Chapter 63 We Are Retaking Our Wedding Photos
Sloane's POV
"Sloane, you must be starving," Annette said, gently touching my face with concern. "Wait here, I'll go get you something to eat."
In the blink of an eye, the once lively VIP room was left with just me.
Wearing this gorgeous yet confining wedding dress, I sat alone in front of the huge floor-length mirror, feeling like an expensive item waiting to be claimed.
Just then, a grating voice shattered the silence.
"Well, well, if it isn't Sloane? What's this, found yourself a new man already? You really couldn't wait, could you?"
I looked up to see a face reflected in the mirror—the last face I wanted to see.
Keira stood in the doorway, leaning on a crutch and limping. Her heavily made-up face was filled with undisguised mockery and venom.
She must have been passing by and happened to see me in the window display.
I couldn't be bothered with her and looked down, continuing to adjust my dress.
My indifference infuriated her—she limped inside, circled me, and clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "This wedding dress isn't cheap. Looks like the new man you've hooked has deep pockets. What happened? Did you use that pitiful act of yours to trick him too?"
I finally looked up, meeting her jealousy-twisted gaze, my lips slowly curving into a smile. "You guessed wrong," I said unhurriedly, enjoying the expression that instantly froze on her face. "I'm not taking new wedding photos. I'm doing a reshoot."
She paused, not catching on.
I deliberately paused, then said clearly, word by word. "Wedding photos with Jared."
"Impossible!" Keira shrieked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "There's no way Jared would want a second-hand woman like you! You're lying!"
"Whether I'm lying or not, you'll find out soon enough," I stood up, looking down at her. "But even if I were lying, it's not your place to comment. Keira, ha ve you forgotten? I'm still Jared's legal wife, and you? A third wheel who threw herself at him, got publicly dumped, doesn't even have a title—what right do you have to yell at me here?"
"You bitch!" My words completely tore through all her pretenses. She trembled with rage and raised her crutch to strike me. "You're the homewrecker! You stole my Jared!"
I coldly watched her about to lose it completely, not even bothering to dodge.
Just as the crutch was about to come down, a tall figure rushed in from the doorway and grabbed her wrist.
"Keira!" Jared's cold, furious voice cut through the tense atmosphere like a sharp sword.
Jared moved as fast as black lightning.
The second before Keira's crutch was about to hit me, he grabbed her wrist forcefully, making her scream in pain.
The metal crutch clattered to the floor with a sharp sound that hurt the eardrums.
Jared showed no mercy. With a forceful shake, he pushed Keira's already unstable body backward. She stumbled several steps and hit the wall hard with a muffled groan.
She had probably never been treated so roughly by Jared before. Clutching her bruised shoulder, she looked at him in disbelief, her pretty eyes instantly filling with tears as she cried out. "Jared, you pushed me for her?"
Jared didn't even spare her an extra glance.
He turned around and immediately looked at me, his expression showing a tension and regret I'd never seen before. He even bent down slightly, his voice carrying a barely detectable tremor. "I'm sorry, Sloane. Are you okay?"
This apology felt more absurd to me than Keira's crying.
He was apologizing to me for Keira's madness.
I shook my head. Before I could speak, Keira behind me had completely broken down.
"You're apologizing to her? You're actually apologizing to me for this slut!" She pointed at me, her voice shrill and venomous. "Jared, have you forgotten you're about to divorce! You're still entangled with her, taking wedding photos—what do you take me for?"
Jared slowly straightened up and turned to look at her. His dark eyes seemed frozen, and the pressure around him was terrifyingly low. "Who told you we're getting divorced?"
He paused, then stepped closer to Keira. The overwhelming pressure made her crying catch in her throat.
He looked down at her, his voice cold and emotionless, yet every word was clear and commanding.
"Keira Winslow, I'm warning you, this is the last time. From now on, don't come near her again, or it won't be this simple."
His words were like a resounding slap, completely shattering all of Keira's fantasies and dignity.
All color drained from Keira's face, leaving only desperate pallor.
She stared at me with hatred in her eyes that seemed ready to devour me.
"Jared Montclair, you'll regret this!" She threw out this threat, didn't even bother picking up her crutch from the floor, and limped out of the bridal shop in complete disarray.
The drama finally ended. The photographer and staff stood awkwardly to the side, not daring to breathe.
The photo shoot naturally couldn't continue and ended hastily.
The photographer carefully approached to ask where to send the photos.
"Montclair Manor." Jared didn't even look at me and directly gave the address of the place where I had lived for three years.
I sneered inwardly but didn't object.
He probably wanted to use this method to announce his ownership to everyone.
Annette had to leave early due to an urgent matter at her company. Before leaving, she held my hand apologetically and told me not to take Keira's words to heart.
Only Jared and I were left in the VIP room, and the atmosphere fell back into suffocating silence.
I walked into the dressing room, took off that gorgeous yet confining wedding dress, and changed back into my own clothes.
Sitting in front of the makeup mirror, I picked up a makeup remover pad and slowly wiped away the layer of delicate disguise on my face.
In the mirror, my face gradually returned to its original pallor and exhaustion.
Just then, my phone lying nearby rang abruptly.
The name flashing on the screen made my heart sink.
Aeneas Montclair.
I pressed the answer button.
"Sloane!" As soon as the call connected, Aeneas's questioning voice, mixed with fury and contempt, came crashing down on me. "I really underestimated you! Didn't you promise me you'd finish the paperwork with Jared as soon as possible and get out of the Montclair family for good? What game are you playing now? Going back on your word, running off to take wedding photos—are you really this shameless? Do you have to cling to our family like a bloodsucking leech!"
Every word stabbed viciously into my most vulnerable wounds.
Those humiliations I tried so hard to forget were once again torn open, raw and bleeding.