Chapter 565
On January 22nd, the wedding of Izabella and Casey was the talk of the town, held at the grandest hotel in R City. Security was tight, forming an impenetrable ring around the venue to keep the paparazzi at bay.
"This wedding's got to be the most extravagant one yet-I doubt anyone can top this," murmured a guest, unable to contain their awe.
The venue was bedecked with millions of red roses air-freighted just for the occasion, transforming the place into a veritable rose fortress. The fragrant scent of flowers wafted through the air.
The feast was orchestrated by Bunny herself, who had hired renowned chefs from both domestic and international circuits. They served up a mélange of cuisines to cater to the diverse tastes of the wedding attendees.
The guest list was a who's who of business magnates from R City, J City, Wye, and beyond, including not just entrepreneurs but also friends from the entertainment industry-actors, directors, and the like. Bunny had claimed to prefer a low-key approach, but the lavishness of the event spoke volumes. Just the menu alone had cost a fortune, not to mention the hotel booking and the stunning decorations. Social media was abuzz, with servers crashing despite preparatory measures-no one had anticipated such a rapid surge of discussion online.
Snippets from the media sent online users into a frenzy, with photos garnering tens of thousands of likes in mere minutes. Everyone was eagerly anticipating the arrival of the bride and groom. The day was blessed with an unusually mild winter weather-no snow, just a glorious sunny sky. Izabella, dressed in her bridal attire, didn't feel the cold at all.
She looked like a portrait of serenity, sitting there in her red gown and golden hairpin, reminiscent of her role in the TV drama "Blood Ties," where she had donned a red phoenix robe to enter the palace. Casey was spellbound at the sight of her, only snapping out of his trance when Wendy nudged him gently.
"Do I look good?" Izabella giggled behind her hands.
Having awakened at five in the morning for the lengthy bridal makeup session, Izabella had been surprisingly nervous, despite being accustomed to the spotlight. The night before her wedding, she hadn't slept a wink.
"You look stunning, absolutely stunning," Casey replied, his eyes soft and filled with her image.
Their wedding was devoid of traditional hijinks. He came for her, and she took his hand, ready to walk into their future together.
Among the invitees was the Felton family, including Presley, and Lucas also made an appearance.
When Lucas received the wedding invitation, he was baffled. Back in the day, the Salotti family might have had some connection to the Dempseys, but now? It was a long shot. Yet, there was no reason for Lucas to decline the invite, especially since his past had some intersections with the Salottis.
Since he received the invitation, he had no reason not to go, but what concerned him most was the bride's name - Izabella.
He had long known that Izabella was not his sister, but a famous actress in the entertainment industry, and even the CEO of the Maple Group, worth billions.
In addition to the same name, Izabella looked like his sister, and even her ability was somewhat similar.
Was there such a coincidence in the world? Or was it just fate?
Lucas held the invitation card and suddenly felt a surge of emotion in his heart. The heated intent was transmitted all over his body along the blood. Even his eyes were a little red from the heat.
Despite the surprise, Lucas had taken the time to select a crisp white suit for the occasion, hoping to honor the event properly.
At the hotel, he only knew Presley, so he quickly made his way over to greet him. "Presley," he said, receiving only a brief nod in response.NôvelDrama.Org (C) content.
Feeling somewhat out of place among the glittering crowd, Lucas often wondered how Izabella, at such a young age, had managed to keep the Salotti family afloat in such a cunning and calculating world. Lucas had previously scorned everything Izabella had done, blaming her for his mother's death and for usurping what he felt was his rightful place at the Salotti Group. It was only after walking a mile in her shoes that he understood the weight of the burden she had carried.
Without the support of the Felton family, he might have been unable to remain in R City.
As the evening wore on and the golden candlelight flickered to life, someone announced, "The bride is making her entrance."
All eyes turned to Izabella, and the sea of faces was captivated by her presence. As classical music played, she walked gracefully down an aisle strewn with rose petals, her red gown stirring the air around her and captivating the media's lenses.
The scene, impossible to ignore, was captured by many on their phones. Never had Izabella looked more radiant than she did that night, under the glow of fireworks and the elegant sway of her traditional Western bridal gown.
Standing strong against the wind,
her figure was highlighted by the delicate tailoring of her dress. With no parents to escort her, it was Bunny who held her hand. Casey stood at the end of the aisle, their gazes meeting across the crowd, igniting the air with their shared look of love and anticipation.
Casey didn't wait for Izabella to make her way towards him step by step. Instead, he strode forward with decisive steps, closing the distance between them, both of them inhaling deeply to calm their racing hearts.
Izabella felt her heart pounding
wildly as Casey approached. Her eyes welled up with warmth, and a sournesstinged her nose. The man she loved stood by her side, and they had finally declared their marriage to everyone. They were set to grow old together, as fresh in love as they were in the beginning.
From now on, through sickness and health, wealth and poverty, they were committed to walking straight ahead, hand in hand until life's journey's end. Was there anything more blissful than growing old together?
Casey took her hand, a smile gracing his lips. "Beautiful Ms. Salotti, congratulations on getting hitched today."
Izabella looped her arm through his. "Dashing Mr. Dempsey, cheers to you for landing such a gorgeous bride." They exchanged a knowing smile.
At night, numerous drones danced in the sky, creating a spectacle of lights.
Their story began with him carrying her on his back from the amusement park to her home, and now it culminated with him holding her hand as they stepped into the wedding hall. Hundreds of fireworks burst overhead, painting the night sky.
Casey's love for Izabella was eternal; she was his resolute dream throughout the long years to come.
Izabella looked up at the drone display, her heart fluttering. "Did you plan this?"
"Yeah," Casey nodded, "Do you like it?"
"I love it." She had been waiting for this wedding, which was a surprise in itself, but she hadn't anticipated the grand gesture Casey had prepared.
The winter night was devoid of stars, yet Casey's drones lit up the entire sky, more beautiful than a blanket of constellations.
Izabella touched the diamond ring on her finger, glancing sideways at Casey, overwhelmed by the thought of spending the rest of her life with him. She felt incredibly fortunate.
It was as if all the misfortunes of her past life were simply a trade for the luck she found in this one.
To meet each other was fate; to have each other was fortune.
"At nine, Cameron had a crush on Izabella."
"At twenty-six, Ryker fell in love with Izabella."
"And now, at thirty-five, Casey is deeply in love with Izabella."
A sudden joy built up over time into an unshakeable deep love.
Perhaps even Izabella didn't fully grasp how deeply Casey loved her.
He had been smitten with her from the very first glance, and no matter how she changed, he would fall for her again and again. No matter how many times he lost his memory or became foolish, the first look at her would always draw him in.
irresistibly.
Izabella's lips curled into a smile, her eyes sparkling. That light was a reflection of Casey, the brightness in her eyes.
She beamed at Casey, "A journey through thick and thin, I'm so blessed to have you. For the rest of our days, Mr. Dempsey, please take good care of me."
It started with a first glance and would end only when they turned gray together.