Chapter 4: Chapter 4

413 words

<html><head></head><body>Lucas swept her into a spinning hug. The cheers shook the crystal chandelier. No one noticed Ethan in the corner, quietly slipping the marriage certificate back into his suit pocket. The private room erupted in chaos. "What a perfect day! Why not propose right now? We can all be witnesses!" Victoria Montgomery's brow furrowed slightly. "It's too rushed. We don't even have a ring or flowers." Lucas Whitmore's voice trembled with excitement. "Victoria, I'd say yes without any of that! Just give me the word." Their gazes locked, electricity crackling between them. In the corner, Ethan Sinclair felt a dull ache spread through his chest. His fists clenched, nails digging deep into his palms. Victoria was serious. In this life or the last, even as his lawful wife, her heart had always belonged to Lucas. Once, he'd naively believed his devotion could win her over. Now reality crashed down upon him. As Lucas pulled Victoria into an embrace, she murmured: "You might not care, but I do. Give me thirty minutes." With a phone call, her assistant arrived and transformed the space into a proposal setting. Classmates eagerly helped arrange flowers, rings, and formal attire. Before the ceremony began, Lucas approached Ethan with a camera. "Our photographer canceled. I heard you're quite skilled. Would you capture this for us?" Victoria shot Ethan a wary glance. To everyone's surprise, he calmly accepted the camera. "Of course. I'll document your happiness." Victoria hesitated, then texted him: "We're already married. This is just for Lucas. Ruin this and you'll regret it." Ethan's lips twisted into a bitter smile as he read the message. A man who'd died once wouldn't repeat his mistakes. Through the viewfinder, he watched Victoria approach Lucas with roses. Kneeling gracefully, her voice flowed like honey: "Lucas, meeting you was my life's greatest blessing. Will you spend forever with me?" Ethan's ears rang. As Lucas slid on the ring, their kiss ignited cheers. Ethan captured every moment with mechanical precision. Afterward, he returned the camera to Lucas. "Congratulations..." A sudden scream cut him off. An unseen force shoved him violently forward. The champagne fountain toppled, glass shards embedding in his flesh. Blood mingled with spilled liquor as agony consumed him. Through fading consciousness, Victoria's frantic voice reached him: "Lucas! I used him as a shield. Are you hurt?" So she'd pushed him. A ghastly smile crossed Ethan's ashen face. Silent tears traced his cheeks. Darkness swallowed him, carrying that final revelation into oblivion... </body></html>