Chapter 363: Finally, My Husband Forever
Music Recommendation 🎶❤️: "Saturn" by Sleeping At Last 🎵
Beside him, Mark quietly reached over and squeezed his shoulder.
"Hey... stop crying, man. Keep it together," he whispered.
But his own eyes were already shining with unshed tears.
Along the rows of chairs, the emotional dam broke. Maya immediately covered her mouth with both hands, tears streaming freely down her face as her husband wrapped a tender arm around her shoulders, trying to comfort her. Charles and Frank openly wept, clutching each other’s hands as they watched their best friend walk down the aisle.
Adrian’s father walked beside him, his face filled with pride and emotion as he kept pace with his son all the way down the aisle.
Adrian tried with everything in him to hold on to his composure. But as he drew closer to the altar and caught sight of Matteo waiting for him, the memories came rushing back in a blinding wave. He thought of the lonely nights, of the two agonizing months he had spent running away, foolishly believing his heart could survive without Matteo, only to realize that breathing without him was impossible. He thought of every trial, every scar, and every whispered promise.
Looking out at the sea of faces, family and friends who had stood by them through everything, Adrian’s vision blurred, and silent tears began to slip down his flushed cheeks.
Even near the front row, Luca sat frozen. He had come out of sheer arrogance, convinced that nothing in this world could ever touch him or make him feel. Yet, as he looked up at the breathtaking sight of his friend, a tear slipped unbidden down Luca’s cheek.
For the first time in his life, he understood.
He looked at Matteo, his usually composed, fiercely guarded friend, now standing there with tears in his eyes, and finally understood why Matteo had resisted every temptation, why he had remained so fiercely and unbreakably loyal to the man walking toward him.
There was a love between them so pure, so absolute, that it eclipsed everything else in the world.
As Adrian finally reached the end of the aisle, his father gently placed his hand into Matteo’s waiting palm.
The music seamlessly shifted, the romantic opening chords of 🎵John Legend’s All of Me filling the air.🎵
Matteo reached for Adrian, his hands trembling slightly as he pulled him close. His eyes remained fixed on him, completely lost in the sight of the man standing before him.
In front of God, their families, and the life they had fought so hard to build, the two of them finally stood together.
Ready to say forever.
The soft, soulful notes of 🎵John Legend’s All of Me 🎵filled the air as the last notes of Adrian’s entrance faded into the background.
For a moment, neither of them looked anywhere else. They simply stood there, hands joined, taking in the reality of finally reaching this moment.
The officiant, a distinguished, warm-eyed man, smiled softly at the gathering. He stepped forward and welcomed their families, friends, and distinguished guests before offering a few heartfelt words about endurance, forgiveness, and a love that had survived everything life had placed in its path.
"We are gathered here today," the officiant began, his voice carrying clearly across the terrace, "not only to witness a union, but to celebrate everything that has brought these two men to this moment. Two lives that have known their share of pain, now choosing to leave the past behind and walk forward together."
He paused, looking between Matteo and Adrian.
"Today, they are not standing here because their journey was easy. They are standing here because, through every difficult moment, they continued to choose each other."
A quiet stillness settled over the gathering.
"And now, they have the chance to make that choice for the rest of their lives."
When the time came for their vows, Mark stepped forward respectfully and opened the velvet-lined box, revealing the gleaming platinum bands.
Matteo turned fully toward Adrian and took both of his hands in his own. His dark eyes shimmered with unshed tears, completely bare of any walls or defenses.
"Adrian," Matteo began, his deep voice thick with emotion, "I never knew what it meant to truly belong anywhere until I found you. You walked into my dark, chaotic world and brought a kind of light I didn’t even know I was starving for."
He paused, swallowing hard as he looked into Adrian’s eyes.
"Thank you for loving me when I didn’t know how to love myself. Thank you for staying when things were difficult and for never giving up on us, even when the world seemed determined to tear us apart."
Adrian’s eyes filled with tears.
Matteo gently squeezed his hands. "I promise to cherish you, to protect you, to stand beside you, and to choose you every single day. I promise that when life is difficult, you will never have to face it alone. And for the rest of my life, I will do everything I can to make sure you never doubt how deeply you are loved. You are my home, my love, my baby, my heartbeat, my peace, my best friend, and my everything. I love you, Adrian. And today, I don’t just get to call you the love of my life. I get to call you my husband."
A tear slipped down Adrian’s cheek.
With trembling fingers, Matteo lifted the platinum band from the box and gently slid it onto Adrian’s finger.
A collective, emotional sigh rippled through the seated guests. Even Charles and Frank wiped away fresh tears as they watched their best friend finally hear the promises he had been waiting so long for.
Then Adrian took Matteo’s hand, his chest rising and falling as he looked up into the eyes of the man who had laid his entire soul before him.
"Matteo," Adrian whispered, his voice trembling with unshed tears and absolute devotion. "They say we find love in unexpected places, but finding you felt like destiny. You are my first, my last, and the only man I want to spend the rest of my life with. Thank you for being the rock I never knew I needed, for fighting for us through every storm, and for holding me when the world became too heavy. I promise to stand by your side through everything, through joy, through strength, and through the quiet moments in between. I love you completely and unconditionally, forever and always."
Adrian picked up the matching platinum band and slowly slid it onto Matteo’s finger, sealing his promise.
The moment the ring settled into place, the guests broke into applause.
Maxwell quickly wiped at his eyes, shaking his head as he laughed through his tears. "I never thought I’d actually cry at a wedding. This is truly beautiful... I want a wedding too."
Marissa turned to look at him, and despite the tears still shining in her eyes, she couldn’t help but smile.
"You?" she teased softly.
Maxwell nodded seriously. "Yes, me."
Marissa chuckled, shaking her head as she wiped away another tear.
The applause gradually faded as the officiant stepped forward, raising his hands to bring everyone’s attention back to the ceremony.
"With the power vested in me, and before these witnesses, I now pronounce you husbands. Matteo and Adrian, you may kiss your husband."
Matteo didn’t hesitate for even a second. He pulled Adrian close against his chest, dipping him slightly as he captured his lips in a deep, passionate kiss that seemed to pour every bit of their love, longing, and everything they had survived into that single moment.
The terrace instantly erupted. Guests rose to their feet, filling the air with thunderous applause, cheers, and joyful tears.
When they finally broke apart, both of them breathless and smiling, Matteo took Adrian’s hand.
Hand in hand, they turned and walked back down the aisle together, officially husband and husband, while silver confetti rained down around them and their families and friends cheered them on.
Just before they reached the exit leading toward the reception, Adrian suddenly stopped, a playful, mischievous spark dancing in his eyes. He turned around, slipped the small bouquet of white roses from his hands, and tossed it high over his shoulder toward the crowd of waiting guests.
A chorus of surprised laughter and playful shrieks broke through the crowd as several friends reached for it. Frank jumped forward, only to swat the bouquet away by accident. It flew straight toward Charles, who instinctively threw up his hands and caught it.
The moment Charles realized what he was holding, the crowd erupted into laughter and applause.
Charles stared down at the bouquet in disbelief before slowly looking up at Mark.
Mark was already looking at him with an amused smile.
"Well," someone called from the crowd, "I guess we know who’s next."
Everyone laughed and clapped, while Charles shook his head, his cheeks warming as he held up the bouquet.
Mark simply laughed and shook his head at him.
After the playful moment settled down, Matteo and Adrian were led to a beautifully decorated photography area prepared especially for them. The space was framed with elegant flowers, soft lighting, and lush greenery, creating the perfect backdrop for their wedding portraits.
They first took their couple photographs, capturing the two of them together as husbands. For some of the grander portraits, their dramatic capes were brought out, giving them the royal look Adrian had always dreamed of for their wedding.
Afterward, their families and closest friends joined them for photographs. Matteo stood proudly beside his parents, while Adrian posed with his father and Maya. Then both families came together, followed by pictures with Mark, Charles, Frank, Maxwell, Marissa, and the rest of their closest friends.
By the time the final photographs were taken, the golden sunset had begun to settle over the estate, casting a warm glow across the celebration.
Finally, hand in hand and surrounded by the people who loved them most, Matteo and Adrian stepped through the grand double doors into the magnificent ballroom, ready to celebrate the beginning of the rest of their lives together.
Music 🎶 ❤️ 🎵Ordinary- Wedding Version by Alex Warren🎵
