They Caught Her Flower for Someone Else, So I Kept the Groom Fate Gave Me Chapter 13

They Caught Her Flower for Someone Else, So I Kept the Groom Fate Gave Me Chapter 13

He went to my apartment. The landlord said I’d moved out three days ago.

He asked every friend we had in common. No one knew where I’d gone.

When my brother Hunter called, his voice was hoarse.

“Ethan, did you find her? Our mom… she jumped into the creek yesterday. They pulled her out. She’s in the hospital now.”

My mother’s funeral was set for three days later.

I stood outside the funeral home in black, watching the simple casket being carried out.

My father Harold was at the front. No one could say how much of his crying was real.

After the service, the Elder Council read the Deed of Inheritance.

The orchard land in my mother’s name was to pass to her children. She’d left a written will—naming me specifically.

My father’s face darkened on the spot.

But he didn’t dare say a word in front of the whole town. He just nodded, tight-lipped.

My brother came up to me. There was more guilt on his face than I’d expected.

He looked down and said, “Haven,” his voice thick with something he

—

couldn’t swallow.

I didn’t look at him. He added, “Mom kept calling your name before she went.”

I said, “Where were you when she called me? Where were you when she was alive?”

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Landon was there too. He was holding something in his hand—when he handed it to me, I finally saw what it was.

His most treasured box of marbles.

The one he never gave to anyone.

Even after he met Calla, he’d only ever let her touch them.

He said, “Haven, that day at the Maypole Choosing, I promised I’d catch your ribbon for you. But I was scared Calla’s ribbon would end up with someone else…”

“I shouldn’t have promised you if I couldn’t do it.”

“I’m so sorry. I ruined—”

He glanced at Parker.

I pushed the box back. “Landon, you all treated what mattered to me like it was nothing—like it was all just a joke. From today on, as far as I’m concerned, we were never friends.”

His knuckles went white around the box. “Twenty-something years of friendship—and you say we were never friends?”

—

“Yes. Because saying we were friends would be too humiliating.”

“A friendship you can’t even show anyone—that’s just garbage.”

He froze.

He’d never seen this side of me. This sharp, thorny Haven.

In his memory, I was still the girl who always thought of him first, who copied his homework, took the blame for him, covered for his lies…

But he didn’t know—that Haven had died the moment they all ran for another girl’s Maypole Ground.

I turned to leave—and Ethan rushed toward me.

“Haven. You’re here—you’re really here!”

He grabbed my wrist. “Listen to me. None of that town ceremony stuff counts. Come back to the city with me. I’ll take you to file the license.”

“I’ve already booked everything—look—”

He pulled out his phone. The screen showed a hotel reservation and a wedding photo appointment.

“Whatever day you want—it’s all up to you!”

I pulled my hand free and stepped back. “Ethan, your bride is right there.”

He followed my gaze. Calla stood a few steps away in a simple white dress, her voice small and soft.

“Haven…”

—

Ethan tried to explain. “No—it’s not what you think—”

“You knelt before the Maypole Goddess together. The whole town saw it. She’s your match. Stay away from me.”