THE SPITEFUL BRIDE: Marry To Rival's Son novel Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Sunlight streamed through strange curtains, pulling Mia from her restless sleep. She stirred, her fingers brushing against the smooth, unfamiliar sheets. It didn’t look anything like the one in her room. Everything around her felt foreign, the quiet, the gold furniture, the cool air. She sat up slowly, her mind foggy, trying to piece it all together.

It took a few seconds, but then it hit her like a wave. The party last night. Her father’s voice. His announcement, clear and cold, as if he hadn’t just upended her world in front of everyone.

Ethan. The hidden son she’d never met, the new heir to Meyers Industries. The anger in her chest began to rise again, clawing at her throat.

Her breathing quickened as more pieces fell into place. His suggestion in the office after the party, the way he had cornered her with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. His plan for her, neatly wrapped up in his condescending tone: “Marry Julian Thorn. Solidify your place, Mia. It’s for the best.”

She shoved her hair out of her face and swung her legs off the bed. Her father’s words hung over her like a storm cloud, the ache in her chest refusing to fade. The anger hadn’t disappeared overnight; it had only settled, colder now, sharper. And Stefan Sterling, last night’s impulsive plan, was the only thread she had left to hold onto.

Her feet touched the cool tile as her gaze flicked around the room. That’s when she saw it. An emerald-green dress, neatly draped over the couch, its fabric glinting softly in the sunlight. She stepped closer, letting her fingers skim over the smooth material. It wasn’t hers. She didn’t need to ask who had left it there, it had Stefan’s calculating touch written all over it.

The bathroom brought more surprises. The scent of lavender greeted her, mixing with the steam curling around the shower. Bottles of shampoo and body wash lined the edge, each one carefully arranged. Exactly the brand she uses, they hadn’t been there last night.

Her stomach twisted, her hands pausing on the sink by the realization that someone had entered while she slept, moved through her space without waking her. Normally, the smallest sound would have pulled her from sleep. But last night had been different, seems like the weight of anger and exhaustion had drowned her completely.

Under the hot spray of water, her thoughts churned. Her father had stripped everything from her in a single moment, leaving her with nothing but an ultimatum. Ethan had stolen her birthright, and Julian was her father’s solution to keep her obedient, tied to the family with no real power. She wouldn’t allow it.

But Stefan? That was different. She didn’t trust him, not for a second. His world was sharp-edged and unpredictable, and stepping into it would be dangerous. But this wasn’t about trust or safety, it was about survival. It was about control, about reclaiming the power her father thought he could take from her.

When she stepped out of the shower and slipped into the dress, her reflection caught her eye. She stared back at herself, her face pale but determined, her shoulders squared. The pain hadn’t disappeared, but the anger, the fire in her chest, was enough to keep her standing. Today, she would marry Stefan Sterling. And she would make sure her father regretted every word he’d said. She was going to prove to him that she could handle an empire despite her gender.

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