All Chapters of The bride's stand-In: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Evelyn stirred, her body aching in unfamiliar ways. As consciousness returned, the events of the previous night replayed vividly in her mind. The soft sheets against her skin reminded her of how Michael's hands had roamed her body, his lips igniting sensations she had never thought possible. But the soreness wasn't just physical—it lingered in her thoughts, clawing at her confidence. This wasn't her first time. Evelyn swallowed hard, memories of Liam surfacing like an unwanted ghost. Her ex-boyfriend, her college love, had been her first. But it hadn't been like this. That night had been a blur of alcohol and betrayal. Liam had taken advantage of her drunken state, ignoring her protests, and afterward, she had convinced herself it had been her fault for drinking too much. She had given her body willingly, but the way he had used her left a bitter scar she couldn't erase. She pushed the thought aside, staring up at the ceiling, her mind clouded with new fears. What if Michael hadn't

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.

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

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

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