Chapter 2

Liam's sneer instantly turned into a furious scowl.

He strode over and grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it felt like he wanted to crush my bones.

"Anya, you'd rather choose a cripple to disgust me than beg for my forgiveness?"

Before I could react, my dad rushed over.

I thought he was coming to stop Liam, to protect me.

Instead, he raised his hand and delivered a resounding slap.

"Slap!"

The crisp sound echoed through the entire wedding hall.

My cheek instantly swelled red and burned with a fiery pain. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of my mouth.

The entire venue fell silent, then erupted into even sharper whispers.

"Disgraceful daughter! You've shamed our family beyond belief! Get back here, right now!"

There was no hint of affection in my father's eyes, only anger and disgust.

I covered my face, tears threatening to spill.

Not because of the pain, but because of the chilling realization.

This man was my father.

Stella, at this point, feigned concern and stepped forward to mediate.

"Daddy, Anya was just impulsive. Please don't get so agitated…"

As she spoke, she "accidentally" stomped her high heel onto my foot.

The searing pain made me lose my balance instantly.

Then she pretended to stumble, violently ramming her shoulder into me.

I staggered and fell to the ground.

The pristine white hem of my wedding dress was instantly stained with the blood from my mouth.

The guests below began to point and whisper.

"The Reed family's upbringing…"

"The elder daughter is a total lunatic, but the younger one is sensible."

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

Stella proudly caressed her belly, her eyes filled with provocation.

Julian tried to come and help me, but Liam's friends blocked him, holding him back.

"Who do you think you are? Do you even deserve to touch her?" Liam sneered.

I lay on the floor, watching his anxious, yet helpless, face.

A despair far deeper than my physical pain welled up inside me.

Was this the man I chose?

He couldn't even protect me.

Liam looked down at me, his eyes gleaming with triumph.

"Anya, do you see now? This is your choice. A useless man who can't even stand properly, how can he protect you?"

He crouched down, reaching out to help me up.

"Come on, be good. Come back. I can forgive everything, pretend none of this ever happened."

This man, who just last night called me a "dead fish" to his friends.

Now he was putting on an act of deep affection.

Disgusting.

I mustered all my strength and violently slapped his hand away.

"Get lost!"

Liam's face instantly darkened.

"You're ungrateful."

He stood up and kicked the hem of my wedding dress.

"Since you're so cheap, go live with your cripple. But don't come crying to me later!"

My dad, seeing this, stepped forward again.

"You rebellious daughter, apologize right now!"

My mom also rushed over, crying.

"Anya, are you crazy? Are you going to ruin your life just to prove a point?"

The guests below watched, entertained, pointing and whispering.

"Anya is truly insane."

"To choose a cripple just to spite someone, she must be really messed up."

"What sin did the Reed family commit to end up with such a daughter?"

Stella, at the opportune moment, walked over, prominently displaying her baby bump.

"Anya, calm down. Even though we had a misunderstanding, Liam genuinely loves you. Look at Julian, he can't even protect you. Is he really suitable to entrust your life to?"

Every one of her words pierced my heart.

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

My parents' disappointment.

My ex-fiancé'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?

Just then, Julian finally broke free from those who were restraining him.

He limped towards me, each step difficult.

He crouched down and gently helped me up.

"I'm sorry, that you had to endure this."

Then he turned and looked at Liam.

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

My heart sank instantly.

Was even he going to abandon me?

But the next second, he added:

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

He looked at everyone in the hall.

"You mock her for being crazy, you mock her for choosing me out of spite. But have you ever wondered? What truly drives a woman to make such a choice at her own wedding?"

The entire hall fell silent.

"It's betrayal. It's deception. It's the pain inflicted by the people closest to her."

"My leg may be broken, but my heart isn't. I may not be able to give her the best material life, but I can give her the most genuine affection."

Liam's face was livid.

"Don't get all emotional here! What right do you, a cripple, have to speak—"

"What right do I have?" Julian interrupted him. "I have the right to love her. Do you?"

"Enough with the cheesy talk. Guys, get him out of here."

With that, Liam and his friends shoved Julian out of the wedding venue.