Marvel: Awakening the Universe.

Chapter 350 The Bride and Groom, Vows (First Update!)

the next day.

Holy Trinity Church!

The Holy Trinity Church, originally built in 1839, has a history of over a hundred years. Its two bell towers rise from the ground, and the trident-like curves and exquisite patterns on the towers make the entire building shine.

Holy Trinity Church, with its main tower reaching a height of 97 meters, is the tallest church building on the entire island of Manhattan, as if one could gaze directly into the eyes of God.

Starting at night, Holy Trinity Church was placed under full lockdown.

Before dawn, a steady stream of unidentified individuals dressed in black suits and wearing black sunglasses, with serious expressions, began to appear at various passageways of Holy Trinity Church.

New York police officers, completely unaware of what was happening, were also stopped when they approached.

If you ask, it's a federal secret.

If you ask again, it means you have no right to know.

but……

Those holding wedding invitations can move freely.

Peter and Felicia.

Saul and Jane.

Tony and Pepper.

Mary and her boyfriend in Los Angeles.

The Chloe couple.

The Stacys.

As the melodious bells of Holy Trinity Church rang out under the morning sun, guests who had come from all corners of New York City drove through the cordoned-off areas, parked their cars in the parking lots, and then walked towards Holy Trinity Church, chatting and laughing.

Inside the church, the air was filled with the mixed scent of beeswax and lilies. The long benches were spotless, and a brand-new red carpet stretched from the entrance to the altar.

Beside the choir seats, a young musician who had received a $10,000 tip had arrived at dawn and was gently adjusting the stops on the organ.

The deep, resonant notes, like a warm current, slowly echoed under the vast dome.

but……

Unlike the guests who arrived one after another.

The best man and maid of honor were at the church entrance.
The best man walks to the right.

The bridesmaids walked to the left.

After all, the groomsmen need to change their clothes, and similarly, the bridesmaids need to rush to the bride's side to help her get ready, while also changing into their bridesmaid dresses.

At this moment, in a room of the church on the left.

Gwen, who is going to be a bride today, is sitting in front of her dressing table, like a work of art that is about to be completed.

Helen smiled as she looked at her daughter, who was dressed entirely in white, a proud smile playing on her lips. She carefully placed an antique hairpin inlaid with pearls on Gwen's now-updo hair.

“This belongs to your great-grandmother, it’s old!” Helen said proudly, her voice trembling with a hint of reluctance.

To pair with the chief best man, Jane Foster, who was also her chief bridesmaid, presented her with a pair of brand-new silk wedding shoes: "New, may your new life be bright and prosperous."

Then Gwent took out an exquisite sapphire bracelet from the jewelry box and gently put it on her wrist: "A bracelet I borrowed from Aunt Bob."

Gwen smiled as she looked at the sparkling sapphire bracelet on her snow-white wrist.

at this time.

Mary, who had rushed back from Los Angeles for Gwen's wedding, produced a small silver sixpence coin as if by magic, then slipped it into Gwen's wedding shoe. She then looked up at Gwen, who was looking at her, and said, "It's not fashionable anymore, but you can never have too much good luck, can you?"

Well known.

The London sixpence coin is said to be a lucky charm in shoes.

Gwen thanked her best friend and then stood up from her chair with the help of Jane Foster and Mary.

Helen accepted the pure white wedding dress from the side.

The room fell silent as Helen carefully lifted the wedding dress, and with the help of her bridesmaids, it passed over Gwen's head and slowly descended.

This is a classic satin A-line wedding dress. The simple lines accentuate Hawke's elegant neck and slender waist, while the long train resembles blooming petals.

Gwen didn't wear much makeup; her light and natural look made her appear both holy and radiant.

She didn't wear much jewelry either, just two small pearls on her earlobes and a blue bracelet, because she knew that her most beautiful adornment today would be her smile.

Gwen, dressed in a pure white wedding gown, looked at herself in the mirror in front of her.

From that moment on, the image reflected in the mirror was no longer that of the girl Gwen Stacy, but of a beautiful and determined woman, Gwen Phoenix, who was about to enter a new phase of her life.

at this time.

There was a knock on the door.

"Please come in!"

Gwen snapped out of her reverie, looked at the knocking door, said hello, and then looked at her father, George Stacy, who was dressed in a suit and tie, as he pushed the door open from the outside.

George Stacy looked at her daughter in her white wedding dress, a fleeting look of disbelief crossing her face, before taking a deep breath.

"Are you ready, my daughter?"

"Yes, I'm ready, Dad."

Gwen smiled brightly.

By 11 a.m., the guests had already taken their seats in the church.

The men were dressed in sharp, dark suits, while the women wore a variety of exquisite dresses, making it seem like a flowing fashion show.

Traditionally, the bride's relatives and friends sit on the left and the groom's relatives and friends sit on the right.

But Hawke has few friends.

and so……

Gwen lent Hawke some friends, and soon the benches were full. Guests chatted quietly, and a warm, expectant excitement filled the air. Hawke was already on stage.

soon.

At 11:30 a.m., the hourly bell rang, its melodious sound echoing throughout the entire church.

moment.

All conversations ceased, and the guests instinctively straightened their postures, their eyes fixed on the tightly closed church doors.

The organ music also changed accordingly, playing that sacred and familiar melody.

Wedding March!
The church doors slowly opened inwards, letting in bright light.

The best man and maid of honor entered first.

They walked side by side, the groomsmen in dark gray suits and the bridesmaids in matching gray-blue gowns, each carrying a bouquet of white tulips and champagne roses.

The groomsmen took their places beside Hawke, while the bridesmaids surrounded him, leaving the center position untouched.

soon.

Flower girls and ring boys enter.

Four-year-old flower girl Qin, dressed in a miniature white tulle dress and carrying a small flower basket, shyly and earnestly scattered handfuls of rose petals onto the red carpet.

Five-year-old ring boy Cooper Barton, dressed in a small suit, solemnly holds a small white pillow with two replica rings attached to it.

Following closely behind was Jane Foster, the chief bridesmaid.

She walked alone, her steps measured, representing the bride's closest friend and supporter.

at this time.

The wedding march paused briefly.

Then--

The magnificent prelude began again, and at the same time, all the guests stood up in unison and turned to face the door.

There, Gwen appeared, arm in arm with her father George.

Sunlight streamed in through the door behind her, illuminating her and her white wedding dress with a dazzling edge. Her face beneath the veil was breathtakingly beautiful, radiating a blend of shyness, happiness, and unwavering determination.

Gwen's gaze traveled down the long corridor and landed firmly on the man standing before the altar, who was also gazing at her.

Their eyes met.

Gwen walked slowly and firmly, with George's arms as her most steadfast support at that moment. Friends and family on both sides of the aisle cast countless glances of praise, emotion, and blessings upon her.

But in her world at this moment, all that remained was the man at the end of the passage, a tall and imposing figure in a black tuxedo.

Hawke, who hadn't looked at Gwen since the bachelor party last night, paused for a moment when he saw her in her wedding dress.

soon.

George approached Hawke, his voice low, tinged with a mixture of reluctance and relief.

"I'm entrusting her to you. Take good care of her."

“I will, Mr. Stacy.”

Hawke looked at George with a serious expression and gave an unwavering assurance.

George solemnly placed Gwen's hand in Hawke's, then turned and walked down to sit next to his wife, Helen.

Hawke and Gwen turned together to face the altar and Father Robert of the Holy Trinity who awaited them.

Father Robert was a kind, elderly man with glasses and wise, gentle eyes.

He smiled as he looked at the newlyweds and began the ceremony in a loud and clear voice.

“Dear brothers and sisters, we gather here today before God and our loved ones to witness the sacred union of Hawke Phoenix and Gwen Stacy. Marriage is a sacred covenant ordained by God, the ultimate expression of love and commitment. It should not be entered into lightly, but rather revered, cherished, and protected.”

Father Robert began his remarks with solemnity and sincerity, then looked at the guests present: "Is there anyone here who knows of any legal obstacles to the union of these two people? You should declare this now; otherwise, please remain silent forever."

The church was quiet.

Father Robert waited a moment, then looked at Hawke.

"Hawk Phoenix, do you take Gwen Stacy to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?"

Hawke turned his head and looked into Gwen's eyes, which he was willing to gaze into for a lifetime, beneath the veil.

His voice was firm, clear, and unwavering.

"I am willing!"

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 or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?"

Gwen's eyes sparkled with a crystalline light as she met Hawke's gaze—eyes that no longer seemed to shimmer with the stars of the universe, but rather with her own—her voice gentle yet undeniably firm.

"I am willing!"

The best man, Thor, who had styled his hair like an adult, took two wedding rings from his pocket and handed them to the priest.

The priest accepted the rings and offered prayers and blessings for them.

Hawke then took a ring and carefully placed it on Gwen's left ring finger, repeating the vow with the priest: "Gwen, I place this ring on your hand as a symbol of my love and faithfulness, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

Gwen accepted the slightly larger ring as well, her hand trembling slightly with excitement, but she steadily placed it on Hawke's finger: "Hawk, I place this ring on your hand as a symbol of my love and loyalty, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

The priest then faced the guests again.

"Hawk and Gwen have made their vows before God and all people and exchanged tokens as proof. I hereby declare them to be husband and wife."

The priest paused here, then looked at the guests who all seemed to be looking on with anticipation, and then said the words that everyone had been waiting for.

"Groom, you may now kiss your bride."

"..."

(End of this chapter)