Zoya’s P.O.V
As the crowd parted, my eyes widened in astonishment when I saw Ezra making his way towards me.
I couldn't believe he was here, and his mere presence brought a mix of relief and worry to my heart.
What was he doing here? And how long had he been here before he made his presence known?
As far as they knew, I was still single ever since Ravi and I had broken up, so I didn't have to imagine their shock at Ezra's revelation.
The atmosphere around us seemed to shift as everyone's attention turned to him. Even my mother, Silas, and Anika looked shell-shocked at Ezra's announcement.
Ezra stood tall and confident, his eyes locked onto mine with a fierce determination. His broad shoulders and commanding presence parted the crowd effortlessly, drawing everyone's attention to him. He wore an event-appropriate suit, which added an air of authority.
It was as if he could sense my unease from afar and had rushed to my side without a moment's hesitation.
As he got closer, his expression softened with concern, and his eyes searched mine, trying to read my emotions.
The worry lines on his forehead deepened, and his jaw tensed, showing just how fiercely he cared for me. In that moment, I felt a rush of warmth and security, knowing that I wasn't alone in facing this tumultuous situation.
With a few quick strides, he closed the distance between us, enveloping me in his protective embrace. His strong arms encircled me, making me feel safe and shielded from the chaos around us.
The noise of the crowd faded into the background, and all that mattered was the solidity of his presence.
"You okay?" His voice was a gentle murmur, like a soothing melody in the midst of chaos. His concern was palpable, and it melted away some of the tension coiled within me.
I nodded, unable to find the right words to express the maelstrom of emotions inside me. But it didn't matter; he seemed to understand without needing any explanation. His thumb caressed my cheek tenderly, wiping away an invisible worry line that he must have sensed.
Then he turned to face the others, still wrapping a protective arm around my shoulders and pulling me close to his side.
"I’m the Sherriff of Sapphire Mountain PD, and Zoya is my fiancé," he declared again, his voice firm and unwavering, making the words feel like a shield against the judgmental eyes that were now on us.
My heart swelled with a mixture of emotions - relief, joy, and a hint of trepidation.
I couldn't believe he had called me his fiancée in front of everyone. It felt like a promise, a commitment, and I knew in that moment that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this man.
But still… there was no erasing the anxiety that bubbled within me, just beneath the surface.
As the shock wore off, the whispers and murmurs started circulating around us, but even though I was slightly anxious, I found that I had nothing to be frightened of after all.
I was standing next to the man I loved, and that was all that mattered to me. His arm around me felt like a shield, protecting me from the judgment and scrutiny that I feared.
My mother's disapproval was evident in her eyes, and Silas looked angry and surprised at the same time. Anika was trying to hide her own emotions, but I could see the frustration in her eyes as well.
"What is this about, Zoya?" my mother demanded. "How can you get engaged to someone without even telling me?" Her eyes narrowed with disappointment. “Did you not even think about getting my permission? My blessing?”
Ezra stood his ground as he calmly responded to her accusations. He didn't flinch under her gaze. Instead, he met her stern look with a steady one of his own.
“With all due respect…ma’am,” Ezra spoke politely. "Zoya is a grown woman and sh doesn’t always need permission for everything she does. Besides, Zoya's first engagement was with your blessing, and we all know how that turned out.”
My mother seemed taken aback by his response, not expecting such a direct retort. "What are you talking about?" she retorted, trying to regain control of the conversation.
"Didn’t you know?" Ezra raised his eyebrows. "Ravi cheated on your daughter with her own cousin, even after you set up their engagement."
My mother's face turned slightly pale, and she seemed at a loss for words. She couldn't deny the truth of what Ezra had just told her, and it left her visibly uncomfortable.
And even though I didn’t want to see my mother get humiliated in front of everyone like this…I couldn’t deny the fact that it felt so good.
“You see…I’m a very superstitious man, Mrs. Mehra.” Ezra took a step closer to me, his stance protective and unwavering. "Which is why I told Zoya to keep the engagement a secret because I didn’t want this blessing…to become a curse."
I could see that my mother was struggling to process all of this information. She stood there, shell shocked, her face turning red as the onlookers kept whispering about all the newfound information.
Younger me would have had a heart attack after seeing all of this unfold. She never would have thought to cross her own mother. It would have been unspeakable. Unthinkable.
But here I was, standing my ground against the one person who was supposed to make me feel loved since birth, but instead made me feel like unusable garbage.
Ezra squeezed my hand gently, his touch grounding me to the here and now.
I knew that we were taking a risk by confronting her like this, but I couldn't let her disapproval dictate my happiness anymore.
My mother's response to all this was… not quite as mature as I'd hoped. It played out like a Bollywood drama, with my mother dramatically pretending to faint, I was torn between concern and exasperation.
But before I could rush to her side like the dutiful daughter, Ezra held me back, his touch gentle but firm.
"Let me check her pulse," he said calmly, kneeling down beside my mother. I watched as he assessed her condition, feeling a mix of gratitude and admiration for his level-headedness in such a chaotic situation.
"Her pulse is fine," Ezra assured the onlookers, before glancing up at me with a reassuring smile. "It's possible that all the stress and excitement of the party caused her blood sugar to spike, leading to the fainting spell."
I nodded, not sure whether to be amused or serious.
As my mother eventually "regained consciousness" after Silas and Anika sprinkled some water on her face, she shot us a reproachful look after bearing the brunt of all that humiliation, before quickly retreating from the scene.
While part of me wanted to go after her, I knew that now was not the time to force any reconciliation.
With my mother gone, the atmosphere at the wedding changed drastically. The revelation of Ravi and Tania's infidelity had spread like wildfire, and people were leaving in droves, not wanting to be associated with a cheater and his accomplice.
I felt a mix of relief and sadness as I watched the guests depart, realizing that the truth had a way of revealing itself, no matter how hidden it might be.
The weight of my family's judgment had been lifted, but it came at the cost of public humiliation for Ravi and Tania.
After all that I had suffered under their hand, this act of public humiliation was basically an act of mercy. They should be grateful that I was not entirely evil.
Amidst the commotion, Ezra held my hand tightly, offering me the comfort and support I needed. His presence was a steadying force amidst the chaos, reminding me that we were in this together.
"I'm sorry you had to go through all of this," Ezra said softly, his eyes full of concern.
I shook my head, offering him a small smile. "It's okay. I'm just glad you were here with me."
Ezra leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss on my forehead. "Always," he whispered.
As the crowd dispersed, the wedding turned into a somber affair, far from the joyful celebration it was meant to be. The bride and groom panicked, their perfect facade shattered, I couldn't deny that a part of me relished in their discomfort.
They had deceived everyone, including me, and now their lies were exposed for the world to see.
Amidst the chaos, however, I noticed a different kind of tension starting to rise… just as Silas and Ezra had turned to face each other, their gazes locked in an intense stare…