All Chapters of The Wrong Bride : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Irene pulled away from Ryan, the warmth of his embrace lingering like a ghost on her skin. Realization dawned on her all at once—she had just hugged him.“I… I’m sorry,” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.Ryan said nothing. Instead, he reached into the breast pocket of his coat and handed her a crisp, folded handkerchief.“You look a mess,” he said flatly.A weak twitch tugged at the corner of her lips—somewhere between shame and disbelief. Without waiting for a reply, he turned. “Let’s go home.”The ride back to the estate was quiet. Ryan stared out the window, arms folded, while Irene sat stiffly beside him, her mind spinning. By the time they arrived, the estate grounds were already being cleared. Staff bustled about, rolling up carpets, gathering chairs, and removing centerpieces from the now-empty tables.Irene’s brows furrowed. “What happened?” she asked one of the maids.“The mayor just left, ma’am,” the maid answered. “The luncheon… ended early.”Her stomach twis

"Irene."The voice rang out like a gunshot, shattering the illusion of calm that had settled during the waltz. The music faltered as a tray clattered to the marble floor. A hush rippled through the grand ballroom.Irene froze, her body stiff in Ryan’s arms as she turned sharply toward the voice she hadn’t heard in what felt like a lifetime.Venus.She stood near the table, chest heaving, eyes wide, hands trembling. Her uniform stained with spilled champagne. A shattered glass glistened by her feet. Her voice cracked, full of disbelief. “Irene?”Irene took a shaky step back, her fingers clutching the side of her dress. Her lips parted, but nothing came out. Her whole body stiffened as panic surged through her veins. What was Venus doing here? Of all places—this gala? This moment?“What’s going on?” Astrid’s voice cut in, sharp with curiosity.A bouncer had already started moving. “You’re not allowed to address the guests,” he barked, grabbing Venus’s arm roughly.“Wait—!” Irene’s heart

“I knew it,” May sneered, folding her arms as she blocked Irene’s exit from the restroom. Her voice was just low enough to sound threatening. “I knew it was you the second you walked in with Ryan Carrington like you belonged there.”Irene’s heart skipped a beat. Her body tensed.“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she stammered, trying to brush past May.But May wasn’t letting her go that easily. She grabbed Irene’s wrist tightly. “Oh, don’t even try it. Irene Garfield. Do you remember that name? Because I do. You think just because you’re in designer gowns now and rubbing shoulders with billionaires, you can erase who you were?”Irene swallowed hard, her throat dry.May leaned in, voice full of venom. “Remember that night at the club? You were dancing for cash like a desperate stray. Now you’re Giselle Carrington? Wife of the Ryan Carrington? That’s a hell of a leap. I’m impressed, honestly.”Irene trembled. Her palms were slick with sweat.“But you’re not getting away that e

The soft hum of the taxi engine lulled Irene into a strange calm as she leaned against the window, watching the blur of the city pass by. Today had been her first day working at Carrington Corporation, and although she was exhausted, there was a strange relief blooming inside her.Finally, she was doing something—normal. She was among people, bustling secretaries, sharp-tongued executives, and the quiet rhythm of office life. For a few hours, she could almost pretend she wasn’t wrapped in layers of deception and guilt.She’d been shown around the towering building, introduced as the new secretary to the CEO. “He’s tough,” one secretary warned with a smirk. “But he’s fair. Just… don’t bring him ice coffee unless you want to see your career end in a single sip.” The others had laughed.But none of them knew the way her heart had stuttered when she saw him—Ryan—walking across the hallway. Their eyes had met. He didn’t nod, didn’t smile, didn’t acknowledge her at all when she was about to

The ride from the airport to the hotel was mostly quiet. Irene sat by the window, her face turned toward the blur of coastal France as golden sunlight spilled across the cobblestone streets. It was stunning — with its pastel buildings, open-air cafés, and the sparkling blue stretch of the Mediterranean just beyond the hills.She wanted to marvel at it. She really did.But she couldn't. Not in front of Ryan.She kept her expression neutral, folding her hands neatly in her lap. Showing too much excitement would only make him suspicious and she couldn’t afford to give anything away. Not when she didn’t even know what exactly she was meant to sabotage.Ryan hadn’t said a word since they landed. He’d been cold again, retreating back into his usual wall of silence. The only glimpse of softness had been on the plane and even that felt like a dream now.The car pulled up to the hotel, a restored 18th-century chateau nestled along the cliffs of Nice, overlooking the sea. It was grand in an und