CHAPTER 2 — THE WEDDING ENDS BEFORE THE FIRST DANCE
The silence lasted only a heartbeat.
Then Adrian slowly removed the wedding ring from his finger.
No anger.
No hesitation.
Only regret.
His bride stared at him.
"You can't be serious."
He looked at her as though she were a complete stranger.
"I asked you for one thing."
"My son."
"You promised to love him."
She forced a laugh.
"He's just emotional."
"Children make things up."
Lena tightened her arms around the frightened boy.
The child buried his face against her shoulder.
"I don't want to go with her."
Every guest who had wandered upstairs heard those words.
The ballroom music suddenly stopped.
People began gathering in the hallway.
Whispers spread through the mansion.
"What happened?"
"Why is the groom crying?"
Adrian knelt in front of his son.
"I'm sorry."
The little boy looked into his father's eyes.
"For what?"
"For not listening."
"For leaving you alone."
"For believing someone else instead of believing you."
The child burst into tears.
Adrian hugged him tightly.
His own eyes filled for the first time since his wife's funeral.
The bride tried to interrupt.
"Adrian, you're embarrassing both of us."
He stood.
"No."
"You embarrassed yourself."
Without another word, he slipped the wedding ring into her hand.
"It's over."
Her face went pale.
"You can't cancel a marriage because of one misunderstanding."
He answered quietly.
"No."
"I'm ending it because I finally understand."
Security quietly escorted the stunned bride from the mansion while hundreds of guests watched in complete silence.
No one applauded.
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No one defended her.
The wedding ended before the first dance ever began.
