Chapter 178

Chapter 178
Sienna's POV

I was stunned, my eyes welling up again. I had planned to walk down the aisle alone, but now that she offered, I realized this was exactly what I'd been longing for deep down.

Seeing my silence, Lillian nervously added: "If you don't want to, that's okay, I..."

"Mom," I interrupted her, choking up, "of course I'd like that. I've always hoped... that you could walk this path with me."

Lillian's tears fell as she hugged me tightly: "Thank you, sweetheart. Thank you for still letting me... be part of your life."

"You always have been, Mom. You always have been." I cried and laughed at the same time.

Just then, the door was gently pushed open, and Payton carefully peeked in. Reina and Ava followed.

"Alright, alright," Payton said in a deliberately light tone. "If we keep crying, the makeup really will be ruined. The makeup artist will kill us."

"Here, dab carefully, don't touch the eyeliner." Reina immediately handed over tissues.

"Mrs. Thorne, you look truly beautiful today." Ava walked over and said sincerely to Lillian.

Lillian smiled somewhat shyly, wiping away tears from the corner of her eyes. "Thank you, Ava. You're all such good girls."

The makeup artist touched up my makeup, carefully repairing the traces left by my tears. Reina knelt on the floor, carefully arranging every layer of my dress's train, ensuring every piece of lace was perfect.

Payton walked over and solemnly handed me my bouquet. White roses represented pure love, lily of the valley symbolized the return of happiness, and baby's breath signified sincere emotions. But most special was a small piece of carbon fiber tied to the bouquet with ribbon—it was from Hayes's first pair of custom cleats.

"Whose idea was this?" I gently touched the carbon fiber piece that gleamed with metallic luster, warmth flooding my heart.

"Hayes's," Ava said with a smile, "he said he wanted you to carry a witness to where your story began during the most important moment."

My eyes welled up again.

"Don't cry," Lillian said nervously, "your makeup will be ruined again."

I took a deep breath, trying to control my emotions. Ava adjusted her champagne bridesmaid dress and asked gently: "Sienna, are you ready?"

I looked at my mother standing nearby, nervously adjusting her suit. I reached out to take her hand, feeling the warmth of her palm and slight trembling.

"Ready." My voice was more steady than before.

Lillian looked deeply at me, her eyes full of maternal tenderness and pride: "Then let's go, my precious daughter. It's time to marry your prince."

---

The chapel bells chimed three o'clock as two hundred guests settled into their seats, the afternoon light filtering through stained glass windows in perfect golden streams. White roses and hydrangeas adorned each oak pew.

The walk from the manor to the chapel felt both eternal and instantaneous. When Wagner's Bridal Chorus began, my heart thundered as I heard the rustle of two hundred people rising to their feet. The chapel doors opened, revealing the aisle that stretched toward my future.

And there, at the end of it all, stood Hayes.

The sight of him in his midnight blue tuxedo made my breath catch. His hair was perfectly styled, and his gray-blue eyes immediately found mine and never looked away.

"Breathe, dear," Mom whispered, squeezing my arm gently. "Look at him. Look how he's looking at you."

Hayes's expression was one of pure awe.

As we approached, Hayes stepped forward, his movements careful and reverent. When Mom placed my hand in his, her voice carried clearly in the hushed chapel.

"Hayes, I'm entrusting you with my most precious daughter. Please love her well."

Hayes's fingers closed around mine, warm and steady despite their slight trembling. He looked directly into Mom's eyes as he replied, "I will, Mrs. Thorne. I'll spend my lifetime loving her well."

Mom's eyes filled with tears as she nodded, then turned to take her seat. I watched her go, feeling a completeness I hadn't expected—my mother, giving me away to the man I loved, blessing our union with her presence and approval.

"You came," Hayes whispered as Mom settled into her pew.

"I came," I whispered back, my voice catching. "This time, I'm not going anywhere."

Hayes lifted our joined hands and kissed my knuckles gently.

Reverend Thompson cleared his throat gently, and we turned to face him, still holding hands. The ceremony began with traditional words about love and commitment, but I barely heard them. All my attention was focused on Hayes—the way he kept glancing at me, the slight smile that played at his lips, the absolute steadiness of his presence beside me.

When the time came for vows, Hayes reached into his jacket pocket with slightly shaking hands, pulling out a folded piece of paper. He cleared his throat, his voice carrying clearly through the chapel's acoustics.

"Sienna," he began, and I felt tears start immediately. "Six years ago, I thought losing you was my greatest failure. But now I know it was just fate testing me, seeing if I was worthy of you."

His voice grew stronger as he continued. "You taught me that true strength isn't never falling down—it's getting back up every time, because you're waiting for me at the finish line."

I was crying openly now, not caring about my makeup or the two hundred people watching us.

"You say you're just a craftsperson, but to me, you're the only person who could make me believe in the word 'home.'" His voice cracked slightly. "On the field, I chase championships. In life, I only chase you."

The chapel was absolutely silent except for his voice and the distant sound of waves against the cliffs.

"I promise, from today forward, I'll spend the rest of my life protecting you, supporting you, loving you." He looked directly into my eyes. "I promise I'll always respect your independence, always be proud of your dreams, and always be there when you need me."

By the time he finished, his own voice was thick with emotion, and I was sobbing. Reverend Thompson offered me a tissue with a gentle smile, and I dabbed at my eyes before taking the microphone with trembling hands.

"Hayes," I began, my voice barely steady. "I used to think loving someone meant letting them fly. But you taught me that real love is flying together."

I saw him swallow hard, his jaw clenching with emotion.

"You said my craft was a gift, but you don't know—meeting you was my greatest fortune." I took a shaky breath. "Six years ago, I thought leaving you was protecting you. Now I know that staying by your side, letting you protect me, is the bravest choice I could make."

His eyes were bright with unshed tears now, his free hand clenching at his side.

"I promise, from today forward, I'll stand beside you as your armor, your harbor, your home." My voice grew stronger. "Whatever storms come, we'll face them together."

I looked out at the congregation—at Bobby wiping his eyes, at Marcus nodding encouragingly, at my mother dabbing at tears—then back at Hayes.

"I promise I'll always be myself, and I'll always love you—not because of who you are, but because when I'm with you, I become the best version of myself."

When I finished, Hayes was no longer trying to hide his tears. They slipped down his cheeks as he smiled at me, his expression radiant with joy and love.

The ring exchange felt sacred in its simplicity. Hayes slipped the ring onto my finger, whispering, "These are our stars."

When I placed his wedding band on his finger, I whispered back, "This is our promise."

"By the power vested in me," Reverend Thompson announced, his voice warm with satisfaction, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. Hayes, you may kiss your bride."

Hayes cupped my face in both hands, his thumbs brushing away the tears on my cheeks. For a moment, we just looked at each other, the weight of the moment settling between us. Then he leaned down and kissed me with such tenderness, such reverence, that I felt like I might dissolve from the pure emotion of it.

The kiss lasted forever and no time at all. When we finally broke apart, the chapel erupted in applause and cheers.

Hayes rested his forehead against mine, both of us breathing hard. "Babe," he murmured, just loud enough for me to hear. "How does it feel?"

"Perfect," I whispered back. "Absolutely perfect."

Hand in hand, we walked back down the aisle as our guests showered us with white rose petals.

As we stepped out of the chapel into the golden afternoon light, Hayes stopped and pulled me close.

"Ready for the next part, Mrs. Sterling?"

I laughed, feeling lighter than air. "With you? I'm ready for anything."