The next day.
Trinity Church!
Trinity Church, built in 1839, has a history of over a hundred years.
Two bell towers rise from the ground, and the trident-like curves and exquisite patterns on the towers make the entire building shine.
Trinity Church, with its main spire reaching ninety-seven meters, is the tallest church building on the entire island of Manhattan, as if it could gaze upon God.
Starting from the night, Trinity Church was under full lockdown.
Before dawn, unidentified individuals in black suits, black sunglasses, and serious expressions began to stand at various traffic access points of Trinity Church.
New York police officers, completely unaware of what was happening, stepped forward but were also stopped.
When asked, the answer was "federal secret."
When asked further, the answer was "you have no right to know."
However, those holding wedding invitations could pass unhindered.
Peter and Felicia.
Thor and Jane.
Tony and Pepper.
Mary and her boyfriend from Los Angeles.
The Chloe couple.
The Stacy couple.
As the melodious bells of Trinity Church, bathed in the morning light, began to ring, guests from all over New York City drove through the cordoned-off roads, parked their vehicles in the parking lot, and then walked towards Trinity Church, chatting and laughing.
Inside the church at this moment, the air was filled with a mixed scent of beeswax and lilies.
The long pews were wiped spotless, and a brand-new red carpet stretched from the entrance all the way to the altar.
Beside the choir seats, a young musician, who had received a ten-thousand-dollar tip, arrived at dawn and was gently adjusting the stops of the pipe organ.
Low notes, like warm currents, slowly echoed under the vast dome.
However, unlike the guests who were continuously entering, the groomsmen and bridesmaids were at the church entrance.
The groomsmen went right.
The bridesmaids went left.
After all, the groomsmen needed to change their clothes, and likewise, the bridesmaids also needed to rush to the bride's side, to help the bride get ready while also changing into their bridesmaid dresses.
At this moment, in a room on the left side of the church.
Gwen, who was to be the bride today, sat before the dressing table, like a work of art nearing completion.
Helen smiled as she looked at her daughter, who was dressed in pure White, a proud smile gracing her lips, and carefully fastened an ancient, pearl-inlaid hairpin into Gwen's now-coiffed bun.
"This is your great-grandmother's, it's old!" Helen's proud expression was accompanied by a trembling voice, tinged with reluctance.
To match the best man, Jane, who was also her maid of honor, offered a pair of brand-new silk wedding shoes: "Something new, may your new life be filled with brilliance at every step."
Next, Gwen took out an exquisite sapphire bracelet from her jewelry box and gently placed it on her wrist: "A bracelet borrowed from Aunt Bob."
Gwen looked at the sparkling sapphire bracelet on her snow-White wrist and smiled.
Just then.
Mary, who had rushed back from Los Angeles to attend Gwen's wedding, as if by magic, pulled out a small silver sixpence coin, then tucked it into Gwen's wedding shoe, and looked up at Gwen: "Although it's not popular now, you can never have too much good luck, right?"
It is well known.
The London sixpence coin, in legend, is known as a lucky charm in shoes.
Gwen thanked her best friend, then stood up from her seat with the help of Jane and Mary.
Helen took the White wedding dress from the side.
As the wedding dress was carefully lifted by Helen, and with the help of the bridesmaids, passed over Gwen's head and slowly fell, the room fell silent.
This was a classic satin A-line wedding dress, with simple lines outlining Hawk's elegant neck and slender waist, and a long train like blooming petals.
Gwen did not wear much makeup; her light and natural look made her appear both ethereal and radiant.
She also did not wear much jewelry, only two small pearls on her earlobes and the blue bracelet, because she knew that her most beautiful accessory today would be her smile.
Gwen, in her White wedding dress, looked at herself in the mirror.
From this moment on, the reflection in the mirror was no longer the girl Gwen Stacy, but a beautiful and determined woman, Gwen Phoenix, about to embark on a new stage of life.
Just then.
A knock on the door.
"Come in!"
Gwen came to her senses, looked at the knocking door, said, and then saw her father, George, in a suit and tie, pushing open the door from outside.
George looked at his daughter in the White wedding dress, his expression flickered with a trace of daze, then he took a deep breath.
"Are you ready, My daughter?"
"Yes, I am ready, Father."
Gwen smiled brightly.
At eleven in the morning, guests were already seated in the church.
The gentlemen wore neat dark suits, and the ladies wore various exquisite dresses, like a flowing fashion show.
Traditionally, the bride's relatives sat on the left, and the groom's relatives sat on the right.
But Hawk had very few friends.
So... Gwen lent some friends to Hawk, and soon, the pews were filled with people.
Guests conversed in low voices, and the air was filled with a warm and expectant excitement.
Hawk was already in position on the stage.
Soon.
At eleven-thirty in the morning, the hourly chimes rang, echoing melodiously throughout the church.
Instantly.
All conversations ceased, guests sat up straight in unison, and their gazes were fixed on the closed main doors of the church.
The organ music also changed in time, playing that sacred and familiar melody.
Wedding March!
The church doors slowly opened inward, and bright light streamed in.
First to enter were the groomsmen and bridesmaids.
They walked side by side, the groomsmen in dark gray suits, and the bridesmaids in matching gray-blue long dresses, holding bouquets of White tulips and champagne roses.
The groomsmen took their positions beside Hawk, while the bridesmaids clustered around, leaving the central position open.
Soon.
The flower girl and ring bearer entered.
Four-year-old Jean, the flower girl, wore a mini White gauze dress, carrying a small flower basket, somewhat shy yet earnest, scattering rose petals on the red carpet, handful by handful.
Five-year-old Cooper Barton, the ring bearer, wore a small suit, holding a small White pillow with a serious expression, on which two imitation rings were tied.
Immediately following was the maid of honor, Jane.
She walked alone, with composed steps, representing the bride's closest friend and support.
Just then.
The wedding march paused for a moment.
Then—
The magnificent prelude resounded again, and at the same time, all the guests stood up in unison, turning to face the entrance.
There, Gwen appeared, arm in arm with her father, George.
Sunlight streamed in from the doors behind her, outlining her and her White wedding dress with a dazzling halo.
Her face beneath the veil was breathtakingly beautiful, radiating a glow mixed with shyness, happiness, and immense determination.
Gwen's gaze pierced through the long aisle, fixed directly and firmly on the man standing at the altar, who was also gazing at her.
As their eyes met.
Every step Gwen took was slow and firm, George's arm her most steadfast support at that moment, and the relatives on both sides of the aisle cast countless admiring, moved, and blessing glances.
But in her World at that moment, there was only the tall man in the black tuxedo at the end of the aisle.
Hawk, who hadn't seen Gwen since the bachelor party last night, looked at Gwen in her wedding dress, and his breathing involuntarily paused.
Soon.
George came before Hawk, his voice deep, tinged with both reluctance and reassurance.
"I entrust her to you, take good care of her."
"I will, Mr. Stacy."
Hawk's expression was serious, looking directly at George, promising with utmost certainty.
George solemnly placed Gwen's hand into Hawk's, then turned and walked down to sit beside his wife, Helen.
Hawk and Gwen then turned together, facing the altar and Father Robert of Trinity Church, who was waiting for them.
Father Robert was a kind elder, wearing glasses, his gaze wise and gentle.
He smiled as he looked at the couple before him and began the ceremony in a clear, resonant voice.
"Dear brothers and sisters, we are gathered here today before God and all our relatives and friends to witness the sacred union of Hawk Phoenix and Gwen Stacy.
Marriage is a sacred covenant established by God, the ultimate expression of love and commitment.
It should not be entered into lightly, but with reverence, cherished, and protected."
Father Robert delivered the opening remarks, his words solemn and sincere, then looked at the guests present: "If anyone here knows of any lawful impediment to this union, they should declare it now, or forever hold their peace."
The church was silent.
Father Robert waited for a moment, then looked at Hawk.
"Hawk Phoenix, do you take Gwen Stacy to be your 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, till Death do you part?"
Hawk turned his head, looking at Gwen's eyes beneath her veil, eyes he was willing to gaze into for a lifetime.
His voice was firm, clear, and unwavering.
"I do!"
The priest then turned to Gwen.
"Gwen Stacy, do you take Hawk Phoenix to be your husband, 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, till Death do you part?"
Gwen's eyes sparkled with crystalline light, meeting Hawk's eyes, which at this moment no longer shimmered with the stars of the Universe, but were filled entirely with her.
Her voice was soft, yet equally unwavering.
"I do!"
The best man, Thor, whose hair was also styled like a grown man, took two wedding rings from his pocket and handed them to the priest.
The priest took the rings, praying over them and blessing them.
Hawk then took one ring and carefully placed it on Gwen's left ring finger, repeating the vows after the priest: "Gwen, I place this ring upon your hand, as a symbol of My love and faithfulness, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
Gwen also took the slightly larger ring, her hand trembling slightly with emotion, but she steadily placed it on Hawk's finger: "Hawk, I place this ring upon your hand, as a symbol of My love and faithfulness, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
The priest then turned back to the guests.
"Hawk and Gwen have made their vows before God and these witnesses, and have exchanged tokens as proof, I therefore declare that they are now officially husband and wife."
The priest paused here, then, facing the guests who all seemed to show expectant expressions, he looked at Hawk and uttered the words everyone was waiting for.
"Groom, you may now kiss your bride."
"..." (End of chapter)
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