Chapter 14
Sterling stared coldly at Scarlet.
He didn’t say another word.
Only when she saw the ice in his eyes did Scarlet realize she’d said the wrong thing.
Flustered, she reached for his sleeve and tried to soften her tone.
“I didn’t mean to forget your stories–I’ve just been so overwhelmed with the wedding plans.”
she said quickly. “Don’t be mad, okay? Once we’re married, you can tell me all of them again.”
She swayed his arm gently, voice saccharine.
But Sterling felt nothing but disgust.
He looked at the woman clinging to him–the woman he was about to marry–and felt the bile rise
in his throat.
“Scarlet Wyndham,” he said, voice low and sharp. “Are you still lying to me?”
“You were never the one who stayed by my side.”
Before she could react, he yanked his arm away and pushed her hard.
Unprepared, Scarlet stumbled backward–toppling down the stairs of the stage with a scream.
Her wedding gown tore as she fell, the long train ripping at the seams. She landed hard, bruised and disheveled, right in front of the curtain.
Flashes exploded around her.
Dozens of cameras, all catching the perfect shot.
Scarlet’s face paled. She instinctively threw up her hands to cover herself, panic and humiliation rushing through her in waves.
She tried to get up, but her legs trembled. She could only watch as Sterling walked past her and
strode straight to the center of the stage.
He seized the microphone from the stunned emcee.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Sterling said, his voice calm but laced with steel, “today’s wedding is
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officially cancelled.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
“Scarlet Wyndham is not the woman I’ve been searching for,” he said clearly. “She’s not the one
who stayed by my side when I lost my sight. She is not my bride.”
Then he dropped the mic and walked off the stage.
Sterling had barely reached the lobby when Mr. and Mrs. Wyndham rushed toward him.
“Sterling?” Mrs. Wyndham called anxiously. “Where are you going? The toasts are about to start!”
But Sterling didn’t even flinch.
He stopped in front of them and threw the small box at their feet.
“You want to know why I’m leaving?” he said, his voice tight with fury. “Then read what’s inside.
You know exactly what you’ve done.”
He turned and stormed out, leaving the Wyndhams frozen in place.
Mr. Wyndham bent to pick up the box, his hands shaking.
Back in the hall, whispers spread like wildfire.
“Wait… what just happened? Didn’t they already exchange vows?”
“Guess you
haven’t heard–Sterling was blind for a while. During that time, a girl stayed with him.
Rumor is he’s been searching for her ever since. Looks like someone tried to take her place… and he
just found out.”
“Wow. That’s brutal. Imagine getting exposed on your wedding day. The Wyndhams must be
mortified.”
Scarlet heard every word.
Every cruel whisper. Every gleeful chuckle.
She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails pierced her palms, drawing blood.
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Moments later, Mr. and Mrs. Wyndham reached her side, shielding her from the relentless camera
flashes and pulling her into the wings.
“Scarlet, what happened?” her mother asked sharply. “Did you say something wrong? Why would Sterling react like that?”
“I didn’t say anything!” Scarlet shouted, on the verge of tears. “It’s Aurora! It has to be her! She must’ve done something–set me up!”
“She wants to ruin my happiness! She’s always been jealous of me!”
Her voice broke, raw with fury and humiliation.
Mrs. Wyndham quickly wrapped her arms around her daughter. “There, there, sweetheart. Don’t cry. I’ll take care of her. She will be punished for this.”
“Yes,” Mr. Wyndham echoed, eyes hard. “We won’t let her get away with this. We’ve always
protected you, Scarlet. No one humiliates my daughter and walks away.”
“That’s better. But what about Sterling? He’s probably figured out I’m not the one.” Aurora’s eyes
darkened.
Mrs. Wyndham waved it off. “We’ll talk to him. Worst case, go straight to the Blackwoods. This
wedding is happening–end of story.”
Scarlet sniffled, letting herself sink into her mother’s embrace. “Thank you, Mom. Thank you,
Dad.”
Then her eyes caught something in her father’s hand–the box.
She frowned.
“Wait… that’s the gift Aurora gave Sterling this morning, isn’t it?”
“I thought we told his assistant to throw it out…”
With a sense of foreboding, she opened it.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
Her stomach dropped.
Termination of Parental Relationship.
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The words were bold. Final. Severing.
Scarlet’s fingers trembled.
This wasn’t just a gift.
It was Aurora’s last goodbye–and her declaration of war.
Chapter 14
