Stretcher 26

The wedding was absolutely spectacular–friends and family from both the Sterling and Blackwood sides filled the venue.

Ethan and I were running around like crazy trying to make sure everything was perfect.

Once all the guests had arrived, the ceremony officially began.

I was in this gorgeous white gown, and Ethan looked incredible in his black tuxedo as he walked toward me.

Everyone watched us in silence under the warm lights and soft music, witnessing this moment.

When Dad smiled and placed my hand in Ethan’s, it hit me like a ton of bricks–this felt like something from another lifetime.

The scene I’d dreamed about in my past life was finally happening right in front of me.

If this was a dream, I never wanted to wake up.

After we finished the ceremony with the officiant, it was time for family speeches.

Dad got all emotional and teary–eyed.

“Sophia’s always been a bit of a loner, and we worried about her. But then she met Ethan.”

“Ethan’s the kind of man you can trust completely. Even when Sophia was missing all those years, he never stopped waiting for her. I wish you both all the happiness in the world.”

“I’m giving twenty percent of Sterling Corporation shares as Sophia’s dowry!”

The Blackwoods followed suit immediately: “Blackwood Industries is contributing twenty percent of our shares as our wedding gift!”

The crowd erupted in thunderous applause.

“What a perfect match–they’re both so beautiful!”

“Only the wealthy can be this generous!”

But then the perfect moment got completely shattered by a voice that made everyone’s blood run cold.

“I object to this marriage!”

Charlotte suddenly stood up in the middle of the crowd.

Mom and Dad went white as sheets.

“Charlotte! This is not the time for one of your tantrums!”

Charlotte pulled out a remote control and pressed a button.

The big screen behind us suddenly changed.

It showed a skinny little girl digging through garbage cans for scraps, sharing food with a stray dog.

Then the scene shifted–the same dirty girl was fighting the dog for food in some alley while someone off–camera laughed cruelly.

“Come on, if you can get that hot dog away from him, I’ll let you eat it!”

The girl fought even harder and ended up strangling the dog with her bare hands.

The video kept playing, and I couldn’t watch anymore. I just stood there frozen, tears streaming down my face.

That girl was me.

That dog had been my only friend back then, but whoever was filming had drugged it to make it aggressive.

Seeing my reaction, Ethan immediately pulled me into his arms.

Charlotte’s laugh was pure evil.

“Mom! Dad! Look at your precious daughter! She’s nothing but a dirty little street rat! I’m the real Sterling daughter!”

Dad pointed right at Charlotte’s face, absolutely furious. “Charlotte! You’re sick! Who taught you to do something this twisted?!”

“Marcus, throw her out! She’s no daughter of mine anymore!”

Even Mom–who had always been Charlotte’s biggest defender–couldn’t handle seeing what the girl she’d raised for over a decade had become. “Charlotte! Do you have any idea what you’re doing?! How did we raise someone like you?!”

Marcus rushed toward Charlotte with several security guards, but she suddenly grabbed a knife and started waving it around.

“Stay back!”

Marcus tried to stop her, but Charlotte slashed at him and cut his arm.

“Charlotte! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

She didn’t answer. She just stared at me–still frozen and unable to move–and came charging at me with the knife.

Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.