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Chapter 46: Brielle's POV
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2025-05-04 15:25:20Valerie wasn’t answering her phone.
I paced outside her apartment, my nerves on edge as I hit redial. The cold Boston air bit at my skin, but I barely felt it. My fingers tightened around my phone, my patience running thin.Esther’s words replayed in my head: She doesn’t have to lie. She just has to hack a few accounts, move some numbers around, and make sure all the blame falls on the Nightwind’s enemies.Simple. In theory. But Valerie wasn’t built for this. She wasn’t a fighter, wasn’t a criminal. She was the girl who made terrible jokes when she was nervous and wore her heart on her sleeve. And here I was, about to drag her into my mess.The door finally swung open. Valerie stood in the doorway, wearing an oversized hoodie and pajama pants covered in cartoon frogs. Her auburn curls were a tangled mess, her gray eyes half-lidded with exhaustion.“Bri?” she yawned. “It’s—” she glanced at her phone screen “—almost midnight. What’s going o
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The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 47: Brielle's POV
We drove in silence. Valerie kept both hands clenched on the wheel, her fingers practically digging into the leather. Esther lounged in the back seat like she didn’t have a care in the world, scrolling through her phone. I stared out the window, my mind racing. We had done it. The money had been moved. We should’ve been celebrating. But all I felt was unease. “So,” Valerie finally spoke, voice tight. “Where exactly are we going?” “My place,” I answered. “At least until we figure out if anyone’s onto us.” Valerie let out a short, humorless laugh. “Oh, they’re onto us. Did you see that backtrace? We had, what? Three minutes before they found me?” “But they didn’t,” Esther said coolly, still focused on her phone. “You wiped the trace. No one’s knocking down your door.” “Yet,” Valerie muttered under her breath. I turned to her. “Val—” “No.” She shook her
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“Brielle Wallace, do you take Ace Reynolds to be your lawfully wedded husband?” The priest inquired gently, his gaze and every other gaze in the cathedral, including the cold one in front of me, settled on me, anticipating that I replied with a “yes”. Maybe they all expected I smiled along with my answer, which was so ridiculous considering no one thought I would be asked this silly question until a few minutes earlier. I was dressed to be the bridesmaid, not the bride. I wasn't supposed to be the bride, my sister was. This wasn't my fate, it was my sister’s. When I was very young, my mother always read this bedtime story to me. It was about a princess who got her fate swapped with a river goddess by merely standing by the riverside. I always thought it was a ridiculous story because I didn't believe such a crucial thing as one’s fate could be swapped in a split second. Now, I understand. Indeed, it was possible. It was feasible because it just happened to me. All
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He kissed and kissed. He didn't stop. When I thought he would stop, he didn't.His lips were soft on mine, hot, urgent, and hungry.Why would he kiss me in this manner? He seems to be enjoying it. Ace cupped my cheek, his thumb caressing it gently as he intensified his kiss.My legs turned to a piece of jelly, my trembling hands doing nothing but resting my hand on his hard rock chest in an attempt to pry him off. Why is he doing this? Why is he kissing me like he wants me? Why did he say what he said earlier? What did he mean?Finally, he breaks the kiss. He broke the kiss but his face was still dangerously close to mine. I try not to stare into his eyes and he takes my chin in his delicate fingers, shoves my face up, forcing me to look at him.And when I did, I melted underneath that gaze. It was the brightest shade of blue I had ever seen. Menacing yet, intoxicating.“Congrats on this new phase.”He whispered to me, planted one last kiss on my lips, and stepped back.I, on the ot
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But, why would he take Isobel? It made absolutely no sense. He probably was the one who asked her to marry him. Why would he do that and then proceed to abduct her on their wedding day?I instantly made it to the party, not bothering to ask questions I didn't have answers to. Scrambling through the crowd, I searched for mom or dad desperately.God help me. I see one of them before Ace finds me in the crowd.As soon as I saw mom in the crowd, sipping champagne and staring into space, I breathed a relieved sigh.I walked up to her with steps of desperation. Immediately mom noticed me, she frowned, settling her flute of champagne on the tray of a server who swept past her at that time.“Honey, where did you go again? Harper went to pay a visit to you and your husband but, you weren't—”“Mom please!” I cut in. “For the love of God, can you stop calling that man my husband? It's just a stand-in, remember?”Mom looked taken aback with the way I had snapped and I felt a pang of guilt. Abou
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I let the night breeze brush my pale skin as I peered out the window of the black SUV.The breeze was chilly against my skin but nothing could be more chilly than the thought of starting a home with Ace.Becoming his wife.Ace Reynolds took a different car. A Rolls-Royce Sweptail drove closely behind us.I supposed I should be relieved that we weren't sharing the same breathing space at the moment and I was but, whenever I peered back and caught a glimpse of the Rolls-Royce behind us, I felt my stomach twist in anxiety.It even felt worse.It felt like I was being watched. I was under the watch of the most ruthless man. He wasn’t with me in the car but his presence wasn't missed either. I felt it. Closely. Like he never left.Ace Reynolds had grabbed my wrist forcefully and pulled me out of the party before I had time to protest - which I wasn't even planning to do.However, when I saw my mother watch me as I got pulled out by Ace Reynolds, a proud smile on her lips, my heart bounced
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“Hey. What's the problem?”Luke asked, a tiny frown planted on his forehead.“Can you lend me your phone real quick, please?”My voice came out urgent and shaky.“Brielle, you don't look good. What's happening?”When Ace began to make it into the cafè, closer to me, searching every corner with his hard gaze, I grabbed Luke’s shoulder violently.He flinched at my sudden move but, I didn't care, I was on the brink of doom.“Just give me the damn phone!”Luke brought out his phone and handed it over to me. I grabbed it with trembling hands.“Brielle, if you need me to—”“I'm fine!”I snapped at Luke, scrambling to find a hiding place to call Valerie.A water dispenser stood at the rounding of a corner and I quickly went there to hide, moving away from Luke.I bit my finger as I waited for her response to the call. On the fourth ring, she picked.“God, Val! Where are you? I'm at your workplace!”“Brielle? I called in sick today. What's wrong?”Fucking hell!She started speaking again but
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Waiting for the year I finally turn eighteen and finally getting the chance to do anything of my will such as; having sex and breezing in and out of a bar as much as I wanted. It was indeed a long torture of wait.I had plans with Elijah. Sexual plans. I wanted to try the sexual things my peers discussed amongst themselves.There were so many of them. Blowjobs, fingering, tongue-fucking, and all of that. And only with Elijah and Elijah alone.However, Ace had snatched all of that reality out of my firm grip. I had lost it, the possibility of it ever happening drifting away.I couldn't believe that just a day in my life could change my fate so drastically like that and rid me of my long-life dreams.Life is so funny.Once we crossed the border of Brookline, I let yet another tear slip down my face, followed immediately by others.Ace, stationed next to the wheels and driving along Brookline highway, passed a handkerchief to me.I now sat in the passenger’s seat of Ace’s Rolls-Royce, t
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My trembling fingers tugged at the hem of my dress nervously, contemplating on adhering to his command and let him take my virginity or, try for an escape.The only escape route was the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the beautiful views of Brookline skyscrapers. And, the only way I could make an escape through that was by crashing into the window and landing on the ground floor below, which could result in a broken spine, a damaged brain, or even a demise. The door entrance wasn't an option either. It would be stupid to try for an escape through that. This was his house and he surely knew his house by every length and breadth.He would effortlessly fish me out of any corner I hide in seconds.My eyes watered. I had lost count of the number of times I cried today alone. Ace’s puzzled frown knocked me back to my senses and I realized I had been keeping him waiting. I also realized something else - the wine, silky nighties he was extending to me.“You can change into this.”I blin
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31
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The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 47: Brielle's POV
We drove in silence. Valerie kept both hands clenched on the wheel, her fingers practically digging into the leather. Esther lounged in the back seat like she didn’t have a care in the world, scrolling through her phone. I stared out the window, my mind racing. We had done it. The money had been moved. We should’ve been celebrating. But all I felt was unease. “So,” Valerie finally spoke, voice tight. “Where exactly are we going?” “My place,” I answered. “At least until we figure out if anyone’s onto us.” Valerie let out a short, humorless laugh. “Oh, they’re onto us. Did you see that backtrace? We had, what? Three minutes before they found me?” “But they didn’t,” Esther said coolly, still focused on her phone. “You wiped the trace. No one’s knocking down your door.” “Yet,” Valerie muttered under her breath. I turned to her. “Val—” “No.” She shook her
The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 46: Brielle's POV
Valerie wasn’t answering her phone.I paced outside her apartment, my nerves on edge as I hit redial. The cold Boston air bit at my skin, but I barely felt it. My fingers tightened around my phone, my patience running thin.Esther’s words replayed in my head: She doesn’t have to lie. She just has to hack a few accounts, move some numbers around, and make sure all the blame falls on the Nightwind’s enemies.Simple. In theory. But Valerie wasn’t built for this. She wasn’t a fighter, wasn’t a criminal. She was the girl who made terrible jokes when she was nervous and wore her heart on her sleeve. And here I was, about to drag her into my mess.The door finally swung open. Valerie stood in the doorway, wearing an oversized hoodie and pajama pants covered in cartoon frogs. Her auburn curls were a tangled mess, her gray eyes half-lidded with exhaustion.“Bri?” she yawned. “It’s—” she glanced at her phone screen “—almost midnight. What’s going o
The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 50: Brielle's POV
Chaos erupted like a gunshot in the dead of night.The moment Dawson lunged forward, a switch flipped, and the warehouse became a battlefield. Shadows moved, bodies collided, and the sharp echo of fists meeting flesh filled the space.I barely had time to react before Ace grabbed my wrist, yanking me back against him. “Stay close,” he murmured, his breath hot against my ear.Valerie’s panicked voice rang out, “This is so much worse than I thought it’d be!”Esther, ever the professional, sidestepped an attacker and slammed her knee into his stomach. “Then stop talking and do something useful.”Julia remained still, her smirk never faltering as the chaos unfolded around her. She was watching—assessing. Like a queen seated on a throne, waiting to see if her kingdom would fall or flourish.Her gaze met mine, and she lifted her chin. “Brielle.” Her voice was calm, almost amused. “I don’t know why you’re fighting so hard. This is inevitable.”I clenched my fists. “You’re delusional.”She ar
The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 44: Brielle's POV
I barely felt the cold night air as I stormed out of Julia’s mansion. My mind was spinning, my chest tight. Ace’s words played on repeat—I’m not leaving.It didn’t make sense.Dawson walked beside me, silent but radiating frustration. Esther trailed a few steps behind, muttering curses under her breath.The second we reached the car, I turned on my heel. “Did you see his face?” My voice came out sharper than I intended. “He was lying.”Dawson yanked open the car door. “Yeah, no shit.”Esther leaned against the hood. “He looked drugged. Or hypnotized. Or—” she waved a hand, “—something unnatural.”I crossed my arms. “Julia did something to him.”“She’s always doing something,” Dawson muttered.Esther frowned. “It wasn’t just Julia. There was hesitation. Like he wanted to say something but couldn’t.”That made my stomach twist. “Then we have to get him out of there.”Dawson rubbed his temples. “We will, but we can’t charge in blind.”I clenched my fists. “We don’t have time to be carefu
The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 43: Brielle's POV
I gripped the steering wheel tightly as Dawson sat in the passenger seat beside me, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. Esther was in the backseat, tapping impatiently on her phone. The tension in the car was thick, suffocating even. None of us wanted to admit what we were all thinking—if Julia had Ace, then we were already too late.But I refused to accept that.“We’re checking the bar first,” I said, breaking the silence. My voice was steadier than I felt.Dawson exhaled sharply. “You think she took him from there?”“Where else would he have been?” I shot back, gripping the wheel tighter. “He wouldn’t just disappear without a fight. Something had to have happened after I left.”Esther hummed from the back. “I still think we should be looking at Julia’s new husband’s place. The Nightwind Mafia has the resources to keep Ace locked up.”I clenched my jaw. “We’ll get there. But first, the bar.”No one argued after that.---The bar was nearly empty when we arrived, a few scattered patrons
The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 42: Brielle's POV
I knew exactly where to find him.The bar was dimly lit, the scent of whiskey and leather thick in the air. Shadows stretched long across the room, the low hum of conversation buzzing in the background. Ace was where he always was—behind the bar, half a glass of bourbon in his hand, watching the room with that sharp, unreadable gaze.His eyes flickered to mine the moment I stepped inside, and for a second, I hesitated.I wasn’t sure why I had come. Maybe it was the way he got under my skin, the way he always seemed to know what I was thinking before I even said it. Or maybe I just needed something—something real, something solid—when everything else felt like it was slipping through my fingers.Ace didn’t say a word as I approached. He just lifted his glass, took a slow sip, and watched me over the rim.“You’re late,” he finally said.“I wasn’t aware we had an appointment,” I shot back, sliding onto the barstool in front of him.His lips curved slightly, but it wasn’t a smile. “You al
The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 41: Brielle's POV
I wasn’t supposed to be here.That much was obvious.The hallway was dimly lit, the faint golden glow from the sconces casting long shadows against the polished wood. My footsteps had been light, careful, every nerve in my body telling me to turn around and go back.But then I heard them.Dawson’s voice, low and edged with something unfamiliar. Isobel's softer, more vulnerable than I’d ever heard before.I knew I should leave. This wasn’t my business.But I stayed.Pressing my back against the wall, I positioned myself near the slightly open door, the gap just wide enough for their voices to slip through.“I can’t do this,” Isobel whispered. “I keep telling myself that, but then…”Dawson let out a slow exhale. “Then what?”“Then I see you,” she admitted, her voice barely above a breath. “And everything I try to bury comes back.”A silence stretched between them, thick and charged.“You think I don’t feel the same way?” Dawson’s voice was lower now, almost dangerous in its intensity.I
The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 40: Brielle's POV
The bar was loud. Not the kind of loud where music drowns out everything else, but the kind where voices and laughter blend into a constant hum of chaos.I swirled my drink in my hand, watching the ice melt into the amber liquid. I hadn’t taken more than a sip, too distracted by the whirlwind of thoughts in my head.Isobel nudged me with her elbow. “You’ve been quiet.”“I’m always quiet,” I muttered.She smirked. “No, you’re brooding. There’s a difference.”Valerie, sitting across from us, leaned in, her curls bouncing slightly as she lowered her voice. “I… think she’s still thinking about what happened earlier.”My stomach tightened. “I’m not.”Isobel scoffed. “You so are.” She drummed her fingers on the table. “It’s written all over your face. And honestly? I get it. I’d be thinking about it too.”I shot her a glare. “Could we not?”Isobel grinned, completely unbothered by my tone. “Oh, come on. It was kind of hot.”Valerie nearly choked on her drink. “Isobel.”“What?” Isobel shrugg
The Substitute Bride of the Ruthless Mafia Boss Chapter 39: Brielle's POV
The moment the door clicked shut behind Isobel, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. I had spent the last hour staring at my sister, searching for any trace of the girl I once knew. She was here, she was alive, but something was off. I could feel it. And the worst part? No one else seemed to care. I paced the room, my fingers tightening into fists as I tried to make sense of it all. Ace was seated in the armchair by the fireplace, watching me with that infuriatingly calm expression. “You’re going to wear a hole in the floor,” he murmured. I shot him a glare. “And you’re just going to sit there like nothing happened?” Ace tilted his head. “What do you expect me to do, Brielle? Interrogate her the second she walks in the door?” “Yes!” I snapped. “That’s exactly what I expect! She was missing for months, Ace. And now she’s just back, no explanation?”
