Chapter 244: Chapter 244: Going Public, Ending the Hidden Marriage
The sea breeze gently brushed the wisps of hair from Wren Sutton’s forehead, the starlight reflecting in her clear eyes.
She could feel Adrian Lancaster’s gaze, raw with a burning heat and deep affection, blanketing her in silence.
A wave of sweetness washed over Wren, mixed with a bashfulness that made her instinctively lower her gaze. A smile she couldn’t hide played on her lips.
In such a romantic atmosphere, she knew what he wanted to do.
"Making a wish under the starry sky by the sea, eating barbecue, watching fireworks," Adrian Lancaster’s voice rang out, deeper than usual, like the gentle pluck of a cello string. Each word, coated in a magnetic quality, flowed slowly into Wren’s ears.
He paused for a moment, his gaze still locked on her. Tilting his head slightly, he looked as serious as if he were pondering a difficult problem.
"But it still feels like something is missing."
Wren’s heart skipped a beat. She understood his unspoken meaning.
As she recalled, she had never been the one to kiss Adrian Lancaster first. It was always him, relentlessly pursuing her with his kisses.
This time, she wanted to take the initiative.
Wren suppressed the blush spreading from the tips of her ears, took a deep breath, and summoned her courage. She lifted her starlit eyes and gazed into Adrian’s deep ones.
Then, she leaned forward slightly and kissed him.
"A kiss under the stars for the man I love."
In that instant, it was as if ten thousand fireworks had exploded in Adrian’s eyes.
He was stunned at first, then an irrepressible joy surged through him, transforming into a deep, dark intensity in his eyes.
Just as Wren was about to pull away, he reacted with lightning speed. His large, warm hand wrapped firmly around her slender waist, pulling her gently into his embrace.
"Trying to run away already?"
The man’s low, husky voice was thick with amusement and tenderness.
Then, he lowered his head and captured her soft lips, turning the tables and taking the lead.
Wren let out a muffled sound. "Mmph..."
She felt the warm, real touch of Adrian’s lips on hers. As their lips lingered and moved against each other, the faint sweetness of the honey-roasted walnuts they’d eaten earlier remained.
That sweetness was soon overwhelmed by a scent that was uniquely his—a clean, crisp aroma like a pine forest after a snowfall, yet carrying his distinctive warmth. It powerfully invaded her every breath.
Her initial shyness and fluster gradually melted away under Adrian’s gentle yet firm guidance, replaced by complete immersion.
Wren closed her eyes, her hands on his shoulders slowly tightening. Her fingertips dug into the crisp fabric of his shirt as she gave herself over to him completely, eagerly matching his rhythm.
Wren’s response was undoubtedly the most potent catalyst for Adrian.
A low, pleased sigh escaped his throat. With a slight flex of his arms, he effortlessly lifted her onto his lap.
The new position brought them even closer, more intimate, so close that they could clearly feel each other’s racing heartbeats.
Adrian deepened the kiss.
The sea breeze continued to blow, but it couldn’t disperse the passionate romance swirling around them.
It was impossible to tell how long the deep, lingering kiss lasted.
It went on until Wren was breathless, and only then did Adrian reluctantly, bit by bit, release her.
Their foreheads rested against each other, breaths mingling as they both panted slightly.
Gazing at her lips, reddened and glistening from their kiss, the adoration and smile in his eyes threatened to overflow.
"I have another gift for you."
Adrian’s voice was laced with the languor of passion, yet it held an undeniable seriousness.
With that, he set Wren down on the chair, then slowly and solemnly knelt on one knee.
"..." Wren’s breath hitched. Her pupils widened slightly, and her fingers, which had been curled from their kiss, instinctively tightened, clutching the hem of her clothes.
Her eyes followed Adrian’s every move as he pulled a small, square, dark blue velvet box from his coat pocket.
The color of the box was a perfect match for the deep night sky above them.
Adrian opened the box. On the velvet lining, a diamond ring rested, quietly radiating light.
The main stone was an incredibly brilliant pink diamond, held aloft by an exquisite setting. It caught the light from the stars, moon, and distant fires, refracting a dreamy, illusory pink halo.
The tiny white diamonds encrusting the band sparkled like a cluster of stars around the moon.
Adrian’s gaze lifted from the ring to Wren’s face, looking deeply into her eyes.
Then, he took her left hand and slid the ring onto her ring finger.
It was a perfect fit.
Wren: "..."
After placing the ring on Wren’s finger, Adrian didn’t immediately let go of her hand.
His palm was warm, and he enclosed her newly ringed hand within his, holding it like a long-lost, priceless treasure.
He looked up at her, his deep eyes churning with emotions more profound than the sea itself.
"It really is a perfect fit," Adrian murmured, his thumb gently caressing the smooth face of the pink diamond.
"Just like it was always meant to be here. And just like you, Wren Sutton, were always meant to be my wife."
As his words faded, he reached into his pocket with his other hand and pulled out his phone.
Wren’s heart was still pounding from the shock of hearing him say "my wife." She watched his actions, confused.
Adrian woke the screen, opened an app, and quickly tapped a few things.
Then, he took Wren’s hand, lacing their fingers together. He lifted their joined hands in front of them and aimed his phone’s camera at them.
Through the lens, the pink diamond’s fire was even more dazzling. It formed a stark yet harmonious contrast between her slender, fair fingers and his long, strong knuckles.
"What are you...?" Wren asked, confused.
As far as she could remember, Adrian never took pictures on his own initiative.
Adrian turned his head and gave her a reassuring smile, but his eyes were unusually resolute.
He adjusted the angle to make sure parts of their faces were also in the shot.
Her slightly flushed profile, his sharply-defined jaw, and in the background, the deep, star-filled night sky and the faint glimmer of the waves.
"Are you ready, Mrs. Lancaster?"
Before Wren could fully react, Adrian pressed the shutter button.
The flash went off, then faded.
He released her hand and looked down, typing quickly on the phone screen with a focused expression and a smile on his lips.
A few seconds later, he tapped "Send."
Then, he turned the phone screen toward Wren.
It was his social media profile. He had just posted a new update. There was no long caption, just a single, simple sentence.
My wife, Wren Sutton.
The accompanying picture was the one he had just taken. It was incredibly atmospheric; the love and sense of belonging practically overflowed from the screen.
The post had barely been up for a second before the number of likes and comments started to jump wildly.
"..." Wren stared blankly at the screen before looking down at the ring on her hand.
She felt a mix of shock, profound emotion, surprise, and a hint of being overwhelmed.
She was so happy, she was at a loss for words.
Their secret marriage had been an agreement between her and Adrian. To be precise, it had been Adrian’s request, and she had gone along with it.
But now, he had just announced their secret to the world in a way that left no room for retreat.
"Adrian, you..." Wren opened her mouth, a million thoughts crowding her throat.
Adrian put his phone away and cupped her face in his hands.
"Wren." His voice was steady and clear, every word landing squarely in her heart.
"I’ve really fallen in love with you. So, so much."
He took a deep breath, his eyes shining as brightly as the stars.
"This ring isn’t just a promise and a gift to you. It’s a declaration."
"From this moment on, I want the whole world to know that you’re my wife and I’m your husband. Our marriage is a secret no more."
Wren burst into tears of joy, her lips curving into a wide smile.
"Okay," she choked out, her smile more brilliant than ever.
"Then let the whole world know I’m your Mrs. Lancaster."
A smile of both relief and utter satisfaction finally spread across Adrian’s face.
He stood up, pulled Wren into his embrace, and leaned down to kiss the tearstains from her face.
The sea breeze blew on, the river of stars stretched across the heavens. For those in love, their love would be eternal.
