THE SPITEFUL BRIDE: Marry To Rival's Son novel Chapter 68

Chapter 68

“Look, I’m not saying it’s easy,” Mia continued. “But you need to take that first step. You have to decide. You are the one who has to make the decision. I feel bad that it was because of me.”

Elena raised her head up immediately “No….of course no. Don’t ever think it’s your fault.” She stayed silent for a moment, her lips pressed together in thought.

“I’ll speak to him when I see him?” she said with a forced smile.

Mia softened, her heart aching for her friend. “You can take your time. But just don’t shut him out completely. You deserve better than to just carry that pain around.” There’s nothing she wants than to see Elena happy, and why not Mose.

Elena didn’t answer at first, but Mia could tell she was thinking it over. After a few moments, Elena finally spoke, her voice quieter now. “I just don’t want to make a mistake

“You’re not going to make a mistake,” Mia said, her voice firm but kind. “But if you don’t give yourself a chance to try, then that’s a mistake in itself.”

Elena looked at her, eyes full of conflicting emotions. She was trying to make sense of everything, trying to decide what the right move was.

“I’ll think about it,” Elena said, her voice softer now. “But it’s not as easy as you’re making it sound.”

Mia smiled faintly. “I know. But I believe you can do it.”

She reached over and gave Elena a gentle hug, one that spoke volumes more than words ever could. It was her way of saying, “I’m here for you,” even if Elena didn’t have all the answers yet.

As Mia pulled away, she looked into her friend’s eyes. Then a spark flickered in her eyes.

“You know what?” she said suddenly, with a grin. “Let’s go out. The two of us.”

Elena blinked. “Go out? Where?”

“Anywhere. Everywhere. Like we use to when we were young and free. Let’s forget about men, Stefan, Mose, and all their complications. Just for today, let’s be us. No drama no car, no overthinking, just freedom.”

Elena raised a brow. “Is this your way of kidnapping me for a girls’ day?”

Mia smirked, already pulling the door wide. “Exactly. And you don’t have a say in it.”

Before Elena could object, Mia had walked in, grabbed her band, and tugged her up to her feet with unexpected strength. Elena laughed despite herself. “You’re stronger than you look.”

“You should see me dragging around emotional baggage,” Mia quipped, and they both laughed.

In no time, Mia had Elena dressed in something simple and casual…. jeans, a breezy top, sneakers. Nothing flashy. Just comfort and freedom.

The guards followed them as expected, a silent presence at a distance. They knew better than to intrude, Stefan had likely given strict orders to protect them without interfering. It didn’t bother the girls much. For now, they were in their own world.

Their first stop was at the Corner Store.

A tiny, locally-run shop nestled between two old brick buildings with faded awnings and plants spilling out of mismatched pots. Elena had brought Mia here when they were just teens. Back then, it was where they’d buy

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ridiculously sweet candy, soda in glass bottles, and cheap trinkets they never needed.

As they walked in, the tiny bell above the door jingled, just like it used to.

The smell was the same, warm sugar, old paperbacks, and a hint of cinnamon.

Elena smiled softly. “This place hasn’t changed.”

Mia moved like she was home, heading straight to the aisle where they used to hide from the sun. “You introduced me to this place,” she said, picking up a pink lollipop and spinning it between her fingers. “But I think I loved it even more than you did.”

“You always bought more junk than I did,” Elena teased.

“That’s because I had no self-control and a huge sweet tooth.”

They wandered the store, picking out silly snacks, marshmallow cookies, fizzy soda, a few old magazines, and even bought matching plastic rings from a dusty spinning rack near the counter.

“I can’t believe they still sell these,” Mia laughed, slipping a glittery purple one on her finger.

“They shouldn’t,” Elena deadpanned, but she bought a blue one anyway.

After that, they made their way to the amusement park, not the big flashy one across town, but the old, charming one they’d always visited during school breaks. The rides were slower, the colors faded, but the memories? Fresh

as ever.

Elena hesitated as they passed through the rusted iron gate. “We haven’t been here in years…”

Mia spun around, walking backward and grinning. “Then its time we made some new memories.”

They started with the carousel, where they chose the ugliest horses on purpose. Mia picked one with a missing ear, Elena’s had a chipped tail.

As the music played and the carousel slowly turned, they laughed so hard they caught the attention of a few passing kids.

Then came the bumper cars.

Mia was surprisingly aggressive, steering like she was in a race. Elena shrieked when Mia rammed into her from behind and nearly lifted out of her seat.

“That’s for all the emotional trauma you dumped on me!” ia shouted gleefully.

“You maniac!” Elena laughed, chasing her down in retaliation.

By the time they stumbled out of the ride, they were both breathless and red-faced with laughter. The guards kept a watchful but distant eye, giving the girls their space. One was on his phone, took the girls a picture, Mia specifically, before going back to his phone.

Stefan sat in a sleek black chair, one leg crossed over the other, his back straight, his face, stoic. Mose stood behind him, arms crossed, the image of controlled silence. Across the polished table sat two older men, dressed in expensive suits, eyes flicking nervously between Stefan and the untouched stack of papers in front of him.

Everything was ready. The deal, a major acquisition, had been negotiated for weeks. It only needed Stefan’s signature.

But Stefan was not paying attention.

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His phone was in his hand, thumb hovering over the screen brows slightly furrowed. He hadn’t read the last paragraph of the report. Hadn’t even heard the man across from him summarizing terms for the third time. His gaze was fixed on the image freshly sent to him by his men

Mia

She was laughing, head thrown back, cotton candy in hand, eyes crinkled with genuine joy. Elena stood beside her, mirroring the expression, both of them wrapped in a moment so lighthearted it felt otherworldly. The backdrop. was unmistakable, the old amusement park, the one on the outskirts of town, past the old road where stores closed at five and not everyone had food for dinner.

A place like that wasn’t ideal for two women, especially women like Mia and Elena. Though his men were with them, and he trusted them. But he couldn’t help but feel concerned about their safety.

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