Chapter 278 The happiest moment

Chapter 278 The happiest moment


Stella slipped into her bridesmaid dress, a stunning white gown. But compared to Ariana's bridal dress, it seemed a bit less dazzling.
Stella watched Ariana with envy. The wedding dress was so beautiful.
She started to imagine what she would look like in a wedding dress herself.
She just didn't know when that day would come.
At that moment, the stylist placed a necklace around Ariana's neck.
Stella's eyes widened. She recognized that necklace.
She remembered her mom saying it was a token of love from her dad, bought at an auction years ago.
It was very expensive and held a lot of sentimental value.
Wasn't this necklace supposed to be for her?
She recalled her mom once showing her the necklace, and when Stella said she liked it, her mom promised to give it to her on her wedding day.
So why was it given to Ariana?
Then it hit her. Ariana was the biological daughter, after all. What was she?
Of course, it should go to Ariana. She was just the adopted one.
A wave of sadness washed over her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that her parents were going to abandon her.
On the surface, they wouldn't abandon her, but deep down, their biological daughter was still more important.
What did she mean to them, really?
She let out a sarcastic huff, turning her head away to avoid looking at the necklace.
Once Ariana's bridal look was complete, it was time for photos. Many people flocked over to take pictures with the beautiful bride, hoping to catch some of her good fortune.
Ariana felt like a tourist attraction, her face starting to ache from smiling so much.
Finally, it was Autumn who ushered everyone out.
"The ceremony is about to start. Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"
"I'm not hungry," Ariana replied. She had been busy all morning, with others attending to her every need, leaving her with little to do.
With all the commotion, she felt a bit restless and had no appetite.
Autumn looked at her with concern. "You need to eat something. Even if you're not hungry, you should eat a little. It's going to be a long day, and you won't have time to eat later."
"Okay."
Autumn arranged for some pastries and juice to be brought over.
"Drink just a little, or else you'll have to run to the bathroom later. Try to hold off."
"Alright."
Ariana gave Autumn a bright smile.
Autumn couldn't bring herself to smile. "Honestly, the wedding should have been postponed a bit. You've just returned home, after all."
James chuckled beside her. "If we wait any longer, Lucas will start growing moss."
Everyone burst into laughter.
It was a uniquely heartwarming scene.
"Hey, third brother, call over the first and second brothers. Let's take a family photo."
"Got it."
Evan and Samuel quickly joined them, and the Bluefield family was finally complete.
Stella stood to the side, watching the family, her eyes stinging with emotion.
"Stella, why are you standing there? Come on over!" Autumn called out.
Stella finally walked over.
Rosalind was in charge of taking the photo.
"Take a few more shots. We don't have a family photo yet."
Stella felt a pang of jealousy but forced a smile.
Finally, under the gaze of all the guests, the grand wedding began.
The Grand Palace Hotel had a hall specifically for weddings, incredibly luxurious, with interiors resembling a castle.
The professional emcee delivered a passionate speech on stage, using words that tugged at the heartstrings.
Then, the music began to play, and the grand golden doors swung open.
Ariana, dressed in a luxurious wedding gown, adorned with a dazzling crown and a necklace worth a fortune, stepped forward.
She was breathtakingly beautiful.
Like a fairy descended from the heavens, yet with the commanding presence of a queen.
The entire hall buzzed with whispers.
"I heard this wedding gown is the masterpiece of Mrs. Firestone. Years ago, a famous star offered 30 million for it, but Mrs. Firestone refused, saving it for her daughter-in-law."
"Did you see the necklace around her neck? They say blue is noble, but actually, purple is the most regal.
That necklace belonged to Mrs. Bluefield, and it was auctioned for 18 million back then. It's probably worth even more now."
"The crown she's wearing has quite a history too. If I remember correctly, it was once worn by a princess."
"The Firestone and Bluefield families are both top-tier elites. This wedding is a perfect match, truly a union of powerhouses."
The crowd was full of admiration.
Lucas, holding a bouquet of flowers, walked toward Ariana.
Ariana walked in, arm in arm with Matthew, her father, who was giving her away. She felt truly content.
Matthew's eyes unexpectedly grew warm.
His own daughter was getting married.
Over twenty years of longing...
Their time together had been so brief, and now he was handing her over to another man.
As Ariana watched Lucas walk towards her, she felt a sudden urge to cry.
She never considered herself an emotional person.
She didn't even know why she wanted to cry.
The journey had been anything but easy.
Perhaps it was because the number of people who loved her had grown, and she had slowly softened.
Lucas knelt on one knee, offering the bouquet to Ariana.
She accepted it and pulled him up from the ground.
Matthew held Ariana's hand tightly, reluctant to let go of his daughter's hand to another man.
He held on tightly, delaying the moment just a little longer.
With a gentle nudge from the officiant, Matt finally relented.
"Lucas, I'm entrusting Ariana to you today. Promise me you'll protect her with your life."
Lucas, unusually serious, replied, "Dad, don't worry. I swear I'll cherish her with all my heart and life, and never let her suffer even the slightest discomfort."
Only then did Matt place Ariana's hand into Lucas's.
Ariana and Lucas exchanged a warm smile.
The wedding march began to play.
Rose petals showered down, and applause erupted.
This moment was truly magical, like the ending of a fairy tale.
The prince and princess finally lived happily ever after.
Amidst the rose petals, Ariana and Lucas occasionally glanced at each other.
Reaching this point had been incredibly challenging.
The phrase "through hardships comes happiness" barely captured the tumultuous journey they had endured.
But in life, is there ever really an ending?