Chapter 1: The Wedding That Never Happened
The ballroom became completely silent.
Diane Carter stood frozen in the center of the room, still holding the flowers that had slipped slightly from her hands.
Her cheek burned.
Not because of the bruise.
Because of the humiliation.
Victoria Sterling stared at her with disgust.
“You ruined my wedding.”
The guests looked away.
Nobody wanted to get involved.
Nobody except Ethan Carter.
He pushed through the crowd and reached his mother.
“Mom.”
Diane looked at him.
For a moment, she tried to smile.
“I’m okay.”
But Ethan knew her too well.
His mother had spent her entire life protecting him.
She had worked three jobs after his father left.
She had given up everything so he could have a future.
And now she was standing in a wedding hall with a bruise on her face.
Ethan gently touched her cheek.
“Who did this?”
Diane looked away.
“Ethan, please.”
Victoria laughed.
“Oh, stop acting dramatic. She bumped into me, spilled flowers, and now she wants sympathy.”
Ethan turned slowly.
His expression changed.
The warm son disappeared.
A colder version appeared.
“Before we talk about the flowers…”
He looked at Victoria.
“Tell me why my mother has a bruise.”
Victoria’s smile faded.
“That’s not your concern.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“It became my concern the moment you touched her.”
The room waited.
Victoria crossed her arms.
“You’re really going to embarrass me in front of everyone?”
Ethan looked around.
“No.”
He took his mother’s hand.
“You did that yourself.”
Then he said the words nobody expected.
“The wedding is over.”
A gasp spread through the ballroom.
Victoria’s face turned pale.
“You can’t do this.”
Ethan shook his head.
“I already did.”
But as he walked away with Diane, one question remained.
May you like
What had Victoria done before the ceremony?
Because the bruise on Diane’s face was only the beginning.
