Chapter 3

But now, his instinctive kick had exposed his true colors.

"Luna Vance! We came here today wanting to make peace before your wedding, and you have the nerve to hit Chloe!"

"I didn't! Chloe dug up my baby's ashes!"

If they had just looked inside the thermos, they would have seen her sick, twisted nature.

My adoptive mother scoffed. "Enough! Always making excuses! Let's go."

"Luna, the Vance family is completely done with you."

They all walked away. Just then, my asthma flared up.

I frantically searched my bag for my inhaler.

Ethan and Chloe had their backs to me.

"I reacted without thinking just now, Luna. But still, you shouldn't have hit Chloe."

"Our wedding is tomorrow. Just behave yourself."

"After all, the Cross family still has business with the Vances. No matter how jealous you are, it’s been ten years. You need to grow up."

I gasped for air, my vision blurring into darkness.

The suffocating despair made me pray that Ethan would just turn around and look at me one last time.

"Eth... Ethan..."

Chloe glanced back, taking in my struggling state.

"Ethan, my face hurts so much."

"Let's go. I’ll get you some ice."

He took Chloe’s hand and walked away without looking back.

My wheezing finally caught the attention of a waiter, who saved my life.

Clutching the thermos, my tears fell one after another.

My baby... I'm so sorry.

I failed to protect you.

After reburying the ashes, I went back home.

Ethan had been waiting for me. When he saw me, his eyes were filled with guilt.

"Luna, you know my family has a long history with the Vances... I had no choice but to do what I did."

He reached out to brush a stray hair from my face, but I flinched away.

I looked him straight in the eye, my voice calm.

"It's fine. I understand."

"Tomorrow, I'll finally have my own home."

He clearly didn't expect me to let it go so easily, and he pulled me into a tight embrace.

That night, Chloe called me.

"You're actually still alive. You saw us at the bridal shop, didn't you?"

"Must hurt like hell. I took Ethan from you too."

Hearing her words, I didn't get angry. Instead, a soft laugh escaped my lips.

"I saw. So what?" I asked quietly.

Chloe wasn't expecting me to be this calm. "Don't you want to know when Ethan and I started sleeping together?"

"Don't you want to know how far we've gone?"

"Holding hands, kissing, in bed?"

I replied without a change in my tone.

"Ethan and I have done all of that too. Are you trying to brag? Bragging that the man who was in your bed a few days ago is still choosing to marry me tomorrow?"

"Hmph, we'll see if this wedding actually happens!"

She sent me several intimate videos to trigger me. I saved every single one of them and added them to my edited video file.

A notification for my flight ticket popped up on my phone.

That night, Ethan held me close.

"Luna, tomorrow you'll be my wife."