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178. When Protection Fails
Date de publication:
2026-03-31 20:35:05
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The Substitute Twin Bride 181. Between Cold Skin and Burning Hearts
The Galician sky seemed to collapse that day.The rain was no longer a romantic drizzle or a refreshing mist. It was a storm. Rose and Matteo ran along the muddy road toward the center of Melide. They were soaked to the bone.The plastic poncho they bought at a souvenir shop had been torn apart by the wind three kilometers back. Matteo’s waterproof jacket had given up, defeated by the force of nature.“Over there! That’s the hostel!” Matteo shouted, his voice nearly drowned out by the roar of the rain.His finger pointed at an old stone building with warm yellow lights glowing from its windows. Rose didn’t answer, her teeth chattering from the cold. She only gave a quick nod and dragged her heavy feet, her shoes already filled with water.Matteo half-barged through the hostel door, breathing heavily and leaving puddles of water across the dry lobby floor.“Madre mía!” the innkeeper exclaimed in panic. “You look like you just came out of a river!”“One… room…” Matteo said, his voice tr
The Substitute Twin Bride 180. The Line Between Us
The necklace Rose was wearing revealed its pendant: her engagement ring. She had hung the ring on a chain necklace during the journey so it wouldn’t get lost. The small, sparkling object caught the sunlight filtering through the leaves, like a warning signal glowing brightly.Matteo’s mind drifted back to before, to a promise he had made with Aaron. “Whoever finds Rose first, the other must step back.”And Aaron was the one who found Rose first and proposed to her, and Rose accepted Aaron’s proposal without a second thought.What was I thinking? Matteo snapped back to reality.He quickly pulled his hand back, clenching it at his side. Matteo swallowed, the taste bitter in his
The Substitute Twin Bride 179. The Sweetest Torture
Rose shook her head. “No need, Aaron will send bodyguards for me. They’ll catch up as soon as possible.”“Okay, up to you. Let’s head to the hotel now.”They walked toward the hotel in question, and it turned out to be the nicest one in the area. Rose was about to protest, wanting to experience a “true pilgrimage,” but the thought of a hot shower and a soft bed was too tempting, especially after walking around 22 kilometers.When Rose was about to pay for her room, Matteo was already ahead of her. He made a gesture that he would cover everything. It made Rose feel uneasy again.After receiving their keys, they climbed the stairs in silence. The warm atmosphere they had shared on the trail earlier suddenly vanished. Both of them felt awkward as they stopped in front of their neighboring rooms.Just the two of them, in a hotel, far from home… and damn it, the memory of being trapped together in a storm before lingered in Rose’s mind. A chill crept up her neck.“Today… was nice,” Matteo
The Substitute Twin Bride 178. When Protection Fails
Photos from the latest surveillance by the private detective team Aaron hired were spread across the table. Jerry Baxter’s face appeared in every shot. In some, he was chatting in front of a club, in another at a roadside hot dog stand, and in several other locations.Aaron exhaled after learning that Jerry was working under a mafia boss named Rocco. “Oh God, just like Rose feared. Her father is still involved with people like this.”Aaron rubbed his throbbing temple. Even though he had never dealt with underground figures before, the private investigator’s report was crystal clear. Rocco was a legend in the city, known as “The Butcher.”The mafia boss controlled the port and smuggling operations and owned a fairly popular club. It wasn’t wise to start a war with Rocco. He could make witnesses disappear or permanently silence them.The threat to Rose was no longer empty. This was a war Aaron couldn’t win in a courtroom. It would be difficult to find grounds to put Jerry behind bars.J
The Substitute Twin Bride 177. Walking Beside You Again
The morning fog still blanketed the old town of Sarria; the scent of dew, damp earth, and the faint smell of cow manure from nearby farms filled Rose’s senses. On the uphill cobblestone streets, dozens of peregrinos, or pilgrims, began stepping out of their lodgings. The sound of hiking poles tapping against the stones created a rhythmic tap-tap-tap.Rose stood at the entrance of the albergue where she had stayed the night before. She tightened her jacket and adjusted the strap on her shoulder. A puff of white vapor escaped her lips as she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.“Buen Camino!” greeted an elderly local woman sweeping her yard.Rose smiled. “Buen Camino!”It was the first day of her long journey to Santiago de Compostela, and the trail stretched for hundreds of kilometers ahead. Rose began walking while pulling out her folded map, making sure of the route she would take. When she lowered the map, her gaze landed on a tall figure leaning casually against a stone bridge pi
The Substitute Twin Bride 176. A Pilgrimage of Unfinished Love
Rose sat in a seat by the train window, staring at the Barcelona landscape slowly retreating from her view. She put in her earbuds and played a song that soothed her heart. It was her first experience, and she would never forget it. The train ride itself would take around nine hours, with a transfer in Madrid, then another train to Sarria. That long journey was enough to make Rose reflect on everything happening within her, even before she arrived in Sarria. Rose picked up the map resting on her lap and checked the route she would take. A small smile formed on her lips; she felt both excited and emotional to finally be able to take this spiritual journey. Back then, Rose had always wanted to go there with her mother. Mom, you’re with me, right? We’re doing this journey together, you and me, Rose thought. Rose didn’t realize that three cars behind her, a man in an expensive suit who now looked completely out of place was sitting in his seat. Matteo’s breathing was
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