Chapter 6
By now, all of Riverdale City knew that today was my grand engagement day with Ethan Reed. Some curious older women and young girls even made a special trip to the Grand Hyatt Hotel just to watch what they called the most over–the–top, no–expense–spared engagement ceremony they’d ever seen.
Nathan Brooks was driving Chloe home from the hospital when he noticed the flower petals blanketing the city streets. Laughing, he remarked, “I wonder who’s getting married today–the bride must be the happiest woman alive.”
But when his car passed the hotel entrance, his gaze was drawn upward–to the massive outdoor screen playing a loop of photos of Ethan holding me, both of us smiling with unabashed joy.
Beside the images were bold, gold–plated words scrolling across the screen: Congratulations to Mr. Ethan Reed and Miss Sophia Carter on Their Engagement.
In that instant, Nathan’s face hardened. He slammed the brakes, jumped out of the car, and
stormed toward the hotel entrance.
He flung open the doors, his chest heaving, and his voice boomed across the hall.
“Sophia Carter!”
“Who gave you permission to get engaged? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
Ethan and I were just raising our glasses for the final toasting ritual when Nathan stormed onto the stage, yanked the glass from my hand, and tried to drag me away.
Ethan’s fist connected with his face in a single, clean punch, sending Nathan staggering to the
floor.
He scrambled up, ready to retaliate, but eight bodyguards stepped in unison to block his path. “Get out of my way,” Nathan’s voice shook with fury. “Sophia is my fiancée, and I’m taking her with me today.”
Ethan stepped forward, steadying me with one arm.
“Sweetheart, remember when you said someone bullied you, and you wanted me to get that back for you? How about I do that right now?”
Robert Reed’s face was equally grim.
“So it’s the Brooks family’s bastard son, barging in to ruin my son’s wedding. Sounds like he needs to be taught a lesson.”
Ethan smiled warmly at me, the picture of elegance.
“Sweetheart, didn’t he force you to kowtow to his mistress last time? Let’s have him return the favor today, just to make you feel better.”
With a wave of his hand, the bodyguards closed in on Nathan, shoving him to the ground and pinning his shoulders. One delivered a swift kick to his side.
Ethan kept his refined smile as he pressed Nathan’s head down against the plush carpet–thud. thud–just as Nathan had once slammed mine against the floor. And he didn’t hold back in the
alightant
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slightest.
The guests began murmuring among themselves.
“ils Brooks trying to crash the wedding?”
“Who knows? Wasn’t he pursuing Miss Carter before? I heard lately he’s been obsessed with the Carter family’s adopted girl, always out together.”
At that, every eye turned toward Chloe, who stood frozen at the doorway, whispers swirling
around her.
Not wanting their presence to dampen the celebration, I tugged on Ethan’s arm.
“That’s enough. Just throw them out. Don’t let irrelevant people ruin our joy.”
Only then did Chloe rush forward, tears shimmering in her eyes as she helped Nathan to his feet.
“Sis, you’ve gone too far. Just because I’m in poor health, Nathan took care of me for a few days in the hospital–how could you move on so quickly? Isn’t that too fickle? How can you betray his true heart like this?”
I let out a short, mocking laugh.
“Chice, isn’t this exactly what you wanted? Haven’t you been dreaming of breaking us up so you can take my place as the Brooks family’s second lady?”
Her cheeks flushed crimson as tears spilled down her face, but she lifted her chin defiantly.
“You’re lying. Nathan and I are completely innocent–we’re just like brother and sister. Don’t you dare slander my purity.”
Nathan’s face darkened as he jabbed a finger at me.
“Sophia Carter, Chloe fell into the frozen pond saving you–that’s why she’s been frail and sick ever since. I only looked after her for a few days, and you rush to marry another man? You’re heartlesst
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“Miss Carter’s always had feelings for Brooks. Could it be she’s just marrying Ethan out of
spine?”
