Chapter 6

Claire Carter POV

I stayed in the restroom for a long time.

The people knocking on the door were first the bridesmaids, then the makeup artist, and finally Grayson.

His voice came through the door, much lower than before.

"Claire, come out first. We can cover the injury on your face with makeup, and we can simplify the ceremony. The guests have already been settled."

Hearing these words, I suddenly found it laughable.

He didn't ask if I was in pain. He didn't say the slap was wrong.

He was only considering whether this wedding could still continue.

I opened the door.

Grayson saw my swollen cheek, and something flickered in his eyes. He reached out to touch me.

I turned my head away.

His hand stopped in midair.

"I was too rushed earlier. Sylvia injured her arm, and Mom kept pushing me. I lost control for a moment."

I asked him, "So if I say I lost control, can I hit you now?"

Grayson's expression darkened.

"Don't let this spiral out of control."

Helen had someone bring ice packs and concealer, her tone like she was dealing with a soiled wedding dress.

"No one outside knows what happened backstage. Go out and interact with the guests, then complete the ceremony."

I looked at her.

"As long as the guests can't see the injury, we can pretend it never happened?"

Helen sneered coldly. "Since you've already married Grayson, you should know when to endure."

Grayson stood beside her and didn't contradict her.

Watching his silence, the last of my resolve crumbled.

The wedding program was changed.

The host told everyone I wasn't feeling well, so the program would be simplified.

Staff quickly removed the vow platform. The big screen that was supposed to display our handwritten vows was replaced with a generic congratulations image.

I stood backstage, watching that screen go dark.

After a while, Sylvia came again.

Her arm was wrapped in gauze, her face pale, yet she still had to stand next to Grayson.

"I should really leave. Claire isn't in a good mood today. If she gets angry again in a bit, everyone will be uncomfortable."

After hearing this, Grayson turned to look at me.

"Don't say anything you shouldn't during the ceremony."

I didn't agree.

I picked up my bag.

"This wedding ends here."

Grayson's expression changed drastically. He reached out and grabbed my wrist.

I already had an injury there. When he pressed on the wound, the pain shot numbness through my fingertips.

"All the guests are outside. You can't leave now."

I couldn't break free. I could only look up at him.

"I'm not your toy, and I'm not this wedding's toy either."

That sentence completely provoked Grayson.

He dragged me toward the banquet hall.

My knees were already weak, and the wedding dress train was so long. I stumbled and fell.

My knee hit the ground first.

The edge of a step scraped my calf open. Blood quickly seeped through the gauze skirt.

All the staff around us paled.

My vision went black. I braced my hands on the floor, unable to stand for a long time.

Grayson also froze, instinctively bending down to help me up.

But at that moment, Sylvia called out softly, "Grayson, my arm hurts so much..."

Grayson's movement paused. He looked back at her first.

His action made me completely lose hope.

I supported myself on the steps and stood up on my own, not accepting his belated hand.

The white wedding dress dragged across the floor, stained with blood.

I pulled the train down from the steps, my voice very soft.

"The wedding has nothing to do with me anymore."

I turned and walked outside.

Grayson tried to follow, but Helen stopped him.

"The guests are still outside, and Sylvia is injured too. She's emotionally unstable right now. Let her cool down."

Grayson stood in place and ultimately didn't chase after me.

He only told an assistant, "Follow her. Don't let anything happen to her."

I reached the end of the hallway and heard that sentence. I paused.

Even now, he still thought I was the one who would cause trouble.

I turned my head and saw a videographer walking by with his gear. I spoke directly. "The wedding video backup. Give me a copy."

The videographer froze.

I raised my still-swollen face. "Now."

Half an hour later, I sat in a car outside the hotel.

My knee hurt so badly I was trembling. My face hurt too.

The lawyer on the other end of the phone said the divorce agreement could be drafted tonight, and the joint account Grayson and I shared could be processed simultaneously.

I looked at the wedding sign outside the car window.

The sign still displayed both Grayson's and my names.

I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, my voice was steady.

"Take me to the villa."

After hanging up the call, I opened Grayson's chat.

I archived it.

I changed his name from "My Love" back to just Grayson Jones.