Cruel Dance

As Ethan's words hung in the air, Remy felt like day couldn't get any worse. Almost all eyes had turned to them, and her heart thudded against her chest.

She knew exactly what Ethan was trying to do. He was mocking her, deliberately drawing attention to her wheelchair.

Some of the guests, who hadn't noticed her disability until now, took a closer look, their faces a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

Ethan's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with malice. Remy felt a wave of humiliation wash over her. Wasn't it enough that she had to attend her ex-fiancé's wedding with her sister?

Now, Ethan had to rub salt in her wounds, making her feel like a spectacle in front of all these people. Remy's hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled to maintain her composure, not to outright slap Ethan on the face.

He was trying to humiliate her, to expose her vulnerability in front of everyone. By asking her to dance, Ethan knew he was pushing her into a corner, making her feel like a cripple.

Remy's heart burned with anger and shame as she realized she was trapped. She couldn't possibly dance in her wheelchair, not without making a scene. And that's exactly what Ethan was counting on – her embarrassment, her helplessness.

Ethan's smile was friendly, but Remy saw right through it. She knew his intention was to humiliate her, to make her feel the weight of her helplessness.

The guest's gaze was focused on the both of them now, ever ready to witness what would happen next. Remy wasn't a very social person, part of the reason being due to her condition but some people from the upper society still knew her.

They had now recognized her as Grant's daughter, the disabled one, it's was almost like she didn't have a name of her own, and is just known as Grant Harrison's disabled daughter.

Murmurs and whispers were getting louder each minute.

Remy had been a ghostly presence since the beginning of the wedding, content to blend into the background as Sophia and Julian basked in the spotlight.

She had hoped to remain invisible until she could escape home, to the solitude of her room, where she could finally release the tears and anguish she'd been holding inside.

But Ethan's sudden gesture had shattered her fragile anonymity, drawing all eyes to her like a magnet.

Why did he have to do this? Why did he have to rip away her cloak of invisibility and expose her to the merciless glare of attention in such a painful way?

A bitter thought crept into her mind: was this Ethan's twisted revenge? Had he been nursing a grudge against her since she'd rejected his advances months ago?

She remembered his smarmy smile, his overly familiar tone, and her instinctive revulsion. She had politely declined his interest, unwilling to betray Julian, and uninterested in Ethan's arrogant charm.

Was this his payback? A cruel way to remind her of her vulnerability, to tell her that at the end she was still the one that was dumped? to humiliate her in front of everyone?

Remy's eyes bled with a silent plea, begging Ethan not to do this. But he just took her hand, his grip firm, and said, "Don't worry, I'll be careful. I'll hold you so you won't fall."

Her heart seethed with resentment as he said that, her eyes flashing with a fierce defiance.

Her stepmother, beaming with a saccharine smile, chimed in, "Oh, Remy, don't worry dear, Ethan will take care of you. It's your sister's special day; you have to dance at least once. You can't come to your sister's wedding and not dance, can you? And think of the lovely photos you'll take with your sister and her husband."

Remy felt like she was being suffocated by the sugarcoated words, the fake concern, and the underlying cruelty.

She knew she was trapped, with no escape from this nightmare. Ethan's grip on her hand tightened, and he pulled her closer, his eyes glinting with triumph.

"Now, shall we?" Ethan said, his voice dripping with mock gallantry. With that, he pulled her up from the wheelchair, his hands grasping her arms with an iron grip.

Remy felt her weight shift, her body tilting precariously as she struggled to maintain her balance. She had no choice but to cling to Ethan's arms, her fingers digging deep into his sleeves as she fought to avoid collapsing onto the floor.

The humiliation was suffocating. Remy knew she was done for, with Ethan as the sinister puppet master pulling the strings of her doom.

She tried to push away from him, but her legs trembled beneath her, refusing to support her weight.

"Don't drag me to this cruel dance Ethan" She said, her voice coming out in a soft pleading whisper.

Ethan's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with triumph as he held her close, his grip tightening around her arms. "Don't worry babe, I've got you," he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. "I won't let you fall."

Ethan's warm breath on her ear made Remy's skin crawl, his tongue flicking slightly against her ear like a slimy worm.

She felt a wave of revulsion wash over her as he slid his arm around her waist, his grip firm and unyielding. Remy tried to squirm away, but Ethan held her in place, his fingers digging into her skin.

She felt utterly helpless and weak, her eyes scanning the room for an escape, a rescue, anything.

In desperation, she prayed silently, pleading with any god who would listen to intervene, to save her from this humiliation. Her heart racing, Remy begged for a miracle, a way out of this nightmare.

As Ethan guided her towards the dance floor, Remy's legs trembled beneath her. She stumbled, her foot catching on the hem of her dress, but Ethan's grip kept her upright.

"How about you dance with me instead?" A low, smooth voice cut through the low music, whispers, and chats, echoing through the hall.

A tall, imposing figure strode in from the entrance door, commanding attention and power without effort.

His dark hair was perfectly styled in a sleek undercut design with a subtle wave that added to his chiseled features, but his attire told a different story.

His elegant black vest was slightly rumpled, and his white shirt was open at the collar, as if he'd hastily discarded his tie, and had to quickly rush here.

The overall effect was one of refined elegance, tempered by a hint of ruggedness.

His confident stride was matched by two men flanking him, dressed in identical black suits and dark shades, their faces expressionless.

His piercing hazel eyes swept the room, their cold, detached gaze lingering on Remy and Ethan before narrowing slightly.

His expression was chiseled from granite, his features set in a stern, unyielding mask. He exuded an aura of authority, his very presence commanding respect and dread.

As he walked towards Remy and Ethan, his confident stride eating up the distance, the room fell silent. All eyes were drawn to him like magnets, mesmerized by the quiet power he emanated. The air seemed to vibrate with his presence.

Remy's gaze locked onto his, and her heart skipped a beat, leaping with joy. She hadn't expected him to come, but here he was, he actually came! And at the perfect time!

His hazel eyes burning with an inner intensity that felt suffocating but made her feel seen, understood and.. unnerved.

For a moment, they just stared at each other, the noise and chaos of the wedding reception fading into the background.

Remy felt a surge of gratitude and relief wash over her. She could finally escape this suffocating atmosphere, evade the fake smiles and concerned glances that made her skin crawl.

Remy's eyes clung to his, searching for reassurance to confirm he was actually here for her, and finding it in the calm, steady gaze that met hers.

She felt a sense of safety, of protection, one that she hadn't felt in a long time and overall she felt glad to be finally able to leave.