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Last Updated:
2024-12-14 01:33:50
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The bride's stand-In Cocaine
Michael's POV:I lit a cigarette, leaning back in my chair as the smoke curled around me, trying to wash away the irritation from earlier. The silence didn't last long, though. Adam, my most trusted man—no introductions needed—stepped in, his face etched with urgency."Boss, there's an emergency," he said briskly.Without wasting a second, I stubbed out the cigarette and followed him downstairs. Adam didn't need to explain further; if he called it urgent, it meant it was serious.In the dimly lit room, he powered up the computer and started typing furiously. The sharp clacking of keys filled the space as I waited, arms crossed, watching him with a calm that hid my impatience. Whatever this was, it better be worth dragging me out of my thoughts.I exhaled a slow cloud of smoke, the cigarette hanging loosely between my fingers as Adam's words echoed through the room. The harsh light from the laptop screen lit up the dark circles under my eyes, sharpening my features and making me look a
Last Updated : 2024-12-14The bride's stand-In contract
The study was dimly lit, the heavy scent of leather and ink filling the air. Vedrick's trembling hands fumbled to close the door behind us, but I stopped him with a glance. Adam leaned casually against the wall, his presence a silent warning. "Sit," I commanded, my voice low, almost conversational. Vedrick obeyed, sinking into the chair behind his desk. He looked smaller now, a man once proud and defiant reduced to a shadow of himself. "Do you know why I’m here, Vedrick?" I asked, taking my time as I approached his desk. I didn’t need to rush; the tension in the room was already thick enough to choke on. "I... I can explain," he stammered, his voice shaking. "It was just a—" "A mistake?" I cut him off, leaning forward to rest my hands on the desk. "Let me guess—you thought you could cut corners. Save a few million here, a few million there. Maybe you thought I wouldn’t notice, or worse, that I wouldn’t care." He opened his mouth to respond, but I raised a hand, silencing him.
Last Updated : 2024-12-20The bride's stand-In Signing contract
The room felt suffocatingly cold, a chill that seeped into her bones as she climbed the grand staircase to her quarters. Evelyn could still hear the faint echoes of the men’s heavy boots on the marble floors as they escorted the mysterious Vedrick upstairs. She didn’t dare ask who he was or why he was being brought into this vast, lonely mansion.The grand chandelier above her cast dancing shadows on the walls, but instead of comfort, it added to her unease. She gripped the banister tighter, her mind racing. The events of the day replayed like a broken record—Michael’s sudden reappearance, his whiskey-brown eyes piercing through her, his silence cutting deeper than words ever could.By the time she reached her room, her legs felt like they’d carry her no further. She opened the door, shut it behind her, and pressed her back against it, trying to steady her breathing. Her room, though lavish with its silk curtains and ornate furnishings, felt like a gilded cage.Evelyn paced the room,
Last Updated : 2024-12-20The bride's stand-In Rules
Evelyn stared at the folder resting on her lap, her fingers trembling as they traced the leather edges. The weight of the contract felt heavier than the paper it was written on. She had been prepared for rules, of course—her life had always been governed by someone else’s terms—but seeing them spelled out so coldly made the situation all the more real.Her eyes hovered over the first page again: Contract of Matrimonial Agreement.The title itself made her stomach churn. She gritted her teeth and turned to the rules, her heartbeat quickening as she read.Rule 1: ConfidentialityThe words were sharp and unyielding. No one was to know the truth of their arrangement. Not her family, not the staff, not even strangers. Evelyn let out a bitter laugh.“What family would I even tell?” she muttered, her voice tinged with sarcasm. Her father had handed her over like a pawn, and her sister had run off without a care. She had no one.Still, the rule felt isolating. It was as though the contract wa
Last Updated : 2024-12-20The bride's stand-In Trip
Then she signed the contract and slept off, the weight of the decision pressing on her mind as she drifted into a restless sleep. The next morning, she was gently awakened by Artemis, her guard. His voice, calm and steady, cut through the haze of sleep.“Good morning, Miss Evelyn,” he said. “You have a long day ahead.”Evelyn groggily nodded, blinking against the softness of the bed as she tried to adjust to the reality of her new life. She felt like a stranger in her own body, still trying to make sense of everything that had happened. Without much choice, she let Artemis guide her through the motions of the morning.The servants had prepared her bath—warm water filled with the faint scent of lavender and rose. She sank into it, the heat soothing her body but doing little to calm her racing thoughts. Afterward, the maids laid out her clothes for the day.For the first time, Evelyn wore an expensive gown. It was tight, the fabric hugging her curves in a way that felt both uncomfortabl
Last Updated : 2024-12-20The bride's stand-In Ready?
As Evelyn made her way back to her room, her mind buzzed with confusion and anticipation. Michael had said they would be leaving in an hour, but what did that actually mean? She had no idea where they were going, or why. Everything about him felt like a mystery she wasn’t sure she was ready to solve.The unfamiliar tightness of the gown she wore made her feel out of place, as though she didn’t belong in such opulence. But it was more than that. The air between them, the silence that hung in the dining room, had been thick with something unspoken—something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Michael was so... controlled. His every movement, his every word, calculated with precision. It was as if he were playing a game, and she was still trying to figure out the rules.She glanced at Artemis, who stood nearby, her red hair swept back into a neat ponytail. The guard's eyes never left her, always watching, always alert. Evelyn couldn’t help but feel like a piece of merchandise under her
Last Updated : 2024-12-20The bride's stand-In Whisper
The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the chandelier above them and the subtle clink of silverware as the waitstaff, who had appeared seemingly from nowhere, began to serve their meal. Evelyn sat across from Michael, the tension between them palpable despite the luxurious surroundings. She wasn’t sure what to expect from this evening, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was a performance—a game she hadn’t yet learned to play.Michael’s gaze was still locked on her, unreadable. There was something dangerous in the way he observed her, like a predator sizing up its prey. Evelyn fidgeted with the edge of her napkin, trying to keep her hands steady, but every time she tried to look away, her eyes were drawn back to him. He was impossible to ignore. His presence filled the room, commanding it with an ease that both fascinated and terrified her.When the waiter placed the first dish in front of them—a delicate plate of lobster bisque—Evelyn found herself staring at it
Last Updated : 2024-12-20The bride's stand-In Diane is back
The morning sun filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the bed. Evelyn stirred, still disoriented from the previous night’s events. Her mind was a jumble of confusion, anger, and something else—something she couldn’t quite name. She hadn’t expected to wake up like this, in this grand bed, with Michael’s presence looming over her.And there he was. Sitting on the edge of a stool, freshly emerged from the bathroom, his damp hair still falling loosely around his face. He was naked, his body sculpted and defined, a living, breathing testament to perfection. His eyes met hers, dark and intense, and for a moment, Evelyn felt a strange flutter in her chest. He didn’t speak immediately, just gazed at her with that enigmatic, seductive look that left her breathless. The air between them was thick, oppressive, and she could almost taste the tension.He reached down, slowly wiping the stool in a deliberate motion, as if to remind her of his control, of his presence in h
Last Updated : 2024-12-20
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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
