Chapter 320: Chapter 320: The Grand Finale

October 21st.

The wedding was held at the most luxurious venue in Veridia.

The ceremony was less than half an hour away.

Rory Linden sat in the bridal suite.

Her entire look was complete.

The six or seven makeup artists and stylists who had just been bustling about had already left, and after helping Rory adjust her wedding dress, Rachel Lancaster had also gone to attend to other matters.

She was the only one left in the room.

Rory Linden looked at her reflection in the mirror, and the reality of getting married finally began to sink in.

When she was a little girl, like countless others, she had dreamed of what she would look like on her wedding day and what she would be feeling.

And now, here she was, standing in her wedding dress.

Less than half an hour remained until the wedding with the man she loved.

Surprisingly, her heart was filled with an extraordinary sense of calm.

The path that had led her here was filled with both bitterness and sweetness.

Reaching this point felt like a natural progression.

During those years abroad, she had truly believed she would never see Sean Harrison again.

She thought they would be nothing more than strangers in each other’s lives from then on.

But fate, it turned out, was a strange and wonderful thing.

She had been invited back to the country to perform a surgery.

The patient, unexpectedly, turned out to be Charlotte Rhodes.

Afterward, she and the man had run into each other time and time again.

It was as if the hand of fate had been there, step by step, pushing them back from their divergent paths.

Until at last, they were walking the same road once more.

The road ahead no longer seemed to be shrouded in mist.

She could see it faintly now.

It was a smooth path, lined with flowers.

Just then, the door to the suite opened.

Sherry Walsh, dressed in her bridesmaid gown, walked in.

The moment she saw Rory, her mouth dropped open in an "O" shape!

"Rory! You look absolutely beautiful!"

Sherry quickly pulled out her phone and started snapping away at her friend, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK.

As she took the pictures, she gushed, "I’ve been to so many weddings, but this is the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen, and you’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen!"

Rory smiled. "Thank you."

After taking her fill of photos, Sherry put her phone away. She took Rory’s hand and smiled. "Rory, I really think Sean Harrison is a good man now. You’ll be happy marrying him."

"I know."

Rory nodded.

She agreed with that sentiment now.

"But if he ever bullies you, you just tell me, and I’ll handle your divorce case!" Sherry added quickly, "But I don’t think that’ll happen. I’m sure he’ll always treat you well."

"Yes. Since I’ve chosen him, it’s because I believe he’s someone I can entrust my life to."

Rory answered with deep sincerity.

After everything she had been through, she was perfectly capable of living on her own.

If she hadn’t believed in Sean Harrison one hundred percent, she would never have chosen to marry him.

Sherry hugged her gently, saying each word with care:

"Rory, for so many years, you always had it so hard. Thank goodness that’s all in the past now. I know your future is going to be full of happiness."

It wasn’t just because of Sean Harrison.

She also had Leo, her clever and sensible son.

And she possessed exceptional professional skills in her own field.

Her life was destined to shine brightly.

「Half an hour passed quickly.」

Sherry held her hand as a staff member led them to the doors of the banquet hall.

The great doors to the hall were closed.

Soon, as elegant music began to play, the doors before them slowly swung open.

All the lights inside the banquet hall were off.

There was only a single beam of light, illuminating the red carpet at her feet and stretching all the way to the stage at the far end of the hall.

Sean Harrison was standing there, beside the red carpet.

As the doors glided open, the man bowed slightly and extended his hand to her.

Rory placed her hand in his.

At that same moment, the wedding march began to play.

Together, they stepped onto the red carpet and, under the watchful eyes of their guests, walked step by step to the end of the aisle.

The wedding ceremony proceeded smoothly.

It was time to exchange the wedding rings.

Leo Linden, dressed in a little white suit, ran up onto the stage holding the rings and presented them to the couple.

They exchanged rings.

It symbolized their official union as husband and wife.

The officiant announced, "Groom, you may now kiss your bride."

Sean Harrison slowly lifted the bride’s veil...

"A butterfly!"

Leo’s childish voice broke the silence in the hall.

Rory followed her son’s gaze.

Even though the banquet hall was a sealed, indoor space, a white butterfly had appeared from out of nowhere.

It fluttered its wings in the beam of light.

Little by little, it flew toward the stage.

Rory’s eyes followed the butterfly, watching as it drew closer and closer to her.

Finally, it landed on her left hand.

It settled on her ring finger, right on top of the diamond ring.

In that moment, it was as if someone had hit the mute button on the entire hall.

Rory lowered her gaze, watching the butterfly before her in silence.

"Mom..."

The moment she whispered the word, tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her cheeks.

The butterfly gently fluttered its wings.

As if in response to her.

Then, it flapped its wings once more and flew away.

By now, Rory’s tears were falling uncontrollably.

Sean Harrison cupped her face in his hands, gently wiping away her tears. "Darling, look. Mom came to our wedding. I always keep my word."

The moment the words left his lips, his kiss fell upon hers.

He would spend the rest of his life keeping it.

His promise.

(The End)