LOGINShare
011: The Big Day (II)
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56The entire place was overwhelmed with silence as emptiness lingered around the corridors of the courthouse. Guards were stationed at every corner, filling the place with ghastliness with their black uniforms. They were given strict instructions to not let anyone step inside the premises. If someone was to resist them, they should be escorted out even if meant using force.
Despite the fact that it was Sunday, the operations of the courthouse were supposedly running with the bare minimum staff. The rules were bent because the day was to mark the union of two aristocratic families of Los Angeles—the Atkinsons and the Lawrences.
Not to forget mentioning how the main room was decorated with the blood red roses in a minimal way. Every precaution was taken from both the families to ensure that nothing was to get leaked to any of the news channels. And those who managed to find out about it were asked to keep their mouths shut unti
Related chapters
The Heartless Bride 012: The Big Day (III)
The short arm of the clock was already resting on three as it waited for the long one to strike twelve. As soon as it did, bells began to chime, marking the start of the event.Only a handful of people were present in the main hall where the ceremony was supposed to take place. But there was still one thing missing from the picture: the bride and the groom. Neither of the two could be seen as far as any of the prying eyes were to search."This man will be the death of me. I swear." Sylvia, Claude's mother, muttered to herself as her eyes darted around the entrance.She had tried to reach out to her son more than once, but got the same response in each try. He had switched off his phone. The only other option that was left for her to deal with was to get in touch with Ethan, who was Claude's assistant. But the result was the same. He has had phone switched off too. All she could do now was to hope for Cl
The Heartless Bride 013: The Big Day (IV)
The low, interrupting thuds of the steps were enough to draw everyone's attention towards the entrance, including the bride.Ayla steadied her breath and turned around to look over her shoulder. She couldn't pinpoint why, but she was starting to get nervous. Beads of sweat were beginning to form on her forehead. Every last huff of air which left through her parted lips followed her erratic heartbeats.One could easily assume that it was only because she was looking forward to meeting the man. It was the case, but not the real reason. She was nervous not because it was going to be their first meeting, but because this moment was going to have an impact on her entire life. Her future was about to be toppled down a high flight of stairs that ended in nothing but an endless void.Ayla closed her eyes for the briefest of moments as she drew in a low huff of breath. Her thick, mascara clad lashes fluttered as
The Heartless Bride 014: The Big Day (V)
Ayla made her way into the room again with a crumpled letter in her palm. She had given it a lot of thought, stared at the scribbled words over and over again as she tried her best to make up her mind.The chance to go back to living her life the way she had been till now had presented itself to her. She wanted nothing more than to make the most out of it. But at the same time, she was hesitant to avail the opportunity.If she was to step back now, that would only implicate her father. The help she was promised in exchange for marrying Claude would no longer be offered to her. Hence, she had to push that option off the table even if it hurt her.She had to continue keeping up the front."Ayla?""Huh?" She looked up to meet her father's gaze as she pulled herself out of her thoughts."What was it?" He inquired seeing the ghastline
The Heartless Bride 015: To New Beginnings (I)
The next day. A frown was evident in between her brows as Ayla flipped through the pages of her book. Even though she didn't have any lectures today, she came to the campus along with a couple of her books. All because she wanted to be on her own—be in her own bubble. But no matter how hard she kept trying to focus on the printed pages, her thoughts kept drifting to the conversation she got to have with her mother-in-law. The lady had so heartlessly asked her to spend the next few days back at her family's mansion. Despite the fact that she didn't have any issues in obeying her demand, the idea of doing it didn't settle well with her. She had already had a rough start, and now this was coming through. The more she thought about it, the more she was starting to detest things. And as if it was not enough, she now had to put up a face before a hall full of people she barely ever talk
The Heartless Bride 016: To New Beginnings (II)
"Won't you be coming inside?" Ayla spoke up as her steps slowed down to a stop, her eyes never leaving the man's figure. She was busy attending to her guests, greeting them on her way around the hall, when she received a text from an unsaved number. Much to her surprise, the sender was not someone she was completely unfamiliar with. The text came from Ethan. He had asked her to meet him somewhere private. "Don't tell me that you came all the way just to hand me another apology letter from your boss?" Ayla didn't want to show him how displeased she was, but she couldn't hold herself back. "I am sorry, but that's not the case this time." Ethan hurriedly clarified the situation. Getting her all worked up would be the last thing he wanted. "It's true that I am the messenger once again, but this time it's not a letter I come bearing." He took a couple of steps closer to her and handed her a black file.
The Heartless Bride 017: To New Beginnings (III)
It was just like another day for Ayla back at her college. She was busy going through her notes before wrapping things up for the day. But just like before, her thoughts keep drifting to the same old thing. Or more precisely, the same man: Claude.The more she tried to think less about his existence in her life, the more frequently he would pop in her thoughts. It only served as a reminder for her that things were not the same. No matter how badly she wanted them to be.It's been exactly a week since the day she married, and exactly a week that her everyday routine was nothing but a mess. Even though she was still living back at her family's manor along with her father, things were not the same for her. Nothing was, and she knew that nothing would be.There was only one thing she was dreading to see coming true. It was the day she would have to leave everything behind and shift to a completely different
The Heartless Bride 018: To New Beginnings (IV)
"Please, tell me that this is not real!"Rage filled words left his lips while his eyes stayed glued to his mother's face. He had only stepped inside the tall and wide building he used to call home when his own mother had dropped a bomb on him.Claude was looking forward to correcting some of his wrongs, but now that he was looking at things, he had lost the chance to make amends. He was instead left to deal with the kind of people he detested the most. His mother had taken it on herself to arrange an event for the couple. Not only that, she made sure that some top news channel representatives were invited to cover the event as well.She wanted to use this opportunity to announce it to the world that her one and only beloved son had finally tied the knot. That too with a lady who came from an influential background, and was no less the manifestation of grace itself."You told me tha
The Heartless Bride 019: To New Beginnings (V)
"Ayla?""Do you need me to call the doctor?" Claude spoke up again when he didn't hear a reply from her. His worrying mind was already thinking of the worst. He could only stand there as he contemplated what had gone wrong with her."N-no."A sigh of relief left his lips when a stuttering reply made its way into his ears."Are you sure?" He was still doubtful about it. Her pale face and shallow breaths told him a completely different story."Yes. I am fine." Ayla replied to him hurriedly this time. She would hate herself for creating a scene right after arriving at the Atkinsons' family manor. "I think I only need some food." She added as she kept her eyes glued to the covers.She was trying her best not to look him in the eye. The thought of it alone made her feel weird. What added to her nervousness was how casually he was taking it
Latest chapter
The Heartless Bride Epilogue
[Three years later…]"Breathe in… breathe out…" Ayla was mumbling to herself as she tried to calm down her jittery nerves.She was standing before a floor length mirror, her eyes focused on her own reflection as her dress glinted under the warm lighting of her new room. Bringing her palms to the front of the dress, she ran them down in attempts to smoothen down the nonexisting creases. She couldn't help the worrying thoughts resonating at the back of her mind, her frown only deepening. But before she could delve down further, a knock at the door brought her out."Is anyone inside?"The voice was so familiar to her that a sigh of relief left her lips unconsciously."It's just me in here." Ayla breathed out as a soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She had sent everyone out including the make-up artist and her team once they had
The Heartless Bride 191: Desires (II)*
[The following chapter includes mention of R-18 content. Kindly read at your own discretion.] Claude sucked onto the soft spot as his finger moved inside her, earning her moans in return which were not less than a siren's call for him, luring him to continue. He felt her insides tightening around his finger as he moved it relentlessly. He knew that she was close to finding her release and deliberately slowed down his movements. Ayla could feel her orgasm building up, inching closer to the edge. She let out a frustrated groan when Claude slowed down his movements. "D-don't st-op." She managed to say in between her gasps for air. "Oh! I am not planning to, my love, not tonight." Claude murmured against her skin and moved his lips to her cleavage, biting and sucking on her fair, smooth skin. "This might hurt a bit." He said as he inserted
The Heartless Bride 190: Desires (I)*
[The following chapter includes mention of R-18 content. Kindly read at your own discretion.] "You don't think that it makes me unworthy of you?" She managed to mutter out as she held Claude's gaze. "You must have hit your brain if that's what's going through your brain." Claude scoffed as he leaned down to capture her lips in a passionate kiss. This time she didn't push him away but responded with the same passion. It wasn't until both of them ran out of their breaths did they pull back. "Do you understand now how much you mean to me?" Claude flicked her forehead as if he was reprimanding a small child. "I do… you mean no less to me." She smiled for the first time today and it was enough for Claude to know that everything was going to be just fine. All she needed was a little time and his love. "I love you." Claude mumbled
The Heartless Bride 189: The Most Precious Thing to Me*
[The following chapter includes mention of self harm. Kindly read at your own discretion.] "Ayla?" Claude knocked at the door as he glanced at the clock. "Are you done, love?" He made sure that he was loud enough for his voice to go through the thick door. It had already been an hour. But she hadn't come out yet. Claude was starting to get worried. "Ayla?" He called out her name again only to be met with the same reply—silence. Though he could hear the water running constantly, he wasn't able to hear her voice. "Ayla?" He tried it one more time before making his way to the other side of the room. Claude searched through a drawer and then moved to another one. If only he could remember where he kept it. "Found it." He mumbled under his breath as soon as his eyes landed on a golden key. It was the master key
The Heartless Bride 188: The Culprit (II)
"Take your hands off her!"Ayla's eyes flickered to the owner of the voice and a long sigh of relief left her trembling lips."Claude…"In between the chaos, Claude could only see her lips moving before her eyes rolled up and she fainted."Ayla!" He didn't waste another second and rushed to her, not paying any attention to the culprit. He would have plenty of time for him later. At the moment, the only thing which mattered to her was the wellbeing of his girl.With hurried steps, Claude walked to where she was and started to untie the ropes which were holding her in place."How the hell are you here? Where are my men?" Gavin kept babbling but even then, Claude paid him no attention. He was so busy sheeting with rage that he didn't bother paying attention to anything else. Not the men, who were dressed in black from head to
The Heartless Bride 187: The Culprit (I)*
[The following chapter includes mention of sexual assault. Kindly read at your own discretion.] "Let me tell you a story, kitten." He pushed himself off the wall, dusting his coat in the process. Gavin walked to the other side of the room to pick a chair and dragged it to the centre of the room. He settled down on it so that he was facing Ayla. "What story?" Despite the fact that she was scared for her life, she didn't show it on her face. She knew that she had to put up a brave front until Claude could reach her. He would realize sooner or later that she was missing. With a smile, Gavin began. "My father and a friend of his started a business together. The kind which was to grow into a big one over time. But the old man got played by his so-called friend. My father spent everything we had or owned on his dream. When our family w
The Heartless Bride 186: Suspicions (II)
[Three weeks later…]With a jump in her step, Ayla made her way to her favourite store. Things were going great with Claude finally. Everything in her life seemed to be on track. Well, almost everything.Though Claude and her were spending more and more time together with each passing day as if they were in a relationship. They kind of were, but the man never asked her to be his girlfriend despite the fact that's how he had been introducing her to everyone who saw them together.There was one other thing which was bugging her at the back of her mind. Because of peer pressure about them dating—if it could be called that—the two of them inadvertently started using black masks whenever they were in public. Neither of the two wanted to let others throw in their unwanted opinions about their relationship. Though somewhere deep inside her heart, she wanted the whole world to know that Claud
The Heartless Bride 185: Suspicions (I)
"So…"Ayla dragged it out as she turned around to stare at the man who was still standing by the doors."Mr. D'Souza?""Call me Gavin, please." He still has the same charming smile playing across his face as he walked further into the room"Umm… I am pretty sure I can not do that." Ayla let out a nervous chuckle. There was something ominous about the way he stared back at her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she was sure that it wasn't only her mind playing with her. Something about him had shifted since the moment they walked in."Oh, please. Claude and I may not be the best of friends, but we are on our way there. It would mean a lot to me if you'd call me without any formalities." He paused before adding after a while. "Only when it's us… three."'What the f*ck!'Ala
The Heartless Bride 184: I was Missing you (II)
"Because it looks like I interrupted something important."Her frown was the only thing which Claude could see but the helplessness which filled her eyes was enough of a giveaway for him. She was feeling guilty for interrupting their meeting. Well, it was more of a tour now. The actual meeting had already been wrapped up a while ago. It was what had Claude believing that her interruption was not going to have any repercussions. Even if there were any, he didn't care."It's fine. Don't worry." Claude rubbed his hand up and down her back to calm her down. Turning his attention to the group, he began. "Apologies for the interruption everyone, but let me introduce you all to my girlfriend." He was smart enough to not announce her name to the team. Though he wondered where Ayla was going with the secrecy."I am sure she must have a name." It was Mr. D'Souza who spoke up. There was a small smile playing acros
