Chapter 3: The Bride he didn't Choose

Sam's POV

With a soft whoosh, the thick soundproof door was gently pushed open. Mrs. Xavier’s professional and upbeat chatter about "starting a new life" flowed into the room like a stream. Behind her were the groom, Ethan Sterling, and a pair of white-gloved personal attendants.

"Alright, everyone can step out now," Ethan suddenly interrupted Mrs. Xavier and her smooth, auspicious monologue was brought to an end.

I remained motionless and my gaze flickered beneath the expensive lace veil. 

Ethan's voice was still as clear and commanding as ever but it seemed clipped and noticeably faint. I could picture the strained expression on his face as he spoke. He looked polished and emotionally distant.

"Yes, Mr. Sterling..." Despite being a famous high-society wedding planner in the Hamptons and Silicon Valley that was accustomed to navigating complicated elite marriages, Mrs. Xavier was well aware of Ethan Sterling's unconventional relationship with his lifelong friend and business partner, Gwen Farley.

The merger-marriage with my family trust had been arranged by the late Chairman Sterling before his death. The Sterlings also didn't want to break their public commitment to go through a PR nightmare. If not for these two reasons, I wouldn't be in the position of Mrs. Sterling right now.

Though I walked through the door and became Mrs. Sterling, my position was just ceremonial at best.

Mrs. Xavier signaled with her lips pursed as she already understood. The attendants, including my maid Lily, retreated discreetly.

The door closed softly and the vast penthouse suite fell silent. The atmosphere quickly became thick and oppressive.

As he found himself surrounded with white flowers, expensive art and celebratory lighting, Ethan seemed to be feeling stifled. He looked around as if he never expected this bright and lavish environment to bring him such a suffocating feeling.

Indeed, the heart influences the surroundings.

As his gaze swept over the invitation suite on the table and the high-end champagne chilling in the bucket, his mood darkened, and he became lost in thought.

“Enough.”

He let out a silent sigh and as he clearly dismissed all his unpleasant emotions. 

“Since I had honored the merger agreement and brought you into the family, as long as you aren't a liability, you will always be the official Mrs. Sterling and my legitimate wife.”

“Gwen said you understood the professional arrangement and I have also promised not to let you down.” Ethan subconsciously rubbed his fists and stepped forward steadily.

He picked up the silver tray with the diamond cutter and gently lifted my veil. The jewels on the veil quivered and I gently raised my head to see the pair of clear, limpid eyes that entered my sight deeply.

****”””

His bright eyes were as radiant as fine glass, the gentle flicker of eyelashes revealed a touch of his guarded intelligence.

Ethan was also taken aback for a moment.

It was just a flash and his eyes became as calm as water again. He glanced at me without speaking.

He suddenly turned to the table and poured two glasses of champagne. He handed one to me and held the other in his hand.

"Once we drink this, the public ceremony is complete. Time for us to rest," Ethan said flatly and drank it all up in one gulp.

I looked at him in amazement of the magic of fate. It was just like in my previous life, he drank the celebratory drink that was meant to be shared.

He didn't even considered that I would be starving all day from the stress.

Of course, I was not bothered that he didn't share the champagne with me, I was only surprised by his indifference acts towards his bride.

"What happen, why are you not drinking?" Ethan asked after draining the glass and putting it down. 

He walked back to me probably to fulfill the ceremonial minimum. However, when he saw that I was still holding the glass in a daze, he frowned impatiently.

“What's the drama now?”

I glanced at him and hesitated before I gently placed the champagne glass on a table.

"You!" I retorted

Taken aback, Ethan coldly said: "What exactly do you mean?"

"Mr. Sterling," I stood up and smoothed my designer wedding dress. After that, I adopted a serious formal pose and looked up at him without any evasiveness, I said: "I'm sure that you have someone else in your heart that you wish to marry. The one you wish to marry is not me, right?"

As he wasn't expecting me to say this, he was almost shaken by surprise. Initially, he reacted as if he misheard me. 

After he had regained his composure, he raised an eyebrow and applied his corporate training to remain calm. 

He asked indifferently, "What exactly are you proposing? What do you want?"