Early in the morning, the entire Anderson Mansion was buzzing with preparations for the banquet. Some staff members were decorating the garden, while others were busy coordinating with caterers and chefs. The atmosphere was chaotic, and I tried my best to help out wherever I could.
"Madam, you don't need to do anything. Just sit and enjoy," Butler John said, clearly distressed seeing me doing minor tasks.
"It's alright, Butler John. I love to contribute," I replied, arranging flowers in a vase.
"Lyla, sweetheart, what are you doing?" Aunt Fiona's puzzled voice came from behind me as she descended the stairs.
"I was arranging the flowers in the vase," I said, looking at her.
"Oh dear, leave it to the staff! You should go and get your makeup and hair done. Professionals take such a long time," she said, almost scolding me as she grabbed my arm.
Before I could protest, she continued cheerfully, "Well, I have an appointment with my stylist. I'll take you along, and we'll get your makeup and hair done together. I think by the time we return, it'll be too late for you to worry about these little things."
And just like that, before I could fully process what was happening, I found myself seated in her car, heading to her stylist's salon. By the time I came to my senses, it was already too late to argue.
Walking into the mall, Aunt Fiona eagerly dragged me to one of the most renowned salons in the city. This was the place where celebrities and pop stars often got their makeup done for red carpets and award functions. I had been here once before with my Aunt mina, so the place was somewhat familiar to me.
"Hello, Mrs. Rodger. Hi, Miss Knight," the receptionist greeted us with a polite smile, clearly recognizing Aunt Fiona.
"Hello, sweetie. Is Juliet here? We have an appointment with her," Aunt Fiona asked, her tone warm yet commanding.
"Yes, she's in her makeup room. You can go right in," the receptionist replied before gesturing toward the hallway that led to the private rooms.
With that, Aunt Fiona flashed her signature cheerful smile, and we made our way to Juliet's room.
We knocked on the door, and Juliet came to let us in. "How have you been?" she greeted Aunt Fiona warmly, and they immediately began chatting like old friends.
As their conversation went on, Juliet's eyes fell on me. With a curious tone, she asked, "And who is this sweet lady?"
"Oh, you don't know her? She's Noah's wife," Aunt Fiona replied casually.
Juliet's eyes widened in surprise. "She's the legendary wife of Noah Anderson? Your family did quite a good job at hiding her identity!"
Aunt Fiona laughed at Juliet's words and said, "Well, it's a matter between the younger generation. They want to keep things private, and we older folks respect their choices."
Juliet walked over to me, gently held my hand, and said, "You look so young and beautiful." Her unexpected compliment made me blush.
"Thank you," I replied softly, feeling slightly flustered.
"Now I understand why Noah doesn't want your identity revealed to the world. He's probably afraid you'll get stolen if you step into the spotlight," Juliet teased with a playful grin.
Aunt Fiona joined in, laughing. "I also think the same way," she added, making my cheeks burn even brighter as I blushed furiously.
"It's not like that," I tried to defend Noah, but Juliet quickly chimed in, her teasing tone evident. "Then how is it?" she asked with a playful smile.
Knowing she was just teasing me, I decided to let it go and smiled softly.
"Alright, Juliet, enough of this chatting," Aunt Fiona interrupted, her tone light but firm. "We both need to be ready before sunset, so let's get to work." She sat down on the couch, looking composed.
"Got it! Let me call my team, and we'll start on both of your makeup and hair," Juliet said, her teasing grin replaced by a professional demeanor as she got to work.
Soon, five members of her team joined us, moving with swift efficiency. Two makeup artists began working on our faces, while the hairstylists focused on our hair. Juliet supervised everything, carefully monitoring the looks as they took shape.
"What about your outfits?" Juliet asked, glancing at us as the team was about to apply eyeshadow and lipstick.
"I have a black outfit with white sleeves adorned with rhinestones," I said, remembering the dress—and the memory of Noah crossing my mind.
"Oh, classy!" Juliet exclaimed. "Alright, I'll go with something minimal and elegant to highlight your natural beauty," she decided, instructing the makeup artist on the type of eyeshadow to use.
Aunt Fiona, in turn, gave details about her outfit as well, and Juliet made adjustments to suit her style.
In about two hours, our makeup and hair were complete. Juliet stood back, observing her work with satisfaction. "Perfect," she said. "You both look stunning."
"You are looking gorgeous, Lyla," Aunt Fiona said with a warm smile. I glanced at the mirror in my hand and couldn't help but agree. Professionals really do have magic in their hands, I thought. They have the art of highlighting your best features, making you look your absolute best.
"You're looking great as well, Aunt Fiona," I said with a smile. Then, with a playful tone, I added, "Maybe you'll get some proposals tonight."
She laughed, and the others in the room joined in, making the atmosphere light and cheerful.
"Alright, let's get changed into the outfits before we do the final touch-ups," Juliet said, bringing us back to the task at hand.
Luckily, Aunt Fiona had been thoughtful enough to send her driver to pick up my outfit from home, knowing I hadn't brought it with me. Now, with everything ready, we both headed to change.
"Alright, Juliet, have a great evening," Aunt Fiona said, bidding her goodbye. I also greeted Juliet as we walked out of the salon.
As we made our way through the mall, I noticed people glancing at us and softly murmuring. Their attention made me feel a little shy, but Aunt Fiona, ever confident, said, "Beautiful ladies always catch attention. Don't mind them."
Her straightforward personality was something I was beginning to appreciate more and more. Smiling at her words, I followed her as we got into the car and started driving back to the Anderson mansion.