My stunning bride의 모든 챕터: 챕터 21 - 챕터 30

Arianna’s ear kept buzzing, mostly because Chloe had made it a mission to hum endlessly about the gifts she had been receiving—from school all the way home, and even after they settled in her room. After hours of gentle pushing, teasing, and dramatic sighs, Arianna finally opened up about the contract marriage Aiden had proposed.Chloe was stupified. Her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as she tried to process the confession. She was certain this mysterious man either had a secret crush on Arianna or intended to take advantage of her. Why else would he go through so much trouble—sending her countless gifts, organizing deliveries, and making himself a shadow that hovered around her life?Despite her excitement over the dress, Chloe remained wary. She questioned Arianna repeatedly about his motives, grilling her from every angle. She refused to mention that night’s event, even though it still lingered heavily in her thoughts. Keeping Arianna safe had always been her priority. Ari

What is going here, is this an office or a circus Secretary Marcus barked.Seeing him personally and so closely made the once vicious staff timid, their earlier bravado evaporating as if someone had pulled the plug on their courage. The same employees who had circled Chloe maliciously now stood frozen, their metaphorical tails tucked firmly between their legs.The ever-fearless judge-and-jury receptionist, Jane, suddenly bowed and even managed a coquettish blush. The sight was so absurd Chloe almost scoffed. She hated bootlickers more than insults; at least insults carried honesty.“Can someone tell me what is going on right now?” Secretary Marcus demanded, his voice low but sharp enough to slice through the tension.Chloe studied him quietly. She recognized him instantly—this was the man Arianna had left school with the other day. But he clearly wasn’t the mysterious suitor. His presence felt different—stable, authoritative, like someone who took orders only from the top.Jane jumped

Once again, Chloe was met with another round of hostility — this time from the very top office in the building. She had barely regained her composure from the elevator ambush when the door to Aiden’s office swung open with the force and confidence of someone who believed the world itself paused for her entrance.The figure standing there was none other than twenty-four-year-old Courtney Yates, the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Powell Yates. An exceptional young lady on paper, she possessed three degrees in business management, and her parents were long-time friends and business partners of Aiden’s family. She carried herself like royalty, chin raised, gaze sharpened, every movement calculated to command attention.Courtney looked exactly like the type of heiress Chloe had only seen online. She wore a fitted ivory silk blouse, its sheen catching the office lights as she moved, tucked neatly into a charcoal-gray pencil skirt that hugged her figure with tailored perfection. Her heels —

It was the morning of Arianna’s eighteenth birthday, and it felt as though the heavens themselves understood the weight of the day. The sun rose with unusual brilliance, casting streaks of gold across the Young family estate. The sky was clear—blue and endless—while a gentle breeze drifted through the garden, stirring the freshly bloomed flowers as if encouraging them to celebrate her.Domestic staff hurried up and down the hallways of the young mansion, their steps brisk and coordinated. Silver trays, stacks of white-and-gold plates, pastel-colored decorations, and large flower arrangements moved from hand to hand as preparations for the evening’s celebration intensified.Instead of hosting the party outdoors, as everyone had suggested, the ever-righteous Mrs. Young insisted it be held inside the house. She made her decree early that morning, claiming—with a tone drenched in false modesty—that family gatherings should feel intimate and rooted within the home. By mid-morning, she was

Aiden was dumbstruck, frozen in a rare moment of disbelief as the weight of the truth settled heavily on his shoulders. He blamed himself entirely—blamed his arrogance, his calm confidence, his underestimation of the Shadows. For years, they had preferred silence. They lurked in darkness, observing quietly, patiently… always waiting for the right moment to swoop in like hawks surveying their prey. Their stillness had made him assume they had lost interest, or at least lost strength. But he should have known better. Their sudden move had almost left his entire operation in shambles, shaking the very foundation of everything he had built from nothing.It had been a warning. More was to be expectedA brutal, calculated reminder that they still existed.And if he didn’t act now, they would not hesitate to strike again—harder, cleaner, and without mercy.Aiden exhaled slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he forced himself to think clearly. It was time for him to step out of his own sh