Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

"You said you lost the keys, right?" I shot back, dripping with sarcasm. Faye just shrugged. "Yeah, I lost them, but I found them yesterday."

She was acting like nothing was wrong, totally calm.

I bit back my anger and forced a bitter smile. "Faye, you win!"

I turned to storm upstairs, but Ethan grabbed my arm.

"Faye, you should go home," Ethan said firmly.

Faye looked shocked. "Ethan, I'm in the middle of cooking. It's not done yet."

"No need. Just go home and leave the keys," he insisted, not budging.

Faye's eyes welled up, making her look even more pitiful. "Ethan, what's wrong with you?"

Her tears were both sad and beautiful.

I mentally gave her performance a perfect score.

Ethan sighed. "Faye, you need to grow up and be independent. You've achieved your dreams and you're successful now. Stop disrupting my life. I have my own family and people I want to protect."

He was talking to Faye, but I knew those words were meant for me too.

During our time together, Ethan had said countless sweet things that always melted my heart, but this time I felt strangely calm.

I just listened to Faye's sobs getting louder.

"Ethan, what's wrong with you? You promised at Fiona's grave that you'd take care of me. Have you forgotten?"

Ethan replied steadily, "By eighteen, everyone should be independent. Even parents can't take care of you forever; you have to walk your own path."

Faye cried as she took off her apron and threw it, along with the keys, onto the sofa.

"Ethan, you've changed!" she sobbed and ran out.

I felt his hand holding mine, slightly damp.

"Faye ran out so upset. Aren't you worried something might happen to her?" I asked flatly.

He didn't answer. I knew he was still worried. I pulled away and headed upstairs, but he pulled me back into his arms, holding me tight.

"Honey, marry me," he whispered hoarsely in my ear.

I was confused, and then he knelt down on one knee, pulling out a ring from his pocket and holding it out to me.

"Honey, marry me, and I'll give you the wedding you want."

So that's what he meant!

Every woman dreamed of a grand wedding, and I was no different.

But after going through a divorce and remarriage, I became more practical. I didn't need all the frills; I just wanted a solid marriage.

I didn't say anything, but my heart was racing.

Ethan's attitude towards Faye and his sudden proposal really got to me. I almost convinced myself to forgive him and try to make things work with him and the baby.

But I was scared that what happened that night would happen again, scared of being stuck in an endless cycle.

My silence made him anxious. He stood up, hugged me tight, and practically begged.

"I wanted to wait a few days until I had everything sorted out, but I couldn't. Honey, I know women love a sense of ceremony. I'll give you whatever you want to make you happy. I promise you won't suffer anymore, okay? Please say yes." I didn't respond, and Ethan shook me gently, staring into my eyes.

"Honey, say yes! Please?"

I saw a desperate longing in his eyes.

"Please say yes, okay?" He kissed me, pleading.

Honestly, whether I agreed or not didn't change the fact that we were still married.

Looking at Ethan like this, I felt torn inside.

It was like a voice inside me was urging, "Say yes, say yes to him!"

If everyone could be happy, who would want to struggle?

I was so tired!

When I finally nodded, Ethan lit up like a kid, his joy unmistakable.

He used the wedding to show his sincerity, and I decided to give us one last chance.

If history repeated itself, I wouldn't be soft-hearted again, and I wouldn't look back.

But I still hadn't told Ethan about the baby. I wasn't sure if he'd be happy about the news, at least not yet.

Every time he tried to get close, I made up excuses, and he didn't push.

A week later, Ethan's injury was almost healed, and he took me to pick out wedding dresses.

Each dress was designed by top designers, with so many styles it was overwhelming.

I thought every dress was beautiful. I never imagined I could wear such stunning wedding dresses.

The sales assistant recommended a few based on my figure, and I couldn't decide, so I looked at Ethan.

He carefully compared a few dresses and pointed to one.

"I think this one suits you best."

I went to the fitting room to try it on. The skirt was too long, so I had to hold it up, and the sales assistant helped me from behind.

Ethan, lounging on the sofa with a magazine, glanced up, squinted, and gave me a once-over. Then he put down the magazine, walked over, and adjusted my veil. "Honey, you look beautiful!"

I turned to look at my reflection in the mirror, barely recognizing myself.

A bit later, Jason showed up, followed by Frank and Oliver.

Oliver seemed a bit reluctant, being practically dragged in by Frank.

Oliver glanced at me, then at Ethan, and pouted uncomfortably.

"If they hadn't dragged me here, I wouldn't have come."

I knew they didn't really hate each other; Oliver's drunken confession had already smoothed things over. He just needed an excuse. Of course, no one was going to call him out on it. Ethan said they would be the groomsmen, and today they were here to pick out suits.

Where there are groomsmen, there should be bridesmaids, but I had no one to be my bridesmaid. Bella was already married and wasn't in the mood to attend my wedding. Ethan seemed to read my mind and said, "Don't worry. We have someone for the bridesmaid."

Jason wasn't picky; he settled on the first suit he tried. But Frank and Oliver kept trying on suits without finding one they liked.

Ethan also went to change clothes, leaving just me and Jason in the lounge area.

"Why aren't you happy?" Jason suddenly asked.

I figured they probably didn't know what happened that night, so there was no need to say anything. I just shook my head lightly. "Nothing."

"The wedding planner will handle everything. Just follow their lead, don't be nervous, and relax a bit."

I felt a warmth in my heart and nodded.

Jason smiled again and said, "I'm honored to be a groomsman at your wedding."

"Thank you," I said.

Ethan came out in a white suit.

"Do I look good?" he asked.

I had never seen him in a white suit. Ethan had a model-like figure; he could pull off any outfit and make it look good.

"You look great!" I said.

Oliver came out of the fitting room, looked at himself in the mirror, and asked, "Do I look handsome?"

Frank gave him a thumbs up. "Handsome!"

After picking out the suits, they left first.

Ethan and I went to take wedding photos at the largest photography studio in Starlight City.

Usually, taking wedding photos required an appointment, but for someone as prominent as Ethan in Starlight City, it wasn't necessary.

He just made a quick call on our way to the studio, and they arranged everything makeup artist, stylist, photographer, the works.

On the way, Ethan said, "It's winter now, and you'll be cold shooting outdoor scenes. Let's do one set now, and when it warms up, we'll pick a place for outdoor shots."

I didn't realize he had planned so much and thought it through so well.

At the studio, we changed clothes, did makeup, and had a bunch of people bustling around us.

With the air conditioning, it didn't feel cold at all.

Under the photographer's direction, we posed in various intimate positions.

After one set of wedding photos, I was exhausted.

Finally, I heard the photographer say with a smile, "Okay, let's take the last one."

He had Ethan hold me by the waist and kiss my forehead while I closed my eyes and smiled happily.

I found it hard to muster a happy smile. Fortunately, the photographer's "OK" marked the end of it all.

Ethan didn't let go of me but instead kissed down from my nose to my lips. He didn't mind the photographer being there, but I felt a bit shy. So I didn't respond to him. Luckily, he only kissed briefly before letting go. When I turned my head, I realized the photographer had captured the moment.

Ethan had booked the wedding at the most luxurious Grand International Hotel in Starlight City.

The news that the president of Skyline International Corporation was getting married quickly spread throughout Starlight City. I figured the media must have done this at his behest.

As the wedding day approached, I couldn't help but feel the nervousness of a bride-to-be.

Bella also heard the news and came over to congratulate me.

"Emily, Ethan giving you a grand wedding shows he really loves you."

But I didn't think so. At least, he had never said the word "love" to me when he was sober.

"What did the lawyer say about Zachary's case?" I asked her.

When Zachary was mentioned, Bella's expression darkened.

"The lawyer isn't very confident."

Hearing this, my mood also became heavy.

Seeing all the love Zachary had for Bella, I thought Bella had found happiness. I didn't expect it to come to this.

Just then, Bella's phone rang.

"Mr. Little, hello!" Bella said as she answered.

After the call, Bella looked serious.

"What happened?" I asked her.

Bella, with a pale face, said, "A freshman in college found Mr. Little and said she is Zachary's daughter."