I Canceled The Wedding After His Female Bro Ruined Everything Chapter 03
Katherine grabbed the emcee’s microphone and walked back onto the stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen, family, friends, everyone —”
She paused and flashed a demure smile.
“What happened earlier was my fault. I had too much to drink, and I was no good deed goes unpunished. I made Elena uncomfortable.”
She bowed slightly in my direction. The bow wasn’t deep, but she put on a performance.
“Elena, I’m sorry. Please don’t hold it against me.”
The crowd went quiet for a moment. A few longtime family friends exchanged looks and gave small nods.
Katherine straightened up, still holding the microphone. She didn’t give it back.
“To prove my good faith, let me host the rest of the ceremony. That way you can see I’m sincere. Sebastian and I are completely innocent. Please don’t let jealousy turn this into a misunderstanding and make both families look bad.”
She glanced at Sebastian with a bright smile.
“Sebastian, any objections?”
Sebastian stood next to me and paused for a second. “Just don’t cause any more trouble.”
That was his approval.
I let out a cold laugh and suddenly wanted to know how far Sebastian’s tolerance for Katherine really went.
If he truly had no limits when it came to spoiling her, why did he agree to this arranged merger marriage in the first place?
While I was spaced out, Sebastian grabbed my hand and pulled me back to the center of the stage.
His grip was tight. I tugged twice but couldn’t.
Katherine flipped through the ceremony cards, then looked up. Her gaze cut through the crowd and landed on Margaret at the head table.
“Next up — the bride’s parental acknowledgment speech to the groom’s parents.”
She tilted her head toward me, her lips curled up.
“According to our tradition, the bride kneels when she gives her speech to the elders. Elena, you’re not going to refuse, are you?”
At the head table, Margaret picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and set it back down. She didn’t say anything.
Harold was talking to someone next to him, acting like none of the drama had even happened.
I knew exactly what they were doing. They wanted to put me in my place.
Katherine’s little performance was right up their alley.
If the Hayes family ever came to my defense someday, the Coles could just blame everything on Katherine.
I stood there frozen. The murmurs from the crowd washed over me.
“Right. Isn’t that how it works? The bride gives the speech and kneels?”
“Katherine already apologized. Miss Hayes isn’t still throwing a tantrum, is she?”
“Sebastian, what’s wrong with your wife? Doesn’t she know basic manners?”
Sebastian reached out and grabbed my arm.
He leaned in close, lowering his voice so only I could hear.
“Everyone’s watching. Don’t embarrass the elders.”
Katherine’s voice rang out again.
“Elena, do you think it’s beneath you to kneel for your own in-laws? Or are you saying you don’t acknowledge Sebastian’s family?”
On the head table, Margaret raised an eyebrow.
“The Cole family has its own traditions. I’m willing to overlook what you said earlier, but if Miss Hayes wants to marry into this family, she needs to show some good faith.”
Someone in the crowd muttered under her breath.
“What’s wrong with the Hayes girl… just standing up there like a statue.”
“Throwing a tantrum, obviously. Trying to embarrass her mother-in-law on purpose.”
“That’s just stupid. How did the Hayes family raise someone like that?”
Sebastian gave me a small push, giving me a look.
I looked at his face for a long moment.
“Sebastian, let me ask you something.”
His brow furrowed.
“Is it true that I have to kneel the way she says just so you can feel like a man? So you can hold your head up in front of your friends? So you can feel like you have some dignity?”
His expression darkened. He didn’t say anything.
He just looked at me with colder, harsher eyes.
