Part 94

Time passed swiftly. Amid her restaurant duties, Claire was busy preparing for her wedding, which was set to take place very soon. Typically, wedding preparations would be handled by the woman's family, but Claire was different. She discussed her wedding plans more with Antony's mother and aunt since her own mother had continued to keep her distance and act coldly towards her.

Since their engagement, Claire had not returned to Richard's residence. She preferred to stay in her own home and spend more time with Gladwin, Abigail, and Flavia, who had recently been spending the night at her place more often. Gladwin took on the role of bridging the wedding preparations.

Like right now. Claire, Antony, Abigail, and Flavia had just finished dinner. Her twin brother arrived with a rolled-up notebook that he tucked into his pants pocket. He handed the notebook to Claire as he began to eat the leftover dishes on the table.

Claire opened the book and read through the wishlist from her mother, as well as the guest list she wanted to invite, which turned out to be quite extensive. Antony, sitting beside her, glanced at it and nodded. He even smiled when he saw a note on the last page of the guest list, written in all capital letters: "Buy nice and expensive souvenirs; don't make me look bad."

Abigail, who Claire hadn't noticed standing behind her, read the note aloud, causing Gladwin to laugh so hard he nearly choked on his food.

"That granny is such a hypocrite," Abigail commented as she walked away toward the sofa where Flavia was sitting, her eyes glued to the television screen in front of her. "If she wants to refuse, she should just refuse and hide your marriage, but instead, it's like she wants to announce your wedding to the whole world! Is that a guest list or a list of citizens from all over Kansas?" she teased, making Gladwin chuckle again.

Meanwhile, Antony simply remarked, "Buy souvenirs that you think will make your mother happy, darling. No matter how much they cost, it's fine with me." He replied casually.

Claire looked at Antony with a mix of embarrassment and gratitude. How could he remain so relaxed after the way her mother had treated them?

"Or if it's necessary, let your mother choose the souvenirs for our wedding," he continued, his tone not commanding at all.

Claire turned to her twin brother, the only person in her family she could ask for help with all the little details she needed. Gladwin looked at Claire and then nodded.

"Your fiancé's suggestion isn't too bad," he agreed.

Claire looked back at Antony, who responded with a nod and asked Gladwin to relay that to his mother.

Just like with the souvenirs her mother wanted, eventually, the management of the venue, decorations, and other arrangements were taken over by her mother. Claire didn't mind this, but she still felt embarrassed in front of Antony's family since she had initially asked her future in-laws and her future sister-in-law for help in managing everything. Fortunately, neither Brianna Quirino nor Delia Quirino seemed to have any issues with it.

In fact, Delia Quirino jokingly said that marrying Altezza to Adaline had already made her happy, and there was no greater joy than that.

Indeed, Altezza and Adaline got married in quick succession. A week after Claire's engagement party, Altezza proposed to Adaline. And a week later, they had a luxurious yet intimate wedding at the hotel owned by Altezza's family.

Meanwhile, Claire's future in-laws, Mrs. Brianna Quirino, responded to her mother's encroachment on the wedding plans with remarkable calmness. She casually stated that it was indeed the mother's right to decide how her daughter's wedding should be, especially since Claire was the only daughter in her family.

Oh God, how grateful Claire was to have such kind people like those two women in her life. She hoped their kindness would last forever.

And then the wedding day arrived.

The hotel owned by the Quirino family, which would witness their marriage, was located in downtown Kansas. The ballroom had been decorated in shades of white and pale pink, giving the room a luxurious and elegant feel when Claire saw it last night.

Not to mention the beautiful arrangements of lights and fresh flowers that adorned the stage and various spots in the reception area, making Claire's wedding seem elegant, extravagant, and expensive—certainly something her mother could brag about to her friends. At least everything her mother wanted for Claire's wedding had come to fruition, except for the groom.

Claire was happy, of course. Who wouldn't want to be the queen at their own wedding? Yet, seeing her mother still unable to accept Antony left a pang in her heart.

Claire had just finished getting her makeup done. She wore a white gown adorned with sparkling beads that made her shine. The crown on her head added to her enchanting appearance.

"Oh my God, is this really my aunt? Why do you look like a princess from a fairytale?" Abigail's shout made Claire turn away from the mirror. The girl wore a pale pink dress that made her fair skin glow even more. Next to her stood Flavia, who wore a similar outfit, shyly gazing at Claire.

"You both look beautiful," Claire replied sincerely. Yes, both wore minimal makeup that enhanced their beauty.

Not older, but rather more fresh and youthful, just as they should at their age. Once again, her mother hadn't made a mistake in choosing a makeup artist. Their hair was elegantly styled in simple updos, framed with hairpins shaped like flowers in a matching color to their outfits, adorned with pearls of various sizes that made them look even more beautiful.

"What's wrong?" Claire asked Flavia, who was still looking at her in silence.

Flavia shook her head. Unbeknownst to her, the girl was wiping away her tears.

"Flavia, darling." Claire approached and pulled the petite girl into her embrace. Flavia hugged Claire's slender body tightly in return.

"I'm afraid this is all just a dream," the girl said with a choked voice, making Claire's eyes well up with tears. Meanwhile, Abigail, standing two steps away, chose to turn her face away.

"No, sweetheart, this isn't a dream," Claire replied softly.

Flavia pulled away from their embrace and looked up at Claire. "You're really going to be my mom today, right?" she asked, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks.

Claire's own tears started to fall. The girl nodded, silently affirming her words.

"I'm so happy because you're really going to be my mom," Flavia said, her sobs tightening in Claire's chest.

Claire could only gently rub the girl's back. Although Abigail had turned her back, she also seemed to be crying alongside them.

"Flavia, look at your makeup; it's smudging," Abigail joked, causing Flavia to straighten up immediately. The girl turned around and handed tissues to both her friend and her aunt. "You can hold off on the crying for later, right? Save your tears until your aunt and dad are officially husband and wife," Abigail said with a teasing tone.

Claire could only smile at her niece's words. Carefully, she wiped away the tears on her face to avoid ruining her makeup, and Flavia did the same.

"So, after you two are officially husband and wife, I can call you 'Mom,' right?" the girl asked hopefully. Claire could only nod her head and smile.

"Come on, let's go outside. Didn't you hear the announcement that your family has arrived?" Abigail reached out her hand again and grabbed Flavia's arm, pulling her out of Claire's dressing room.

Just moments after Abigail and Flavia left, Claire decided to watch Antony and his family on the square screen in the room. She didn't even notice the knock on the door and Gladwin suddenly standing beside her.

"Future bride, have you prepared yourself for the wedding night?" her twin brother teased, causing Claire to glare at him. Gladwin burst into laughter. But soon after, he placed his hand on Claire's shoulder and rubbed it. "I honestly didn't expect you to beat me to it. Should I request a special gift since you've stepped ahead of me? Who knows, maybe I can buy a Ferrari," he continued.

Claire jabbed Gladwin's stomach hard, making him grunt. "Don't make my problems worse," she said, annoyed.

Gladwin just chuckled at that.

"I'm just suggesting; maybe you'd be kind enough to make it happen for me without me asking your husband," he joked again. Claire responded to her brother's teasing with an eye roll. "It may seem formal to you, but I genuinely wish you and Antony a lifetime of happiness until death do you part," Gladwin said, which Claire softly echoed. "May you be blessed with wonderful children and all the best wishes from me for both of you," he added, which Claire agreed to once more. "And if one day Antony writes a will, don't forget to ask him to list my name as an heir. I wouldn't mind if he only wants to give me twenty-five percent of his fortune; I'd be very grateful for that," he continued without an ounce of shame.

Claire could only look at her twin brother with a strange expression, and Gladwin answered that look with laughter.

The events unfolded one after another until it was time for the official ceremony, and Claire immediately changed her status from single to married, becoming the stepmother of a teenager named Flavia Quirino.