"Are you sure that's what you're going to wear for your wedding?"
Her father was eyeing her white tailored pants suit with sheer disapproval. But she didn't care. She was actually thinking of wearing red but gave up the idea for she knew she was being too much.
Lilly didn't put much makeup on her face but her skin was glowing. Her cheeks were sunkissed during her vacation in Mykonos. The said vacation was quite weird. It started as Tiffany being so friendly with her—thanking her nonstop for Rosa, because her plan to have a boat party happened, however, for the rest of their stay until the day they came back home, Tiffany was colder than an iceberg. Susan was acting agitated and trying to say something with her eyes but she couldn't get it. She was hoping that she would post something on her social media but she didn't. Thus, leaving her more confused than ever.
She wanted to ask Tiffany about it but she was too nervous about her upcoming wedding. Doesn't matter that she and Matthew were just going to sign the marriage contract in front of their lawyer and a judge that would pronounce them husband and wife. It is still a wedding that will change her life…hopefully not forever, she thought to herself.
Both of their parents would be there at the restaurant—she didn't want them to join them at the city hall, they would like to take photos for souvenirs and Lilly had no choice but to relent. It was a small thing. Few photos to commemorate their wedding day, according to Matthew's mother who requested it.
"Is it ugly?" She asked as she put on her pearl earrings.
"No, sweetheart. You look absolutely stunning! I just wish that you would get married in different circumstances." His voice cracked and swiped the strand of Lilly's hair to the side of her face.
With her face devoid of any makeup, she looks so young and innocent, his eyes watered. "I'm sorry, sweetheart."
"I'm fine, Daddy." She hugged her father and rubbed his back. He lost a lot of weight because of the problem in the company. Hence, she was glad that today, the business contract with the Gray Empire would take effect, at the same time that she and Matthew signed their marriage contract.
It's a small price to pay to save the company from bankruptcy, she thought to herself. A lot of employees were able to keep their jobs, her father wouldn't lose face, and her mother would continue to enjoy the life that her husband can provide. And she can—she has no idea what she can do. She hasn't talked to Matthew about what Pete told her. She hasn't talked to him about her wanting to stay in a dorm once she entered university.
"Where's mom?" She asked, looking over her father's shoulder.
"She will be at the restaurant later. Don't worry."
"I'm not worried, Daddy. I am more or less used to it now." She said in a small voice. Her mother has always been a vague part of her life. She grew up with different nannies because her mother was busy being the perfect wife to her father and being the socialite that she is—a daughter has no place in her mother's busy social life.
She wasn't a bad mother but she wished that at this moment when she was being a complete wreck in her nervousness, she would at least bother to come and see her as she put on her chosen wedding attire.
She was still probably sulking that she wasn't able to get the wedding she dreamed about for her. But it's her wedding and she doesn't want to be the victim of gossip and rumors in high society. More so, she doesn't want to be bashed by those women who thirst over Matthew on the internet!
***
"Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Grayson." The judge shook Matthew's hand after they had signed the piece of paper that proved that they are now a husband and wife by law.
When the judge offered his hand to shake her hands, he gave her a kind of smile that made the corner of her eyes twitch and she squinted her eyes. It seemed that the judge was looking down on her as if she got married for some scandalous reason.
She quickly withdrew her hand from his grip and clasped her hands over her stomach. She was about to tilt her chin in a challenging pose when she felt Matthew's hand behind the small of her back.
"Thank you, Judge Hillensky. We'll go ahead now."
Matthew's hand slid forward to the left and squeezed her waist. His action made her stand still and not react from what she readout of the judge's action towards her.
When they were finally out of the judge's office, Matthew turned to face the lawyer that was with them. "What's the deal with Judge Hillensky?"
The anger in Matthew's voice made Lilly flinch a little. She didn't realize that Matthew noticed her discomfort even when she didn't say anything.
"Sorry about that, Mr. Grayson. Judge Hillensky was not the judge that we booked for the ceremony today but Judge Davenport had some family emergencies and had to beg off."
Matthew nodded but the crease in his forehead didn't disappear.
"Congratulations on your wedding, Mr. and Mrs. Grayson." The lawyer greeted them once again. "I'll be on my way."
Matthew nodded again. They stood at the curb and waited for the valet to bring their car. The lawyer got in the taxi that stopped in front of him. The taxi drove off, leaving them—the newlyweds, alone on the curb and having no idea on what to do next.
They were still quiet when Matthew's car stopped in front of them and he didn't wait for the valet driver to open the door for her. He stepped forward, taking her with him, and opened the passenger door of his car that he opened.
He gently nudged her to get inside the car. He put his hand on top of her head when she bent down to enter the passenger seat. Lilly wasn't sure if Matthew was being kind to her because it was their wedding day or there was a different reason. She wasn't sure. But his action sure does make her heart tingle in excitement.