“Have you brought this up with anyone else?”
Gloria shook her head and advised Victor upon seeing his complicated gaze. “Perhaps I misheard their conversation. Even if they’re love rivals, there’s no reason to go that far. Besides, didn’t the police determine the car crash to be an accident?”
“Hopefully.” Victor suddenly felt uneasy. He was just an average guy; in fact, he was the most average one among their group. If he hadn’t met Rachel, his life would just be plain mundane, and perhaps he would never experience such machinations.
No one would want to think evil of a person, but within their circle, it was safer to overthink. Anyhow, everything can wait until after the wedding, Victor thought. He didn’t want Gloria to worry about this and ruin their mood for the wedding.
It was close to the dead of the night, and as the bachelor-bachelorette party was coming to an end, everyone gathered for a group picture. After taking the picture, Rachel looked around. “Where’s Ryan?”
Justin took a gander inside the villa. ‘I called him, but he said he’ll sit this one out. He’s probably inside with Samuel.”
“Is Samuel paying him any attention?”
“The boy’s building Legos. When I went to get them, neither said a word, only minding their own business.”
“Like father, like son, huh?” Rachel hugged her arms at that. “I don’t get Ryan, though. Why won’t he stop approaching Samuel when he knows he’s just going to be snubbed? Though Samuel’s his biological son, he never raised the boy. Hell, he didn’t even know of his existence. If he really feels attachment for Samuel, what has he been doing all this while?!”
“Perhaps humans rely on kinship much more when they’re vulnerable.”
His words stumped Rachel for a moment. She wasn’t sure why, but her heart suddenly twinged for a second. Charlotte was probably the only family Justin had left that he could rely on.
Justin checked the time and suggested, “It’s getting late. Go ahead and get some sleep. I’ll be here watching; Samuel will be fine.” While speaking, he pulled out a chair and sat down.
From where he was sitting, he could see into the villa as he watched Ryan and Samuel’s back. Rachel decided to join him and sat down beside the man. “It’s still early. I can’t fall asleep just yet.”
Surprised, Justin took a look at Rachel for a while before the corner of his eyes lifted into a smile. “Another bottle?”
“Sure.”
With that, the two shared another bottle of wine. The next day, though the wedding would be held at the summer villa, they still stuck to the tradition of a groom picking up his bride.
Hence, right after the bachelor-bachelorette party, Jolly shooed Victor back to his home. As the best man and the only groomsman, Leroy was sent away with Victor too. “Apparently, the two stayed wide awake almost the entire night.”
Inside the room, the makeup artist was putting makeup on Gloria when Jolly held the hem of her bridesmaid dress and slumped next to Rachel, sharing her text with Leroy enthusiastically.
“I swear I can’t stop laughing, Chris. Victor was still wide awake at 2.00AM, but guess what he did? He made Leroy watch the drama Leroy acted in. Don’t you think that’s bullsh*t? Is he not feeling nervous? As if!”
“Are you sure it’s not the other way round?”
Gloria shot her a disgruntled glance. Though Victor was a little goofy, no one but her was allowed to make fun of him like that.
“Do you even think that’s possible? Leroy has so many fans; why would he need Victor to help him boost his drama’s viewership?”
“Many a little makes a mickle. Perhaps he doesn’t want to miss any chances of boosting the viewership.”
For once, Jolly didn’t bicker with Gloria since it was the latter’s wedding day. “Whatever, come at me all you want. Either way, the groom won’t be able to come in if he doesn’t give enough red envelopes.”
At that, Gloria glared at Jolly through the mirror. “Don’t get greedy. We’re just doing this for the festivity. Don’t go overboard.”
“Oh, come on. The more, the merrier. I won’t get another chance after today, you know.”
“Rachel! Do something about her!” Gloria could only seek Rachel’s help when she was fighting a losing battle against Jolly.
Rachel chuckled. “She’s just messing with you. Hurry up and sit back down. Victor and the guys are already on their way.”
It was only then Gloria sat still, but she couldn’t help mumbling, “I’m really fine with just a simple ceremony. I mean, look at how everyone is running around with me. Why send me to Victor’s from here when we’d be coming back anyway?”
“If everyone keeps things simple as you do, all the traditions would be long gone.” Jolly was surprisingly serious for once. “There’s a reason why some of these traditions are retained.”
Rachel nodded in agreement. “Though your parents and Victor’s are no longer around, we should still follow the tradition. Although your brother didn’t say anything, I’m sure he wants to see you get married.” “Yeah, Victor is not marrying into your family;
how can we skip this part?!” With how Rachel and Jolly echoed one another, Gloria’s eyes turned misty, and the woman felt touched.
“Hence, Victor has to give us enough red envelopes if he wants to come in.” Just like that, the touching ambiance crumbled with Jolly’s words.
“I dare you!” Livid, Gloria glared at Jolly. Later, Jolly handed Gloria a hand fan after Gloria had changed into her wedding dress and sat on the bed. Rachel, on the other hand, went behind Gloria and put the two handmade kitten rag dolls on the pillow.
“Gosh, they’re so cute! Where did they come from?” Jolly exclaimed and reached for them.
“Don’t touch them!” Rachel slapped the back of Jolly’s hand. “They’re wedding dolls. If you want them, you have to get married.”
While rubbing her stinging hand, Jolly whined with indignation and said, “Well, I want a pair when I get married. I want it to be bigger and better.”
“They aren’t from me,” Rachel commented.
“Who is it from, then?”
At that, Gloria rolled her eyes at Jolly. “That’s for me to know and you to find out. Am I supposed to introduce all my friends to you?”
“Stingy!” Jolly pouted, swearing she would give Victor a hard time and ask for a few more red envelopes as revenge. Just then, a babel of voices came from outside the room.
“They’re here, they’re here!”
Out of everyone in the room, Jolly was the most excited, lifting her skirt as she dashed to the door to make sure it was locked.
Moments later, a knock came at the door.
“Open the door!” Leroy and Hernandez cried out in excitement. “The groom has come for his bride.”
To that, Jolly shouted behind the door, “Do you think we’re going to open the door just because you want us to? Don’t you know what you’re supposed to do?”
The next second, a stack of red envelopes appeared from the gap beneath the door.
“Of course we do!” It was Leroy’s voice. “The red envelopes first.”
“One, two, three, four…” After Jolly counted the number of red envelopes the guys handed over, she shouted, “We have a bunch of girls in here. Is this all you’re giving us?!”
All of Gloria’s colleagues were with the trio in the room. As most of them weren’t native, they had never experienced such a wedding custom. Upon hearing they could get money, each of them became more excited than the other.
Gloria, on the other hand, grew anxious. “Rachel! Do something about her!”
