A Belated Wedding, A Final Farewell

Today is Noah's one-month celebration, as well as the day of my do-over wedding with Caleb Collins. The hotel lobby was adorned with red silk, and the guests' laughter floated through like a thin veil, faint and ephemeral. I held Noah, wrapped in a red swaddling cloth, my fingertips brushing over his warm little face, yet my chest was weighed down by an ice-cold ache that pierced to the bone. "Sarah, are you ready? The auspicious hour has arrived." Caleb's voice came from behind me, flat and utterly devoid of emotion. I turned to look at him; sharp in his suit, still handsome as ever, but there was not a trace of joy in his eyes, no sign of newlywed happiness. "Hmm." I replied softly, adjusting how I held the child to ensure Noah was sleeping peacefully. The MC's voice suddenly rang out as the spotlight swept over us. I held Caleb Collins' hand, my fingertips brushing his cool palm, as we stepped onto the stage together. The audience below was a dark sea of faces, melding into a single indistinct mass. Just as the MC was about to announce the continuation of the ceremony, my mother strode onto the stage in heels and snatched the microphone from his hand. There was not a trace of a smile on her face; her eyes locked firmly on Caleb Collins. "Today is both my grandson's one-month celebration and my daughter's wedding. Some rules must be made clear right now." Caleb frowned. "Mrs. Lynn, can we talk about this later? Let's not hold up the ceremony." "There will be no delay." My mother spoke with uncompromising firmness, "First, the child must carry the Lynn family name, and the household registration must be under Sarah's name." "Second, all property under your name, including company shares, must be transferred to Sarah's name." "Third, after the wedding, you will take full responsibility for the household chores. Sarah only needs to care for the child, without any other concerns." The moment the words left her mouth, the room exploded in murmurs, a buzzing wave of whispers rushing forward. My face drained of color, and I quickly tugged at my mother's sleeve. "Mom, please stop!" "Why can't I say it?" My mother pulled her hand away, her voice rising a few decibels. "I'm doing this for your own good! Have you forgotten how Caleb Collins treated you back then?" Caleb's face grew so dark it seemed water could drip from it. He stared at my mother for three seconds, then turned to me, his eyes filled with scrutiny. "You agree to these conditions too?" I opened my mouth, wanting to explain that things weren't like that, but when I met my mother's stern gaze, the words caught in my throat and I swallowed them back. "Alright, I agree." Caleb Collins suddenly spoke, his voice firm and resolute. The murmurs from the crowd grew even louder. My mother wore a satisfied smile, set down the microphone, and walked off the stage without hesitation. The ceremony ended abruptly; Caleb didn't say a single word to me the entire time.