Chapter 280 Our Home

Chapter 280 Our Home

Joseph froze for a moment and touched his face. "What?"

"You're Jessica's boyfriend." Aria smiled, a faint smile, like ripples gently stirred by wind on a calm lake.

Sometimes she recognized people, sometimes she didn't, but Joseph still felt happy about what she said.

Jessica stood at the door, watching this scene, her eyes stinging a bit.

She didn't go in. She couldn't bear to break this moment. In her memory, Aria rarely smiled like this.

"Jessica." Aria saw her.

Jessica walked in and sat down by the bed, holding her hand.

Aria's hand was thin, joints protruding, skin so thin you could see the blue veins underneath, but her hand was warm. "Mom, how are you feeling today?"

"Pretty good." Aria looked at her, then at Joseph. "He comes every day, even more than you do."

Jessica turned her head and glanced at Joseph.

He kept his head down, putting away the bowl and spoon, a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, saying nothing.

Aria's gaze moved back and forth between the two of them, lingering on Jessica's face and Joseph's face.

"When are you two getting married?" she asked.

Jessica's face flushed slightly. "Mom, what are you talking about?"

Aria ignored her. She looked at Joseph. "What about you? What do you think?"

Joseph put down the bowl in his hands. He stood up, walked in front of Jessica, and took something out of his pocket.

It was a small dark green velvet box, square-shaped, held in his palm. He'd been holding it for a long time, the box warmed by his body heat.

"I was planning to give this to you somewhere else." His voice was soft. "But when your mom just asked me when we're getting married, I suddenly realized I didn't want to wait anymore."

He opened the box.

Inside was a ring, a silver band set with a light blue gemstone, surrounded by tiny white diamonds. The design was simple, clean, understated.

The craftsmanship looked uncomplicated, like it was handmade.

No one would think Joseph couldn't afford expensive jewelry, but compared to the price, his thoughtfulness was more precious.

Aria looked at the ring, her eyes reddening.

She reached out and gently pushed Jessica's arm. "What are you standing there for? Take it."

Jessica held out her hand, letting Joseph slip the ring onto her ring finger.

The ring fit perfectly, not too big, not too small, like it was made specifically for her finger.

She lowered her head, looking at the ring, watching the light blue gemstone reflect tiny points of light in the sunshine.

Joseph held her hand. He lowered his head and kissed the back of her hand gently. "Jessica."

"Yeah."

"Marry me."

This wasn't a question.

He knew very well she would say yes.

The sunlight outside was beautiful, light falling on the white walls of the hospital room, on Aria's pale face, and on that light blue ring.

Aria leaned back, watching Jessica and Joseph, tears finally falling.

It had been so long since she'd been this happy, so long she'd almost forgotten what happiness felt like.

"Mom, don't cry." Jessica reached out to wipe away her tears. Her voice was a bit hoarse, but she couldn't suppress the smile at the corners of her mouth.

"I'm not crying." Aria sniffled and held her hand. "I'm happy. My daughter is getting married."

Jessica leaned on her shoulder, just like when she was little. Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on all three of them, stretching their shadows long, casting them on the white wall like a painting.

Later Jessica asked Joseph why he proposed at that moment, in the hospital room, in front of her mother, without any advance preparation, without crowds of onlookers, without candles, without any of those ceremonies you see in movies.

Joseph thought for a moment and said, "Because when I saw your mom smile, I suddenly felt that nothing else mattered. The place didn't matter, the show didn't matter, when, where, or how—none of it mattered. What mattered was that you were there."

Jessica looked at him, her gaze lingering on his face for a long time.

"Joseph."

"What?"

"I love you."

Joseph held her tighter, his chin resting on top of her head, his lips against her hair.

"I love you too, only you, through all our lives, past and present. That's never changed."

The wedding was set at the Martinez family's old estate.

When Evelyn heard the news, she was so excited she almost jumped up from the sofa. She insisted on redecorating the entire estate.

Only a few invitations were sent out.

Jessica wasn't someone who liked being showy. If they invited lots of guests, the wedding would just turn into a social event.

On the wedding day, the weather was beautiful.

Although few people were invited, the venue wasn't casual at all. Every detail was grand.

Evelyn sat in the first row, her hair combed perfectly, wearing the jade earrings Jessica had given her.

Aria sat beside her, her gaze fixed on the entrance to the backyard.

Jeremy sat on Aria's other side, his suit and tie perfectly arranged, his whole body tense, like a string pulled to its limit.

His relationship with Jessica was awkward, but Jessica still allowed him to come.

That paternity report he'd refused to believe at first—in the face of undeniable facts, he could only accept it.

On the other side, Liam and Sienna sat side by side, both with tears in their eyes.

The two had formed their bond in that place like a fighting arena. They'd both later learned about the experiences of those test subjects.

After reading those files, Sienna cried her heart out.

Fortunately, these two children who'd emerged from suffering had both found their own happiness. She couldn't possibly feel anything but joy at this wedding.

The music began. The melody of cello and piano was low and slow, like a river flowing quietly forward in an unseen place.

Jessica walked in from the backyard entrance, step by step toward Joseph, under the gaze of family and friends.

She stopped in front of him. He held out his hand. She placed hers in it.

The minister was very old, his hair completely white, his voice hoarse and unsteady, but he pronounced every word clearly.

He asked Joseph if he was willing to take Jessica as his wife, whether in poverty or wealth, in sickness or health, in good times or bad, to love her, protect her, and never leave her for the rest of his life.

Joseph said, "I do."

The minister turned to Jessica and asked the same question.

Jessica said, "I do."

They exchanged rings.

Sienna cried, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, crying soundlessly.

Liam reached out, put his arm around his wife's shoulders, and patted her gently.

Joseph lowered his head and kissed Jessica's forehead gently, his lips pressed against her skin, lingering for a long time. "Let's go," he said.

Jessica looked at him. "Where?"

Joseph squeezed her hand. "Home."

"Our home."