Chapter 23 - The Simple Wedding
They did not have the wedding in a grand cathedral, and they did not invite the city's elite society.
They were married three months later in the central garden of Hope Village, surrounded by the people they loved and the people they had helped.
There were no paparazzi. There were no magazine reporters.
Mariana wore a simple, flowing white gown. She walked down the grassy aisle alone, her head held high, radiating a quiet, invincible strength.
David stood under a wooden archway covered in white roses, watching her approach. His eyes were shining with unshed tears. He looked at her like she was the only woman in the entire world.
Clara, her loyal assistant, stood to the side as the maid of honor, dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
When Mariana reached the altar, David took her hands.
"I promise to always see you," David vowed, his voice steady and clear. "Not just the powerful woman who leads an empire, but the kind, brilliant woman who holds my heart. I promise to be your sanctuary, just as you are a sanctuary for so many others."
Mariana smiled, squeezing his hands tightly.
"I promise to build a life with you based on truth," Mariana replied, her voice filled with absolute certainty. "I promise to choose you, every single day. You are my partner, my equal, and my greatest love."
The officiant smiled at the couple.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife."
David leaned in and kissed her, a deep, passionate promise of forever. The small crowd erupted into cheers and applause.
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As they walked back down the aisle together, hand in hand, Mariana felt a profound sense of peace wash over her soul.
She didn't need a billionaire's mansion. She didn't need the approval of high society. She had everything she had ever truly wanted, right here, walking beside her.
