Chapter 4

That night, I received a message from Ethan.

"Can't even wait ten years? Stella."

"Since you insist on getting married, I'll send you a big gift tomorrow."

It wasn't that I couldn't wait. I just didn't see the point anymore.

I didn't reply. I blocked the unfamiliar number.

On the wedding day, Noah invited many relatives and friends.

He said he wanted more people to witness our happiness.

The large screen behind us displayed our wedding photos.

They flashed by one after another.

I suddenly remembered that when I married Ethan, we never even took proper wedding photos.

He made excuses—too tired, too busy at work—always finding reasons to put me off.

Later I understood. He wasn't too busy. He was spending all his time with Ivy and simply couldn't get away.

As the last wedding photo faded, the guests thought it was over. But then more photos appeared.

They showed me half-naked, my cheeks flushed, eyes unfocused, completely drunk and unconscious.

Whispers spread through the guests below.

"This woman has no shame. Look how exposed she is."

"Could she be a prostitute?"

"How inappropriate to show photos like this at a wedding. She's disgraced the entire family."

A bolder relative stood up and advised Noah directly.

"Noah, I think you should call off this wedding."

"I'll introduce you to someone better later."

"This woman is clearly no good. That kid is probably some illegitimate child she's too embarrassed to admit to, so she's calling it her sister."

"Still involved with her ex-husband, and now a child appears out of nowhere. If you really marry her, you'll regret it."

Noah quickly had the staff turn off the screen and apologized to me repeatedly.

I knew whose doing this was. Utterly despicable—just like his fake death eight years ago.

Noah still held my waist tightly.

"Stella is a wonderful woman. Those photos must be someone's malicious prank."

"And our wedding is not for outsiders to comment on."

I scanned the crowd and spotted Ethan sitting in the corner, his eyes fixed on me.

A faint smile played at his lips, as if mocking me on stage.

I lifted my wedding dress and walked up to Ethan.

"Is this all you know how to do—these underhanded tricks? Now and eight years ago."

"Ethan, the biggest regret of my life was marrying you."

Ethan let out a scornful laugh, his gaze shifting to Noah behind me.

"Noah, you really want to pick up my leftovers?"

"You saw it yourself—what Stella looks like in those photos, didn't you?"

Then Ethan withdrew his gaze, his eyes crinkling.

"Stella, do you like the gift I sent?"

"Actually, if you'd just been nicer to me, I would've given you a proper explanation for those eight years."

"I could even bring you home to live with Ivy."

"I know how heartbroken you've been these eight years without me."

He deliberately leaned closer, a wicked smile on his lips.

"Do you dream about me every night? Do you miss me so much you can't sleep?"

"You're disgusting!"

Furious, I slapped Ethan across the mouth.

Ethan immediately straightened up. Every eye in the room turned to him.

"Stella, you're insane!"

Ethan grabbed a wine glass and hurled it at me.

Just as the glass was about to hit, a small voice called out from behind me.

"You bad man! Don't bully my sister!"

Ethan froze mid-motion, staring hard at the little girl.

"What did you call her?"

Emma said fiercely, repeating herself.

"She's my sister."

Ethan suddenly threw the wine glass at his feet and frowned.

"Stella, you don't even have parents. Where did this sister come from?"

"Who is this girl?"