THE SPITEFUL BRIDE: Marry To Rival's Son novel Chapter 61

Chapter 61

The silence in the car was thick and heavy.

Stefan’s right hand gripped the steering wheel, firm but relaxed. While his left drummed slowly against his thigh. His eyes were fixed on the road ahead, unmoving, but Mia could tell, he wasn’t just driving. He was thinking, hard. And whatever was going through his head isn’t just anything simple.

He hadn’t said a word since they left. Neither had she.

She sat angled slightly toward the window, one hand under her chin, watching trees blur past. Her thoughts weren’t much better than his. She should’ve been relieved after the scene at Jeremiah’s, but somehow, this next visit felt heavier.

She hadn’t seen her dad since the kidnapping incident, she actually didn’t know how to act if she sees him. It’s hard, when it has to deal with someone you really care about. He’s the only family she has, and all these feels heart wrenching.

She took in a deep breath, bringing herself out of her thoughts. This wasn’t time for that, she couldn’t afford to show any sign of weakness. Not today, and definitely not now.

She felt a movement, then a gentle touch on her hands. When she looked towards the movement, she was surprised to see Stefan’s right hands on top of hers.

She stole a glance at him. He was still focused on the road, his face calm and unreadable. His posture was relaxed yet alert. He didn’t even glanced at her once, but his hands still held hers.

She looked down at their hands, now loosely entwined between them on the console. His thumb wasn’t moving, but his grip was there. Solid. Like even if he didn’t speak, she wasn’t alone.

Her heart softened. She smiled and muttered a “thank you before turning back towards the window. Stefan still said nothing, but somehow Mia had managed to understand Stefan, even during his silence.

When they finally approached the Meyer estate, Mia sat up straighter, her shoulders instinctively tensing. The gates stood wide, guarded and towering like they were trying to intimidate. A man stepped forward as their car rolled to a slow stop.

He looked in, saw her, then pressed something on his earpiece before waving them in.

Stefan drove in, smooth and controlled, pulling into a spot beside a white Lamborghini like he owned the place. Mia’s eyes scanned the surroundings, and her brow lifted slightly. The number of guards had doubled.

Her grip tightened on Stefan’s hand. Stefan parked the car and removed his sit belt. The lost of contact made Mia feel empty, she was already missing his touch. She tried to reach for the door, but before she could, Stefan was already out.

He circled to her side, opened it smoothly, and offered his hand. She took it without a word, intertwining their fingers again. Felt like she’s getting a little addicted to the act.

Her heels clicked softly against the pavement as she stepped down, her eyes still moving across the estate. Guards at the corners. More than she remembered, and definitely more than necessary.

She leaned in slightly, whispering under her breath. “Why do I feel like we just walked into a trap?”

Stefan didn’t answer right away. Instead, he turned to face er fully. His piercing dark eyes met hers like he could see all the way in. There was no rush in his movement, no panic. Just that same deadly Stefan’s calm.

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“Do you trust me?” he asked, his voice low and certain.

Mia’s breath caught for half a second. Then she nodded.

That was all he needed. Her trust.

His lips curled, just slightly, enough to show the dimple on his left cheek.

“Then let’s go,” he said, his fingers wrapping tighter around hers.

And she moved with him, shoulders up, steps matched. They walked like they owned the estate, slow, steady steps that echoed across the tiled entrance. Like they weren’t afraid of anything inside those walls.

Their hands stayed locked, fingers laced. Though the fear sl lingered but Stefan’s presence was like a solid shield beside her.

Even if they were walking into hell, she’d go with him.

Mia didn’t miss the glances. Guards shifting, eyes trailing after them. But it didn’t shake her anymore, not when Stefan was holding her this way.

The grand doors opened into the familiar living room. A place she used to sit cross-legged on the rug as a child. Now, she walked in as not a child, but a woman who believes in herself.

Cassandra sat on one of the cream-colored sofas, crossed-legged in her fancy attire. Ethan leaned beside her, murmuring something before his eyes caught the movement at the door.

He straightened immediately, almost too fast.

“Mia,” he said, his face lighting up with too much excitement as he stepped forward. “How are you doing?”

He reached out to take her hand. Mia shifted back slightly, her fingers twitching to pull away. But Stefan’s grip on her hand tightened just enough, a silent signal.

Let him.

Her chest rose and fell as she held back the urge to frown. For the first time, she let Ethan touch her. His hand was warm, lingering longer than necessary.

Stefan stood beside her, with an unreadable calmness. But Mia could feel it, he wanted her to get along with Ethan. 1

A small nudge came from his side again, a reminder for her to respond to Ethan’s greeting.

She forced herself to look at Ethan. Her voice came out smooth but flat. “I’m good. And you?”

Ethan blinked, surprised. That was the first time she’d answered him without snapping or walking away. His lips twitched into something hopeful, but Mia’s face gave him nothing. The slight scowl still sat on her brow, untouched.

“I’m… I’m good too,” he replied, glancing quickly at Stefan who hadn’t blinked since they walked in.

There was gratitude in Ethan’s eyes. Like he thought Stefan had softened her, tamed the storm she always threw

his way.

But he was wrong.

Mia didn’t reply out of kindness. She replied because the man holding her hand trusted her, and she wasn’t going to let that trust go to waste.

She lowered her gaze, slipping her hand gently from Ethans as she looked back at Stefan who still didn’t say a

word.

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But the way his thumb grazed the back of her hand once more… that was more than enough.

“Hmm… let me call Dad. He’s inside with…” Ethan trailed off, scratching the back of his head awkwardly, like just mentioning the name would bring disruption.

Mia’s brow arched, her eyes narrowed just a little. That hesitation wasn’t casual.

Stefan stood beside her, his posture still and controlled. He had also noticed Ethan’s hesitation, but he didn’t show it. He already had an idea, why Ethan had behaved that way.

He knew Samuel wasn’t one to keep quiet and do nothing. That was the reason he was here, a silent warning to

him.

Before Ethan could finish his sentence, a low throat-clearing cut through the air.

“Hm-hmm.”

Mia followed the sound, tuning her head in the process. The devil himself, Samuel Meyer stood few feet away from them.

His cold eyes flicked between Stefan and Ethan, then settled on Mia. He looked at her like she a eye sore, not hiding his hateful look.

Mia didn’t flinch, she stared right back at him. This time no pretense or fake smile.

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