Beyond Love and Longing

The wedding was held at a seven-star hotel.

Sean seemed to deliberately disgust James, every flower, every decoration, and even every dish was brought to James for his opinion.

“Sean is very busy, and he needs to take care of his health. You should help with setting up the venue,” Wendy said matter-of-factly.

“I’m busy preparing for pregnancy as well,” she added.

“Yes, James, I trust you. What you like, I like too,” Sean said with a smile. “James, treat this like it’s your own wedding Nothing can go wrong.”

James looked at his triumphant demeanor with an expressionless face.

“Okay,” replied James.

He treated the wedding as if it were his own, meticulously overseeing every detail with perfection.

Soon, the day before the wedding arrived.

“James, leaving the wedding arrangements to you was the right decision. I’m very satisfied,” Sean said during the rehearsal, holding Wendy’s hand as they arrived late.

“Wendy, you grew up with James, and this wedding dress is so heavy... Why don’t you let James support you when you walk down the aisle later?” Sean suggested.

Eric, who had been by James’s side, looked upset and couldn’t help but complain, “This isn’t right. Having the husband escort his wife down the aisle only to hand her over to the homewrecker? That’s too far!”

Sean’s face darkened with anger. “You!”

“Alright then.” James interrupted in a calm voice, worried that Wendy might punish his secretary.

“I’ll escort her,” James added firmly.

Sean’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.

Dressed in the wedding gown James had personally chosen, Wendy walked toward Sean step by step with James supporting her.

The wedding march echoed through the hall.

With every step James took, images flashed through his mind.

Scenes of light and shadow, filled with memories of him and Wendy, played like a movie.

The smile on his face grew lighter and more relaxed.

“Groom, I now hand the bride over to you,” James said when he reached the front, smiling at Wendy and Sean.

“I wish you happiness,” he added, his smile sincere and his blessing heartfelt.

Seeing the genuine smile in James’s eyes, Wendy suddenly felt an ominous premonition.

“James... Are you feeling tired?” she asked, her voice slightly uneasy.

Sean laughed in surprise. “James is so good at managing the company, how could something this simple tire him out? Right, James?”

“I am a little tired,” James replied with a faint smile. “I won’t attend tomorrow’s ceremony.”

He let out a soft chuckle. “There’s a lot of work piling up at the company. I’ll go back and continue working hard for your child’s future.”

Hearing his joking tone, Wendy felt a nameless fear welling up inside her.

Something didn’t feel right.

She suddenly didn’t want James to leave.

It was as if, once he left, they would never meet again.

Sean put an arm around Wendy’s shoulder.

“Honey, you must be tired,” he said gently.

“I’ll help you sit down,” he continued as he guided her to a seat.

Though Wendy sat down, she couldn’t stop herself from looking at James’s receding figure.

“James!” Wendy called out in a panic. “You’ll wait for me at home, won’t you?”

James didn’t turn around, he simply raised his hand and waved in the air.

On the day of the wedding, the wedding hall was adorned with flowers. Glittering lights illuminated the venue.

While Wendy woke up early to do her makeup, James’s flight to Wanera had already landed.

Under the golden sunlight, Sean stood tall and confident, smiling brightly.

The wedding march played as Wendy, wearing a custom wedding dress, took one step after another toward Sean.

At the same time, James, dressed in a hospital gown, took one step after another into a cold operating room.

“Groom, do you take this woman in front of you as your wife, in sickness and in health...”

—“Begin the anesthesia.”

“I do,” replied Sean.

“Bride, do you take this man in front of you as your husband, in sickness and in health...”

“I do,” said Wendy.

—“Vitals are stable.”

“Congratulations to the both of you for becoming husband and wife.”

—“Anesthesia is effective, begin the surgery,” the surgeon said.

A sharp scalpel sliced through the skin, and blood began to flow...