"With this, I now pronounce you legally husband and wife. You may exchange the rings, and you may kiss your bride, Mr. Lin."
The officiant's words settled softly inside the chapel, yet they seemed to echo endlessly inside Sarah's mind.
For a brief moment, the entire world became strangely quiet.
Jayden released a slow breath from his chest, one that sounded heavier than it should have been, as if he, too, had been carrying an invisible weight throughout the ceremony. Only then did he fully turn to face Sarah.
Sarah lowered her eyes immediately. She could not bring herself to look at him.
Everything had happened far too quickly. The wedding vows, the signatures, the witnesses, the prayers, and now the final declaration that had changed her life forever. A few simple sentences had just tied her fate to a man she barely knew.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she extended her left hand toward him. Jayden gently took it. His touch was warm.
Not forceful.
Not hesitant.
