My Fiancé Sided With His Mischievous Childhood Friend, Until My Mother‑In‑Law Burst In Chapter 07

My Fiancé Sided With His Mischievous Childhood Friend, Until My Mother‑In‑Law Burst In Chapter 07

It was in the hospital treatment room that I saw another side of Victoria for the first time.

A doctor cleaned my scalp. When disinfectant touched the broken skin, pain shot through my body.

Ethan stepped forward.

Victoria stopped him with one arm and sat directly in front of me, blocking my view of the mirror..

“Look at me.”

I did.

She still looked unwell, and her lips were nearly colorless. But her eyes never wavered.

“If it hurts, squeeze my hand.”

I didn’t dare.

She placed her hand firmly in mine. “Do it.”

Tears slid down my face as my fingers dug into the back of her hand. She didn’t so much as flinch.

After the examination, the doctor said I had multiple abrasions, localized swelling, and dermatitis likely caused by chemical irritation. I would need medication and monitoring.

“Don’t wear a wig for now. Trapping heat against the skin could make the inflammation or an

infection worse.”

Instead of upsetting me, those words brought relief.

Tomorrow’s wedding was over.

No one could force a wig onto my injured scalp and make me pretend nothing had happened.

Ethan understood too.

He came to stand in front of me, then dropped to his knees.

People passing through the hallway turned to stare.

I froze.

“Lily, I’m sorry.” He bowed his head, his voice shaking. “I was wrong about everything. I kept treating Chloe’s violations as childish behavior and your pain as oversensitivity. Tonight, when you

were attacked, my first thoughts were still the wedding, appearances, and my family’s relationship

with hers. I acted like a coward.”

Whispers spread around us.

I didn’t help him up. Neither did Victoria.

She said coldly, “An apology doesn’t end because you knelt down.”

Ethan lifted his head, his eyes red. “I know.”

He took out his phone in front of me.

First, he called the head of the wedding team.

“Tomorrow’s wedding is canceled. I’ll cover every loss. and notify the guests myself.”

Then he opened the family group chat and sent a message.

Ethan: [Tomorrow’s wedding is canceled because Chloe Hayes deliberately shaved my wife Lily’s head, filmed her without consent, and organized others to humiliate her: A police report has been filed. The Ashford family will not minimize what happened, and we will not entertain any requests

for leniency.]

After sending it, he blocked Chloe’s number and left every group chat that included her.

Finally, he called her parents.

The moment Mrs. Hayes answered, her shrill voice blasted through the phone. “Ethan, your mother hit Chloe? What is wrong with your family?”

Ethan closed his eyes.

“Mrs. Hayes, Chloe hurt my wife first. She will be held legally responsible. From today on, every private relationship between the Ashfords and the Hayeses is over.”

The other end of the line erupted, but Ethan hung up.

He placed his phone in front of me.

“Lily, whether we ever hold another ceremony, when it happens, and whether you give me another chance are all your decisions.”

I looked at him.

His words didn’t make me feel better. When the harm was happening, he hadn’t stood beside me.

Making amends now was the bare minimum. But I couldn’t pretend the crack between us had vanished simply because he finally tried.

“I want to go home,” I said.

Ethan nodded immediately. “I’ll take

“Not to the Ashford estate.”

you.”

I held his gaze. “I’m going to my father’s house.”

His face turned even paler.

Victoria rested a hand on my shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“All right”