If the setting hadn't been so formal, Dane would have happily handed Dexter another stack of cash and told him to keep talking.
"Appreciate it."
Dane fought back a deeply amused smirk, his gaze softening considerably as he looked at the teenager.
Claire's adoptive parents, and that miserable piece of work she called a brother, were absolute monsters.
It was refreshing to see that her cousin actually had some redeeming qualities.
The kid was highly observant and knew exactly how to play the game.
And he was an absolute charmer to boot.
Seeing Dane in such a ridiculously good mood left Claire momentarily speechless.
Was he seriously this thrilled just because someone showered him with a few compliments? That didn't seem like the ruthless CEO she knew at all.
At the very least, it entirely contradicted his usual ice-cold persona.
But whatever; as long as he was happy, she didn't mind.
"It's almost time. I need to head into the chapel," Claire murmured to Dane.
"Go ahead." Dane would never dream of holding her back from her duties.
He wasn't technically from The James Village, but as a wedding guest, he was more than welcome to observe from the sidelines.
The heavy chapel doors were already thrown wide open.
Pandora stood at the altar, waiting for Claire's arrival.
As the Clan Leader and Clan Successor, their presence was the absolute foundation of the ceremony.
In the past, Pandora had handled these rituals alone, but now, it was Claire's responsibility to open the sacred registry and announce Edison and Jenny's union to their ancestors.
Claire performed the ritual with flawless grace, her expression intensely solemn and profoundly dignified.
Surrounded by an ecstatic crowd of loved ones, Edison and Jenny finally stepped into the grand chapel.
A highly respected elder of The James Family stepped up to personally officiate The Chapel Ceremony.
The couple held opposite ends of an elegant crimson ribbon, symbolizing their intertwined fates.
"First vow to the heavens and the earth!" the elder chanted, his voice echoing through the hall.
Edison and Jenny bowed deeply, offering their reverence to the world around them.
"Second vow to the family legacy!"
"Third vow to the elders!"
"And finally, bow to each other!"
In a display of perfect, unspoken synergy, the couple turned and bowed to each
other with such flawless synchronization that it looked like they had practiced for years.
"The ceremony is complete!"
At those final, resounding words, Claire stepped forward to light the unity candles, carefully handing them to Edison and Jenny.
The couple gently placed the candles at the altar, offering a glowing tribute to the family's heritage.
With that beautifully silent gesture, The Chapel Ceremony officially drew to a breathtaking close.
The bride and groom looked so exceptionally stunning that the hired photographers couldn't help but whisper that this was the most photogenic wedding they had ever shot.
And beyond the sheer aesthetics, the ceremony possessed a deeply profound, sacred gravity.
It felt as though they had been entirely transported to an era of timeless aristocratic
romance.
Many of the younger guests watching the vows from outside suddenly found themselves yearning for a majestic countryside wedding of their own.
In the past, whenever people left The James Village, they were desperate to mirror big city trends, epting för flashy urban weddings and only returning home for a casual reception.
But after witnessing the sheer elegance of Edison and Jenny's union, everyone's perspective completely shifted.
Standing at the historic altar, exchanging vows officiated by the Clan Leader and her Successor-wasn't that infinitely more romantic?
At the very least, it was a breathtakingly memorable way to start a life together.
One young man, who had brought his girlfriend back for the holidays, squeezed her hand and whispered, "Baby, when we get married, can we do it here in the village too?"
His girlfriend had previously been vehemently against the idea of a rustic countryside wedding.
She had always assumed her boyfriend just wanted to cheap out and save some cash.
But the truth was, despite his modest background, he never hesitated to give her the absolute best of everything.
He never missed a single birthday or anniversary, always spoiling her with lavish gifts and generous financial surprises.
Coming from a comfortably upper-middle-class family herself, she certainly wasn't hurting for money or luxuries.
But who didn't love a man who poured his entire heart into treating her like a queen?
When her inner circle first found out
her boyfriend was from a rural village they had been brutally judgmental, nearly causing her to reconsider the relationship entirely.
However, she had ultimately been won over by his relentless, unwavering devotion.
Fortunately, her parents were incredibly open-minded, suggesting that if she truly
loved the guy, she should visit his hometown and see it for herself.
If the locals were genuine and his family treated her with the absolute respect she deserved...
Then they would happily give their blessing for the marriage.
The only stipulations were that the couple had to build their careers in the city they had children, and whet one would take her maiden name,
and the other would take his.