Chapter 2
The church erupted the moment Kael slid the ring onto my finger. But before I could even process what I had done, Rowan stormed toward us.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Iris?” His face was red with fury.
I instinctively stepped back, but Kael's hand was still wrapped around mine.
“I made my choice,” I said.
“You made a fool of me in front of everyone!”
Rowan's voice echoed through the hall.
Before he could come any closer, my father pushed past him.
I thought he was going to defend me.
Instead, he raised his hand to slap.
The sharp sound echoed through the church.
My head snapped to the side.
Pain exploded across my cheek, and within seconds, my skin was burning. I tasted blood when I touched the corner of my mouth.
The entire hall went silent for a second. Then the whispers began.
“Her own father slapped her.”
“She really has no shame.”
“What a disgrace to the Sterling family.”
I covered my cheek and stared at my father.
There was no regret in his eyes, only anger.
“You've shamed this family enough!” he shouted. “Get back to the altar and apologize to Rowan!”
My eyes stung.
Not because of the slap but because this man was my father.
And yet, at that moment, he looked at me like I was nothing more than an embarrassment he wanted to erase.
“I have nothing to apologize for.”
My father's expression darkened.
Before he could respond, Nora stepped forward.
“Daddy, please don't be so angry. Iris was only being impulsive.” She sounded gentle and concerned.
But the moment she reached me, her heel came down hard on my foot.
Pain shot through me. I gasped.
My balance faltered, “Nora…”
She suddenly stumbled into me. Her shoulder slammed into my chest.
I fell backward. My knees hit the marble floor, followed by the rest of my body.
The corner of my mouth struck the ground, and fresh blood spilled onto the white fabric of my wedding dress.
A few guests gasped, others laughed.
“Oh, poor Nora. She was only trying to help.”
“The younger Sterling daughter is so sensible.”
“Rowan definitely chose the right woman.”
I looked up.
Nora stood above me, one hand protectively resting over her swollen stomach.
There was a tiny smile on her lips.
She had everything now…
Everything that was once mine. She had my fiancé, my family, my wedding and she wanted me to know it.
A movement caught my attention.
Kael was trying to reach me. His wheelchair rolled forward, but several men immediately surrounded him.
“Stay where you are,” one of them sneered.
They were Rowan's Betas. Four large men grabbed the handles of Kael's wheelchair and held it in place.
“Let go of him!” I shouted.
Rowan laughed.
“Why?” He walked toward me. “You chose him, didn't you? Let him protect you.”
His eyes dropped mockingly to Kael's legs. “Can he even stand?” The men laughed.
Kael's jaw tightened.
I looked at him. For the first time, I saw something different in his expression.
Not fear but anger.
But his body was still weak. His fingers tightened around the armrests as he struggled against the men.
Rowan crouched in front of me, “Do you understand now, Iris?”
He held out his hand, “Come back to me now. I'll still forgive you.”
I stared at him.
Last night, he had complained about having to marry a woman who couldn't give him pleasure.
This morning, he had betrayed me with Nora.
And now he was pretending to be the one offering me mercy.
I slapped his hand away with all my might, “Don't touch me.”
His face hardened, “You're really determined to regret this, aren't you?”
He stood and kicked the hem of my dress, “Go live with your cripple, then.”
My father stepped forward, “Apologize to Rowan!”
My mother grabbed my arm, “Iris, what are you doing? You've lost everything because of this ridiculous decision!”
I pulled my arm away, “No. I lost everything when you decided I wasn't worth protecting.”
The hall fell quiet for a moment.
Then Nora knelt beside me.
Her voice was soft enough to sound compassionate, “Don't be stubborn, Iris. Rowan…”
She stopped herself before saying again, “Rowan genuinely loves you.”
I almost laughed, “Then why is he standing beside you?”
Her smile vanished.
She glanced at Kael, “Look at him. He can't even protect you.”
Her words sank into the wound already inside me.
I looked at Kael. He was still trapped by Rowan's Betas.
For one horrible moment, doubt crept into my heart.
Had I really made the right choice?
I had walked away from Rowan without hesitation.
But what had I chosen instead?
An Alpha who was injured and barely able to move.
A man I had known for only minutes.
Maybe I had acted out of anger.
But had I made my life even worse?
Then I heard a low grunt. I looked up.
Kael's head was lowered. His fingers were gripping the armrests so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.
Then he slowly lifted his head.
His dark eyes were colder than before.
The four Betas suddenly stiffened.
One of the Betas holding Kael's wheelchair stiffened.
“What…” His grip loosened.
Another Beta suddenly took a step back, his face turning pale.
Kael slowly lifted his head. His dark eyes were colder than before.
A faint pressure spread through the hall.
It wasn't loud or visible, but I felt it.
The Betas felt it too.
Kael took a slow breath. His injured body trembled slightly, as though using whatever strength remained inside him came at a cost.
Then his gaze swept across the four men.
“Let go.”
His voice was quiet, but the command in it made the Betas hesitate.
One of them swallowed nervously.
Kael pushed one of their hands away.
The man stumbled backward.
Kael immediately rolled toward me. He stopped beside me and reached down.
His hands were steady as he helped me to my feet.
“I'm sorry,” he murmured. “You shouldn't have had to endure this.”
I looked at him, stunned.
Then he turned toward Rowan, “You're right.”
His voice was calm. “I can't protect her from everything.”
My heart sank. But Kael continued, “But I won't hurt her.”
His eyes swept across the silent hall, “Unlike some people here.”
No one spoke.
Rowan's face turned crimson, “You…”
Kael looked directly at him, “You betrayed your fiancée. You humiliated her. And now you expect her to return to you?”
His voice remained frighteningly calm, “My legs may be injured, but that doesn't make me blind.”
Rowan's expression twisted with rage, “Get him out of here!”
His Betas hesitated. Kael's gaze hardened.
For a moment, none of them dared to move.
Then Rowan's voice cracked through the silence. “I said, get him out!”
The Betas finally forced themselves forward.
One grabbed the handles of Kael's wheelchair. Another seized his shoulder.
“Don't touch him!” I screamed.
Kael's hand shot out, trying to stop them. “Get your hands off me.”
His voice was low, but there was something in it that made the Betas hesitate again.
But one of them shoved his shoulder.
The wheelchair lurched backward.
“Kael!”
I tried to run toward him, but my mother grabbed my arm, “Let them take him.”
“Let me go!” I fought against her grip.
Kael looked at me. For the first time, I saw something close to panic in his eyes.
Not for himself. For me.
“Iris!” he whispered my name, still struggling against the men.
One of the Betas pushed his wheelchair toward the doors.
“Kael!” I tore myself away from my mother and ran after him.
But I was too late.
They dragged him through the doors.
His hand reached toward me, “Iris, take care…”
Before he could complete, the doors slammed shut.
I froze.
My chest heaved as I stared at the place where he had disappeared.