—Chloe—
"Vernon, I've never expected you to be the one who would give me happiness. Neither do I expect myself to remarry after I divorced," Chloe said. "But you convinced me to try again. You make me fall in love once more, and I don't think I will ever love someone more than this."
"Vernon, you are the man who accepts me for who I am," Chloe wiped her tears as she continued. Her heart felt so warm that she became uncomfortable because this was just too much happiness.
"I always thought that I'm not good enough, nor am I pretty enough to stand by your side," Chloe said. "But you make me feel beautiful, loved, and wanted. You are the man who helped me through a difficult time."
"On top of that, you've shown yourself to be a good father for Mackie, and I hope you will be a good father for our future babies, too," Chloe said. "I am forever grateful and will forever love you as my husband, soulmate, and the father of our children. You are my last, Vernon Phoenix Gray."
—
The crowd clapped as Chloe finished her speech. She had much more to say but decided to keep it simple because she knew she might cry if she let everything out.
She wanted to say the more intimate things later when there were only the two of them.
The Officiant said, "It's your turn now, Vernon."
Vernon took the paper from the Officiant, just like Chloe did. He read his wedding speech silently, glancing at Chloe a few times, and his face heated up.
No matter how often he tried to get used to this feeling, this feeling of extreme joy was too much for him to the point that he was afraid of stuttering.
He cleared his throat and then began his wedding speech;
—Vernon—
"Chloe, my one and only beautiful lady, I have so many things to say. I have so many questions to ask and confessions to make."
"I am not perfect and will never be. I have a lot of flaws that only you can accept. You told me you never expected us to marry, but I've expected that since we were young."
Vernon stared at Chloe deep in the eyes. His warm gaze was filled with love, "Ever since the first time we met when I was just a boy, I knew that my love harbors in you. It was a childhood crush at first, but I know that I will never get rid of that crush for the rest of my life, and this boy has become a man after twenty years, a man who is ready and responsible for you."
"You told me that I am the one who helped you through difficult times, and I can say the same for you too," Vernon said. He took one step closer to close the gap between them. They stared at each other, lost in their world.
"Back then, you were the one who helped me through a difficult time. If you never cared for me when I was young, I wouldn't have any correct moral compass. I will never be a good man, nor will I be responsible."
"You are the person who helped me through my difficult childhood, so I'm just doing the same for you right now."
"Chloe, my dream, my muse, my anchor in life. I will be a good husband and father for our children," Vernon said. His voice began to get shaky as emotion started leaking out. "I will forever love you as my wife, soulmate, and mother of my children."
—
Vernon folded the paper and leaned closer, ready to kiss Chloe, but the Officiant gently pushed him away to separate the bride and groom, "Sorry, I know you two are eager, but we have to go through the ceremony before the kiss."
"Oh, right…" Vernon blushed as he allowed his feelings to take control over his body just now.
The Officiant cleared his throat and began the ceremony.
"Family and friends, thank you all for coming today to share in this wonderful occasion. Today, we are here together to unite Vernon Phoenix Gray and Chloe Carlson in marriage."
"Vernon Phoenix Gray, do you take Chloe Carlson to be your wife, to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Vernon replied firmly, his eyes lingered on Chloe.
"And you," the Officiant turned his head towards Chloe. "Do you take Vernon Phoenix Gray to be your husband, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
Vernon and Chloe will now exchange rings as a symbol of their commitment and endless devotion.
Aaron, the ring bearer, walked in with the pair of rings on a small cushion for the bride and groom.
"Vernon, you may place the ring you've chosen on Chloe's hand," the Officiant instructed. Vernon picked the ring he custom-made for Chloe. He gently held Chloe's hand and put the ring on the ring finger.
Vernon kissed Chloe's fingers as he finally let it go. Chloe kept on staring at the ring and then at Vernon, respectively. This was too good to be true that she was scared everything might be just a dream and she'd wake up in that mansion trapped by Vincent.
"And Chloe, you may place the ring you've chosen on Vernon's hand."
Chloe nodded.
She picked the ring and put it on Vernon's ring finger, officially sealing their relationship as a married couple, as husband and wife.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the Officiant declared. "You may seal this magnificent union with a kiss."
Chloe and Vernon stared at each other. He held her hands and leaned closer.
In a low but honey-like voice, he said, "This is the happiest day in my life, wife. Thank you for making my life complete."
Chloe smiled at him and said, "Then you should get used to it because we will be a happy married couple until death do us part."
With that, Chloe and Vernon sealed their marriage with a serene kiss full of longing and love.
******
Vincent sat on his bed, watching random news that bored him to death. He had nothing to do, nor did he have any drive to do anything despite having a lot of money.
He had lost his vigor and simply passed the days doing nothing, hoping he'd die soon out of random heart attack.
As he was busy doing nothing, Khloe suddenly sent him a video of a wedding ceremony.
Vincent's eyes widened as he had a bad feeling about this.
He opened the video and watched through the entire ceremony.
His eyes were glued on Chloe the whole time.
Chloe had returned to her glorious day eleven years ago. She looked exactly like she was back when she married Vincent. She was bright and beautiful.
Her serene beauty could make any man fall in love with her. She had the same beauty that made Vincent think he should lock her in a cage for the rest of her life, thinking that she might've cheat on him by seducing other men outside.
Vincent felt like he had been stabbed by a knife latched with poison as he heard Chloe exchange her vows with Vernon.
He gritted his teeth, trying his best not to cry.
But he couldn't do it.
He repeated the vows part until he lost count on how many times he watched it.
He didn't know why he kept torturing himself, but the more he watched the video, the more addicted he got. It was like a bitter drug that he couldn't get rid off.
He couldn't hold back in the end. He began to cry nonstop while watching the video. His tears dropped to the phone screen, right on the face of his beautiful ex-wife, and he finally murmured;
"She should've been mine. How can I be happy without you, Chloe?"
[The End.]
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