Lahat ng Kabanata ng The bride's stand-In: Kabanata 51 - Kabanata 60

“Crawl towards me, princess.”The deep timbre of his voice sent a shiver down Evelyn’s spine, reverberating through her like an undeniable command. It reached deep within her, curling around something primal, something she couldn’t quite name. Her breath caught, her body momentarily frozen in place as the weight of his words settled over her.Michael stood there, towering over her, his gaze pinned to her like she was prey caught in his sights. The sharp focus in his eyes sent a fresh wave of heat creeping up her skin, but then… she caught it. A flicker of something mischievous. A glint of amusement, almost as if he were testing her.Her hands curled into the bedsheets, her nails biting into the fabric. He didn’t think she would do it. He was expecting her to hesitate, to shy away from the challenge. That realization irritated her more than the command itself.She refused to be predictable.Evelyn tipped her chin up, her eyes locking onto his with a defiance she had always carried with

A storm brewed between them, silent yet all-consuming. The mirror before her was an unrelenting witness, reflecting every breathless moment, every whisper of movement between them. Elle's breath hitched, her pulse a relentless drum in her ears."Can you see how beautiful you are?" His voice was low, thick with something unspoken, something dangerous.She wanted to deny it, to look away, but the truth held her captive. In the gilded frame of the mirror, she saw herself—not as she had always been, but as he saw her. His presence behind her was overwhelming, his larger form eclipsing hers. A sculpted contrast of fire and shadow, he stood as though he had always belonged there.Had he been watching them all this time? The thought sent a fresh shiver through her.His hands, steady and commanding, traced the bare skin of her arms, then her waist, pulling her closer against him. "No, don’t look away." The warmth of his breath ghosted over her ear, teasing, coaxing. "Watch yourself. Watch us.

Much later…The bathroom was filled with the quiet patter of water against marble, the scent of steam and soap clinging to the air. Michael stood beneath the freezing cascade, his head bowed, droplets tracing the hard lines of his face before sliding down his bare chest. One hand braced against the wall, while the other lingered near the faint bite mark on his wrist—the only evidence left of Evelyn’s touch.He stared at it, breath steady yet shallow, as if the sight alone threatened to unravel him.The experience he had just shared with her had shaken him.No, shaken wasn’t the right word. It had destroyed something fundamental within him.Michael had expected her to beg, to shatter beneath his touch, to be left clinging and lost like every other woman before her. He had expected to control, to dominate, to remain untouchable as he always did. And yet, somehow, Evelyn had undone him in ways he couldn’t begin to comprehend.A quiet curse left his lips.Frustration licked at his skin li

Evelyn spent the rest of the day playing and getting better acquainted with Abi and her adorable, incredibly smart twins. She made a conscious effort to keep herself occupied, filling every moment with laughter, conversation, and the warm company of her guests. She needed the distraction. Anything to keep her mind from wandering to places she wasn’t ready to confront.To her relief, the children proved to be the perfect remedy. Their boundless energy, mischievous giggles, and curious minds kept her completely engaged, leaving her no room to dwell on the thoughts that had been circling her mind since dawn. Abi, too, was a wonderful presence—kind, understanding, and effortlessly easy to talk to. The hours slipped by unnoticed, a rare day of genuine ease for Evelyn.But as the golden hues of sunset bled into the sky, reality crept back in. The inevitable farewell arrived too quickly, and before she knew it, Abi and her family were preparing to leave.They had originally planned to depart

Evelyn hadn't even heard him approach. One moment, she was standing there, her heart pounding against her ribs, and the next—Michael had closed the distance between them with unsettling stealth.Before she could react, he had scooped her up effortlessly, his grip unyielding, his body taut with barely restrained tension. The air between them crackled as he turned, his movements swift and precise, like a predator in control of its prey. She barely had time to gasp before she found herself unceremoniously dropped onto the massive bed. But his arms remained around her, trapping her in place, keeping her from escaping his proximity.He was not gentle. His touch was searing, his presence overwhelming. And even without looking at him, she could feel it—the sheer force of his fury, leaking out of him in thick, suffocating waves.When she finally forced herself to meet his gaze, she almost regretted it.A storm raged within his metallic grey eyes. They churned with something raw, something vio