They Switched My Groom—So I Kept Him Chapter 04
I couldn’t listen anymore.
I ended the call.
Ryan saw the tears on my face and awkwardly reached over to wipe one away.
“Don’t cry. You’ll ruin your makeup.”
I sniffed.
“You’re right. I still have a wedding to attend.”
As we passed the ballroom next to mine at the hotel, I stopped.
Onstage, two older people were wiping tears from their eyes as they held the bride’s and groom’s hands together.
I couldn’t make out any of their faces.
But somehow, I knew with absolute certainty that the groom standing there was Ethan.
Ryan followed my gaze and swore under his breath.
“If Ethan didn’t want to marry you, he could’ve told you. What kind of man brings in a bunch of fake grooms for you and then goes next door to marry another woman?”
I gave a bitter laugh.
“Who knows? Maybe this is just another one of their jokes.”
I turned away.
“Come on. Your parents are probably waiting.”
When we reached my ballroom, Ryan’s mother hurried toward us.
“I called the whole family. If this wedding doesn’t happen after you dragged everyone here, I swear I’ll deal with you myself.”
Ryan grinned and pulled me closer.
“See? I told you I wasn’t lying. I brought the bride.”
The moment she saw me, her face lit up.
Then she noticed my bare ring finger and quietly slipped a ring box into Ryan’s hand.
“I knew you’d be careless enough to forget. Good thing I came prepared.”
She took my hand and kept saying, “This is wonderful,” over and over before finally asking my name.
“Claire Bennett. I’m sorry everything’s so sudden. We didn’t have time to tell you in advance.”
She waved it off immediately.
“Then Ryan’s the one who owes you an apology. I’ll deal with him later.”
The officiant announced the start of the ceremony.
My “parents” each took one of my arms.
They wore exactly what my real parents had been wearing when they left the house that morning. Even their voices were almost perfect.
But the unfamiliar scents clinging to them reminded me with every step that they were strangers.
My real parents were next door attending Ethan and Sophie’s wedding.
All our friends and relatives were next door congratulating them.
No one had noticed the parents beside me were fake.
And no one knew I’d already replaced my groom.
When the officiant prompted us to exchange rings, Ryan carefully lifted my hand and slid the ring onto my finger.
“My mom had a ring ready in a common size, so it might be a little loose. After the wedding, I’ll take you to get one that fits properly.”
I gave a small hum of acknowledgment.
I didn’t refuse.
And I didn’t object.
Then the officiant smiled and said, “You may kiss the bride.”
The ballroom doors suddenly opened.
Ryan’s movement stopped.
Instinctively, he pulled me behind him and said under his breath, “Ethan’s here.”
Ethan had seen Ryan about to kiss me.
He lost control and rushed forward, trying to shove him away.
“I told you to pretend to be the groom. Who said you could touch her?”
Then he finally got a clear look at Ryan’s face.
He stumbled back several steps.
“Who the hell are you?”
I tightened my fingers around Ryan’s hand and looked genuinely puzzled.
“Why are you interrupting my wedding?”
The way I spoke to him like a stranger seemed to hurt more than anger ever could.
He grabbed my shoulders and shouted, “Claire, it’s me. Ethan. I’m the groom.”
I met his eyes calmly.
“I know you’re Ethan.”
Then I turned slightly toward the man beside me.
“And this is my husband, Ryan.”