"I''ve decided to hold the wedding in Hokkaido. You love that ce so much. I''ve already started the preparations and I''m having a venue built from scratch. I hope it''ll be a surprise. I think you''ll love it. If you don''t, that''s okay too. We can change it to whatever you like. Will you marry me? Even though we''re already registered, I still feel nervous."


    "Elodie, can we just spend the rest of our lives like this?"


    "Elodie, I want to hear you say ''I do'' with your own lips. Can you?"


    The videos went on and on, an uncountable number.


    Hundreds of them. He never once said the word "love," but every single word was steeped in it.


    Starting from years before they were officially together, he had chronicled everything the good, the bad, the bittersweet, the frustrating all of it belonging to Elodie. The half-hour-long video yback left everyone in the roompletely immersed.


    Even though they were already secretly married, Jarrod still felt he owed Elodie a proper wedding. Throughout their first year of marriage, he had secretly recorded everything, filming one proposal video after another, waiting for the day Elodie would make her own firm choice.


    Not one where she was pushed into it.


    He wanted her, uninfluenced by anyone, to marry him simply because she wanted


    to.


    Until...


    The image on therge screen abruptly changed.


    What had been Jarrod''s solo shots were suddenly graced by Elodie''s beautiful, radiant face. She was smiling brightly, still in her wedding dress. The camera shook slightly as the car moved, but her voice reached every ear in the room.


    "I do!"


    Her voice was infectious,ced withughter.


    It was as if the Elodie of today had finally understood the Jarrod of the past, giving him the answer he had wanted for so many years.


    Jarrod then appeared in the frame. He nced at the phone''s camera, a slight smile ying on his lips, his eyes filled with the rxed satisfaction of a long-held wish fulfilled. "Thank you for learning about my wife and me. Now, I''m taking my wife to Hokkaido to see the wedding venue that was built for her years ago. This is our private world now. We''ll receive all of your blessings."


    The video ended, leaving the audience stunned.


    Everyone could tell that thest clip had been recorded just recently.


    It gave everyone closure.


    It was Jarrod''s "ultimate victory" in love.


    The venue suddenly erupted in excited cheers.


    Many of the women began to shed tears, moved by such a profound love story.


    After this, who would ever again say that Jarrod didn''t love Elodie?


    No one could utter such a judgment with a clear conscience. Those who had spected before wished they could turn back time and retract their harsh words.


    There wasn''t a single person in the room who wasn''t moved.


    Esmeralda Mercer and Lily Lockwood both had tears streaming down their faces.


    Losing allposure, they nearly started wailing.


    Esmeralda snatched a few tissues from Lily''s hand. "Men! If only they weren''t so damn reserved! Elodie really lucked out!"


    She might haveined about him in the past, but now, she was genuinely touched.


    She knew, without a doubt, that


    Elodie would be cherished for the


    rest of her life by a love


    that could


    withstand any scrutiny.


    >


    Lily thought of her own disastrous first love and started crying even harder. She turned and met Esmeralda''s gaze.


    The two heartbroken souls instantly connected, hugging each other and sobbing.


    Alexander Sterling watched the two


    of them with a helpless expression, sheepishly asking Octavia for


    another pack of tissues for them to run.


    SWI


    Esmeralda was happy for Elodie, but also heartbroken for herself.


    Meanwhile...


    Fleming Mercer, sitting a few rows behind, had a clear view of the scene.


    When he saw Esmeralda crying, he frowned instinctively.