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Chapter 2 — The Bride They Didn’t Break

The ballroom dissolved into chaos Questions flew from every direction as guests leaned toward one another, eager to dissect the scandal unfolding before their eyes.

“I can’t believe Ethan called off the wedding.”

“For the adopted daughter, no less.”

“What happens to the alliance between the Sinclair and Hawthorne families now?”

“Cameras down!” one of the event coordinators shouted as several reporters lifted their phones. “No recordings!”

Too late The whispers had already spread. By morning, every media outlet in the country would have the story. Evelyn stood in the center of it all Only the faint whiteness of her knuckles around the bouquet betrayed the storm raging beneath the surface.

Ethan frowned This wasn’t how he imagined it. He knew Evelyn, or at least, he thought he did. She should have demanded an explanation Questioned him, argued with him.

Instead…She simply looked at him.

“Is this your final decision?”

The ballroom fell quiet once more. Ethan met her gaze without hesitation.

“Yes.”

There was no anger in her expression. No desperation. Only acceptance. Evelyn lowered her eyes briefly before lifting them again.

“I understand.”

For the first time since the ceremony began, uncertainty flickered across Ethan’s face. That was it? No tears? No accusations? No attempt to change his mind? She took a slow breath before turning toward the officiant.

“I’m sorry for wasting your time.”

The elderly man blinked, momentarily speechless. Then Evelyn faced the hundreds of guests who had gathered to witness what should have been the wedding of the year.

“Ladies and gentlemen…”

Her voice carried effortlessly across the ballroom.

“Thank you for taking the time to attend today’s ceremony.”

The guests stared at her in stunned silence.

“Unfortunately, the wedding has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.”

She offered a small, graceful bow.

“I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and hope you’ll accept my apologies on behalf of the Sinclair family.”

No trembling voice. No public breakdown. No humiliation. Just quiet dignity. Several of the older business leaders exchanged glances.

“Impressive…”

“She’s handling this better than anyone else here.”

“I would’ve collapsed.”

Ethan heard every word Añd For reasons he couldn’t explain…None of this felt like a victory.

“Evelyn…”

Before he could continue, another voice interrupted.

“Sister…”

Sophia stepped forward cautiously, her expression filled with concern.

“I’m so sorry things turned out this way.”

Evelyn turned to face her Añd For a long moment, she said nothing. Then she smiled It wasn’t warm…Nor was it cruel. It was simply empty.

“Don’t.”

Sophia froze.

“I…”

“Don’t apologize.”

Evelyn’s tone remained calm. “Apologies only matter when the person giving them regrets what happened.” For the first time, Sophia couldn’t find the right words.

A flicker of surprise crossed her face before disappearing behind her usual gentle expression. Richard Sinclair finally stepped forward.

“That’s enough.”

His deep voice silenced the room.

“Evelyn.”

She turned toward her father.

“You’re embarrassing yourself.”

A hush fell over the ballroom. Even Ethan looked startled. Embarrassing herself? After everything that had just happened? Evelyn held her father’s gaze. Then, with remarkable composure, she answered,

“I’m not the one who cancelled a wedding.”

Richard’s jaw tightened. The guests murmured again. Several people nodded almost imperceptibly.

For the first time that afternoon…Someone had spoken the obvious truth Richard’s expression hardened.

“This discussion will continue at home.”

“No,” Evelyn replied.

His brows knitted together.

“No?”

“I’ve spent years discussing things in private.”

She glanced briefly toward Ethan. “It seems public decisions deserve public consequences.” Richard’s face darkened.

But before anyone could respond..The grand ballroom doors opened. Every conversation stopped. Heavy footsteps echoed across the marble floor. One by one, heads turned toward the entrance.

A tall man in a perfectly tailored black suit walked into the ballroom as though he owned the silence itself. Someone near the back gasped.

“Sebastian Hawthorne…”

The disowned eldest son had returned. The moment the name left the guest’s lips, the atmosphere shifted.

“Sebastian Hawthorne?” “I thought he was overseas.” “Why is he here?” “I heard he built an empire bigger than Hawthorne Group.” “Didn’t Chairman Hawthorne disown him years ago?”

The whispers spread even faster than before. Every pair of eyes followed the man walking through the ballroom. Sebastian Hawthorne didn’t spare the guests a glance. His polished leather shoes echoed against the marble floor with slow, measured steps. Tailored black suit, Impeccable posture. A face carved from cold indifference.

His sharp gaze swept across the room once before settling on the wedding stage. On Ethan Then…On Evelyn.

For the briefest moment, their eyes metNeither spoke but neither looked away. Then Sebastian continued walking as if nothing had happened. He stopped before Charles Hawthorne.

“Father.”

Charles regarded his eldest son silently.“So you decided to come.”

“I was invited.”

“You almost declined.”

“I considered it.”

The exchange was brief, polite…And completely devoid of warmth. Everyone present could feel it. Years of unresolved resentment lingered between father and son. Charles finally broke the silence.

“You’ve seen enough of today’s disgrace.”

“I have.”

“Then you also understand this isn’t the time.”

Sebastian’s expression remained unreadable.

“I disagree.”

Charles narrowed his eyes.

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

Sebastian looked toward the stage once more.

“I believe today is the perfect time.”

The cryptic answer only deepened everyone’s curiosity. Meanwhile, Ethan stepped forward.

“You didn’t have to come.”

Sebastian finally looked at his younger brother.

“I was invited to your wedding.”

His gaze briefly shifted toward the abandoned wedding decorations surrounding them.

“It appears I arrived just in time.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened.

“This is a private family matter.”

“You’re mistaken.”

Sebastian’s deep voice remained calm.

“You made it public the moment you rejected your bride in front of half the country’s elite.”

A heavy silence followed. No one dared disagree because he was right. Ethan frowned.

“You don’t understand.”

“Then explain.”

“I refuse to spend my life in a loveless marriage.”

Sebastian’s expression didn’t change.

“And humiliating her publicly was the only solution you could find?”

Ethan opened his mouth Nothing came out. Sebastian didn’t wait for an answer. His eyes moved toward Evelyn again.

Unlike everyone else in the room…He wasn’t looking at her with pity or curiosity. Nor with amusement. He simply observed her. The bouquet she still refused to drop. The perfectly straight posture despite everything. The calm expression that barely concealed the devastation in her eyes.

He had attended enough corporate negotiations to recognize restraint. This woman wasn’t unhurt. She was holding herself together through sheer will. Interesting. Across the room, Sophia discreetly studied Sebastian.

So this…Was the infamous eldest son.

The brother Ethan had always dismissed as cold, ruthless, and impossible to understand Yet the attention of the entire ballroom had shifted the moment he entered.

Even after today’s scandal…People were whispering about him. Sophia’s fingers tightened slightly around her clutch. She didn’t like that….Not one bit.

Before anyone could speak again, an event coordinator hurried toward Richard Sinclair.

“Chairman Sinclair…”

He lowered his voice.

“The press has gathered outside.”

Richard closed his eyes briefly Of course they had. A cancelled wedding involving the Sinclair and Hawthorne families? By sunset, every headline in the country would be talking about it. He looked toward Evelyn.

“You’ll leave through the private entrance.”

It wasn’t a request. It was an order. Evelyn met his eyes. For the first time that day…She shook her head.

“No.”

Richard stared at her.

“I won’t hide.”

The simple sentence stunned everyone. “If today’s humiliation is destined to become tomorrow’s headlines…” She lifted her chin. “Then I’ll walk through the front door.”

And for reasons he couldn’t quite explain…Sebastian Hawthorne found himself unable to look away.