Early morning, in the Dallas mansion.
Cristina was extremely impatient with everyone.
She wanted to look extremely perfect and flawless.
And with that, her precious daughter.
“This is it!
This is the best place for searching for a son-in-law.
All the rich families will be there, and their sons will definitely come for networking purposes.
I must use this opportunity to get Juliette her prince.”
This was all Cristina could think of.
She still hadn’t decided what to act like when Lara was going to walk down the aisle.
She still hadn’t prepared for the mother-daughter dance.
She still hadn’t prepared for the gossipy rich wives of M city.
All she could think of was securing Juliette’s pleasant, happy life.
Cristina had hired the make up artist of M City to get Juliette’s and hers make-up and hair done.
She had got a customised beige floral dress with a deep V-shaped cleavage and black silhouette heels for Juliette to wear.
When Juliette saw the dress, she was visibly shocked.
“It’s white!
I can’t wear white to a wedding!” She thought.
“Mumma, are you sure about the dress?
I am not really sure about it,” Juliette asked.
“It’s perfect for you, Juliette.
Go wear this and come looking like the elegant princess you are.” Crisitna clapped excitedly and urged her to get ready.
“Ok.
I’ll get changed,” Juliette said happily.
Cristina had specially bought the dress in beige.
After all, she might be barred from the Ravenwood mansion due that night, but how dare Lara hit her?
“And even dared to threaten me?
I’ll show her what a nightmare I can truly be,” Cristina decided.
*****
Morning, in the Ravenwood mansion, in Lara’s room.
“And just a little highlight, and that’s it.
You’re ready, young bride!” The experienced makeup professional said.
Lara looked at herself.
She couldn’t believe that the gorgeous woman standing in front of the mirror was her.
Isabella looked at her granddaughter and started crying.
“Oh, Grandma.
Don’t cry.” Lara got out the chair and immediately hugged the frail figure of the old woman.
“I never thought I could see my beautiful granddaughter become such a gorgeous bride before my death.
Now I can die peacefully,” Isabella said.
“No talks about death, Grandma!
You are going to live long till you see your great-grandchildren.
Don’t say such negative words,” Lara politely scolded.
“Yes, yes.
This old woman is going to live long enough to see her great-grandchildren.”
Isabella wiped her tears and said, “Don’t you dare cry now, Lara.
That foundation costs $45.”
The whole room ended up laughing really hard.
The makeup artist said, “No, don’t worry!
I’ll retouch for free.”
“Oh, then cry as much as possible, dear.
It’s for free,” Isabella teased.
The whole room laughed again.
The atmosphere was really joyous and happy, with just the womenfolk in the room.
Suddenly a loud knock was heard.
“Come in,” Lara said.
A woman banged the door open and said, “Dude, I thought we were best friends.
How dare you get married without informing me first?”
“Anastasia!
I thought you had your final theory exam?” Lara jumped up from the chair out of fear.
“That is no excuse for not telling your best friend about your marriage.
I had to learn from the news article and my nosy mother.
I hate you,” Anastasia screamed.
“Hi, Anna dear.
How are you doing?” Isabella asked.
“Oh, I am doing good, Grandma.
I just finished all my exams and came to catch someone here red-handed in betrayal.” Anastasia stared at Lara.
Lara looked away guiltily.
“I’m really sorry, Anna.
I agree, I was wrong.
I shouldn’t have hidden such a big thing like marriage from you.
I was really scared about your exam because it’s your final year, and I didn’t want you to skip it.
I knew that if I told you, you would have definitely skipped it and come to my marriage.”
Lara begged.
“And I remember saying that your professor this semester was a nightmare.
I really wanted to do good.
I am so sorry.”
Anastasia looked at her really beautiful bride-to-be best friend and sighed.
“I forgive you if you toss the bouquet to me and make me your bridesmaid.
I know you don’t have one because I can’t see any.
This is your punishment.”
“Please, second miss.
Have a bridesmaid.
Please have a bridesmaid.
Otherwise, the first madam can get hold of you and force you to make the third miss as your bridesmaid,” Daisy said.
“Yes, second miss.
She is really desperate for the third miss’s marriage.” Jennie supported.
Lara pouted on that thought and said, “Fine.
But how did you come here?
Your mother didn’t scream at you?”
“Nope.
I finished all my theory exams yesterday, dummy.”
“When my mother got the invite from the Ravenwood patriarch, she was shocked to see your name in the wedding card.
Yeah, the surname was different, but it’s not hard for my family to find out about a person in this country.
She was the one who got really excited and got this dress for me.
Don’t I look good?”
“Tsk, tsk.
Rich people.
But yeah, you do look good.
The olive green really is suiting your skin tone,” Lara said.
“Says the person who is actually from the Ravenwoods and is getting married to the Lawrence family.” Anastasia teased.
“By the way, do you think that Adrian guy is as what the rumours say?
I mean, nobody has exactly seen him.
Only those gossips and rumours.” Anastasia said.
Lara searched about the male lead of the novel “I fell for my cousin’s crippled ex-husband, need to level up” in her newly earned memories.
The male lead was forever in the wheelchair, other than the day he asked for divorce from her character.
He had revealed that he was never really a problem in his legs and had made up the rumour so that her character could divorce him.
But he never expected that her character had actually stayed and even tried to force herself on him.
“I really can’t even say who was right and who was wrong about things.” Lara thought to herself.
“What kind of rumours?” Lara asked, acting as if she never heard anything about Adrian.
“Oh, come one.
You are getting to him, and you don’t know about it?” Anastasia said, crossing her arms.
Isabella felt guilty after hearing that.
“I’ll get the jewellery from the other room.” She said and left.
“What happened?
Did I say something wrong?” Anastasia said.
“Not really, but yeah.
It’s complicated.
I’ll fill you in later.
After the marriage, probably in reception, if time permits,” Lara said.
“Ok.
“Fine,” Anastasia said.
Anastasia was the only person in this world who never asked her for an explanation outright.
She waited patiently for her to fill her in at her pace.
She always waited for her, with her outstretched hands, like a mother she never had.
They met each other at the racetracks, when Lara had just got her driver’s licences.
Anastasia was getting bullied for being a petite woman among a bunch of tall muscular men.
And Lara, as usual, went up to the guys and defended Anastasia.
But men are men.
They challenged her to a drift race, and Lara accepted it.
And that was her establishing moment.
For an eighteen year old to sit in a car that probably was almost as old as her.
Then, clutch kick and balance the slide using the throttle and counter-steer.
Yeah, the entire racetrack was flabbergasted on the scene.
Even her opponents were shocked by her pure skills.
After all, a girl who looked like she just passed her final year of middle school was driving a car like she was an experienced professional racer.
And the entire time, Anastasia was sitting beside her as a co-passenger.
Ever since then, Anastasia became her ride or die.
Anastasia, the middle daughter of the Kuznetsova family, the famous fashion designer brand owner: Percy’s.
She became her best friend and only friend in this new world.
“So, do you know about the wedding tradition, right?” Anastasia asked.
“Which one?” Lara asked.
“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.
It’s a traditional wedding rhyme from the 19th century that lists four tokens a bride should wear for good luck and a happy marriage.
That one?” Anastasia asked.
“Oh yeah.
That, I have heard.
Why, do you have something for me?” Lara asked.
“I, have something blue for you.
Now I don’t know whether you need it or not…”
Anastasia took out a thin, baby blue garter from her purse.
“Oh, my, god.
This is so cute.
Give it to me.
I need something blue,” Lara said excitedly.
“Put it on,” Anastasia said.
Lara put on the garter and squeeled.
“This looks so cute on my thighs.
I love you, Anna.” Lara hugged her.
“And I have some things old for you.” Isabella entered with two jewellery boxes.
“This one has mine and this one has Janet’s.”
“So now I need something borrowed?” Lara asked, thinking.
“Chill out.
You’ll get it.
Don’t overthink much.
I’ll go and ask around if anyone has something they can borrow at the chapel area,” Anastasia said.
“It’s ok, miss.
We will do that.
Daisy, let’s go,” Jennie interjected.
“Get something like a broach or something small.
Maybe a handkerchief?” Anastasia suggested.
“Noted, miss.” Jennie said and left the room in a hurry.
Writing chapters that I am satisfied with.
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