Chapter 10: “Will…”

LISA'S POV 

I was still trying to process my father's angry words, Leo's grandmother burst into the room, a huge smile on her face. "Lisa, dear, I'm so excited!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. "Tomorrow's the big day, and I want you to come pick out a dress with me!"

I couldn't help but be caught up in her infectious energy. Despite my father's anger, I felt a surge of happiness at the thought of choosing a dress for the special day.

"Okay, Grandma," I said, smiling back at her. "I'd love to."

Leo's grandmother clapped her hands together, her face alight with excitement. "Wonderful!" she exclaimed. "Let's go right now! I have a few dresses in mind that I think you'll love."

I stood up, feeling a sense of anticipation. I had no idea what kind of dress I wanted, but I was excited to find out.

As we drove to the dress shop, Leo's grandmother chattered excitedly about the different options we would have. "I think you'll look beautiful in lace," she said. "Or maybe satin? No, wait, I have the perfect idea!"

I laughed, feeling a sense of joy that I hadn't felt in hours. Despite my father's anger, I was determined to enjoy this special day.

When we arrived at the dress shop, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. There were dresses in every color, every style, every fabric imaginable.

Leo's grandmother took my hand, leading me to a rack of beautiful white dresses. "Try this one on," she said, holding up a stunning lace gown.

I slipped into the dress, feeling like a princess. The lace hugged my body perfectly, and the delicate details made me feel like a million bucks.

I looked in the mirror, and my jaw dropped. I had never seen myself look so beautiful.

Leo's grandmother beamed with pride. "You look stunning, Lisa," she said. "That's the one!"

I couldn't help but agree. I felt like the luckiest person in the world, and I couldn't wait to walk down the aisle in this beautiful dress.

As I gazed at my reflection in the mirror, Leo's grandmother came over to me, a smile still plastered on her face. "You look absolutely breathtaking, Lisa," she said, her eyes shining with tears. "I'm so happy for you and Leo."

I blushed, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her. "Thank you, Grandma," I said, using the term of endearment that Leo had told me to use. "You're making me feel so special."

She waved her hand dismissively. "You are special, dear," she said. "And you deserve all the happiness in the world."

We chatted for a while longer, discussing the finer details of the dress and the wedding. I was amazed at how much thought and effort had gone into planning the perfect day.

As we left the dress shop, I felt a sense of excitement and anticipation. Tomorrow was going to be a big day, and I couldn't wait to see what it held.

When we got back to the house, Leo was waiting for us, a curious expression on his face. "So, what's the verdict?" he asked, his eyes scanning my face.

I grinned, feeling a sense of mischief. "You'll just have to wait and see," I said, teasing him.

Leo's grandmother chuckled, patting him on the arm. "Don't worry, dear," she said. "You'll see her in all her glory tomorrow."

Leo sighed, pretending to be exasperated. "I guess I'll just have to wait," he said, smiling at me.

We spent the rest of the evening relaxing and enjoying each other's company. I couldn't help but feel grateful for this new family I was becoming a part of.

As the night drew to a close, Leo walked me to my room, his arm around my shoulders. "I'm so proud of you," he said, his voice low and husky. "You're going to make a beautiful bride."

I blushed, feeling a sense of happiness wash over me. "Thanks to you and your grandmother," I said, smiling up at him.

Leo smiled back, his eyes shining with love. "We make a good team," he said, leaning in to kiss me.

As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but feel excited for the future. Tomorrow was going to be a big day, but I was ready for it.

The morning of the big day dawned grey and wet, with heavy rain lashing against the windows. I woke up to the sound of raindrops hitting the roof, and my heart sank. This was not how I had envisioned my wedding day.

Leo, on the other hand, was unfazed. He got out of bed, stretched, and began getting ready for the day.

"Hey, it's just a little rain," he said, noticing my worried expression. "It's not going to ruin our day."

I nodded, trying to shake off my doubts. But as we arrived at the ceremony venue, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment. The rain was coming down in sheets, and the beautiful outdoor setting was now a soggy, wet mess.

Leo's grandmother, however, was undeterred. She bustled around, making last-minute adjustments to the decorations and ensuring everything was perfect.

As the guests began to arrive, I started to feel a sense of nervousness. What if everything went wrong? What if the rain ruined everything?

But then I saw Leo, standing at the altar, smiling at me. And all my doubts disappeared.

The ceremony began, and I walked down the aisle, my heart pounding in my chest. Leo took my hand, and we exchanged our vows, promising to love and cherish each other for the rest of our lives.

As we spoke, the rain drummed against the roof, but we didn't even notice. We were too caught up in the moment, looking into each other's eyes, promising to love each other forever.

And when we were pronounced husband and wife, the room erupted in cheers and applause. We kissed, and the rain seemed to let up, just for a moment. It was as if the universe was smiling down on us, giving us its blessing.

I sat in front of the mirror, my dress perfectly in place, my hair styled to perfection. A makeup artist was busy painting my face, adding the final touches to my already flawless features.

As I gazed into the mirror, my mind began to wander. I imagined the ceremony, the guests, the food, the music. I imagined Leo, standing at the altar, waiting for me. I imagined the look on his face, the smile, the tears of joy.

But it was all just a fantasy. This was an arranged marriage, after all. I didn't know Leo, not really. We had met only once before, and that was just a brief introduction.

The makeup artist finished her work, and I stood up, smoothing out my dress. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.

Just then, the door burst open, and Leo walked in, without knocking. "Hey, you look amazing," he said, his eyes scanning me from head to toe.

I felt a blush rise to my cheeks. "Thanks," I said, trying to sound casual.

Leo walked over to me, his eyes locked on mine. "I'm glad we're doing this," he said, his voice low and smooth.

I nodded, trying to hide my doubts. I didn't know if I was ready for this, if I was ready to spend the rest of my life with a stranger.

But it was too late now. The ceremony was about to start, and I had to put on a brave face.

"Let's do this," Leo said, offering me his arm.

I took it, trying to smile. I knew this was just the beginning of a long journey, one that I wasn't sure I was ready for.

As we walked out of the room, my heart raced with anticipation. What lay ahead? Would I find happiness with Leo, or would this arranged marriage be a disaster?

Only time would tell.

As we walked out of the room, I couldn't help but glance around, searching for familiar faces. My parents were supposed to arrive yesterday, but I hadn't seen them yet. I knew they had a long way to travel, but I was starting to get worried.

Leo noticed my distraction and followed my gaze. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and concerned.

I nodded, trying to brush off my worries. "Yeah, I'm just looking for my parents. They're supposed to be here already."

Leo nodded understandingly. "Don't worry, they'll be here. They just got held up, that's all."

But I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. My parents were always punctual, and their absence was starting to make me anxious.

Meanwhile, Leo's friends were arriving, and he was busy greeting them. They all seemed to know each other, laughing and chatting like old friends. I watched them, feeling a pang of envy. I wished I had friends like that, friends who would show up for me on my special day.

But my attention kept drifting back to the entrance, hoping to catch a glimpse of my parents. Where were they? Why were they late?

Leo noticed my distraction again and came over to me. "Hey, let's go find your parents, okay?" he said, taking my hand.

I nodded gratefully, and we made our way to the entrance. But as we got there, I saw no sign of my parents. My heart sank, and I felt a lump form in my throat. Where were they? Why weren't they here for me?