Chapter 3: The Groom’s Shield
The groom, Ethan Sterling, suddenly appears in the frame. Strikingly handsome in his military dress uniform, his face is a mask of utter horror. He had just walked out of the holding room, expecting to see his beautiful bride. Instead, he sees a scene of absolute cruelty.
Ethan doesn't hesitate. He storms across the polished dance floor, his combat boots clicking sharply against the wood. He quickly steps between them, his massive frame completely shielding the crying waitress from Emma's sight.
"Emma?! What on earth did you just do to my sister?!" Ethan demands, his voice trembling with a mixture of shock and fury.
Emma’s smug mask instantly shatters. Her eyes widen, her breath catching in her throat as the word sister echoes through the grand hall.
"S-Sister?" Emma stammers, her face turning a ghostly shade of white. She looks at the girl covered in chocolate cake, then back to Ethan. "Ethan, honey, no... she’s a waitress! She was being clumsy, she was going to ruin the dress! I didn't know—"
"You didn't know she was a human being?" Ethan cuts her off, his voice dropping into a dangerous, icy register. He turns around, gently taking a clean linen napkin from a nearby table. With immense tenderness, the billionaire groom wipes the chocolate from Chloe's face, his heart breaking for his little sister.
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"I'm sorry, Ethan," Chloe whispers, clutching his sleeve. "I wanted to surprise you."
"You did, Chloe. And you just saved my life," Ethan says, his face hardening as he turns back to face his bride.
