His face was icy. “Sophia Bennett, were you really planning not to show up?”
“All because of a dog—you’d throw away our wedding?”
“I’m not just disappointed in you, I’m heartbroken.”
At that moment, Margaret Collins came out and snapped at him, “The guests are waiting. Start the ceremony immediately. Bring her in.”
As she passed me, she shot me a sharp glare. “Sophia, you’re far too unruly. On your wedding day of all days, you kept everyone waiting over an hour. After this ceremony, I’ll see to it you learn some proper discipline.”
Eric waved his hand, and two bodyguards forced me toward the hall.
I struggled. “Eric, I have nothing to do with you anymore. I’ve already married someone else!”
He looked at me as if I were insane. “Sophia, do you think lying like this is amusing?”
“Making a scene at our wedding will get you nothing but my disgust.”
“My advice? Know your place, and stop squandering the love I’ve given you.”
They dragged me to the entrance of the hall.
There, I froze.
A massive poster hung by the doors.
On it was my photo—next to Eric’s black dog.
Beneath it, bold letters read: Sophia Bennett & Blackie — Joyfully Wed.
Blackie. That was the name of Eric’s dog.
The hotel had turned it into a spectacle. Guests gathered around, taking pictures, laughing as they posted them online.
Lily Harper bounded over, grinning. “Sophia, I designed that poster myself. Do you like it?”
I clenched my teeth in rage.
But Eric didn’t so much as glance my way—he only urged the bodyguards on, dragging me into the hall.
Inside the banquet hall, all eyes turned to me, filled with contempt.
I overheard whispers:
“Doesn’t Sophia Bennett know her own worth?”
“On her wedding day she dares to put on airs? How could someone like her be worthy of the Collins family?”
Others muttered, “Eric Collins isn’t just rich and handsome—he’s actually devoted. And here Sophia is, making a scene on such an important day. Yet Eric even went out of his way to bring her back.”
Their pointing fingers and hushed comments made my chest burn.
I couldn’t hold back anymore. I raised my voice: “I’m already married to someone else. Eric and I have nothing to do with each other anymore. Let me go!”
But not a single person believed me.
Someone even sneered, “Sophia, stop pretending. Everyone knows you’ll do anything to climb up to Eric.”
“You served him like a maid—pouring tea, washing his feet—just to marry into wealth.”