The wedding of the two couples was not a closed affair; the Emperor Hotel continued its business while hosting the banquets for the newlyweds. To celebrate the occasion, the matriarch of the Horne Family had decreed that there was no need to book the entire Emperor Hotel, allowing others to witness the happiness of the two couples.

Seeing Marcel Horne and Ruby Bluen together, Julia Bluen and her husband were genuinely happy for them. They had missed six years and had been through so much, but now the storm had passed, and they both believed the couple would surely be happy from then on.

All of Marcel Horne's military superiors also found time to attend the ceremony.

Their uniforms made them particularly conspicuous among the guests.

The family of the little boy whom Marcel Horne had saved was also present.

The little boy even served as one of Ruby Bluen's page boys.

However, there were some unexpected issues.

Rachel Bailey was late.

Hansen Ruiz started to worry.

Was there a problem with the wedding car on the road? Or had Rachel Bailey changed her mind? No, she definitely wouldn't change her mind; she had given herself to him, and they had already consummated their marriage. How could she possibly reconsider? But why was she still not here? Hansen Ruiz wished he could become Sun Wukong, capable of an out-of-body experience.

"Why hasn't Rachel arrived yet? Didn't you say everything was going smoothly?" Julia Bluen, seeing her friend still hadn't arrived, was also a bit concerned. The guests had started to whisper among themselves. She couldn't help but nudge Glades Horne on the back of his hand and complain softly.

Even the Pastor was starting to glance at the time.

It wasn't a day's journey from the Emperor Hotel to St. Rowan Cathedral. By all logic, Rachel Bailey should have arrived by now.

Unless something unexpected had occurred.

Glades Horne tried to reassure her, "It's all going smoothly, no worries. It's probably just a traffic jam." After calming her, Glades Horne exchanged a glance with Hansen Ruiz, who then glanced at the groomsmen. One of the groomsmen understood and pulled out his phone to make a call.

A moment later, the groomsman gave Hansen Ruiz an OK hand signal, and Hansen's worry diminished somewhat.

Mrs. Ruiz arrived, along with the rest of the Ruiz family.

Seeing his family appear, Hansen Ruiz's gentle eyes suddenly flickered, and his brows lifted subtly. Then, with a sharp gaze, he looked towards his mother.

Mrs. Ruiz had just returned from a confrontation with Rachel Bailey, one that had nearly made Rachel call off the wedding. Feeling her son's intense stare, she inwardly faltered but maintained a nonchalant facade. Despite the numerous media present, she managed a deceptively kind smile. Born into wealth and married into it, she exuded an innate aristocratic aura. Dressed in designer clothes and impeccably maintained, her smile might have been gentle, but her piercing eyes revealed her as a formidable woman who wielded power both in public and at home.

The members of the Ruiz family greeted the friends and relatives of the Horne and Bluen families, acting almost as if they were the Hornes' in-laws.

Seeing his parents and so many relatives attend the ceremony felt surreal to Hansen Ruiz.

He knew his mother's personality all too well.

Would she really stand by idly and watch him marry Rachel Bailey?

His gaze then shifted to Simon Ruiz.

His beloved was late; there had to be a reason.

Simon Ruiz dared not meet his gaze and kept looking away.

As perceptive as he was, Hansen Ruiz immediately guessed the reason. His gaze towards his mother turned chillingly cold, making the seasoned Mrs. Ruiz feel as if she were on pins and needles.

Damn it, Rachel Bailey! Is this how you treat your mother-in-law? Are you deliberately trying to cancel the wedding and drive a wedge between me and my son, just because Hansen dotes on you? Damn it, if you don't get over here soon, I'll make you pay!

She had been the one to go and berate Rachel, yet now she wanted to pin all the blame on her.

Mrs. Ruiz was certainly extraordinarily domineering and unreasonable.

Rachel Bailey, in fact, was no pushover herself. One could only imagine the battles that would ensue between this mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the future.

Just as Hansen Ruiz was glaring coldly at his mother, Rachel Bailey finally arrived.

Mrs. Ruiz, whose scalp was tingling under her son's piercing gaze, felt a surge of gratitude towards Rachel Bailey for the first time.

If Rachel hadn't arrived then, Hansen's outburst would have completely ruined her image. Although this wasn't A City, bad news travels fast, and word would quickly spread back. She particularly valued her image, which was precisely why she disliked the idea of Rachel Bailey, a country girl, marrying into the Ruiz family.

Rachel Bailey appeared at the church entrance, arm in arm with her father.

The first time she had come to St. Rowan Cathedral, she was Julia Bluen's bridesmaid. It was here she had caught Julia's bouquet. Everyone said that whoever caught the bride's bouquet would be the next to marry. Surprisingly, it had come true.

Shy yet charming, she clung to her father's arm, her eyes fixed only on Hansen Ruiz. She stepped onto the red carpet and walked towards Hansen, who had been waiting for her for so long.

On the way, her parents had advised her once again.

She, who usually had a sharp tongue, decided to emulate her good friend Julia Bluen. She would win over her in-laws with actions, earning their heartfelt approval and acceptance.

If it didn't work in a month, she would try for a year. If a year wasn't enough, she would try for two, or three, or even a lifetime.

"Wow, Rachel looks so beautiful today!" Julia Bluen chuckled softly.

Glades Horne turned his head, his gaze ardent with deep affection, fixed on her pretty face as he said earnestly, "You are beyond compare."

Julia's face flushed, her heart swelling with sweetness as she chided, "Stop teasing me. You make it sound as if I were some peerless beauty."

"In my heart, you are a peerless beauty. Compared to you, everyone else in this world is plain in my eyes," Glades Horne said, his gaze deepening, growing more intense, more fervent.

"Glades, I feel so happy!" Julia Bluen leaned gently on Glades Horne's shoulder, unable to hold back her genuine emotions at this joyous moment.

"Granting you a lifetime of peace and happiness is my lifelong wish."

Glades Horne embraced her. His simple words were the most enchanting declaration of love in the world.

The Pastor recited the familiar lines, and the two couples repeated the vows that countless lovers had spoken before them.

The wedding proceeded, marking the beginning of married life for the two couples.

"Grooms, you may now kiss your brides."

With the Pastor's words, Hansen Ruiz gently pulled Rachel Bailey into his embrace and couldn't resist whispering, "Honey, you look so beautiful today!"

The flashbulbs flickered as the media clamored to capture the moment.

Outside the church, though the temperature was low, it seemed as if even the heavens sensed the joyous occasion. The sun peeked through, its soft winter rays bestowing blessings upon the two couples. May all lovers in the world find their way to each other, remain steadfast through any difficulty, and never abandon one another, no matter the hardships faced!