ホーム / Romance 短編ストーリー / Bride on a Pivot: I Wed His Rival / チャプター 1 - チャプター 10

Bride on a Pivot: I Wed His Rival のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 10

10 チャプター

Chapter 1

I was an orphan. Completing my education and getting into one of the country's top research labs was only possible due to the support of my mentor, Steven Lynch.He gave me a lot of care and was like a father to me. So, since I was facing the fiance he'd chosen for me, I was willing to be more patient.If Jonathan Ford could handle this properly and give me the explanation I deserved, I wasn't averse to giving him another chance."Sophia? What is it?"Things sounded lively on Jonathan's end of the line, like guests were speaking around him. He answered them first before lifting the phone to his ear, seemingly not having heard a word I'd said."Come get me and bring me into the venue. Your secretary—"Before I could finish, he clicked his tongue, impatience dripping from his voice. "What do you think you are, a princess? You can't walk in here on your own two feet? I'm busy greeting the guests. Where would I find them to fetch you? Get in here on your own."With that, he hung up,

続きを読む

Chapter 2

Jonathan walked toward me. He was tall, poised, and strikingly handsome—more commanding than in his photos. He skimmed me in disdain before fixing his gaze on my face. "This is our engagement party. What embarrassing stunt are you pulling here?"I broke free from the security guards' grip, stood up, and let out a cold laugh. "Isn't the situation clear enough? Tell me, Jonathan. Is having your security rough me up at the entrance your idea of courtesy? Do you even know what your secretary just—"He cut me off with a frown before I could finish. "Enough of this! You show up late to the ceremony, refuse to come inside, and act crazy at the door. If my security doesn't restrain you, should they just let you run in and bite the guests like a rabid dog?"My time is valuable, and you've just wasted it. You're a worthless, stupid orphan. I don't know why my dad insists I get engaged to you."The guests who had stepped out to watch the drama glanced at me while whispering under their breath

続きを読む

Chapter 3

I had a grasp of things now. Rather than call Linda Jonathan's trusty aide, she was more like someone who knew how to flatter him just right. She knew what to say to get to him.The fact that he thought I was nothing but an airhead was probably due to her feeding him lies about me. Thanks to her fawning, it was easier to get things done if one went along with what he wanted.I shot him a look, feeling resigned. "How do you want me to make amends?"Jonathan scoffed. "Call my father and tell him you're the one who wants to call off the engagement."I nodded readily. "Alright."With that, I whipped out my phone and pulled up my contacts.Jonathan glanced at me in surprise and pressed his lips together. "You'd better think this through. Once you make this call, Ford Group and the Ford family's wealth and power will have nothing to do with you."I didn't respond. Instead, I scrolled right to Arthur's number and called him."That's not enough. I want her to kneel before me and apolog

続きを読む

Chapter 4

"Sophia, how's the engagement going? Are you happy with the venue?" Arthur's cheerful, kindly voice came through the phone."I'm calling to tell you the engagement is off. Jonathan's secretary blocked me from entering the venue and even had security rough me up. When he came out, he didn't bother asking what happened. He just demanded I get on my knees and apologize to Linda. The Ford family doesn't seem to welcome me, so I'll stay away from it, thanks."Arthur was silent for a heartbeat. Then, he roared, "What? That brat is always causing trouble for me! I'm on my way. I'll deal with him myself!"That was followed by the sound of a car engine starting."Don't listen to that wretch, Mr. Arthur! She's got you completely fooled!" Linda suddenly snatched the phone from me, pouting and putting on a pitiful act.She continued, "I was at the entrance to give Ms. Rook a proper welcome, but she refused to come in and started causing a scene. After everything I've done for Ford Group all t

続きを読む

Chapter 5

Elliott's eyes widened. His lips trembled, and his eyes suddenly became red-rimmed. He said, "It would be my absolute honor.""Sophia, what are you saying? Your engagement to Jonathan was agreed upon between Steven and me. It's a little irresponsible to back out so suddenly, don't you think?"Steven raised you, funded you, and later took you as his student. He's as close to a father as you'll get. Have you thought about how you're going to explain this to him?"After the initial shock, Arthur quickly regained his composure and began trying to reason with me, gently but with unmistakable pressure.I wasn't happy about him bringing Steven up."You seem to have forgotten that the whole reason I called you was to call off the engagement," I said calmly. "Steven will only be happy for me when he finds out I'm doing this to escape a nightmare. He wants me to marry someone outstanding and with real character, but your son clearly doesn't make the cut, Arthur."I stared pointedly at my o

続きを読む

Chapter 6

"How rare. My own father, who couldn't be bothered to come to my engagement today, suddenly decides to make an appearance," Jonathan drawled, a humorless smirk tugging at his lips as he eyed Arthur.Arthur answered with a furious glare.Linda immediately stepped in front of Jonathan, her voice filled with grievance as she whined, "Mr. Arthur, you don't understand the situation! That wretch actually called off the engagement in front of everyone and even picked Mr. Landeau from our rival company. This is a humiliation to the entire Ford family. You must teach her a lesson!"Arthur slapped her so hard that she flew backward and collapsed onto the ground, cupping her cheek. Her evening gown dragged through the dust. The slap had been so hard that she couldn't even get up for a long moment."How dare you twist the truth, even now that I'm here in person? You think I don't know what dirty little tricks you have up your sleeve?" Arthur roared.Then, he turned to me, the anger on his fac

続きを読む

Chapter 7

A long, elegant arm slid around my waist and gently tugged me aside. It caused Jonathan's deep bow to meet nothing but empty space.Elliott's lips curved into a lazy smile, but his eyes were pure ice. "I'll give Sophia a far better wedding and a far better ring."He glanced at Arthur. "As for looks, I don't do too badly, either. As long as Sophia is willing to choose, the men who want her favor could form a line around the world. She doesn't have to settle for an idiot who sics his rabid lapdog on others."Linda, who'd stayed silent and small ever since learning the patents were mine, bowed her head. She let her hair curtain her face and tried to disappear into the floor."She has plenty of people who love her and who would cherish her. Jonathan, from the very beginning, you looked down on her for being an orphan with no family background. Yet your dependence on the crumbs that slipped through this orphan's fingers is the only reason you've managed to stay half a step ahead of me,"

続きを読む

Chapter 8

Jonathan said, "Ms. Rook, I had no idea you were this brilliant. All this time, I let Linda poison my mind into thinking you were just another woman chasing money and status. I'm sorry for that! I'll make it up to you however I can. Please, give me one more chance. Will you still go through this engagement ceremony with me?"Elliott tightened his grip on me and pressed his lips together. "Jonathan, for the first time, I'm discovering just how shameless you are. In case you missed it, Soph just became my girlfriend."Jonathan stood straighter, refusing to back down. "Since this is a marriage alliance, I'm sure Ms. Rook would prefer a partner whose background she actually knows inside and out. Why pick someone in a fit of anger and regret it later?"He turned to me. "Ms. Rook, the collaboration between your tech and Ford Group's new product has been going relatively well, hasn't it?"He pulled out a ring from his suit pocket. The emerald ring caught the light and threw off an opulent

続きを読む

Chapter 9

Just then, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen and answered the call."Sophia, Arthur just told me you're calling off the engagement. What happened? Did someone bully you?"Steven's side was noisy at first. Then, the background chatter faded as he stepped into a quieter place. He'd flown abroad at the last minute for a conference. Right before boarding, he grumbled about missing the engagement and made me promise to send tons of photos. The second Arthur's message reached him, he had called me straight away.I heard only worry in his voice—there was no anger or pressure. I couldn't help but smile. "Steven, here's what happened…"I'd just finished my story before an explosion of furious swearing poured through the speaker, peppered with hometown slang so fast that I could barely catch it.Then, Steven sighed. His voice cracked. He had actually yelled himself hoarse and teary. "This is all my fault, Sophia. I knew that old fox Arthur could never raise a decent son. Call off the

続きを読む

Chapter 10

The call ended. Hearing Steven sound so spirited put me in a good mood.I turned to Arthur. "As you just heard, Steven loves me very much, and he fully supports me in calling off the engagement. Any elder who truly cares about me would never push me into the abyss."Jonathan took a few urgent steps forward, looking devastated. His eyes were filled with frustration and desperate hope. "Is there really no chance for us anymore? I know I was wrong; I'm apologizing with complete sincerity this time. Linda misled me—"I cut off his practiced melancholy. "Jonathan, if I were just an ordinary person, whatever happened earlier would have haunted me for the rest of my life. Elliott is your equal in terms of ability and status, yet he's nothing like you."A few years ago, while collaborating with Elliott, he took me to see the prosthetics tech in action after we'd finalized the revenue split for the project.I'd assumed we were heading to some upscale rehab center. Instead, he drove me to a

続きを読む

コードをスキャンしてアプリで読む

DMCA.com Protection Status