The Spiteful Bride, Marry to Rival's Son

After what felt like forever, wrapped in his arms in the middle of a busy market, Mia slowly raised her head and looked up at Stefan.

Her brows drew together in confusion.

His heart was pounding, fast and loud, against her chest. She could feel every thud like a warning bell. Like something had happened. Something serious.

"What happened....." she started, but her words died before they left her lips. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Because Stefan kissed her.

Right there. In the middle of the market. With no warning. No hesitation.

His hands cupped both sides of her face, holding her still as his lips crashed into hers.

It wasn’t soft, neither was It gentle.

It was intense. Desperate. Like he needed to make sure she was really there. Like he needed to claim her, feel her, punish her for running off.

Mia’s eyes fluttered shut, her thoughts lost in the storm that was Stefan Sterling.

His lips were warm. Rough. Moving over hers with a kind of hunger she’d never felt from him before.

People were watching. She knew that. But her mind didn’t care.

But at that moment, It was just them. Like, only them existed.

It wasn’t just about passion, it was about fear, about losing her, about needing to feel something real.

When the kiss finally broke, it was Mia who pulled away first.

Her lips were red and swollen, slightly parted as she tried to catch her breath. Her chest rising and falling quickly. She looked dazed, like someone had just pulled her out of deep water.

Stefan didn’t speak.

He was still breathing hard, eyes fixed on her like she was the only person left in the world.

Mia blinked up at him, still catching her breath. Then slowly, she raised her hand and placed it flat against his chest.

Right over his heart.

"You okay?" she asked softly.

His heart was still pounding wildly beneath her touch.

That was when it hit Stefan. The kiss. The fear. His feelings. The way he’d panicked like a man possessed. He had acted... out of control.

He cleared his throat, looking away briefly like he was trying to gather himself. Then, after a pause, he said in that same low voice.

"Don’t run off like that again."

There was a beat of silence before he added, quieter. "Our wedding is in a few days."

He still didn’t look at her. Just reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers. Firm. Certain. Like she belonged with him.

Mia didn’t say anything. She couldn’t.

Her heart was doing its own weird thing now. Beating wildly. Her lips still tingled from the kiss. Her mind raced to understand what had just happened, what he was really feeling. He had kissed her before, but this. This was different.

On the ride to the hotel, Stefan had insisted they take a cab.

Mia didn’t get it. He had an entire fleet at his command. His men were all around the area. One call, and his car would’ve been brought right over. But he’d said, "Let’s take a cab."

Stefan didn’t say it but....... he wanted to spend an alone time with her. Just the both of them. No distractions.

The ride had been cool... but not awkward. A cool music played in the background. The kind of music that set’s ones mood.

The hotel was already quiet when they arrived. Stefan had only booked just a room.

Mia had raised a brow at that, expecting Stefan to say something or explain his reason, but he only shrugged, took the key, and held the door open for her.

Now in the room, Mia sat on the edge of the bed with her phone pressed to her ear, talking to Elena.

Stefan had gone into the bathroom to freshen up.

She was mid-sentence when he walked out.

Mia froze.

Her mouth slightly open. Words caught in her throat like they’d just given up trying to form.

He had a towel slung low on his waist, water still dripping from his hair and tracing down his chest. He didn’t rush. He walked slowly, deliberately, toward the small wardrobe where the clothes they picked up earlier were laid out.

Mia’s heart stalled.

Her eyes nearly fell out of their sockets.

She didn’t even notice she was staring until Elena’s voice pulled her back to reality.

"Mia?" Elena called through the phone. "Hello? Are you there?"

Mia blinked. "Yes. Yes. Yes..." she scrambled quickly. "What were you saying again?"

There was a short silence on the other end.

"What got you so occupied?" Elena asked, suspicion in her tone.

Mia cleared her throat. "Uh... nothing. I thought I saw a big rat."

Stefan paused, then turned halfway to look at her. A brow arched. But she her gaze was fixed elsewhere.

A grin slowly spread across his face. So he was the big rat? That was amazing.

He didn’t care. In fact, he liked that. Because he had done it on purpose. He could’ve changed in the bathroom, but he wanted to see something.

He wanted to see how she would react. And now... he had his answer.

He’d seen the way her eyes widened, the way she forgot how to breathe, the way her words fell apart.

She felt it too.

She could call him anything she wanted. A rat. A cat. Even a dog. He doesn’t mind.

That reaction he got, was what any name calling.

Stefan turned back around slowly, that amused smile still tugging at his lips as he reached for a shirt.

If anyone would see him, they wouldn’t have believed he was the cold hearted man they know.

And Mia?

She was still red in the face, pretending like she hadn’t just had a near heart attack over a man in a towel.

........

Mia stepped out of the bathroom, already dressed in a soft oversized shirt and shorts. Her hair was damp, sticking to her neck, and she had a towel in her hand as she dried it slowly.

But then she paused.

Stefan was already on the bed.

Stretched out casually, one arm tucked behind his head, eyes closed, but she could tell he wasn’t asleep. The corners of his lips were twitching like he was holding back a smirk.

Mia blinked.

"Uh... what are you doing?" she asked, still standing by the bathroom door.

He opened one eye lazily. "Trying to sleep."

She squinted at him. "On the bed?"

He raised a brow. "Where else do people sleep?"

Mia gave him a look. "Okay, but where am I supposed to sleep?"

He moved his hand, patting the empty space beside him without missing a beat. "Right here. We’ll sleep together."

Her eyes widened like he’d just suggested something criminal.

"Sleep together?" she repeated, like she needed clarification.

He nodded, completely calm. "Isn’t that what married people do?"

Mia opened her mouth. Then closed it. Then opened it again.

"I....But.....I didn’t mean....."

"Don’t worry," he said with a slow shrug. "I won’t touch you in your sleep. I have self-control." Then he turned his head slightly, eyes flickering with mischief. "Unless... you don’t trust yourself. Maybe you might touch me while I’m sleeping."

Her heart slammed in her chest. Her entire body warmed in embarrassment.

Her cheeks turned bright red. Because her mind immediately flashed to that night, when she had actually touched him in his sleep. When she’d thought he was unconscious and her hand had moved without permission. The memory was still vivid. And now, it felt like Stefan knew.

"What... what are you saying?" she stammered, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably. "Of course not! Why would I touch you in your sleep?! That’s crazy..."

She stomped toward the bed and threw herself on the farthest end, hugging the edge like her life depended on it.

"I’m sleeping here," she grumbled. Stefan turned the other side, a wide grin visible on his face.

MIA AND DAVE KISSED A NIGHT TO HER WEDDING