Chapter 278 Wedding, Finale

Chapter 278 Wedding, Finale

Two months later, in Skyview City.

The entertainment headlines were buzzing with major stories, each one more sensational than the last. 

Every major entertainment company was scrambling to keep up, eager to capture the traffic, with paid and organic trending topics battling it out. Netizens were overwhelmed by the spectacle.

[Shocking! Skyview City's largest company, the Russell Group, declares bankruptcy! CEO Julian's poor decisions lead to a financial collapse!]

[Brielle hospitalized with a heart attack due to the crisis, Russell Group's stock plummets to zero overnight!]

[Unveiling the power behind YORA Group, the Medici family's heiress Cecilia's business legend!]

[Big wedding news! Cecilia and Alaric are tying the knot, wedding photos revealed!]

Cecilia glanced at the top trending topic, a slight smile playing on her lips. 

Just as she was about to dive into the comments, Alaric sauntered over, lazily wrapping his arms around her and resting his head against her neck, his breath tickling her ear. "What's got you smiling so much? What are you looking at?"

"Watching the Russell Group meet its end." Cecilia turned her head to plant a kiss on his lips, deliberately angling the screen towards him. "Mr. Percy, are you jealous?"

Alaric glanced at Julian's headline, snorted softly, and suddenly pinned her to the couch. "I'm more interested in you."

His kisses trailed from her forehead to her lips, and as he reached her neck, his hand expertly slipped under Cecilia's dress. 

She laughed, pushing him away. "Stop it, we have to go for the dress fitting today."

"Let them wait," Alaric murmured, nibbling her earlobe, his voice husky. "The wedding's tomorrow anyway."

As their bodies entwined, the phone on the table rang abruptly. Caroline's loud voice burst from the speaker. 

"Cecilia! Where are you? The whole studio's been waiting for you two to try on the outfits for two hours!"

Cecilia blinked, realizing the time, and quickly pushed Alaric away, grabbing the phone. "Just a little longer! We're on our way!"

Alaric licked his lips, still savoring the moment, as Cecilia dragged him out the door.

The next day, at the wedding venue.

The white estate was awash with a hundred thousand champagne roses, crystal arches refracting rainbow hues in the sunlight. 

Cecilia stood before the full-length mirror in the dressing room, her mermaid gown accentuating her slender waist, the veil's diamonds sparkling like stars.

"Cecilia, you look absolutely stunning," Caroline gushed as she adjusted the train. "Alaric's one lucky guy! But I don't care, I'm still going to live with you sometimes. If Alaric ever bullies you, I'll make sure he regrets it!"

Cecilia smiled, squeezing her hand, about to speak when her phone buzzed.

A text from an unknown number appeared.

[I need to talk to you. Location: Skyview City's central business district.]

Cecilia froze, surprise flickering in her eyes.

Isabella noticed, peeking at the message, frowning. "Is it that jerk Julian?"

"What?" Caroline's voice shot up as she snatched the phone, glancing at it. "What's there to talk about? Just a deadbeat ex-husband trying to stir drama!"

Cecilia chuckled, taking back the phone, her fingers deftly deleting the message.

"Cecilia?" Caroline asked cautiously, sensing something off.

"It's fine, don't worry, I'm not going," Cecilia tossed the phone aside, turning to the makeup artist. "Could you touch up my eye makeup? The mascara's smudged a bit."

Her voice was calm, as if she had just deleted a spam ad.

But she knew what that place meant for her and Julian.

It was where they had their first date, and their last.

Elsewhere, Julian stood before the glass wall, the city sprawling beneath him like ants. He stared at the unresponsive phone screen, his knuckles whitening.

Two hours had slipped by.

Julian had hoped for at least a snarky reply, maybe a simple "leave me alone." But Cecilia wouldn't even give him that satisfaction.

He chuckled softly, the dull ache in his chest strangely fading away.

He had brought down the Russell Group for Cecilia.

He'd asked himself if it was worth it, if it meant anything. But he quickly brushed those thoughts aside. It was that kind of thinking that had led to their downfall. 

Sadly, there was no turning back.

Cecilia had truly moved on.

And now, he should too.

At three in the afternoon, the wedding kicked off.

The organ played the "Wedding March," and everyone stood up. The doors at the end of the hall slowly swung open.

Cecilia, arm in arm with Caroline, stepped onto the petal-strewn aisle. 

Sunlight streamed through the glass dome, and with each step, the crystals on her gown sparkled like a galaxy.

At the other end of the aisle, Alaric's black suit highlighted his broad shoulders. 

When he saw Cecilia, his gray-blue eyes widened, and he instinctively stepped forward, only to be pulled back by Kian, who stifled a laugh.

"Nervous?" Kian teased quietly.

Alaric swallowed. "Shut up."

When Caroline placed Cecilia's hand in Alaric's, the usually composed Alaric found his fingers trembling slightly. 

Throughout the priest's ten-minute recitation of vows, his gaze never left Cecilia's face, as if trying to etch her image into his soul.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Alaric lifted the veil, cupping Cecilia's head as he kissed her deeply.

Bodhi sighed contentedly from his seat, a smile of satisfaction on his face.

The guests erupted in cheers, Caroline cried tears of joy, Kian whistled loudly, Isabella and Jessa hugged tightly, exchanging smiles. 

Even Aria in the corner discreetly wiped her eyes, as Samantha comfortingly patted her back.

During the reception, Leonard and the Lunar Howl band unexpectedly took the stage, Matt's drums kicking off the intro to "Marry You."

The atmosphere reignited.

Alaric grinned, pulling Cecilia onto the dance floor. "Mrs. Percy, care for a dance?"

"Absolutely."

The champagne tower reflected dazzling lights, adding a touch of magic to Cecilia and Alaric's graceful movements.

As Leonard sang the chorus, Alaric leaned close to her ear. "I have a surprise for you."

"What is it?"

Suddenly, drones lit up the night sky, gradually forming a slender, beautiful silhouette with flowing hair and a swirling dress—the very outline Alaric had once drawn on the beach with sand.

The sea breeze carried a salty scent, and for a moment, Cecilia felt transported back to that moonlit night.

"You remembered," she turned to Alaric, her eyes shining with emotion.

"Of course I did," Alaric smiled warmly. "I told you, it was love at first sight."

Cecilia hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest, his subtle cedar scent mingling with the roses from the wedding, making her feel utterly at peace.

Soon, the drone-formed silhouette dissolved into starlight, replaced by their initials intertwined, shining brightly in Skyview City's night sky.

"Mrs. Percy," Alaric released her, cupping her face, his thumb gently brushing away the moisture at her eye corner. "Ready to start a new life?"

Cecilia gazed into his gray-blue eyes, filled with the gentlest starlight she had ever seen.

"I've been ready," she whispered, rising on tiptoe to plant a soft kiss on Alaric's lips. "With you, anytime."

The night breeze tousled their hair. In the distance, waves gently lapped the shore. 

Cecilia's face radiated happiness as she intertwined her fingers with Alaric's.

No matter what the future held, at this moment, they could share this simple, hard-won happiness, deeply in love with each other.