He Chose Another Bride During the Ritual—So I Chose a New Groom Instead Chapter 05

He Chose Another Bride During the Ritual—So I Chose a New Groom Instead Chapter 05

The massive barn doors swung open.

A tall, broad-shouldered stranger stepped inside.

The noisy crowd of townspeople instantly fell silent, as if someone had hit a mute button. A heavy hush settled over the entire reception hall. People exchanged bewildered looks and whispered among themselves. In a town as isolated and tight-knit as Blackwood Valley, not a single person recognized the man who had just walked in carrying an air of quiet authority.

Ethan’s fists clenched automatically.

A powerful sense of unease crawled up his spine.

He stared at the stranger, trying desperately to figure out who he was and why he had appeared here.

The man paid no attention to the curious stares around him.

He walked calmly through the crowd and stopped in front of Grandpa John’s rocking chair. Then he lowered himself to one knee.

“Grandpa John,” he said respectfully, “it’s me. Ian Carter.”

The moment those words left his mouth, a collective gasp swept through the barn.

Even the air seemed to freeze.

Grandpa John had been bedridden for weeks, his health failing and his mind occasionally drifting. Yet the instant he heard that name, he pushed himself upright with his weathered oak cane.

His cloudy eyes lit up with astonishing clarity.

“You… you’re the Carter boy from the city?” he exclaimed. “The one who disappeared all those years ago? You’ve come back to Blackwood Valley?”

“Yes, Grandpa John.” Ian’s voice was warm and respectful. “I’m home.”

The old man’s thin hands trembled as he grabbed Ian’s shoulder.

Tears streamed down his face.

“Good Lord…” he choked out. “After all these years, Ava’s destined husband turned out to be you after all.”

Meanwhile, Ethan looked completely lost.

Fear and confusion flashed across his face.

He grabbed Luna by the arm and hissed through clenched teeth, “What’s going on? Who the hell is he?”

Luna fidgeted nervously with the fabric of her dress.

“H-he’s Ian,” she stammered. “According to Blackwood Valley’s Family Bible Betrothal, he’s the man Ava was promised to when they were children.”

Ethan’s face darkened instantly.

His eyes snapped toward me.

“A childhood betrothal?” he demanded. “Something that important existed, and nobody ever told me?”

I barely spared him a glance.

Ignoring him completely, I stepped beside Ian and crouched in front of Grandpa John.

My fingers brushed unconsciously over the raised scar on my wrist.

Eight years of disappointment, loneliness, and heartbreak surged back into my mind.

Looking at the kind old man before me, I spoke slowly.

“Grandpa John, when I was younger, I thought freedom only existed outside Blackwood Valley. I wanted nothing more than to escape the traditions I grew up with.”

“I met someone in college.”

I lowered my gaze to the scar.

“Even though everyone here believed a woman who scarred her body brought bad luck upon a sacred marriage promise, I ignored it. One winter, he fell into an icy river. I pulled him out, and the broken ice sliced open my wrist.”

My fingers tightened slightly.

“Later, we promised we’d get married after graduation.”

A bitter smile touched my lips.

“But for four years, there was always an excuse.”

“The company needed funding.”

“A business partner needed help.”

“A sick relative needed care.”

“Every year it was something different.”

“The wedding kept getting postponed.”

I paused.

“By the fourth year, we finally picked a date. I’d saved enough money to pay for the wedding myself. I’d already bought my dress.”

I looked up.

“And yesterday, I found out he’d secretly married someone else at City Hall a long time ago.”

The barn fell completely silent.

I let out a quiet laugh at my own expense.

“But thank God I found out before it was too late.”

Not a sound could be heard inside the reception hall.

Even the elders who had defended Ethan earlier lowered their heads in shame.

Grandpa John stared at me for a long moment.

His expression softened with sadness.

Finally, he let out a long sigh.

He reached out and gently ruffled my hair.

“Life doesn’t always go the way we want, sweetheart,” he said softly.

“Everybody gets knocked down sometimes. Don’t stay trapped in the pain you’ve already lived through. Better days are waiting ahead.”

Then he reached into the inner pocket of his vest.

After a moment, he pulled out a heavy gold ring engraved with ancient protective symbols.

Without hesitation, he pressed it into my palm.

“Your parents passed too young,” he said. “Consider this Grandpa’s wedding gift.”

Luna’s eyes immediately turned red.

“Grandpa!” she cried. “I’m your actual granddaughter! Why are you giving a family heirloom like that to an outsider instead of me?”

Grandpa John’s expression hardened instantly.

He slammed his cane against the floor.

“Outsider?”

His voice thundered through the barn.

“How many times have you come back to Blackwood Valley these past few years while you were busy chasing city life?”

“When I was too sick to get out of bed, Ava was the one bringing me water and medicine every day.”

“When the town festivals needed extra hands, Ava was the one who dropped everything and came home to help.”

He pointed his cane at her.

“And since when do I need permission from an ungrateful granddaughter to decide who inherits my belongings?”

Luna’s face turned pale.

She lowered her head and couldn’t find a single word to argue back.

Grandpa John raised his voice for everyone to hear.

“Everyone, take your places again. Ava’s Veil Dance bride selection ceremony will proceed according to the laws of Blackwood Valley.”

Ethan immediately stepped forward.

“Grandpa John, that’s not fair. The rules don’t work like that.”

The old man slammed his cane against the floor once more.

His face darkened.

“You chose Luna.”

His gaze sharpened.

“That makes you Luna’s groom.”

“Ava’s marriage is none of your concern.”

“You have no right to interfere.”

In Blackwood Valley, no one carried more authority than Grandpa John.

To the townspeople, his word was law.

Without further hesitation, the crowd began reorganizing itself.

The bridesmaids returned to their positions.

Ian smiled faintly and reached for the black blindfold being offered to him.

But before he could put it on, Ethan suddenly raised his hand.

“Wait.”

A cold look settled over his face.

“Ava just admitted she has a unique scar that makes her easy to identify by touch.”

He crossed his arms.

“That makes this whole blind selection meaningless.”

His eyes locked onto Ian.

“If you’ve got the guts, forget the blindfold.”

“Let him choose using nothing but his eyes.”

“Nine brides. Same dresses. Same veils.”

“And no touching.”

His voice grew sharper.

“If he can recognize her at a glance, then maybe people can call it destiny.”

Several of the older townspeople frowned immediately.

Everyone could see exactly what Ethan was trying to do.

The nine women now standing in line wore identical vintage lace wedding gowns.

Heavy lace veils concealed their faces and fell all the way to their chests.

Their body shapes were hidden beneath the loose skirts.

Without touching them or seeing their faces, correctly identifying one woman out of nine was nearly impossible.

Ethan was clearly trying to sabotage my wedding to Ian.

Yet Ian merely curved his lips into a relaxed smile.

Not the slightest trace of concern appeared on his face.

“That’s fine,” he said casually.

“We’ll do it your way.”