The Anonymous Notes That Destroyed My Wedding Chapter 03
Diane shoved past me and rushed into the suite.
She went straight to Chloe, concern written all over her face.
“Chloe, you just gave birth. You’re supposed to be resting. What are you doing here?”
Chloe glanced up at me but said nothing.
Diane followed her gaze, and her expression changed instantly.
“Sienna, did you make Chloe come here?”
“Do you have any idea how vulnerable she is right now? She needs rest.”
A disbelieving laugh escaped me.
“And do you have any idea that I’m the woman your son was supposed to marry today?”
“He had a baby with another woman behind my back. Every single one of you knew, and not one of you told me!”
Diane smiled coldly, like my opinion wasn’t worth considering.
“Sienna, you were the one who pushed for this marriage. We never thought you were good enough for Ethan.”
“No money, no connections, no family name. What made you think you belonged in his world?”
“I told Ethan years ago he should be with someone from his own world, but he wouldn’t listen. He let you cling to him until he couldn’t get free.”
That was enough. I clenched my fists and shot back.
“Maybe I don’t meet your standards, but at least I’m better than a man who can’t keep it in his pants and gets his mistress pregnant!”
“Is that what you taught him? That cheating is fine?”
Smack!
Before I could finish, Diane’s palm cracked across my face.
My head snapped to the side, my cheek burning hot.
Ethan crossed the room in two strides. “Mom!”
“Stay out of it!”
Diane pointed a finger in my face, her cheeks flushed with rage.
“Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?”
“Let me tell you something, Sienna. If you hadn’t spent eight years clinging to Ethan and holding him back, do you really think he’d still be stuck with you?”
I slowly turned my head back toward her, blood at the corner of my mouth.
She gave a mocking little laugh, almost pleased to see me humiliated.
“Chloe is everything you’re not. She’s sweet, thoughtful, and she never forgets me on a birthday or holiday.”
“I’ve wanted Chloe as my daughter-in-law for years. She belongs in this family. You never have. You’ve brought Ethan nothing but trouble.”
“Mrs. Carter, please, don’t say that!” Chloe rushed over to me.
She lifted a hand carefully, as if she wanted to touch the corner of my mouth but was afraid she’d hurt me, then let it fall.
“Sienna… does it hurt?”
I didn’t answer.
Instead, my mind flashed back to years earlier, when I’d cried to Chloe because Ethan’s family didn’t like me.
Her eyes had gone red with anger, and she’d punched the couch cushion.
“Then they’re blind. They have no idea how amazing you are!”
“And I’m telling you right now, if Ethan Carter ever hurts you, I swear I’ll kill him myself!”
The memory snapped away. I met Chloe’s eyes and forced the sore corner of my mouth into a smile.
“Chloe, are you happy now?”
She shook her head frantically, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“No, Sienna… that’s not what I wanted…”
I didn’t wait for her to finish. I turned and walked out.
Behind me, Ethan called, “Sienna!”
I didn’t look back.
“Sienna, listen to me!”
Ethan caught up and grabbed my arm, jerking me to a stop.
“You know how my mom is. You’ve known for years. She says cruel things when she’s mad, but she doesn’t really mean them.”
“Can we just get through the wedding and deal with this afterward?”
“We have relatives and guests waiting downstairs. Don’t make a scene in front of everyone.”
I tore my arm free and stared at him.
“Ethan, in eight years, have you ever stood up for me even once?”
He went silent.
“If you’d defended me once, just once, maybe I could tell myself those eight years meant something.”
“But you didn’t. Not once.”
My voice was hoarse by the time I finished.
Then I turned away and walked out without looking back.