All Chapters of THE SPITEFUL BRIDE: Marry To Rival's Son : Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

Chapter 171"If you see me as your wife, you wouldn't have locked me out, Ethan." Elena's voice carried a weight of hurt that made Ethan's chest tighten. "You would have trusted me and told me what was going on instead of leaving me in the dark like some stranger."Ethan's face crumpled with guilt, she was right, and they both knew it. In his desperate attempt to protect her, he'd pushed away the one person who should have been his partner in all of this."I trust you, Elena," he said quietly, his voice rough with emotion. "And I'm so sorry for everything I've put you through. For every sleepless night, every moment of doubt, every time you felt like you were fighting this battle alone."Elena opened her mouth to respond, probably to tell him that sorry wasn't enough, that trust meant more than pretty words. But something in his expression stopped her cold. The raw vulnerability in his eyes, the way his shoulders sagged under the weight of his own guilt, it was like seeing him witho

Chapter 173Elena woke up wrapped in Ethan's arms, feeling more content than she had in weeks. But as reality crept in with the morning sunlight streaming through the curtains, her mood shifted dramatically. She had to leave. They'd agreed to keep their reconciliation a secret, and that meant going back to pretending they were still at odds with each other.She hated it. Hated having to hide the fact that she was finally happy, that the man she loved had finally let her back in. But she understood the necessity of it, even if it made her want to scream with frustration."I don't want to go," she mumbled against his chest, her voice muffled by his skin.Ethan's arms tightened around her reflexively. "I know, baby. I don't want you to either. But it's just temporary, okay? Once this is all over....""I know," Elena interrupted, not wanting to hear the promises again. They both knew how dangerous empty promises could be. "I just... I wish things were different.""Soon," he said, pressin

Chapter 175Someone who knew exactly who she was, where she was being kept, and what she meant to him. Someone with enough resources and connections to disable a security system without triggering any alarms."I'll be there in twenty minutes," Stefan said, standing up from his desk and reaching for his jacket. "Don't touch anything in her room. Don't let anyone else inside. And for God's sake, don't call the police yet.""Mr. Sterling, I really think we should involve the authorities immediately. This is a serious.....""Twenty minutes," Stefan repeated firmly, then hung up before the director could argue further.He stood there for a moment in the silence of his office, trying to process what this development meant for everyone he cared about. His mother had been safe in that facility for years, hidden away from the chaos and violence that had consumed the rest of their lives. She had been his one constant, the one person he didn't have to worry about protecting.Now she was gone,

Chapter 177Margaret kept her mouth shut. She knew that look on Stefan's face, the way his shoulders went tight when he was pissed off. After all these years, she'd figured out when to talk and when to stay quiet. Right now? Definitely time to keep quiet.The car ride felt like it went on forever. Stefan gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles went white. His jaw was clenched tight as he ran through his mental checklist. First thing - make sure Mia was okay. Everything else could wait.When they got to the house, he barely let the car stop before he jumped out. He walked fast through the front door, heading straight for the living room where he figured Mia would be.Instead, he found Ethan passed out cold on the leather couch.Something twisted in his gut."Maria," he called out to one of the staff. His voice had that edge to it that made everyone move faster. The older woman showed up right away, nervously smoothing down her apron."Take my mother and the doctor to the guest

CHAPTER 179After Elena left, Mia pushed herself out of bed, her bare feet hitting the cold floor. She could see Stefan's silhouette outlined against the glass. He sat in the leather armchair by the window, still as a statue, his elbows resting on his knees and his hands clasped in front of him.He hadn't looked up when she approached, his focus locked on something unseen, but the moment her hands touched his shoulders, she felt the tension coiled in his muscles. His fingers slid around her waist without hesitation, pulling her onto his lap with a gentleness that contradicted the storm she could feel brewing beneath his calm exterior."I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice heavy with regret. The words felt to small for what she'd put him through, but they were all she had.His dark eyes finally met hers, and she saw the conflict there - love warring with frustration, relief battling with anger. "For what?""For going out without telling you." She traced the line of his jaw with her fi