All Chapters of Reclaiming His Bride: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Orion's POV The week went by faster than I expected. Every day blurred into the next, consumed by the ever-growing list of tasks surrounding the wedding. I didn’t see much of Ava in those days, but that was by design. I needed her to feel the absence of my presence, to start wondering what was happening behind the scenes. Chloe, on the other hand, was a different story. She wasn't happy about the marriage to Ava, but I reassured her over and over again that it was all temporary. Once I had Ava out of the way, Chloe would have what was rightfully hers. I could almost see the fire in her eyes ignite every time I told her this. And I backed up my words with actions—promises of loyalty, devotion, and yes, passion. But the most convincing of all was the night we spent together, where I reminded her how much she meant to me.Ava, though, remained distant, focused, and determined. She still had no idea of the full scope of my plan. And that made everything even sweeter. It was all comin

Ava’s POVThe drive to the mansion had been quiet. Too quiet. I watched the trees blur past, their bare branches reaching out like skeletal fingers, and I couldn’t help but smile. Orion sat beside me, his hands clenched, knuckles white with suppressed anger. Chloe sat stiffly in the front seat, eyes darting between us from time to time, as if expecting another battle to break out at any moment.She had insisted on riding with us and just as I expected, Orion couldn’t decline. Who on earth let’s their mistress ride with him on his fucking wedding night? Not like I was angry, it’s just hilarious!We finally arrived. The grand, cold mansion loomed ahead, its stone walls almost as frigid as the air between Orion and me. I stepped out of the car, my heels clicking against the cobblestone path. Inside, the maids scurried about, finishing the arrangements I had instructed them to make. Everything was set.I retreated to my room, the master bedroom—our bedroom now. The wind from the open win

Orion's POVThe morning sun barely crept through the curtains, but my mind had been awake long before dawn. I felt her warmth before I saw her. Sometime during the night, Ava had nestled closer, her soft breath fanning against my neck. Her head rested just beneath my chin, her body tucked tightly into mine, like we were two pieces of a puzzle that shouldn't fit—but somehow did.Disgust prickled at my skin, urging me to pull away, to push her back to her side of the bed where she belonged. But I couldn’t move. I stayed still, trapped by a strange gravity. As I watched her sleep, the steady rise and fall of her chest, her face softened in a way I’d never seen while she was awake. Vulnerable. Peaceful. Almost…innocent.I shook my head, trying to clear the dangerous thoughts. This wasn’t real. She was still the enemy. But when she shifted slightly, moving away, the sudden absence of her warmth felt like an ache, a hollow void I couldn’t explain. I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to p

Orion’s POVI stood frozen, every excuse I’d rehearsed vanishing like smoke. Holly’s eyes were wide with concern, her soft gaze probing. Chloe, a step behind me, schooled her features into a mask of innocence.“Uh…” I swallowed hard. “Chloe—she, um, needed help with some paperwork. For the project. Confidential, you know.”Holly’s brow furrowed. “Paperwork? In her room?”Chloe slid beside me, a practiced smile on her lips. “Orion’s just being thorough. We didn’t want to discuss it in the open. Too many prying eyes.” She shot me a look that sent chills down my spine.Holly’s face softened a little, but doubt lingered. “You two always talk in riddles.” She grabbed my hand. “Anyway, I’ve got something for you and Ava. Come on.”Relieved, I followed her to the living room, my heart hammering in my chest. Chloe trailed behind, her presence like a shadow I couldn’t shake. Ava sat on the couch, her expression unreadable as she scrolled through her phone. She didn’t look up as we entered.Ho

Ava’s POVThe drive felt endless. The silence was a battlefield, each second dragging like a weight on my chest. Orion’s eyes flicked to me now and then, his gaze piercing, full of unspoken words. I kept my focus on the window, watching the landscape blur past, my mind racing. "Chloe at the airport?" I finally broke the silence, voice sharp. "You must think I'm as naïve as you are arrogant." Orion smirked, but there was no warmth in it. "You underestimate her. She doesn’t give up that easily." "And you don’t understand boundaries," I shot back, meeting his gaze head-on. "But Holly just gave you a lesson in them. Did it sting?" He leaned closer, his voice low, dangerous. "Careful, Ava. Don’t mess with me. I swear, I’ll teach you a lesson you won’t forget in a hurry." I didn’t flinch. "Maybe I really want to be taught a lesson then." The tension crackled between us, every breath charged with the weight of unspoken battles. I could feel the power shift—Holly’s stand had been