Chapter 4
Ethan stayed rooted to the spot, a mess of words tangled up inside him—he couldn't make sense of any of it, let alone say them out loud.
"You... you lost your memory?" he managed.
"Yeah."
"What happened after that?"
"I started remembering things, bit by bit," Tessa said, glancing down at Stella. "First, I remembered there was a baby. Then I realized I wasn't meant to be gone."
She finally looked up at the stage, her eyes settling on Serena, her voice getting even softer.
"And I realized some people had a pretty easy time these past three years."
Serena finally couldn't keep it together.
"Tessa," she said, her voice still gentle, but the end of her words shook. "You misunderstood. After the accident, everyone thought you were gone. We searched for you for so long, and Ethan, he—"
"Don't speak for him," Tessa cut her off.
Her voice was softer than Serena's, but that softness made it even harder for anyone to butt in.
"It's your wedding day," Tessa said, locking eyes with her. "You know better than anyone what's appropriate and what's not. So let's start with the simplest truth."
She paused, her gaze slowly sweeping over the flower wall, the stage, and the guests, before finally settling back on Ethan.
"First, I'm not dead.
"Second, this kid is yours.
"Third, I'm not here to ruin your wedding," Tessa said, her gaze finally locking onto Serena, her face almost cold. "I'm here for an explanation."
Those three statements were so steady that everyone in the room started to realize—Tessa wasn't here to cause drama or act crazy.
She'd come prepared, with three years' worth of baggage, and walked in, ready to face everything.
Ethan's mother gripped the back of her chair, her eyes rimmed with tears.
She did care for Tessa Quinn. At least during the years Tessa was part of the Ford family, she was pleased with her. Tessa was quiet, sensible, someone you could proudly introduce to others, and never talked back to her elders.
But precisely because she was so satisfied, she understood that if the wedding went ahead tonight, the awkwardness wouldn't just be about the fact that the ex-wife was still alive. The whole Ford family would be stuck in the most shameful spotlight.
Finally, she spoke, her voice hoarse.
"Ethan, see the guests out first."
Ethan didn't respond right away.
He was still staring at Tessa, as if ever since she showed up, he hadn't been able to snap out of the shock that hit him late. But his mother's words pulled him out of the wreckage of the wedding and back to reality.
"Miles," he said in a low voice, "Help the guests leave."
The assistant jumped into action, bringing the hotel manager and a few distant Ford relatives along to start ushering the guests out and smoothing things over. Nobody dared to make a fuss—most people just wanted to get out fast.
As everyone stood up, the scraping chairs, swishing dresses, and hushed whispers all tangled together, making the scene even messier. But everyone was quick on their feet, rushing out like they were terrified of getting caught up in all the drama nobody wanted to mention but was blowing up everywhere.
About ten minutes later, the banquet hall was already half-empty.
Only the closest Ford elders remained, along with Serena's parents. The wedding planning team hovered in a corner, not knowing whether to stay or vanish. The band had gone.
The lights had been dimmed another step. The glamour had drained away from the room, leaving only white flowers and empty tables that now looked oddly cold.
Tessa lingered at the doorway, refusing to take even a single step inside.
Just because she'd turned the wedding upside down didn't mean she wanted to be part of this place again.
Stella was clearly tired, rubbing her eyes with her tiny hands and leaning her head against Tessa's leg. Tessa bent down and picked her up, the motion so familiar it was like she'd done it countless times over the past three years. Stella rested her chin on Tessa's shoulder, her eyes still wide open, curiously watching Ethan across the room as he kept staring at her.
"Mommy," Stella whispered, "Is this place not fun?"
Tessa gently rubbed her back. "Yeah, it's not fun."
"Then when are we going home?" Stella asked in a soft voice.
Hearing that, Ethan's expression shifted ever so slightly.
Home.
All these years, he'd thought Tessa was gone forever. Now she was back, and the kid she brought with her already had a home—a home that didn't include him, the Ford family, or this wedding everyone just assumed would happen.
He finally stepped forward, taking two steps.
"Tessa," he said, "this isn't the place for this. Let's go somewhere else—"
"Why do we always have to go somewhere else?" Tessa shot back, her eyes locked on him. "The airport wasn't good enough, the wedding isn't good enough—so where is? Your study? The Ford family dining table?"