Chapter 2

Two:

Standing there, I wanted nothing more than to grab all four of the people in front of me and shove them into the fire pit, one after another, so they could taste the same torment I had suffered in my last life.

I said nothing, and made no move toward the pit.

I only stood where I was, my face dark.

Alfred grabbed my hand at once and started apologizing, all guilt and warmth.

"I really did tell them not to do this feudal wedding nonsense, but my mom and dad said everyone does it, and that it's a sign they've accepted you."

"If you won't step over it, word will spread that you refuse to follow the customs the ancestors handed down, and people will say you're a vicious wife."

"Once the wedding's over, we'll be leaving, and my parents will never be able to hold their heads up in the village again."

"Just think of it as showing some kindness to the old folks. Do it for me. Just lift your feet and step over, all right?"

Every word out of Alfred's mouth sounded sincere.

I wanted so badly to tear the mask off him right there.

But I knew it was useless.

They had twisted black into white after my death; they could just as easily call this a misunderstanding if I went to the police now, and since the "misunderstanding," the "accident," hadn't injured anyone, it would come to nothing in the end.

More than that, they had planned all of this long ago.

Alfred and I were already legally married, and we'd held a grand wedding back in the city where we lived.

He was the one who'd insisted the whole village had to see what a beautiful wife he'd married, that he had to bring honor to his parents, and he had begged me to hold this second ceremony.

This wedding was a simple affair, no officiant, no photographer, and every guest here was his own family and friends.

Even if I called the police now, these relatives and friends might not testify for me.

Of course, I could ignore all of it and simply tell Alfred I wanted a divorce.

But going by Alfred's plan, he would never agree, and divorce proceedings were long and tangled; there was no guarantee they wouldn't smear me online, exactly as they had in my last life.

Three:

So I swallowed my anger and gave a hesitant, frightened little nod.

Then, just as quickly, I tugged at my skirt and shook my head.

"I've got leggings on under this embroidered bridal gown. If those silk threads catch fire, I'll be burned. And getting burned on a day like this, wouldn't people say even louder that I bring bad luck?"

It was a reasonable enough thing to say.

And besides, I hadn't refused at all, so Alfred had no reason to be angry.

He took it to mean I was willing to cross the fire pit, only a little afraid, and he actually relaxed, quickly pulling over the maid of honor, Julia, and signaling her to help talk me into it.

Julia looked at me, her smile never reaching her eyes.

"I think it's feudal nonsense too, just like you do. But old people, they love their rules."

"Don't worry, though. Alfred adores you, he was afraid you'd get hurt, so I prepared this fire pit myself, especially for you."

"See for yourself. The coals in there are still black, I doused them with water, there's not a single open flame, it can't possibly light. You could reach in and touch it and it wouldn't even be hot."

"It's just for show. How could it hurt you?"

"Alfred has given up so much for you. The whole village already laughs at him for marrying into your family. If you won't step over the fire pit, they'll say it even more."

"Refusing now, are you saying you doubt I set it up right? Or that you doubt Alfred would let you take a risk?"

Julia's tone was intimate, almost fond, but listen closely and the barbs were there.

Grant and Anna cared about one thing above all else, that my family had more money than theirs, so those words, marrying into your family, made their faces go dark too.

"Carissa Mason, this isn't the city. Here, you listen to us and you follow our rules."

"Now that we've brought this fire pit out, there's no question of you not crossing it."

"Either you cross it yourself."

"Or we help you across."