Chapter 178
The makeup artist worked quickly, and my colleagues from the company gradually arrived to see me off. Looking at me in my wedding dress, Bianca couldn't help but exclaim, "Ms. Wilson, you're going to absolutely stun everyone today. You look gorgeous! When Mr. Lopez gets here, he's going to be completely mesmerized by you."
Someone nearby chimed in, "This wedding dress is beautifully designed too. Ms. Wilson, you look amazing in it—like it was custom-made just for you."
I pulled Nina over and showed her off to them, "Well, it was custom-made! Our designer made it herself by hand. There's only one like it in the whole world."
Amid everyone's admiration, Nina proudly put her arm around me and said, "It's not just the dress that's beautiful—Emily is beautiful. Only you could pull off such an elaborate design. And besides this wedding dress, I have something else for you."
She produced a red gift box from somewhere, opened it, and handed me a bouquet of golden flowers.
The heavy weight made me look again. Wait, it wasn't just gold-colored flowers.
"This... is pure gold?" I looked at Nina in surprise.
Nina grinned at me, "For your wedding, everything should be the best. Nothing is more real than real gold, so your bouquet was specially made while I was making your wedding dress. Roses represent love, wild roses mean strength, violets are for eternity, lily of the valley is happiness, lilies mean smooth sailing, and peonies represent completeness. I hope everything in your life goes well from now on."
My nose started to tingle, and I reached out to hug her, "Nina, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you? It won't look good if my makeup runs."
I held back my tears, but Nina cried loudly, hugging me tightly in return, "I just want to give you all the best things in the world, Emma. I hope you'll be happy forever."
We were still having our emotional moment when someone suddenly shouted, "The groom is here!"
Nina's tears stopped immediately. She was the first to rush to the door, closing and locking it, then winked at me with a smile through her tears, "Oscar better show some real effort today, or I won't let him take you away."
I smiled without saying anything, listening to the knocking outside, and joined in the fun, "Nina, hold strong!"
A familiar voice rang out from outside, "Honey, I'm here to marry you. Open the door."
Nina smiled and said, "Who do you want to marry?"
"I want to marry Emily." Oscar's voice was full of excitement too.
"Who wants to marry Emily?" Nina asked playfully.
"Oscar wants to marry Emily. Honey, I love you. Open the door, Honey."
Hearing Oscar's voice, Nina seemed satisfied, "You want to open the door without showing any sincerity?"
As soon as she finished speaking, bills started being pushed through the gap under the door.
As more and more bills were stuffed through, Oscar laughed outside, "The gap under the door is too small—it's taking a while. Open the door and we have lots more bills to give you."
Under the money offensive, Nina half-reluctantly opened the door. Oscar finally walked up to me, his eyes bright as he looked at me, he then knelt on one knee, "Emily, I'm here to marry you."
Looking at his outstretched hand, I smiled and placed my hand in his palm, "Yes, I'm here to marry you."
He suddenly leaned forward and kissed me gently on the lips, then, amid everyone's laughter, swept me up in his arms and carried me toward our happiness.
I didn't have my father to give my hand to Oscar, and we didn't have elders to give us wedding blessings, but Oscar and I had the biggest wedding in Silverlight City.
Under the spotlight, as the music played, I walked, wearing the wedding dress Nina designed for me, step by step toward the slowly opening doors.
This time, I didn't see a man ready to run away, but a groom whose eyes were full of only me.
Rose petals fell from above, drifting down in abundance, their fragrance filling the air.
Through the shower of petals, I gradually made out Oscar's face.
He looked at me, his eyes slowly curving into a beautiful arc, a smile gradually spreading across his lips. His well-tailored silver suit showed off his tall, lean figure. He strode toward me with his long legs.
Around us were the cheers and applause of guests. I placed my hand in his warm palm, and he led me, walking to the music, slowly to the center of the stage.
The big screen began to scroll through photos and videos from our daily lives. Oscar raised the microphone and said to me with deep affection, "I used to think I might not have the ability to love someone, until one day you appeared in my life, so vibrant and resilient, pulling me step by step toward warmth. I'm not good with sweet words, but I know that having you means peace of mind."
His eyes slowly reddened, though his lips still wore a smile, "Emily, meeting you is my greatest fortune. I'm so grateful to fate for bringing us together, and grateful to you for giving me the chance to love you. Today, in front of all our guests, I solemnly promise you again: for the rest of my life, I will love only you. I will bring my whole world to you, never leaving, never giving up."
His voice was already choking up, tears rolling down his cheeks. I reached out and smiled, giving him a hug, my voice soft, "Me too."
Applause erupted below. I heard Nina's excited cheers. With so many people witnessing our happiness, even now, standing on the wedding stage, I still felt like I was in a dream—it didn't feel real.
The host's voice pulled me back to reality, "Let's give another round of applause for the groom's sincerity. Through wind and rain, walking together all the way, after going through all kinds of difficulties, the bride and groom have finally come together. It's fate's arrangement, and even more, it's the reward of their love. Now, will the bride and groom please walk to the center of the stage, hold each other's hands, and face each other."
Our embrace ended. We held hands and looked at each other. In his moist eyes, I saw my own reddened eyes reflected back. Our eyes met, as if the whole world contained only him and me.
The host continued, "Groom, Mr. Lopez, do you take the bride, Ms. Wilson, to be your lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, to love her, cherish her, and be faithful to her forever? Do you?"
They were very traditional wedding vows, but each word truly takes a lifetime to prove.
Oscar looked at me with deep affection and nodded slowly, "I do."
"Bride, Ms. Wilson, do you take the groom, Mr. Lopez, to be your lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, to love him, cherish him, and be faithful to him forever? Do you?"
The same vows, though just a routine process, still need to be sincerely kept.
I also nodded with a smile, tears blurring my vision. Oscar's smiling face was already fuzzy, but I didn't hesitate, "I do."
A diamond ring was gently placed on my ring finger, dazzling and bright.
"The groom may now kiss his bride. We wish you harmony and happiness, and a love that lasts forever."
His lips gently covered mine, his hands around my waist, slowly deepening the kiss.
I closed my eyes, feeling his intense presence. From now on, we will always be “we.”
Beyond the crowd, a familiar figure seemed to flash by. I didn't see clearly—I didn't know if it was Isabella, but it didn't matter anymore. My happiness has nothing to do with them, and my future won't include them either.
I am Emily, deadly poison that kills on contact, but I can also be medicine. And Oscar is the doctor who uses poison as medicine.
We will be good—even better.