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She, Cynthia Shannon, could finally marry Joe Louise.
The sacred and solemn wedding march played as Cynthia, dressed in a pristine white wedding gown, gracefully walked on the red carpet towards Joe at the other end.
Basked in the golden glow of the lights, Joe Louise wore a white suit, as if coated with a gentle radiance. This accentuated his tender and refined demeanor, reminding people of his youth.
They had known each other for three years, a period marked by trials and tribulations, and now she finally achieved her long-awaited wish.
The only regret was that her family did not approve of and bless this marriage.
As Joe approached and handed her the bouquet, Cynthia's eyes shimmered with tears of joy.
"Groom, do you willingly accept this woman before your eyes as your wife, pledging a marriage covenant with her? Will you love her, care for her, respect her, accept her, and remain faithful to her until the end of your days, regardless of illness, health, or any other circumstances?" The priest stood on the platform, gazing kindly at the newlywed couple before him.
Cynthia suppressed the fluttering in her heart and eagerly looked at Joe, hoping to hear his affirmation.
However, Joe's expression grew grim, devoid of any flutters. He hesitated to speak.
Just then...
"Brother, bad news!" Suddenly, tearful Yvonne Louise burst into the room, her vision blurred by tears. She choked, "Naomi... she, she..."
An uneasy feeling surged within Cynthia's heart. With a hint of unconscious nervousness in her brows and eyes, she anxiously looked at her brother, subconsciously tightening her grip on his hands.
To Joe, Naomi Sweeney held immense significance, and Cynthia understood that all too well.
She was Joe's moonlight, the love he could never attain in his lifetime.
When the Louise Family fell from grace, Naomi chose to give up on Joe in pursuit of an opportunity to study abroad. In a fit of anger, Joe severed all ties with Naomi and chose Cynthia instead.
But just a month ago, Naomi suddenly reappeared.
Joe's face instantly turned pale, his tense voice tinged with panic, "What happened to Naomi?"
"Naomi bled profusely, and nothing could stop it. The doctor said she might be in critical condition!" Yvonne said.
Upon hearing this, Joe shook off Cynthia's hands and rushed out in haste.
"You can't leave!" Cynthia stepped forward, tightly grasping Joe's hand. Her body trembled uncontrollably; her gaze locked onto him. "Joe Louise, today is our wedding ceremony. Are you really determined to leave?"
Whispers and covert, mocking gazes from the audience below fell upon her like sharp blades, piercing her heart.
With teary eyes, she stared at Joe, her tone humble as she pleaded, "Joe, can we at least finish the wedding ceremony?"
"Naomi got injured and ended up in the hospital because she was trying to save me. I can't abandon her," Joe attempted to shake off Cynthia's hand but she was so stubborn.. His expression darkened, his gaze carrying a hint of menace. "Cynthia Shannon, you know very well that this marriage between us is nothing more than a transaction. You just need to be a good Mrs. Louise, and my affairs don't require your interference!"
A transaction...
Cynthia's pupils contracted, disbelief filling her gaze as she looked at Joe's cold and resolute face. The shock in her eyes gradually transformed into a faint scorn.
Suddenly, a derisive curve formed at the corner of her mouth, and her gentle voice carried a hint of sorrow. "So, in your eyes, our relationship is merely a transaction?!"