Chapter207 Bridal Fitting

Chapter207 Bridal Fitting
Aliya POV
It had been three days since Patrick was arrested. I tried to visit him multiple times, but because I was previously a suspect in the same case, I was denied visitation rights. The restriction frustrated me beyond belief.

While I was worrying about Patrick, Nikolai was busy excitedly planning our wedding. He spent hours holding Nova, teaching her how to be a flower girl, carefully selecting the church, and even obsessing over the color of the chairs. Everything seemed to make him giddy with excitement.

When he asked for my input on wedding details, I finally couldn't take it anymore.

"Nikolai, I was just cleared as a suspect for murdering Marcus. Can we please not talk about wedding details right now?"

"You're not a murderer, and you're not a suspect! Legally, you've been completely cleared. Public opinion has realized they were wrong about you. Marcus's parents and Sarah are the ones facing legal consequences now. We can absolutely get married. Honey, I've been waiting for this day for so long. I dream about our wedding every night."

"That's exactly the problem!" I said, my voice rising. "I'm cleared now, but the cost was letting Patrick take my place in jail! And there's nothing I can do to help him!"

"You care about him that much?"

I nodded silently.

"Alright then, let's get him out of jail," Nikolai said with a casual shrug.

I stared at him in shock. "What?"

Nikolai shrugged again. "Actually, he was released three days ago. After all, he was so seriously ill that the prison didn't want to keep him confined."

I glared at Nikolai. "Then why didn't you tell me?"

"Baby, you're more worried about him than I am," Nikolai said.

He reached over and playfully pinched my cheek. "Do you really like Patrick that much?"

"I feel guilty about him. Where is Patrick now, at the hospital? Come with me to see him."

Nikolai hesitated, clearly not thrilled about the idea. But then Nova piped up excitedly, "Finally! I get to see Patrick!"

Faced with Nova's enthusiasm, Nikolai reluctantly agreed.

When we arrived at Patrick's hospital room, I was shocked by how much worse he looked. He was noticeably thinner, his skin pale and drawn. The sight of his deteriorated condition made my throat tight with emotion, and I couldn't find the words to speak.

But Nikolai, put his arm around me and said to Patrick with forced cheerfulness, "You have to come to our wedding."

The contrast between Patrick's frail appearance and Nikolai's casual wedding announcement created an awkward tension in the room.
I could see Patrick trying to process what Nikolai had just said while struggling with his obvious physical discomfort.

"Wedding?" Patrick asked weakly, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Are you two getting married?"
"We decided on it a while ago," Nikolai replied matter-of-factly.
I interrupted their conversation. "Patrick, did you plan to take the blame for me three years ago? Even back then?"
Patrick looked uncomfortable. "Back then it was just in case something went wrong. I wanted to have a backup plan."
When I started to thank him again, Patrick quickly cut me off. "My mother died when I was young. She didn't teach me much, but there was one thing she made sure I understood. Loyalty. Aliya, I will always be loyal to you."
I felt my eyes welling up with tears at his words.
"I'll come to your wedding," Patrick continued softly. "If I can't bring you happiness myself, at least I can witness you finding it."
Nova didn't understand what we were talking about, but she could sense Patrick's sadness. She walked over to him and grabbed his hand that had the IV tube attached. "Don't be sad! Mommy is going to try on wedding dresses today. You should come with us!"
Nikolai looked at me, and for some reason, he actually nodded his agreement.
I questioned whether Patrick was even allowed to leave the hospital right now.
To my surprise, he struggled to his feet at the bedside, stretched out a frail arm toward Nova, and gently pulled her into his embrace. "Of course I can come. I can't imagine how beautiful you'll look in a wedding dress."
So we all went to the bridal shop together.
I gave Nikolai's sleeve a little tug. "Honestly, I didn't think you'd be so generous today, letting Patrick tag along to the bridal shop." 
Nikolai mussed my hair with a small smile. "You know I'm easily jealous when it comes to you, but this time, I can understand how Patrick feels about you."
At the bridal shop that Nikolai had rented out for the day, Nikolai, Patrick, and Nova waited patiently while the staff fussed over me. Almost every employee in the store came over to help with my makeup and dress selection.
"This really isn't necessary," I protested. "It's just a fitting, not the actual wedding."
The staff insisted, holding me in place. "Don't say that! Every man is amazed the first time he sees his partner in a wedding dress."
I thought back to how Nikolai had looked at me at my wedding with Marcus, and I shook my head with a smile. This definitely wouldn't be his first time seeing me in a wedding dress.
When I was finally ready, standing there in the elaborate white gown, waiting for the curtain to be pulled back, I turned to see Nikolai's stunned and loving gaze. Next to him, Patrick was looking at me with the same deep affection.
Nova clapped her hands excitedly. "Mommy looks just like a fairy!"
Nikolai immediately came over and pulled me into his arms. "You have no idea how much I love you."