Chapter 8 The wedding was absolutely spectacular - friends and family from both the Sterling and Blackwood sides filled the venue . Ithan and I were running around like crazy trying to make sure everything was perfect . Once all the guests had arrived , the ceremony officially began . I was in this gorgeous white gown , and Ethan looked incredible in his black tuxedo as he walked toward me . Everyone watched us in silence under the warm lights and soft music , witnessing this moment . When Dad smiled and placed my hand in Ethan's , it hit me like a ton of bricks - this felt like something from another lifetime . The scene I'd dreamed about in my past life was finally happening right in front of me . If this was a dream , I never wanted to wake up . After we finished the ceremony with the officiant , it was time for family speeches . Dad got all emotional and teary - eyed . " Sophia's always been a bit of a loner , and we worried about her . But then she met Ethan . " " Ethan's the kind of man you can trust completely . Even when Sophia was missing all those years , he never stopped waiting for her . I wish you both all the happiness in the world . " " I'm giving twenty percent of Sterling Corporation shares as Sophia's dowry ! " The Blackwoods followed suit immediately : " Blackwood Industries is contributing twenty percent of our shares as our wedding gift ! " The crowd erupted in thunderous applause . " What a perfect match - they're both so beautiful ! " " Only the wealthy can be this generous ! " But then the perfect moment got completely shattered by a voice that made everyone's blood run cold . " I object to this marriage ! " Charlotte suddenly stood up in the middle of the crowd . Mom and Dad went white as sheets . " Charlotte ! This is not the time for one of your tantrums ! " Charlotte pulled out a remote control and pressed a button . The big screen behind us suddenly changed . It showed a skinny little girl digging through garbage cans for scraps , sharing food with a stray dog . Then the scene shifted - the same dirty girl was fighting the dog for food in some alley while someone off - camera laughed cruelly . 77.8 % Chapter 8 " Come on , if you can get that hot dog away from him , I'll let you eat it ! " The girl fought even harder and ended up strangling the dog with her bare hands . The video kept playing , and I couldn't watch anymore , I just stood there frozen , tears streaming down my face . That girl was me . That dog had been my only friend back then , but whoever was filming had drugged it to make it aggressive . Seeing my reaction , Ethan immediately pulled me into his arms . Charlotte's laugh was pure evil . " Mom ! Dad ! Look at your precious daughter ! She's nothing but a dirty little street rat ! I'm the real Sterling daughter ! " Dad pointed right at Charlotte's face , absolutely furious . " Charlotte ! You're sick ! Who taught you to do something this twisted ?! " " Marcus , throw her out ! She's no daughter of mine anymore ! " Even Mom - who had always been Charlotte's biggest defender - couldn't handle seeing what the girl she'd raised for over a decade had become . " Charlotte ! Do you have any idea what you're doing ?! How did we raise someone like you ?! " Marcus rushed toward Charlotte with several security guards , but she suddenly grabbed a knife and started waving it around . " Stay back ! " Marcus tried to stop her , but Charlotte slashed at him and cut his arm . " Charlotte ! What the hell do you think you're doing ?! " She didn't answer . She just stared at me - still frozen and unable to move - and came charging at me with the knife .