Only.” then he walked away.

Joyce’s face flushed, half in embarrassment, half in disbelief, but Stefan didn’t spare her another glance.

He had let her touch him earlier, purposefully. Because he new, Mia was watching. He saw how her eyes darted involuntarily to Joyce’s hand on his arm, how her lips pressed together tightly when the woman leaned closer.

He’d seen it all, he’d he’d liked it, because she looked jealous.

In the parking lot, Dave offered to drop Mia off. He insisted he didn’t mind, but she gently refused. “I can go myself. It’s not far.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Stefan standing by his car, one hand on the door, watching her. He walked toward them slowly, his stride controlled.

“I just finished with my friends,” he said, glancing at Mia. “I’m heading home. You should come with me.” His tone wasn’t a question.

Mia opened her mouth to protest, but Dave was already stepping back, sensing the shift in the air.

She gave Dave a small smile and a quick goodbye. She wanted to go for a hug, but Dave stepped back. She looked up confused, but didn’t question his action.

The drive was quiet at first, until Stefan spoke up.

“You know everyone is watching us right?,” he said, voice low, cutting through the silence like a knife. “Every move, every smile, every interaction. We just announced our marriage, then the next minute you’re smiling and flirting with another man.”

Mia blinked at the window. “We were just talking.”

“You were giggling. And laughing a full face laugh.”

She scoffed. “What, am I not allowed to laugh now?”

“Not like that, not with him and definitely not in public.”

“Oh, and I should only laugh in private now?” she shot back, her irritation rising. “With who? You?”

“Yes. With Elena. With me. That’s it.”

She turned to face him, incredulous. “You’re unbelievable.”

Stefan didn’t flinch. “He likes you, Mia. The whole world could see he does.”

“No, he doesn’t!” she snapped. “He never did. It was always Elena.”

“And yet he’s the one sitting across from you like you’re the center of his universe.”

“Can you listen to yourself, I’ve known Dave for years now. That’s just how he is.”

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54 USTREMINDING YOU WHO YOU’RE MARRIED TO

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“Exactly. You’ve known him for years. You’re comfortable round him, too comfortable.”

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