Before I Say I Do

The person's grip slid higher, tightening around my throat. I struggled with all the strength I had, but I was no match for him. He didn't even budge.

The metallic taste of blood slowly crept up my throat. Just as I was about to pass out, he finally loosened his grip.

I turned away, clutching my neck as I desperately gasped for air. It took me a while to realize that it was Sebastian who showed up.

"Did this psychopath hurt you?" He was in a groom's suit, but not once did his gaze land on me. Instead, he gazed at Ruth, looking concerned.

She immediately turned to me with a look that seemed to be fishing for sympathy. "Forget it, Seb. She's the one Grandpa wants you to marry, after all."

Sebastian's gaze was akin to icicles that were sharp enough to pin me in place. "She's just an arranged fiancee. She's nothing compared to you."

I hadn't even said a word about being attacked, and they were already devaluing me. Swallowing my anger, I tried to speak calmly. "Sebastian Lambert, please get your facts straight. I am your fiancee. Just now—"

Clearly annoyed, he cut me off. "If you still want this wedding to proceed, crawl over and apologize to Ruth now."

I thought that he would at least be someone I could reason with, since he was the Lamberts' heir. It turned out that he was just another arrogant, irrational man.

I was frustrated and helpless. "If you have a problem with the marriage, bring it up with the others. Don't take it out on me just to please your little sweetheart."

Sebastian was just a husband that Dad had personally chosen for me. I didn't even mind that he wasn't acting like one. But now, he was expecting me to crawl over and apologize?

My expression turned ice-cold. "Besides, it was Ms. Lambert who attacked me first. Why should I be the one to apologize?"

"Why should you?" Ruth echoed my words mockingly.

She raised her brows as she glanced at my blood-soaked wedding dress. "Looks like someone's already acting like the CEO's wife before even marrying in. You're nothing but a filthy peasant. Even if Seb wanted you dead, you should be thanking him on your knees!"

Clearly enjoying her praise, Sebastian gave a small cough. He smirked as he glowered at me with disdain. "The old man said you'd kill yourself if I refused, and even threatened me with shares. If it weren't for that, do you think a nobody like you would even get close to the Lamberts?"

He scrutinized me mockingly. "Know your place. If you want to stay in this family, start by figuring out how to please Ruth."

His words were so absurd, I almost burst out laughing. I felt hopeless, as if I were trying to reason with an alien. "Sebastian, I don't know what nonsense you've heard, but you were never my only option."

Before I could explain further, Ruth covered her mouth as she tried to stifle a chuckle. "How foolish of you. Trying to play it cool now? You'll be clinging to Seb like a desperate simp once he actually dumps you."

She shoved me hard with a twisted expression. "Go on, then! Marry someone else! Why are you still here? Who's stopping you?"

I slowly lifted my head to glance at the smug pair before me. "Do you think the whole world has to kiss your feet just because the Lamberts made some money? Who do you think you are, barking away in front of me?"

As soon as the words left my mouth, the room erupted into laughter.

"Who let this maniac out? The Lamberts are literally on the list of the country's richest families! The audacity to question them!"

"She's done for. With Mr. Lambert's power, her entire family may even go down with her!"

"The Lamberts are more than generous to her. The wedding's being held in the world's most luxurious hotel. What's wrong with a little crawling? Is she going to throw her life away over her ego?"

"Exactly! Ms. Lambert's already being kind, and she still refuses to listen."

Generous? The Lamberts' entire business empire ran on patents developed by my family. However, in a week, the granted patent would expire. If they didn't renew it, they would lose access to our technology and go bankrupt.

I was my family's only daughter. Sebastian's grandfather, Theodore Lambert, had been begging at our doorstep every day, trying to marry his grandson into our family to secure the rights.

It just so happened that Dad wanted someone to take care of me as well. His only condition was that my future husband had to do whatever I said.

He heard Theodore boasting that his grandson was well-behaved, respectful, and had admired me from a young age. With that, Dad gave him the green light.

All I had to do was marry Sebastian today, and the Lamberts would maintain the rights to the patent and survive the crisis.

Theodore had been trying to flatter me to make this wedding happen. Yet, the moment Sebastian opened his mouth, he nearly wasted all his grandfather's effort.

When I didn't reply, Ruth took it as my intimidation. She crossed her arms and sneered. "Scared now? Too late for that!"

Sebastian pulled her into his arms and backed her up. "Crawl over, clean off the dirt you got on Ruth, and apologize. That's what you get for talking back. Otherwise, go back to whatever gutter you crawled out of."

Unfazed, I smoothed my messed-up hair. "Have it your way. Cancel the wedding."