Chapter 175

Chapter 175

The door swung open. Rebecca stood before the full-length mirror in the wedding gown he'd had custom-made for her. Loose waves cascaded down her back, and the veil draped over her shoulders was dotted with delicate flowers.

Rebecca glanced up. Through the mirror, she saw Everard walking in, and her lips curved into a smile—radiant as a blooming flower, shy and utterly enchanting.

"Do I look like myself anymore?"

Everard's hands were still tucked in his pockets as he walked up behind her. Only then did he pull them out, wrapping his arms lightly around her waist and resting his chin against her shoulder.

The intimacy of the gesture was unmistakable. The stylist and makeup artist quickly took the hint and slipped out of the room.

"This is exactly you. You're stunning."

Everard turned his head and pressed a kiss to her veil.

Rebecca's lightly made-up cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink at his compliment, making her look utterly intoxicating.

"I'm so damn lucky."

Everard's words came straight from the heart.

Rebecca smiled softly, her attention finally shifting to what he was wearing. She nudged him with her elbow.

"Why haven't you changed yet? Do you know what time it is?"

Just as Rebecca finished asking, there was another knock at the dressing room door.

Several elderly family members stood outside together, each carrying something in their hands.

When the door opened, Gavin strode in first, holding out a jewelry box to Rebecca.

"Open it and take a look."

Rebecca looked at Gavin, touching her head self-consciously.

"Dad, what is it?"

"Nothing extravagant. Just a couple of strands of beads. These were your grandmother's most treasured pieces of jewelry. She wore them on her wrist at her wedding."

"Gavin, these bracelets are so meaningful—Rebecca should keep them safe as heirlooms. For the wedding, with so many people watching, she should wear something more... impressive."

As Maurice spoke, he gestured for Nicole to open the jewelry box she was holding.

A diamond three-piece set: necklace, earrings, and bracelet.

The facets of the diamonds sparkled aggressively, as if screaming their own value.

Just from the color and cut alone, Rebecca could tell they were worth a fortune.

"Rebecca, wear this."

Maurice said.

"Everyone attending today has money. Who hasn't seen diamonds before? How is wearing a set like this going to impress anyone?"

Gavin was immediately displeased, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

In truth, the two sides had run into each other at the top of the stairs. Once they'd figured out each other's intentions, they'd argued all the way to the dressing room door.

"At a wedding, meaning is what matters most."

The implication was clear: the bracelets from Rebecca's grandmother had meaning, while Maurice and Nicole's diamond jewelry was merely gaudy.

Maurice, who was usually so measured, was uncharacteristically stubborn.

What they didn't mention was that Nicole had personally reached out to one of the world's most renowned jewelry designers to have this set custom-made for Rebecca.

"Stop arguing. Let Rebecca decide for herself."

Maurice positioned himself as the mediator, though he shot Everard several pointed looks, his expression carrying a naked threat.

Gavin agreed with this solution, and so all eyes turned to Rebecca.

"Rebecca, this was your grandmother's most—"

"This diamond set matches the wedding dress better. Everard, don't you think?"

Gavin and Maurice seemed truly locked in battle.

If Rebecca had to choose between them, it would genuinely put her in a difficult position.

In her heart, she naturally leaned toward her father's bracelets. After all, just thinking about the grandmother she'd never met, about how these had been her grandmother's favorite pieces of jewelry—

She felt an overwhelming urge to touch them.

But on the other side were her future in-laws. She couldn't afford to offend them either.

Rebecca smiled and slipped the bracelets onto her wrist. Then she took the jewelry set from Nicole's hands and gave Everard a look.

"Help me put it on."

Accept everything. Receive all their affection. Offend no one.

Though Rebecca ended up looking a bit over-accessorized—

As she would say later: "The love of our elders, no matter how heavy, can never be a burden."

After Rebecca accepted everything, the elders had nothing left to argue about. The two older men glanced at each other, secretly finding the whole thing rather amusing.

"All right, it's getting late. Since Rebecca's ready, let's start preparing for the ceremony—"

Maurice's words cut off abruptly. His gaze inadvertently landed on Everard's casual clothes, and his brow furrowed.

"What's going on with you? You're planning to get married dressed like that?"

Everard knew changing into his suit would only take a minute, so he hadn't been in any rush.

But apparently, the elders took this wedding far more seriously than the actual bride and groom.

The moment Maurice spoke, Gavin's eyes locked onto Everard's outfit as well.

"You think you can marry my daughter dressed like that? What are you playing at? Are you taking this wedding seriously or not?"

Everard couldn't handle the pressure. He rubbed his head and, without arguing, silently went to change into his formal wear.

The wedding venue had been chosen by Ellen. First, because the location was already famous—a legendary spot for wedding ceremonies.

Second, though Ellen was getting on in years, she was still a woman at heart, and sometimes romance was simply irresistible.

Rebecca had looked it up online and learned that it really was a renowned scenic treasure. She'd been quite excited.

But when she discovered the love legend associated with the place, her mood soured completely.

She'd immediately confronted Everard:

"In the legend, the main characters end up dying for love! If we hold our wedding here, won't that be bad luck?"

Her face had been full of genuine concern, and she'd gone on and on.

One moment she was tentatively asking if they could change venues, the next she was listing all the couples who'd held weddings there and criticizing them.

If it were a legend about eternal, faithful love, fine.

But this was about a couple who couldn't get their parents' approval, and the girl had thrown herself off Lovers' Cliff in a tragic sacrifice.

Everard, on the other hand, was perfectly relaxed. He had no interest in myths or legends.

To him, this was simply a venue. As long as the scenery was beautiful and the elders were happy, he didn't have many other requirements.

But watching Rebecca practically jump up and down with worry—honestly, it made him feel rather good.

More than her fretting over some tragic legend, what struck him was his own certainty and contentment.

How much must she care about him to worry over what was probably just a story made up by people long ago?