He Tripped Me at the Wedding So She Could Catch the Bouquet Chapter 04

He Tripped Me at the Wedding So She Could Catch the Bouquet Chapter 04

Neither of our families knew about the miscarriage.

They’d been gently complaining, cornering me into afternoon tea with them.

“Ellie, what have you and Ethan been so busy with? We’ve tried to visit, but you both keep saying you’re tied up.”

Ethan’s mom put on a mock pout. “I called him late the other night, and I swear I heard his assistant’s voice in the background.”

“You two need to take better care of yourselves. Don’t work so late.”

I smiled. The words sat there, stuck in my throat.

Ethan spotted us first.

Neither of us expected to run into each other at the mall.

He pulled me aside without a second thought.

“Zoe and her parents are here. If we run into them, it’s going to be a mess to explain.”

“Why don’t you take my mom and your mom to another part of the mall?”

His hand reached up, rubbing my earlobe. “Yeah?”

Soft music played through the speakers. For no reason at all, it grated on me.

I stepped back, putting distance between us.

His hand dropped. He pulled it back like it was nothing.

“I figured you were too busy to deal with us anyway. I was going to wait until Zoe’s parents left.”

“But honestly? I can’t wait another second.”

He had no idea what I meant.

Probably annoyed that I’d dodged him, he leaned in to kiss me.

I turned my head. His lips hit my cheek.

“Wait for what? Okay, I get it. Once they’re gone, I’ll make it up to you.”

“Come on. Be good.”

I rubbed my cheek hard, twice. Like I could scrub off the feeling.

My voice was quiet. My eyes weren’t.

“Ethan. Don’t make this feel like some cheap affair.”

“We’re break—”

Before I could finish, both our moms stepped out of the store. They’d already seen us.

Their faces lit up.

“Ethan! What are you doing here? I thought you were busy?”

Ethan didn’t miss a beat.

“Just meeting a client nearby, Mom.”

My fingers curled, almost imperceptibly.

I remembered how, after he promised to set boundaries with Zoe, we’d actually spent less time together.

He always said work kept him busy.

Zoe had posted a photo once. Just a corner of the frame, but you could see his hand—those sharp, clean knuckles.

I asked him what that was about. He said he was in a client meeting.

Same exact tone.

He pulled out a credit card and handed it to me, casual as ever.

“Whatever my three ladies want today—it’s on me.”

“Call it my apology.”

Both moms laughed, delighted.

They teased me about being the richest woman in the family.

I watched them smile. The words I wanted to say got stuck again. I swallowed them back down.

Ethan was eager to get me moving. He pushed the card into my hand.

Then he turned.

Heavy footsteps that sounded like they were about to bring the whole building down. Someone grabbed my hair from behind.

A hand used to rough work. Manual labor. Iron work.

A slap landed across my face. Hard.

My cheek swelled instantly. Five red marks, clear as day. My ears rang like they’d burst.

Chaos.

Someone was holding Zoe’s mom back, but she kept lunging, like she wanted to tear me apart.

“I knew you were trouble the last time I saw you at my daughter’s place.”

“You’re just a homewrecker trying to move in on my daughter’s man, chasing him here for money!”

Her hair was a mess. She was ready to drop to the floor and make a scene.

“Everyone, listen!”

“This woman is a homewrecker! She claimed she was my daughter’s boyfriend’s assistant, but she followed him home!”

“You think people can’t see right through you?”

“I saw you with my own eyes—grabbing at him, trying to take his credit card!”

“My daughter told me everything. This homewrecker just had an abortion!”

“So shameless. No self-respect. Still trying to cling to my daughter’s man.”

“You’re not getting away with this. Over my dead body!”

She was loud. Word after word after word.

People stopped to stare. Eyes full of disgust.

My mom couldn’t even touch my swollen face. She just cried, her hands shaking.

“What are you talking about?! My daughter is not that kind of person!”

Zoe’s mom only got worse.

“Look at the two of you, all dolled up.”

“Probably the older one was just as dirty, and the daughter learned from her. The whole family’s nothing but—”

She didn’t finish.

Zoe pushed through the crowd and ran to her mother’s side.

She dropped to her knees, trying to cover her mom’s mouth. Her face was completely white.

Her hands were trembling. When she looked at me, there was nothing but panic in her eyes.

“Mom, stop! Please stop!”