Chapter 4

My mom froze. "Sophia, what are you saying?"

I didn't look at her. Staring at Ethan's mother, I said slowly and clearly: "Forget the eight thousand. I don't want a single penny."

Ethan's mother's expression changed instantly—from scowling to smiling, faster than flipping a page. "That's more like it. Wouldn't it have been easier to do this from the start?"

Ethan also relaxed, a smile appearing on his face as he walked over to put his arm around me. "I knew you couldn't let me go."

I stepped aside, dodging his hand.

My mom stood frozen, looking at me with red-rimmed eyes full of disappointment.

My dad turned his face away, his shoulders shaking.

I couldn't bear to look at them.

I turned and opened the dressing room door, walking out.

As I left the dressing room, Ethan followed behind me.

"Sophia, wait for me."

I didn't stop.

"By the way, I didn't just invite ex-girlfriends," I said.

He froze, catching up to grab my arm. "What do you mean? Who else?"

I didn't answer.

"Say something! Sophia! Who else did you invite?"

I shook off his hand and kept walking.

The MC approached. "Bride, can we start?"

I nodded. "Let's begin."

The music started. I walked onto the stage. Ethan stood opposite me, smiling stiffly, his eyes constantly glancing at those three empty tables.

The MC announced loudly: "Does anyone here object to this union?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the banquet hall doors burst open.

A woman walked in. She wore a loose dress, one hand supporting her slightly swollen belly, walking step by step to the front of the stage.

When Ethan saw her face, he froze completely. "Why are you here?"

She didn't look at him. She raised her head to address everyone, her voice not loud but every word clear: "I object. And so does the baby in my belly."

The entire hall erupted.

I looked at her belly, then at Ethan's face, which had turned deathly pale in an instant.

In that moment, I understood everything.

I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.

The crack echoed through the silent hall.

Ethan covered his face, eyes wide, staring at me. Before he could speak, the doors moved again.

A second woman walked in.

"I object too."

A third.

"I also object."

Fourth, fifth, sixth... Over thirty women walked in one after another.

Five of them were visibly pregnant.

They lined up in three rows in front of the stage, all staring at Ethan.

The entire venue exploded. People stood up, some screamed, some held up their phones to record.

Ethan's face was deathly pale, his whole body trembling on stage.

He shouted at security: "Get them out! All of them out! Security!"

Security rushed up to remove the women. The women struggled, screaming "scumbag" and "liar," their voices sharp and piercing.

Ethan grabbed the microphone, his voice shrill and panicked: "Continue the ceremony! Ignore them! Continue!"

I smiled. I took off my ring and threw it hard at his face.

"No need to continue. I object too."

I turned to face everyone below the stage, saying slowly and clearly: "I organized this wedding to expose this scumbag."

The big screen lit up.

Ethan's expression changed instantly.

He rushed over frantically: "Turn it off! Turn it off now!"