Part 90

Saturday Morning

The bustle in Richard's home had begun once again. The decoration team was busy preparing everything according to their plan. The chairs that had been stacked the night before were now arranged neatly and draped with beautiful fabric that matched the theme of the event.

The food tables were set up, even though the catering service wouldn't arrive for a few more hours. Amidst all the chaos, Claire chose to stay quietly in Gladwin's room, while her twin had just arrived.

"I should be able to sleep until noon since I have another night shift tonight. Don't you feel sorry for me? My sun-god-like handsomeness could be ruined by dark circles from lack of sleep," Gladwin grumbled to Claire, who had been repeatedly texting him to hurry up, even though the engagement ceremony was still hours away.

"I'll cover the cost of your eye-bag removal surgery later," Claire replied flatly.

Once again, Claire stood by the window, gazing out at the yard of their house.

"Just because you're marrying a billionaire, you're starting to act all high and mighty toward your own twin," he teased. "Why don't you buy me a yacht as a thank you for the success of your marriage?" he challenged, only to be met with a glare from Claire, which made Gladwin chuckle. "But where's your little twin? I haven't seen her since last night," he asked curiously.

Abigail had indeed spent the night at Antony's place and promised to return in the morning. However, the clock now read eight o'clock, and the girl had yet to show her face.

"It's not like you to be looking for her. Don't you usually avoid sitting alone with her?" Claire commented, refocusing her attention on the activities happening downstairs.

"Because I need a partner in crime," Gladwin replied flatly, drawing Claire's attention back to him.

"What do you mean?" Claire asked, confused.

Gladwin merely shrugged, his expression one of playful annoyance.

The sound of the door opening from outside made both of them turn. They could see their mother, a middle-aged woman who had raised them, looking at them with a furrowed brow.

"What are you doing here? I've been looking for you," she grumbled as she walked in.

"I've been here all along. Why were you looking for me?" Claire asked in return.

"Why are you even asking? You should be getting ready by now. Shower, change clothes, do your makeup," their mother murmured, her typical grumbling tone evident.

Claire rolled her eyes and pointed at the clock on Gladwin's wall. "The event is still a while away," she said nonchalantly.

"But that doesn't mean you can lounge around. You're the main character; you have to get ready even before the time starts," their mother said again, her tone authoritative.

Claire rolled her eyes once more but complied with her mother's request and stepped out of Gladwin's room. Just before the door closed, she caught the tail end of a light banter between Gladwin and their mother.

"Don't just sleep; go downstairs and help the others," their mother commanded sharply.

"If I help them, I'd just be a burden," Gladwin quipped.

"Why would they be a burden?" their mother asked, puzzled.

"Because they wouldn't work at their full potential; they'd just be coasting because of me," he joked, earning a disapproving click of the tongue from their mother.

"You're so lazy," she shot back before leaving Gladwin and slamming the door behind her.

Claire entered her own room, her gaze falling on the silvery-gray gown adorned with beautiful silver beads that made it shimmer. Until yesterday afternoon, that gown had symbolized her mother's happiness—a sign that her only daughter was about to be married.

The makeup artist, hired by her mother, arrived at nine in the morning. While Claire was chatting with Mary, she had to cut their conversation short to allow the women to do their work. It took quite some time before they finished beautifying Claire's face and styling her hair into an elegant updo adorned with a small tiara, making her look like a princess.

Yes, Gladwin had called her the future queen of the Quirino kingdom.

At precisely eleven in the morning, Claire was forced by her mother to go downstairs, hiding in the woman's private room, and preparing to emerge if needed.

According to the plan, the Grint family was expected to arrive between eleven and noon. The schedule for the event, from the welcoming to the ring exchange, had been meticulously arranged by her mother's hired team. What her mother didn't know was that the engagement ring originally agreed upon for Claire with Joshua had been replaced by Antony through Gladwin.

As the clock approached twelve with only fifteen minutes to go, Claire's mother began to look anxious, for the guests they were waiting for had yet to arrive.

"Where are they?" her mother asked, panic etched on her face.

"Maybe they're on their way," Claire replied nonchalantly. "I didn't bring my phone, so I can't contact them," she added. "Why don't you try calling Harry?" she suggested, nodding toward her second brother, who was chatting with a guest Claire didn't recognize.

Her mother shook her head, her expression becoming increasingly frantic. How could it be? The family of her future in-laws had not yet arrived, while the guests were beginning to fill the room. The middle-aged woman approached her second son, who acted as the liaison between Claire's family and the Grint family since the prospective in-laws were relatives of his wife.

Claire watched as her mother whispered to her brother, who looked back at her with a flat expression before walking away while pressing his phone to his ear. Claire wondered silently who he was calling.

Yes, everyone in the household knew the Grint family would never show up—everyone except her mother and Abigail. The latter had been informed at the last minute, which led her to respond with hysteria and a hostile glare directed at Claire instead of celebrating her friend's dream come true. Now it was clear why Gladwin had been looking for their niece that morning; the "intruder" her twin had mentioned the night before was none other than Abigail herself.

Her mother approached her again, this time followed by her granddaughter. "How is it?" Claire feigned concern, attempting to look worried, but acting was not her strong suit.

Gladwin, in his navy tuxedo, walked closer from the opposite direction, looking more refreshed.

"Where have you been?" their mother exclaimed, startling Claire herself with the volume of her voice.

Gladwin looked at her, brow furrowed. "I just came from the bathroom," he replied casually. "What's going on?" he asked flatly.

"You're asking what's going on?" their mother raised her voice, clearly annoyed. "You really are an inconsiderate child. At this moment, you should be looking for the Grint family to find out why they haven't shown up yet. Can't you see the guests starting to wonder about the absence of the groom's family?"

Gladwin shot his mother an incredulous look. "They're the ones who are late; why am I being blamed?" he questioned, making a face. "Besides, it's Harry who knows Claire's fiancé, not me. Why don't you ask Harry to go check on them? Honestly, I don't want to go out in this heat and get stuck in traffic," he objected.

"What if they really don't intend to come?" That simple comment made Julie glare angrily at her granddaughter.