The stately church bells rang, white doves flew, sunlight shone through the stained glass, and roses bloomed delicately.
Flowers came into blossom and guests filled the seats.
All eyes fell on the newcomer.
"Yes, I do." Gu Zhichuan stared at the bride in front of him.
He was so focused that it was as if he was looking at the love of his life.
But Lin Gantang knew that this was not so.
She was beautifully made-up, adorning a stunning dress. She had on a haute couture wedding dress that had been in the making for several months. The groom in front of her was the pride of his parents. His wealth, appearance, and ability were all outstanding.
Everyone envied her for marrying into the Gu family.
"Then, bride, do you take this man to be your husband and enter into a marriage contract with him?" The priest smiled and continued, "To love him, cherish him, and be faithful to him until the end of your life, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health?"
Lin Gantang held the pink bouquet and looked quietly at Gu Zhichuan.
The bride did not answer the priest's question for a long time. The guests looked at each other and exchanged words. For a moment, the church was abuzz with conversation.
Gu Zhichuan frowned.
Lin Mingzhuo didn't know what his troublesome daughter was up to. He snorted. "Gantang!"
Lin Gantang smiled. Her glowing face had a desolate smile for some reason.
"No, I don't." She lifted her gaze.
The guests were in an uproar!
Lin Gantang tossed aside the bouquet, forcefully tore the veil from her hair, and threw it on the ground. "No, I don't. Today's wedding ends here."
Gu Zhichuan grabbed her as she turned around to leave. His eyes were filled with reproach, his expression extremely cold. "Do you think you can throw a tantrum on such an occasion as today?"
Gu Zhichuan did not know why Lin Gantang, who had insisted on and demanded to marry him, had changed her mind. However, he knew that if the bride ran away, the Gu family would become the laughingstock of C City.
"Let go."
Of course, Gu Zhichuan did not listen to her. Lin Gantang did not know whether she should find it funny or sad. She coolly looked at him and asked the question that she had wanted to ask in both her previous and current lives, "Gu Zhichuan, have you figured out who you love?"
Gu Zhichuan's expression turned even uglier.
Lin Mingzhuo was enraged by the sudden change. He furiously stood and said, "Lin Gantang! Think carefully about what you're doing!"
Lin Zhaonan and his father were seated right at the front. He clearly heard his sister Gantang's question to Gu Zhichuan. He stood up and pulled his father back, frowning. "Dad, Gantang insisted on marrying Gu Zhichuan back then. Do you think she would go back on her word? Since she went back on her word, does she have a reason?"
"Reason?" Mrs. Gu stood up and spewed. "If she didn't want to get married, she should have said so earlier. Why did she have to wait until the wedding started? Is she deliberately making a joke out of our Gu family?"
Mr. Gu also stood up. "That's right. In-law, it's unkind, what the Lin family is doing."
Lin Mingzhuo's face turned red. Lin Zhaonan took a step forward to block off the Gu family's questioning. He glanced at Lin Gantang from the corner of his eye. She had already shaken Gu Zhichuan off and ran away.
She escaped her marriage.
Lin Gantang thought that it would be great if she could have come back earlier. At least, she would not viciously hurt Wen Yanqing again.
In her previous life, Gu Zhichuan had given her emotional manipulation, betrayal, and adultery.
And Wen Yanqing had given her a lifetime of deep affection.
Wen Yanqing had confessed to her many times and had always been waiting for her. However, she did not cherish him and even abandoned him and chased him away, pursuing the love she thought she had.
Later, when she married Gu Zhichuan, Wen Yanqing watched her walk into the hall. He was heartbroken and left the country, dying of severe alcoholism.
She remembered that, at a gathering, Shi Jun had gotten drunk and said that Wen Yanqing's death was because of her.
Wen Yanqing boarded a flight to Country B on that very day.
Gantang walked briskly. She kicked off her high heels and started to run. The fresh rose petals on the red carpet were stirred up by the wedding dress. They drifted in a circle and slowly fell.
She ran out of the hall and looked around.
In the end, it was too late.