Chapter 5

I stared at him, my fingernails digging deep into my palms.

Only I knew what he really meant: marrying me was his mistake.

He hadn't carried the wrong person. From the very beginning, the only one he wanted to hold was my sister.

"I don't mind," I said, my voice so calm it surprised even myself.

The corner of his mouth ticked up, clearly pleased with my compliance.

When it was time to leave, I held up my wedding gown and went toward the back seat of the limo.

Ethan, already sitting inside, glanced at me and ordered:

"Go sit in the front passenger seat. Let Sienna sit in the back."

I paused, looking up at him.

Having a bridesmaid sit with the groom in the back while the bride sat alone in the front was unheard of. He was intentionally humiliating me.

"Why?" I clenched my fists.

"Do you really need a reason?" he sneered. "Sienna gets carsick easily. Is that enough?"

Carsick? Everyone knew that sitting in the front passenger seat was better for motion sickness.

Several of the groom's relatives who came to assist with the wedding gave me amused, mocking looks.

My parents stood nearby, completely ignoring the situation as if they hadn't heard a thing.

Ethan leaned in closer, lowering his voice.

"Baby, for the sake of the baby in your womb, just bear with it. I promise you're still the main event today."

"But you can't expect to get me without paying some price, right?"

The baby. He was still using the baby as leverage.

I looked into his eyes and smiled coldly. "Sure."

I silently picked up my skirt, got out of the back, and sat in the front passenger seat.

And my sister, without saying a word or looking at me, naturally slid into the back seat next to Ethan.

She even playfully bumped my shoulder as she walked past, as if she were throwing a childish tantrum.

Between her sister and a man, she always chose the man.

When they slept together, when they signed the license, and now.

The bridal motorcade set off toward the venue.

In the rearview mirror, I saw the two of them secretly holding hands, their fingers tightly intertwined.

Sienna’s face was solemn, her head turned to the window as she fought back tears.

Ethan stared at her with eyes full of heartache.

What a pair of tragic lovers.

I coldly looked away.

Why cry? I'll set you free in a moment.

...

Finally, it was time for the ring exchange ceremony.

Sienna held the ring box, walking down the aisle with grace and poise.

The guests on both sides whispered among themselves.

"Why is the maid of honor wearing white? Isn't that clashing with the bride's dress?"

"Yeah, if I didn't know better, I'd think she was the bride."

"Probably just wants to steal the spotlight..."

But it was only minor gossip; no one truly cared.

Ethan took the female ring and went to slide it onto my ring finger. It was loose and clearly didn't fit.

I stared at the ring and suddenly spoke aloud: "This isn't my ring."

Ethan’s brows furrowed in annoyance.

"Chloe, don't make a scene. We're in the middle of the ceremony."

I looked up at him, raising my voice so everyone could hear:

"I said, this isn't my ring."

In the next second, I grabbed Sienna’s hand and slid the ring onto her finger.

The camera feed instantly projected a close-up on the giant screen.

Everyone could see clearly that the wedding ring fit Sienna’s ring finger perfectly.

The crowd gasped in shock.

Sienna's face went pale. She tried to pull her hand back, but I held on tight.

Ethan glared at me with a furious expression, whispering through gritted teeth:

"Chloe, have you lost your mind?"

"Think about your baby! Do you want him to grow up without a father?"

"Do you want to be a pregnant, rejected woman that nobody wants?"

He sneered, confident he had me trapped.

"You'd better use your brain before you do something stupid."

"Ruining this wedding does no good for either of us."

"You mean it does no good for *you*," I corrected him gently.

"What?" He was stunned.

"You're the one who needs this marriage as a cover-up, not me."

"And that baby won't grow up without a father."

"Because," my smile turned ice-cold, "he's already gone."

His expression shattered. "What did you say?"

"What do you mean? Chloe, make yourself clear! What happened to the baby?!"

I smiled and remained silent.

Suddenly, the big screen went black. Then, my mom's voice echoed through the entire hall from the speakers: