They Stole My Wedding to Save Her, Not Knowing They Were Sacrificing Me to the Mountain God Chapter 08

They Stole My Wedding to Save Her, Not Knowing They Were Sacrificing Me to the Mountain God Chapter 08

Patriarch Graham let out a cold laugh and gave a small wave of his hand.

Aunt Maeve immediately brought out the ancient marriage covenant.

She opened it, and on the parchment stood my signature.

Next to mine was another name: Rowan Vale.

“The contract has been signed, and the marriage has been completed.”

“We have already severed Elara from your lineage, establishing her under her own name. From now on, she

has nothing to do with your branch of the family.”

“Don’t you still have another child at home? Treat her well from now on.”

When Evelyn heard that, she shook her head wildly.

“No. We don’t want that. We only want Elara.”

“Patriarch Graham, please let us see Elara.”

“Just once.”

Every word came out soaked in agonizing despair.

In the end, Patriarch Graham relented.

Rowan was called the Mountain Guardian.

In truth, he was more like the Guardian’s vessel, someone bound to remain here for life and protect the

descendants of the Sutton family.

But he was not cut off from the outside world. He had internet access and knew far more than I had

expected.

He even prepared all kinds of food and drinks for me.

“People outside seem to like boba tea,” he said. “I don’t have your favorite brand here, but I asked Patriarch Graham to bring in a few people who know how to make it. Try them and see which flavor you like.”

“And you like wasabi-flavored snacks, right? I had them bake these crackers ahead of time too. You can try

some…”

No one had ever cared about what I liked to eat.

Sienna had a sensitive stomach and could not handle wasabi or anything spicy.

A weakness my mother used as a weapon against me.

I remembered buying a small tray of spicy sushi with my own money, only for Sienna to run and tattle.

That same afternoon, my mother threw the tray directly into the trash.

She then cleared out every piece of raw meat and frozen seafood from the freezer, slamming them onto the

counter before me.

“Didn’t you say you liked raw food? Didn’t you like dipping things in wasabi? Here, now you can eat all of it.

Go on. Eat.”

“You’re grown, and you’re still eating behind your sister’s back? Don’t you know Sienna can’t eat things that spicy? Aren’t you doing this just to upset her?”

After that, every time I ate at home, Evelyn would make some cutting remark at the table.

“Why aren’t you eating it raw? I thought you liked raw food.”

Little by little, I stopped eating at home.

Later, as long as I could eat outside, I would not go back for meals.

I picked up a wasabi cracker and took a bite.

The flavor was just right.

The last trace of bitterness in my heart seemed to melt away in that instant.

“It’s good.”

Rowan looked as if he had just received the greatest compliment in the world. His eyes curved with happiness, and he smiled so brightly the warmth of it caught me off guard.

I walked to his side and gently took his hand.

Together, we stood before the statue of the Mountain Guardian.

“We should complete the final rite,” I said.

“I don’t want to spend my wedding night without even knowing what my husband looks like.”

Once we exchanged the final vow before the Guardian and let the mountain bear witness, Rowan and I would truly be husband and wife.

After that, I would be allowed to remove his mask.

His hand trembled slightly, and even his voice stumbled.

“Are you really willing?” he asked. “I’ve never been out in the world much, and I might not be very

good-looking.”

“If Patriarch Graham and the others pressured you, we can just be husband and wife in name. You don’t have

to force yourself.”

He seemed deeply unsure of himself.

“I’m not forcing myself,” I said. “This is good.”

Rather than begging for family love and romantic sudden devotion the way I had in the past, this was better.

his attendants was treating me gently, carefully, as if he was afraid of hurting me.

After hearing my answer, Rowan suddenly let out a breath of relief.

He adjusted his posture and slowly lowered himself with me before the Guardian.

When the final three ceremonial bows were finished, the rain outside had softened.

I gently removed his mask.

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

******

By the time I saw Richard, Evelyn, and Callum again, it was already the next day.

The three of them looked overwhelmed the moment they saw me, and even their voices shook.

Evelyn rushed forward first, wanting to pull me into her arms.

I lifted a hand and lightly stopped her.

“Don’t act so close to me. I’m not used to it.”

I took a sip of the boba tea Rowan had handed me, then opened my phone and transferred $4,000 to her.

“Are you here to ask me for money again? For Sienna’s wedding gift? This is all I have left in my bank

account. Take it.”

The notification sound made Evelyn sway as if she were about to fall.

She quickly pulled out her phone, and the transfer on the screen seemed to sting her eyes.

“I don’t want this money. Elara, come home with me.”

She reached for my hand again, but I pulled away lightly.

“I don’t have any savings now. All the money I saved over the years went to Sienna because you told me to give it to her. If you don’t want this, then I really have nothing else.”

“I’m doing fine here. I’m planning to stay.”

My voice had never been so calm.

Once, I would have felt hurt, angry, and resentful over how differently my parents treated us

Now those feelings were gone.

Even the ache in my chest had disappeared.

Pain crossed Callum’s face too.

“Elara, don’t be so cold,” he said. “Your parents and I know we were wrong. We came to take you home.”

“I know Sienna planned everything. Come back with us, and we’ll hold a new wedding. From now on, I won’t

care about Sienna anymore.”

I frowned in disgust.

The love in Callum’s eyes made my instincts recoil.

A wave of nausea rose in my chest and refused to fade.