Chapter 3430:

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Between their mingled breaths, a quiet ache stirred within him. Still, his reply carried nothing but sincerity. “No. There would never be anyone else like you in my life.” No one else would ever crash into his world so boldly and love him without restraint. What they shared had always been anything but ordinary.

He leaned closer, his mouth brushing hers as he spoke. “Feelings don’t appear simply because a man meets a woman.” Love depended on so much more than that.

“I want no one else but you.” He lifted his brows slightly. “Any more questions?”

Elissa’s eyes opened, bright with a smile, and she shook her head. “No.”

“You silly,” Ernest said with a low laugh, drawing her into his embrace and speaking near her ear. “In more than thirty years of living, you are the only person I have ever loved. Loving you is not a choice. It is the reason I exist.”

Moisture gathered in Elissa’s eyes as a gentle smile curved her lips. “I know. I love you too.”

The following day, Elissa caught sight of Becker and his family.

They did not meet directly. It was only a distant glance, nothing more. Elissa turned her eyes away almost at once, deliberately avoiding any chance of interaction. As for what Becker might have been thinking, she neither knew nor cared to know.

𝖱e𝗮𝖽 𝘰𝘯 𝗮𝗻у 𝗱𝘦𝘷𝗂𝖼𝘦 о𝗻 𝘨а𝗅𝗻o𝘃𝖾𝘭𝗌.𝖼𝘰𝗆

On the eve of the wedding, Savannah kept a close watch and made sure Ernest and Elissa stayed in separate rooms, with no opportunity to see one another.

The arrangement left Ernest unsettled, and he voiced his mild protest. “Why am I not allowed to see my own wife?”

“Please trust me, alright?” Savannah replied, a weary patience coloring her voice as she tried to soothe her son-in-law. “Seeing each other now would drain the surprise and excitement, and those feelings are what truly make a wedding meaningful.”

The explanation did not quite register with Ernest. Even so, he chose not to press further — arguing with his mother-in-law was the last thing he wanted to do.

After an entire day apart, the separation felt as though it had lasted ages. The old saying about distance deepening affection suddenly felt very real. Impatience crept in, and he found himself wishing the wedding could simply begin at once. Only then did he start to understand Savannah’s point — the anticipation and longing building inside him were nearly too much to contain.

Before dawn had even broken, Elissa was tugged awake from her bed.

“Hadley?” Elissa murmured groggily, eyes barely open. “Didn’t I just fall asleep?”

“You did.” A soft, mischievous laugh followed. “It’s only three in the morning. You barely got any rest.”

Shock crept into Elissa’s expression. “Were you up this early back then too?”

“Of course,” Hadley replied, lifting a brow. “Now it’s your turn. This is only the beginning. The next two days will be packed with banquets and activities, and they’re going to wear you out.”

The thought of the tight wedding schedule snapped Elissa fully awake.

Soon after, Colleen and Emma were ushered in by the makeup artist, both of them yawning without restraint. Taking in the sight of the young women with their untouched faces, Savannah smiled and said, “Alright, everyone. Sit down. It’s time to start the makeup.”

Later that morning, William was chosen to escort Elissa out through the gate. Good looks clearly ran in the family, and with his tall frame that easily cleared six feet, the young man drew plenty of attention from nearby girls. A few of them even stepped forward to ask for his contact details.

Instead of giving his number directly, William lifted his wrist and showed a smart watch identical to the ones Locke and Joy wore. “If you want to add me as a friend, you need to get approval from my parents first,” he said calmly.

“What?”

Disappointment spread instantly. Once they realized he was still a minor, the girls quickly scattered.

Colleen and Emma burst into laughter, and when they returned and shared the story, waves of amusement swept through the room.

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