Evelyn's POV.
Our gazes locked, and I couldn't move until I felt a small tap on my shoulder. My eyes averted, and I cleared my throat, facing Ethan whose face looked white and washed.
"Sorry, wh-where were we?" I stuttered to the priest, trying to concentrate.
The priest's eyes darted between Ethan's and mine, as he gave a nod. "Of...of course."
Silence settled in the hall, pressing on me, and it took every nerve in me to stop myself from looking back at Lucas and Dominic.
But I held myself.
I couldn't wait for the wedding to be over to confront them. Why the hell did they trace me to this place?!
I had thought that I would never see them again. Well, I had hoped.
But once again, the universe did a good one.
"Do you, Miss Evelyn Hale, take Ethan Whitmore to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
My heart dragged, as everywhere fell silent immediately. Even the walls seemed like they held their breaths.
I looked into Ethan's eyes and I saw it; fear. His eyes were bobbed out, his shoulders rigid like he was holding his breath.
I almost laughed at him. Almost. Instead, my lips parted and I found myself saying, "I do."
After that, I zoned out, my eyes settling on the wall behind Ethan.
"We're married, baby!" Ethan squealed, as he grabbed my waist, snapping me out.
Confusion etched my face, wondering what was happening; more cameras flashed, as the silence in the hall was far gone now.
"I want to kiss you," he said softly, his eyes searing into mine.
Oh, how I wanted to push him off, and call him a fraud. But instead, a small smile curved on my face, as I gave a small nod.
Our lips met, and more cheers even erupted through the hall. I gave Ethan a slight push, and faced the crowd, my eyes traveling through, searching for Lucas and Dominic. But they were no longer there.
H-had I imagined it? I probably had. There was no way that they'd have been here.
For what?
Ethan firmly took my hand into his, as he led me outside, through the exciting chaos that surrounded us.
Together, we both greeted some important people who had honoured our invitations.
But I wasn't concentrating. My eyes were darting around, trying to confirm my guess. Hoping to confirm my guess concerning the twins that I hoped to never see again—at least, not like this.
"Let's go home," I pulled Ethan's arm, and dragged him towards the car.
Inside, the air was awkward and suffocating for me. He was avoiding my eyes and I was too. But I couldn't care less.
Suddenly, I felt his palm on mine, strong and hesitant, before he leaned in.
"I love you," he breathed against me. "So freaking much, Evelyn."
My eyes rolled a little, as I faced him. "Did she attend the wedding?"
"What do you—" False confusion etched his face.
"Did...she come for the...wedding?" I repeated slowly, dragging out the syllables.
His eyes froze for a second, before he cleared his throat, averting his gaze from me. "I don't know."
A smile appeared on my face, as I faced the road. "Of course, she did."
"Evelyn, she—"
"We need to get home, I'm tired."
Thankfully, that was the end of the conversation, on my part at least.
Minutes passed, and the car slowed to a stop. Ethan got out, and opened my side of the door, helping me out.
He took my hand into his, and we walked inside, looking like a perfect newly wedded couple. Well, that was the best way to describe us, wasn't it?
Immediately we got to the living room, my heart stopped.
Three people were standing in the living room, looking like they were patiently waiting for us.
One was Amy, her eyes bright and sparkling, as she beamed even more the moment she saw me.
The other two were Lucas and Dominic, their eyes hard and dark. Even the air around them bent a little.
My eyes settled on Ethan, who was all smiles now, as he strode forward and hugged them. "I'm happy you both could make it."
"How could we not?" Lucas responded, before his eyes found mine.
"This is my wife, Evelyn." Ethan said confidently before facing me. "And Evelyn, meet Lucas and Dominic, my stepbrothers."
Wait, what?
His freaking stepbrothers?! H-how was that possible?
"Hi, congratulations." Dominic greeted, as his eyes narrowed a little.
"She looks amazing, congratulations man." Lucas' smile was wider than necessary.
I froze, unable to move for a few seconds, before Ethan touched me, asking if I was fine.
"Um, yeah." I whispered. "Thank you, and it was, um, nice meeting you two."
It wasn't.
At all.
In fact, I wondered how I wasn't screaming my lungs out right now.
Quickly, I excused myself, and dashed to my room. Amy followed suit.
"Hey, are you good?" Amy helped me sit on the bed. "You look pale."
A huge sigh slipped out of my lips, as I slightly slammed my face against my palm. "Fuck!"
"Okay, now, you're scaring me." She inched closer, turning my head to face her. "What happened?"
Another sigh expelled out, before I told her everything, leaving no stone unturned.
By the time I was done, her face was whiter than my dress. "That's so messed up!"
"I know." I groaned.
"But why did you do that?"
"Because I caught Ethan cheating that same day too." I sighed, shaking my head. "I just wanted to be free for one night and—"
"Okay, look at me." Amy grabbed my face, as she stared deeply into my soul. "You don't know those men, and you just met them for the first time five minutes ago. Is that clear?"
"But?"
"Are we clear? They are your brothers in law, and you just met them." She sounded so stern and firm. "Clear?"
"Y-yes," I nodded, even though the word in my head screamed the opposite.
I just had to act like I had never met them before now, and avoid them at all costs.
That shouldn't be so hard, right?
Right?