It was a great challenge for Iris to maintain her composure, especially after listening to her husband’s marriage vow to her. Both of them decided to write their own vows instead of repeating a standard one that the officiant would recite to them. She didn’t expect that Jin Liwei’s vow would affect her like this. She wanted to sink into his arms and cry and laugh all at the same time. The feelings inside her heart were so full and powerful that they felt like they might explode at any moment.
The last part of his vow hit her particularly hard. Others might think that he was just being a romantic when he promised to love and cherish her without any reservations until the end of time, for as long as their souls existed, even death would never keep them apart. She, however, knew the significance of his words.
As someone who had lived a previous life, died, and was reborn into a completely different person, the common marriage vow of “until death do us part” was not appealing at all.
What if she died and was reborn again? Would that mean that their love for each other would also end?
No, she didn’t want to believe that.
Jin Liwei’s vow was more reassuring to someone like her. Although the future was unknown, especially when death was involved, his promise was enough to calm the shadows in her heart and soul caused by her experiences of living a past life. She chose to believe and trust in her man’s promise.
The officiant gestured for Iris to say her vows next.
“I—” She mouthed her real full name ‘Evelina Armanovna Vetrova’ before continuing out loud, “—Long Xiulan, take you Jin Liwei as my rightfully wedded husband.”
She had to take a few seconds to control her emotions as best as she could and to prevent herself from sobbing. He reached his hand and caressed her cheek over the veil.
“It’s okay, love,” he whispered to her. “Take your time. I’ll be here waiting for you.”
She smiled and nodded. Her eyes never left his face as she took a few deep breaths while absorbing strength from him. Finally, she was able to speak again in a soft but clear albeit a little shaky voice.
“At first, I wanted to write you a song instead of reciting a vow but when I tried composing one, I couldn’t because a single song can’t contain the magnitude of my love for you. Even now, the words that I’m about to say can’t possibly reflect the depth of my feelings for you.”
His eyes gentled and he smiled at her before mouthing, “It’s okay.”
“I promise that from this day forward, you will never walk alone in life because I’ll always be there for you just like how I know that you’ll always be there for me.
“All of the challenges that life throws at us, we’ll shoulder them together, for we are partners in all things. There is nothing that we cannot face if we stand together.
“Liwei, you are my other half. My soul which drifted far and wide beyond death and time now feels complete because of your deep, encompassing love. With you by my side, I am now whole.
“From the moment we shared our love, my soul will only shine for you. I will sing for you until we are old and grey. Even if we become hard of hearing and annoy our descendants to no end, I will not stop singing until I cannot sing anymore. And even then, the music in my soul will continue dedicating an eternal love song for you.
“One lifetime with you could never be enough. You now have a piece of heart and my soul. I know that you’ll take care of it, cherish it, and treasure it because you are a strong, responsible, dependable, and the most understanding and loving man that I’ve ever had the fortune of meeting in my entire existence.
“This is my sacred vow to you, my partner and my other half, that I’ll bring you wherever I go because together we are one. I’ll also love you and cherish you until the end of time, for as long as a piece of us exists, even if it’s only a miniscule remnant, death will never keep us apart.”
Silence.
Everything and everyone else faded around them. There was only him and her, their synchronized breathing, and the beating of their hearts. They didn’t know how long time passed. Seconds or minutes, they weren’t sure.
It was only when they noticed Jiang Ying Yue and their godson, Little Jun, that Iris and Jin Liwei returned to their senses. Jiang Ying Yue helped her son to present the little lace pillow with the wedding rings.
“Mama, Papa, Junjun bwing da wings!” (Mama, Papa, Junjun bring the rings!)
Iris smiled at her godson. “Thank you, Little Jun.”
“Great job,” Jin Liwei praised and patted the toddler’s head.
The little guy giggled but continued obediently holding the pillow as per his mother’s instruction behind him. [This novel is a contracted work with W e b n o v e l . c o m (remove spaces). If you’re not reading this chapter on W e b n o v e l, it has been stolen. It’s very discouraging to see thieves profiting from my hard work. Please support the original author, ArriaCross. Thank you! Also follow me on Instagram @arriacross]
The officiant took one of the rings.
“Liwei, place the ring on your bride’s finger.”
Jin Liwei followed the instructions.
“I give you this ring. Please wear it always as this ring is a symbol of my eternal love for you.”
The officiant took the other ring.
“Xiulan, place the ring on your groom’s finger.”
Iris followed and repeated the same words.
The officiant looked at the bride and groom.
“May the wedding rings you exchanged today remind you of your vows to love and cherish each other as husband and wife. May your love and devotion for one another endure for as long as you live—until the end of time,” he corrected himself in the end upon remembering their unusual vows earlier.
Iris and Jin Liwei nodded.
The officiant waited until Jiang Ying Yue and Little Jun returned to their seats before beaming and sweeping his arms wide. Everyone was also standing now and grinning in excitement.
“It is my honour and delight to pronounce you husband and wife.
“You may now kiss the bride!”
