Silence.
Then, like a timed game, everyone turned to the person who had spoken.
At the entrance of the garden, a man was leaning on the makeshift frame. Dressed in a navy blue suit, his long leg crossed over the other, showing off his well polished shoes.
Because of how he stood with his head bent, the young man's face could not be seen. But from his bodily appearance, one could easily assume that he was a handsome fellow.
The hall remained silent until the young man finally lifted his head and everyone saw his face.
He was indeed a handsome fellow, with no expression on his fair face.
Under the watchful stares of everyone in the garden, the young man dipped his right hand in his pocket and casually strolled down the red carpet.
With a few long strides, he was standing before the stunned Elder Smith and Ciara.
"Elder Smith," the young man started. His voice was light and airy. "Please, give me permission to marry your granddaughter… today."
Ciara: "…"
Elder Smith: "…"
Everyone else: "…"
No one spoke. No one even breathed loudly as they waited with their hearts in their throats for what would happen next.
Everyone knew Elder Smith had a very bad temper. They were also aware of the fact that he loved his granddaughter dearly.
However, a strange man was standing here, asking for a hand in marriage after what just happened!
Wasn't the man courting death?!
Everyone stood quietly and waited for the old man to vent his anger on the young man.
However…
"Young man, who are you?" Elder Smith asked in a low tone, taking everyone by surprise. He ran a keen eye over the man and added, "You look like a decent man."
The young man's lips lifted ever so slightly. For a moment, Ciara was dazed by his smile. She closed her eyes and waited for a response.
"I'm nobody special, Grandpa," the young man replied politely. He was very calm, making everyone feel worried for him.
He continued. "My name is Luther."
Elder Smith was silent. He kept his eyes on the young man for as long as he could.
Everyone thought the old man's anger was brewing. A few concerned people were even signalling for the man to leave but he did not pay attention to them.
One concerned man from the back ran forward and yanked the young man by the wrist.
"Luther, what is this? What are you doing?" the man whispered worriedly before kowtowing before the silent Elder Smith.
"Please, forgive my nephew, Elder Smith. He is still young and does not know what he is saying," the man begged.
The young man turned to his uncle and raised a brow, "Uncle Henry, allow me to handle this."
The worried man paid no attention to his nephew and continued to kowtow, praying that the Elder Smith was not angry already.
However, the next second, Elder Smith did something that shocked everyone.
He turned go Ciara and patted her hands on his arms, asking in a gentle tone, "Tell me, granddaughter, what do you think about the young man's proposal?"
The man who was kowtowing froze. Slowly lifting his head, he saw a smile on the Elder's face.
Elder Smith was not angry?
Everybody was too surprised to say anything. The Elder Smith they knew would have long lashed at the young man. But instead of that, he was asking his granddaughter about her views of the man?
What is happening?
If they had not seen for themselves, many of the guests would not have believed that Elder Smith would actually consider a strange man's proposal for his granddaughter!
It felt like a dream to most of them.
Meanwhile, Ciara looked at the young man. Truthfully, he was not looking bad but she could not decide by just looking.
Instead of giving her opinion, she leaned on her grandfather and asked childishly, "What does grandpa think?"
The old man smiled and patted her head. "I think he is a fine young man," he responded with a nod of approval. "Will you accept his proposal?"
Ciara did not know what to say. She did not have anything against the man but he was someone she had never seen so she was scared.
On the other hand, her grandfather clearly approved of the man. All her life, Ciara was certain that her grandfather had never made a bad decision concerning her.
Would it be the same this time?
Since she did not want him to worry about her, she simply responded, "If grandpa approves, I'll marry him!"
Elder Smith's expression instantly brightened up with a smile. His laughter filled the garden.
"Then it is approved! The young man and Ciara will be married!"
The old man's declaration was met with varying responses.
Mr. Smith's eyes widened. "Ciara? Father? We don't even know the young man!"
"Silence!" Elder Smith thundered, glaring daggers at his son. If looks could kill, Mr. Smith would have been dead already. "You said nothing as the Wests humiliated my granddaughter! How dare you speak now?!"
"But—"
"I said silence!" The old man did not want to hear.
He turned to the young man and smiled once more. "I give you permission to marry my granddaughter," he announced, patting the young man on the shoulder.
Turning to the dumbfounded guests, the old man spoke happily. "I apologize for the turn of events but please, return to your seats. The wedding will continue!"
With mutterings and whispers, the seats were once again occupied. The priest returned to his place on the altar to begin the proceedings.
As for the Wests, Elder Smith made sure they were removed from the area before the ceremony started again.
This time, he walked his granddaughter down the aisle and placed her hand in the young man's hands before returning to his seat.
"Do you—" the priest began but paused, realizing that he did not know the name of the groom.
He leaned next to the young man. "Your name?"
"Luther Atticus."
'Atticus?' Ciara thought quizzically. 'Doesn't ring a bell. Maybe his family isn't from here?'
The priest nodded and continued.
When it was time for the exchange of rings, Elder Smith refused to use the rings intended for Abraham.
He walked up to Mr. Smith and his wife and stretched his hands. "Quick, your rings," he demanded.
The couple wanted to speak but were met with a nonchalant look. They forcefully kept quiet and did as told.
"With this rings, and by the power vested upon me, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride!"
This final declaration from the priest jolted Ciara from her thoughts. She lifted her eyes and was about to ask the priest to skip that part when she felt a strong arm snake around her waist before her chest collided with a hard surface.
Looking up, Ciara was met with the purest blue eyes she had ever seen. Even more mesmerizing than Abraham's.
For a few seconds, she let herself get lost in them until her grandfather's impatient voice wafted into her ears.
"What are you two waiting for? Kiss already!"