Clifford couldn’t rember the last ti he felt this nervous and excited all at once. His hands fumbled clumsily with his tie, frustration mounting as he failed to get it right.
Coming from a broken family, monts like this carried a bittersweet weight. His parents divorced when he was nineteen, and shortly after, both remarried and moved abroad to start new families. Clifford chose to stay behind and live on his own.
People pitied him, but he never saw himself as unlucky. Both his mother and father continued to support him financially and even left their properties in the country in his na.
"Look at you," Rain teased gently, stepping in to fix his tie. Her smile was warm, and her touch calm and steady as she adjusted it with practiced ease.
Sanya followed close behind, holding Clifford’s suit jacket. She helped him slip it on with the sa care a sister might show her younger brother. Since he was nineteen, these two won had beco his family... his pillars.
"Did you tell your mom and dad about today?" Sanya asked casually as she smoothed out his suit jacket.
"I did," Clifford replied with a small smile. "They were thrilled, but they can’t travel anymore. They already t Kelly through a video call, though."
Rain patted his shoulder encouragingly.
His voice softened as he continued, "Once Kelly is stable, we’ll visit them together. I want her to et everyone in person."
His eyes held a determined light as he spoke. Despite the challenges, Clifford was hopeful. He believed Kelly would stay by his side for a long, long ti.
"You’re all set now," Rain said, stepping back to admire her work.
"And the bride is ready!" Sanya chirped with excitent. "She looks absolutely stunning!"
Rain chuckled as she looped her arm through Clifford’s. "Co on, let’s get in place. You’ve got a wedding to attend."
The ceremony was being held in the grand hall of the institute’s in-house building. Beautiful arrangents of fresh flowers adorned every corner, filling the space with a refreshing, romantic fragrance.
As the procession began, Clifford walked first and stood at the makeshift altar. Sanya took on the role of host, keeping the atmosphere lively. Rain, his best woman, walked ahead of him down the aisle before taking her place by his side.
"And now, ladies and gentlen, let us all rise and welco the bride!" Sanya’s voice rang out.
Clifford’s heart raced as the music swelled. Then she appeared...
Kelly walked slowly down the aisle, her arm linked with her mother’s. Her dress was simple yet elegant, the one he’d chosen for her with care. She looked radiant, glowing with a beauty that took his breath away.
Their eyes t, and she smiled... a smile so sweet it could have lted even the coldest heart. Clifford felt an overwhelming rush of emotions. His chest tightened, and tears welled in his eyes.
In that mont, he silently promised himself that if it were possible, he would trade half of his own life just to guarantee they could share the rest of hers together.
She was everything he had ever dread of, and as she reached him at the altar, Clifford knew one thing for certain: he was the luckiest man in the world.
Kelly reached Clifford at the altar, her eyes shimring with emotion. The way she looked at him was enough to steady his racing heart. He extended his hand, and she placed hers in his, their fingers intertwining as if they were puzzle pieces made to fit together.
The officiant cleared his throat, his warm smile reflecting the mood of the room. "Dear friends and family, we gather here today to witness and celebrate the union of two souls who have found their ho in one another."
As the officiant spoke, Clifford couldn’t take his eyes off Kelly. She was breathtaking, her radiant smile lighting up the entire room. Every word of the ceremony passed through his ears like a soft lody, but his focus remained entirely on her.
When it was ti to exchange vows, Clifford took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly as he held Kelly’s.
"Kelly," he began, his voice laced with emotion. "I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I thank God every day for bringing you into my life. You are my strength, my light, and my hope. No matter what challenges we face, I promise to stand by you, to support you, and to love you with everything I have, for as long as I’m breathing."
Kelly’s eyes glistened with tears as she smiled up at him. "Clifford," she began, her voice soft but steady. "You ca into my life when I needed hope the most. You’ve shown what it ans to be truly loved, and you’ve given a reason to believe in tomorrow. I promise to cherish you, to share in your joys, and to face every challenge together. You are my heart, my ho, and my everything."
There wasn’t a dry eye in the hall as they exchanged rings, their hands trembling with both nerves and excitent. When the officiant finally announced, "You may now kiss the bride," Clifford wasted no ti.
He cupped her face gently, his thumbs brushing against her cheeks as he leaned in. Their lips t in a kiss that was both tender and passionate, sealing their vows and the love they had promised to one another.
The hall erupted into applause, cheers echoing throughout the hall. Rain clapped the loudest, wiping away a few stray tears, while Sanya gave a triumphant whistle.
As they turned to face their family and friends, now officially husband and wife, Clifford felt an overwhelming sense of peace and joy. He glanced at Kelly, who was beaming with happiness, and whispered, "You’re mine forever now."
Kelly grinned and squeezed his hand. "And you’re mine."
The celebration that followed was filled with laughter, heartfelt speeches, and dancing.
Clifford and Kelly shared their first dance as a married couple to a soft, romantic tune, swaying together as if no one else was in the room.
Later in the evening, as they sat side by side watching their guests enjoy the festivities, Kelly leaned her head against Clifford’s shoulder. "This is everything I dread of and more," she murmured.
Clifford kissed the top of her head. "It’s only the beginning, my love. Just wait until you see what the rest of our life looks like."
And in that mont, surrounded by their closest friends and family, Clifford and Kelly knew they had everything they could ever need: each other.
***
anwhile, as the celebration continued, Ivan pulled out a chair and sat beside Rain, who was montarily alone at the table. He exhaled heavily, clearly frustrated, before saying,
"This is such a rare situation, don’t you think? The CEO of the institute fell in love with a patient subject. It’s like watching so kind of lodrama."
Rain chuckled, catching the hint of irritation in Ivan’s voice. Having worked with him for years, she knew him well enough to see through his facade. Ivan was thodical and driven, and any disruption to his research, especially one involving human emotions, left him anxious.
"Clifford’s feelings for Kelly aren’t exactly sothing anyone can control," Rain said, trying to keep the mood light. "Love doesn’t operate on a scientific tiline, Ivan."
Ivan let out a heavy sigh, leaning closer to her and lowering his voice. "Still, if you were in Clifford’s position, would you hesitate to let Kelly try the serum I’ve formulated? Especially given the risks?"
Rain gave him a knowing smile. "Of course, I would. You can’t bla Clifford for being cautious. It’s Kelly we’re talking about here. We both know the serum hasn’t been tested enough on humans to predict its effects accurately. Rats aren’t exactly perfect substitutes, no matter how similar their biology might be."
Ivan nodded, his lips pressing into a tight line. "You’re right, but we’re running out of ti. The longer we wait, the slimr our chances." He glanced around the room, ensuring no one was within earshot before continuing, his tone more serious. "And there’s sothing else. Your father-in-law’s condition isn’t as promising as Kelly’s."
Rain froze for a mont, her expression carefully neutral as her eyes instinctively sought out Alexander. He was across the room, laughing and drinking with William and Clifford.
anwhile, Sanya and Kelly were chatting nearby with Kelly’s mother and a few select family mbers.
"Ivan..." she began, her voice quieter now, "you’ve been monitoring both cases closely. What’s your recomndation? Should we... try the earlier version of the serum? The one Kelly used in her first trial? It slowed the cancer cells’ spread back then, didn’t it?"
Ivan rubbed his temples, visibly conflicted. "It did, yes. It was one of the more promising iterations. But your father-in-law isn’t an official test subject, Rain. Administering that serum to him would be completely illegal... FDA approval is still far off."
Rain bit the inside of her cheek, feeling the weight of his words. "I know," she murmured. Her gaze drifted back to Alexander, her thoughts racing. "But if it’s the only chance we have to buy him more ti, it’s sothing we’ll have to consider."
"We’ll be risking a lot. If anything goes wrong, there will be consequences, both legally and ethically," Ivan reminded
Rain t his gaze, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "I understand that. But this isn’t just about the science, Ivan. It’s about family. We’ll find a way to make it work. I’ll talk to William and Father Rock about it..."
Ivan sighed again, but this ti there was a glimr of understanding in his eyes. "Well, if you decide to go down that road, let know. I’ll make sure everything’s ready on my end."
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