His Wedding Missed, My Fortune Found

Start Reading

After trying on the wedding dress, Ethan gently pulled the seatbelt over and fastened it for me.

Babe, I've seen you in the wedding dress. I won't be attending the wedding.

I froze in shock. What do you mean?

He smiled and kissed my forehead.

I've fallen for a younger woman. She has a temper and refuses to be a mistress. I got a marriage certificate with her this morning.

"I'm someone else's husband now. If I go through with our wedding ceremony, my wife will be heartbroken."

My mind buzzed, my voice shaking uncontrollably. "Why?"

His tone was apologetic yet innocent. "Babe, you're the one I love most, but men... we're always drawn to eighteen-year-old girls."

"If you still want a wedding, find a man to pretend to be the groom. Don't shortchange yourselfit breaks my heart."

I pressed the pregnancy test result deeper into my pocket.

He was right.

I shouldn't shortchange myself.

Ethan acted like nothing had happened, habitually ruffling my hair.

"She's incredibly stubborn. If I didn't get the marriage certificate with her, she wouldn't let me touch her at all."

"I pursued her for nearly half a year. She only gave me her first time yesterday."

I stared at him as if someone had their hands around my throat, my limbs turning cold.

But he smiled deeply. "Right in the seat you're sitting in. Like a little wildcatscratching and clawing, then melting into softness."

Following his lingering, reminiscing gaze, I looked at the windshield.

Palm prints, large and small, overlapping. Not yet faded.

A wave of nausea surged up my throat.

I gripped the seatbelt so hard my eyes reddened.

He cupped my bloodless face, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Why are you crying? You're still Mrs. Walker."

In Ethan's seductive eyes, there was still that impossibly thick affection.

As if he wasn't the one who'd just casually mentioned getting a certificate with another woman, or the one with that intoxicated look while describing passionate entanglement in my seat.

The absurd sense of disconnection swept through my entire body.

I couldn't breathe.

He sighed helplessly. "I know you're uncomfortable, but she's sensitive. If I attend the wedding, she'll definitely cry. She's different from other womenpure and virtuous, wanting only devoted love. I pursued her for half a year before she gave herself to me. I have to take responsibility. You've always been understanding and considerate. You'll understand, right?"

Half a year.

We'd been planning our wedding for half a year too.

So while he personally handled every detail of the wedding I wantedthe style, the venue, the flowers, the invitations

He was also working tirelessly in places I couldn't see, doing everything in his power to sleep with another woman.

I curled my frozen fingers, numbly closing my eyes.

"Since you've married someone else, let's end this."

He paused for two seconds, then laughed. "Don't say things you don't mean."

"You've been with me since you were eighteen. You've had two abortions. If you leave me, what man out there would want you?"

I stared at him.

My heart felt like red-hot coals were rolling across it.

Ten years. We'd lived under bridges, shared single bowls of instant noodles. In the hardest times, we could only drink water to fill our stomachs.

Because we had no money, we couldn't afford birth control or proper abortions.

In the freezing cold, I deliberately exposed myself, climbed stairs and threw myself down them.

Through the pain, crying until I was exhausted, I lost two children.

Ethan had knelt by my hospital bed, stabbing himself twice.

With bloody hands trembling, he covered my eyes, speaking word by word in my ear: "Peyton, I'll make sure you live a good life. If I ever wrong you, may I die a terrible death."

That promise was heavy. I believed it for half my life.

But now, it was easily defeated by a woman he'd known for six months.

I didn't understand how someone who loved me so much could suddenly turn rotten.

His phone rang with a special ringtone.

One that had appeared many times at night. Ethan always said it was clients.

Because I trusted him so much, I never doubted.

Now I realized how stupid I'd been.

He didn't answer immediately, his voice calm like he was pacifying an unreasonable child.

"Why make trouble over a plaything? We have ten years together. Are you really going to give up over a piece of paper?"

"You're not young anymore, Peyton. No parents, no mother, no job. Only I'll take care of you. Keep making a scene and it won't end well."

He pulled the car to the roadside. "Take a taxi home yourself. I'm picking her up. Think carefully about what I said."

The car door closed like a heavy slap.

Watching the speeding car disappear, I bent over the roadside, vomiting until my face was covered in tears.

Ethan was wrong. No one gets a marriage certificate with a toy.

That certificate I'd waited ten years for and never received.

True love never changesit just transfers.

I looked up at the gloomy sky, my heart hollow and drafty.

After a long while, I picked up my phone and made a call.

When I got home, Ethan's Bentley was parked outside.

Through the cracked car window, a man's languid panting drifted out.

"Call me darling."

"Darling..."

"Who do you love most?"

"You, of course..."

"Such a good girl. I'd die for you."

I stood there, my face drained of color.

Even though the summer sun was scorching and hot, I felt like I was standing in freezing cold.

An hour later, Ethan walked in with his arm around a petite woman.

Seeing me sitting in the living room, Sophia acted like she'd suffered a great injustice, her eyes instantly welling up.

"Why is she here? Didn't you say this was our home?"

"Are you lying to me? You still can't let her go, can you?"

"Even if I love you, I'll never sell my dignity to be your mistress. I'm leaving right now!"

Ethan hurried to stop her, hugging and embracing her, trapping her in his arms. "What are you thinking? The marriage certificate has the official seal on it. You're my wife. This is our home. She's here to pack her things."

He looked at me without explanation or apology.

"Peyton, the suburban villa is quiet with few people around. Go stay there for a while."

My mind went blank for a moment.

Before anger could arrive, my heart felt a dull, physiological pain.

Three years ago, when we moved into this villa, Ethan had held me with reddened eyes.

"Peyton, this is our home from now on. You, me, and our children."

But now, this man who promised me a home was kicking me out of it three years later.

"Peyton, my wife isn't happy. I don't want to say it twice."

He smiled, but his lowered voice carried clear warning.

My sore throat felt blocked by soaked cotton.

I realized in a daze that he wasn't joking.

After a long silence, under his confident certainty, I nodded hoarsely.

"I understand."

Ethan stared at my retreating back, something stirring in his eyes. He suddenly strode forward and grabbed me, his voice softening slightly. "There's an event this afternoon. Come with me."

Just as I was about to refuse, he interrupted first.

"It's Sophia's first time at this kind of event. Help her with her dress and give her support."

I froze, feeling absurdly like laughing.

Thinking of the little time I had left, I didn't argue.

Before the event, Sophia claimed she had no suitable dress.

From my wardrobe, she precisely picked out the most luxurious birthday gift Ethan had ever given mea unique dress worth six hundred million dollars with matching jewelry.

She held Ethan's arm while I carried her train, becoming the center of attention at the entire event.

The guests' mockery and whispered gossip followed me like shadows.

"Mr. Walker really knows how to handle women. Having his wife carry his mistress's trainshe doesn't dare say a word."

"What Mrs. Walker? Don't you know Mr. Walker already got a certificate with this little mistress? Peyton is just trash who's been used for ten years. She's nothing."

"How stupid must she be to get nothing after ten years? Pathetic. Living like something worse than a dogshe might as well be dead."

I fled the banquet hall and hid in the restroom.

But I heard someone teasing Ethan.

"Ethan, Peyton followed you for ten years. Did you really get a certificate with that innocent girl?"

"She wanted security. It's just a piece of paper. What can it change?"

"What if Peyton runs away? Won't you regret it?"

My heart tightened, but I heard him laugh carelessly.

"Peyton's whole world is me. After following me for ten years, I've already broken her in. She's no different from a dirty old rag now."

"I know her too well. When I get tired of playing around, she'll still be standing there waiting for me like a good girl."

I couldn't hear the rest.

I walked to the sink, desperately splashing water on my face, finally biting down on the flesh between my thumb and index finger.

Watching water mix with humiliated tears splash into the sink, I didn't cry out loud.

Ethan, this time you bet wrong.

This dirty rag you despise won't wait for you anymore.

Turning to leave the restroom, I was suddenly struck across the face.

I covered my burning cheek, turning my head in disbelief.

Sophia rolled her wrist, the gentleness on her face peeling away. "You heard everything. Ethan already got a certificate with me, and you're still shamelessly clinging to him? How cheap can you be?"

"If you love being a mistress and getting used by men so much, go to a brothel."

"Though a freebie like you who's been played for ten years is only fit to pair up with trash from the slums."

My head buzzed, my vision filled only with the woman's sharp, mean face and constantly moving mouth.

I laughed in fury, but Sophia didn't give me a chance to fight back. She suddenly screamed, tore open the front of her dress, and threw herself backward.

"Peyton!"

A cold voice exploded behind me.

Ethan rushed over, helping Sophia up and pulling her into his arms.

She cried so hard she could barely stand, tears flowing instantly. "Ethan, I'm the mistress. I ruined your relationship with Miss Reed. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have appeared. I'm a vicious homewrecker."

As she spoke, she slapped herself hard twice across the face.

Ethan grabbed her hands, his eyes trembling.

"Who said those things to you?"

Sophia bit her lip, clutching her clothes desperately. "Please, don't ask."

But when her eyes swept over me, she shook her head in fear.

"Someone like me can't afford to offend wealthy ladies like you. Ethan, I'm not worthy of you. Let me go. I don't want to die mysteriously someday."

He frowned, his gaze turning hostile as he stared at me.

"Explain!"

I lowered my hand, revealing my swollen red cheek.

"You should ask what she said."

"Miss Reed!" Sophia shrieked, her voice sharp and piercing. "I did slap you, but only because you threatened me with my parents' lives. They're just ordinary people. If you're not satisfied, let me hit you back. I'm begging you, don't hurt them."

My eyes turned red with anger. "You're lying. It was clearly you who"

"Enough." Ethan cut me off coldly, looking at me with disappointment. "Peyton, I've spoiled you."

"Do you think just because you have no parents, I can't touch you?"

Perhaps I'd expected it all along. Perhaps my heart had grown cold long ago.

I laughed hollowly, my eyes burning painfully. "So what do you want to do to stand up for your wife?"

He walked slowly toward me, methodically removing from my finger the ring he'd personally made for me when he earned his first fortune.

He turned to his assistant.

"Call the police. My wife's jewelry was stolen. We've caught the thief red-handed."

I forgot how to move, my mind completely blank.

Ethan's rise to success hadn't been easy. He was accustomed to ruthlessness.

I was his only weakness.

Regardless of right or wrong, he always sided with family over justice.

In River City, no one dared use dirty tricks on me.

But now, the person plunging the knife into my heart was him.

Ethan caressed the ring, his cold features becoming increasingly unfamiliar through the tears welling in my eyes.

"Peyton, you're too disobedient. Go inside and reflect for a few days."

"Don't worry, it won't be long. When you come out, I'll put the ring back on your finger myself."

I pulled my lips into a mocking smile.

As the police officers walked in and handcuffed me, I expressionlessly withdrew the hand he was holding.

The suddenly empty sensation made Ethan frown uneasily. He stared at my retreating back with the strange feeling he'd never be able to hold onto me again.

Just as he was about to step forward, Sophia grabbed his arm first.

"Ethan, thank you for standing up for me. I was so scared just now."

He clicked his tongue and pinched her face affectionately. "What compensation do you want?"

Sophia smiled and snatched the ring from his hand, tossing it into the trash.

Seeing his expression change, she immediately teared up guiltily. "Is it that important?"

She made as if to dig through the trash. "Then I'll find it for you. After all, it's ten years of history. Even though she hurt me, I don't want to make things difficult for you."

Ethan pulled her back by the waist, his heart melting completely. "How could it be more important than you? Don't dirty your hands. Here's my black cardbuy whatever you want."

Sophia huffed indignantly and refused. "I don't want your money. I only love you as a person."

"Yes, yes, yes. I want to spend money on my wife. If you don't spend it, I'll feel terrible."

Only then did she reluctantly accept it.

Three days later, I was brought out of solitary confinement in a daze.

I was escorted directly to a private room in a club.

Pushing open the door, Ethan and Sophia were sharing a grape on the center sofa.

The grape dropped, and they took the opportunity to kiss deeply.

The cheering from the surrounding men and women nearly blew the roof off.

I don't know how long passed before Ethan noticed me standing at the door.

He stared at my gaunt, pale face, his expression immediately darkening. "What happened? Did someone bully you inside?"

Before I could speak, Sophia giggled.

"Miss Reed really knows how to manipulate men. With your relationship with Ethan, who would dare bully you? You must have spent a lot of time on this sickly makeupit looks so realistic."

Ethan's movement to stand up fell back down because of her words.

He knocked out a cigarette, lighting it with the flame Sophia offered.

Smoke blurred his features. Only those eyes looking at me showed suppressed impatience.

"Since you've reflected, come apologize to Sophia."

Sophia wore all white, sitting obediently in Ethan's arms, swirling a glass of alcohol with unknown proof.

"Actually, I don't want to make things difficult for you."

"But you insulted my parents. Anyone would be upset, right?"

She paused, as if remembering something, making a strange exclamation. "I forgotyour parents abandoned you as a child. You're a pitiful creature nobody wanted."

I said nothing.

She placed the drink on the coffee table and smiled. "Apologize."

I lowered my head. "I'm sorry."

Sophia shook her head. "Just words aren't sincere enough. This drink is sixty proof. Drink it."

I stared at the glass of bubbling green liquid, instinctively looking at Ethan.

During those years building his empire with him, I'd drunk myself into a perforated stomach at countless business dinners.

I'd been in the ICU several times.

Ethan had been terrified. He never let me touch alcohol again.

He knew better than anyone how close I'd come to dying on the operating table.

But now the man before me only exhaled a smoke ring indifferently, as if casually commenting on nice weather.

"Peyton, it's just one glass. Your tolerance isn't that low."

I'd stopped expecting anything long ago, yet my heart still clenched uncontrollably.

I picked it up and swallowed it down.

The burning pain seared from my throat straight into my stomach. My lower abdomen cramped. I staggered back two steps in pain.

"Miss Reed has such a good tolerance. Then drink these few glasses too."

Sophia pointed at a row of colorful drinks on the table.

My face turned cold.

Sophia looked at Ethan pitifully. "Ethan, she called me a mistress and threatened to kill my parents. My spirit has been so badly hurt. I'm only asking for this tiny bit of compensation. Is that too much?"

"Of course not." Ethan held her, stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray, saying matter-of-factly, "Peyton, I want to help you too, but what you did was too much. Listen to Sophia. Once she's appeased, you can atone."

I nodded calmly.

Clutching my knife-twisted abdomen, I picked up the decanter on the table. "A few glasses aren't enough to atone. I'll chug the bottle."

When the bottle hit the floor, I couldn't help spitting blood everywhere, collapsing weakly to the ground.

Sophia stepped back several paces in disgust. "Miss Reed, it's just one bottle. Did you really need to use blood packs?"

Ethan was also convinced by this explanation, frowning impatiently. "Enough. How long are you going to keep up this act? Sophia has been merciful enough to you. Still not embarrassed enough? Get up."

I didn't speak, just looked up at him.

The woman closest to me suddenly screamed.

"Bloodher pants are covered in blood. This is... she's having a miscarriage..."

Meeting Ethan's face instantly drained of color, I showed my first genuinely sincere smile of the day. "I've paid her back with your child too. Is that enough?"