Chapter 4
Sabrina acted like she felt sorry for me, but there was obvious malice in her eyes.
She pretended to comfort me, but it was all fake.
"It's just tradition. The more trouble the bridesmaids go through, the better my marriage will be," she said.
With everyone watching, the Clarke family relatives lunged for my dress, eager to tear it off.
The ripping sound of fabric echoed, and I was mortified—shame and fury threatened to swallow me whole.
I shook my head desperately, tears streaming down my face.
Luke rushed forward when he saw the chaos, shouting to stop them.
"That's enough! Stop it, all of you!" he roared.
He tried to rush over and shield me, but Sabrina had her people forcefully restrain him.
Luke's attempt to protect me only made Sabrina even angrier.
Her facade was starting to crack—she was getting triggered.
"Honey, do you not love me anymore?" she asked.
"You're defending and pampering a homewrecker like her. Where does that leave my dignity as your wife?
"I didn't blame you for messing around, but you shouldn't let a homewrecker humiliate me like this," she snapped.
She stormed over and yanked open my top herself, the venom in her eyes sent chills down my spine.
"I want my husband to see for himself just how indecent you really are!" she spat.
Just then, the crowd suddenly parted.
Two familiar figures appeared before me.
"How dare you lay a hand on my daughter!"
It was my parents—they'd come to save me!
My mom hurried over, her face full of worry, and wrapped her coat around me, shielding me from everyone's gaze.
When the tape was torn off, my lips were so swollen and bruised I couldn't get a word out.
All I could do was cling to my mom, shaking uncontrollably in her arms.
My dad called Zachary Snider, our bodyguard, and asked him to bring some extra guys over.
When he saw how pale and shaken I was, my dad's heart ached for me. He tried to comfort me.
"Sweetheart, just hang in there a little longer. Our people will be here any minute," he said softly.
Luke, feeling guilty, put on a fawning smile and edged over carefully.
"Mr. Bowen, Alice's injuries are pretty serious. She should be taken to the hospital right away," he said, trying to sound helpful.
"I've already called 911..." he added quickly.
With a loud smack, my dad slapped Luke hard across the face.
My dad gave him a cold, authoritative glare.
"You don't need to worry about Alice," he said in a frosty tone.
"You'd better think hard about how you're going to explain yourself to her.
"And as for the Greenwood family, let's see if you can withstand our retaliation."
Luke's face went ghostly pale.
"Mr. Bowen, it's all because of Sabrina..." he stammered.
When Sabrina saw Luke get slapped, she stormed over, furious and aggressive, ready to pick a fight.
"How dare you hit my husband? Do you have any idea who my husband is?" she shrieked.
My dad didn't even bother to look at her.
As far as he was concerned, for daring to mess with me, Sabrina was already a dead woman.
"I'm taking Alice away now," he said coldly.
As I was helped to my feet, Sabrina and the Clarke family suddenly swept in, blocking our path.
"Who gave you permission to take this slut away?" Sabrina snapped.
"You call this good parenting? What a family!
"Your daughter goes around seducing married men and playing the homewrecker, and you, old bastard, actually dare to hit my husband?
"Your whole family is shameless, raising trash like her!
"You want to leave? Sure—if you do what I say," she sneered.
"Make Alice crawl outside on her knees three times, and have her swear in front of everyone she'll never try to seduce my husband again.
"Have her admit she's a slut, and then maybe I'll let you leave!"
Luke was sweating bullets and couldn't help but snap at Sabrina.
"Shut up!" he barked.
"This is all your fault.
"I've told you a hundred times. Alice and I are just friends.
"You jumped to conclusions and blamed her for nothing, and now look at the mess you've made.
"Hurry up and apologize to Alice—beg her for forgiveness!"
Sabrina's eyes widened in shock.
She was stunned, unable to process that Luke was actually rebuking her.
"Honey, you want me to apologize to her?" Sabrina gasped, disbelief in her voice.
"I'm your wife.
"Who is she? Just some shameless mistress who crawled into your bed. The fact that I've tolerated her at all is already more than she deserves!" Sabrina spat.
"I told you before we got married—you can mess around outside, but never let your dirty business show up in front of me," she said coldly.
"You were supposed to respect me, cherish me, and give me the dignity I deserve as your wife.
"You swore you'd keep your word!
"And now? You want me to kneel to her? Is she even worthy of that?"
Sabrina was bawling her eyes out, going off on Luke with a barrage of accusations.
Luke looked livid, his face dark with anger.
But then, Sabrina suddenly changed her tune, acting all loving and devoted.
"But honey, I don't blame you," she said, pretending to be understanding.
"You were just fooled by her. I know you'll snap out of it and come back to me.
"In the end, you'll realize I'm the only one who really loves you."
Sabrina's words made Luke's skin crawl—he was cringing so hard he could barely keep a straight face.
Before Luke could get a word out, Zachary stormed in with a squad of bodyguards, looking ready to turn the Greenwood family's place upside down.
My dad had no patience left for Sabrina's outrageous rant. He turned to Zachary and gave a curt command.
"Anyone who tries to block us—just handle them," he said coldly.