THE SPITEFUL BRIDE: Marry To Rival's Son novel Chapter 55

Chapter 55

The next day came softly. The sun hung lazily in the sky, bright enough for a good shoot, but not too harsh.

Mia sat beside Stefan in the car, glancing at his profile from time to time. He looked calm, one hand on the wheel, the other resting lazily by his side. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and his trousers were simple. But even in casual wear, he carried himself like he owned the world.

་་

He hadn’t said much during the ride, just the occasional, “Are you okay?” or “Hope you’re good?.”

She nodded, responding softly. Her mind was busy.

He was being civil, kind, even. But she had learned not to be fooled by calm waters. Stefan could shift like wind, warm one minute, cold the next.

The estate for the shoot was wide and airy. The crew was already setting up. Stylists moved around with hangers, while assistants positioned props and lighting. Cameras were being tested.

When they stepped out of the car, heads turned. A few people looked up as they walked in, first surprised by how casual they looked, then stunned by how good they looked in it.

Mia wore a simple pastel dress, soft and comfortable. Her hair was down, curls brushing her shoulders. Nothing fancy, but she still looked like something out of a dream. Stefan in that casual shirt and plain trousers. No fuss, but all eyes were still on them.

“That’s Mia Meyer?”

“Mia Sterling now” another corrected

“She’s even prettier in person.”

“And him? That’s Stefan Sterling?”

“I didn’t know he smiled.”

The whispers came low and quick, but neither of them said anything. Stefan held her hand, and she let him.

They were given separate rooms to change. Mia’s first dress was a deep royal purple. It hugged her waist but flowed softly past her knees. Elegant without screaming for attention. Her makeup was light, just enough to define her face. But something about her skin today glowed differently.

Okay. Deep breaths, she told herself as she walked out. Then she saw him.

Stefan wore a purple suit that matched hers perfectly. Tailored to perfection, no tie, just a few buttons undone. He looked at her and didn’t even blink.

“You look…” he paused, then gave a slow nod. “Beautiful.”

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.” Everyone looked on speechless with mouth wide open.

Mia’s breath caught. But she recovered quickly, offering a small smile. “You clean up well too.”

Purple on both of them, yet not too much. Just enough to match. Just enough to show that someone planned this right.

The first shoot began.

They didn’t need to pose too hard. The way he looked at her when she adjusted her dress, or the way she touched his sleeve to smooth it out, it was enough.

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“Okay, perfect! Let’s go again, eyes on each other!”

Click. Click.

“Can you hold her hand like that again, sir?”

He didn’t even blink before reaching for her hand again, their fingers locked naturally. Mia wasn’t used to being the center of attention like this, but Stefan was calm, like ‘d done this a hundred times. Like standing next to her made it easy.

“Okay, Mia, turn slightly……no, don’t look at the camera, look at him.”

She turned and found him already looking at her. Her stomach fluttered, she hated it.

Don’t be stupid, Mia, she told herself. He’s acting. He’s supposed to look at you like that.

But he held her hand like he meant it, not too tight and not oo loose. Like he’d done it a thousand times before.

They went through their poses, and where asked to change gain. This time it was orange. A rich, warm tone that made her skin glow and made his eyes look lighter. When they walked out, people just stared.

“They’re too good-looking.”

“Even their colors are in sync.”

They went through five outfit changes, each one different, but always matching. Black, emerald green, and a soft beige with gold accents. Every look felt intentional and every pose looked like something out of a magazine cover.

And still, Stefan didn’t complain once. He adjusted when the photographers asked him to, laughed lightly when Mia did. He touched her when they said, but sometimes he touched her even when they didn’t say, like brushing hair off her face or pulling her slightly closer.

At some point, one of the stylists whispered, “He’s in love with her.”

“I and everyone had thought this was a setup marriage,” another replied.

“Does this look like a setup to you?” The first said shutting her up.

“Can’t you see how smitten he is,” another one of the makeup artists whispered behind her. “That’s real love right there.”

Mia almost laughed. If only they knew. He was just good at pretending. And right now, he was playing his role too damn well.

By the time they were wrapping up, everyone looked tired except the couple in front of the camera. Somehow, they still effortlessly looked fresh.

Mia stood slightly to the side, sipping water, her purple dress slightly lifted so she wouldn’t step on it. Stefan stood nearby, unbuttoning the top of his shirt, watching he

“You’re staring,” she said quietly without looking at him.

“I know,” he replied.

“You’re not tired?”

He shrugged. “I’d do another five if I have to.”

She turned then. “Really?”

“Only if you’re in them.”

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That made her laugh. Her eyes dropped for a second, cheeks warm. She didn’t see it, but Stefan smiled too. It wasn’t a forced kind of smile, or one for the camera, it was eal.

As they walked back to the car, a few of the crew stood watching. The photographer handed the assistant his camera and muttered, “That man might be the most unpredictable groom I’ve ever shot.”

The assistant grinned. “And she’s the luckiest bride.”

Mia didn’t know where they were heading.

She thought they were going home after the shoot, but Stefan didn’t take their usual turn. She glanced at him, confused, but didn’t ask. With Stefan, silence was often safer.

When he finally parked, her eyes widened. A restaurant, Stefan had brought her to a restaurant.

He stepped out, walked over to open her door like a gentleman from a movie.

“I figured you might be hungry,” he said, coolly.

And he wasn’t wrong. She was starving, but that wasn’t the point. Since when did Stefan care if she was hungry?

Still, she followed him in. The moment they stepped inside heads turned. People stared, some smiled. Some reached for their phones without trying to hide it. The whispers started almost immediately.

That’s Stefan Sterling… with his wife… Mia Meyer Sterling.

They look good together.

Oh my God, is that really them?

They were led to a private corner by the glass, soft music playing in the background. Mia kept her eyes on the menu, pretending not to notice the attention.

They made their order. She tried to act normal and calm. But Stefan wasn’t helping, not at all.

Midway through her drink, he leaned forward across the table, gently brushing a strand of her hair away from her face like it was nothing. Like he’d done it a million.

“You should leave it tucked,” he said simply, then went back to his glass like he didn’t just send her brain into a full spiral.

A few minutes later, as she reached for her fork, he leaned again. This time with a napkin. “You’ve got something,

here.”

He dabbed at the corner of her lips, his thumb brushing her mouth slightly. His hand didn’t even shake.

What the hell is going on? she thought, frozen. Stefan Sterling didn’t do public affection.

But here he was, wiping her mouth like it was something normal. Still, she kept her face neutral. The cameras were out, she knew that. But he was taking this too far.

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People were watching them, whispering of how lovely they look. Flashing photos.

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