Chapter 3

3

Gia Woods fell onto the floor with me, scattering several gift bags.

"Ma'am... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it. Are you okay?" Gia put on her best little lamb act, looking at me with fake concern.

Hearing the commotion, Alistair rushed over and immediately started shouting at me.

"Autumn, are you addicted to acting? Can't you see Gia was carrying so many things?!"

He then carefully checked Gia for injuries, his voice dropping to a gentle whisper. "Are you okay? Who let you carry all this? The staff are useless."

Gia replied pitifully, "I'm fine. It's just that the Mrs. arrived so late, and we weren't prepared for the changes. Things got a bit chaotic."

"I know she's unhappy with me. I just wanted to do a good job today so she wouldn't hate me so much."

My aching joints were throbbing from the second fall. Watching their little show of affection was more than I could handle.

"Alistair, there are so many reporters here. Can't you wait until we're alone to show off your mistress?"

My mockery made him snap instantly.

"Autumn Beckett, don't project your dirty mind onto everyone else."

"If you weren't pregnant, I'd make you pay a hundred times over for hurting Gia."

With that, he hurriedly carried Gia to the medical room. He left me alone to face the wide-eyed reporters.

This was perfect. I didn't even need to say anything. The news of the Sterling marriage falling apart would be on the front page tomorrow.

I stood tall and gave the media a smile that didn't look too pathetic. "Sorry you had to see that."

I had endured his insults for years. What was one more time?

Alistair was so sure that because I was expecting his child, I could never leave him.

Well, I was going to show him that once a heart dies, there is no turning back.

Alistair finally showed up when everyone was ready.

The guests were looking at him in dead silence.

But he didn't think anything was wrong.

"What are you looking at? Start the ceremony."

It turned out... he hadn't even prepared the wedding rings.

The officiant had to pull himself together and start the vows. "Alistair Sterling, do you take Autumn Beckett to be your wedded wife, to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?"

I saw a flash of disgust in Alistair's eyes, but he still muttered, "I do."

The officiant then turned to me.

"Autumn Beckett, do you take Alistair Sterling to be your wedded husband... Do you promise to be faithful to him, in sickness and in health?"

Cameras flashed. Every reporter was waiting for my answer.

I looked the officiant in the eye and said clearly, "I don't."

It was like a bomb went off. The crowd erupted into chaos.

Alistair's eyes widened. For the first time, I saw genuine shock in them.

But it was still mixed with hatred and mockery.

Before he could open his mouth to insult me again, I cut him off.

"I terminated the pregnancy."

"There is nothing left between us. Since everyone is here, I want the media to be my witness."

"From this day forward, Alistair Sterling and I are strangers. We will never speak again."