THE SPITEFUL BRIDE: Marry To Rival's Son novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76

The morning sun filtered gently through the cream-colored curtains of the hotel suite, casting warm golden lines across the floor. The air in the room felt still….. thick with expectation, nerves, and something unspoken.

Mia sat at the edge of the bed, her fingers lightly brushing the hem of her silk robe. Her heart thudded softly in her chest…… not with fear, but something heavier. A strange calh layered over a brewing storm.

She looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was halfway done, soft curls pinned delicately as her makeup artist gave her a dewy glow. Yet her eyes betrayed her….they held whispers of the night before, of Stefan’s silence.

She tried to steady her breathing, gripping her fingers together.

“Mia,” Elena said gently from behind her. “You’re going to be the most stunning bride this town has ever seen. Now stop looking like you’re about to throw up.”

Mia gave a tight smile. “It’s not the dress. Or the makeup. Is… everything.”

“}

Minute later, Mia stood in front of the full-length mirror, her heart thudding softly against her ribs, hands slightly shaking as Elena zipped up the back of her gown. For a moment, no one spoke. Not even the usually chatty bridesmaids. The room fell into a hush so deep, you could hear the rustle of the lace as it settled around her feet.

She didn’t recognize the girl staring back at her…… not at first.

The gown clung to her upper body like a quiet promise, holding her in all the right places, before flowing down into soft waves that kissed the floor. The off-shoulder sleeves slipped gently down her arms, giving her an almost unreal glow. It was the kind of dress that made a woman forget all the heartbreaks, the pain, the doubts. It made her feel seen. Worthy. Loved.

Mia blinked, and a tear slipped down her cheek before she could catch it.

“I look…” she whispered, barely trusting her voice.

“Breathtaking,” Elena finished, already dabbing at her own eyes. “I told you. Didn’t I?”

She turned slightly, and the train swept behind her like a sigh, embroidered flowers catching the golden light from the window. The veil, light as air, shimmered like morning dew, draped softly over her back. It moved every

time she breathed.

She took a small step. Then another. The dress didn’t fighter; it flowed with her, like it knew this was her moment. Like it had waited for her.

Sienna let out a shaky laugh. “You don’t just look like a bride,” she said. “You look like a story people will tell for years.”

Mia smiled through her tears. Not a big, flashy smile…… jus a small, trembling one. The kind that came from deep inside. The kind you only wear when you’re about to walk into something you never thought you’d find: forever.

And in that moment, standing there in silk, lace, and a quiet kind of beauty, Mia didn’t feel nervous anymore.

She felt ready.

Then there came a knock on the door.

Elena stood and opened it a crack, peeking out. “It’s Samuel.”

Mia’s head whipped up. “What?”

Everyone one excused themselves leaving just Mia and Elena in the room.

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“Be careful. I don’t trust him.” Elena whispered under her breath before opening the door wider, but only enough to let him step in without too much of a scene.

Samuel stepped in, dressed in a sharp black suit, trimmed neatly, and for once, with a sincerity in his expression Mia didn’t recognize. There was something softer in his eyes today. Like a father trying to remember how to be

one.

“I came to walk you down the aisle,” he said simply.

Mia froze.

Elena raised her brows up. Of course, typical Samuel. Always after his reputation. She was sure this was about him trying to act like the best father to the world. She just hoped Mia didn’t fall for his schemes.

She was already on her phone typing away, informing Mose of what was happening. Incase Samuel tires anything silly.

“What?” Mia voice was filled with surprise.

“I know I’ve been… absent. Absent doesn’t even cover it,” Samuel continued, voice low, tone steady. “But I thought about it all night. I’ve been wrong. About many things. You didn’t deserve to be ignored, and I’m not proud of the father I’ve been. But if Stefan is your choice… then that’s mine too.”

Mia stared at him, unsure if her heart should clench or breathe. She had waited years to hear words like these.

“I…” She swallowed, unsure what to say.

Elena’s phone chipped up with a notification. Mose had responded almost immediately, telling her to keep a close eye on Samuel. But, he’s sure Samuel wouldn’t dare do anything to Mia. Not with the amount of people around, and cameras everywhere.

Elena leaned closer and whispered in Mia’s ear, “It’s almost time. We don’t want to keep the groom waiting.”

The church stood tall and glorious……. an old cathedral with stained glass windows that painted the interior in soft hues of sapphire, ruby, and gold.

Mia had picked this particular place because, it was where her parents had gotten married. And her mom had told her that, she’d be the most beautiful bride to walk down this isle.

It was filled to the brim…. not just with friends and family, but with eyes. Political figures, business tycoons, journalists, society’s elite. Everyone came not only to witness a union… but history.

Mia Meyer and Stefan Sterling…. the daughter and son of two of the country’s most powerful, most bitter rivals…. were getting married.

It wasn’t just a wedding. It was a statement. A scandal. A miracle.

On the right side…. the Sterling side….. sat Jeremiah Sterling Stefan’s father, and his elegantly dressed wife. Though their faces wore polite smiles, their bodies were stiff. Controlled. Measured. They were surrounded by business allies, dignitaries, and media figures. Every blink, every breath was watched. And they knew it.

Jeremiah’s jaw remained tight, but his hands didn’t twitch. His wife kept her expression soft, a perfectly rehearsed look of supportive motherhood. But her knuckles were pale where they clutched her designer clutch.

On the left side…. the Meyer side… sat Ethan Meyer, dressed in a crisp black tuxedo, posture proud, and eyes steady.

Elena’s mom sat at the place meant for the bride’s mom. Sle sat, beaming with pride and blinking away tears, sat

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WEDDING DAY

in her place without apology.

And oh, she looked stunning.

She wore a soft, elegant gown of emerald green silk that shimmered gently under the warm lights of the cathedral. Mia had singlehandedly picked it for her. She held a bouquet of peonies on her lap, the flower Mia always said reminded her of comfort.

Outside the church, a wave of cameras exploded like a battlefield of light. The press had flooded the gates since dawn, jostling for position. Mia’s gown had been trending on social media before she even stepped out of the car. ” The forbidden bride,” some headlines read. “Enemies to lovers,” others whispered.

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