The Rival's Bride

Grace's POV: Our town had an old rule: the bridal convoy must never backtrack. But on my wedding day, my fiance, Ryan Mercer, made our entire convoy back up for more than 12 miles just to let Ella Bennett's wedding convoy pass. I was about to lower the window and ask why when I heard Ryan talking to one of his groomsmen. "You drove over 60 miles out of your way just to see Ella off on her wedding day. That's dedication." "We're still backing up? Aren't you worried Grace will lose it?" Ryan kept directing the convoy backward. "Relax. She's waited 10 years for me. No matter how mad she gets, she won't get out of the car and run from the wedding. If my family hadn't been pressuring me, I never would've agreed to marry her so easily. Ella can't marry me, so backing up to see her off is the least I can do to make it up to her." My bridal bouquet slipped from my hands and fell beneath the seat. A bitter laugh escaped me. So much for believing all those years of waiting would finally lead to a happy ending. It had all been wishful thinking on my part. I opened my chat with that man and shared my location. Grace: Still willing to marry me? Come get me. Now. ***** Our 24-car bridal convoy kept reversing along the winding road, like a string of pearls being forcibly pulled backward. My two bridesmaids frowned, their faces flushed with anger. "Grace, we've already backed up more than 12 miles! Any farther and we'll end up right back at your house!" "Exactly! There's room for the two convoys to pass each other. Why is Ryan insisting that we're the ones who have to move?" My heart seemed to deflate like a punctured balloon, all the air gone in an instant. One of my bridesmaids opened the door and got out to confront him for me. "Ryan, don't you know the bridal convoy must never backtrack?" "Yeah! We've already reversed more than 12 miles. How much farther are you planning to make us go?" Sensing the shift in the mood, Ryan strode over, braced one hand on my window, and leaned down to look at me. His face was inches from mine, a faint cedar scent clinging to him. Once, that alone had been enough to make me melt. Now, it only made me feel cold. "Grace, hang in there a little longer. Once we reach the next fork, we won't have to back up anymore." His voice softened as though he were coaxing a sulking child. I looked at Ella in the bridal car across from us. She was radiant in white, surrounded by the rose petals Ryan had scattered across the road, like a princess adored by the entire world. "Whatever you want," I said flatly. Ryan's smile froze for a second. He hadn't expected me to be this calm. Somehow, my composure unsettled him more than any hysterics would have. The groomsmen gathered around to smooth things over. "Grace, don't be mad. The road's too narrow for the convoys to pass. We have no choice but to back up." "Yeah, we're closer to the fork anyway. This saves time." "Come on, Grace. Don't give Ryan the cold shoulder. He's having a hard enough time as it is." I gave a cold laugh, my nails digging into my palm. "We passed two forks already. Why didn't you move aside at either of those?" The groomsmen fell silent and looked awkwardly at Ryan. Ryan reached for my hand. His palm was warm, but all I wanted was to pull away. "Grace, this is my fault. I didn't plan the route properly. Once we get home, I'll make it up to you myself." Was it really poor planning, or had he deliberately taken us more than 60 miles out of our way just to lay this rose-petal path for Ella? I calmly shook my head. I didn't want to argue anymore. "Don't bother, Ryan." The groomsmen missed the chill in my voice and laughed. "See? Grace is so understanding. She really knows how to look out for Ryan." "Well, aren't you two sickeningly sweet? Guess we didn't need to explain after all." Still joking, they pulled Ryan away and went back to directing our convoy so Ella's could pass. Just then, a message popped up on my phone. It was from Ella. Ella: I thought you had more backbone than this, Grace. Turns out even on your wedding day, you still have to get out of my way. Ella: I don't even have to lift a finger. Ryan clears every obstacle for me. Anyone watching would think I was his bride! She forwarded me a screenshot. It was Ryan's latest Status update: If I can't marry you, I'll at least lay a rose-petal path for you and make sure nothing stands in your way. I looked out at the road. It was covered in Damask rose petals, Ella's favorite. Crushed beneath the tires, the red petals looked like streaks of congealed blood. My nose stung, and two hot tears fell before I could stop them. My voice nearly broke as I called Ryan, who was at the back of the convoy. "Ryan, I don't want to keep backing up." There was a 2-second pause before his unhurried voice came through the phone. "Grace, we're almost..." I hung up, took a deep breath, and swallowed back the salty taste of tears. 'Ryan, from this moment on, I'm done making myself miserable for you.' I opened my chat with that man and shared my location. Grace: Still willing to marry me? Come get me. Now.