Chapter 26: Too Much Excitement And Eagerness For A Paid Marriage

Emma Lincoln couldn’t remember the last time she had been this happy.

She had barely slept the previous night.

Not because she was worried.

Not because something was wrong.

But because she was getting married!

And not just getting married...

She was getting married to Ryan Calender.

The man who had somehow entered her life and turned everything upside down in the shortest time imaginable.

Emma stood in front of the enormous mirror in her bedroom, looking at herself with a smile that refused to disappear.

Her wedding...

She was actually going to have a wedding.

She touched her hair lightly before turning around.

"Is everything ready?"

"Yes, Miss Emma."

Her personal maid stood behind her.

Emma nodded.

"Good."

She picked up her handbag.

Then walked out of her room.

The moment she stepped outside the mansion, one of her bodyguards immediately approached the black Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase waiting at the entrance.

The vehicle was magnificent.

Its dark exterior reflected the morning sunlight while the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy stood proudly at the front.

The bodyguard quickly opened the rear door.

"Thank you," Emma smiled and said.

She stepped inside.

Before the door closed, she suddenly looked at him.

"I’m heading to the best fashion store in the entire city!"

The bodyguard blinked.

"Yes, Miss."

Emma smiled brightly.

"I have a wedding dress to buy."

"Congratulations, Miss," the bodyguard smiled slightly.

Emma’s smile became even wider after hearing that, as she blushed and responded.

"Thank you."

The door closed.

A moment later, the Rolls-Royce slowly drove away from the mansion.

Inside the vehicle, Emma leaned comfortably against the seat as she couldn’t stop smiling.

In town weeks... Only two weeks...

That was how long she had until she became Mrs. Calender.

The thought alone made her heart beat faster, as she pulled out her phone.

There were already several messages from her family.

Preparations, guest lists, arrangements.

People discussing venues and decorations.

People discussing food and welfare...

Everything was moving so quickly, but Emma didn’t care about any of that right now.

There was one thing she wanted to handle herself.

Her wedding dress.

She needed the perfect one, and she wasn’t going to settle for anything ordinary.

...

About thirty minutes later, the Rolls-Royce stopped in front of one of the most prestigious fashion stores in Zion City.

The moment Emma stepped out of the vehicle, several employees immediately recognized her.

"Miss Lincoln!"

"Welcome!"

"It’s an honor to have you here."

Emma smiled politely.

"Thank you," She responded and walked inside.

The store was enormous.

Expensive dresses filled the displays.

Some of them cost more than what ordinary people earned in several years, yet Emma didn’t even bother looking at the price tags.

She wasn’t here to save money...

She was here to find a wedding dress.

A female attendant quickly approached her.

"How may I help you today, Miss Lincoln?"

Emma smiled as she responded. "My wedding is in two weeks, so..."

The attendant’s eyes widened.

"Congratulations!"

"Thank you."

Emma’s smile became even brighter.

"I need a wedding dress. A perfect, classic wedding dress," she commanded, her eyes filled with glows of certainty.

"Of course."

The attendant immediately began showing her different options.

Emma looked at the first one but ended up shaking her head almost immediately.

"Too simple."

The second.

"Not enough."

The third.

"No."

The attendant remained patient.

"Perhaps this one?"

Emma looked at it and tilted her head

"Maybe..." She looked at it with a look that seemed like her attention had been really drawn.

The attendant smiled.

"Would you like to try it?"

"Yes."

Emma took the dress and disappeared into the fitting room. A few minutes later, she stepped out.

The employees stared, as they all say that it looked beautiful on her. However, it appeared that Emma didn’t seem completely convinced.

She turned toward the mirror, and looked at herself from different angles.

Then she shook her head.

"It’s beautiful."

"Thank you," the attendant smiled as she said that until she finished her statement.

"But it’s not the one," Emma stated, and then the attendant was forced to give a very polite and reassuring nod right after.

"Of course, ma’am."

Emma walked back toward the fitting room.

"My wedding is in two weeks, so I need something perfect."

The attendant immediately nodded.

"We’ll find it, ma’am. You have all the time."

And they continued...

Dress after dress, and all Emma would do was to reject one, consider another, try another, and then reject that one too.

At one point, one of the employees carefully approached her.

"Miss Lincoln, there’s a new collection that arrived yesterday."

Emma immediately looked at her.

"Show me."

The woman nodded and showed her the way.

"Right this way."

Emma followed her as they headed towards the point.

And when she saw the dress... She stopped.

Her eyes widened, captivated by the view she just grasped.

It was elegant and beautiful.

The design was sophisticated without being excessive.

The fabric reflected the light softly, and the entire dress looked as though it had been made specifically for someone like her.

Emma slowly walked toward it and touched the material.

"How much?"

The attendant hesitated.

"Miss, the price is..."

"I didn’t ask whether it was expensive," Emma smiled.

"How much?"

"Eight hundred and sixty thousand dollars, ma’am."

Emma didn’t even blink as she heard that.

"I’ll take it," she said.

The attendant froze, and didn’t know the exact question to ask.

That was definitely the most expensive dress in the entire store!

"You don’t want to try it first?"

Emma looked at the dress and smiled.

"No... I don’t need to."

She already knew.

"This is the one."

The employees immediately began preparing it, as Emma’s heart was beating rapidly.

She couldn’t wait... She couldn’t wait to see Ryan’s expression when he saw her.

She couldn’t wait for the wedding.

She couldn’t wait to walk down the aisle.

She couldn’t wait to become his wife.

Emma was so excited that she didn’t notice the person who had entered the store behind her.

Not until she heard a familiar voice.

"Emma?"

She froze, and that voice had really sounded familiar.

Emma slowly turned around, and her eyes widened the moment she saw him.

"Mark?!!!"

The young man standing several feet away smiled. He was dressed elegantly in a dark suit, with expensive glasses resting on his face.

Mark was her former classmate, as they had attended the same high school.

He was also the first son of one of the richest men in Zion City.

Just like Emma, Mark had grown up surrounded by wealth.

Their families had known each other for years, but they hadn’t seen each other properly in quite some time.

Mark walked toward her.

"I didn’t expect to see you here."

Emma smiled and blushed.

"I could say the same."

He glanced at the dress being prepared by the employees.

"Shopping?"

Emma’s smile immediately became brighter.

"Wedding shopping."

Mark paused. "Wedding?"

"Yes!" Emma didn’t even try to hide her excitement. "My wedding is coming up."

Mark stared at her in amazement, the smile intact.

"You’re getting married?"

"Yes," Emma nodded.

"When?"

"In two weeks, Mark."

She said it with so much excitement that Mark couldn’t help but smile.

"That’s fast," Mark furrowed his brows as he nodded repeatedly.

"It is," Emma laughed.

"But I’m happy... I’m so happy for you, Emma," Mark looked at her and said.

"Who is the lucky guy?" He then asked.

Emma’s eyes brightened.

"Ryan... His name is Ryan."

"Ryan?"

"Yes."

Before Mark could say anything else, she was already reaching into her handbag.

"Wait."

She pulled out what happened to look like an invitation card. That was actually what it was.

Mark looked at it as Emma handed it to him.

"You’re formally invited, Mark."

Mark stared at the invitation, and looked back at her.

"You already have invitations?"

"Of course," Emma laughed.

"My family has been preparing everything."

Mark didn’t mind opening the card as he just looked at Emma again.

"I didn’t know you were getting married."

Emma laughed. "It all happened so quickly... I know."

Mark stared at her while he noticed that there was something strange about the way she spoke.

She was genuinely happy, and he could clearly see it.

He dipped the invitation card into his suit and nodded to her.

"I’ll be there."

"I can’t wait to see you there!" Emily smiled excitedly and said.

She turned toward the employees who were already done packing the dress, and then she looked back at Mark.

"It was really nice seeing you."

"You too," he responded with a bold smile as he watched her leave.

Emma waved as she walked toward the exit, her bodyguard already waiting at the door side.

He opened the door of the Rolls-Royce, and Emma stepped inside, and within seconds, they drove off.

"Hmmm... She must be getting married to one of the rich heirs in the city or probably another city."

"Trust her grandfather. He won’t let her marry a loser," Mark said as he went straight to what he had come here to do.

His girlfriend’s birthday would be in two days, so he planned to get her an expensive dress for the birthday party.

He was still observing around with one of the attendants when his phone rang.

He looked at the screen and saw the contact.

"Father."

He immediately answered.

"Hello, Dad."

His father’s voice came from the other end.

"Hey, son."

Mark noticed something strange in his father’s voice.

"What happened?"

There was a brief silence, but then his father spoke.

"We have a problem."

Mark’s expression changed.

"A problem?"

"Yes."

"What problem, Father?"

His father’s voice became quieter.

"It’s my brother’s son."

Mark frowned, not understanding what it meant at that point in time.

"Your brother’s son?"

"Ryan."

Mark’s eyes narrowed.

"Ryan?"

"The restaurant chef?" He asked.

His father went silent for a moment before then came the answer.

"That’s the point, son..."

Mark’s smile disappeared completely, as his father continued.

"Not anymore."