Chapter 9
The sound pierced through the dust of time and caught Hugo off guard.
That was a long time ago, when Edwin and Marcella first forced Hugo and Adeline to separate, and when Steffie got married.
Although Hugo tried his best to conceal it, Adeline still heard the news.
That day she stood in front of Hugo, not crying, but it hurt Hugo more
than if she had cried.
How did Hugo respond later?
Hugo held her tightly and swore, “I will not marry anyone else but you.”
Every word Hugo said at that time was filled with scorching heat, leaving a mark in Hugo’s memory. Now, at this sacred wedding venue, it has become the sharpest irony.
“Hugo?”
“Hugo!”
With a smile, the urging voice abruptly pulled Hugo back to reality.
Hugo quickly came to his senses and saw Steffie looking up at him with a shy and timid expression on her face. Her carefully drawn eyes were filled with pure, future expectations.
Countless blessings and hopeful gazes followed Steffie’s gaze, focusing on Hugo like stage spotlights, leaving him with nowhere to hide.
Hugo forced himself to lift his heavy arm and pick up the expensive diamond ring.
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Chapter 9
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It was so delicate, so cold, pressing heavily on Hugo’s fingertips.
Hugo then took Steffie’s fair and delicate hand in his, her ring finger right before his eyes, the fingertips trembling slightly, like a butterfly waiting to settle in the wind.
The cold metal edge of the ring touched her warm knuckle.
At that moment, Steffie’s carefully trimmed and painted bright red fingernail on her finger inexplicably blurred and transformed into the appearance of another pair of hands – hands that were always neatly trimmed but never painted, the most beautiful hands Hugo had ever seen.
That was hers, it was Adeline’s hand that Hugo loved the most.
Following suit, Steffie also put the wedding ring on the ring finger of Hugo’s right hand.
“Now, the groom can kiss the bride.”
Cheers and applause erupted suddenly like a tidal wave, sweeping through the entire space.
In the midst of the noisy waves, Hugo stiffened his body and lowered his head slightly to approach Steffie in front of him.
The distance between the two of them was getting closer and closer, and the strong scent of Steffie’s floral perfume penetrated Hugo’s nostrils, like an invisible membrane tightly enveloping him.
His hand hanging by his side clenched suddenly, Hugo closed his eyes and gently placed a kiss on Steffie’s soft lips.
In a brief kiss, Hugo did not feel the excitement of a newlywed. All he could think about was a lingering image: in a dim hallway, Adeline tiptoed, quickly planted a kiss on his lips, then swiftly retreated and disappeared around the corner, leaving only a blur of a white skirt.
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Chapter 9
That was their first kiss, although very sudden, although very brief.
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But it excited Hugo for a long time, and even now Hugo still remembers Adeline’s soft lips, as well as the faint floral scent on her when she kissed
him.
“Congratulations on becoming husband and wife, I wish you a hundred years of happiness together.”
Outside the floor–to–ceiling window, fireworks bloomed and filled the entire sky, and the wedding finally came to an end.
The next moment, Hugo’s calm eyes suddenly lit up, as if the trapped beast in the cage had finally found eternal freedom.
Hugo ignored Steffie’s astonished cry, his parents‘ shocked screams, and the guests‘ puzzled discussions.
Hugo burst out of the cage that had imprisoned him, shedding the suit jacket that had bound his movements like shackles. He quickly opened the car door, stomped on the gas pedal, and raced off into the distance.
Hugo clenched the steering wheel tightly, his veins bulging and his hands shaking violently. He pursed his lips, his eyes fixed firmly on the road ahead, with only one thought in his mind.
Faster, even faster!
Hurry back, and then take Adeline away from here completely, to live a life with only him and her!
After a sudden brake, Hugo didn’t even bother to stop the car completely. He quickly opened the door and strode towards the villa.
“Aline, we could leave, right now!”
Hugo pushed open Adeline’s room door excitedly as he spoke.
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Chapter 9
At that moment, Hugo’s excited smile froze on his face!
The room still maintained the appearance of Hugo’s departure, with Adeline’s frequently read books spread out on the bed, but their owner was nowhere to be seen!
“Aline?”
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