Chapter 4: Groom

“Mom, what do you mean by–” is what she wanted to ask. However, her mother was too preoccupied with chatting with her friend, Rui. 

“So how are you and your husband, Rui?” Hillary asked. 

Rui carefully gathered her hair to place them on her shoulder before leaning on the chair. “We're still in our honeymoon phase so we're quite peaceful.”

“Yeah… Newlyweds are like that. I'm sure that Phyllis and her future husband would be the same as well.”

Rui agreed. “Phyllis is such a considerate child. She'll get along with him for sure. After all, she knows him well…”

“Hmm… Correct! Leila, you should also start dating someone. Your best friends are all married. Try to keep up with them so your kids are also bff's!”

Leila chuckled. All of their mothers were close friends. Their connection, however, is not because of their mothers. It was because they all stood with each other as sisters connected by heart. 

“I'll find a hot boyfriend soon auntie!” she cheekily said with a wink.

Phyllis frowned in confusion. No one ever bothers to tell her who her husband is! Her friends know, her parents know. But she doesn't! 

“Hey, who–” once again, she was cut off by someone. 

Her twin brother aggressively opened the door before shouting. 

“Mom! Dad is looking for you!” he said while striding toward her sister's direction. 

Phyllis was now ready to go down. Her beautiful dress stunned even Phylian. 

“Stop drooling, dumbass,” Phyllis arrogantly uttered. 

“Hah! I'll let you be just because it's your wedding day! Besides, you're just 10% prettier than your usual get-up. Except for the gown and the innocent look you have, you look normal.” he shrugged. 

Phyllis didn't want to ruin her outfit and makeup so she let her brother be the annoying fly that he usually is. She doesn't want anyone to further spoil her day. Reacting would only make him satisfied. And she doesn't want that. 

She's not getting married for love, sure. That's a given. This is an arranged marriage. However, she still wanted to receive well wishes and positivity from the people around her. This is still her big day…

Forget about her dreams of getting married for love. At the very least, she wanted to know who her groom is so she can prepare herself. She's not very fond of surprises. 

But it seems that everyone knows the groom except for her. Even her parents and friends keep her in the dark…

This just makes her feel so upset…

Everything just makes her feel extremely sad. 

“Mom, dad is looking for you… He said there is a problem with his suit…” Phylian said to their mom. 

Irritated with her husband's endless request, she rose from her seat and stomped her way out of the room. “That old man just keeps on troubling me on his daughter's wedding day! Seriously! He can do it himself but he still calls for me!” 

Phyllis and her friends are the only ones left in the room. 

A grumpy bride, a moody pregnant woman, and a frustratedly single lady. 

Silence enveloped the room as Phyllis continued to sulk. Then… 

“Aww!” Rui shouted as she felt an aggressive kick from her baby. 

Her two friends worriedly came rushing to her. 

“What happened?”

“Are you okay?”

The girls both asked in concern. 

Rui just smiled at them. “My baby wants to congratulate her aunt on her wedding,” she sweetly said. 

Touched, Phyllis felt tears forming in her eyes. Even a baby could feel her sadness. 

“I also want to congratulate my beloved sister on her wedding,” Rui added as she reached out for her friend's hands. 

Leila tucked some of Phyllis' hair behind her ear. “Are you sure that you'll marry him? You can still back out if you're unhappy. Of course, we know that he's your exact type. But are you sure, sure?”

“What the hell! You're going to make me cry and ruin my makeup! Are you trying to make me an ugly bride?!” she playfully said with her hands fanning her flustered face. 

With this, Leila and Rui understood that Phyllis doesn't want to back out. She'll push this wedding through for her grandmother…

Her focus was diverted from the most crucial question—who is her groom—by their conversation.

… 

Phyllis gracefully alighted the car with her father's assistance.

 “I want you to be happy, my daughter… Just tell dad, we'll personally drive you out of this ceremony…” he sincerely suggested. 

Harold hated that his daughter needed to go through this arrangement. Their family is capable enough to stand on its own. They do not need a marriage alliance to grow stronger. That's why he can definitely give his children their dream marriage.

However, because of his mother's request… 

He sighed as he stared at his beautiful daughter's small face. Her face did not change much from when she was a little girl. It only matured a little but she's still the same cute girl that always likes piggyback rides… She was so adorably cute… His darling daughter…

And now, she's going to marry someone… 

His heart is extremely sour. He doesn't like the person she's marrying. He doesn't like how he's so famous with so many fans obsessing over him (his daughter included). But he knows that she only likes his talent. He knows that she likes someone else…

'She said that she'll introduce me to her crush named Sai so I can scrutinize him for her… But she's pushing her crush aside to marry her idol…'

Phyllis was weirded out because the people around her kept asking her the same question. Nevertheless, she already made up her mind. She'll marry whoever her groom is. She trusts her grandma's taste. She knows that she won't give her a guy who's not compatible with her. 

“Dad, I'm fine. Let's go inside. I don't want to keep grandma waiting,” she said with a gentle smile to mask the complicated emotions that she feels. 

Not long after the procession was done and it was now their turn to enter. 

As the door opened for her entry, the instrumental version of her favorite Luna song resounded in the entire church. 

Startled, she raised her head to look around the hall, trying to find her family and friends who planned her wedding. She couldn't believe that her family and friends would consider doing that for her… She was so touched. 

But as she looked around, she saw her groom. Though her vision was blocked by a veil, she could still see him… 

His tall and proud stature stood there, waiting for her. Her groom was also wearing an off-white suit to match her dress. His hair was neatly styled up and his usual piercings were taken off. But what made him even more handsome was the smirk that was plastered on his face. 

Seeing him made her realize something.

'Ah… so that's why they kept asking me… They all thought that I knew that he was my groom…'

'Zacharias Lohr…'