Chapter 302: A Bond Sealed Forever

**Thelma Zane’s POV** The absence of close relatives on my mother’s side and the lack of high-status family members on my father’s side gave me the freedom to let go of many traditional wedding practices. I had already broken numerous conventions in my life, so why concern myself with the smaller details now? In addition to my close friends, a group of children joined the celebration as flower bearers in the afternoon. The youngest ones, full of curiosity, were paired with older children to ensure they didn’t wander off. Their tiny flower baskets brimmed with soft petals, though their curious hands occasionally plucked a few for play. The retelling of these moments by my friends brought endless laughter. Children, no matter their background or the stature of their families, seemed united in their innocent pursuit of joy. Their freedom and happiness were a beautiful reminder of life’s simple pleasures. I had always loved children. As a young girl, I often imagined what my fu