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Last Updated:
2025-02-10 05:16:03
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The bride's stand-In First time
A heavy silence filled the room, thick and unmoving, following her statement—one that made perfect sense in her mind.Michael’s expression darkened as if what she had just said was utterly ridiculous, even unacceptable. His chiseled features tensed, his silver-grey eyes shadowed with something unreadable. Evelyn, however, inwardly shook her head and sighed. Realistically, there was no way he was actually upset about this. Not over something so trivial. Then again, perhaps he was. Maybe it was just his wounded pride because she was not begging him for another night in his bed. Or maybe, just maybe, he simply wanted more from her, more of what had unraveled between them the previous night.But none of that mattered anymore.Because no matter how intoxicating his touch had been, no matter how easily he had unraveled her beneath him, she would not allow herself to be swept away again. Not after what she had heard.If she had not woken to the sound of his voice murmuring another woman’s na
Last Updated : 2025-02-10The bride's stand-In All it took
Evelyn hadn't even heard him approach. One moment, she was standing there, her heart pounding against her ribs, and the next—Michael had closed the distance between them with unsettling stealth.Before she could react, he had scooped her up effortlessly, his grip unyielding, his body taut with barely restrained tension. The air between them crackled as he turned, his movements swift and precise, like a predator in control of its prey. She barely had time to gasp before she found herself unceremoniously dropped onto the massive bed. But his arms remained around her, trapping her in place, keeping her from escaping his proximity.He was not gentle. His touch was searing, his presence overwhelming. And even without looking at him, she could feel it—the sheer force of his fury, leaking out of him in thick, suffocating waves.When she finally forced herself to meet his gaze, she almost regretted it.A storm raged within his metallic grey eyes. They churned with something raw, something vio
Last Updated : 2025-02-10The bride's stand-In Invitation
Three days later…Michael stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of his private suite, his sharp gaze fixed on the glimmering harbor below. The waves rolled in a slow, rhythmic dance, their silver crests catching the last light of the setting sun. Yet, despite the serene view, his expression remained cold, almost unreadable, save for the slight furrow of his brows and the tight set of his jaw.Lucas's voice droned on over the speakerphone, providing a detailed report of Evelyn’s activities over the past few days. It was all mundane, yet every word irritated him more.“So, you’re telling me she hasn’t asked about me? Not even once?” Michael’s deep voice sliced through the silence that had followed Lucas’s latest update.A beat of hesitation crackled through the phone line. Then, Lucas cleared his throat.“The princess has been quite… occupied, Your Highness,” he explained carefully. “She’s thrown herself into royal duties, already attending multiple events on your behalf—even though you’
Last Updated : 2025-02-10The bride's stand-In Reward
The weight of Lucas's words settled over Evelyn like a soft but insistent reminder. She had long grown accustomed to the presence of guards, to the careful watchful eyes shadowing her every move. But Lucas was different. The way he protected her was nothing like the suffocating presence of her father’s men or the relentless overprotection of Brandon Haze.“I understand,” she assured him, her voice steady. “Don’t worry—I’ll try to excuse myself early tonight.”A flicker of something unreadable crossed Lucas’s face, but he said nothing more. They stepped forward together, crossing the threshold into the grand hall.The atmosphere shifted immediately.The party was a vision of dark elegance, a masquerade drenched in gothic splendor. Gilded chandeliers of iron and crystal loomed overhead, their long taper candles casting wavering shadows against the towering black walls. Every guest was adorned in extravagant attire, their faces concealed behind masks that ranged from eerily beautiful to
Last Updated : 2025-02-10The bride's stand-In The waltz
The air inside the grand ballroom was thick with mystery, the flickering candlelight casting elongated shadows across the marble floor. Though Evelyn tried to steady her breathing, her heart continued its erratic rhythm as the tall figure approached.Was it his presence that unsettled her? Or was it the eerie way he moved—fluid, confident, yet silent, like a phantom materializing out of the dim glow of the chandeliers?Now that he stood close enough, Evelyn could study the details of his mask. It was an intricate piece, covering his entire face, adorned with black and gold gemstones that glinted under the light. But it was the mouthpiece that truly sent a chill down her spine—carved with sharp, exaggerated teeth, as though mocking the very notion of civility.She kept her chin high, her posture composed, though the weight of his gaze made her skin prickle. His height was nearly the same as Sebastian’s, but his aura was… different. It wasn’t the dark intensity that accompanied the Reig
Last Updated : 2025-02-10The bride's stand-In Apology
Elle nearly stumbled.If not for Elijah’s smooth, practiced grace, she would have faltered mid-step, ruining the illusion of effortless elegance. Instead, he steadied her, seamlessly guiding them back into the waltz as though nothing had happened at all.Her pulse thundered in her ears. Had she truly just reacted to mere words?Thank God for the phoenix-wing-inspired mask covering the upper half of her face. Otherwise, everyone would have seen the sheer disbelief flickering in her eyes. She needed to get a grip. It wasn’t real. He was just… toying with her. Right?This man is an actor. A damn good one.Forcing out a soft chuckle, she decided to play along, matching his performance with one of her own. “Vampires, hmm…” She tilted her head slightly, feigning deep contemplation. “I think I wouldn’t mind catching a glimpse of a real one. As long as he’s not out for my blood.”For the briefest moment, something flashed in his eyes—an emotion too complex to name.She kept her gaze locked on
Last Updated : 2025-02-10The bride's stand-In race
---As Evelyn watched Michael saunter off the dance floor, as if the earlier drama had not even happened, she found herself once again tangled in a web of uncertainty about him. There was something incredibly confusing about the man—something that made her question, over and over, whether he was truly a friend or an enemy. He was like a riddle she couldn't solve, a contradiction wrapped in silk and shadows.Being so close to him earlier—dancing with him, exchanging words that felt laced with hidden meanings—had only deepened her confusion. She could not quite decide if he was truly evil or if there was something else lurking beneath that perfectly poised and infuriatingly unreadable mask.For the first time in her life, she had encountered someone who could both terrify her and yet make her feel an odd sort of empathy for them, all in the same breath. She had never experienced such a dizzying contradiction before. She had never met anyone like Michael.Her thoughts were abruptly shatt
Last Updated : 2025-02-10The bride's stand-In Flickered
Something flickered in Michael’s eyes at Evelyn’s question. A glint of something unreadable, elusive—gone before she could grasp its meaning. Before she could even try to decipher it, he led her into a reverse turn, his hand firm yet effortless as he guided her. The moment their steps aligned, their bodies moved in harmony, as if they had done this dance a hundred times before.The waltz was flawless, each movement as smooth as flowing silk. Michael’s precision was undeniable, his presence commanding yet impossibly graceful. Evelyn’s breath hitched as she followed his lead, her eyes locked onto his piercing grey ones. A part of her wanted to question how he could dance so perfectly, but that thought was quickly overshadowed by the undeniable magic of the moment.Her lips curled into a small smile, one of awe and disbelief. She could hardly believe how effortlessly they moved together, how naturally her body responded to his subtle guidance. The silent understanding between them was un
Last Updated : 2025-02-10
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The bride's stand-In Happy ending
"You can't remove that yet! Not unless your doctor says it’s okay to do so." Michael’s voice was firm as he stood beside Evelyn, watching her with a gaze that allowed no room for argument.Before she could reply, the door swung open, and a woman in a white coat stepped in. Her sharp eyes landed on them, catching the tail end of Michael’s words."Actually… it’s perfectly fine for her to remove it," the doctor interjected with a calm smile. "Sir."Evelyn lifted a brow, shooting Michael a knowing look. Her eyes practically shouted, See?Michael let out a slow, heavy sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose as if fighting an unseen battle. "Fine," he muttered. "But let the doctor do it." His voice was still firm, but he stepped back, allowing the doctor to proceed before he turned and exited the room.By the time everything was settled and Evelyn was ready to leave, she saw Michael speaking with the doctor, his tone low and controlled. When she shifted to stand on her own, he was there in an
The bride's stand-In exactly
Michael couldn’t relax. Even after Lorna had given her diagnosis, even after the room had settled into silence, his body remained taut with tension.His reaction earlier had been… unexpected. Shocking, even. He hadn’t anticipated it—not the panic, not the overwhelming force of emotion that had slammed into him the moment he saw her tears. Evelyn had done it again. She had shattered whatever semblance of control he thought he had over himself.It was infuriating.To think that just seeing her cry could shake him so deeply… that just the touch of her cold skin had sent something dangerously close to fear spiraling through him. Fuck. He was in too deep. This woman had thoroughly and utterly ruined him.Now, he didn’t know what to do.Didn’t know what to say.He could only hold her. Could only pull her into his arms, press her close, and hope that his warmth seeped into her body. Because anything else—any words, any action—felt like it would only make things worse.He didn’t want to see h
The bride's stand-In Vulnerable
The moment Evelyn turned her back to him and walked away, the dam that had been holding strong all this time finally crumbled. Her tears, long restrained, gushed forth like a deluge of rain.It had been so long since she had allowed herself to cry outside the suffocating confines of her darkened room. She had trained herself to never shed tears in the presence of others. Crying made her feel exposed, fragile—something she had fought against for years. Especially in front of her father and Brandon Haze, she had refused to break. No matter how deep their words had cut, no matter how much pain they had inflicted upon her, she had never given them the satisfaction of seeing her crumble. Silence had always been her weapon, a shield stronger than any steel. And she had wielded it perfectly.But with Michael… everything was different.She did not understand why, but around him, it was unbearably difficult to hold back. She had thought she could at least hold in her emotions until she reached
The bride's stand-In Evelyn
Evelyn fell silent. The lump in her throat tightened when he mentioned a condition. Her anger toward him hadn’t vanished—she had simply forced herself to swallow it down. But now, hearing that he was about to set another rule, another ridiculous demand, had her emotions surging once more.However, what Michael said next rendered her mute.Snow White?She hadn’t expected him to bring up the wolf, let alone sound so sour about it. Why did he seem irritated now? Hadn’t he helped her save the poor creature? So why was he suddenly acting like he despised Snow White?A quiet hesitation lingered in the air. But eventually, she nodded.If this was all he wanted, then fine. It wasn’t like he was asking for much—not letting Snow White sleep in their bed? That wasn’t so bad. It still meant she could cuddle the wolf anywhere else. Perhaps Michael just had an issue with wolf fur in his sheets.“Fine… I’ll keep him off the bed,” she relented, her voice clipped. “Now, talk. Explain.”She didn’t want
The bride's stand-In whatever you want
Micheal just stared at her in silence. The words she had spoken moments ago seemed to echo in the air between them, heavier than before. Evelyn had dropped her gaze, almost as if afraid to meet his eyes again, and now leaned her forehead against the wolf curled in her arms. It was as though she were trying to shield herself, wrapping around the creature like he was her only anchor.The sight of it made something dark and unfamiliar stir within him.Her small shoulders trembled faintly, her fiery hair spilling over the wolf’s thick white fur. The contrast was striking—like blood on snow, something pure being swallowed by something far too heavy, too painful. And yet, she clung to the animal with a quiet desperation, as if letting go would mean losing the only thing grounding her in this moment.Micheal pulled back slightly, his movements slow and measured. He didn’t want to startle her. Not when she already looked so fragile. Not when he could sense something in her that felt too close
The bride's stand-In Possesive
Michael stood frozen at the threshold of the dimly lit bedroom, his tall frame casting a long shadow across the floor. His grey eyes, sharp as a blade’s edge, landed on the scene before him, and something inside him coiled tight—dangerously tight.Evelyn lay curled on the massive bed, her body wrapped around something—or rather, someone.Snow White.The large white wolf, with his thick fur and unsettlingly intelligent eyes, lay beside her, his breathing slow and steady. But Michael barely spared the animal more than a glance. His focus was on her. On the way her delicate fingers were buried in the wolf’s thick fur. On the way her body pressed so trustingly, so intimately, against the creature’s warmth. And worst of all, the way her face—so serene, so utterly content—was nestled against its back.Michael’s expression did not change at first. He was too stunned to react.Seconds passed. Then, his lips pressed into a thin, bloodless line.His jaw ticked once. Then twice.A slow, simmerin
The bride's stand-In rion
As soon as Evelyn pulled open the cage door, she stepped back, her fingers gripping the doorknob tightly. Just in case Snow White decided to lunge at her, she wanted to be ready—ready to dart out and call for Rion and Raven to help put the wolf back inside its cage.Her heart pounded, echoing in her ears like a war drum. Snow White remained inside the cage, his pale eyes watching her with an unreadable expression. He wasn’t moving, wasn’t baring his fangs, wasn’t doing anything she had feared he might do.Evelyn swallowed, uncertainty gripping her. Had she made a mistake?Then, slowly, the wolf tilted his head. The movement was so small yet so deliberate that it almost seemed… questioning.Somehow, that made Evelyn feel guilty.She let out a soft breath and, instead of standing there frozen, crouched near the open door. She extended her hand, palm facing up, voice gentle as she coaxed him. “Come here, baby…”For a moment, the air hung still between them.Then, to her shock, Snow White
The bride's stand-In Touch
The wolf stilled at her touch.Evelyn had hesitated before finally gathering the courage to extend her hand and brush her fingers against its snowy white tail. The soft texture surprised her—it was thicker and woolier than she had expected, a mix of coarse and silky strands that seemed to shimmer under the dim lighting.Holding her breath, she waited for a reaction. She thought the wolf would jerk away, snarl, or even bare its teeth at her for daring to touch it. But none of that happened. It remained completely still, unbothered. Almost… indifferent.Cautiously, she stroked its fur again, this time moving her fingers in a slow, gentle rhythm. Still, there was no response.Her tense shoulders finally eased a little. If the wolf had been aggressive or hostile, it would have made that clear by now, wouldn’t it? Or was it just too exhausted to react? Was it still in pain from its injuries?“Hey… Snow White, baby?” Evelyn murmured, softening her voice, instinctively trying to comfort the
The bride's stand-In plan
A distant howl broke through the silence of the night.Evelyn paused, her fingers tightening around the blanket draped over her lap. The sound echoed through the castle walls, low and mournful, stirring something deep inside her.Wolves.It shouldn’t have been surprising. The Reigns estate sat atop a forested hill, surrounded by sprawling wilderness. The occasional howl wasn’t uncommon. And yet… this was the first time she had truly heard one since she arrived.Her mind immediately flashed back to the snow-white wolf they had rescued.She had forgotten about it completely in the whirlwind of everything that had happened. The secrets. The lies. Michael locking her away like a prisoner. But now, hearing that call in the night, she couldn’t help but wonder.Where was the wolf now?It must still be healing, right?Michael had assigned a medical team to tend to it—an elite one, no doubt. They would have done their job well. The wolf had to be getting better by now. Right?A sudden urge gri
