Chapter 2

Liam's face instantly transformed from contempt to fury.

He strode over and grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight it felt like he might crush my bones.

"Stella Winters, you'd rather choose a cripple to spite me than beg for my forgiveness?"

Before I could react, my father rushed over.

I thought he was going to stop Liam and protect me.

Instead, he raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face.

The crisp sound echoed through the entire wedding venue.

My cheek instantly swelled up, burning with pain. Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth.

The mocking laughter in the hall suddenly stopped, followed by even more piercing whispers.

"You ungrateful child! You've completely disgraced our family! Get back there right now!" my father shouted, his eyes filled with anger and disgust, without a trace of concern.

I covered my face, tears nearly spilling out.

Not from the pain, but from the coldness in my heart.

This man was my father.

Rosalie then pretended to mediate, stepping forward.

"Dad, Stella is just being impulsive. Please don't be too angry..."

As she spoke, she "accidentally" stomped on my foot with her high heel. The sharp pain made me lose my balance instantly.

She then pretended to lose her balance and rammed her shoulder into me hard.

I stumbled and fell to the ground.

The pristine white wedding dress was instantly stained with blood from my split lip.

The guests below started pointing and whispering.

"The Winters' family education, tsk tsk..."

"The elder daughter is crazy, but at least the younger one knows better."

"Good thing Mr. Carter chose the right one."

Rosalie stroked her belly smugly, her eyes full of challenge.

Alexander tried to help me up but was blocked by Liam's friends.

"Who do you think you are? You're not worthy of touching her!" Liam sneered.

I lay on the floor, watching Alexander's anxious but helpless face.

A despair greater than physical pain welled up in my heart.

Was this the man I had chosen?

He couldn't even protect me.

Liam looked down at me, his face full of triumph.

"Stella, do you see now? This is your choice. How can a cripple who can barely stand protect you?"

He squatted down and reached out to pull me up.

"Come on, come back. I can forgive and forget all this, pretend it never happened."

This man, who just last night had called me a dead fish in front of his friends, was now putting on an act of deep affection.

Disgusting.

I used all my strength to slap his hand away.

"Get lost!"

Liam's face instantly darkened.

"You ungrateful bitch."

He stood up and kicked the wedding dress beside me.

"Since you're so cheap, go ahead and be with your cripple. But don't come crying back later!"

Seeing this, my father stepped forward again.

"You ungrateful child, apologize right now!"

My mother also rushed over, crying and wailing.

"Stella, have you gone mad? Are you ruining your life just to spite us?"

The guests below pointed and whispered, enjoying the spectacle.

"Stella Winters has really lost it."

"Choosing a cripple out of spite, she must be desperate."

"What sin did the Winters family commit to have such a daughter?"

Rosalie timely came forward, cradling her belly.

"Stella, please calm down. We may have had misunderstandings, but Liam truly loves you. Look at Mr. Grant, he can't even protect you. Is he really suitable for you to spend your life with?"

Her words cut deep into my heart.

I lay on the ground, feeling the malice from all directions.

My parents' disappointment.

My ex-boyfriend's mockery.

My sister's provocation.

The guests' ridicule.

And... the helplessness of the man I had chosen.

Had I really made the wrong choice?

At this moment, Alexander finally broke free from those people's restraint.

He limped towards me, each step difficult.

He knelt down and gently helped me up.

"I'm sorry you had to suffer this," he said softly.

Then he turned to face Liam.

"You're right, I can't protect her."

My heart instantly sank to the bottom.

Was he going to abandon me too?

But in the next second, he added:

"But at least, I won't hurt her."

He looked at everyone below the stage.

"You mock her for going crazy, for choosing me out of spite. But have you ever thought about what would make a woman make such a choice on her wedding day?"

The hall fell silent.

"It's betrayal. It's deception. It's hurt from those closest to her."

"My leg may be crippled, but my heart isn't. I may not be able to give her the best material life, but I can give her the truest feelings."

Liam's face turned ashen with rage.

"Stop with this sentimental nonsense! You cripple, what right do you have-"

"What right do I have?" Alexander interrupted him, "I have the right to love her. What about you?"

"Stop with this mushy talk. Guys, get him out of here."

With that, Liam and his friends pushed Alexander out of the wedding venue.