Chapter 21
359words
I walked arm in arm with Ethan Shaw, who was so handsome that no one could take their eyes off him, unable to suppress the smile on my face.
As we exchanged rings, he whispered in my ear: "Pearl, I've caught you, and you're mine for the rest of your life."
I stood on my tiptoes, ignoring the good-natured laughter from the audience below, and planted a resounding kiss on his lips in return.
Meanwhile, my brother was busily working on his height-increasing plan, clearly determined not to be overshadowed by Ethan Shaw.
Unfortunately, he was so nervous that he almost tripped on the red carpet, but was steadied by the stunningly beautiful Lily Smith.
She looked at him, her eyes filled with a tenderness and certainty I'd never seen before.
At that moment I knew all my brother's anxiety had vanished into thin air.
During the toast, Lily Smith and I exchanged smiles.
She raised her glass and sincerely said, "Pearl, stay happy always."
I nodded vigorously and clinked glasses with her gently: "You too, sister-in-law."
As the banquet wound down, slightly tipsy, I nestled in Ethan Shaw's arms, playing with the buttons on his shirt.
The system's long-absent voice sounded again, this time with contentment and relief:
"Plot line successfully altered, timeline finally stabilized! Pearl, congratulations—you not only found your own happiness but also protected your brother. Mission complete! Time to say goodbye for good!"
I silently expressed my gratitude.
Without its nudges, Ethan Shaw and I might have taken many more wrong turns.
In the moonlight, Ethan Shaw gently kissed my forehead: "Pearl, keep being your rebellious self. Even if the sky falls, I'll be there to hold it up for you."
"Have you forgotten our previous agreement?"
"You mean that deal?"
"Now that Lily Smith has been taken care of, you owe me one wish, right?"
His eyes lit up with excitement: "Go ahead, I'll do anything you want."
I unbuttoned his shirt, slipped my hand inside, and stared directly into his eyes:
"Really? Then I won't hold back..."
