Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 228 A Lifetime So Long

Nora grabbed the mic, her voice all choked up.

"Today, I got married. Finding the right person at the right time is pure luck and happiness. I gotta give a special shoutout to Emily, my classmate and boss. Emily, life's fair. When one door closes, another one opens. I hope you find your true happiness too, so I want to give you this bouquet myself."

Frank's face went pale as he listened. He tugged on Nora's sleeve, trying to get her to stop, but she ignored him and looked straight at me, saying, "Emily, can you come up here?"

Everyone turned to look at me, waiting. I was stuck, not sure if I should go up or not.

I glanced over at Ethan. He was busy chatting and laughing with that gorgeous woman, totally unaware of what was going on.

I took a deep breath, stood up, and walked to the stage.

Once I was up there, I avoided looking at anyone in the crowd.

Taking the bouquet from Nora, I felt it was like a ton of bricks.

"Ms. Russell, do you have anything to say to the bride and groom?" The host handed me the mic out of nowhere.

I took it, pulled myself together, and forced a smile. "There are so many people in this world, and for two people to come together is rarer than winning the lottery. It shows you are meant to be. I wish you eternal happiness and a long life together."

From the moment I got on stage to the moment I stepped down, I didn't look at Ethan once. After stepping down, some male classmates came over to chat. I was exhausted but had to keep smiling.

The wedding banquet was about to start, and everyone headed to the banquet hall in the winery.

Not knowing that Ethan and I got divorced, Frank had seated us at the same table.

I wanted to switch seats, but the other tables were full, and Ethan and that woman were already sitting across from me.

He didn't seem to mind sitting with me, so why should I care? I decided to act like he wasn't there.

Jason sat next to me, along with a few other friends of Frank and Ethan. Many of them knew about my past with Ethan, so the vibe was a bit awkward. Only Ethan seemed chill, occasionally serving food to that woman, just like he used to do for me.

I tried to ignore it, but it still stung.

Jason served me some food and said, "Eat up, the food here is pretty special."

I thanked him, and just then, the waiter came to serve more dishes and added a few jugs of wine to each table.

The wine jugs were these beautiful, classic ceramic ones. The waiter explained that the wine was made using a secret recipe passed down for decades at the winery.

I picked up a jug and said with a smile, "It must be really good then."

glass and

throat, I said, "It really

but right now, any wine that could numb my pain and get me drunk was good

me

picked up the jug and poured wine for Ethan, her voice sweet and her body close to his,

to have this aura that kept people at a distance, but now, he didn't mind the woman getting close, looking

to act indifferent, but it hurt inside.

I didn't refuse anyone. Some successful male classmates took the chance to ask for my contact info. Knowing their intentions, I still gave it to them because they were old classmates. So, I drank and handed out my

much, my face started to burn, and my head felt dizzy. All I could see was

changed her clothes and came over with Frank to toast, I was already pretty tipsy. Jason

other way to ease the pain except to numb myself with

now in a stunning evening gown, came over with Frank. After toasting everyone, Nora said she wanted to toast

up shakily with my glass, smiling, "It just shows you are meant

said to Frank,

promised, "Don't worry, I will treat her well for the rest of

sounded all too familiar, and right now, they even seemed a bit funny, so I couldn't help but laugh while holding

soon as I said that, the table went

lowered his head to light a cigarette, staying quiet. The woman next to him

and Nora's faces, I suddenly snapped back to

something wrong? Sorry, I'll drink three

everything in front of me started to

was feeling, patted my shoulder, and whispered, "Don't be sad. Didn't you see Ethan and that woman being all lovey-dovey? If

wanted to seem happy and

go, I didn't want anyone

"It's your wedding day,

must have really drunk too much; my stomach felt uncomfortable. Not wanting to embarrass

better. I washed

first saw

Ethan's face, angrily questioning

can you hit him? Do you know who you just

Ethan and saw a bruise on the

had his back to me,

have heard the restroom door open because they all turned to look at

time today that Ethan looked directly at me. With just one glance, my heart filled with pain. I didn't want to analyze the emotions in his eyes, so I looked away. As I

to eat? If so, I'll

"I don't want to

a distance, I could still hear that woman

busy entertaining guests, so I didn't say goodbye to them and