“I ruined your marriage with Selena. I’m sorry. If you want revenge, I’ll take it.”
“You can insult me, hurt me—whatever you wish. But please, don’t twist Selena’s feelings. She truly cared for you once.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You keep saying I forced her into marriage. That I’m cruel, ruthless…”
I paused. My gaze sharpened, voice dropping to a chilling calm.
“Since I’ve already been painted as the villain, wouldn’t it be a waste not to live up to everyone’s expectations?”
I took another step forward, closing the distance between us.
Lucas stiffened, instinctively trying to retreat—but the wheelchair held him in place. Selena rushed to block me, her voice trembling. “W-What are you going to do?”
“In front of everyone, do you dare hurt Lucas?”
“Relax,” I said lightly. “I won’t touch him—not yet.”
My eyes drifted to his cast leg. I smiled faintly. “A broken leg, huh? Make sure you take good care of it.”
I let my tone turn sharp, deliberate. “You’ll need it for the long road ahead.”
“Or maybe,” I added softly, “you won’t—depending on where you’re headed.”
Their expressions froze—hers pale with fear, her rigid with confusion. I ignored them both, as well as the whispers rippling through the crowd, and walked out of the hall without looking back.
The night air outside was cool, the murmurs inside fading as I reached my car.
Just as I started the engine, my phone buzzed. Selena’s father.
“Ethan,” his voice came, low and weary. “Selena… her mother and I spoiled her. She’s always been willful.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that tonight. On her behalf, I apologize.”
He hesitated, expecting a courteous reply.
I stayed silent.
He cleared his throat, his tone shifting—gentle at first, then probing.
“But Ethan, no matter how angry you were…”
“You shouldn’t have had someone break Lucas’s leg.”
“That was too much. If word spreads, it won’t look good for the Cole family, will it?”
A short, cold laugh escaped me. “Uncle Hart,” I cut him off, “which eye of yours saw me order that?”
There was a pause on the line—then his voice rose, laced with righteous certainty.
“Who else could it have been but you?”
“Come on, Ethan. Everyone knows. Lucas and Selena had just grown close when it happened.”
He scoffed. “No one’s stupid.”
I laughed—a sound stripped of warmth. “Alright then. Since Richard has decided I’m guilty, I’ll accept the blame.”
“Not just that one leg—I’ve already reserved Lucas’s other leg too.”