Chapter 386
The sides of the carpet were lined with high-profile guests from across the nation and various industry leaders. As Teresa walked by, the ladies couldn't help but hold their breaths and burst into admiring chatter.
Teresa's wedding gown, diamond tiara, jewels, and even her crystal shoes were not items the average well-off family could possess.
Only a top-tier family like the Garcias and a doting man like Gabriel could provide Teresa with the finest and most expensive things in the world.
Gabriel stood at his end of the carpet, eagerly anticipating Teresa's arrival. As he caught sight of her approaching with Patrick, a tender light filled his deep, dark eyes, filled with indulgence.
Still tens of meters away, Gabriel, unable to wait any longer, took long steps toward Teresa.
Seeing the man almost sparkling with haste to reach her, Teresa couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips into a smile.
While most brides walked down the aisle in tears, Teresa smiled in front of all these guests.
"Sweet!" Gabriel called out affectionately, stopping in front of Teresa and Patrick.
Teresa shot him a flirtatious glance but said nothing.
"Dad," Gabriel only remembered Patrick after several seconds of gazing at Teresa and quickly called out to him.
Patrick laughed heartily and warmly, holding Teresa's hand and gently patting it with reluctance before looking at Gabriel. "Gabriel, my boy, I'm leaving Teresa in your care. She's quick-tempered and stubborn. Keep an eye on her, or she'll get worse – she'll become uncontrollable."
"Dad!" Teresa pouted in protest.
Seeing Teresa's adorable sulk, Gabriel laughed, took her hand from Patrick, and held it firmly. "Dad, I love her defiant nature. You can rest assured that as long as I'm alive, Teresa won't suffer the slightest hardship."
"Great! Just great!" Patrick laughed heartily, nodding in approval. "With a son-in-law like you, I can rest easy for the rest of my days."
Patrick shifted his focus to Teresa and offered his advice with a gentle firmness, "Teresa, cherish the love you receive but stay grounded. Always show respect to your elders, offer your support and kindness to Gabriel, look after Michael well, and perhaps think about expanding the family with a sibling or two, alright?"
Teresa just looked at her father, speechless.
"Not going to say anything?" Seeing Teresa's resistant expression, Patrick pressed with a stern look.
"Dad, don't worry, I'll do my best," Teresa didn't respond, so Gabriel quickly reassured.
"Good, that's my boy." Patrick nodded, fully placing Teresa's hand in Gabriel's. "Go on."
"Thanks, Dad." Gabriel nodded, holding Teresa's hand tenderly and gazing into her eyes with deep affection.
They exchanged a smile and walked together toward the priest, who was not far away.
"Mommy looks so pretty; I want Mommy to be my sweetheart," Croissant exclaimed from the end of the aisle, being cradled in Sophia's arms. He clapped his little hands with delight as he saw Teresa and Gabriel approaching.
"Your Mommy is your daddy's Sweetheart. When Michael grows up, he'll marry someone as beautiful as your mom, okay?" Mason teased the little one with a warm chuckle, standing next to him.
"Then where's my Sweetheart? Great grandpa, will you help me find her?" the little one asked with sparkling eyes.
Mason laughed heartily. "I'm not sure I'll live to see that day."
"Dad, you'll live a long, healthy life, and you'll definitely be there when Michael gets married," Katherine added with a beaming smile.
"That's right, Mason, you'll make it for sure," Sophia nodded in agreement.
As they passed by, Teresa blew a kiss to Croissant, who, seeing this, joyfully mimicked the action, showering her with air kisses and shouting, "Mommy, Mommy, I love you, I love you so much."
"Mommy loves you too, sweetie." Teresa blew another kiss back to the little one, utterly happy.
"What about me?" Gabriel teased, pretending to be jealous.
Teresa shot him a playful glare and ignored the comment, continuing their walk toward the priest.
Everyone envied the sweet happiness that seemed to fill the room around the newlywed couple and their child. Liam, in particular, serving as the best man, gazed at Teresa's radiant beauty and the picture of their content family. While a bittersweet feeling edged his heart, deep down, he truly wished Teresa and Gabriel all the happiness in the world.
"Gabriel, do you take Teresa to be your lawfully wedded wife?" the priest asked solemnly as the couple approached the altar.
Holding Teresa's hand tightly, Gabriel looked at her with deep tenderness and, without hesitation, nodded vigorously, "I do!"
The priest nodded in return and continued, "Will you cherish her with patience and kindness, love her, and live with her exclusively, respecting her family as your own, fulfilling your duty as a husband for all of your life? Will you forsake all others, keeping yourself only unto her?"
Gabriel met Teresa's gaze once more, nodding assertively as he responded, "I do. I, Gabriel, take Teresa to be my wife, to live together for all our days, to give her all that I am, to cherish, respect, and protect her, and never to engage emotionally with any other woman."
Teresa looked at him, her eyes meeting his tender and resolute gaze. As she heard his vows, an involuntary smile graced her lips.
"Teresa, do you take Gabriel to be your lawfully wedded husband?" the priest turned to her with the question.
Without a moment's delay, Teresa nodded, "I do!"
With a warm smile, the priest continued, "Do you vow to marry him, to carry yourself with gentleness and grace, to honor and help him, to live with him and him alone?"
Once more, Teresa nodded firmly, "I do. As long as Gabriel loves me unwaveringly through thick and thin, I am committed to standing by him in life and death."
The priest smiled, nodding in approval, "Now, please exchange rings."
With a half-smile, Gabriel took the large blue diamond ring from the box and carefully slid it onto Teresa's right ring finger. Then, Teresa took Gabriel's ring and placed it on his right ring finger.
After she slipped the ring onto his finger, Gabriel eagerly lifted the veil from Teresa's head, tenderly lifted her chin with his long fingers, and amidst cheers and blessings, he kissed her shimmering red lips.
