Chapter 3
A photo hung on the wall.
Noah, who was in the picture, looked a lot like Ethan, but his features carried a softer, more gentle warmth.
I lay awake all night.
The door opened, and a few maids walked in, carrying a wedding dress.
"Fiona, it's time to get changed," one of them said.
I didn't resist.
They helped me into the dress and led me to the Harrison family's ancestral hall.
The place was already full of people.
Relatives from both the Harrison and Stewart families were there, along with a few people I didn't recognize.
Ethan stood at the front, dressed in a black suit with a white flower pinned to his chest.
Chloe stood beside him, wearing a white dress and light makeup, looking pitiful.
The wedding began.
I was led to the stage.
Noah's photo was placed on it.
The host intoned, "Bow!"
I didn't move.
Ethan's voice came from beside me, emotionless. "Do it, Fiona."
I still didn't move.
He walked over and placed his hand firmly on my shoulder, pushing me down.
"Bow!" the host called out again.
Ethan's hand kept pressing down.
"Bow!" the host repeated.
Ethan yanked me up, turned me toward Noah's photo, and then let go.
I turned to look at him.
Impatience flickered in Ethan's eyes. Chloe, right next to him, was wearing a mocking smile.
"Fiona, don't make me force you," Ethan warned.
I let out a bitter laugh.
Then I turned and gave a deep bow to Noah's photo.
After the ceremony, I was sent to a villa on the outskirts of the city.
Ethan personally drove the car.
On the way, he handed me a card.
He said, "There's seven million dollars on it. The PIN is your birthday."
I didn't reach out for it.
Then he took out a set of keys.
"There's a villa in the city center of the neighboring city. It's already in your name," he continued.
I still stayed silent.
Ethan sounded annoyed as he asked, "Fiona, what else do you actually want?"
I turned to look at him and replied, "I want nothing."
The car stopped at the entrance of the villa.
The place was huge, but there wasn't a hint of warmth or life, just cold emptiness.
Ethan got out of the car and opened the door for me.
He said, "You'll stay here for three days. After that, a driver will pick you up.
"In three days, I will be engaged to Chloe. Just take the money and the house, leave here, and don't come back."
I stepped out of the car and stood at the villa's entrance.
Turning back, I called out to him, "Ethan."
He looked at me and said nothing.
I said, "You'll regret it."
He sneered, "I never regret my choices."
He shut the car door and drove away.
I watched his car disappear around the corner.
Images of him forcing me to kneel flashed through my mind. He'd locked me in this villa, making me play the grieving widow for a dead man, while he went off to get engaged to Chloe.
Then I took out my phone and dialed a number.
I said, "Julian, let's get this going."
I turned around, opened the door of the villa, and walked in.
It was quiet here.
Noah's photo hung on the wall.
I walked up to it and looked at the gentle boy in the photo.
I said, "Hello, my husband."
For the past three days, I had not taken a step out of the villa.
Ethan kept his promise. He didn't have anyone watching over me.
In his eyes, I was already at his mercy, powerless to make even the slightest ripple.
On the morning of the fourth day, a car stopped at the villa right on time.
A few men in suits got out of the car, led by an elderly man with silver hair.
He was the chief lawyer of the Harrison Group, and Arthur's most trusted confidant.
I opened the door.
Julian bowed slightly and said, "Mrs. Harrison, we're here to take you back to Harrison Manor for the will reading."
The moment he called me "Mrs. Harrison," the young lawyers behind him all had their expressions shift.
But I wasn't surprised.
Julian said, "Let's go."
As soon as we stepped into the Harrison Manor, it was eerily quiet.
In the living room, the entire Harrison family was gathered.
Ethan sat at the head of the room, and Chloe was next to him. She leaned in a little, her eyes never leaving his face.
As Julian and I walked in, everyone was stunned.
Ethan frowned and stood up.
He asked, surprised, "Fiona? Why are you here?"
He walked over quickly and reached out to stop me. "You shouldn't be here," he said.
Julian stepped in front of me.