All Chapters of Mr. Frost’s Reluctant Prisoner Bride: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The scenery along the way was both strange and familiar. Icy rain, like beans, fell from the sky, blurring the car window. Vanessa Brooks looked out, both apprehensive and curious.So much had changed, including her.Three years had passed. The face reflected in the car window was no longer full and round. The baby fat was gone, and coupled with years of barely surviving, Vanessa didn't have an ounce of extra flesh on her face. Her face was a slender, delicate oval, her eyebrows thin and curved. Years of malnutrition had given her skin a sallow complexion, and her nose was dotted with freckles."How have you been these past few years?" The man in the seat beside her was shrouded in shadow, gently stroking the button on his shirt, his tone more like that of an interrogator questioning a prisoner.Vanessa's dry, yellowed hair, the frostbite on her earlobes, and her cheap clothing all testified to how badly she had fared.Her hand fell, picking at the small fuzz balls on the cuff of her

Vanessa could vaguely guess who was on the other end of the phone.Her return was undoubtedly met with Julian's disgust and abhorrence, hence his need to confirm her condition with Adrian in the dead of night.He was overthinking things.Someone who had rolled in the mud, been utterly shattered, how could they still dare to covet the unattainable prodigy? To even glance at him was probably a luxury and a sacrilege.Forcing a bitter smile, the fear of the nightmare receding, Vanessa turned back. A shadow fell into Adrian's peripheral vision, and he barked, "Stop right there!"He strode over, taking in Vanessa's gaunt, emaciated figure. Evelyn had given her a nightgown, a beige one, covering half her calf. When she had arrived during the day, she was wrapped in a sweater and jeans, bulky and rough, so it wasn't so obvious.Now, her ankles were exposed, and her legs and arms were like skin and bones, barely human."What are you doing here?" Adrian scrutinized her, unable to conceal his c

The three women surrounded Vanessa, scrutinizing and probing, their gazes a mix of shock. They were all familiar faces, but three years had passed, and they had all changed.Back then, when she was driven away, the Voss family had given her father money, entrusting him to take good care of her.They had assumed Vanessa had been living well all these years, but they never expected her to end up looking like this."Isn't this Miss Voss?" A woman's voice was sharp, mocking in a slow, deliberate tone, before she changed her tune. "Ugh, never mind, I forgot, the one in front of us is just a fake."After a burst of laughter, another woman chimed in."What, did you come looking for Bart, realizing that you can't seduce Julian looking like this, so you're settling for second best?""Freda, what are you saying? Looking like her, even hooking up with Bart is a stretch.""You're reminding me, she's a shameless hussy. Back then, Julian didn't want her, so she hired someone to kidnap Ivy Solace, c

Evelyn’s heart ached, a sharp, stinging pain that made her nose tingle. Bringing Vanessa back this time was something she’d insisted on, but it came with conditions. She couldn’t indulge Vanessa anymore, couldn’t spoil her rotten again. If she offended the wrong people, no one would be able to save her.“Fan Aunt, I can do it myself.” Vanessa wasn’t used to such tenderness and affection.Evelyn didn’t let go. “Vanessa, I was wrong these past few years. I didn’t come to see you.”“…I understand.”Stroking her hair and thin, bony shoulders, Evelyn asked what was truly on her mind, “About Julian, do you still…”Before she could finish, Vanessa shook her head. “I don’t. I know my place. Don’t worry.”“That’s not what I meant…”“I know. I won’t cause any more trouble.”Especially not the kind of big trouble that gets people killed. She wouldn’t, couldn’t, make that mistake again.The more sincere Vanessa was, the more heartbreaking her smile became. “I’ll find a way to introduce my man to

The microphone was buzzing with noise, the clearest voice being Adrian's. His tone was high-pitched as he urged, "Julian, come quick! There's a good show to watch at 'Sound and Color'."Julian finished his social engagement and walked out of the hotel, a cold wind hitting his face.He raised his hand to loosen his tight tie, showing little interest in Adrian's "good show.""No time, not going."Adrian had anticipated his refusal, "Vanessa is the leading lady in this show. Really don't want to watch?"The driver opened the car door for Julian. He bent down and got in, pressing his temples. He conceded to the invitation, "Got it."The car headed towards "Sound and Color."It was half an hour later when they arrived.In that half hour, at Adrian's behest, Vanessa had become the target of everyone's scorn. It was supposedly a welcome party for her, but it was just everyone taking turns forcing her to drink. Her alcohol tolerance was average. After a few drinks, her stomach felt like a bal