Chapter 296: Final Chapter. The Inscription in the Church

Aurora Ross's POV:

As I walked on the plush carpet, I took in everything around me.

Jacob said Alex had prepared all of this by himself. Just transplanting the roses must have taken a lot of time.

Thinking about him running around with flower pots made my heart ache a little.

I stopped in front of a cluster of flowers.

At the end of the red carpet stood a man holding a bouquet.

His usually unbuttoned shirt was neatly buttoned up, and a delicate brooch on his chest sparkled beautifully.

When he saw me all dressed up, he raised an eyebrow and then looked a bit helpless.

"You figured it out already?"

I walked over with a slight smile. "I only guessed today."

Alex spoke, "Don't lie to me."

I responded softly, and he pressed his lips together. I could sense a bit of nervousness in him.

"Did it take a long time to prepare all this?"

I took his hand, noticing the many small cuts on it, marks from the roses.

With so many flowers, keeping them alive must have been really hard.

My smile faded a bit. "Does it hurt?"

"No, these little cuts are nothing."

He spoke casually, but I couldn't smile.

"Alex, just like you cherish me, I worry about you, too."

I had known his feelings for a long time. There was no need for him to take on so much work and hurt his hands like this.

"You need to take better care of yourself."

I rubbed his palm and looked up at him seriously.

I never thought that just because he had endured greater hardships in the past, he should treat these small injuries as nothing.

He stiffened, then sighed helplessly. "I always feel at a loss being loved by you."

"Aurora, as long as you're happy, that's the meaning of my existence."

He led me forward, and in the center of the garden was a beautifully set-up proposal scene.

My parents, Luna, and my friends were already seated, waiting and looking back at us.

During the proposal, he was incredibly nervous.

He even stuttered once while reciting his prepared vows.

There were soft chuckles from the crowd, as if they couldn't believe Alex could be so clumsy.

"Will you marry me?"

His words were tentative yet sincere.

It felt like many years ago, when he asked under the flower wall, "Will you marry me someday?"

The moment was so tender that my eyes began to well up.

I looked at Alex, who was kneeling on one knee, and smiled.

"I will."

The familiar scent surrounded me as I felt his tight embrace. I patted his shoulder and answered his earlier words.

"Don't feel lost because you're loved. You deserve the best in the world."

"And I will always love you."

His breathing quickened.

I guessed he was deeply moved, so I gently patted his back until I heard his almost crazed words in my ear.

"You must love me, only me."

"Aurora, if one day you grow tired of this marriage."

"I swear, I will kill anyone who catches your attention."

My hand stopped patting his back.

I was speechless, suddenly feeling like I couldn't cry anymore.

"You're crazy. Who makes death threats during a proposal?"

But thanks to him, I would probably remember this proposal scene for many years to come.

As he kissed me, I looked up and matched his passion with my own.

It took us fourteen years to get here.

...

Not long after the proposal, Alex eagerly held the wedding ceremony.

This time, he refused to keep it simple and made it incredibly lavish.

Even a month after the wedding, City A was still talking about it.

That wedding nearly exhausted me, and I was sure I didn't want a second one.

Some changes happened during this time.

For instance, my voice fully recovered.

And after targeted treatment from a top national team, my knee was back to normal.

Also, City A got a new mayor.

Since that day, I hadn't seen Louis again.

Three years after the wedding.

My child was old enough to go to school and didn't need me by her side all the time.

Alex had long been unhappy about how much time the child took from me, so on our wedding anniversary, he whisked me out of the country.

We visited several countries, and when we passed by a church, I quickly spoke up, "Stop the car."Alex, though puzzled, pulled over.

He followed my gaze.

"Want to go inside?"

"Yes, I always wanted to see a wedding at St. E's Church in Germany."

Alex frowned. "Why didn't you say so when we got married?"

I smiled and got out of the car.

I must have been lucky because there was a wedding happening at the church.

The bride and groom were kind and welcomed more people to share in their happiness.

Alex and I found a spot in the corner to sit.

As the sacred hymns began, I sighed with emotion.

Alex, sitting beside me, asked, "Do you have any other wishes?"

I thought carefully and answered, "No."

I had become a successful designer.

That seemed to be my only wish.

After the wedding, I asked the priest to show me around the church.

It was much larger inside than it appeared from the outside. The most interesting part was a wall of messages.

But instead of paper and pen, the messages were carved into stone.

Carving a message into marble was incredibly difficult.

So those who left messages were desperate people hoping for a miracle.

Some prayed for health, others for a loved one's recovery.

Reading these messages made my heart ache.

Among them, I saw a familiar handwriting.

[I repent for my wrongdoings. I wish her happiness and peace.]

[Even if it costs me everything.]

Unlike the others, this person left no name.

I stared at it, stunned.

The priest, noticing my focus, spoke up.

"I remember this young man well. He was very handsome."

"He came every day to carve."

My throat felt dry, and I didn't know what to say.

The priest sighed with a hint of nostalgia. "He was a trapped soul, but I believe God has forgiven his sins."

I slowly lowered my head to a small corner.

I saw another message.

[If one day she sees this message, she might guess who wrote it, or she might not. But I believe she has fulfilled her last wish.]

[Just not with me by her side.]

[So I wish her happiness, and we will never meet again.]

...