Chapter 594 - IN ANOTHER LIFE

Song used: The One That Got Away by Katy Perry

Saturday came and Cayenne woke up before Stefan. She didn't wait for her him to wake up and started preparing to leave the house. She even chose the matching outfit that they should wear. After that she went to the kitchen to make breakfast. Instead of going to Justin's home, she cancelled her appointment with the children because she's planning to visit Marian and witness her wedding.

Meanwhile, John arrived with the priest that he arranged to conduct their wedding. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt didn't argue with him on this matter anymore. They kept apologizing to him but John didn't listen to them. His attention was fully given to his future wife. He has no time for anyone else.

"Babe, I'm sorry. I'm sorry if I can't give you a grand wedding. I'm just a poor man whom you fall in love with."

"I'm not marrying you for money." Marian retorted with a pout. "Who cares if you are poor? I will just raise you for the rest of my life."

"Hn. I'll be living off of you. So, don't forget our vows today." John held Marian's hand and kissed it again and again. "I won't forget you for the rest of my life."

The priest moved to the other side of the hospital bed and smiled towards Marian. It was a smile of encouragement. "Good morning, everyone. We are here today to witness the union of these two souls …" The priest continued speaking while Marian's strength started slipping away from her body.

In her mind she could see the wonderful church of Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Therese, decorated with lots of pink carnations and roses. She could see her best friend walking down the aisle ahead of her. She could see Seiji and Arthur. She found her mom and dad, holding each of her hand as they walked her down the aisle. She could see John, the man that she only loved in her life.

Marian closed her eyes and lived in the moment. The voice of the priest was fading to the background and she could no longer hear him.

"John Legaspi, do you take this woman to be your wife, to live together in holy matrimony, to love her, to honor her, to comfort her, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"

"Yes, I do." John answered without the slightest hesitation and doubt in himself.

The priest turned to Marian and asked the same question, "Marian Wyatt, do you take this man to be your husband, to live together in holy matrimony, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"

The room sank into silence. Marian's slow breathing kept them on edge. Whenever she paused for a long time, it felt like she robbed them off of oxygen to breath.

"Marian Wyatt, do you take this man to be your husband, to live together in holy matrimony, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?" the priest asked once again.

As if a veil was lifted off of her face, Marian opened her eyes and saw John kneeling beside her hospital bed. Her parents were looking at her at the foot of the bed while Veronica kept crying at the window.

There was no music, no flowers, no church and entourage. The wedding she was seeing in mind wasn't the same wedding she's having in reality. It's not that she wasn't satisfied. In fact, she was very happy to get married to the man that she loved. But she didn't want to be selfish, she didn't want to tie someone to her who's dying.

Tears fell on the side of her face as she held onto John's hands. Her parched lips and pale face made her look so fragile and sickly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I know how much you love me and I am so thankful for that. I will forever remember it and carry it with me until my last breath. John, I never regretted meeting you. I am so thankful that I became part of your life. And thank you. Thank you for thinking about me. Thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for taking care of me. I just couldn't thank you enough. At the same time – "

"No, please. Please, don't refuse me." John cried, kissing her hand again and again.

"John listen to me. I'm not the right woman for you. You still have a long life to live. Please live on and be happy. Please find someone else who can fill the void in your heart. You don't have to feel sorry for me. You don't have to feel guilty. I will be fine. I will wait for you in the next life. If there's a next life, let's fight all odds to be together. Don't bother with status and money. I will wait for you."

"Marian, please. I can't do what you're asking me. Just say 'yes'. Just say 'I do' and everything will be over. In this life, I will not marry anyone but you. Just please give me this chance. In this life, in the next, and the next life after next, I will only love you."

Cayenne and Stefan were running to the hospital room and this was the scene they found. It was heartbreaking. It was devastating. Even if they were just onlookers, they could feel the pain that the two lovers were going through.

"John, I love you."

"So, "Marian Wyatt, do you take this man to be your husband, to live together in holy matrimony, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"

Marian smiled and tried to raise her hand to touch John's face but it only stopped halfway before she had gone limp and her hand fell on the side of the bed.

Two words. She only needed to say those two words and the ceremony can be completed in a short time but she didn't. If it was few years back, those words would have been her happiness. But at the last moment, she chose to be selfless and gave him freedom.