Martha Marsh immediately greeted them warmly and asked with concern, "Young lady, are you hurt? I have medicine at my house. If you don’t mind, come to my place so you can rest."
Ivy Kensington felt a tinge of suspicion as she looked at the farm woman who suddenly appeared before her.
It was the middle of the night; normally, rural folks would be asleep by now. Who would be out here with a flashlight...
But considering that Sebastian Blackwood was feverish and his leg was injured, she replied, "Thank you." This content belongs to novel✦fire.net
She helped Sebastian along, following Martha Marsh back to the village.
To her surprise, the village was brightly lit everywhere, adorned with red lanterns and silk, clearly celebrating a wedding.
Once inside with Martha, Ivy realized the celebration was at Martha’s home.
"Martha, did you find your daughter-in-law?"
As soon as they entered, guests were laughing and asking.
Martha chuckled and replied, "Yes, my daughter-in-law has returned!"
Even prettier than before.
Her son was a dwarf, and not long ago had managed to buy a wife with much effort, only for the bride to escape on their wedding night!
She was furious, having spent so much money and effort to buy a wife, only for her to run off. If word got out, the Marsh family would lose face.
That was why she went out in the middle of the night looking for her daughter-in-law, unexpectedly meeting Ivy.
This girl was much prettier than the last, and if brought back, her poor son would have a wife, and the Marsh family’s reputation would be elevated!
Upon hearing this conversation, Ivy immediately understood.
Sure enough, the farm woman had no good intentions; she wanted to trick her into becoming her daughter-in-law!
Her expression darkened as she scanned the room, seeing Martha and the villagers closing in.
"Little girl, it’s your good fortune that we’ve taken a shine to you. Tonight is your wedding night with my son. You’re pretty, and after you bear a child for our Marsh family, your good fortune is just beginning."
Martha began to persuade gently, not worried at all.
After all, Ivy was just one woman, and the strong-looking man beside her was injured, clearly lacking strength.
Even if he wasn’t, could he possibly stand against the sheer number of people in Marshville?
Ivy naturally refused, "We are a couple; we’re already married."
This statement was half true and half false; Ivy and Sebastian, as former spouses to others, were considered a kind of couple.
On hearing this, the villagers became somewhat doubtful.
"Martha, are you really robbing someone else’s wife to get a daughter-in-law?"
Though buying daughters-in-law was customary here, they were always bought clean, not committing bigamy.
Upon the villagers’ remarks, Martha grew anxious, "This girl is lying! They can’t be married; look, they don’t even have rings!"
In their small community, everyone knew a wedding involved wearing rings. Despite their ragged appearance, they were clearly from a big city; how could they not be wearing wedding rings if married?
The villagers quickly sided with Martha. Martha no longer used kind words with Ivy, sternly saying, "She’s my Marsh family’s daughter-in-law. Get her to the bridal chamber right away."
With that, three or four burly farm men started walking toward Ivy.
"Also, send the man beside her to the village chief’s house, to become the chief’s daughter’s live-in son-in-law!"