Chapter 162"I need to go freshen up," Elena said, heading toward the stairs. She was determined not to let this situation make her cry or feel sorry for herself.She was innocent. There was no reason to be sad or defeated. Everything would work out in the end.She walked into her bedroom and slowly removed what should have been her wedding dress. The beautiful white fabric now felt heavy and cursed. She would probably never be able to look at this dress again without remembering this terrible day.She dropped the dress on the floor and walked naked into her bathroom, turning on the shower and letting the hot water wash over her.As she stood under the spray, Elena allowed herself to think about what had happened. She had never imagined her wedding day going like this. This morning, she had been so happy, so excited about starting her new life as Mrs. Elena Meyer.Now she wasn't even sure if Ethan still wanted to marry her. She wasn't sure he would want to have anything to do with the
Chapter 161Elena stood there in handcuffs as she watched Ethan walk away from her, his shoulders shaking with grief and shock. She wasn't angry at him for leaving. No, she felt deep pity for him.He had just lost his mother on what was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. His wedding day had turned into a nightmare, and now he was dealing with the horrible reality that someone he loved was accused of killing the woman who gave birth to him.How do you process something like that?* Elena thought as the police officers guided her toward their car. How do you choose between the woman you want to marry and your dead mother?As she was being escorted out of the courthouse, Elena caught sight of Mia's face through the car window. Her best friend looked terrified and heartbroken, tears streaming down her cheeks as she watched Elena being taken away.The only prayer Elena had in that moment was that Mia would be okay. The stress of this situation couldn't be good for her or the ba
Chapter 160"Agreed," Ethan said. "And I want to do it today, before they hear it from the press or whoever."They drove to Stefan's house, where they found everyone gathered in the back garden. Mia was sitting on Stefan's lap, both of them giggling at something on their phone while James sat nearby with Sienna, the two of them having what looked like an intense conversation about something."Elena!" Mia squealed the moment she saw her best friend.She immediately tried to stand up and run over, but Stefan caught her around the waist."You need to be careful," he lectured gently. "Remember what the doctor said about taking it easy."Mia rolled her eyes at her overprotective husband but slowed down as she walked to Elena."You're absolutely glowing," Mia said with a teasing smile that made Elena blush immediately.While Elena and Mia hugged, Ethan walked over to greet Stefan with their usual handshake and back pat."I have something to show you," Elena said to Mia, holding out her left
Chapter 159Ethan threw on his clothes as fast as humanly possible, his hands shaking slightly as he buttoned his shirt. He leaned down and kissed Elena quickly, tasting the worry on her lips."I'm coming with you," Elena said, starting to get out of bed."No," Ethan said firmly, gently pushing her back down. "Let me handle this. My father can be... difficult when he's angry. I don't want you to have to deal with more of his attitude today."Elena watched him go, her stomach churning with anxiety because she knows exactly what Samuel Meyer was capable of.Through the thin walls of the apartment, she could hear muffled voices from the living room, Ethan's measured tone and Samuel's deeper, more aggressive one.Downstairs, Samuel stood with his arms crossed, his entire body radiating fury. His usually perfect hair was slightly disheveled, like he had been running his hands through it, and his expensive suit looked so clean and polished. He'd always look neat, always."What is it I'm hea
Chapter 158 Her sweet and respectful fiance is giving up his own bedroom because he thinks she need space, when they're supposed to be planning their life together?She looked at herself in the mirror on his dresser. Her hair was messy, her lipstick was smeared, and she was still wearing the engagement ring that caught the light every time she moved her hand.She wasn't sleeping alone tonight. Not when they're in the same house.She walked into Ethan's bathroom and quickly fixed her hair, wiped off her smeared makeup, then went to his closet and found a soft button-down shirt that smelled like his cologne. She put it on over her underwear, leaving several buttons undone.Perfect, she thought, checking her reflection one more time.Then she walked across the hall to the guest room and opened the door without knocking.Ethan was sitting on the edge of the bed, still shirtless, with his head in his hands looking defeated and frustrated."Did I forget something?" he asked when he heard t
Chapter 157"Mom? What are you doing here?" Ethan asked, his voice filled with frustration and complete disbelief.His mother had never been to his place before, not once since he moved into this penthouse. Of course,he thought bitterly. The first time she decides to visit, it has to be at the worst possible moment.Elena felt her heart drop into her stomach as she looked at the elegant woman sitting in Ethan's living room. This was not how she had imagined meeting her potential future mother-in-law. Half-naked, disheveled, with Ethan's shirt hanging open and her lipstick smeared across both their faces.Cassandra Meyer sat perfectly poised on the expensive leather couch, but her face was twisted with disgust as her eyes moved slowly from her son to Elena. She looked like she was staring at something unpleasant."You haven't been taking my calls anymore," Cassandra said, her voice dripping with the kind of fake hurt that only mothers could perfect. "You don't make time for your mo