His Naughty Lessons-Chapter 310: Under the Rose Arch

** Harper **

When the small group returned to the terrace, they could see from behind the garden gate that the ceremony area was already filling up with a colorful crowd. Guests were busy hugging each other and finding their seats, while the music and casual icebreaker jokes from the DJ were playing in the background, topping up the scene with a merry festiveness.

In that merry festiveness, the wedding party got together and did one last runthrough of the procession order, among other details. Then Eli led his groomsmen out of the garden — where the bride would step out of a few minutes later — and got into their positions at the wedding arch first.

The audience quieted instantly, everyone sitting up straight in anticipation, and it wasn’t until then that the gravity of the moment suddenly settled on Harper, hitting her like a flash.

The time had come. Once she crossed the garden gate and walked down that aisle, she would be married. She would be his wife.

That simple fact sounded so ... dauntingly fascinating.

"Things finally catching up to you now?" Her father’s smiling voice came from beside her. "Or was Eli’s nervousness contagious?"

Harper let out a small chuckle at that reminder. "I suppose the experience isn’t complete without feeling at least something, is it?" She took a small deep breath in. "What was it like for you, by the way? What were you thinking when Mom walked toward you down the aisle?"

"Hmm ... Pretty sure I was wishing she didn’t pick a veil that actually covered her face, because it was so hard to see how beautiful she was all covered up like that. But of course, if she asks, tell her that I absolutely loved the mysterious, obscure type of beauty that the veil gave her."

"..."

Her father laughed at the slightly speechless look she returned him. "Anyway, I guess I was the less sentimental type, more like you. The wedding didn’t change a thing in my book — you already know the person you are marrying and the life ahead you’re looking at, don’t you? I might even say that today feels more special to me, being on the other side of the aisle right now, because hey, it’s unbelievable to see my baby girl all grown up and starting her own family already. You make me so proud."

Aww, the heartfelt words made Harper’s heart feel so warm that she couldn’t help but throw her arms around her father’s shoulders in a big hug. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

It was such a fascinating situation to think about, truly. A special moment like this was probably in every little girl’s dream once, when she got to wear a beautiful dress and hold beautiful flowers and walk into the sunset toward the prince who loved her. But when this moment truly came ... Who knew that it would bring along so many other feelings too? Pride, nostalgia ... maybe even a deeper understanding of love, of the destiny that this short walk along the aisle would eventually take her to.

Harper would’ve continued that sentimental train of thought, or kept the rare and precious sentimental conversation going with her father, if not for the announcement on the terrace at the next moment that led to a big round of cheers.

They both knew what that meant. So she pulled back and took her father’s offered arm instead, and they turned toward the terrace.

Through the garden gate that obscured her from the audience beyond, Harper could see that the golden hour had reached its peak glory now, spilling a warm glaze of halo over the terrace. The bridesmaids were just starting their way out one by one, and the soft blush tulle of their dresses shone brilliantly under that light, fluttering dreamily in the gentle breeze.

Harper thought the view was perfect, and she imagined how she would look herself once she set foot on that path, bathed in that sunlight as she walked toward her groom. She also wondered idly if she’d be smiling with too much of a silly, lovestruck, slightly nervous face that didn’t match the elegant grace of her dress, making all the photos come out just a little funny ...

Not that it mattered though. Silly and lovestruck and slightly nervous was how she felt at this moment, and she didn’t mind the truth leaving its proof. She knew Eli wouldn’t either. So when her maid of honor disappeared last around the garden gate, and the music changed from the spirited piano piece to the familiar tune for the bride, she lifted her chin high with the real smile straight out of her heart, and she took her first step forward, rounding the vine-draped doorway and onto the terrace.

The world was awash in a holy shade of gold in front of her. Sunlight fell at an angle onto the white chairs lining the aisle, onto the ivory and blush roses gracing her path, onto each and every one of the guests who stood up to the music. Familiar and unfamiliar faces smiled at her, some with stunned dazes as they gasped, some with genuinely happy grins, some with their cameras raised. A few young children cheered, and the sound drifted alongside the piano tunes as she glided forward, slowly and gracefully over a carpet of rose petals awaiting her arrival.

She smiled back at every person who sent her their best wishes through their cheers and smiles. She didn’t recognize all of them, but the joy of receiving all the blessings, all the congratulations, all the love made her heart leap all the same, and at that moment, she felt a sense of happiness unlike anything she had known before.

But when her gaze swept across the audience and landed at the end of the aisle, where the burning glow of sunset lit up the arch of white and red roses standing high against the valley beyond, against a backdrop of lush vineyards and endless mountains and vast skies—

She locked eyes with the person waiting for her under the arch.

And then all the rest of the world faded away.