I Was the Mistress at My Own Wedding Chapter 02

I Was the Mistress at My Own Wedding Chapter 02

My face went pale.

Ethan and I had been together for seven years.

We knew each other inside and out. We were deeply in love, and even physically, we’d always been perfectly compatible.

Once, I had been sexually harassed.

Ethan had nearly beaten the man so badly he couldn’t stand just to defend me.

He had promised he would always protect me.

Now, every memory that had once made me happy felt like knives cutting into me.

Someone shoved me toward the hospital bed.

I was still wearing a wedding gown, something that should have symbolized happiness.

But standing there in front of everyone, I felt as if every ounce of my dignity had been stripped away and I was being put on trial.

Then a familiar, gentle voice spoke.

“Adrian, don’t do this to her.”

I jerked my head up.

My eyes landed on the woman lying in the hospital bed.

The next second, my entire body froze.

Claire.

My boss.

When I’d first graduated from college and started working, I’d been completely inexperienced.

Claire had patiently taught me and helped me grow.

She had also given me the opportunities that helped me get where I was today.

In a city where I hadn’t known anyone, she had been my first friend.

Whenever Ethan and I fought, I went to her.

Claire always listened patiently, comforted me, and helped me sort through our problems.

She was like a kind, patient older sister.

But now…

The woman in front of me was Ethan’s wife.

I wanted to laugh.

I couldn’t.

I wanted to cry.

But I couldn’t even form a complete sentence.

Claire’s brother, Adrian, stared at me coldly.

“What are you standing there for? Apologize.”

Adrian pressed down hard on my shoulder.

My knees buckled beneath me.

Just as I was about to fall, Ethan frowned and instinctively stepped forward to catch me.

Adrian turned and punched him across the face.

He only backed off when Claire told him to stop.

I collapsed onto the floor, trembling all over.

But what had I actually done wrong?

I had never known Ethan had a wife from a marriage of convenience.

Just last week, he’d proposed to me in front of my parents with a ring in his hand.

I’d seen the joy and reluctance in my parents’ eyes, put on this wedding gown, and looked forward to giving Ethan the rest of my life.

And now, I couldn’t even find the strength to stand.

“I didn’t know…”

“I wasn’t his mistress… I was lied to, too…”

My voice shook so badly I could barely get the words out.

Adrian suddenly let out a cold laugh.

“My sister went through more than a dozen injections for this baby.”

“She bought baby clothes, stocked up on all the baby supplies, and even picked out names.”

“If you hadn’t posted that wedding announcement on social media just to show off to everyone, you shameless slut, my sister never would’ve been pushed that far.”

He stared at me.

“She never would’ve lost the baby.”

Ethan’s eyes reddened.

He grabbed me off the floor and yanked me upright.

Then he tore the wedding band from my finger.

The skin on my finger split open as the ring came off.

Blood immediately welled up.

But the pain in my hand was nothing compared to what I felt inside.

“Lily, I’m the one who wronged you.”

“If you’re angry, take it out on me.”

“You can do whatever you want to me.”

“But you never should’ve hurt Claire.”

Everyone around me began condemning me.

“What kind of kept woman doesn’t even know her place? She knew exactly what she was and still had the nerve to show up in front of his wife.”

“She’s obviously trying to take the wife’s place. You can tell she’s not innocent.”

I wanted to explain.

I wanted to tell them they were wrong.

I wasn’t the woman they thought I was.

I had been deceived, too.

But the words lodged in my throat.

I couldn’t get a single one out.

Just when I was on the verge of breaking down completely, the hospital room door burst open.

My parents had finally arrived.

Dad rushed straight at Ethan and punched him in the face.

“You promised you’d take good care of my daughter.”

“Is this what you call taking care of her?”

I forced myself up from the floor and stumbled toward Mom.

Then, without warning, the entire room fell silent.

My head snapped to the side.

Mom had slapped me.

Her hand was still trembling.

She pointed at me, her face filled with anger and disappointment.

“How did I raise a daughter like you?”

“How could you be shameless enough to become another man’s mistress?”