My Fiancé Sided With His Mischievous Childhood Friend, Until My Mother‑In‑Law Burst In Chapter 03

My Fiancé Sided With His Mischievous Childhood Friend, Until My Mother‑In‑Law Burst In Chapter 03

Ethan approached me and tried to touch me.

I moved away, leaving his hand suspended between us.

“Lily, you need to calm down first.”

I stared at him. “How am I supposed to calm down?”

His eyes moved over my scalp, and his throat worked.

“I know this hurts. But the wedding is tomorrow. The guests are already here, and both our families have arrived. If this blows up tonight, we won’t be able to contain it.”

“So?”

Ethan was silent for two seconds. “I’ll make Chloe apologize.”

Chloe immediately widened her tearful eyes. “I’m sorry, Lily.”

Ethan looked at me as if he were waiting for me to accept his solution and give everyone an easy way out.

I let out a short laugh. “She cut off nearly all my hair, and you think ‘sorry’ fixes it?”

Chloe burst into louder sobs.

“I knew Lily always hated me. Ethan and I grew up together, and she acts like I’m trying to steal her husband. But I’ve only ever thought of you both as family.”

The bridesmaids joined in.

“Okay, Chloe went a little too far, but do we really need to turn it into a catastrophe?”

“The wedding is what matters. Can’t we deal with the hairstyle first?”

“Exactly. Just buy an expensive wig.”

Several more people entered the suite. Diana Moore, the hotel’s wedding coordinator, led the hairstylist and the head of the photography team inside.

Diana visibly froze when she saw me, but her professional smile returned almost at once.

“Mr. and Mrs. Ashford, I’ve been briefed on the situation. We can rush in a custom wig and have the styling finished by six tomorrow morning.”

She spoke as if someone had ordered the wrong flowers.

I looked at her coldly. “I’m calling the police.”

Ethan frowned. “Lily.”

Diana lowered her voice. “Mrs. Ashford, I understand that you’re upset. But if the police become involved, it will affect the hotel, the wedding, and both families. A few people from the press will be here tomorrow too. It would be better for everyone if this didn’t become public. A prank before the wedding is best handled privately.”

The suite suddenly felt like a giant glass cage. Everyone stood safely outside it, watching me tremble and fall apart.

I picked up my phone, but my fingers shook so badly I could barely hold it.

I started dialing for help.

Ethan caught my wrist. “Don’t do anything rash. I’m not refusing to help you. But if we bring the police into this, it’ll become a huge public scandal. Chloe’s parents are in the hotel, and our families have known each other for years…”

I wrenched my hand away. “So you’re still choosing her.”

The color drained from his face. “No.”

Chloe sniffled. “Ethan, please don’t fight with Lily because of me.”

What a perfect thing to say.

She had assaulted me, yet she had turned herself into the innocent woman caught between us.

Diana seized the opening and held out a tablet.

“Mrs. Ashford, why don’t you look at some wigs? This one is very natural and will cover the damaged areas.”

She pushed the screen in front of my face.

I couldn’t bear to look at any of those hypocrites for another second. I knocked the tablet to the floor.

The screen cracked, and silence fell over the room.

I turned to grab my bag and was leaving.

Diana stepped in front of the door. “Mrs. Ashford, you’re in no condition to go out right now.”

Madison muttered, “Running around bald would be even more embarrassing.”

I whipped around.

She raised her phone with a grin. “Don’t glare at me. I’m recording everything.”