Snatched at the Altar: I Changed Grooms

The day he had to leave, Nicholas took my hand and said gently, "Charlene, the funeral just ended, and you look so pale. My mother is bound to nag if she sees you like this. I don't want you to have to take that.

"Stay in the village for now. Rest and take care of your health. Haven't you always wanted to take over the family business? Once I go back and smooth things over, I'll come get you."

I looked at him and nodded.

I was completely done with the whole in-law situation. No matter what I did, it never got better.

At the time, I trusted that he had my best interest at heart, that he couldn't stand the thought of me returning to suffer Mrs. Tanner's scorn.

It was only later that I learned that distance didn't breed fondness. Instead, it simply made it more convenient for him to cheat behind my back.

Last year, when Mrs. Tanner celebrated her 60th birthday, Nicholas came to bring me back to the city.

The moment I walked in, I saw Tricia, who had supposedly gone to the city to work. She was in the living room helping with the fruit arrangements, her movements practiced and familiar.

Nicholas paused while changing his shoes and explained, "Tricia's workplace is close to our home, so she's staying here for now."

He showed no sign of guilt, and I said nothing more.

When Patty married Dad and brought Tricia along, both Tricia and I were already quite grown. There wasn't much affection between us to begin with. And over the years, we'd only seen each other during the holidays.

I didn't know what to feel about the fact that she was living here.

When she saw me come in, Tricia called out warmly, "Hey, Charlene. Don't overthink it. I'm just staying for a bit. I'll move out as soon as I find a place."

I nodded and said nothing in reply.

Back then, it never crossed my mind that I, the wife, would spend three years alone in the village, while Tricia spent those same three years living with the Tanner family under the pretense of working in the city.

Now, as I watched Tricia cling to Nicholas' back, realization suddenly dawned on me. All along, I hadn't been waiting for him to take me home or to carry out the bride heist—I had been waiting to give him up for good.

Voice drifted over on the night breeze, growing clearer and clearer.

It was Tricia's voice.

"What are you going to do about Charlene? If she finds out, she'll definitely raise hell."

"She talks tough, but she's actually a softie," Nicholas replied firmly. "Once she's done kicking up a fuss, it'll blow over. Besides…"

He paused and lowered his voice. "It was pitch dark during the bride heist, so I could be forgiven for making a mistake.

"In fact, she'll be too busy feeling sorry for me to blame me. When she finds out, I'll sweet-talk her, and it'll be fine."

Tricia chuckled softly, while I clenched my fists so hard that my knuckles turned white.

One of Nicholas' friends, Alan Bush, suddenly spoke up. "Nicholas, what if someone else takes Charlene away?"

There was a moment of silence on their side.

Then, Nicholas laughed and said, "You think she'd just let someone take her without putting up a fight? Knowing her temper, she'd have torn the place apart by now."

"That's true. Given her personality, there's no way Charlene wouldn't kick up a storm."

"I honestly feel sorry for that groom. I wonder how badly he's been beaten up."

The laughter grew even louder.

I lowered my eyes and said, "Let's go."

The man carrying me was very quiet. In fact, he hadn't said a single word since earlier.

Lying on his back, I could feel his steady, even footsteps. They belonged to those who'd traversed countless roads at night.

He must have realized that the one they were laughing about—the one who would tear the place apart—was me. Yet, he just kept walking without saying anything.

At the bend, we came face-to-face with the other group.

The torchlight flickered toward us, and someone on the other side spoke first. "Brad Rangel?"

Brad stopped and gave a curt, "That's right."

Nicholas, still carrying Tricia on his back, drew closer. With a grin, he sized him up and said, "It really is you. Are you doing a bride heist tonight, too? Whose daughter is this?"

Nicholas' gaze swept over and landed on me.

I buried my face in the crook of Brad's neck, leaving only the back of my head turned toward Nicholas.

"A family from the neighboring village," Brad replied flatly.

Nicholas stared at me for another moment, then suddenly laughed. "Well, look at you! You always seemed so unapproachable, so I really thought you weren't the marrying type. Congrats!"