Chapter 3

3: 3

3

The whole place erupted at once.

"Wait... what? That's just crap, isn't it?"

"So much for their obedience soup. They're literally feeding the new bride crap. What a freak of a tradition."

Oscar's movements froze mid-motion. He turned to look at his mother.

"...Mom?"

His voice was thick with disbelief.

"You said this was a tradition. What did you actually put in it? How could you do something like this?"

"What are you talking about? This is what the bride drinks!"

Her face was ugly, but she still refused to back down.

"What does that doctor know? He's just talking nonsense. This is a secret family recipe!"

The murmurs kept rippling through the crowd.

"Secret family recipe, my foot. It's making her daughter-in-law eat crap."

"I've heard about this kind of mother-in-law before. Petty, vicious, and cruel to the bone."

"She saw the new bride marrying in and got scared of losing face, so she cooked up a way to throw her weight around."

"Absolutely disgusting."

Dr. Chavez couldn't take it either. He pointed at her, his face grim.

"I've practiced medicine for twenty years. I have never once misjudged a medicinal ingredient."

"If you think I got it wrong, then drink a mouthful yourself!"

At that, the people beside him started egging her on.

"Yeah, go on, drink some yourself."

"Bullying a brand-new daughter-in-law. What kind of skill is that?"

She was cornered into silence.

All she could do was sneer, over and over.

"You're about to become a Delgado bride. Can't even swallow a little bitterness?"

"Once you're married in, you'll learn. Eating a bit of crap is nothing."

"There'll be plenty of days worse than this."

Her voice was low. The people around her didn't catch it. I heard every word.

Watching every jeer in the crowd turn into an accusation against his mother,

even her own son, Oscar, went cold-faced and made his stance clear.

"Mom, I told you, Kate is the wife I'm bringing home."

"She shouldn't have to suffer a single grievance."

"If you're still going to force her to drink this, then I'll take the first mouthful."

His father couldn't hold his face any longer and got to his feet to smooth things over.

"Enough. If she won't drink it, then she won't."

"This is a joyful day. We can't keep quarreling like this."

"Kate, your mother-in-law was just going through the motions, nothing more! If you don't want to drink it, then don't. Hurry up and come in for the ceremony."

She glared at me, hard, and muttered under her breath.

"Little slut. You're getting off easy."

"I'll find another chance to make you suffer."

Everyone assumed that after the mood had reached this point, I'd give them some face.

But I still didn't move.

"Kate, my mom's already given you a way out. What are you standing around for?"

I crossed my arms and gave a cold little laugh.

"Your mother backed down. I didn't."

"I already said it. Where I'm from, there's a rule."

"Before the bride crosses the threshold, the groom's family kneels and rolls the red carpet out the whole way."

"The carpet isn't laid yet. No rush on the ceremony."

That tipped her over into pure rage.

She smashed a bowl next to her hard against the ground.

"Listen to yourself, spouting this crazy nonsense!"

"The Delgados have never heard of such a shameless rule for taking in a bride!"

"This is outrageous! The moment you step through that door today, you're a Delgado! Since when does a daughter-in-law haggle with her in-laws?"

I let out a laugh.

"No bride marries into a family to haggle."

I let go of the hem of my gown and turned toward the wedding car.

"You were the ones who mistreated me first."

"Since you won't agree, then fine."

"There's no point in this wedding at all."