Chapter Thirteen: With This Ring

"Whatever your plan is, as long as it's for the benefit of other people and as long as you're not hurting other people, I'll always be here to support you, honey." Emmett sincerely enunciated.

"I appreciate your support, Emmett. I really want to help Lara, and I'm very excited about her future." Amanda continued to speak.

"Oh, I almost forgot about this... My parents asked me to give this to you. Mom said should give this to you as soon as possible." Emmett suddenly remembers something. He gave a velvet medium-sized envelope to Amanda.

"Oh, this looks so beautiful! This is such a perfect invitation for the Diamond Wedding Anniversary." Amanda smilingly explained, while looking at the invitation.

"Oh, here's another invitation for your parents. Don't forget to give this to them, okay?" Emmett reminded his fiancee.

"I promise I will give it to my parents. Don't worry." Amanda said in return.

"And once my parents diamond wedding anniversary is over, we should start making preparations for our own wedding as well. Do you already have a list of people you want to invite aside from Lara?" inquired Emmett.

"Well, I do have a list, but it's not yet final. There might be some changes, and I have to think about it carefully. And what about you?" Amanda asked him.

"I don't have a list yet, but one thing is for sure. I'll only invite my closest friend back in the University, and just a few trusted colleagues at work. I don't want to turn our wedding like a circus event." answered Emmett, in a casual tone.

"I agree. I'm also thinking the same thing." Amanda nodded in approval.

"I know it's too early for me to say this since we're not married yet, but I want to let you know that I won't tie you in the house, and I'm not expecting you to be a submissive wife. I want you to continue being a smart and independent woman. I don't want you to be known as Mrs. Emmett Albreicht, but I want you to be known as Amanda Montserrat, the genius and successful CEO of Etoile Cosmetics Company." Emmett sincerely stated.

"Aww, that's so sweet. I appreciate your trust and support." Amanda is so touched with what Emmett had said.

Emmett and Amanda continued eating dinner while talking about some of the details for their upcoming wedding...

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The day of Mr. Edward Albreicht and Mrs. Katherine Albreicht's Diamond Wedding Anniversary finally arrives. Emmett is currently standing beside the altar with his father, while waiting for the bride to walk down the aisle.

"How do you feel, Dad?" Emmett decided to check on his father.

"I'm quite nervous but really excited for the wedding, son. It feels like your mother and I's first wedding and I'm really looking forward to see your mother in her wedding gown." the old man responded.

"Everything's going to be okay, Dad. I'm sure that Mom's going to be the most beautiful bride in this special day." Emmett reassures his father, while tapping his old man's shoulder.

The participants in the wedding started walking down the aisle one by one. Emmett gave a big smile towards Amanda, who looks beautiful in her one piece dress. The color of the old rose looks magnificent on her.

After a few minutes, the bride finally made her grand entrance, and Emmett and his father watches the bride walk down the aisle.

Mrs. Albreicht is wearing the most exquisite wedding gown, and she's holding a bouquet of her favorite flower, which is white lilies.

Emmett noticed that his father and mother's eyes are glued to each other, while lovingly smiles at each other. This moment really touched his heart, and his somehow and somewhat convinced that being in an arranged marriage is not a bad idea at all...

He is hoping for the best between him and Amanda, once they become a husband and wife.

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AMANDA MONTSERRAT

Amanda is now sitting beside Emmett, at one of the seats inside the church. The wedding ceremony is officially starting.

Mr. and Mrs. Albreicht are not at the altar, while listening to the priest. Her mind is not really at the ceremony, but she's imagining that she's the bride, and she is being married to the man she loves. She would be the happiest moment in the world if she could marry her one true love.

After a few minutes, the Rite of Marriage or the Exchange of Vows between the groom and the bride has finally started.

"---Edward, do you take this woman to be your wife, to live together in holy matrimony, to love her, to honor her, to comfort her, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?" the priest asks the groom.

"Yes, I absolutely, definitely and wholeheartedly do!" Mr. Albreicht answered with so much conviction and as a result, everyone at the church laughed in return.

"---Katherine, do you take this man to be your husband, to live together in holy matrimony, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?" the priest asks the bride this time.

"I sincerely, genuinely and lovingly do, Father." Mrs. Albreicht answered, while looking at her husband's eyes with so much love in her eyes.

"Yes, I do." Amanda secretly whispered, while visualizing herself as the bride saying " I Do" with her greatest love.

Next, it was time for the exchanging of rings ceremony, and Mr. Albreicht was the first one to speak again.

"I offer you this ring, to wear as a symbol of our unbreakable bond. It is a reminder of my eternal faith and unwavering dedication. I will cherish you forevermore..." the groom said, as he slips the ring to the bride's ring finger.

And now, it's time for Mrs. Albreicht to do the ring exchange.