The priest cleared his throat and asked, "Are you both ready to make your vows?""Yes, we're ready," James replied, snapping back to attention.They had indeed become too engrossed in their conversation earlier, causing a delay in the proceedings.With that, the wedding ceremony officially commenced.The priest held the Bible solemnly and asked, "Mr. Quigley, do you take Ms. Charter to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?""I do!" James declared.The priest nodded and then turned to Summer. "Ms. Charter, do you take Mr. Quigley to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health..." Amidst the gaze of the crowd, the priest began to speak slowly, heightening the atmosphere to its peak. However, something unexpected happened! As the priest was
Norman gestured for the security guards stationed behind the church pillars to intervene and remove Hank and Simone.However, they didn't leave quietly.When the security guards tried to restrain them, Hank and Simone resisted, holding onto the pews and refusing to move."James, you've married a tainted woman. Summer is like an old shoe to me. Do you really think she'll love you? She's only after your money," Hank shouted hoarsely. Simone chimed in, "Yeah, she's just a vain woman. This wedding isn't right!" Their intention to disrupt the wedding was evident.Despite ongoing discussions and criticisms from the guests, James ignored them and went straight to embrace Summer, wrapping his arms tightly around her slender waist.Summer was taken aback by James's sudden gesture.It took her a moment to gather herself, and by then, James's lips had already met hers. They embraced each other, exuding warmth and affection.The guests were left stunned.The once bustling atmosphere tu
Finally, Summer was married, officially embarking on her journey as a wife. Inside the sacred and solemn church, the ancient bells rang, symbolizing the union of marriage. The sound was serene and melodious, resonating in the hearts of all present.The air was filled with applause, along with heartfelt blessings from all around.Despite the recent unpleasant events, the guests swiftly shifted their focus. They extended heartfelt blessings, acknowledging the sincere love shared between Summer and James.In the evening, the wedding reception was filled with joy.James escorted Summer, adorned in a white wedding gown, to greet guests all around.After their wedding ceremony at the church, they moved to the hotel for the reception.A reception hosted by the Quigley family was indeed extraordinary.Traditionally, guests attending reception were expected to give gifts, but James went against the norm. Instead of anticipating gifts, he generously presented each guest with one.
Fred and Norman surprisingly hit it off well, sharing hearty laughter as they clinked their glasses together.However, Amelia and Caroline struggled to connect.Throughout the dinner, Amelia made efforts to chat with Caroline. Nevertheless, Caroline kept her distance, responding with short replies. "Mrs. Quigley, how about we plan a family outing sometime soon? I've heard there's a beautiful island off the east coast," Amelia suggested. "Sorry, but I'm afraid of getting sunburned," Caroline responded. "What about sports? I remember Summie mentioning that James is quite good at badminton. My husband and I enjoy playing too." "I don't play sports," Caroline replied coldly. Summer couldn't stand to watch. She felt like flipping the table. Caroline had always bullied her, but now she was even disrespecting Amelia. As Summer simmered in frustration, Norman nudged Caroline's elbow under the table, silently urging her to speak more tactfully. They were both aware of the sig
"Summer, James has agreed to my condition. If I consented to this marriage, you need to get pregnant within six months. If he hasn't told you, then I'll tell you now." Summer's mouth fell open in shock, her body trembling at the revelation. How could James agree to such a thing? Did he think she was some kind of breeding sow? Furthermore, Summer hadn't even discussed the idea of having children with him. Yet, he readily accepted Caroline's demand without asking for her opinion. Initially, Summer had been filled with joy, but now, she couldn't find any happiness within herself. Caroline observed Summer's shocked expression and softly nudged her. "Did you understand? You must conceive within six months. Otherwise, I won't be as lenient with you." Summer had never experienced genuine kindness from Caroline, and she didn't appreciate her insincere gestures anyway. However, conceiving within six months would pose quite a challenge. Summer understood she needed to discuss thi
Summer couldn't help but notice the underlying threat in Caroline's words. Essentially, Caroline implied that if Summer didn't comply, she would use her influence to dismantle the Charter Corporation. While Charter Corporation had grown from a small enterprise to a medium-sized one, it paled in comparison to conglomerates like the Quigley Group. It was akin to comparing an ant to an elephant. As a consultant and board member of the Quigley Group, Caroline held significant influence. If she decided to manipulate things behind James's back, it wouldn't take her much effort. Consequently, Summer felt as though she was being backed into a corner by Caroline, leaving her with no option but to comply. "I understand, Mom," Summer said. Observing Summer's compliance, Caroline nodded. "Good. Make sure you return to the Quigley residence in the next few days. And remember, don't let James find out about this." Summer immediately understood Caroline's intentions. If James found o
Summer hoped to gain Caroline's blessing for her marriage, so she endeavored to win her approval.However, she remembered a commitment James had made to Caroline when she returned home."James, did you make a deal with your mom?" she asked. Upon hearing her words, James realized she had found out everything. Without denying it, he honestly replied, "I promised my mom that we would have a child within six months if she consented to the wedding.""Do you think having a baby is easy?" Summer angrily punched his chest.James didn't understand how painful childbirth was. A nine-month-pregnancy was a challenging journey, as pregnant women were restricted from eating certain foods and engaging in many activities.Summer exclaimed, "If you want a child, you can bear it yourself. I won't do it."Although she had never given birth herself, she harbored an inexplicable fear of it. Perhaps this fear stemmed from the TV shows she watched or her mother's words. She believed that childbirth
Summer asked, "If we don't take care of our child ourselves and bond with them, isn't it no different from not having a child at all?"You've been alone since birth, only able to receive the superior education provided by your family. Do you want your child to experience the same?"Summer believed James understood the sadness of growing up in a prestigious family. They didn't have a happy childhood, deprived of joy and burdened with immense responsibility. That was the fate of children born in wealthy families.James began to seriously consider what Summer had said. His expression turned solemn. He nodded silently before settling back onto the couch.Summer interpreted his demeanor as reflective. She approached him and gently prodded him with her finger."You understand the challenges of raising a child, don't you? You wouldn't lightly decide to want one within six months again, would you?"She hoped James would recognize the difficulties of parenthood.He shouldn't hastily