Chapter 23:Does anyone have anything to say to prevent this couple from being together?"
The solemnity of the ceremony enveloped the small gathering as the priest began the sacred proceedings. The air was filled with a sense of anticipation and reverence as the couple stood before him, ready to embark on this new chapter of their lives.
As the priest's voice filled the space, he posed the pivotal question, his words carrying the weight of tradition and commitment. "Do you, Mr. Ethan Sterling, take her, Miss Emily Hertz, as your lawfully wedded wife, to love and to..." The priest's words continued in a blur, but Ethan's response was clear and resolute. "Yes, I do," he affirmed without hesitation.
The same question was then directed to Emily, and her reply mirrored Ethan's determination. "Yes, I do," she answered, her voice steady and unwavering.
The moment hung in the air, pregnant with significance, as the couple exchanged their vows. Their voices carried the promise of unity and the hope of a future together, despite the unconventional circumstances that had brought them here.
Then, the priest turned his attention to the small congregation, his voice carrying the finality of the moment. "Does anyone have anything to say to prevent this couple from being together?" he asked, his words resonating with the age-old question posed at weddings.
The room was steeped in silence, the stillness punctuated only by the hushed breaths of the witnesses. It seemed as though the world had momentarily held its breath, waiting for this pivotal moment to pass.
But then, as if breaking the spell of quietude, someone walked into the room. A figure stepped forward, and their presence was accompanied by a hushed gasp from the attendees. It was a moment that hung in the balance.