He Chose Another Bride During the Ritual—So I Chose a New Groom Instead Chapter 04

He Chose Another Bride During the Ritual—So I Chose a New Groom Instead Chapter 04

The entire barn fell silent.

Every head turned toward me.

Ethan stopped walking and looked back over his shoulder, Luna still on his back.

Irritation flashed across his face.

“What now?”

I stepped forward through the crowd, my spine straight and my chin high.

Then, in front of every elder and every resident of Blackwood Valley, I announced:

“According to the original Mountain Lore, when ten women wear identical bridal gowns and the groom chooses blindly, his choice determines his bride. If he chooses the wrong woman, fate has spoken and the marriage bond changes accordingly.”

I paused.

“Ethan’s selection is finished.”

“My selection hasn’t even begun.”

A stunned silence swept through the barn.

Then Grandpa John practically lit up.

“Oh!” he exclaimed. “Child, are you holding an ancient marriage ceremony too? Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Where’s your groom? Let your old grandpa take a look at him!”

Ethan’s expression changed instantly.

He lowered Luna and strode toward me.

“Enough, Ava! I’ve already chosen Luna. What exactly are you trying to do? Stop embarrassing yourself.”

I met his gaze calmly.

“You chose your bride.”

“I’m choosing my groom.”

“What does that have to do with you?”

Grandpa John nodded immediately.

“She’s right!”

He pointed at Ethan.

“You picked Luna through the sacred ceremony. Why shouldn’t Ava choose someone else? According to our traditions, any unmarried woman whose name remains in the Book of Blessings has the right to choose a groom during the festival.”

He frowned.

“You’re Luna’s groom now, not Ava’s.”

For once, Ethan had no response.

Beside him, Luna quickly stepped forward and wrapped her arm around his.

“Ava,” she said softly, “I wanted to mention this earlier.”

She sighed sympathetically.

“I understand you’re upset. I understand you’re jealous. Ethan and I were married today in front of everyone in town.”

Her eyes swept over me.

“You’re almost thirty. Around here, that’s not exactly young anymore.”

A few uncomfortable chuckles rippled through the crowd.

“But pretending you suddenly have a boyfriend just to save face? Don’t you think that’s a little much?”

The smile slowly disappeared from Grandpa John’s face.

He looked at me carefully.

Disappointment clouded his eyes.

“Ava…”

His voice grew quiet.

“Were you lying to me?”

“You said you had someone. Was that just to make an old man happy?”

The warmth drained from his expression.

“You know what I hate most in this world? Being lied to.”

“If you weren’t engaged, you could’ve simply told me. I would never force you to marry.”

His voice sharpened.

“So why tell such a foolish lie?”

Grandpa John was already frail.

The moment his emotions spiked, his breathing became ragged.

He slumped against the chair, struggling for air.

Panic broke out immediately.

People rushed toward him with medicine and water while others glared at me with open disapproval.

“Ava, what were you thinking?”

“Can’t you see Old John isn’t well?”

“Apologize right now!”

I stepped forward, intending to explain.

But Ethan suddenly grabbed my wrist.

“Enough.”

His voice was low and harsh.

“I know you’re angry, but this has gone too far.”

“Making up stories and causing a scene isn’t helping anything.”

I yanked my arm free.

Every word came out clear and firm.

“I’m not angry.”

“And I’m not lying.”

“I’m getting married today.”

Ethan laughed.

The sound was disbelieving and condescending.

He looked around the room and spread his hands.

“Really?”

“Then where’s the groom?”

His gaze swept across the crowd.

“Which one of you is marrying her?”

Silence.

Only the crackling of firewood in the stone fireplace could be heard.

No one answered.

This was Blackwood Valley.

Everyone knew I’d spent the last eight years with Ethan.

In their minds, this entire situation existed solely to comfort a dying old man.

Nobody believed I was serious.

Seeing no response, Ethan’s confidence grew.

His voice softened into the familiar tone he’d used countless times before whenever he wanted to placate me.

“Come on, Ava.”

“I know you’re hurt.”

“As soon as Luna’s grandfather recovers a little, I’ll drive you into the city myself.”

“We’ll go straight to City Hall and file the marriage paperwork.”

“There. Happy?”

I looked him straight in the eye.

“What makes you think I’d want a man who’s already married someone else?”

The words sliced through the room.

In front of everyone, I ripped away the last shred of dignity protecting his secret marriage.

Ignoring the shock spreading across his face, I turned toward the eight bridesmaids standing nearby.

“Ladies, would you mind getting ready again?”

“The Veil Dance will need to be repeated.”

“My groom will be here shortly.”

I smiled faintly.

“And every tradition a Blackwood Valley bride deserves will be honored.”

The bridesmaids exchanged bewildered looks.

Ethan’s face turned crimson.

He immediately shot a look toward his groomsmen.

“Don’t listen to her.”

“There isn’t going to be a second ceremony.”

“Hurry up and escort the bride and groom out before Grandpa John gets upset again.”

The groomsmen froze before scrambling into action.

“Right! Everybody move!”

“Let’s send off the newlyweds!”

“Band, start playing!”

“Get the fiddles going!”

The crowd began moving again.

Ethan caught my wrist once more.

This time his voice dropped even lower.

“I’ll explain the marriage certificate later.”

“For now, stop this.”

“Help me finish the ceremony.”

“When we get back to the city, you can yell at me all you want.”

We were still locked in the middle of the argument when a deep voice suddenly echoed through the barn’s massive wooden doors.

Rich.

Magnetic.

Impossible to ignore.

“Sorry I’m late.”

The entire barn froze.