Chapter 126: Preparation (2)

Saturday morning arrived sooner than Ethan expected.

He woke up early, washed, and changed into comfortable clothes before beginning his usual exercise routine. By the time he finished, the sun had risen, and the house was beginning to stir.

Evelyn emerged from the bedroom a little later, looking refreshed. She greeted him before heading to the kitchen to prepare a light breakfast. Ethan joined her, helping with the preparations while they discussed the day’s plans.

"Have you checked everything?" Evelyn asked as she placed the plates on the table.

Ethan nodded. "Our clothes are ready, and I’ve checked the car. We should be fine."

"What about the gift?" She asked.

"It’s already in the car."

Evelyn paused, then looked at him with a small smile. "You really have thought of everything."

Ethan nodded as he adjusted his sleeves. "Of course. I can’t let you worry about every little thing."

She shook her head, amused. "I wasn’t worrying."

"Sure, sure. I believe you."

Evelyn gave him a playful look before returning to the table. Their conversation continued over breakfast, and before long, Nora joined them, still looking a little sleepy.

After eating, the three of them began getting ready in earnest.

Evelyn took care of Nora’s appearance, making sure her hair was neat and her clothes sat properly. Nora, meanwhile, kept glancing at the time, eager to leave.

"Mom, are we going soon?"

"We will. Be patient while I finish this," Evelyn answered, chuckling.

Nora stood still for a moment before looking toward Ethan. "Dad, are we going to arrive early?"

"Probably. Why?"

She hesitated before answering, "I want to see the place before everyone gets there." ℯℯ𝑙.

Ethan smiled. "Then we’ll try to arrive early enough."

That seemed to satisfy her. She returned her attention to Evelyn, who finished adjusting her appearance before stepping back to inspect her work.

Evelyn admired her and said, "There. You look lovely."

Nora smiled. "Thank you, Mom."

Ethan watched them for a moment, then checked that everything they needed had been packed. Once they were ready, he carried the remaining items to the BMW X5 while Evelyn and Nora followed behind him.

The morning air was cool, and the streets were gradually filling with traffic as the city came to life. Ethan placed their belongings in the car before opening the passenger door for Evelyn. Nora climbed into the back seat, fastening her seat belt while her mother settled beside her.

Ethan took his place behind the wheel and adjusted the mirror. "Everyone ready?"

"Yes!" Nora answered immediately.

Evelyn smiled. "We’re ready."

"Good."

He started the engine, and the BMW rolled out of the driveway.

At first, the journey took them through familiar streets. Shops were opening, pedestrians were making their way to work, and vehicles moved steadily along the roads. Ethan drove at a comfortable pace, occasionally glancing at the mirrors to check on his family.

Nora spent some time looking out of the window, pointing out a few things that caught her attention. Evelyn listened to her, occasionally responding with a smile, while Ethan joined their conversation whenever he had something to add.

It was an ordinary drive, but none of them seemed to mind.

Gradually, the buildings became less crowded, and the familiar streets gave way to wider roads leading away from the center of Arcane City. Ethan followed the route he had planned, keeping the BMW steady as they left the busier parts of town behind.

Soon, they reached the highway.

The road stretched ahead of them, with vehicles traveling in both directions. Ethan increased his speed slightly while remaining mindful of the traffic, and the city slowly receded behind them.

Evelyn turned to look through the window, taking in the passing scenery. Nora leaned forward slightly from the back seat, curious about how much farther they had to go.

Ethan kept his eyes on the road, his hands steady on the steering wheel.

Albert’s wedding awaited them, and for once, he had no urgent business to attend to, no troublesome opponent to deal with, and no reason to rush beyond reaching their destination safely.

He glanced briefly at Evelyn, who met his gaze with a gentle smile, then looked at Nora through the rearview mirror.

Both of them seemed happy.

Ethan returned his attention to the road, a faint smile forming on his lips as the BMW continued down the highway, carrying his family toward the wedding.

After driving for a while, the BMW finally entered another city. Ethan slowed down as they passed through the outskirts, glancing at the unfamiliar buildings and busy streets. The journey had taken some time, but the roads had been relatively smooth, and they had arrived without any problems.

Nora leaned closer to the window, looking around curiously. "Dad, is this where the wedding is taking place?"

"Yes. We’re almost there," Ethan replied, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.

Evelyn smiled at their daughter before turning toward Ethan. "Should we call your father and let him know we’ve arrived?"

Ethan nodded and picked up his phone when they stopped at a red light. He opened his messages and sent Jason a quick text.

-We’ve arrived in the city, old man. We’ll be at the venue shortly-

His phone vibrated a few seconds later.

-Good. Don’t keep everyone waiting, brat-

Ethan chuckled at the reply before putting his phone away. ’That old man could at least pretend to be happy that we’re coming.’

The traffic gradually thinned as they left the busier streets behind and followed the directions to the wedding venue. Soon, a large, elegant building came into view, surrounded by landscaped gardens and a spacious parking area. Several vehicles were already parked outside, ranging from ordinary sedans to expensive luxury cars.

Ethan slowed down and drove toward the entrance, where a few attendants were directing arriving guests. He followed their instructions and pulled into an available parking space among the other vehicles.

After turning off the engine, he glanced at Evelyn and Nora.

"We’re here."

Nora immediately looked out of the window, her eyes widening slightly as she took in the venue. Evelyn smiled at her reaction before reaching for her handbag.

Ethan stepped out first and walked around the car to open the passenger door for his wife. Once Evelyn and Nora had gotten out, he locked the BMW and looked toward the entrance, where well-dressed guests were already making their way inside.

He adjusted his clothes and turned toward his family.

"Shall we go?"