Chapter 452


    ra walked slowly up to the portrait of herte mother, May. Her slender fingers caressed the


    image of her mother''s cheek, her voice slightly hoarse. "Mom, it''s me, ra, the daughter you


    risked your own life to save. I''m here now."


    At these words, tears that Marian had been holding back broke free, streaming down her cheeks.


    "May," Marian said through her tears, "it must have been your guiding spirit that led us to find ra.


    Rest assured, from now on, we will take good care of her. Rest in peace."


    She handed ra a flower, her voice choked with emotion. "ra, give this for your mom and pay


    your respects. May she watch over you and your child and keep you both safe."


    ra took the flower, and bowed several times in front of the portrait.


    With a solemn face, Ian addressed the portrait. "May, thank you for trusting me with ra before


    she was even born. We''re nowwfully wed, and she carries the future of the Hayes family. I


    promise to treat her well for all my days. Rest easy."


    He took out a ruby ne from his pocket and ced it around ra''s neck. "ra," he said in a


    deep voice, "this was the token of mymitment to you. Now, in front of May, I fulfill herst wish


    by giving it to you."


    He kissed her forehead, solemnly vowing, "I will love you for a lifetime."


    Marian was moved to see her daughter''s wishes fulfilled, and the evident love between the young


    couple. She wiped away a tear. "I''m sure your mother''s spirit is overjoyed and at peace. Once your


    wedding isplete, this matter wille full circle."


    Helping ra to her feet, Ian spoke humbly. "I''vee to discuss the wedding ns with you. Both


    my father and Joe have no objections. They''ve said the date is up to you, and they will follow yourThis is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    lead."


    The mention of the wedding immediately energized Marian. "The sooner, the better. ra is


    showing more each day, and we wouldn''t want her struggling in her wedding dress. As for the date,


    let your Casey choose. He raised ra from a child; it''s only right he has a say."


    "Okay, I''ll have him set a date soon, and I''ll take care of the rest."


    As they conversed, they descended from the small building just in time to see Edwin arriving,


    looking utterly disheveled and irate.


    "Eddie, why are you sote? You''ve arrived even after ra and Ian, not setting much of an


    example as a brother," Marian chided.


    Edwin shot Ian a cold stare and grumbled, "You might want to ask this guy here. He promised to let


    mee with them, but he gave me a time that was a full hour after the ne had taken off. I had


    to buy a new ticket at the airport ande on my own."


    Ian replied with an unconcerned smirk. "Today is ra''s family reunion, and everything was set up


    for her. You shouldn''t steal your sister''s thunder."


    "That''s nonsense! If I can''t enjoy that privilege, what makes you think you can? Don''t forget. I''m her


    flesh and blood brother!"


    "And I''m her husband. It''s only right I support her."


    Ian''s response was confident, and he even gave Edwin a pat on the shoulder, whispering with a


    chuckle, "I was afraid you''d be jealous, so I didn''t dare let you follow. You should have seen the


    scene earlier. It was spectacr. The uncles were all beaming with pride when they saw ra."