Chapter 331

Chapter 331

The sound tore through the quiet air, growing closer and closer.

My heart clenched violently. Who was it?

"Mr. Guise, they're here."

The guard's words made Ethan's lips curve into a meaningful smile.

"Proceed as planned."

"What plan?" I stepped in front of him, needing answers.

Ethan looked down at me. "The person you've been waiting for."

My face went pale.

Leopold?

I didn't know what Ethan had planned, but I knew it couldn't be good.

Without hesitation, I grabbed my skirt and ran for the door.

"Stop!" Ethan yanked my arm hard. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Let me go!" I shouted.

Ethan wouldn't release me. "I'm not giving you the chance to warn Leopold."

"Ethan, you never planned to marry me today. You're just using me to trap Leopold!"

Ethan looked at me. He didn't deny it.

"Since you know, don't be stupid. Don't forget—your parents are still at the hotel waiting for you."

My breath caught.

I watched the guards head downstairs, my heart racing.

"Ethan, don't hurt Leopold. If you don't want to see him, just let him go back to Silverlight City."

"Or I'll convince him myself. Just don't hurt him."

His men were everywhere. If Leopold really came, he wouldn't make it out unscathed.

I couldn't let Leopold get hurt here!

"Cindy." Ethan's voice hardened. "I don't want to hurt you. Don't push me, okay?"

My breathing grew heavier. I struggled again.

Tried to break free.

But Ethan wouldn't let go.

While we were locked in this standoff, the roaring engines outside suddenly stopped.

Ethan's smile deepened. "Looks like they caught him."

My heart sank. Terrible scenarios flooded my mind.

Moments later, a guard rushed in.

"Mr. Guise, only two people showed up, but they're from Gravenford Kingdom. They said someone paid them handsomely to come here today and put on a ten-minute show."

The air went dead silent.

In the stillness, my heartbeat slowly returned to normal.

Ethan's face grew darker. "You verified this?"

"Yes, we've checked the transaction records."

Ethan's expression turned stormy. Suddenly, he turned to look at me.

"You warned him?"

"I didn't."

Ethan stared at me, his voice cold as ice.

"Cindy, why are you forcing my hand?"

I shook my head instinctively. "I'm not..."

He glanced behind me and gave an order. "Bring the priest here."

I stared at him, confused. Why bring the priest here?

He saw my confusion and explained softly, "We'll take our vows here first. We'll get the license later."

"No!" I was stunned. "You can't—"

"I don't want to force you." Ethan cut me off coldly. "I wanted to wait until you were willing, but Cindy..."

Ethan released my hand and smoothed the wrinkles in my dress. "You make me feel too insecure. Only when you're mine can I feel at peace. The rest, we'll work on slowly."

I kept shaking my head, terror gripping my throat. My voice came out shaky.

"No... you said you wouldn't force me."

Ethan paused, looking at me quietly.

"Mr. Guise, the priest is here."

The guard stood at the door, waiting for instructions.

I looked over in panic. A man in priest's robes stood outside. My breath hitched.

I wanted to say more, but Ethan didn't give me the chance. He let the priest in.

The blood in my veins felt like it was freezing.

Vows were sacred. I didn't want to do this with anyone but Leopold.

"Ethan, I don't want this! Let me go!"

Ethan said flatly, "Cindy, I don't want to use force on you. Be good."

Anger surged through me.

My eyes burned. My lips trembled.

In the end, I stopped fighting.

Until we actually got the license, I still had a chance.

But right now, I couldn't provoke him further.

"Are you ready?"

The wrinkled priest stepped forward, asking us.

Ethan smiled and nodded. "Let's begin."

The priest opened the Bible, his gaze pausing briefly on me.

My heart tightened inexplicably. This priest... his eyes looked like Leopold's.

The priest began reading the vows, following the procedure.

Ethan repeated the vows after him, looking devout.

It made me feel sick.

When it was my turn, the priest stepped in front of me and placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Do you..."

The gesture was too abrupt.

I looked at him suspiciously.

The skin beneath his palm felt slightly warm.

"...want to come with me?"

I froze.

That voice... was that Leopold?

"I do!"

"You're not a priest! Who are you!"

Ethan realized something was wrong. He shot to his feet, his hand reaching behind his back.

But it was too late.

The "priest" in front of me suddenly moved, ripping off his robes and disguise to reveal that achingly familiar face.

Tears rushed to my eyes.

It really was Leopold!

He kicked out, disarming Ethan's motion, then grabbed my hand tight.

"Go!"

He pulled me into his arms and headed for the door.

His familiar scent, like sun-warmed skin, made me feel safe.

The guards tried to block us, but he dealt with them swiftly.

"Leopold, don't move!"

Ethan's furious shout rang out.

I turned back to see his gun pointed straight at us. Without thinking, I stepped in front of Leopold.

"Ethan, even if I die today, I'm leaving with Leopold!"

Ethan looked like my words had wounded him. His face went white.

"You... you're threatening me!"

Leopold pulled me behind him, his voice low. "I'm not that useless."

I wanted to tell him Ethan wasn't stable, that he shouldn't take risks.

But the next second, I saw him signal in a certain direction.

The winery's floor-to-ceiling windows shattered.

Glass exploded like a thousand diamonds.

Then bullets swept through like rain, smashing wall sconces and splintering wooden tables.

The guards reacted quickly, forming a protective circle around Ethan.

"Let's go."

Leopold took advantage of the chaos and pulled me toward the exit.

"Stop them!"

Ethan's furious roar echoed again.

But the guards had to protect him and return fire at the same time. They couldn't spare anyone for us.

Before crossing the threshold, I glanced back at Ethan.

He was being shielded behind a pillar, his hair and face covered in dust.

When our eyes met, his gaze looked ready to burst into flames.

"Don't look at unpleasant things."

Leopold covered my eyes and pulled me out of that suffocating abyss.

The wedding dress train was too big. I found it cumbersome and tore off the outer layer.

Leopold saw and his lips curved slightly.

"Ms. Wipere, you look beautiful today."

The corners of my mouth lifted too.

Outside, the sunlight was perfect.

A car was already waiting downstairs. We got in and drove away.

In the rearview mirror, the chapel and winery grew smaller and smaller.

Finally disappearing from view.

"Where are we going now?" I asked curiously.

"Somewhere safe." Leopold deliberately kept it mysterious.