Chapter 190

Chapter 190

Scarlett rushed to close the door, not giving Wallace a chance to enter.

Bella nervously wrung her hands as she gazed at her reflection. The woman in the mirror looked elegant and beautiful—she never imagined she'd see this day. "What time does the engagement party start?"

"Ten o'clock," Scarlett replied, finishing the hem of her dress and dusting off her hands.

Makeup complete, Bella stood and opened the door. Wallace froze when he saw her. "You look stunning today."

Bella offered a small smile, but before they could say anything more, Scarlett appeared and shooed him away.

"I'll head over first," Wallace said, looking back repeatedly as he left. "I'll be waiting for you."

---

After Wallace departed, Bella made her way to the venue. The space, after three days of preparation, looked exquisite—pink balloons clung to the ceiling, colorful streamers scattered across the floor, and tables laden with dishes.

When Bella arrived, everyone greeted the bride-to-be with warm smiles.

"You look gorgeous! Dr. Torres is one lucky man!"

It was nearly eleven, and with both bride and groom present, they were ready to begin the ceremony. Wallace held the diamond ring, his custom-tailored white suit making him look like a prince from a fairy tale.

"Bella, will you spend the rest of your life with me?"

Bella scanned the crowded room, searching for a familiar face that wasn't there. A wave of anxiety washed over her. She'd given Edward an invitation, yet he hadn't come. Her hesitation stretched too long, leaving Wallace confused.

The guests began to cheer her on. "Say yes already!"

Just as Bella was about to reach out her hand—

The doors burst open with a thunderous bang, startling everyone.

Edward appeared at the engagement party, breathless, his disheveled hair and clothes doing nothing to diminish his commanding presence. 

Under the stunned gazes of the guests, he strode purposefully toward Bella and declared coldly, "She's coming with me."

With that, Edward grabbed Bella's hand, but she quickly pulled away, taking a step back.

"Edward, if you're here as a guest, you're welcome. Otherwise, please leave." Bella hadn't expected Edward to actually crash her engagement, but she had no intention of leaving with him. 

She only hoped he would attend her engagement party and then disappear from her life.

Edward looked at Bella hiding behind Wallace, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking, and let out a cold laugh. "Today, whether you want to or not, you're coming with me."

As his words hung in the air, the room fell completely silent. No one had expected someone to crash the engagement—and with such audacity.

Wallace stepped forward, shielding Bella completely with his body. "Security, get him out of here." Though typically mild-mannered, he couldn't bring himself to be cordial to someone crashing his engagement.

However, no security personnel appeared.

Seeing Wallace's frown, Edward reached out and pulled Bella to his side, and his men swarmed in.

"Edward! Give her back to me!" Wallace shouted, red-eyed with fury, as bodyguards blocked his path.

Edward swept Bella up into his arms. Before leaving, he glanced back at Wallace, a look filled with cold contempt. "You stole her from me. Now I'm simply taking her back."

Edward strode out of the hotel, Bella struggling the entire way, her wedding dress drawing stares from passersby. He landed a firm smack on her hip. "Stop squirming."

Bella's face flushed crimson—Edward had just smacked her backside.

Edward bundled Bella into the car and instructed the driver to go. Through the window, Bella spotted people running after them. "My engagement party isn't even over! Where are you taking me?"

Edward remained unmoved as the car quickly pulled away. Wallace, who had almost reached the car, was left behind in the distance. Watching his figure grow smaller, Bella desperately banged on the window.

"These are bulletproof windows," Edward spoke calmly. "Even bullets can't penetrate them, let alone your hands. Don't waste your energy."

Hearing this, Bella grew more furious. "So the mighty CEO of Vanguard Innovations Group is kidnapping someone else's wife in broad daylight?"

Edward corrected her, "You're not his wife yet."

Bella stared at Edward's composed face. The car drove smoothly now, but she felt inexplicably anxious—unsure if she feared being taken away or something else entirely.

Seeing his determination, Bella changed tactics and pleaded with the driver, "Sir, please stop the car. I really can't go with you—I'm getting married today."

The driver hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. Even though he felt Edward was going too far, he was just an employee. What could he say? Edward shot him a deadly glare.

"I'm sorry," the driver mumbled, not daring to look up again.

With that option exhausted, Bella reached for her phone to call the police. Edward moved faster, snatching her phone away. 

He raised an eyebrow at the "911" already typed in, then turned off the phone and tossed it aside.

Witnessing this, Bella was beyond furious. "Where are you taking me? With this much commotion, the media will be all over this soon. Doesn't Vanguard Innovations Group care about public opinion?"

"I'm not worried," Edward remained fearless. "Besides, I'm only helping you."

Bella froze. What did Edward mean by "helping" her?

The next second, she saw Edward looking at her, his eyes seeming to see through everything. "Bella, you don't want to marry Wallace."

Bella's breath caught. "You're talking nonsense," she heard her own voice, strained.

Despite her words, Bella gradually began to crumble under Edward's penetrating gaze. After just a few minutes, the color had drained from her face.

Edward instructed the driver to stop and opened the door. If Bella hurried back now, she could still make it to the engagement party.

"But you'll spend your life with someone you don't love," Edward told her. "You'll have his children, and you might never love him, even until death..."

"Enough. Stop talking," Bella tried to interrupt.

Edward fell silent for a moment before continuing. "You used to say a marriage without love is like a tomb—two people living methodically, like friends. You said you'd rather die than live that way." He paused. "Your choice of Wallace isn't about loving him—it's about forgetting me."

Edward's words pierced Bella's heart. She felt the warmth draining from her body. In seconds, she became cold and rigid.

And the panic rising within her confirmed that Edward's words were true.