The Sweet Rival (Mango Shen and Nathaniel Ye)

Chapter 366

"Happy birthday Mommy!"

Zion was wearing a stark white suit while Rita wore a dress in the same colour. Then, they both walked out side by side.

There were flowers in their hands and they smiled brightly at Mango from the lavishly decorated living room.

Only then did Mango realize that today was her birthday.

Next, Nathaniel walked out from another room wearing a black tuxedo with a grin on his face, "Happy birthday, babe!"

Then, Mango's eyes immediately teared up.

"Thank you all so much!"

She never expected so many people to remember her birthday.

In the past, only her parents remembered it and they would make a bowl of longevity noodles for her in the morning. They would organise a birthday party for her if she wanted to, but she disliked the commotion as she got older.

Furthermore, she never formally celebrated her birthday after she married Nathaniel because he never actually remembered it.

Over time, even she had forgotten her own birthday.

Thus, Mango's heart was bursting with a myriad of emotions when she realised how many people still cared about her.

Then, Nathaniel slowly walked up to the stairs and took her hand. He said softly, "It was my fault for not remembering your birthday in the past, and for troubling you all these years. From now on, I will celebrate every single birthday with you. Even when we're old and grey, I'll still wake up in the morning and make you a bowl of longevity noodles before wishing you a happy birthday. How about that?"

"That sounds amazing!"

Mango wasn't someone who liked to cry, but she could barely hold in her tears.

Honestly, her happiness had caught her off guard.

In fact, women didn't wish for many things, except for the care of their loved ones. Even a sentence from someone they held dear could make their whole day.

When Rita and Zion saw Mango's reaction, both of them stepped forward and said, "Mommy, we'll be there to celebrate your birthdays too!"

"Of course!"

Mango was extremely delighted when she looked at her children.

"Let's go have some noodles first. I have a whole itinerary of activities planned for you today." Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Nathaniel's words elicited Mango's excitement for the day.

Soon after that, Mango's family of four arrived at the restaurant. They were immediately greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Shen, who smiled and said, "Happy birthday, our dear daughter!"

"Thank you, Mom and dad!"

In fact, Mango felt as if she was on top of the world at that moment.

After all of them enjoyed a scrumptious breakfast, Nathaniel took Mango and the children out.

Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Shen naturally did not follow as they wanted to give Mango some alone time with her family.

Mango had no idea where they were going, but her heart was filled with anticipation.

"Can you tell me where we're going?"

"Not at all."

Nathaniel's words caused Mango to laugh.

After that, they arrived in front of a church.

Mango was shocked as she looked up at the church, which looked pristine and white.

"Why are we here?"

"Do you remember this place? It's where we got married eight years ago!"

Then, Nathaniel took Mango's hand and led her out of the car while Zion and Rita followed them like a pair of flower children.

Naturally, Mango was very excited.

Eight years had passed in the blink of an eye, and she'd thought that she would never step foot in this place again. Thus, it was pretty surreal for her to be here again.

She inevitably had a feeling of deja vu.

When Mango followed Nathaniel into the church, she was shocked to discover that it was filled with people. She recognized some of them, and some faces were unfamiliar to her, but the church to the brim.

Suddenly, she felt timid and she even wanted to back out of the church, but Nathaniel held on to her hands.

"Don't be afraid. I'm here."

"Why are there so many people here?"

In fact, Mango felt as if everyone was looking at her. When she entered the church, everyone stood and faced them with congratulatory expressions on their faces, which made Mango nervous.

Slowly, a layer of sweat seeped through her palm.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel sensed her anxiety and held her hands tightly, "Don't panic, Mango. You're Mrs. Ye, and you can deal with anything! Are you really going to be afraid of these people?"

"Well, yes!"

Mango whispered these words to Nathaniel, which made him chuckle.

"Just pretend like they're not there."

"But they obviously are."

Mango and Nathaniel whispered to one another as they made their way to the altar.

Next, the thunderous applause made Mango's legs go weak.

However, Nathaniel got down on one knee in front of everyone before she could say anything.

"My dear Mango, I would like to ask for your hand in marriage. With God as my witness, I want to spend the rest of my life with you, for better or for worse. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?"

After he said that, Nathaniel retrieved the custom- made set of jewellery from his pocket.

At that moment, Mango was equal parts surprised and moved.

"Say yes! Say yes!"

The people gathered in front of them started to chant in unison.

Truly, it was the very first time that Mango had been proposed to.

Her last marriage to Nathaniel had gotten fervent disapproval, and there was no proposal. They just had a simple ceremony and Mango found herself being hastily married off.

Now that Nathaniel was suddenly proposing to her, the sincerity in his eyes caused Mango to tear up.

"Get up, we've already been together for so long, so why do you need to do this?"

Mango's voice was so soft that only Nathaniel could hear her.

Then, Nathaniel whispered to her, "I'm making up for everything that I owe you. I want to give you what other women have experienced as well, and I don't want you to have any regrets. Someone once told me that the most important day in a woman's life is her wedding day. Well, I failed to give you good memories eight years ago, so I'm redoing it again to make it up to you. Please say yes, my love. In front of the whole Ocean City, I swear that I will love you till the day I die, and I will never leave your side."

As soon as he finished speaking, melodic music boomed inside the church.

Bits and pieces of Nathaniel and Mango's life together were displayed on a big screen behind her.

Meanwhile, Zion clicked on the remote in his hand as he smiled and said, "I've compiled some of your photos over the years into a musical photo album as a present for you, Mommy. I wish that Mommy and Daddy will be in love forever, and also happy birthday! Many happy returns to you, Mommy."

"Hey, I helped out too!"

Rita shouted as she was unwilling to be left out.

Then, Mango looked at the screen behind her as the music filled her ears. She turned to gaze at her husband and children before she burst into tears.

"Yes, I'll marry you!"

She felt as if her pleas have been heard by a higher power, and they had decided to grant her the happiness that she had always desired.

Then, the crowd gave them thundering applause.

Nathaniel put the jewellery on Mango in front of everyone and gently said, "We're paired for life, for better or for worse."

"For better or for worse."

After that, Mango and Nathaniel embraced each other excitedly.

Truth be told, this was the most meaningful birthday that she'd ever had in her entire life.

"As your mother-in-law, I also have a gift for you."

Then, Madam Ye's voice surprised Mango and only then did she realise that not only was Madam Ye in the audience, but Mr. and Mrs. Shen were present too.

It turned out that everyone had been secretly preparing for her birthday for a very long time.

Honestly, Mango couldn't get enough of everyone's love and affection.

"No mom, there's really no need forthat."

In fact, Mango felt that Madam Ye had been too kind to her.

However, the older woman smiled and replied, "I have to do this because you're officially my daughter- in- law now. From now on, I will declare to all of Ocean City that you are under the Ye Family's protection. If anyone dares to mess with you, then that means that they have offended the entire Ye Family, and I swear that we will not take things lightly."

As Madam Ye spoke, she handed a bunch of keys to Mango.

"These are keys to a house that I've bought for you and Nathan. I know that you already have a place to stay, but take this as a token of appreciation from me. The house is furnished to suit your personal taste, so you'd better ask Nathan to let you have a look at it later."

Madam Ye's gift was a little too extravagant, and Mango was a little hesitant to accept it.

"There's no need Mom, really. We don't need it."

"Take it. This is your wedding gift and your birthday gift. No matter how the world may view you, please know that the Ye Family has your back from now on. We are your home and your family, and we will love you even when no one else does. From this day forward, you are not only my daughter- in-law, but my daughter as well! If Nathan ever bullies you, just say the word and I'll beat him up for you."

Mango was extremely moved upon hearing Madam Ye's words.

"He never bullies me, in fact, I think I'm the one doing most of the bullying."

Then, Mango's words elicited loud laughter from the crowd.

Countless people came up to congratulate her.

Hence, Mango felt as if she was dreaming.

After a while, Nathaniel took her hand and whispered, "Let's run away."

"Huh?"

Mango was quite confused and she didn't really understand what he meant.

Then, Nathaniel leaned in and muttered, "There are many newly minted millionaires of Ocean City here, on top of businessmen with ties to the Ye Family. I'm sure they'll keep coming to congratulate us, and my mom booked a dinner banquet at a five-star hotel in advance. After that, I reckon that those businessmen would get us drunk eventually. Instead of sticking around, why not we sneak away and have our own birthday celebration?"

Truth be told, Mango was rather troubled when she heard that.

Although they were having a great time, she would rather not be forced to drink at all.

"But if we leave, what about the children? Should we tell Zion and Rita?"

"Do you think we can still leave after we tell them? Stop worrying, everything will be fine because Mom and Dad are looking after the kids. Let's just sneak away for some private time to ourselves."

Hence, Nathaniel egged Mango on to accept his suggestion.

At the same time, she found herself agreeing to his idea.

As they witnessed an endless stream of people coming up to congratulate them, Nathaniel and Mango clasped hands nervously.

"How will we leave?"

"Follow me."

After Nathaniel finished speaking, he tugged on Mango's hand before they both ran away.

For a moment, everyone was shocked.

"Nathan, Mango, where are you going?"

Madam Ye was extremely puzzled as she asked.

However, Nathaniel smiled at her and said, "Please help me hold down the fort here, Mom. Mango and I are going to get some fresh air."

"You little brat!"

Madam Ye suddenly understood what they were going to do, but they had already left the church when she was just about to go after them.