All Chapters of The Substitute Twin Bride: Chapter 181 - Chapter 190

203 Chapters

181. Between Cold Skin and Burning Hearts

The Galician sky seemed to collapse that day.The rain was no longer a romantic drizzle or a refreshing mist. It was a storm. Rose and Matteo ran along the muddy road toward the center of Melide. They were soaked to the bone.The plastic poncho they bought at a souvenir shop had been torn apart by the wind three kilometers back. Matteo’s waterproof jacket had given up, defeated by the force of nature.“Over there! That’s the hostel!” Matteo shouted, his voice nearly drowned out by the roar of the rain.His finger pointed at an old stone building with warm yellow lights glowing from its windows. Rose didn’t answer, her teeth chattering from the cold. She only gave a quick nod and dragged her heavy feet, her shoes already filled with water.Matteo half-barged through the hostel door, breathing heavily and leaving puddles of water across the dry lobby floor.“Madre mía!” the innkeeper exclaimed in panic. “You look like you just came out of a river!”“One… room…” Matteo said, his voice tr

182. One Night We Couldn’t Undo

Rose returned Matteo’s kiss with the same intensity. Her arms circled his neck, her fingers tangling into his damp hair as she pulled him closer. The cold rain outside faded into nothing, replaced by the heat building between them.Matteo gently pushed Rose back until she was lying on the bed, hovering over her without breaking their kiss. His hands moved with urgency now, no longer hesitant as they traced her form beneath the blanket.“Matteo…” Rose breathed between their kisses.“I want you, Rose,” Matteo murmured against her neck, his voice rough. “Nothing else matters. It’s just you.”And in the middle of the storm that cut them off from the world, Rose let herself fall again. Tonight, there was only her, Matteo, and the emotions they had tried so hard to bury. Every boundary they had built came undone.Thunder roared outside, like a signal marking the beginning of something they both knew was dangerous.Matteo’s hands, once rough from gripping his hiking staff, now moved with a m

183. The Road to Arzúa, Alone

Rose woke up past midnight, and her sanity came rushing back like needles stabbing into her head. Her eyes stared at the dim ceiling of the room. What had she done?She had shared a bed with Matteo again. Which meant another betrayal of Aaron. Even though Aaron had sent her to Spain for her safety. While Aaron was out there fighting for her.“I’m terrible,” Rose whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks.What they had done was a sin by every moral standard. Yet ironically, Rose felt more whole in that sin… than in the false purity she had been living in.When morning came, Rose wasted no time leaving the motel room. The fresh morning air did nothing to make her feel better.Every breath felt tight. Guilt spread through her veins.Rose walked in silence, saying not a word to Matteo as they continued their journey. Her face was tense and gloomy. The silence was unbearable for Matteo.There were no more small jokes, and they even walked a meter apart. It was clear Rose was avoiding him a

184. A Pilgrim Lost Within Herself

Rose shrugged. “I don’t know, Pierre. It feels like I don’t even recognize myself anymore.”“So you’re on this journey to find who you really are?”“At first, I was looking for peace. But the longer I walk… the more I don’t even know why I’m doing this pilgrimage.”Pierre chuckled softly. “I’ve been walking from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, eight hundred kilometers. Honestly, I still don’t recognize myself either. That’s just how humans are, Rose. We’re constantly changing.”Rose stayed silent, offering no response.“But this journey has a unique way of uncovering our secrets. The ones that make us dishonest with ourselves.”Pierre’s words hit Rose like a slap. Honesty was exactly what she had been avoiding. Even though Matteo had told her again and again that they needed to be honest with each other.But she couldn’t do it. She didn’t want to hurt Aaron, but she didn’t want to lose Matteo either.“I’ve made a lot of mistakes,” Rose murmured without realizing it.“Haven’t we all?”They ex

185. At the Edge of No Return

It was the final day of Rose’s pilgrimage when she finally arrived at Praza do Obradoiro. A grand square that served as the heart of the holy city of Santiago. Before her stood the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, towering high with baroque spires piercing the gray sky.The cheers of pilgrims celebrating after walking hundreds of kilometers sounded like a melody. Rose stood frozen in the middle of the square. Goosebumps rose along her skin.At last, Rose had made it. She had walked 115 kilometers from Sarria. Her feet were blistered, her muscles ached, and her face was sunburned. Physically, Rose had conquered the Camino.But spiritually?Rose pressed her chest, feeling an emptiness there. She didn’t feel any enlightenment. What she felt was overwhelming exhaustion and a painful longing. A longing for Matteo.In the end, Rose offered a prayer in the cathedral. Her request was simple: she wanted peace and the ability to be more honest with herself.After the journey, Rose would ret

186. The Night She Stopped Pretending

Silence.Rose stood frozen in front of the door, suddenly overcome with regret. Why had she come here? Why had she come back at all?Rose was about to turn away when she heard the sound of a key turning inside the lock. The door opened slowly, and Matteo stood there.Matteo had just finished showering, wearing only a robe, his hair still wet. He looked slightly surprised, though he tried to act casual.“Hi,” Matteo greeted awkwardly—it turned out he couldn’t hide his nervousness.Rose didn’t answer; she stared at Matteo, looking for any sign that would let her leave. However, Matteo’s gaze revealed an equally intense longing, though he held it back.Matteo opened the door wider. “Want to come in?”For a moment, Rose just stood in the hallway, hesitant and confused. But eventually, she stepped inside. As the door closed behind her, her defenses crumbled.Rose turned to Matteo. “I can’t, Matteo. I’ve tried…”“Tried what, Rose?”“To be a good girl! I tried to be faithful; I prayed all th

187. Left Behind Without Goodbye

Rose returned to her room, leaving Matteo still fast asleep. She immediately grabbed her phone and stared at the screen, where a message from Aaron she hadn’t replied to yet was waiting.“Morning, Sweetheart! Are you up yet?” The message had come twenty minutes before Rose returned to the room.Rose took a deep breath, her hands slightly trembling as she prepared to reply. She answered briefly. “Yes, I’m up.”A call from Aaron came in. Instantly, Rose felt unprepared, but whether she liked it or not, she had to face reality. She picked up the call.“Good morning, Sweetheart,” Aaron greeted cheerfully. “Morning, Aaron.”“Are you ready? Mark will pick you up at eight. The jet’s already at the airport.”Rose fell silent. She wanted to say something, but her tongue felt heavy. Could she really tell Aaron directly when she got home? Ending a serious relationship like this felt unbearably hard.And saying it over the phone would be too cruel.“Yeah, okay. I’ll get ready,” Rose said.Rose q

188. He Begged, She Stayed

Rose returned to Aaron’s residence, where she was greeted warmly by her fiancé. Her expression couldn’t lie; there was something she wanted to say. It made Aaron pause the moment he hugged her and looked into her eyes.“Rose? What’s wrong?” Aaron asked. “Are you still thinking about your dad? I’m working on making sure he doesn’t bother you again.”Rose took a breath, slowly pulling away from his embrace. “It’s not just about my dad. There’s something else I need to tell you.”Aaron took her by the waist and guided her to sit down. His behavior was completely different now; he showed his affection and love openly, without holding back. This man had truly fallen deeply in love with her.But Rose knew she couldn’t lie to Aaron, or to herself.They sat on the couch, facing each other. Aaron’s eyes never left her face. Rose let out a long breath before finally speaking.She didn’t know what to say, but waiting any longer would only make her thoughts more tangled.“Aaron… I can’t marry you

189. Tomorrow, I Belong to Him

The mansion’s living room looked like it had been transformed into a flower shop. Hundreds of stems of lily of the valley and cream roses filled every corner, releasing a sweet scent that was almost intoxicating into the air.In the middle of that luxury, a mannequin stood tall, displaying the wedding gown that had just been delivered by the boutique. It was a perfect dress.Suzannah circled the mannequin with sparkling eyes. Her hands carefully touched the layers of silk tulle and intricate Chantilly lace decorating the gown.“Look at this, Rose,” Suzannah breathed in awe. “It’s a masterpiece. You’ll look like a fairy-tale princess at the altar tomorrow. Aaron will forget how to breathe when he sees you.”“He still needs to breathe,” Rose replied with a small grin.“For a split second.”Suzannah laughed softly, while Rose forced a “happy bride” smile. In truth, it was completely fake.“The dress is beautiful. Thank you for choosing it for me,” Rose said.Her words were sincere, truly

190. A Vow Never Spoken

The wedding day finally arrived in grandeur that left many in awe. The invited guests were ready to witness the young billionaire, Aaron, finally tying the knot—after previously letting go of Paris, a woman from his own social circle, despite being engaged to her for years.Many were curious about who Roseanne Baxter was, a name that had never once appeared at any gala or high-society fundraising event.The pipe organ began to echo, and as the wedding march played, the church doors slowly opened. Rose stood behind them, wearing the gown Suzannah had chosen for her.She looked like an angel descended to earth. Her face was set forward, her elegance radiating effortlessly. Though no one noticed, her eyes were empty.The guests exchanged glances and nodded among themselves. They agreed that Aaron’s choice this time was perfect, even if she didn’t come from the upper class.Rose stepped forward, gripping her bouquet tightly. In truth, she was holding back her nerves and disbelief at the p

...

16 17 18 19 20 21

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP