.
As Lily was about to reach the table, Mr. Johnson deliberately lowered his voice.
“What did you invite her for?”
Lily was the foster child supported by the Wilson family. Mr. Johnson had never approved of my parents raising her to be more like a Johnson daughter than me.
“Isn’t this a family dinner? Lily is Aria’s sister. What’s wrong with her coming?”
Mr. Johnson wore an expression of bitter disappointment:
“She’s not a real sister. She’s just adopted. Besides, we’re discussing wedding matters today. How is it appropriate for her to be here?”
Lily had reached the table and couldn’t help overhearing Mr. Johnson’s words.
Her previously cheerful face suddenly turned pale as she fought back tears.
“Uncle, if you don’t welcome me… then perhaps I should come visit another time.”
Caleb grabbed her hand: “That’s not true at all. Sit down, next to me.”
Wherever Caleb was, Lily never had to worry about being bullied.
Because Caleb would always be her support.
Lily sat down, blinking as she looked at me.
Her lips silently formed the words: “Sister, what can you use to compete with me?”
I didn’t want to engage with her. Fortunately, Ethan rescued me from the awkwardness by offering me a bite of fish.
“The sea bass has no bones. You can eat it without worry.”
Ethan was incredibly thoughtful, attentive to my preferences.
I had always loved eating fish. Something Caleb never knew, but Ethan did.
I blushed and said softly: “Thank you…”
Ethan smiled slightly, like a glacier melting.
“No need for thanks. You’re about to be my wife. Taking care of you is a husband’s duty.”
I shyly lowered my head, quietly eating the fish, afraid others would see my reddened cheeks.
Under the table, someone kicked me hard.
Looking up, I saw Caleb glaring at me fiercely.
He discreetly held up his phone, gesturing for me to check mine.
Irritated, I took out my phone and saw he had sent several messages.
I usually keep my phone on silent during meals, so I hadn’t replied promptly.
10 minutes ago: [Aria what’s wrong with you? You used to be desperate to marry me, how can you change your mind now?]
5 minutes ago: [Are you just putting on a show with my brother? Don’t think you can attract my attention this way.]
1 minute ago: [What did you offer my brother to make him so willing to play along with your act?]
I didn’t reply. I immediately blocked him and turned off my phone, ignoring his antics under the table.
Finally Caleb couldn’t
11.41 PM 0
<
Finally, Caleb couldn’t stand it anymore.
Everyone had been eating quietly, but his voice cut through the peaceful atmosphere like a knife.
“Aria, why aren’t you replying to my messages?”
I picked up a napkin and dabbed my mouth.
Then I stood up, raised my water glass, and threw the contents in his face without mercy.
The cold water poured down his head. Caleb stared at me in disbelief, dumbfounded.
Lily shrieked beside him:
“Aria, what are you doing splashing Caleb?”
She quickly caught herself: “I mean… sister, what are you doing?”
I calmly addressed Caleb:
“If you don’t believe it, fine. My brother and I are really getting married.”
“Please stop harassing me in the future. I’ve already blocked you.”
Caleb couldn’t believe it. He tilted his head and sneered.
“Oh sure, sure. You’re really marrying my brother. I was being conceited, okay?”
“In the future, don’t come crying to me begging me to take you back.”
Lily had come today to seek attention. Hearing Caleb say this, she decided to put on an act.
“Sister, are you fighting with Caleb because of what happened today? It’s all my fault. If you really want that ring, I’ll give it to you.”
She made herself look pitiful, with tears hanging in the corners of her eyes.
Trying to gain others‘ sympathy.
She even cast a pitiful look at Ethan.
But Ethan’s attention wasn’t on her gaze.
He turned to ask me:
“What ring?”
I explained the whole situation to him clearly.
Ethan’s expression gradually darkened.
“Sister, I didn’t know it was your wedding ring. If I had known, I never would have accepted it.”
Lily bit her lip, struggling not to let her tears fall, her eyes full of grievance.
“You took away the rings meant for Aria and me. If she wasn’t so magnanimous in not holding it against you, I would certainly demand an explanation,” Ethan spoke up for me.
“Brother, is it really necessary? It’s just a pair of rings. The jeweler has as many as you want,” Caleb protested.
Ethan showed no mercy: “Don’t think I won’t scold you just because you’re my brother.”
“Anyone who upsets Aria, I’ll settle accounts with them one by one.”
11:41 PM
<
The family dinner ended unhappily, but the wedding proceeded as scheduled.
Yet I still felt uneasy deep down.
On one hand, I was anxious that everything was going too smoothly.
On the other, knowing Lily was also reborn, I worried she might interfere and ruin my wedding.
Since that day when Caleb and I had harsh words, he really hadn’t messaged me again.
I was also getting used to life without him, trying to extract myself from memories and focus on wedding preparations with Ethan.
As I communicated more with Ethan, I found myself increasingly drawn to him.
He had none of the CEO airs around me, and was extremely respectful.
Not to mention all those rumors about him being cold–blooded and ruthless.
Gradually, I felt that even if he had some physical issue, it would be okay. A platonic marriage could work too.
Until the night before the wedding, when I got a call from one of Caleb’s friends.
“Sis, Caleb’s drunk and making a scene. Can you come pick him up?”
I refused: “Have Lily get him. I’m getting married tomorrow and I’m busy.”
His friend sounded helpless: “He won’t let us contact Lily. We don’t know what to do.”
Big sis… little sis… so that’s how his friends referred to me and Lily.
Sounds of vomiting came through the phone:
“Sis, please come quickly. My mom’s calling me home.”
“If you don’t come get him, I’ll dump him on the street to sleep.”
I took a deep breath: “Send me the address.”
His friend chuckled, then hung up and winked at the person beside him.
“See, I told you Aria still has a soft spot for him. She can’t let him go.“”
Caleb had drunk a lot. His eyes were hazy, making it hard to tell if he was actually drunk or pretending.
“Thanks, you can head back now.”
His friend grabbed his jacket from the chair and quickly left.
Before going, I messaged Ethan about Caleb being drunk and sent him the restaurant address.
At the barbecue stand, I saw Caleb from afar.
He was slumped over the table, his hair tousled by the wind. Uncomfortable from drinking too much, he kept rubbing his face against the table.
I walked over, hands in my pockets, standing beside him as I met Caleb’s bleary eyes.
“Didn’t you say we’d have nothing to do with each other anymore? Aria, why did you still come?”
I didn’t have the heart to tell him I couldn’t carry him myself, and that his brother was on the way.
The next second, he stood up and pressed his burning lips against mine.
<
The strong smell of alcohol filled my nose.
I quickly stepped back, slapping him across the face.
“Acting drunk, are you?”
Caleb was stunned by my slap. When he came to his senses, he tightly trapped me in his arms, refusing to let go.
I struggled, trying to break free from his embrace.
But his strength was too great. As a woman, I simply couldn’t resist him.
In desperation, I kneed him hard between the legs.
Caleb cried out in pain, doubling over. It took him a long while to recover.
I didn’t even glance at him, constantly looking around. Why wasn’t Ethan here yet? If he didn’t come soon, I really would dump his brother on the street. If he got robbed in the middle of the night, he’d deserve it.
Caleb came over with a pale face, hugging my legs. His shoulders shook uncontrollably as he spoke with an obvious sob in his voice.
“Aria, if you just want to get married, I can give you a marriage too.“”
“Please don’t marry my brother, I’m begging you.”
I kicked him away and slapped him hard across the face.
“I’m marrying your brother tomorrow. Don’t say things that could be misunderstood.”
Caleb’s eyes were filled with pain and sorrow.
“Aria, do I really disgust you that much?”
My actions of avoidance and revulsion had hurt him deeply.
“I’ll say it again. I’m marrying your brother tomorrow.”
“But you haven’t gotten the marriage license yet. Even if you go through with the wedding, as long as you’re unwilling, I can pretend nothing happened.”
“If you’re willing, I can marry you right away!”
He spoke so sincerely.
In the past, I definitely would have been moved to tears.
He loved me too. I had waited over a decade for this.
Only when I had finally given up hope did he turn back and say he was willing.
It was too late. Everything was too late now.
Now, I had made room in my heart for Ethan. I wouldn’t allow anyone else to intrude.
Caleb Johnson, listen carefully.”
“I stopped liking you long ago. What happened in the past was my foolishness. If it caused you trouble, I apologize here and now.”
“Don’t say such nonsense again. From now on, I’ll be your sister–in–law and you’ll be my brother–in–law. We’ll keep our distance.”
Caleb stepped forward, trying to grab my hand.
“Aria, are you angry about Lily?”
<
“… I was just playing around with her before. She could never marry me. As long as you marry me, I’ll cut ties with her completely…”
Before he could finish, a fist smashed into his face.
Caleb spun like a top, his head slamming into the table. A trail of blood trickled from the corner of his eye.
Ethan’s eyes were full of rage. He showed no mercy, even to his own brother.
“I told you not to harass my wife again. Don’t think I won’t touch you just because you’re my brother.”
I fell into Ethan’s arms. In that moment, years of grievances came pouring out.
I cried uncontrollably, unable to stop my sobs.
The sorrow of two lifetimes had finally found an outlet.
Ethan gently stroked the back of my head:
“I’m sorry I came late.”
“Mr. Zhang, take the young master home. Keep a close
eye
before the wedding tomorrow.”
Mr. Zhang was the Johnson family’s butler.
Ethan’s implication was clear – he wanted to
restrict Caleb’s freedom.
He wouldn’t allow anyone to ruin our wedding.
The next day before the wedding, I was in the backstage dressing room adjusting my gown, waiting for the auspicious moment.
The dressing room door slowly opened.”
Ethan entered wearing a custom tailored suit. The clothes fit him perfectly – shirt and trousers impeccable, buttons fastened all the way up, giving him an air of nobility and solemnity.
He had even styled his hair specially for the wedding.
Ethan’s features were extremely handsome – deep–set and refined.
He leaned against the door, eyes narrowed as he looked at me like a work of art.
I couldn’t help but blush to my ears, too shy to meet his gaze.
Ethan unhurriedly walked over. The sound of his leather shoes hitting the floor, step by step, was like a countdown to a bomb detonation as he slowly approached me.
He easily lifted me by the arms, making me sit on his lap and forcing me to meet his eyes.
“Aria looks beautiful today. Why keep your head down?”
He looked down at me, his eyes dark and filled with desire.
Ethan’s face drew closer. His thin lips pressed against mine.
His long eyelashes fluttered, brushing my skin and leaving a ticklish sensation.
Then the kiss deepened. Ethan slowly stole the air from my lungs until I could barely breathe.
He released me, unable to hold back a low chuckle:
“Silly girl, did you forget to breathe while kissing?”
I stammered, my hands still clutching his arms.
<
“L… I’ve never learned how to kiss properly.”
“Besides… aren’t you unable to… you know?”
Sensing danger, Ethan’s hand buried itself in my hair at the back of my head. His tone was not very kind:
“Who told you I can’t?”
My mind went blank. Oh right, in my past life everyone was spreading rumors that he had some physical issue!
He whispered devilishly in my ear:
“Tonight I’ll show you whether I can or not…”
I shuddered, trembling at his magnetic voice.
“Alright, I’ve eaten all your lipstick. Touch it up before the ceremony starts.”
Looking back at the mirror, I was sitting on Ethan’s lap, my lips swollen and red from his kisses, looking utterly pitiful.
The blush hadn’t faded from my face. I averted my eyes, trying to get off his lap.
Ethan wrapped an arm around my waist, wickedly pressing down. With a smirk, he made me fall back into his arms.
“The wedding’s not for a while. Let me hold you first.”
I obediently leaned against his back, hugging him gently.
In the midst of the tender moment in the dressing room, sudden angry shouts erupted outside.
“Get out of my way, all of you! Anyone who dares stop me, just try it!”
Caleb roared furiously, attracting a lot of attention.
The next moment, he kicked open the dressing room door.
His pupils reflected the image of me blushing, sitting on his brother’s lap.
Caleb lost control. He rushed over in two steps and yanked me out of Ethan’s arms.
“Aria, the wedding’s about to start. Haven’t you had enough fun?”
Caleb’s eyes were a turbulent sea of ink, hiding a surging crimson in their depths.
“If you’re done playing around, go tell everyone you won’t marry my brother, okay?”
“I’ll definitely give you an even better, grander wedding than this.”
Ethan calmly unbuttoned his cuffs, methodically rolling up his sleeves before landing a punch squarely on Caleb’s face.
Caleb tried to retaliate, but their parents arrived just in time to pull the brothers apart.
Ethan was unharmed, save for a few scratches on the back of his hand.
Tiny beads of blood seeped out, but he paid them no mind.
My heart ached seeing him hurt. I quickly asked a staff member to bring a medical kit to treat his wounds.
Blood trickled from the corner of Caleb’s mouth, reopening the wound near his eye. But he seemed to feel no pain, just staring at me with a distant gaze.
“Caleb, have you lost your mind? It’s your brother’s wedding day. What are you trying to do, showing up all bruised like this?” their mother
11:42 PM
<
them no mind.
My heart ached seeing him hurt. I quickly asked a staff member to bring a medical kit to treat his wounds.
Blood trickled from the corner of Caleb’s mouth, reopening the wound near his eye. But he seemed to feel no pain, just staring at me with a distant gaze.
“Caleb, have you lost your mind? It’s your brother’s wedding day. What are you trying to do, showing up all bruised like this?” their mother
11:42 PM
<
