I ended the video call.
「My wife needs to change into her gown now. Please see yourself out.」
Simon pushed Charlotte out the door.
Yvonne slipped out of what she was wearing and put on the trailing wedding gown she'd chosen for today.
It fit her perfectly, like it had been made for her.
By the time I opened the door and stepped out, Charlotte was still standing there.
「Christine, look! Ethan really is marrying someone else!」
For the first time, panic crossed Christine's face. But she still refused to back down.
「No way. Ethan only has room in his heart for me. He'd never marry anyone else.」
I walked into the banquet hall and took my place at the front of the stage, waiting for my bride.
The happiness written all over my face cut into Christine, and she couldn't sit still any longer.
「Jasper, I have to go back for a bit. Wait for me.」
Jasper panicked. : 「Christine, where are you going? The plane's about to take off!」
「The hotel where Ethan and I are getting married is close to the airport. I'll be right back!」
I could hear Christine gasping for breath as she ran.
「Mom, hold Ethan back. Don't let him make a scene! All our family and friends are there. He can't just hold a ceremony with someone else!」
「How am I supposed to stop him? He won't listen to a word I say!」
Behind her, Jasper shouted. : 「Christine, there's no time. Don't go!」
Christine couldn't hear Jasper at all. She was only screaming at me.
「Ethan, you are not allowed to hold a wedding ceremony with another woman, or I'll never forgive you!」
I acted like I didn't hear a thing.
The doors of the banquet hall swung open, and the wedding march began.
Yvonne lifted the hem of her gown and came toward me, graceful and unhurried.
Christine's hysterical voice was still going behind me.
「Ethan, don't you take her hand. Stop right there! I'm already on my way back. Wait for me!」
「Mom, hurry up and stop him!」
Charlotte rushed forward, only for Simon and a few of the other groomsmen to block her.
Simon had a firm grip on Charlotte. : 「Ma'am, you're welcome to livestream Ethan's wedding and witness him being happy. But if you're here to cause trouble, that's not happening.」
Charlotte yelled. : 「Somebody stop the groom! My daughter isn't here yet!」
All around me stood my family and friends, guarding the moment. The Finch relatives wanted to help Charlotte, but there was nothing they could do.
Charlotte slapped her own thigh in frustration, but she was out of options.
「Christine, honey, I can't hold him back!」
Christine urged the driver on like a woman possessed. : 「Driver, go faster, floor it, I'm in a hurry!」
Up on the stage, Yvonne and I moved through the ceremony without a hitch. We exchanged rings.
The officiant announced, : 「You may now kiss your bride.」
Yvonne didn't hesitate for a second. She took my face in her hands and kissed me deeply.
Christine's heart-wrenching screams poured out of Charlotte's phone.
「No! Let go of my husband, you bitch!」
「Ethan, push her away!」
Just as the officiant was about to pronounce us married, the doors of the banquet hall were shoved open.
Christine ran in, gasping for air, and screamed like a madwoman.
「I object!」
