My Fiance Rigged the Game for His Bestie? I Changed the Groom Chapter 08
At my wedding to Ethan, I moved through the preparations in a daze.
My makeup artist, on the other hand, was thrilled.
“These are real diamonds,” she said. “Ethan wants them braided into your hair.
“A diamond necklace as a hairpiece? That is billionaire–level commitment.”
I glanced at the stones.
The largest one was bigger than the diamond in my engagement ring.
That was when I remembered I still hadn’t returned Alexander’s ring.
I slipped it off just as Ethan opened the door.
He paused when he saw it in my hand.
I held it out. “Can you give this back to Alexander? I forgot earlier.”
Ethan took it without hesitation and smiled.
“Absolutely. I’ll have my assistant put it directly into his hand.”
I nodded and turned back to the mirror.
A moment later, Ethan came up behind me and rested both hands on my shoulders.
“If you’re too exhausted, we can cancel today.”
“No. I leave for a closed training camp in a few days. If
we cancel, we’d have to wait three months. Wouldn’t that bother you?”
His expression tightened.
“It would. I’d spend the whole time afraid someone might steal you.”
Then he added,
“I know you can’t feel much for me yet. We can build something slowly.
“Give me one year. If you still don’t love me by then, I’ll let you go.
“But I do love you, Claire. I have since the first time I saw you.
“The more I learned about you, the worse it got. That’s
why I never let myself get too close.”
The bluntness of it sent heat into my face.
“I understand.”
My voice came out tighter than I intended.
I had no idea where to look.
Thankfully, Ethan left while I changed into the gown.
Then Alexander called.
“Claire, I’m giving you one last chance. Come back
within thirty minutes.
“I’ll pretend none of this happened. You can wear the
gown, and we’ll finish the wedding.
“Ethan isn’t a good man. You-”
“Don’t wait for me.”
I ended the call and blocked his number.
Then I looked at myself in the mirror.
The elaborate gown and dramatic makeup belonged
together perfectly.
I tried to make my smile look natural.
The door opened again.
Ethan stepped inside, took one look at me, and forgot
how to speak.
“The ceremony’s about to start,” he finally managed.
It took him several seconds to clear his throat and
force the words out.
I walked toward him.
He closed his hand around mine and held on tightly.
“Don’t be nervous. My parents are easy to love, and
they already think you’re wonderful.”
When I met the Whitmores, however, they looked exhausted.
They were, to be fair, every bit as kind as Ethan had promised.
Only later did I learn that the entire wedding had been arranged the night before.
While his staff rushed to pull it together, Ethan had
kept his parents awake for hours, listing every reason I was extraordinary.
They hadn’t slept at all.
The moment he finished, he dragged them to the
venue to help oversee the setup.
He had even recruited his grade–school–aged nephew.
By sunrise, every member of the Whitmore family knew Ethan had completely lost his mind over Claire Bennett.
After we married, I became a minor attraction in their home.
Everywhere I went, someone stared.
His nephew finally explained,
“I just wanted to see what kind of woman could make Uncle Ethan go totally crazy.”