"I do."

Applause erupted, and the smile on Elena's face brightened significantly.

The emcee continued, all smiles: "Please, newlyweds, exchange your rings."

Ethan turned around and took the star-and-moon diamond ring from the best man.

Everything concluded, and the wedding was a complete success.

Just then, Silas stood up with his champagne, twirling the glass between his fingers, smiling faintly.

"Ethan, to congratulate you on your happy marriage."

He raised his hand; his voice wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the entire venue.

"Everyone, this wedding feast today—it’s on me."

Ethan frowned, looking up at him, clearly not understanding what madness he was up to now.

Silas didn't stop, still wearing that same smile, but his words were increasingly ruthless.

"Since you’ve finished the wedding and signed the certificate, then I can finally say it boldly and confidently!"

"Ethan, the person who sent your most beloved woman, Clara, to your own father’s bed back then was Elena."

"The one who posted Clara’s indecent photos on all the major forums was also Elena."

"The one who forced Clara into silence step by step, making her not dare to make a sound, and forcing her to hide away in a rental room, was also Elena."

"Oh, right, a month ago, Elena went and threatened Clara’s sister, Xu Sophie, scaring the little girl so much that she was terrified her sister would be drugged and sent to someone else’s bed again. She didn't even want to live, so she jumped from the building and died~"

"I remember the rain was heavy that day, didn't you almost hit Clara? Tsk tsk, what a cruel life..."

He paused, his smile deepening.

"Now that you’ve finally married this bitch whose hands are covered in blood, doesn't that deserve a celebration from me?"

As the words fell, the entire venue sounded as if someone had hit the mute button.

Chapter 9

The ring box fell to the floor.

The star-and-moon diamond ring rolled out, bounced twice, and disappeared under a chair.

Elena reached out to grab Ethan’s sleeve.

The moment her fingers touched his wrist, he shook her off violently.

She stumbled back, her veil shifting to one side.

"Is what he said," Ethan’s voice squeezed out from the depths of his throat, "the truth?"

Elena’s lips were trembling: "Ethan, listen to me, let me explain..."

"I asked you if it’s the truth!"

His roar was so loud that the champagne glasses on the front table vibrated with a humming sound.

Elena’s tears burst forth instantly.

Her makeup was ruined, and her eyeliner streamed down the corners of her eyes.

She had never seen Ethan like this before.

The man who was always gentle and always restrained was now standing there with bloodshot eyes, like a trapped beast pushed to the brink.

The next second, Ethan’s gaze moved past her.

It landed on the main table.

His father, Ethan’s father, sat composedly, holding a teacup with an expressionless face, as if he were watching a farce that had nothing to do with him.

Something snapped in Ethan’s mind.

He turned and walked toward the main table.

The guests automatically parted to make a path. Elena called his name behind him, her heels catching on something, nearly causing her to fall.

He stopped in front of his father.

He slammed a fist onto the table.

The teacup jumped and shattered on the floor, porcelain shards scattering everywhere.

"Dad, how could you do that? You clearly knew how much I loved her..."

However, his father only said very calmly: "Ethan, she was only a burden to you; I was clearing obstacles for you."

He spoke so self-righteously.

It was clearly just to satisfy his own perverted impulses.

Sleeping with his son’s girlfriend—the more it violated moral standards and ethical norms, the more excited he became.

That was how his mother had divorced his father—because his father had gotten together with his mother's aunt.

Ethan’s eyes were bloodshot, his voice hoarse beyond recognition.

"Why do I have a father like you? How could you be such a beast..."

His father, unmoved, reminded him:

"Ethan, today is your wedding! Elena’s parents are both here, don’t make a scene!"

The guests looked at each other in confusion.

Ethan, however, said coldly to his father:

"I don't have a father like you, and I won't marry such a vicious woman."

"I will have the divorce papers prepared."

With that, he turned to leave.

Now, he only wanted to see Clara, to explain all the past clearly to her.

Elena’s tears fell like pearls as she choked out, grabbing Ethan’s hand: "Ethan, please listen to me. Your father didn’t really hurt her; your mother came in at that time..."

"Ethan, I just love you too much, please, let’s just finish the wedding..."

Ethan’s cold gaze landed on Elena.

He looked at her coldly; in the depths of her eyes, he didn't see a hint of guilt.

He only warned her in a cold voice: "Elena, instigating someone to commit suicide is a crime."

"I will hand everything over to my lawyers and the police; you will pay the price for your actions."

He tore off the boutonniere on his chest—which had already been knocked askew—and threw it on the ground.

Then he walked through the guests and pushed open the door to exit.

Someone called his name behind him, some chased for a few steps before stopping. Elena collapsed onto the floor, her white wedding dress spread out across the ground.

Outside, it had started to rain.

Rain as heavy as it had been a month ago.

Ethan stood in the rain, his suit instantly soaked through.

He felt defeated and heartbroken. So, what had he done to Clara?

He was clearly the one who had hurt her the most, yet he had convinced himself he was the victim.

How could he have not believed her? At that time, if he had just asked a few more questions, if he had investigated, he might have known the truth.

But why...

He didn't.

He had left her during her darkest, most agonizing moments.

He buried his face in his palms.

Rainwater streamed through his fingers. He couldn't tell if it was rain or something else.

He pulled up her phone number.

He dialed.

This phone call should have been made five years ago.

He should have made it when she was wrongly accused of cheating, when Sophie was critically ill, and during the countless moments she needed him.

The call was answered, and a gentle female voice spoke.

Chapter 10

"Hello, who are you looking for?"

It wasn't Clara’s voice.

"I'm looking for Clara..."

The girl on the other end of the line said in surprise: "You have the wrong number; I don't know anyone by that name..."

She had changed this number.

Ethan squatted in the rain for a long time.

His soaked suit clung to his body.

His tie hung to one side.

The groom’s boutonniere was crushed under his feet, its petals ground into the muddy water.

He supported himself against the wall and found Ash’s number, dialing it.

The phone rang many times before it was answered.

"Dr. Ethan." Ash’s voice was very detached, "What is it?"

"Where has Clara gone?"

"Do you think I’d tell you?"

"Brother Ash." Ethan gripped the phone tightly, his voice hoarse: "I’m begging you."

There was a silence of a few seconds on the other end of the line.

Then came an angry interrogation.

"Ethan, how do you have the face to come looking for her?"

"Do you know how she’s survived all these years? Working as a substitute drinker to earn money, ending up in the hospital with a bleeding stomach every time, only to be back at it the next day after an IV drip."

"She already had such a bitter life, and what about you? Your father almost ruined her innocence, and you married the culprit."

Ethan gripped the phone until his knuckles turned white.

He choked out: "I didn't know, I really didn't know..."

He had married Elena because he felt that since it wasn't Clara, marrying anyone else was the same.

It was just convenient, nothing more.

He said, word by word, his heart aching:

"Why didn't she tell me..."

"Tell you?"

Ash interrupted him, his voice suddenly becoming very calm.

"And then what? You go and have a row with your father? Then what? Cut ties with him as a father and son?"

"She swallowed all the pain herself, precisely because she didn't want you to be sad. She didn't want you to look at your father’s face and be reminded of the beastly things he had done."

Ethan opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

"You weren't there when she lost her father. You weren't there when her sister jumped from the building. You weren't there when she was lying in the ER with a bleeding stomach."

"Ethan, if you really have even an ounce of guilt toward her, just let her go."