Julie called the head maid, Rossie, and started to give her instructions.

“Rossie, I know it is so sudden. But we need to prepare dinner for all these young people. Do we have enough ingredients at home?” Julie asked.

Before Rossie could respond, Layla came near them and said, “Aunty, do not get tensed or stressed. One of my friends who came today owns a famous restaurant in the city. He already brought enough food for almost a hundred people. Also, he said he would take care of the catering tomorrow. So relax and leave everything to us. We will make this wedding the most magnificent wedding that was arranged in the shortest time ever.”

Julie held Layla and asked, “Without you, what would I have done?”

Tears rolled down her cheeks. She had controlled her emotions and tried not to cry for a long time now. She finally found a little comfort looking at the spirited Layla. She cried wholeheartedly and finally, the block that was placed in her heart for the last three years got cleared.

Rossie, who watched this silently from the sides, also cried.

"Aunty, it's ok! Please do not cry. You are making me cry too..." Layla who was almost on the verge of breaking down said in between her sobs.

Julie realized her mistake and wiped her tears as well as Layla.

"I am sorry, I am just so happy now that I forgot about your condition. You are such a sweet girl. If you did not come, then I don't know what I would have done! Can I ask for a favor from you?" Julie hesitatingly asked.

"Tell me, Aunty..."

"Amy is an innocent child just like you. She doesn't have many friends and she was always alone. Other than painting, she doesn't know anything about the outside world. Can I entrust her in your care from now on?" Julie asked with expectations clearly visible in her face.

"Sure, aunty! She is my sister-in-law. I will always care for her and I like her a lot too. I felt a connection between us the minute I saw her. Please be at ease." Layla assured her and gave her a tight hug.

Amy came down the stairs and saw her mother crying while hugging Layla. She had never seen her mother cry before. Even when her father fell ill, she did not cry. But now looking at her mother who is crying like a child while hugging someone else, made her feel uncomfortable in her heart.

She wondered, ‘Did I fail to give my mother enough comfort? I always thought only about myself and never looked at the people who are next to me. I have really taken everything for granted until now.’

She thought there were no tears left in her eyes but looking at her mom crying, her eyes clouded once again.

“Are you the bride?” Evelyn asked with smiling eyes.

Amy nodded her head.

“I am Evelyn, Layla’s best friend. I am also a designer who is an expert in designing wedding gowns. I brought a few dresses for you, would you like to give them a try? You have an excellent figure and the proportion of your upper and lower body is very good. Your bust and hips are nearly equal in size. Also, you have a well-defined waist. If you wear my dress, then you will look gorgeous…” Evelyn examined her from head to toe.

“That’s enough of advertising your product. We will not pay you if we are not satisfied with the dress...” Layla declared.

“Who wants you to pay, anyway? I am sponsoring the dress. If the words get out that the daughter of ‘Victor group of companies’ who is also the bride of the president of ‘Rossbee internationals’ wore the dress I designed then my revenue would skyrocket. Every celebrity and the famous people around the world would stand in line for an appointment with me,” Evelyn proclaimed.

Amy listened to their conversation with her head hung low. If this marriage was happening with her boyfriend… her now ex-boyfriend then she would have been extremely happy. She would have willingly joined in everything without others trying to force her into it.

When she lifted her head she noticed, Julie was looking at her with worry-filled eyes. So she hid the turmoil that was about to burst within her and tried to smile at her mom.

“Come on, let us go… we have to fix everything quickly...” Layla rushed and pulled Amy's hand.

Amy followed them wherever they pulled her and allowed them to do whatever they wanted.

“Aunty, which one do you think suits Amy the best? I liked the one which has lace all over the body of the dress while Layla likes this one with minimum lace designed on the dress.” Evelyn asked.

Julie walked near them and examined both the dresses.

“Which one do you like Amy?” Layla asked.

Julie suddenly lifted her head and saw her daughter’s lifeless eyes. Something poked in her heart. Till now, she was thinking that everything she had done so far was for her own good. But what if they were making a mistake?

Amy was also looking at her mom’s reaction. When she saw her face change from initial excitement to anxiousness, she immediately responded to Layla,

“I like the one with minimal lacework.”

She then started to pretend like she was excited as well and showed enthusiasm in her marriage preparations, just to make her mom happy.

“Yay… Great minds think alike! See, I told you this one looks better than the one you selected. Even the bride liked my choice.” Layla announced proudly.

“So what? We still have many more dresses to select and Amy will choose the next one that I like.” Evelyn said and signaled her assistant to bring the next set of the dresses for the after marriage celebrations.

"I have informed the stylist who works for my boutique to come and help with the marriage. She said she would also bring the hairstylist and the makeup artist along with her early in the morning, tomorrow." Evelyn said while taking out a gorgeous off white dress that had rainbow colors on the bottom half that flow throughout the dress.

When Amy looked at it, she felt mesmerized. She looked at the dress for more than a few seconds. Looking at her eyes staying on that dress for a long time, Layla felt that she might be defeated this time.

Still, she tried to get into the competition and took out a blood-red color sexy long-sleeved dress with a bare back. She held it in front of Amy and asked, "Now tell me which one do you like? Mine or hers?"

"I like the off white dress," Amy said.

"Yay... Now I won...Yes yes yes..." Evelyn jumped up and down while circling Amy while holding her the dress she selected.

"The next ones are the most important one..." Evelyn announced and winked at her assistant.

Layla's eyes glowed in excitement and she looked at Amy with flickering eyes. Amy blinked, as she could not understand why they were suddenly acting so secretive. Evenlyn's assistant brought a huge box and placed it in the middle of the room.

Julie stood up and said, "I will go check on her dad. You kids carry on."

Once she disappeared from the view, they opened the box. It displayed a variety of sexy lingerie and other things that made Amy's ears turn red...

"I, gift, Amy this whole box of the treasure for her wedding night!" Evelyn announced while holding her hands in the front.

"Oooo... I like them... If I am not expecting then I would have at least taken one or two home..." Layla commented.

"No no... I got this only for Amy. Didn't I give you an even bigger box when you got married?"

"Those have become old now or some are torn... Why did you not get some for me too?" Layla complained.

"Did you look at your size? You are growing so fast! And if you want them so badly then ask your husband to buy some for you..." Evelyn said with a mocking voice.

"If I ask my husband to buy them for me, then where is the surprise? Moreover, all these things look sexier on pregnant women." Layla looked at Evelyn with a 'what do you know', look.

Amy wanted to get up and run away from that place. Even though she was in a relationship, they had not moved to that phase yet. All they did was hold hands and pecked each other on their cheeks. They were yet to explore even the famous french kissing. Once she remembered all those her face lost its glow and she became sad. As Layla and Evelyn were busy arguing with each other, they failed to notice her face change.

"Are you really going to explain all these things in front of me, who is still single and desperate?" Evelyn shouted.

"Why? Don't you have Liam?" Layla asked.

"Liam? You mean that foodie?" Evelyn rolled her eyes,

"Why not? He is an eligible bachelor and he does not look bad..." Layla turned around and looked at the handsome man who just came inside the house.

"You are right, he does look good and I guess he must have at least six-pack inside that thick shirt of his..." Evelyn almost stripped him naked with her eyes.

"What are you both looking at me for?" Liam asked innocently as he was unaware of the conversation that happened between the ladies.

"I thought you suddenly look handsome... Should we try dating?" Evelyn shamelessly asked him directly.

Liam blushed and his heart skipped a beat then it started to drum against his chest. He had been trying to tell her his love for her for a long time. When she asked him so suddenly, he was left dumbstruck.

"Are you joking?" He asked.

"No, I am serious. Let's date," Evelyn went near him and kissed him in front of everyone.

They both continued to kiss for several minutes before Evelyn pushed him away. She blew a kiss in the air and sent him back to do his work.

"Aren't they so cute?" Layla asked Amy.

Amy moved her head up and down repeatedly. All these were new to her. she blushed and held her skirt tight. Suddenly, she realized that she is getting married and all these things may happen to her tomorrow. She is not ready for any of these. Fear engulfed her and she thought, 'what if he forces himself on her?'

Layla looked at her horror-stricken face. She understood, what she was thinking.

"Don't worry, Jason is a gentleman. If you need some time, then talk to him. He waited for you for fifteen years, won't he wait for a few more days?" Layla asked.

"Fifteen years?" Amy asked.