Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

The luxurious carriage rolled to a stop by the red carpet outside the chapel.

The Taylor brothers, along with Julien, Sean, and Xavier, had been waiting there. Their faces were filled with joy as they threw red rose petals into the air. They looked like knights guarding a princess, a sight remarkable enough to make anyone swoon.

Birds flew across the sky as the flower petals fluttered down.

With a royal crown on her head, Lauren looked every bit like a princess. Meanwhile, the handsmen ahead of her looked like knights responsible for protecting her.

"The bride... She's beautiful." Silas couldn't help but sigh.

"She is. Landon is a lucky man." Julien watched on from the side. His eyes were glistening with admiration.

"I should attend more weddings when I'm free so that I'll have more points of reference when it's my turn. That way, I won't panic and have absolutely no idea what to do." Silas made a mental note of everything he was seeing and experiencing. Subconsciously, he smiled as he thought about his plans. "Silas, does that mean... that you'll get married soon too?" Julien asked with a look of exhilaration on his face.

"Yeah. I'm thinking about it." Immediately, Silas leaned in and whispered in Julien's ear, "Keep it to yourself, Jules. I want to give my Rosie a surprise." "I'm not a blabbermouth. Don't worry! I won't be Julien Lovelace if I say a peep!" "Of course you're not Julien Lovelace. You're already Julien Taylor now," Silas teased.

Julien's heart raced. In the next second, his face had turned as red as the flower petals scattered on the ground.

At that exact moment, Javier, Lauren's father, stood in a smart-looking suit at the center of the red carpet. He was waiting for Lauren so that he could walk her down the aisle.

Despite almost turning 60, he worked out and went on a vegetarian diet for two months to prepare for this momentous occasion. He took good care of himself, even dying his hair and trimming his eyebrows for this day. He did all this to avoid embarrassing his precious daughter.

Lauren might look physically well, but in actual fact, she was still quite weak. Her legs trembled slightly as she held the hem of her dress while getting off the carriage. In the end, Jasper carried her out of the carriage.

Witnessing that, Javier was overwhelmed with emotions. His heart ached, and his eyes turned red. With Jasper's help, Lauren walked to Javier's side and linked arms with him. The father and daughter duo walked into the wedding hall together.

After taking a few steps, Lauren couldn't help but look back at Jasper with tears in her eyes. Jasper stood with his back straight a short distance away, like a tree firmly rooted in the ground, unafraid of any winds and storms. Seeing him gave her a great sense of security.

"I'm right here. Go on." Jasper smiled as he waved at Lauren with a twinkle in his eyes. He was already so emotional on his younger sister's wedding day. If it were his daughter's...

Jasper's chest tightened. He shook his head to stop his thoughts from wandering. Any thoughts he had about children felt like a great disrespect to Alyssa.

Javier and Lauren slowly entered the chapel with the accompaniment of a graceful tune on this important day. Their friends and family were all seated, their eyes filled with keen anticipation.

Newton was seated in the front row, with Ben by his side. Seeing that Lauren was about to get married, he was filled with emotions, and tears were streaming down his cheeks.

At the very front of the chapel, the charming groom, Landon, stood on the steps with a bearing of nobility He fixed his eyes on the bride, who was slowly making her way toward him. He had butterflies in his stomach, and his breathing was shallow. Tears welled up in his eyes, blurring his vision. He blinked hard to get a clear view of his lover once again.

As if on cue, tears spilled over, mixing with a broad, joyous smile. With his face full of tears, Landon approached the father-and- daughter duo and took Lauren's hand from Javier's.

"As much as I know I don't have to say it, I will say it anyway." Javier had a kind smile on his face as he placed Lauren's hand in Landon's palm. "Be good to my daughter, son. Cherish her with all you have." "I will, Dad. I will." Landon gave his affirmation with a passionate, deep, and determined look in his eyes.

The couple looked lovingly into each other's eyes and slowly walked toward Jonah. He was the celebrant for this ceremony.

Jonah was in his priest outfit, and the backlight behind him gave his entire figure a holy glow. He read the wedding vows in a rich, gruff voice.

"Landon Harper." Jonah looked toward Landon and asked confidently, Do you, in the nof God, take Lauren Beckett to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, and to stay loyal to her, as long as you both shall live?" "I do!" Landon responded eagerly. His eyes twinkled as brightly as a diamond. His voice was loud and clear, almost booming.

"Lauren Beckett." Jonah then looked at Lauren, whose cheeks were pink and glowing. "Do you accept Landon Harper to be your lawfully-wedded husband, for better for worse, in good times and bad, to love and to cherish, and to stay loyal to him, as long as you both shall live? Lauren's heart pounded, and the muscles in her neck tensed up. She couldn't speak.

With tears in her eyes, she could only give an enthusiastic nod.

Albeit silent, her response was exceptionally moving. It meant more than a thousand words.

The newlyweds exchanged their rings and lit the unity candle together.

Landon opened his arms wide and enveloped Lauren in a tight embrace. They shared a sweet kiss with God, their family, and friends as witnesses.

"I love you, Lauren. Until my very last breath," Landon repeated in her ear over and over.

Their love for one another was mutually strong and passionate. As vast as the world might be, that which was meant to be would always cto be.