FAMILY TRADITION

I looked at Ace, waiting for him to explain what he meant by "show my bride". But before he could say anything, I saw a flash of worry cross his face.

"What's going on, Ace?" I asked, my voice soft.

Ace took a deep breath before responding. "It's just...my family has this tradition, where the eldest son has to get married before he can inherit the family business. And if he doesn't, the right to inherit goes to the next son in line."

I nodded, starting to understand. "And your brother Herod is next in line?"

Ace nodded, his eyes serious. "Yes. And my dad is getting impatient. He wants me to get married as soon as possible, so I can secure my place as the heir."

I felt a surge of surprise at his words. I had no idea that Ace's family had such a complicated tradition. And I couldn't help but wonder...who was Ace supposed to marry?

I looked at Ace, my mind racing with questions. "So, who are you supposed to marry?" I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral.

Ace hesitated, looking uncomfortable. "I...I don't know," he said finally. "My parents have been trying to arrange a marriage for me, but I've been putting it off."

I felt a pang of relief at his words. At least he wasn't already engaged to someone else.

"But now, with my dad reminding me about the tradition, I feel like I'm running out of time," Ace continued. "I need to find a bride, and fast."

I looked at him, feeling a sense of unease. What did this mean for us? Was Ace going to have to marry someone else, just to satisfy his family's tradition?

"Ace, what about us?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ace's expression softened, and he reached out to take my hand. "I don't know, babe," he said. "I care about you deeply, but I also have a responsibility to my family. I don't know what the future holds."

I looked at Ace, my mind racing with questions. "So, who are you supposed to marry?" I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral.

Ace hesitated, looking uncomfortable. "I...I don't know," he said finally. "My parents have been trying to arrange a marriage for me, but I've been putting it off."

I felt a pang of relief at his words. At least he wasn't already engaged to someone else.

"But now, with my dad reminding me about the tradition, I feel like I'm running out of time," Ace continued. "I need to find a bride, and fast."

I looked at him, feeling a sense of unease. What did this mean for us? Was Ace going to have to marry someone else, just to satisfy his family's tradition?

"Ace, what about us?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ace's expression softened, and he reached out to take my hand. "I don't know, babe," he said. "I care about you deeply, but I also have a responsibility to my family. I don't know what the future holds."

Ace's expression changed, and he looked at me with a determined gaze. "I've been thinking, and I've come to a realization," he said. "I've already found my bride."

I felt a shock run through me, and my eyes widened in surprise. "Who is she?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ace's face broke into a smile, and he took my hand in his. "It's you," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "You're the one I want to spend the rest of my life with."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Me? His bride?

Ace's eyes sparkled with excitement. "We'll be visiting my dad next week to tell him the news," he said, his voice filled with anticipation.

I was still in shock, but Ace's enthusiasm was infectious. I felt a smile spreading across my face, and I nodded eagerly. "Okay," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Let's do it."