Chapter 4

The wedding cars pulled up outside the venue, and Grandma was the first one out, heading straight for the place of honor in the hall.

The live-chat started scrolling again:

【That spot is closest to the doors. The second the heroine comes out, she'll cut in front of her and race over!】

【Heroine's mom, you have to stop that old witch!】

Sure enough, my mother saw her. Frowning, she walked over, took Grandma's arm, and said quietly,

"Mom, there are a lot of people today. Don't push up to the front. Just sit in the back."

Grandma yanked her arm free and glared at her.

"Mind your own business."

The words stopped my mother short. She said nothing more, but her eyes stayed locked on Grandma.

The guests gradually filled in, and the hall grew lively.

Then the officiant stepped up onto the stage.

He wore a crisp suit, held a microphone, and spoke with a broad smile.

"Guests, family, friends! Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to celebrate the wedding of Ms. Hailey Simmons!"

Applause rose from the floor.

The officiant paused, then lifted his voice a notch.

"I can see it in everyone's eyes, all of you keep glancing toward the doors. Looks like nobody can wait any longer to see our bride!"

"That's right! Bring the bride out!"

Grandma's eyes lit up. She leaned forward, poised to bolt.

The live-chat rolled again:

【Stop her! Stop her! Don't let her steal the luck!】

The officiant cleared his throat on the stage.

"Now, let's give the warmest possible welcome to our bride!"

The bridesmaids stood on either side, hands on the door handles, ready to push them open.

But the moment the doors cracked open, Grandma moved.

She shot up out of the seat of honor and rushed straight at the doors.

My mother reacted fast, throwing herself forward almost at the same instant, grabbing Grandma around the waist from behind.

"Mom, stop! What are you doing?"

The pull threw Grandma off balance, and her eyes went red with rage.

She spun around and slapped my mother hard across the face.

The crack of it left the whole hall silent for half a second.

"You little tramp, what are you grabbing me for? Get off me!"

My mother's head snapped to the side, half her face flushing red at once.

Before she could reach out again, Grandma shoved her away and cut in front of me, running out through the doors.

The whole hall buzzed.

Someone muttered under their breath,

"What's the old woman doing?"

"Stealing the wedding luck. You don't know about that? You've never seen those videos?"

"Wait, that's a real thing?"

"It is. The older generation all believe it. Supposedly whoever steals the luck turns their own fortune around, but the couple gets hit with bad luck instead…"

The live-chat blew up in that instant:

【It's over, it's over, she got it after all.】

【Heroine's mom didn't stop her.】

My mother clutched her face, tears spilling at once. Never mind the pain, she lunged and caught Grandma's sleeve, sobbing.

"Mom, hurting me is one thing! But why would you hurt Hailey? Isn't she your own granddaughter? How can you be so cruel, Mom!"

Now that she'd snatched the luck, Grandma dropped the act. She sneered at my mother.

"I gave you your life. Without me giving birth to you, would either of those two girls even exist?"

"By rights, your lives are all mine. If I take it, I take it. Who are you to question me?"

She paused, threw my mother a sideways look, and curled her lip down.

"Besides, she's just a girl. Once she's married off, she belongs to someone else's family. If she won't give this blessing to me, her own grandmother, is she going to carry it off to her husband's house instead?"

Just then the officiant suddenly looked toward the front, his voice rising several notches.

"The groom is here."

Everyone turned to look.

Eliana Butler stood at the door of the hall, a box wrapped in red cloth in her arms.

I walked up to her and took the urn with both hands.

The officiant drew a deep breath and called out loud,

"A marriage of the living and the dead! The rite is complete!"

The next second, the color drained from Grandma's face…