He Chose Another Bride During the Ritual—So I Chose a New Groom Instead Chapter 03

He Chose Another Bride During the Ritual—So I Chose a New Groom Instead Chapter 03

The words that would have ended everything between us never made it past my lips.

Outside the wedding barn, the sudden swell of bagpipes and violins drowned them out.

It was [The Mountain Folk Ballad], a song reserved for the most sacred moment of any Blackwood Valley wedding.

The townspeople immediately erupted in cheers.

Before I could react, everyone was being ushered into a massive circle. Hands grabbed mine and Ethan’s, pulling us into the traditional Barn Square Dance.

The chaos worked against me.

All ten girls wore identical vintage wedding gowns. The crowd was packed shoulder to shoulder, laughter and music filling every corner of the barn.

The groomsmen shoved Ethan toward the center of the circle.

From beginning to end, he had no idea I was standing only a few feet behind him, watching everything with a blank expression.

One of the groomsmen nudged him and laughed.

“Man, you’ve got Ava wrapped around your finger. After that kiss with Luna, she was standing right there watching. Didn’t make a scene, didn’t say a word.”

Ethan chuckled.

The smug confidence in his voice made my stomach turn.

“She can’t leave me. She spent the best eight years of her life on me. She has nowhere else to go.”

The groomsman immediately piled on.

“Then why not make this real? You and Luna are already legally married anyway. Honestly, you two look perfect together.”

Ethan shot him a cold glare.

“Cut the crap. I’m only doing this to fulfill an old man’s dying wish. Once this is over, I’m still giving Ava the wedding she deserves.”

Then his gaze drifted toward Luna.

She was laughing freely in the center of the dance floor, sunlight catching in her hair.

Something almost wistful entered his voice.

“But if I’m being honest… Luna’s different. She’s spontaneous, fearless, full of life. Everything happens naturally with her. That’s something I’ve never seen in Ava.”

He paused.

“I guess this whole mess gave me a chance to experience something I would’ve missed otherwise.”

Standing in the shadows behind him, I heard every word.

Eight years.

Eight years of loyalty, sacrifice, and building a future together.

To him, they were nothing more than routine.

A life too predictable.

A regret.

The music slowly faded, signaling the end of the square dance.

Next came one of Blackwood Valley’s oldest and most sacred wedding traditions.

The Herbal Wedding Boots.

According to local custom, the groom was required to handcraft a pair of deerskin wedding boots for his bride. Hidden inside the soles were ten sacred mountain herbs. Rosemary symbolized loyalty. Cedar represented enduring love. Together they were meant to bless the couple with health, protection, and a peaceful life ahead.

Half a month ago, while finalizing the wedding schedule, I had carefully added the ceremony to our wedding guide.

Back then, Ethan had barely looked up from his MacBook.

“Handmaking boots? Seriously? That sounds like a ridiculous amount of work. Then I’ve got to hunt down all those herbs too? Why don’t we just buy designer wedding shoes in the city? Nobody actually cares about this stuff.”

I quietly deleted the item labeled Wedding Boots from the spreadsheet.

“Okay.”

That was all I’d said.

I never pushed.

I always told myself he was busy.

But now…

Watching him lift a brand-new pair of red deerskin boots from an elegant gift box, my chest tightened so painfully I could barely breathe.

The craftsmanship wasn’t perfect.

Some stitches were crooked.

Fresh needle marks still dotted the seams.

It was obvious these boots hadn’t come from a store.

Someone had spent countless late nights sewing them by hand, one stitch at a time.

The truth hit me like a blow to the heart.

He wasn’t too busy.

He wasn’t unwilling.

He had simply known from the very beginning that the woman he would kneel before today and place those boots on…

Had never been me.

The entire barn erupted with admiration and applause.

Ethan bent down with extraordinary care.

As though handling something fragile and priceless, he gently slipped the handmade boots onto Luna’s feet.

The boots he had stayed up nights making.

The boots filled with blessings and promises.

Afterward, he performed Blackwood Valley’s highest wedding honor.

The Bridal Carry.

Carefully lifting Luna onto his back, he prepared to carry his bride out of the barn while the townspeople celebrated around them.

The crowd surged forward, eager to escort the newlyweds outside.

And just as everyone reached the doorway…

I stepped out from the quiet corner where I’d been standing.

“Wait.”

My voice cut through the celebration like a blade.