Chapter 224: Stay With Me for a Lifetime

Eleanor nodded through her tears, the drops falling one by one onto Terrence's hand.

Terrence slowly lowered his head and kissed her lips.

Suddenly, cheers erupted from downstairs.

Eleanor jumped in surprise and quickly pushed him away, leaning out the window to look down. She saw Lily, Gavin, and Jenna standing below, holding up little signs that read "Marry him."

Behind the crowd stood Maya, laughing while wiping away tears.

Eleanor's eyes were red, and she couldn't stop crying, but her whole body visibly relaxed.

Their wedding was held the following spring.

The Thornton family's old mansion was decorated festively, with ribbons hanging from the front gate all the way to the main hall.

The yard was filled with flowers that Tom had brought from Rosewood Estate—red, white, and pink blooms spreading out in a sea of color, filling the air with their fragrance.

Eleanor wore a wedding dress she had designed herself. Her veil was very long, trailing across the red carpet like a thin white mist.

The white dress looked pristine under the lights, with delicate rose patterns embroidered on the hem—every stitch sewn by her own hand.

When Terrence first saw the dress, he stood frozen for a long moment before simply saying, "It's beautiful."

On the wedding day, Maya held Eleanor's hand and walked her step by step toward Terrence.

The red carpet wasn't particularly long, but Maya walked very slowly. For her, these few steps compressed many years of memories together.

Reaching Terrence, Maya placed Eleanor's hand in his palm, her eyes welling up. "Terrence, I'm entrusting Eleanor to you."

Terrence took Eleanor's hand and nodded solemnly. "Mom, I'll protect her for the rest of my life."

Maya clearly froze for a moment—this was the first time he had called her that.

Tears immediately welled up in her eyes, but she still nodded with a smile.

She knew in her heart that Eleanor had finally gotten the life she wanted and finally met someone who truly cherished her. As a mother, she couldn't ask for anything more.

Eleanor looked at Terrence standing before her, trying hard to steady her emotions, but the moment he took her hand, her tears broke free anyway.

Her makeup was almost ruined from crying, but she didn't care at all.

When Finnian learned Eleanor was getting married, he flew back from abroad specifically to attend the wedding and sat in the front row.

He wore a dark suit and looked much better than before. Watching Eleanor get married, he laughed and cried at the same time. When someone nearby offered him a tissue, he waved it away and simply wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

He had thought he might not live to see this day. Now that he was actually sitting here, watching Eleanor in her wedding dress, standing at her own wedding, watching her receive the happiness she had always longed for, he felt strongly that his survival had meaning.

Ralph sat next to Finnian.

The two brothers hadn't seen each other in a long time, but they didn't rush to catch up—they just sat side by side, watching Eleanor on stage together.

Ralph said quietly, with a smile in his voice, "Eleanor really looks beautiful today."

Finnian sniffled. "Yeah, she's gorgeous."

Jessica was brought to the wedding by Harold.

She wore a little white dress with two small braids and carried a flower basket, following in the wedding procession as Eleanor's flower girl.

When Eleanor saw her, she knelt down and hugged her.

Jessica leaned close and whispered in her ear, "Mommy, you look so pretty today."

Eleanor's expression softened. "Thank you, Jessica."

Harold sat in the back row, not going up to greet anyone.

He sat in that corner, watching Eleanor in her wedding dress standing beside Terrence, the genuine smile on her face—one she never had when she was with him. He lowered his head and looked away, feeling a tightness in his chest.

He knew clearly in his heart that he was no longer the person who could give Eleanor a stable life.

Ethan sat beside him and patted his shoulder.

Harold forced a smile. "I'm fine."

This time, there was none of that old bitterness in his tone. He had truly let go. He knew it was he who had failed Eleanor back then, hadn't held onto her, hadn't kept the promises he'd made. That being the case, he should step aside and let her live the life she truly wanted.

He had no right to stand before her anymore and disturb her current happiness.

He watched her standing there in the distance, with only one simple and firm thought: she really looked beautiful today.

When the ceremony reached the exchange of vows, Terrence picked up the microphone, his gaze fixed on Eleanor, his eyes holding only her.

"Eleanor, I've waited for you for eleven years. From eighteen to twenty-nine, from college to today. No matter what happens in the future, I'll be by your side."

Eleanor looked at him, tears falling once again, but this time her smile was even brighter, her whole face glowing.

"Me too."

Terrence lowered his head once more and gently kissed her lips.

Applause erupted all around, the sound surging from all directions, surrounding them in the middle.

Maya sat below the stage, watching Eleanor now, and couldn't help but think of her husband.

She thought, 'Zander, do you see? Our daughter really made it through. She's doing so well now.'

For the rest of her days, she hoped Eleanor could stay this happy, and hoped he could continue watching over them from wherever he was.

Wind blew through the yard, flower branches swayed gently, and petals fell from the stems.

After the wedding, Eleanor moved into Terrence's villa.

Terrence kept every promise he'd made. Every morning, he got up before her to make breakfast, always trying different things.

Today he made toast and eggs, tomorrow it would be oatmeal, the day after that pasta, and then soup with a salad.

Eleanor laughed. "If you keep feeding me like this, I'm going to get so fat I can't even move."

Terrence kissed her forehead. "I'll love you no matter what. Even if you gain a hundred pounds, I'll still feel the same about you."

Eleanor shot him a look, but she was in a completely relaxed state. Every day she woke up feeling like life had become lighter, every day sweet to the point of being almost too much.

Two months later, Eleanor found out she was pregnant.

During the pregnancy, Terrence became so anxious he seemed like a different person.

If she left sketches at the studio, he insisted on getting them himself and wouldn't let anyone else do it. If she walked a few extra steps, he immediately followed to support her, as if she might fall at any moment.

He had to know about everything—what she ate each day, when she rested, how she was feeling physically. He wouldn't let even the smallest thing slip by, terrified she might get hurt or tired.

"I'm not made of porcelain," Eleanor said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Terrence said very seriously, "Right now you are made of porcelain. You can't fall even a little bit."

When Jane learned Eleanor was pregnant, she started coming to the villa every few days, making soups, cooking porridge, and preparing all kinds of nutritious meals.

Maya also moved in to help take care of Eleanor.

The two mothers bustled in and out of the kitchen, one saying this soup needed to simmer on low heat, the other saying that porridge needed red dates added. Eleanor sat in the living room, smelling the aromas drifting from the kitchen, with only one thought: she was truly lucky.

Time passed quickly, and soon came the day Eleanor went into labor. Terrence waited outside the delivery room.

He paced circles in the hallway, barely stopping.

Jane got so dizzy watching him that she couldn't help saying, "Can you please sit down? If you keep circling like this, you're really going to make me pass out."

She was actually very worried herself, but Terrence's current state was making her even more nervous.

Terrence frowned. "I really can't sit still."

Maya said nothing. She just clasped her hands together, praying over and over in her heart.

Finnian and Ralph rushed to the hospital and stood at the other end of the hallway, also not speaking, just quietly keeping watch.

Three hours later, the delivery room door finally opened, and a nurse came out with good news. "Mother and babies are safe—it's twins, a boy and a girl!"

Terrence felt everything go dark before his eyes, his legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to his knees.

Jane quickly caught him, her voice full of excitement. "That's wonderful, that's wonderful!"

After he recovered, he quickly changed into sterile clothes and went into the delivery room to see Eleanor.

Her face was very pale, her hair damp with sweat. When she saw him, she still managed to smile, a very gentle smile.

"You worked so hard." Terrence held her hand, his voice shaking, his eyes full of concern.

"Look at our children," Eleanor said softly.

Terrence looked down at the two newborns.

The boy had his little fists clenched tight, eyes closed, sleeping deeply.

The girl was curled up next to him, a tiny little bundle, like a small animal huddled up tight.

He reached out to touch the girl's hand, and the moment his fingertip touched her soft skin, tears fell.

They finally had their own children.

On the day of the babies' celebration, the Thornton family's old house came alive once again.

Finnian brought a gift for the twins, a pair of custom-made silver pendants.

The silver pieces had their names and birthdays engraved on them, with a tiny bell hanging from each one that chimed softly whenever it moved.

He held the baby, smiling as he coaxed, "Say uncle."

Eleanor couldn't help but laugh at him. "They can't even say mommy and daddy yet."

"That's okay, I'll teach them first." Finnian looked down at the baby in his arms, his expression very gentle.

Ralph brought two paintings—portraits of the two children he had painted, using bright watercolors with very delicate brushstrokes.

His painting skills had matured considerably. Though the children in the paintings were still small, he had captured their expressions very accurately, making them look full of life.

Eleanor loved them at first sight and couldn't help saying, "You painted these so well."

Ralph smiled. "I learned during therapy. Painting helps me calm down."

Jessica was already over five years old, much taller now, with two small braids and wearing a pink dress.

She carefully touched her brother's face, then looked up and asked Eleanor, "Mommy, brother and sister are so tiny. When will they grow up?"

Eleanor gently touched her hair. "Very soon. You were this small when you were little too."

Jessica's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really."

Jessica reached out to touch her sister's hand again, then stepped back and stood to the side, watching quietly.

She didn't demand to be held or deliberately throw a tantrum, just stayed peacefully nearby, already looking like a proper big sister.

Harold stayed at the celebration for less than half an hour before leaving.

He didn't approach Eleanor, just stood at a distance for a while, handed the gift he'd prepared to someone, watched their family for a moment, then left with his daughter.

Ethan was waiting for him at the door. Seeing him come out, he raised an eyebrow. "Not going to say a word to her?"

Harold shook his head. "No need. She's doing well now. That's enough."

He now understood clearly that he wasn't suited to appear in her life anymore. He couldn't disturb her current peace.

Ethan sighed and walked away with him.

After the celebration ended, Terrence held their son and Eleanor held their daughter as the family of four sat in the garden enjoying the sunshine.

Their son had already opened his eyes—a pair of blue eyes like little gems, very bright, taking completely after his father.

He stared up at the leaves above, his brow furrowed, his expression so serious it looked like he was thinking about some problem.

Their daughter looked more like Eleanor, with fair, tender skin. When she smiled, her eyes curved into two arcs, and she made babbling sounds.

Eleanor looked down at the daughter in her arms, her lips unconsciously curving up. "She seems to really like you."

Terrence leaned closer, and their daughter reached out and grabbed his finger, gripping it tightly.

"She's pretty strong." Terrence looked at her, his expression very soft.

Eleanor looked at him in this moment and suddenly remembered the first time she'd met him—he always had a cold face, didn't talk much, his whole being radiating "stay away."

Who could have imagined he would become like this?

This person would accompany her to the estate late at night to listen to Tom tell stories, would hold her tight when she was sad and not let go, would get up before her every morning to make breakfast, would pace anxiously alone outside the delivery room.

"What are you thinking about?" Terrence noticed she was spacing out.

"Thinking about you." Eleanor curved her lips.

Terrence was clearly taken aback for a moment, then smiled, his gaze becoming even more tender. "I've always been here."

The sunshine was beautiful that day, and the flowers in the garden were in full bloom.

Children's laughter came from the distance. Some children were flying kites, the kites soaring high, swaying between the blue sky and clouds.

Eleanor leaned on Terrence's shoulder and closed her eyes.

Wind blew from the distance, carrying the fragrance of flowers and the warmth of sunlight.

"Eleanor."

"Mm?"

"Thank you for coming into my life."

Eleanor opened her eyes and met his very serious gaze in that instant, her lips slowly curving up.

"Take care of me for the rest of our lives, Mr. Thornton," she whispered.

Terrence leaned closer, his forehead gently touching hers. "Take care of me for the rest of our lives, Mrs. Thornton."

The flowers in the garden were blooming.

The children's laughter from the distance rode the wind, drifting from this house toward farther places.

(The End)