THE SPITEFUL BRIDE: Marry To Rival's Son novel Chapter 93

Chapter 93

The ride back to their resort had been quiet.

Mia sat with her fingers still lightly brushing her palm where Stefan had held her hand most of the day. His touch lingered, like the weight of the silver lock they’d left behind, clinging to her skin even in its absence.

He hadn’t stopped touching her since morning.

He’d held her hand through every picture, adjusted her sunglasses once with two fingers beneath her chin, and even tucked a strand of hair behind her ear like they’d been together for years.

Mia stared at the passing streets outside the window, heart thudding.

What exactly is going on with Stefan today?

He’d taken at least fifty pictures with her. Always finding a reason to pose beside her. His hand on her waist, his face close to hers. There was a time she’d thought he didn’t even like photos.

But today, he had proven her wrong.

They’d even stopped at a garden just past the edge of the town. Stefan said he wanted to take one last picture before they returned. She hadn’t paid attention at first, just followed him.

Until she saw the tree.

It was massive, wide-branched and majestic, draped with paper wishes and twinkling strings of love notes. At the foot of it was a sign: “Tie a ribbon, seal a vow.”

It was a place lovers came to make a promise to each other. A soft vow. No priest, no crowd. Just two hearts. She had stood still, heart echoing against her ribs. Why did he bring her here? To take pics?

“Here too?” she asked softly, her voice barely above the wind.

Stefan looked at her, shrugged slightly. “We’re here already. Might as well follow their lead.” She blinked. When did he start following people’s lead.

She still went along with it. If Stefan wanted it, she’d gladly do it. Because he doesn’t even ask for anything, seeing him pick interest in things made her happy.

They had driven for nearly an hour, the sun slowly dipping into the ocean. The wind had grown calmer, the colors of the sky melting into each other, and yet Mia’s mind was tangled with questions.

She was already tired from all the stops Stefan had insisted on, taking pictures here and there, holding her hand like it was second nature, wrapping his arm around her waist when they posed in front of the tree couples came to lock their love.

He’d been touchy all day. He never let go of her hand. He laughed easily, took pictures like he enjoyed them. Like he was someone else entirely.

She looked up when they got to the last place Stefan insisted they stopped. It was a restaurant.

They sat at the open-air restaurant tucked just above the sea, lights dangling overhead, the night brushing against her skin like velvet.

Stefan glanced around, a small crease forming between his brows.

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93 BUT SHE HADN’T SEEN OR MAYBE SHE DIDN’T WANT TO SEE

He hadn’t expected this many people. Couples were everywhere….. some cuddling close, others feeding each other, some sharing wine and laughter.

He swallowed and looked over at Mia, who hadn’t noticed the shift in his expression. She was leaning on the table slightly, scrolling through her phone.

“You’ve been looking around like a hawk,” Mia said softly, not meeting his eyes. “Everything okay?”

Stefan turned toward her, the corner of his mouth twitching. She noticed. “Just didn’t think this place would be this… full.”

She nodded, eyes now focused on the candle between them. Maybe it’s a lovers’ magnet.”

He didn’t respond.

And then, just as she took a sip….. She heard a “boom” sound.

Firework soared high above the restaurant’s open terrace, a golden comet cutting across the night. Then, with a soft crackle, it exploded in a slow bloom of color. Gasps echoed around the tables. Wine glasses were suspended mid-air. Even the ocean waves seemed to hush in reverence

She looked up, her lips parting as the light illuminated her face. She didn’t blink. Her pupils caught every flicker.

“wow…..” She gasped

Then came another. Purple, then blue. The sky turned into a canvas of light, reflected in the ocean like magic dripping from the stars.

“Oh my God,” she whispered again, standing from her chair, completely mesmerized.

Stefan didn’t move. He watched her instead, the way her eyes widened with every burst, how her hand slowly floated to her chest like she needed to hold her heart still.

She was beautiful.

A hush fell over the crowd as a final firework shot upward…. slow, deliberate, like it had something to say.

And then, in blazing gold script, the sky whispered it.

I LOVE YOU, WIFE. 1 15

A few people clapped. Others let out soft, dreamy sighs. Phones came out. Some couples embraced tightly, others smiled as though their love had just been given a second wind. A woman beside them whispered, “That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen.”

Mia didn’t move. She couldn’t. She just stood there, staring at the sky, her lips parted slightly.

Then……. slowly….. she turned toward Stefan. Her face, unreadable.

“I love it.” Hope flared in Stefan’s chest.

He leaned back in his chair casually, as if his chest wasn’t caving in.

Then, he leaned in….. just close enough that the warmth of her skin reached him. “Do you know who it was for?”

She didn’t hesitate. “Of course,” she said, nodding her head softly.

Yes, his mind whispered.

She lifted her hand and pointed to a couple across the terrace….. a man and a woman locked in a romantic embrace, glowing under the last sparkles of the firework. The wife’s face was buried in her husband’s chest. The

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23 BUT SHE HADNET SEEN OR MAYBE SHE DIDN’T WANT TO STE

man kissed her forehead gently. Guests clapped in admiration.

“It was that man,” Mia said, still smiling. “He must’ve planned it. Look at them.”

He blinked slowly. His world tilting slightly. His hand, still holding the wine glass, dropped slowly to the table.

His smile faltered…. not enough for anyone else to see, butnough for him to feel it fracture inside. His chest tightened like a fist was gripping it from the inside.

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