Home / Romance / The Heartless Bride / 046: Back to Reality (II)

Share

046: Back to Reality (II)

Author: dumdum007
last update Last Updated: 2021-08-23 23:58:27

"We are comforting that…." 

Ethan's eyes snapped to her manicured nail before they slowly moved in the direction she was urging him to look in. 

He saw a group of girls standing around the corner of the corridor, huddled together like they were going through the game plan before breaking into loud cheers and running around the field. But their ducked heads and low whispers combined with their stealing glances at Ayla only proved otherwise. His train of thoughts was interrupted by the lady in question.

"You know what they are talking about?" It wasn't a question but she still threw him a questioning glare. Without waiting for his reply, Ayla continued, "they are wondering out loud as to how the rich and dashing business savvy Claude Atkinson ended up getting married to a nerd like me." 

Ethan couldn't help himself from chuckling. A low chortle left his lips while he kept his eyes glued to Ayla's twisted face. He wanted to share his ow

Locked Chapter
Continue to read this book on the APP

Related chapters

  • The Heartless Bride   047: Back to Reality (III)

    "Who dared?" A shiver ran up Ayla's spine as soon as she snapped her eyes open. She opened her mouth and closed it, repeating the process a couple of times as her mind tried to come up with words. But the shock alone had the gears in mind jammed. "W-what are you doing here?" After what seemed an eternity, she managed to force a sensible reply out of her mouth. "That's not an answer to what I asked you." "Don't have work to do today?" She shook her head, not giving away anything. As much as she despised the woman, she would not want her to get kicked out of the school. Especially, when she was in her final year of studies just like her. "You are still not answering me." "And I won't." She shook her head. "We both know it's not going to end well for her, and I don't want that." Her eyes never left his. She was trying to take a peek inside his soul. "Do you really think that

    Last Updated : 2021-08-24
  • The Heartless Bride   048: Back to Reality (IV)

    "I'll make sure you never do." Claude's words rang next to her ear as he continued holding her gaze with his own. The intensity with which he was staring back at her made her stomach do a flip upside down. Ayla shook her head, pushing away the feeling which was beginning to creep up her spine. She told herself internally that it was nothing much but her own mind perceiving it all wrong. "I know you won't." She shrugged it off with a small smile before bringing her focus back to her drink which was not so chilled anymore. She continued sucking the creamy liquid up the straw whilst Claude watched her with nothing but adoration in his eyes. To him, she looked like a child who had just gotten her hands on a chocolate bar. "As much as I hate to interrupt this date of yours, I think we should get moving." Ethan cleared his throat and spoke up loud and clear for the duo to hear. He cocked his head to the side where a small crowd of students

    Last Updated : 2021-08-25
  • The Heartless Bride   049: Our First Date (I)

    "W-what are you doing?" Even though it was obvious as a plain sunny day, Ayla couldn't help herself from questioning his actions."What does it look like?" Claude briefly glanced up to meet her confused eyes before going about tying her laces into a perfect bow. He slipped his pinky finger under the tied laces to make sure that the knot wasn't a little too tight for her to feel uncomfortable when walking.Once he was satisfied with his handiwork, he picked up his drink after dusting his hands off and pushed himself all the way up."Let's go…." He muttered out under his breath before extending his free hand towards Ayla.But instead of taking it, she raised her index finger in the air, silently asking him to allow her a moment to herself. Her actions left the two men with nothing but confusion wobbling their minds. They didn't bother to hide it, but instead of explaining herself to either of them, she went on with what she ha

    Last Updated : 2021-08-26
  • The Heartless Bride   050: Our First Date (II)

    "Where are we going?" Ayla was already starting to get impatient as her eyes stared out of the tinted windows, taking in a good view of her surroundings as they whizzed past tall buildings."I am not telling you, wife." Claude let out a low chuckle as he briefly glanced in her direction. He turned his attention back to the road ahead as his lips slowly curled up into a faint smile. "You definitely are not a big fan of surprises, are you?" It was more of an observation than an actual question. He could tell easily from the way her right leg was bouncing up and down throughout the ride."It's not that I am not patient otherwise. It's just that I seem to run out of it when it comes to surprises and all." Ayla pursed her lips together as she shifted in her seat slightly to have a better view of Claude. "I don't know how to explain this." She added in a low tone as memories from her past came rushing back to her, leaving behind a painful, crushing aftertaste.&nb

    Last Updated : 2021-08-27
  • The Heartless Bride   051: Our First Date (III)

    "Because I own this place."Her breath was knocked out of her lungs as Claude's words hung in the air. She had her eyes staring back at the man, ready to roll out of their sockets any second now. It was the soft 'ding' of the elevator arriving on their floor that pulled her back to the present."You what?" She drew her brows together, questioning the man. As far as she knew, Atkinsons' Corp never dealt in the food business."You heard me, wife." Claude brought his hand to rest at the small of her back and gave her a small push forward, guiding her to step inside the elevator along with him. "I own this place." He repeated his words from earlier before explaining himself."It's much easier to have a place ready for business meetings and gatherings. Saves me a lot of time on making sure that a reservation is scheduled for a specified day and date." He reached forward to press a button on the side panel of the elevator wall that was m

    Last Updated : 2021-08-28
  • The Heartless Bride   052: Our First Date (IV)

    Ayla could only shake her head at the man's words even though they managed to turn something inside her chest. He was more than a gentleman when it came to treating her right and she knew better than to take it for granted. She would always voice out her gratitude with a soft "thank you" usually, but at times like this, his words threw her mind off balance a little. Hence, she would go for the next best option: changing the topic of the conversation. "Why is it that I didn't see any staff members on our way?" She muttered out in her calm tone as soon as the duo made it inside the private room. Claude, being the gentleman he was, pulled out a chair for her, pushing it a little forward once Ayla had settled down comfortably. "Thank you." She muttered under her breath while keeping her eyes trained on the man as he moved around the black marble table and found him settling down in the chair across from her. "I like my privacy." Cl

    Last Updated : 2021-09-03
  • The Heartless Bride   053: Making it to the Newspaper

    The next morning, a groggy Ayla made her way down the staircase with a jump in her steps.She woke up to an empty room. Claude was nowhere to be found, and one look at the grandfather wall clock in his study made her realize that she was the one who woke up a little later than usual.It took her half an hour to take a bath and get changed into some black, cotton, skin fitted trousers which she paired with a white tee and matching high platform converse. Tying her hair up in a pony, she put on her black rimmed glasses. Giving herself one last look in the dressing table mirror, she made her way back to where her bag was lying. She only spent five minutes fixing her college bag before flinging it over her shoulders and heading downstairs."Good morning." She announced her presence with a cheerful greeting as soon as she stepped inside the dining hall.Her eyes wandered around the room for a little while before landing on the lone figu

    Last Updated : 2021-09-05
  • The Heartless Bride   054: Sleep with Me (I)

    The next few days were rather blissful for the newlyweds. Ayla was starting to get more and more used to having Claude around. So much so, that she insisted for him to move back to his actual bed. For some reason, the idea of him sleeping in another room didn't settle well with her any more."Why can you not use your own bed for sleeping too?" She threw another demanding question his way."I have said this before too, Ayla," he shook his head, "I don't want you to feel uncomfortable with my presence.""And how many times do I have to tell you that your presence only puts me at ease." She snapped back at her, looking up at him.She has her notes and books sprawled out before her on the dark wood table with her laptop sitting next to her—open.Claude was occupying his usual spot on the other side of his study. He sat back in his leather chair, swinging it side to side, as he kept his eyes glued to a file in hands.&

    Last Updated : 2021-09-06

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

DMCA.com Protection Status