Chapter 470: [END] Forever With Her
The moment was sweet and simple. No grandeur, just their love blooming under the amber trees.
When the bride and groom parted, Lorianne ran up to Elsie. She giggled as she whispered through her tiny hands, "Mommy! Aunt Lari and Uncle Rudy are married now!"
The little one’s proud declaration broke the small crowd into laughter and applause.
Lariette didn’t do the bouquet toss. Under everyone’s teasing eyes, she simply presented her bouquet to Madeline. She laughed when her friend threw her a look of mock disdain.
"Maddie, it’s a sign!" the elderly Mrs. Walter cheered for her granddaughter, "Your turn’s next!"
Madeline pouted, "Maybe next year! On February 30th!"
More laughter erupted, filling the maple forest with teasing and happiness. Felicia playfully pinched her daughter’s arm, causing Madeline to squirm like a worm.
The reception came next at the same venue. A resort group managed the maple forest, including the nearby area. The place also had cabins and a restaurant.
Hues of amber, violet and gold brushed the sunset sky. Strings of golden lights hung from poles and the trees, swaying with the breeze.
The tables were lined with candles and wildflowers. The setup was simple, yet dreamlike. As music floated across the air, the guests laughed while dancing barefoot on the grass.
At one table, Chairman Delaney sat smiling. He toasted a cup of tea with Declan and Rafael, all shared the same happiness of watching Lariette and Ruediger recite their vows earlier.
From under a tree, Lariette watched it all. She looked at her family, her friends, the people who had stood beside her through everything.
Even though they were just a few, her chest still ached with gratitude.
Then, a hand reached for hers.
"What’s my wife doing here alone?" Ruediger murmured, his eyes softening with tenderness.
Lariette turned and saw her beloved’s gentle expression. His crimson hair gleamed faintly in the fading light. As a smile bloomed on her lips, she squeezed his hand.
"I can’t believe it’s real," she whispered.
He leaned down, brushing his lips on her hair, "It’s real, sweetheart."
Soft laughter escaped her lips. As she snaked her arms around his, she nestled on his shoulder, "Eddy, you know, you always make everything feel like a dream."
"And you," he murmured, affection trickling in his voice, "Make my dreams real, Lettie."
The lights flickered around them, casting a glow on their tender gazes.
The wedding had ended, but the happiness of the day still lingered in the air.
Later, Lariette and Ruediger walked hand in hand toward the cabin, waiting quietly not far from their wedding venue. The windows shimmered with the soft reflection of candlelight, arranged by the venue staff.
After having a long bath, they sat by the windows, both wrapped in robes. Ruediger poured some wine into two glasses and handed one to Lariette.
"Here’s to my beautiful bride," he raised his glass, his emerald eyes softened by the flickering candlelight, "And to every season I’ll spend by her side."
Lariette laughed, her shoulders trembling slightly. She brushed a damp strand of hair from her cheek while raising her glass, "Eddy, you’ll make me blush again."
"That’s my goal," he replied playfully.
They clinked glasses and sipped in silence. The silence between them was thick with warmth. Outside, the maple leaves rustled, as if celebrating the night.
"Lettie," he whispered above her neck, his breath warm, "I love you."
"I love you too, Eddy," she murmured, as easily as breathing, but weighed with her feelings.
As he carried her to the bed, the moon outside rose higher. It glowed pale against the dark, blessing the new beginning of their lifelong journey.
**********
<.Five years later.>
The first rays of the spring morning filtered through the soft curtains. The air was quiet, touched by the rustling of leaves and petals in the yard outside.
Inside the master bedroom, Ruediger stood by the bed while cradling a four-year-old girl with chestnut hair and sapphire eyes. She was dressed in comfy bunny pajamas.
The little one squirmed in his arms, whispering, "Papa, Mama’s still sleeping. Theo, too."
"Yes," he whispered back, glancing at the bed, "Mama’s tired. Esther, let her rest a bit longer."
"Mm..." Esther pouted, a little reluctant, "I want to sleep with Mama and Theo too."
Lariette was sleeping deeply on the bed. By her side lay a baby boy with hair a soft shade of crimson. He slept peacefully, his tiny hand curled near his mother’s heart.
Ruediger set Esther down gently. He patted her little head, "Okay. Stay here. Accompany your mama and Theo, okay?"
"Okay, Papa~"
Esther clambered quietly onto the bed, wriggling beside her baby brother, Theodore. Within minutes, her eyes fluttered closed again, her small hand finding Lariette’s.
Ruediger chukled softly, amused. He murmured, fondness evident in his voice, "A sleepyhead like your mother."
He left them for a moment, stepping outside to brew tea. The morning breeze carried the scent of the fresh flowers blooming in their garden.
Lariette and Ruediger continued living in the apartment until she found herself pregnant with Esther. They wanted to be surrounded by nature, but still resided in the city for the sake of convenience.
Then, Ruediger bought a luxury villa in a newly built residential compound. The entire place was guarded well, and each unit had a vast yard. It only took fifteen minutes by car to reach the middle school.
They moved into the villa when Lariette was six months pregnant. Now, the villa had become their new home.
Ruediger built a jungle gym in the backyard, perfect for the active little Esther. Sometimes, Nathaniel and Elsie would visit, bringing along Lorianne and her little sister, Colette.
By now, both families had new additions. Ruediger and Lariette welcomed Theodore last winter. He was a healthy, five-month-old baby.
In the kitchen, steam rose from the teapot as Ruediger filled two cups. One for himself, while the other waited for Lariette.
When Ruediger returned, the sight that met him softened his heart completely. He had seen this countless times before, but never got tired of it.
Lariette, now half-awake, fluttered her eyes drowsily. Esther and Theodore were both lost in dreams, unaware that their mother had slowly woken up.
Ruediger placed the teacups down. Then, he leaned over the bed, brushing his fingers through Lariette’s hair.
"Honey..." her eyes opened wider, hazy and gentle once she saw him, "Good morning."
"Good morning, sweetheart," he replied softly, bending to kiss her forehead, "Did you sleep well? Any good dream?"
Ruediger was often worried about Lariette. Because she insisted on breastfeeding Theodore, she was often exhausted and lacked sleep. He tried to support her in anything he could do, including waking up at night with her.
Fortunately, Theodore wasn’t a fussy baby. As long as he was fed well and his diapers stayed dry, he could even sleep through the storm.
Lariette reached for Ruediger’s face, her voice barely above a breath, "Hehe, yes. I had a nice dream."
He let her nestle on him, his thumb brushing her cheek, "What did you dream of?"
Her smile deepened, sleepy yet tender. She cast a look at their lovely children, and turned to him again.
"We went back to the treehouse for a trip. You know, where you proposed to me. But this time... we brought our children too."
Ruediger’s heart swelled with quiet joy. He looked at his beloved, then their sleeping little ones.
"Let’s make your dream come true. Maybe this summer? Theo will be a lot bigger by then."
"Hehe, okay~ That’s a promise."
"Yes, it is."
He leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss on her lips. It was filled with the same promise he had made years ago under autumn’s light.
Forever with her.
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A/N:
Anddd! That’s a wrap!
I can’t believe it! Now I have seven completed books on WebNovel :) It’s such a longgg journey and I’m satisfied!
Lariette and Ruediger will be my other favorite couple :) Each one of them is special to me.
And you, the readers, gave me the strength while accompanying me to the end of each journey. I can’t thank you enough :)
I’ll take a break while planning my next book. I struggled with some insomnia so I’ve been relaxing more. I even started reading books and watching dramas again :)
I have a showbiz idea in mind, but maybe I’ll try apocalypse next. Let’s see, I haven’t decided on which one.
And I do have a new book coming out soon, but on another platform (starts with T, named after a Spanish appetizer). It’s a genre I tried before, but gave up halfway.
Fantasy romance, as in the Korean and Japanese-style ones. For example, ’Mother’s Contract Marriage’, ’Who Made Me a Princess’ and ’Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion’.
After almost a year, my story will finally be launched before this month ends. It’s such a long wait :) Aside from trying a new genre, it’s heavier than my usual fluffy romance style.
Once again, thank you for your support until now! :D