Chapter 127: Wedding (1)

With Evelyn’s hand wrapped around his, Ethan walked toward the wedding venue with a relaxed smile. Nora was a few steps ahead of them, moving at a reserved pace as she examined the surroundings. Although she was curious about the decorations and the guests arriving in their expensive cars, she wasn’t foolish enough to run around and cause trouble for her parents.

Besides, she had no intention of embarrassing herself in front of so many strangers.

Ethan glanced at his daughter and smiled faintly. ’At least someone in this family knows how to behave.’

He then turned his attention toward the entrance, where several guests were gathering in small groups. The venue was considerably more elaborate than he had expected, with neatly arranged flowers lining the walkway and staff members guiding visitors toward the main building. Beyond the entrance, he could see the spacious reception area, where tables had been arranged in preparation for the celebration.

It was clear that Albert’s wedding wasn’t going to be a small affair.

Ethan wasn’t particularly surprised. After all, the bride came from a wealthy family, and Albert’s parents had probably wanted to make the occasion memorable for their son.

His gaze swept across the gathering before settling on two familiar figures standing near the entrance.

Jason and Maria.

Ethan’s expression softened slightly as he recognized his parents. Jason was dressed in a well-fitted suit, standing with his hands behind his back while surveying the arriving guests. Maria stood beside him, looking elegant in her outfit, and she seemed to be listening to something her husband was saying.

Ethan gently squeezed Evelyn’s hand before approaching them.

"Good morning, Dad. Mom," He greeted them with a calm smile.

Jason turned toward him, narrowing his eyes as he examined his son from head to toe. For a moment, he didn’t say anything, which made Ethan raise an eyebrow.

Then, Jason finally spoke with an expression that suggested he had discovered something suspicious.

"You look properly dressed today. Did Evelyn dress you?"

Ethan blinked once before shamelessly nodding. "Of course. Do you think I would have looked this good without her help?"

Jason’s lips twitched.

Ethan, however, continued with a perfectly innocent smile. "I’m sure Mom picked out your outfit too, though. Unless you suddenly developed an interest in fashion overnight?"

Jason’s hand twitched this time. ’This brat!’

For a moment, he genuinely considered knocking Ethan on the head. The young man had barely arrived before finding a way to irritate him, and Jason couldn’t understand how someone could be so shameless about it.

Still, he held back. They were standing at the entrance to his nephew’s wedding, surrounded by guests. He wasn’t going to start a fight with his own son over a few words.

Besides, his wife was already laughing.

"Honestly, you two," Maria said, shaking her head with amusement. "Can’t you go five minutes without arguing?"

"We’re not arguing, Mom," Ethan replied with an innocent expression. "I’m simply having a conversation with my father."

Jason shot him a glare. "Then learn to have a proper conversation, brat."

Ethan smiled at him. "I’ll consider it, old man."

Maria laughed again, clearly enjoying the familiar exchange. She had missed seeing her son behave so comfortably around the family, and although Jason would never admit it, she knew he was happy to have Ethan there.

Her attention soon shifted toward Evelyn, who had been standing quietly beside her husband.

"Evelyn, you look lovely today!" Maria exclaimed, taking a closer look at her daughter-in-law’s dress. "This color suits you so well. You have such a good eye for these things."

Evelyn’s cheeks turned faintly pink. She lowered her gaze with a shy smile before answering, "Thank you, Mom. I’m glad you like it."

Maria reached out and gently patted Nora’s head, drawing the white-haired girl’s attention.

"And look at you, Nora! You’ve grown even prettier."

Nora smiled politely. "Good morning, Grandma. Thank you."

Maria’s expression softened as she looked at her granddaughter. "Good morning, sweetheart. Have you been looking forward to the wedding?"

"A little," Nora admitted, glancing toward the entrance. "I’ve never attended a wedding like this before."

"Then I hope you enjoy yourself today," Maria replied, giving her another gentle pat on the head.

Nora nodded, feeling a small warmth spread through her chest.

She was still getting used to these family gatherings. In her previous life, the thought of attending an event with her father and grandparents would have been almost laughable. Yet here she was, standing beside her parents while her grandmother praised her appearance.

’Things really are different now.’

Nora glanced toward Ethan, who was busy responding to another of Jason’s remarks. Her father seemed entirely comfortable, as though the possibility of arguing with his own father was simply a normal part of his day.

She couldn’t help smiling faintly. Perhaps she could get used to this.

Jason, who had noticed a few more guests arriving, finally clapped his hands lightly and turned toward the family.

"All right, let’s go inside already. Albert has been waiting for everyone, and I don’t want us standing here all morning."

Ethan nodded and followed his father, keeping Evelyn’s hand in his as they walked through the entrance. Nora followed alongside them, occasionally looking around at the decorations and the guests.

Once inside, Ethan found himself taking a closer look at the venue.

The interior was spacious, with elegant decorations arranged throughout the hall. Large floral displays stood near the walls, while the tables had been covered with clean white cloths and decorated with carefully arranged centerpieces. Staff members moved between the tables, making final adjustments before the ceremony began.

Guests were already gathering in small groups, exchanging greetings and catching up with relatives they hadn’t seen in a while. Some wore expensive watches and tailored suits, while others carried themselves with the quiet confidence of people accustomed to attending formal occasions.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he observed them. ’Quite a gathering.’

He wasn’t particularly interested in judging people by their clothes or the cars they drove, but he couldn’t help noticing the general atmosphere. Albert’s wedding had attracted people from different backgrounds, and the wealth displayed by some of the guests suggested that the groom’s family had connections beyond their immediate relatives.

More importantly, the bride’s family was still something of a mystery to him.

He knew that Yasmine was the daughter of a wealthy businessman whose company operated abroad, but that was practically all the information he had. Jason hadn’t gone into much detail about the family, and Ethan hadn’t bothered asking.

’Well, I’ll find out soon enough.’

He wasn’t particularly concerned about the bride’s family’s wealth. He had seen enough wealthy businessmen in his previous life to know that money alone said very little about a person’s character. Some of the richest people he had met were surprisingly modest, while others seemed to believe their bank accounts entitled them to look down on everyone around them.

He would reserve his judgment until he met them.

As they continued walking, Jason eventually led them toward a group of young men standing near the reception area. One of them was dressed in a handsome suit, chatting with his friends while occasionally glancing toward the entrance.

’And there he is...’

The moment Albert noticed Ethan approaching, his eyes lit up. His conversation came to an abrupt stop, and he immediately excused himself before striding toward his cousin.

"Ethan, bro!"