ETHAN’S ULTIMATE RISE TO POWER

STOPPING THE WEDDING

Ethan stared at the screen. His whole world was falling apart, slowly and painfully. He was watching a live video of Helena walking down the aisle in her wedding dress. It felt like someone had stabbed him in the chest. She looked calm—peaceful, even—like nothing had happened. Like the man she had been married to for two years didn’t matter. Like Ethan didn’t matter at all.

The remote slipped from his hand and landed softly on the bed. He didn’t even notice. His breath caught in his throat, and he blinked fast—but the tears still came.

Helena. His wife. The woman he had spent two years with. She didn’t even wait. The divorce papers weren’t even signed. In fact, they hadn’t even been filed. And now, she was marrying someone else. The same man who had ruined everything for Ethan—just yesterday.

He shouldn’t be shocked. He really shouldn’t. Not after everything. Not after Martin destroyed his mechanic shop—his pride and his job. Not after Ethan heard Helena on the phone, calling Martin “sweetheart” and saying she was proud of what he did.

He should’ve known.

But it still hurt like hell.

It felt like his heart was being ripped apart. The pain was worse than any cut or bruise. A deep ache sat in his chest, heavy like a rock.

Then the door opened.

Lucas walked in, carrying two paper bags with food. He looked happy—until he saw Ethan’s face. Saw the tears. Saw the wedding on the screen.

He stopped. Then let out a soft sigh. “I guess you found out. It’s all over the internet.”

He walked over, put the food on the table, picked up the remote, and turned off the TV. The room went quiet. He sat beside Ethan, who was clenching his jaw and gripping the sheets tightly.

Ethan’s voice shook with anger and pain. “Helena is the worst person on earth. She didn’t even wait for me to divorce her before marrying that bastard. She didn’t say anything to me. Not one word. She’s a devil, Lucas.”

Lucas frowned. “She’s not who you think she is.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean by that?”

Lucas took a deep breath and leaned back. “Remember last night? On the way to the hospital, I said I had something to tell you about Helena. Something I’d tell you when you were feeling better.”

Ethan nodded. “Then just say it.”

Lucas didn’t wait. “The lunch I brought you at the shop every day? That wasn’t from me.”

Ethan blinked. “What?”

“It was Helena,” Lucas said softly. “She made it. Every single day. For two years. She gave it to me to bring to you.”

Ethan stared at him, confused and angry. “Is this a joke? Are you seriously trying to defend her right now?”

Lucas shook his head. “No joke. You were married for two years. You worked hard as a mechanic. And every single day—rain or shine—she made sure you had a hot meal. Even when she was sick. She never told you because she didn’t want praise. She just wanted you to be okay.”

Ethan went quiet.

He didn’t know what to say. The story didn’t make sense… but something in his heart began to shift.

Lucas continued. “And that’s not even the main thing I wanted to tell you.”

Ethan turned to him, silent but listening.

Lucas leaned forward slightly, his voice lower now. “Yesterday, while I was at the office, I overheard Martin talking to someone on the phone… He said he’d submitted a request to the city council for a permit—to have your mechanic shop demolished.”

Ethan’s stomach clenched.

Lucas paused, then continued. “But that’s not all. He also said—and I swear I heard it with my own ears—that he planned to have you locked up. And once you were in prison, he was going to pay some inmates to kill you.”

Ethan’s throat dried up as the memory flashed in his mind—Martin on the phone with the chief of police. The cold threat. The intent to throw him behind bars. He remembered how Martin had only backed down when Helena called. Called him sweet names. Told him not to do it.

At the time, Ethan thought it was just a show of cruelty. But now…

Lucas’s voice pulled him back. “After I heard what Martin was planning, I knew only one person could stop him. So I called Helena. I told her everything. And that call she made to Martin—that was because of what I told her. She didn’t call him just to support him. She called to stop him. That sweet tone? That was her way of manipulating him, of getting him to back off. She saved your life, Ethan.”

Ethan stared at the floor, his mind reeling. His heart beat wildly in his chest as he tried to process it all.

“She didn’t do it for nothing,” Lucas said softly. “She did it because she still cares about you. I really believe that. And this wedding?” He pointed to the blank TV screen. “It’s too fast. Helena would never marry Martin like that. Not after everything. I think she’s being forced.”

Ethan didn’t say anything. He kept staring at the screen like he could still see Helena in her white dress. Everything Lucas said was loud in his mind. It didn’t match what he saw. Or what he felt. Now he didn’t know what to believe.

He wiped his face with the back of his hand. Then, suddenly, he pushed the bedsheet off and swung his legs to the floor. He stood up, wincing from the pain in his side. But he didn’t stop. His chest moved fast, his heart pounding.

“I don’t know if she still loves me,” Ethan said, his voice hoarse but steady. “And honestly, I don’t even care anymore. But one thing I’m sure of… that wedding—it’s too sudden. Too convenient. It’s like she was forced into it.” He turned to face Lucas, eyes burning with determination. “I have to stop it. I will stop it.”

Lucas slowly stood too, folding his arms across his chest, uncertain. “Look, I’m with you—I agree that this wedding feels wrong. It’s rushed, it’s political, and Helena… she didn’t look like herself. But Ethan…” he paused, his tone turning serious. “You’re talking about crashing a wedding between the Rutherfords and the Rodriguezs. Two of the most powerful families in the country. Security will be tighter than a prison. You won't even make it to the front steps, let alone inside the hall.”

“I don’t need you to get me inside,” Ethan said, meeting his gaze with unwavering focus. “I just need a ride. You take me to the venue—and I’ll handle the rest.”

Lucas opened his mouth to argue, but the fire in Ethan’s eyes made him hesitate. This wasn’t a broken man talking anymore. This was a man with purpose. And Lucas knew there was no talking him down.

He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “Alright,” he muttered. “But at least wait—let the doctor come in and do the final checkup. Make sure you’re stable.”

Ethan shook his head without hesitation. “By the time the doctor finishes checking me, the ceremony will be over. Helena will be married. And I’ll never get the chance to know the truth… or stop her from making the worst mistake of her life.”