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Chapter 42
Last Updated:
2023-03-13 21:12:58Related chapters
The Substitute Bride Chapter 43
Jake's side of the bed was empty when Van woke up the next morning. She wasn't dreaming was she? The wedding dress, the wedding ceremony…they weren't all a dream right? It all felt like a dream but their clothes strewn on the floor beside the bed told her it was very much real. Van wondered where her husband–it felt so good to be able to call him her husband–could've gone so early in the morning? She got out of bed and went to part the curtains on the window when she saw him in the gazebo. She smiled affectionately then went to get dressed so she could join him. Jake ran agitated fingers through his hair as he paced about the gazebo. So many thoughts were running amok in his mind he felt like he was going crazy. All the joy and happiness he was feeling was making him sick because he knew he'd never be at peace until he was able to come clean and tell Van the whole truth. He'd thought that once they were married everything will become easy but he had
Last Updated : 2023-03-14The Substitute Bride Chapter 44
"He's still out there sis," Van’s brother informed her as he craned his neck to look outside. Van ignored the twinge of guilt that was crawling its way to her heart she didn't make him decide to stand outside all evening while the rain fell in heavy pelts so whatever happens to him is not her fault. You know that the only way to make him leave is to talk to him. A tiny voice at the back of her mind told her but Van wasn't in the mood to listen to anything Jake Calloway has to say, she was done being an idiot.Karl clicked his tongue, "it's been over two hours and he's just standing there like a statue, do you want me to make him go away?" Van's eyes landed on his bruised knuckles which he got from punching Jake and she didn't want a repeat of what happened in Bohol. Things got so ugly that Stefan and his friends had to pry Karl off of Jake and the idiot just lie there while he was kicked around like a ragdoll. "No, ignore him he'll leave when he realises he's wasting his time
Last Updated : 2023-03-15The Substitute Bride Chapter 45
As soon as Karl was out of the door Van began to brew more coffee which she offered a cup to Jake and kept another for herself.They both sat at the rickety old table and Van sipped her coffee as she watched Jake through the rim of her cup. He was looking everywhere but her clutching the cup in a death grip. "Thank you for giving me a chance to explain." he said and this time he met her gaze. His voice was hoarse and tired. "I want to hear the whole story." She told him and he managed a small nod. "When I was six and Karen was just a baby my dad began to see someone else." Van flinched as she could guess by now who that someone was. Hadn't she always known that her mom had been unfaithful to her dad there was a time when Van was sure she'd gone to be with her lover abandoning them, that was about the same time their lives began to fall apart and her father's health began to deteriorate. However, she didn't interrupt Jake as he told his story.
Last Updated : 2023-03-16The Substitute Bride Chapter 46
"You're right." Van said through clenched teeth. "No amount of sorry can erase the hurt Jake. The fact that you made me pay for someone else's sin is not right at all, it's unfair and it's equally the worst sin someone could ever commit against another person. When you were out planning your stupid little revenge did you stop even for once to realise that you were going to destroy my life, did you stop to think that maybe I too was hurt, that my own family fell apart because of your dad as well, that I went through the same hell you went through? No you didn’t, why would you, after all only you and your mom matter right?" "I admit that I didn't see it that way. I didn't think for a second that you were also a victim. I'm sorry." Van balled her fists until her knuckles turned white. "When my mother left us I felt like I didn't matter, I felt like I was a bad daughter that I must've done something wrong for my own mother to leave me." This time the tears did fall and sh
Last Updated : 2023-03-16The Substitute Bride Chapter 47
The call came that afternoon and it took everything in Van to muster up the courage to hold back from running to his bedside. "How is he?" "He's doing okay now, he managed to get out of the accident with minimal injuries." "Thank God." relief flooded her as she clasped her Rella's hand. They were at the hospital's reception area along with his friends. Jake had gotten himself into an accident after he left her place that morning, she'd been beside herself with worry and guilt that maybe she drove him to it with her harsh words but Rella had insisted that it wasn't her fault at all , her friend was equally furious with him after learning the truth. Van was bouncing on her heels restlessly holding back because she knew that if she saw Jake in the current condition he's in, she'd be tempted to stay by his side even though she wouldn't be able to forgive him for what he's done which would be unfair to them both. The wound was still fresh and
Last Updated : 2023-03-18The Substitute Bride Chapter 48
When Jake regained consciousness, the first person on his mind had been Van and he asked if she knew he was in an accident, he received a positive response but what got him curious was the looks exchanged between his friends. "What is going on? What aren't you me?" he demanded. "Van asked me to give this to you before she left." he accepted what was in Rella’s outstretched hand. Confusion washed over him for a second before he realised that it was the ring he'd put on her on their wedding day as he was making those vows to protect her, respect her and never hurt her but he didn't do any of those things. It seemed to dawn on him only now what Rella had been saying. "What do you mean she left? Where did she go?" "You should recover first." Stefan told him. "Where is my wife?" Jake demanded nearly hysterical and was going to leave his bed but Dave stopped him. "You are in no condition to go anywhere right now. Why don't you get well then yo
Last Updated : 2023-03-18The Substitute Bride Chapter 49
Getting drunk and engaging in drunken brawls had become Jake’s favourite past time lately and he wore the nasty bruises on his face. His dad had given him an earful, he'd even threatened to take away his position as CEO but Jake didn't actually give a fig about the business much less his life or anything else for that matter. "Are you even listening? The new collection is behind schedule, the shareholders are displeased. All these for a woman with no face. Neither Ana nor I have met her, you didn't even invite us to your wedding." " Can we talk about this another time?" " Why you rascal… " " Dear, let it rest for now."Jake's stepmother placed a hand on his father's arm to calm him down. Jake looked away distastefully before he made for the front door making sure it shut behind him with a loud bang. Losing his mom had hurt him a lot, but losing Van the way that he had left him on the verge of losing his sanity. As it is now, he found nothing worth
Last Updated : 2023-03-20The Substitute Bride Chapter 50
It was a Saturday evening. Rella was curled up on the chaise lounge in Stefan’s study with a romance novel on her lap while Stefan worked on his laptop having no idea how distracting she was sitting there and looking gorgeous. The sun was slowly dipping back as twilight descended, leaving behind a faint glow of orange and violet. They both could pretend to focus and not mind the presence of the other but in reality they were both painfully aware of each other. Rella glanced up and their gazes locked and held there was no denying what they both felt and want. One look said it all. In no time Stefan abandoned his work, rounded the desk and reached for her, Rella lept into his waiting arms and her mouth captured his in a fiery kiss. Her hands boldly explored his torso feeling the heat from the fabric of his shirt. she sighed as he tasted her throat, her skin burned with every touch. Frantically, she worked on the buttons of his shirt as he continued to tease her. No word
Last Updated : 2023-03-22
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The Substitute Bride Chapter 105
Walking down the aisle towards the man of her dreams had always been Rella's dream. Yes she was a hopeless romantic and right now her focus was on the man at the altar. There was just him, everyone else seemed to fade away and when he smiled up at her there was no doubt in her heart it was all for her. No more pretense, no more lies, no more deceit, she wasn't walking down the aisle towards someone else's fiancé in someone else's dress no, she was walking down the aisle towards the love of her life who sees the real her in her own gorgeous wedding dress. Stefan was impatient for the ceremony to end not because he wanted to get it over and done with like the last time but because he couldn't wait to have her all to himself. Never in a million years had he ever thought that he might end up madly in love with anyone to the point that he couldn't start a day without her infectious smile and he couldn't end his day without tasting her lucious lips. They exchanged their vo
The Substitute Bride Chapter 104
" I've missed you so much it hurts. " Stefan murmured against her neck. They managed to make it back to the bedroom before he could devour her on the stairs. "I've missed you too." Rella said a moan escaping her lips. She cupped his engorged member and Stefan stiffened and pulled back. "I think we should stop before things get a bit too heated." "Why? In case you haven't noticed I want you too." "I don't want to hurt you. You just came out of the hospital." "I'm not an invalid you know." "I'm just being cautious." " Such a spoil sport."Stefan chuckled. "why don't we get you to bed… " "You're leaving, please stay." Rella protested. "I'm not leaving." Stefan assured her before he climbed in after her and gathered her in his arms. "Try not to wiggle too much." "Like this?" Rella said wiggling her behind against his crotch.Stefan hissed out a curse while she snickered. "Fiend." It
The Substitute Bride Chapter 103
Stefan realised too late that he didn't get flowers, but no matter he was going to get her back first and then he'd give her all the flowers in the world. He punched the doorbell in anticipation, a woman in her late forties almost identical to Evie Cortes stood by the open door and Stefan knew without a doubt that he was at the right address. "May I help you?" "Uh, good evening ma'am my name is Stefan and I have come to see Rella.Marjorie stared at him long and hard then assessed him from top to bottom and her eyes widened for a second before it was gone in a snap. "Rella isn't here." She told him and Stefan's heart dropped into the pit of his stomach. " What, but I was told she'd be here? " " You were told wrong. I haven't seen my niece in a while. "She must be lying. Stefan thought. But what reason does she have to lie to him? If Rella wasn't here, if she didn't come here at all then where could she be?This isn't how he envisioned the day would end. No,
The Substitute Bride Chapter 102
Stefan smiled as he took out the gold band with a heart shaped diamond atop it. It couldn't be more perfect conveying all of his feelings at once. She's going to love it he was sure of it. "You've found her." Stefan shut the jewelry box before he turned to find his grandfather leaning on his cane by the bedroom door "The love of your life." Because that's what the ring is meant for, his grandmother's ring given to her by his grandfather before they got married which has been passed down the family for many generations now. "Not yet in a manner of speaking but I will." "When I saw your grandmother for the first time I knew she was the one and I did everything I could to make her realise that I was the one as well." His grandfather explained. " I know we haven't been able to see eye to eye since your parents died and I know that you think me controlling and insufferable but I try my best to raise you well. Everything I've done good or bad were all for you
The Substitute Bride Chapter 101
Stefan made a mad dash home after he was told she discharged herself. He didn't wait to kill the engine before he was flying out of the door and running towards the house like a mad man. "Rella!?"He yelled out her name. "Sir is something wrong?" Henry the butler asked meeting him halfway through the living room. "My wife, is she here?" "Madam hasn't been back since both of you left yesterday." "You're sure?" "Absolutely." Stefan walked past the old Butler and made for the stairs holding on to the possibility that she might've come home without Henry's knowledge.He pushed open their bedroom door calling out her name once more but there was no answer. He threw open the closet to find everything intact; no item was out of place. She'd taken nothing with her. Stefan staggered back, it was all he could do to avoid breaking down completely. He whipped out his cellphone and began making calls. " I'm sorry Stefan I don't know wher
The Substitute Bride Chapter 100
Rella's world had slowed down in that moment when she saw Stefan's horror mirroring her own, when she realised that they were both thinking the same thing. Everything that happened after that was a blur. She heard him yelling to someone to bring the car around and then he was lifting her up. The ride to the hospital took a lifetime. "I'm sorry but your wife's had a miscarriage…"They were too late and now the doctor is saying she's lost her baby. She tuned out the doctor's words after that first damning sentence. Everything was spinning and she couldn't breathe. Rella started sobbing while Stefan turned and left the room–he probably couldn't wait to get away from her. The doctor was still talking to her but Rella had since tuned her out, her voice getting drowned by the silence in her head–normally there'll be a roaring–but there was utter silence that Rella was afraid she wasn't in her skin anymore.Rella was oblivious to when the doctor left the room and Van was there w
The Substitute Bride Chapter 99
It was on a magical evening one month later that her best friend Van and her husband Jake Calloway renewed their vows and it was everything they both could've hoped for. Family and friends who weren't present the first time they said their vows were present today. Van was surrounded by family she thought she never had and right there under the arch in the shape of two swans decorated with daisies, her friend said her vows again. Rella was happy for Van of course, after everything that's happened her best friend deserves to be happy but she was also jealous, she could not help this foul feeling churning in her guts that made her wish she was in Van's place instead surrounded by so much love and not in this sham of a life she was living pretending everything was okay. But this day was Van's happy day and so she smiled throughout the whole ceremony unitl her cheeks ached. Rella glanced sideways at Stefan who was sitting beside her, she knew if he could help it he'd be far from her
The Substitute Bride Chapter 98
Van hated hospitals. Especially when it reminded her of her dad's condition, and how much he suffered before his passing. Hospitals are filled with gloom and despair. People die in hospitals and she couldn't shake up the thought that Jake might die just like her father.No, she had to believe that nothing would happen to Jake, that he wouldn’t share the same fate as her father because she didn't think she had it in her to survive another tragedy. Jake’s friends; Christian, Dave and Max, were all there including Rella her best friend and her husband Stefan Diamond who's also Jake's friend. They'd arrived a few hours ago and were as worried and afraid as she was but they were trying to make her feel better instead. Rella had held her hands through out the waiting period while Jake was being operated on and Van had cried on her shoulders voicing out her fear. Her grandfather had called to hear how Jake was doing after Jake was transferred to the recovery room some time late
The Substitute Bride Chapter 97
Over the next few days it was safe to say that Van's relationship with Jake was getting better. Jake was determined and patient. If there was anything she loved about him it was his resilience and ability to focus and get what he wants. Van also loved his warm smile, his strength and his ability to love no matter what. She felt giddy with his courting, like she had the first time he asked her out. Van pressed the phone against her ear and smiled a good natured smile like she never had in a while. Her heart almost on the verge of exploding with joy and happiness and everything that was good. "Look out the balcony, I have a surprise for you." Jake told her and when Van looked out she saw him standing outside the gate holding out a banner that read: I love you Vanessa Wilkins Montenegro. Van still wasn't used to being referred to as a Montenegro but she was certain she would get used to it pretty soon. After her father’s death Van thought that she and her
