The ceo's mute bride Novels & Stories

My gaze was sharp as a blade, forcing her to keep shrinking backward. "Chloe, I'm genuinely curious. Can you teach me how a bride who never left the camera frame for even one second, in front of one hundred and fifty thousand people...managed to project her soul out of her body, teleport to the second-floor lounge, and pin you against the wall?" On screen, the comments were scrolling like a blizzard. [CALL THE POLICE. Arrest this lying fake-ass bitch.] [The bride was interacting with us the whole time. She didn't even go to the bathroom. Are you saying she assaulted her using telepathy?]

Elena‌ asked, h​er⁠ voice bar⁠ely audible in the su‍d‍den‍ da‌rkness. Celeste‍ wait‍ed, her chest heaving‍. A momen‌t later, the screen fli⁠ckered back to life‍, but the code was gone. In⁠ i​ts plac‌e was a sing​le, simpl​e‍ text messag​e from an unlisted ter‍minal. *YO‌U A⁠RE‌ NO LONGER AN UNWANTED BRIDE, CELESTE. YOU A‌R⁠E A TARGET.*​

The whole wedding was being livestreamed. Originally the Lockes had hired financial media to show off the spectacle. Now it worked out nicely for her. I couldn't see the comment feed, but I didn't have to guess. Heiress bride forces pregnant mistress to her knees. What a headline. "Kneel if you want to kneel." I said. Chloe froze. Adrian raged, "Do you have any humanity left?" "I do." I bent down and picked up the mic from the stage. "Which is why I'll remind Ms. Sutton of something."

The looks they sent our way were a mixture of sheer admiration and utter disbelief. Riccardo had his arm around Sofia's waist, conversing with several young nobles. When he saw me, his smile froze. An unreadable flicker crossed his eyes before they locked onto my arm linked with Alessandro's. Shock flashed in Sofia's eyes, and her smile nearly crumbled. Anna, as venomous as ever, sneered, "Shouldn't she be dead? And how can a sold mute possibly—" Before she could finish, two sharp slaps rang out.

The grand hall of Palazzo Mezzanotte, headquarters of the Milan Stock Exchange, buzzed with Europe’s financial elite, but to Lorenzo Moretti, the scene felt more like a modern-day Colosseum. The annual Moretti Holdings event was the critical moment that Vincenzo and the Valenti Group had been waiting for to deliver the coup de grâce. Rumors that the marriage was a sham and that Lorenzo was losing control of the family assets circulated backstage like a gas leak, ready to explode at the first sign of weakness.

How to hide in plain sight. “You want vengeance?” she’d said once, her eyes sharp. “Then stop bleeding and start hunting.” I became a ghost with a diamond smile. And now I’m here. Married to the man who might have destroyed everything I once held dear. The soft chime of a news bulletin from Damien’s TV snapped me back to the present. His screen displayed a crisp image of him and me from yesterday’s wedding, looking every bit the city’s new power couple. “A surprise merger of two empires”, the anchor said. “Damien Crest and Elena Montrose once a cautionary tale, now a phoenix rising from the ashes?”

“Then you become my wife in public. In private, you become a protected asset.” “I’m not an asset,” I snapped. His expression didn’t change. “Everyone is an asset to someone. The question is whether you choose the terms.” I hated that he made it sound logical. Jared’s iPad chimed. He glanced down, then up. “Sir, the press is asking about the fainting incident. And… about Miss De Vera.” My blood went cold. “What did they post?” Adrian asked. Jared turned the iPad toward me. A gossip headline: Nursing scholar seen with CEO Valezco — new girl?

Elaina showed thumbs up to the couple, Pihoo and Aiden. Pihoo, the radiant bride, exuded timeless beauty and charm in her Western wedding attire. Her white gown was a masterpiece of lace and satin, adorned with delicate beading and a flowing train that trailed gracefully behind her. A veil framed her face, adding an air of mystique to her look. Her hair was elegantly styled, and her makeup highlighted her natural features, making her a vision of bridal perfection.

She had such a pretty smi… Okay, that’s enough, Derek. I quickly cautioned myself. The bride soon came in and the wedding procession began. Sebastian refused to say the vows and hurried up the ceremony while I got surprised none of them turned and walked away from the alter. If that was me, I’m so sure one of my parents would get a sniper ready, just someone to kill me after I walk away from the alter because hell, yeah, I will. They both said yes to the ‘do you take…” question and again, I was surprised neither of them said no.

It slipped from her grip and shattered on the marble floor, but she didn’t react. The news anchor’s voice echoed in the background. “…sources confirm the private civil ceremony took place yesterday afternoon. The bride has been identified as Mercy McKnight, recently appointed Special Adviser to the CEO…” “No.” The word came out as a whisper. She took a step backward. Then another. Her heel caught the edge of the rug and she almost fell, but she steadied herself against her desk. Her breathing became shallow. “This is fake,” she muttered. “This is some PR stunt.”