He Chose Another Bride During the Ritual—So I Chose a New Groom Instead Chapter 09

He Chose Another Bride During the Ritual—So I Chose a New Groom Instead Chapter 09

Confused, I set down my work and headed downstairs.

The moment I entered the lobby, I saw Luna.

She looked terrible.

Her makeup was smeared.

Her clothes were wrinkled.

The polished, glamorous woman she once was had completely disappeared.

The second she spotted me, she rushed forward.

Before I could react, she dropped to her knees.

“Ava, please!” she cried. “Give Ethan back to me!”

Her voice echoed through the lobby.

Everyone turned to look.

Tears streamed down her face as she deliberately painted herself as the victim.

“He’s obsessed with you! He wants to divorce me because of you! I can’t live without him! Please, stop trying to steal my husband!”

The crowd exploded with whispers.

Curious eyes.

Judgmental eyes.

Disapproving eyes.

All directed at me.

Without knowing the truth, everyone immediately assumed I was the other woman.

“Wow. She doesn’t look the type.”

“Seriously. They’re already married and she’s still chasing him?”

“That’s disgusting.”

The accusations came from every direction.

I frowned.

“Luna, watch what you’re saying,” I said coldly. “Stop spreading lies.”

But she ignored me.

She kept crying.

Kept playing the victim.

Kept pushing every ounce of blame onto my shoulders.

The situation spiraled out of control.

Then suddenly, a tall figure pushed through the crowd.

Ian.

He stepped directly in front of me and wrapped an arm protectively around my shoulders.

His expression turned icy.

“Watch your mouth.”

He looked straight at Luna.

“Ava Miller is my girlfriend. Why would she steal your husband?”

The entire lobby fell silent.

Then Ian pulled out a framed photograph.

It was our wedding picture from Blackwood Valley, witnessed by the town elders.

“My family and Ava’s family arranged our engagement years ago. Everyone in Blackwood Valley knows it. We got married according to our community’s traditions.”

His voice rang with confidence.

“We’re legally and morally together. There is nothing inappropriate about our relationship.”

The crowd instantly changed sides.

“Oh my God, they’re already married?”

“That makes sense.”

“He’s always picking her up from work.”

“The way he looks at her, you can tell he’s crazy about her.”

“If she has a husband like that, why would she chase someone else’s?”

Luna’s face drained of color.

She opened her mouth to argue.

Ian didn’t give her the chance.

Security quickly intervened, and Ian personally made sure she was escorted out.

Before leaving, he turned back to me.

His expression softened immediately.

“I left your lunch on your desk.”

His voice was gentle.

“Eat while it’s still warm.”

Then he smiled.

“I’ll handle everything here.”

I watched him walk away.

Watched him clean up the mess.

Watched him protect me from humiliation without hesitation.

Back upstairs, the lunch he prepared still sat on my desk.

Warm.

Delicious.

Waiting for me.

Something inside my chest softened.

For eight years, I’d been the one giving everything.

Compromising.

Sacrificing.

Running after Ethan.

Trying to earn love that was never freely given.

No one had ever treasured me this way.

No one had ever made me feel protected.

So this was what it felt like to be someone’s first choice.

To be cherished.

To be loved without conditions.

A week later, a heavy rainstorm swept through the city.

I stood outside my office building, smiling at a message Ian had just sent me.

Then I saw someone approaching through the curtain of rain.

Ethan.

He was soaked from head to toe.

His clothes clung to his body.

His hair dripped water.

Clutched tightly in his hands was a folder.

His eyes burned with excitement.

“Ava!”

He stumbled toward me.

“I finally got divorced!”