Chapter 231 Grand Finale
Chapter 231 Grand Finale
Sloane's POV
Meanwhile, when Arthur learned the truth, he flew into a rage.
He never dreamed that Keira, whom he had cherished like a precious gem for over twenty years, was actually the bastard child of Isabelle and that thug William!
Not only had he been cheated on for over twenty years, but he had also raised someone else's daughter like a complete fool all this time.
Arthur threw the divorce papers right in Isabelle's face, used every means to leave her with nothing, and kicked both mother and daughter out of the house like trash.
Without the protection of the Brandon family and Arthur, Isabelle and Keira completely became homeless dogs.
But this was just the beginning. Jared and Edward would never let them off.
Jared submitted the evidence of abandonment from years ago, the attempted murder in Tornado Town, along with the solid proof Edward had collected of their massive fraud and business crimes, all to the police.
In court, Isabelle and Keira no longer had their former high-society airs. Wearing prison uniforms, they knelt on the ground crying and begging for mercy, but couldn't get anyone's sympathy.
Finally, the judge struck the gavel heavily. This mother-daughter duo who had done so much evil were both sentenced to life imprisonment and sent directly to New York's highest-security prison, destined to spend the rest of their lives behind dark bars.
After getting rid of these cancers, life finally welcomed long-awaited peace and sunshine.
Jared began preparing our wedding intensively.
He pushed aside most of Rex Corporation's international meetings, pouring all his energy into this remarriage ceremony.
Every evening, he would squeeze into my study like a clingy big dog, holding thick planning documents and albums.
"Sloane, should we have the venue at Lake Como or St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York? Do you prefer Vera Wang's private custom wedding dress or hand-embroidered Paris haute couture?" He rested his chin in the crook of my shoulder, his warm breath brushing my ear, his deep dark eyes full of affection and indulgence.
"I'll go with whatever you decide," I said with a smile, flipping through those beautiful albums.
"No, this is our wedding, it must be perfect." Jared kissed my cheek very seriously, his tone bossy yet incredibly gentle. "Whether it's every flower at the venue or every diamond on the wedding dress, as long as you like it, even if it's the stars in the sky, I'll get them for you. All my decisions will be based on what you want."
Under his attention to every detail, the wedding plans were finalized bit by bit.
At the same time, great news came from St. Grace Hospital.
Under Brandon's careful treatment and Edward's round-the-clock companionship, Mom's mental state miraculously improved.
She was no longer confused, and her empty gaze gradually gained focus.
When she fully woke up, could clearly call my name, and recognized Edward by her bedside, everyone in the room broke down crying.
Edward, this mafia godfather who was decisive and feared throughout the European underworld, became as humble and gentle as a young man in first love in front of Mom.
That evening, the sunset's glow filled the hospital room. Edward knelt on one knee by Mom's bed and pulled out a velvet box from his pocket. Inside lay a pigeon-egg-sized pink diamond ring.
"Jones, the misunderstanding back then made us miss over twenty years and caused you so much suffering." Edward's eyes were red, his voice trembling but incredibly firm. "Let me spend the rest of my life making it up to you, okay? Marry me."
Mom, with tears in her eyes, looked at this man she had loved all her life and nodded with a smile.
To make up for past regrets, Edward decided to give Mom the grandest wedding of the century.
When Jared learned of this, he had a bright idea and suggested that our two generations simply hold the wedding together. This proposal was unanimously approved.
A month later, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York.
This wedding bringing together the Rex family, the Thorne family, and the Brandon family shocked the entire global high society. Tens of thousands of air-shipped white roses decorated this historic cathedral like a fairyland on earth.
Helicopters from over a hundred top global media outlets circled outside the cathedral, live-streaming this grand wedding.
Sunlight streamed through the huge stained glass windows onto the red carpet.
Accompanied by sacred and solemn music, the doors slowly opened.
I wore a diamond-studded wedding dress that took over a thousand hours of pure handwork by a Paris haute couture workshop, a brilliant crown on my head, walking slowly up the red carpet on Christian's arm.
In front of me, Mom wore an elegant and dignified white wedding dress, on Brandon's arm, her face glowing with peaceful happiness.
At the end of the red carpet stood two equally dazzling, devoted men.
Jared wore a perfectly tailored black haute couture suit, standing tall and straight as a pine.
He stared at me intensely, his deep dark eyes surging with affection and amazement that could almost drown me.
When I reached him and Christian placed my hand in his palm, he suddenly tightened his fingers, with such force as if to brand me into his soul.
"Sloane, you're so beautiful today." Jared whispered in my ear, his voice husky and charming.
I looked at him, a sweet smile on my lips, though my eyes were slightly misty.
The priest stood before the solemn altar, holding the Bible, his kind voice echoing under the dome.
"Jared Rex, Edward Thorne, do you take the women beside you as your wives, to love them unreservedly and remain faithful to them through good times and bad, wealth and poverty, health and sickness, joy and sorrow, until forever?"
"I do." Jared and Edward's voices rang out simultaneously, firm, loud, and resolute.
The priest smiled and turned his head. "Sloane, Jones, do you take the men beside you as your husbands, to love them unreservedly and remain faithful to them through good times and bad, wealth and poverty, health and sickness, joy and sorrow, until forever?"
Mom and I exchanged smiles, our eyes sparkling with happy tears.
"I do too."
"Now, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I pronounce you husband and wife." The priest closed the Bible and offered his blessing with a smile. "Grooms, you may kiss your brides."
Amid thunderous applause and countless camera flashes, Jared slowly lifted my veil.
He cupped my face, his deep dark eyes clearly reflecting my image.
Then he lowered his head and, with the wild joy of something lost and found and the deep devotion of a lifetime, kissed me deeply.