Zachary headed to Star's room, while Lulu returned to the kitchen to prepare the weaning food.Star was up although she just fell asleep, and Lulu said, "She should be sleeping longer.""I wanted to pick her up," Zachary replied.Lulu frowned. "So you woke her up?""She wasn't crying." Zachary shrugged.Lulu was speechless but said nothing.When she was done cooking, Star would be tired from playing and ready to eat anyway.-Over the next few days, Zachary was exceedingly busy, checking out the wedding venue and taking Lulu to the bridal boutique…Time passed quickly since there was plenty to do, and Irene received their wedding invitation in two weeks after preparations were finished.While Irene knew that Zachary and Lulu were warming up to each other, she was still surprised that they were holding the wedding so soon."Are you going back to Zidonia?" Tommy asked.He had no problems with that, but it was not the case for Baby, who was still clingy despite being able to
Unable to decide, Irene turned toward Isaaac.And worried that Isaac would say no, Tommy skidded off his chair, running up to Isaac and tugging on his sleeve as he coaxed, "Daddy? Let's go, please?'Isaac turned toward his son, pinching his cheek as the boy grinned. "Daddy…""Yeah." Isaac tousled Tommy's hair. "Let's go.""Yippee!!!" Tommy exclaimed, jumping around happily.Erin was frowning in turn. "Aren't you getting ahead of yourself? Eat your dinner."As Tommy blinked, Irene beckoned, "Over here, Tommy."Tommy walked up to her, and she picked him up. "Oh, you're getting so heavy that I can't carry you anymore."Tommy blinked his lively round eyes. "Are you calling me fat, Mommy?"Irene made a thoughtful face as she scanned him from top to toe before commenting solemnly, "You've been putting on weight lately."That was not actually the case—the boy's weight was just right, even with his little cheeks fleshing out just like Isaac.As Irene hugged him and gave him a peck o
Erin asked, "Would you prefer a boy or a girl, James?""Haven't you asked that before?" James replied."When?" Erin forgot."Think."Erin frowned in thought but simply could not remember.Turning to hug him back, "Tell me already. When did I ask you that before?'"Pregnancy is really slowing you down, huh?" James smiled, caressing her cheek. "I told you—I'd love the baby whether it's a boy or a girl."Erin looked up into his eyes just then. "Would you still love me like you do after we have a child?""Of course," James replied, tapping her nose. "Stop thinking of such silly stuff."Erin nodded. "Alright, I'll stop. You should start packing already.""Just look at how envious you are, attending someone else's wedding." James chuckled, shaking his head. "It's almost like it's your own wedding."Erin shrugged. "Just needed a breather after all that cabin fever."She really needed to get out after being stuck at home for so long."Got it." James grinned.-Over at Zidonia, Z
Lulu nodded again. "Okay."She walked with Zachary to the door, and he gave her a hug, reluctant to part with her for a single second.They had lost too much time, and he wanted more time with her.Lulu stood stiffly, and Zachary eventually released her and turned to start outside.Lulu sensed that she was not doing well and blamed herself a little. "Zachary…"Zachary turned. "Yes?"Lulu shook her head. "Drive safe."Zachary smiled in turn. "Yeah. And you should go to bed soon."-Afterwards, Lulu went to take a bath and picked up Star, playing with her a little since she was up.She went to bed only when Star fell asleep but vaguely felt the door moving.Opening her eyes, she turned to find that Zachary had bathed as well and put on his pajamas, tiptoeing toward her.Seeing that she was up, he asked softly, "Did I wake you up?"Lulu shook her head. "No. Is Star up?""Nope. Just checking." Zachary lay down and wrapped his arms around her. "Sleep."Lulu closed her eyes, b
Lulu did not like anything too showy—and most of the dresses were immediately apparently so, so none suited her.Sensing her disinterest, Zachary said, "Let's check elsewhere if you don't like them.""No, let's keep looking," Lulu replied, shaking her head—she had yet to go through the catalog."What do you prefer, miss? I can help," the manager said enthusiastically"Something simpler," Lulu said."Oh, you should have said so earlier. Let me bring you another catalog." The manager hurried off and took another catalog from the middle rack. "This is an exclusive catalog. Everything in it is the work of a designer who's quite famous in the business. Take a look."Lulu took the catalog but did not jump straight to it, and she only moved on after she finished the catalog she was browsing through.Still, her eyes lit up as soon as she saw the first page, as it was completely unlike the other catalog.The first design seemed to have fire as its inspiration. It was pure white, but the
Lulu, however, did not seem to like the bridal dress as much because it was too constraining.She wanted something simple in the first place and nothing too fancy, even if her figure suited the dress."I'll try the other one," Lulu said.As Zachary nodded, she returned inside the dressing room.Though the dress had a crinoline, the dressing room was huge and the doors wide, so that it did not get in the way.Zachary sat, crossing his legs and smiling as he remembered Lulu in that dress earlier.She actually looked good in it—despite having had plastic surgery, the way she carried herself never changed, though she was now more withdrawn—like the silence that follows a storm.Soon, Lulu returned, now in that dreamlike dress.There was a trail of spiraling frills that stretched irregularly waist down, but it stopped short of chaotic—making it a complex design that appeared simple.The upper portion of the dress was also prim and conservative, and it looked clean—the way Lulu like
Irene's family arrived in Zidonia a couple of days before the wedding, and Lulu and Zachary were on hand to receive them.Irene gave Lulu a bear hug as soon as they met, teasing her softly in the ear, "Things went faster than I thought, huh?""I didn't want to reject Zachary," Lulu said—she was doing her best to make things work between them."It's great if you have that mindset," Irene said quite emotionally. "I'm happy for you and earnestly hope you two will find happiness."Lulu clapped her on the back. "That's enough."There were plenty of people around.Just then, Stan Hill said, "Shouldn't you two be thanking me?"On Lulu's first return to the country after her plastic surgery, Stan had returned with her, disguising her as his relative.Still, Zachary joked, "If I'm thanking anyone, it's Irene, not you."Stan snorted. "Fine, I'm taking her away."Turning to Lulu, he said, "Come on. We're going back to Franconia."Zachary took Lulu's right then. "She's mine now. You can
Lulu smiled as she glanced at Isaac before turning back to Tommy. "You do resemble your daddy because you're his son."Tommy grinned, while Zachary said, "Alright, this isn't the place to chat. They must be tired from the flight too—let's get them to their hotel first."Lulu quickly nodded. "Alright, everyone get in."Zachary was driving the first car, and he glanced at Isaac from the rearview mirror. "I didn't clean your house since no one has stayed there for a while. Instead, I arranged for you to stay at a hotel, but I've booked the entire floor for your convenience.""Good," Isaac replied.Tommy then said, "I'm hungry, Uncle Zachary."Zachary chuckled. "Get some rest, then we will go eat. I've made arrangements—you'd definitely feel full."Tommy whooped and leaned against the window to take in the sights.Suddenly, he sighed emotionally like an older man. "Things haven't changed much around here."Zachary chuckled. "How long have you been abroad? Things don't change that