Chapter 115: Wedding And Grand Finale!

"The pearls on the dress are so beautiful!"

Matthew brimmed with delight, his smile twinkling as he turned to the person beside him: "The pearls are locally harvested by the islanders, they're all natural... As for this wedding dress, it's a heartfelt gift from them to us." Despite being not the creation of skilled artisans or renowned designers, the dress bore the love and blessings of the island's inhabitants.

He believed that once Flora donned this gown, she would be the happiest bride on their big day.

Standing aside, Grace rolled her eyes: "I never imagined you could be this sentimental, big brother!" Turning to Flora, she teased: "Sister-in-law, remember to keep him on a tight leash, don't let his sentimentalism make others feel queasy."

Grace had long forgotten her once earnest desire to marry Matthew.

Now, she genuinely wished him and Flora a life of shared happiness.

Matthew chuckled: "My dear sister, no need to feel jealous of your sister-in-law. Perhaps you should seize this opportunity, with many eligible bachelors on the island for the wedding, to solve your own 'big matter' of settling down."

Being teased back by her brother, Grace sought help from Flora with pleading eyes. Expecting protection, she was surprised when Flora nodded along with Matthew: "Um, I also think he's right. It's rare to have such a festive occasion on the island, you should take advantage..."

"Don't you dare blabber nonsense!" Grace blushed, snapping back. The two in front knew better than to tease her further.

Flora, obeying the crowd's insistence, tried on the wedding dress. Surprisingly, despite being sewn by non-professional tailors, the dress fit her perfectly, making her feel deeply the affection everyone had for her.

After the fitting, everyone left, leaving the two of them alone.

Flora took a deep breath, turned to Matthew: "Matthew, I'm sorry... but I have something to tell you..." Her lips tightened, seeming a bit flustered: "It's really important, but you have to promise me, you must stay calm, okay?"

Matthew, perturbed by her serious demeanor, nodded: "Okay, I promise."

Assured by his words, she took his hand and led him away. A thin layer of sweat formed in her palm, indicative of her intense anxiety.

She guided him upstairs to a small room behind her mother's. In a small crib for newborns, a lovely baby girl was sleeping soundly.

Her eyes closed tightly, long curved lashes fluttering against her milky skin, breathtakingly beautiful. The facial features of the baby bore resemblances to both Flora and Matthew.

Matthew, slightly perplexed, looked at his wife: "Whose child is this? She's so adorable!" He couldn't help but think if their own child had survived, she would perhaps be around this age now.

"Matthew... Remember when you asked me to have an abortion, but I didn't. You remember when I was attacked... That was me trying to fool those with ill intentions. I stabbed myself, pretending to be attacked by others. Actually, our baby survived." Flora unfolded the truth to Matthew: "Later, due to Paul's surgery, I decided... to prematurely birth our child. I left our baby in an incubator while I brought the umbilical cord blood here to save Paul." The dangerous plan still filled her with tremors of fear to this day.

However, perhaps her motherly instinct had urged her to make that quick decision. She had to take the risk to save her children. As she spoke, she covertly watched Matthew's face, afraid that he would get angry.

To her surprise, not only was he not angry, he held her tightly, choked up: "I'm sorry... I'm sorry I didn't protect you and our child better... putting you and our children through such dangers." Just hearing about it was agonizing enough for him.

He couldn't even imagine how Flora had endured those days on her own.

Luckily, their child had safely arrived in this world. Otherwise, he would never forgive himself.

"I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you and our children." He promised. Matthew seldom made promises, but when he did, he devoted all he had to fulfill them.

Upon seeing the glistening teardrops in his eyes, Flora gave a gentle smile, reached out and wiped them away: "It's okay, it's all in the past. From now on, our family will only know happiness. I believe you will bring me happiness." She had put her trust in this man, a trust that would last a lifetime.

"This is the best wedding gift I've ever received." Matthew tenderly touched the tiny hand of the baby in the crib: "From now on, we will never be apart. I will use all that I have to treat you and our child well. I promise."

Flora reached out too, putting her hand on top of his. The three different sized hands lying side by side created an oddly harmonious image.

The wedding was not a grand or solemn affair, but was filled with warmth and cheer. Apart from their relatives and close friends of the bride and groom, the inhabitants of Falcon Island were also present in large numbers.

A wave of ebullient chatter and laughter echoed from the lawn into the bride's dressing room, infusing the air with a sense of mirthful anticipation.

Inside the room, a riot of activity had taken hold, every girl performing her assigned tasks with diligence and meticulous care, preparing everything down to the smallest detail.

"Is the bride ready with her makeup? Time's ticking away!"

"Almost, almost! With a bride as beautiful as her, the makeup will be done in a jiffy."

"Hand me a pin, I need it for my dress. It would be mortifying if something slipped out. We have to leave a good impression on those handsome fellows outside."

"Why didn't you mention earlier? I need one too!"

"The necklace, earrings, bride's veil, flowers... Where's the bridal bouquet? Oh, wait, that's the groom's duty!"

The bridal dressing room was a scene of charming chaos, an orchestra of voices creating a symphony of excitement. All the girls were busy ensuring the bride looked her best, the most radiant woman in today's wedding ceremony.

The most beautiful, the happiest.

Today's beautiful bride was about to tie the knot with the finest gentleman from Falcon Island. That was what the islanders told each other when they spoke about this heartwarming ceremony.

"Done! Ta-da! Behold our beautiful bride!" The makeup artist cheerfully announced, before turning to Flora: "Rise, dear bride, let everyone admire your beauty!"

Unlike many brides who wore ornate gowns from renowned designers and heavy makeup, Flora chose simplicity: a modest pearl-studded wedding dress and soft makeup. Yet she was breathtakingly beautiful.

Perhaps it was true that the happiest bride was the most beautiful one. It seemed the other girls in the room agreed, constantly praising her beauty.

Before long, the auspicious hour arrived. Guided by a chaperone, she moved out of the room, walking down a narrow corridor leading to the red carpet, the beginning of her blissful married life.

She met Matthew at the start of the carpet leading into the aisle. As she placed her hand in his, blessings and jubilant wedding music filled her ears. Their twin children walked ahead, continuously scattering fragrant rose petals.

She glanced at familiar and unfamiliar faces, all beaming radiantly. She saw Emma in a short dress, cradling a baby in her arms, gesturing as if to tell the little one that its parents were walking down the aisle, about to be officially married.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, today is a joyous day for both our families. We're overjoyed to see our children walk together towards marital bliss, amidst the blessings of everyone present, under such radiant sunlight. It's a profound honor for me and the groom's father to preside over this ceremony, isn't it, father-in-law?" Flora's father, wearing an infectious smile, spoke.

Matthew's father, matching the former's gleeful state, responded: "Indeed. We are all overjoyed to be here, witnessing our children holding hands, stepping into a new chapter of their lives. We hope that whether in sickness or health, joy or sorrow, they'll hold each other tight, just as they are today."

"May you both have a blissful life together, forever!"

"Now, the exchange of rings, please!"

Matthew pulled out a small box from his pocket, knelt down, and gently held Flora's delicate hand. With utmost care and gentleness, he slid the diamond ring, a symbol of their bond, onto her ring finger. Flora reciprocated the gesture.

Standing beside his daughter, Flora's father was slightly choked with emotion: "Son, today, I entrust my daughter to you. I hope you treat her with the same kindness and love as today. I may have failed in my duty as a father, but I hope she leads a joyful life henceforth."

"Thank you for entrusting me with your daughter's lifelong happiness." Matthew nodded, promising: "I will cherish, love, and treat her well, this entire life, till death do us part."

Reassured by his lifelong promise, Flora's father was at peace. Matthew was a man of his word. He smiled and declared: "From this moment, you two are officially husband and wife."

The wedding was simple, devoid of excessive ceremonies, filled only with smiles and blessings. Both Flora and Matthew were content with the ceremony, hoping that they could hold each other's hands forever, just like the bride's father's blessings.

This wedding was unique. Three "special guests", the children of the bride and groom, graced the occasion. Charlie and Paul, the twin brothers, took up the important role of ring bearers. The baby, held by Emma, laughed and smiled throughout the ceremony, not crying or fussing at all, being exceptionally well-behaved.

"Capture the moment! Let's have a group photo, the whole family!" A voice emerged, urging everyone to gather for a picture.

It was a joyful day, so of course, everyone wanted to commemorate the most beautiful moments. An experienced photographer was invited to capture the images of the wedding, encapsulating the blossoming smiles on everyone's lips.

Particularly, the beautiful bride, who was the center of the celebration and the focus of countless photographs that day.

The sound of the camera shutter echoed continuously, mingling with the harmonious music and the chatter and laughter.

The photographer, his grin unable to subside, ceaselessly gestured for more poses and more shots.

Each captured frame was beautiful, but it seemed the contagious joyful atmosphere had ignited the photographer's enthusiasm to preserve even more splendid moments.

During a moment of general inattention, Matthew tightly held his bride's hand, leaning in close to whisper in her ear: "Flora, have I ever told you? I love you, I love you immeasurably... I love you more than I love myself."

"I've heard it many times." Flora replied with a smile, her brown eyes twinkling like the stars: "Every time I look into your eyes, I feel as if I hear you saying you love me... But feel free to repeat it, I won't mind. I wish to hear it for a lifetime."

At this statement, Matthew had no other words to reply, he could only continue to tell her: "I love you... I love you..."

"I love you too."

"Finding you is the greatest fortune of my life.

I hope that we will always hold each other's hands, building a lasting happiness together..."

Sometimes, one can unexpectedly encounter the fate of their life, all by chance and randomness.

And no one can ever predict it.