Elliot and Anastasia escorted Francis to his car and watched him leave before they headed over to their car.
That night, they had dinner at Presgrave Residence. When their wedding plans came up in conversation, Anastasia said to Harriet, “Grandma, I’d like us to keep a low profile for the wedding. I don’t need a grand wedding and I don’t want the reporters to report about our ceremony.”
While it may seem amazing to receive high-profile coverage, it came with a lot of risks. Anastasia did not want their family’s lives to be scrutinized. She just wanted to have a quiet and peaceful life.
Harriet was happy to accept the suggestion. Her biggest concern was not having the ceremony live up to Anastasia’s expectations, but since it was a request from Anastasia herself, she would plan according to her wishes.
The wedding was to be held at the start of May on a private island within the country’s borders. Around a hundred guests were invited.
While they did keep a low profile, Elliot still invested a lot of time and money into creating a lavish and romantic ceremony for Anastasia.
In the days leading up to the ceremony, Anastasia got busy too. She had a lot of decisions to make, such as choosing her wedding gown and the gown for the banquet at night, as well as other minute details for the ceremony. She poured her heart into preparing everything.
As for her guests, apart from friends and relatives from her father’s side, Anastasia also invited Felicia and Grace. While she had friends overseas, she was mindful of the great distance and decided against informing them.
Spring was afoot and the lovely spring breeze came wafting in through the window. Anastasia began to feel a little drowsy. Jared was in school by now, and she had spent the morning discussing wedding details with the wedding planners. Once they left, she got a thin blanket and decided to take a nap on the couch.
All of a sudden, she felt a firm hand closing in around her shoulder, and she stirred awake to see a familiar face staring back at her. She nestled back down into his chest and fell sound asleep.
Elliot stroked her long hair and peppered it with kisses as he accompanied her while she napped.
When Anastasia woke up from her afternoon nap, she found out that Elliot had brought a female bodyguard back with him.
She was Adriana Williams, a 33-year-old woman with impeccable fighting skills and a long list of credentials. In addition to that, she was also a very intelligent and capable woman who could help Anastasia with all manner of issues. She was going to assume the role of Anastasia’s personal bodyguard and would be with her at all times.
Anastasia took a liking to Adriana thanks to her pair of trustworthy eyes. They made her feel safe.
“From now on, you must bring Adriana along with you wherever you go, so that she can keep you safe,” Elliot said. Anastasia and Jared were now his weaknesses because they were what he cared about the most.
Anastasia nodded agreeably. “Okay.”
A gentle spring shower began late in the afternoon, and when Jared came home, he pulled on his rain boots and grabbed an umbrella to go off and play in the garden.
Anastasia did not stop him. The newly hired servants were preparing dinner, so Anastasia joined Jared in the garden. However, her mind wandered for just a few moments and when she snapped out of it, Jared was gone.
She jumped to her feet in fear. “Jared? Jared… where are you?”
“Mommy! Mommy, look.” Jared stuck his head out of a nearby bush and showed her what he cupped in his hands-a kitten whose fur was soaking wet, and who was meowing weakly.
Anastasia was stunned. She watched as Jared carefully wrapped the kitten in his clean clothes and asked, “Mommy, can I keep it?” He was staring at her with imploring eyes that made him look as pitiful as the kitten in his arms.
How could Anastasia deny her son when he looked so sincere about this?
“Okay, you can keep it.” Anastasia nodded.
“Yay!” Jared was overjoyed. He did not continue playing in the rain anymore, but instead, he carried the kitten into the house at once.
This kitten probably had no idea that it was about to live its best life as it was soon to become a member of this household.
Soon, all the arrangements were made for the kitten to rest comfortably. Anastasia blowdried the kitten’s fur and saw that it was probably a stray cat as it did not seem like a purebred cat. It looked like an ordinary cat, but it had a large pair of eyes that were quite adorable.
“Mommy, will Daddy agree to let me keep it?” Jared asked tentatively. He thought about how serious and proper his father was, and a man like him might not like having a kitten in the house!
