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Chapter 48: Nothing about this felt like pretending anymore.
Last Updated:
2025-09-07 17:04:00
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Rebirth: From Devoted Wife to Ice Queen CEO Chapter 50: "To the happy couple!"
The dance floor had filled with couples swaying to the romantic melody, but Aria barely noticed them as Ethan's mother swept her into an embrace that smelled of jasmine perfume and happy tears. Mrs Luo was elegant in the way that only came from generations of good breeding, her silver hair perfectly styled, her champagne-colored dress a masterpiece of understated luxury."Welcome to the family, darling," Mrs Luo whispered against Aria's ear, her voice thick with emotion. "I've been waiting so long for Ethan to find someone who makes him smile the way you do."The words hit Aria like a physical blow. Mrs Luo's joy was so genuine, so maternal, that it made the deception feel even more cruel. This woman was welcoming her with open arms, already planning future family gatherings and holiday traditions, completely unaware that her new daughter-in-law was using her son as a pawn in a game he barely understood himself."Thank you," Aria managed, her voice slightly hoarse. "That means so mu
Rebirth: From Devoted Wife to Ice Queen CEO Chapter 49: "Would you have minded if I had?"
The receiving line stretched endlessly before them, a parade of faces that blurred together in a symphony of congratulations and well-wishes. Aria's cheeks ached from maintaining her radiant bride smile, her hand cramping from being squeezed by what felt like half of Linyang's social elite. Beside her, Ethan played his part with the same practiced perfection, his arm around her waist feeling both foreign and familiar against the silk of her dress."Absolutely beautiful ceremony," gushed Mrs. Patterson, one of her mother's closest friends, as she enveloped Aria in a cloud of expensive perfume. "You two looked so in love up there. Just magical!""Thank you," Aria managed, her voice bright with manufactured joy. "We're so happy you could share this day with us."The words came automatically now, responses she'd perfected over the past hour of receiving congratulations from people who believed they were witnessing a fairy tale romance. Each compliment felt like a small blade, cutting in
Rebirth: From Devoted Wife to Ice Queen CEO Chapter 48: Nothing about this felt like pretending anymore.
The officiant's voice seemed to come from somewhere far away, his words floating through the charged space between Aria and Ethan like smoke. She caught fragments—"dearly beloved," "gathered here today," "holy matrimony"—but her attention was entirely consumed by the man standing inches from her, his hands still wrapped around hers with surprising gentleness.Up close, she could see details that had been lost in the distance of their approach. The way his jaw ticked almost imperceptibly, betraying nerves he was trying to hide. The faint shadow of stubble along his chin despite what must have been a fresh shave that morning. The way his eyes kept dropping to her lips before snapping back to meet her gaze, as if he couldn't help himself.The memory of their kiss crashed over her again, uninvited and overwhelming. The taste of him, the strength of his hands framing her face, the way the world had narrowed to just that moment of connection. Standing here now, with his fingers interlace
Rebirth: From Devoted Wife to Ice Queen CEO Chapter 47: "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"
The ballroom doors towered before them like gates to another realm, their polished brass handles gleaming under the crystal chandeliers that lined the hotel corridor. Aria could hear the murmur of voices from beyond the thick wood—hundreds of conversations blending into a low hum that made her skin prickle with awareness. All those people, waiting for her, expecting her to play the role of the blushing bride walking toward her happily ever after.Her father's arm felt solid beneath her gloved hand, an anchor in the storm of her own making. Daniel Lin stood beside her with the bearing of a man who'd commanded boardrooms for decades, but she could feel the slight tremor in his muscles that betrayed his own emotional state. His little girl was about to become someone else's wife, and no amount of business acumen could prepare a father for that moment."Take your time, princess," he murmured, his voice pitched low so only she could hear. "There's no rush."But there was a rush. There w
Rebirth: From Devoted Wife to Ice Queen CEO Chapter 46: "Ready, princess?"
Aria's leg bounced beneath the layers of silk and tulle, the movement so rapid it made her entire body vibrate like a tuning fork. She pressed her palm against her thigh, trying to still the tremor, but her muscles seemed to have developed a mind of their own. The nervous energy coursed through her system like electricity, making her feel simultaneously wired and exhausted."Get it together," she whispered to her reflection in the ornate hotel room mirror. "You're overreacting."But the words felt hollow, unconvincing even to her own ears. Her reflection stared back with wide eyes that couldn't quite hide the panic lurking beneath the surface. The makeup artist had done incredible work—her skin looked porcelain smooth, her eyes dramatic and sultry, her lips the perfect shade of rose that complemented the dress. She looked every inch the radiant bride-to-be.She looked like a woman in love on her wedding day.The irony made her stomach twist into knots."You're a fucking CEO of a maj
Rebirth: From Devoted Wife to Ice Queen CEO Chapter 45: "Like walking into your own funeral tomorrow?"
The amber liquid burned its way down Ethan's throat, leaving a trail of fire that matched the churning in his stomach. He stared at his reflection in the mirror behind the bar, noting how the dim lighting made the shadows under his eyes look like bruises. The man staring back at him looked hollow, defeated—not exactly the image of a groom on the eve of his wedding.The bar was the kind of place that didn't ask questions. Dark wood, darker lighting, and the sort of clientele that minded their own business. Ice clinked against glass as Ethan lifted his whiskey for another sip, the sound sharp in the relative quiet of the evening crowd.He couldn't believe this was what he was doing. Tomorrow was his wedding—his own damn wedding—and here he sat, drowning his sorrows like some cliché from a bad movie. The irony wasn't lost on him that most grooms spent their last night of freedom celebrating, while he felt like he was attending his own wake.His mind drifted, unwillingly, inevitably, b
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