Chapter 10 “That night Grandma had a heart attack. She couldn’t reach you by phone, so Dad had to run to the nearby pharmacy. He never expected to encounter an out–of–control car on the way…”
Mom stared at me in disbelief. “You’re talking nonsense. How could it be because of me? You’re the one who killed your father.”
I lowered my voice. “How long are you going to keep deceiving yourself? Why do you think Grandma refused to see you for so many years? It’s because you’re a coward who can’t take responsibility. You either run away from problems or blame them on others.”
“But I never imagined you would make up lies, weakly pinning your own mistakes on me, and even resenting me for it.”
“Mom, am I really your daughter?”
Mom’s face instantly turned ashen. She suddenly collapsed to the ground, wailing loudly, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry… It was all Mom’s fault…”
Ryan, who had been standing to the side, also apologized: “Aria, your mom and I both know we were wrong. Can you forgive us just this once?”
“Won’t you come back with us? Your wedding dress, our marital home, I’ve prepared it all. As long as you come back with me, we can have the wedding right away…
“Shut your mouth! Trying to steal my wife on her wedding day? Who do you think you are?”
Sean appeared at the perfect moment. He pulled me into his arms intimately right in front of Ryan..
Just like how Ryan used to hold other women in front of me.
པ ལ 1:|:ཀྱི
Seeing Ryan’s extremely awkward expression, I found it quite amusing.
“Honey, I don’t want these irrelevant people at our wedding.”
Sean indulged my every wish. He smiled and tapped my nose. “Whatever my wife says goes.”
He called for security and had Ryan and my mom unceremoniously bundled out of the wedding venue and dumped by the roadside.
In life, some people will fade away like smoke, never again stirring even a ripple in my heart.
And some people will remain in my heart, in my life, accompanying me for a lifetime.
I touched up my makeup to perfection, put on the most magnificent wedding dress, and picked up the most beautiful bouquet.
Step by step, I walked towards my most handsome husband.
Sean’s usual composure had somewhat crumbled on this joyous day. Like the emotionally transparent boy from years ago, he teared up with excitement the moment he saw me appear.
Ignoring the teasing from the guests, he eagerly came to meet me, firmly grasping my hand.
“Aria, being able to marry you in this lifetime is my greatest fortune.”
Under the officiant’s direction, Sean knelt on one knee. His dark eyes gazed at me with deep emotion, as if trying to drown me in them.
He gently slipped the ring onto my finger.
“I love you, my dear wife. In this life, you are my one and only, my eternal love.”
Moved by his words, my eyes also began to redden.
I leaned close to his ear and whispered: “Sean, did I tell you? I’ve fallen in love with you. From now on, I’ll love you more and more, just as much as you love me.”
His eyes widened, full of surprise and excitement.
Amidst the warm blessings from the guests, we embraced tightly and kissed.
Next came the bouquet toss.
“Aria! The bouquet! Throw it to me! To me!”
Sophie jumped up and down in the crowd, her face full of excitement.
Sean and I exchanged an amused glance, shaking our heads. I discreetly tossed the bouquet in her direction.
Sophie caught it without fail, proudly showing it off to those around her like she’d won the lottery.
That wedding day was the most romantic, happiest moment of my life.
Without those awful people to disturb us.
Only the people I loved and who loved me.
We laughed and played together joyfully.
13
Later, with the help of a lawyer, I successfully inherited all the assets my father had left me.
I heard Chloe wasn’t having an easy time in prison. Apparently someone had given special instructions about her treatment.
Mom admitted she had indirectly caused Dad’s death. She also admitted to emotionally neglecting her own daughter all these years. Consumed by immense regret, she gave up her wealthy lifestyle and went to a temple to become a hun, atoning for her sins.
Ryan somehow found that sapphire necklace Chloe had destroyed. He had it melted down and remade.
He had intended to give it to me, but seeing that Sean wouldn’t let him anywhere near me, he ended up wearing it himself.
A few years later, Sean and I had our first baby.
As I watched the man lying with his ear to my belly, listening for the baby’s movements, I felt as blissful as the warm sunshine outside our window.