Chapter 140: Chapter 140

The other members of the clan weren’t surprised about the engagement, not in the slightest bit. Elena learned that Ryder had told them about his plan in advance, so they had kept his secret together. However, Ryder’s parents were a whole different situation—Jennifer practically exploded when her son called her to let her know about the news, and just as she had insisted many times before, she was determined to take Elena shopping for a pretty wedding dress. Ryder only rolled his eyes at the drama his mother caused due to a mere dress, but he let her have her way and told his fiancée about Jennifer’s plan.

After that, Elena told her friend Helen. One thing led to another, and the three women agreed to go dress shopping together. To Ryder’s chagrin, they wouldn’t allow him to accompany them. Helen turned into a lioness when he tried to argue with them. After a lot of back and forth, Helen and Jennifer allowed him to accompany the women to Chicago, where they would part ways for the rest of the day.

Ryder parked his car in front of a tall apartment building in Chicago. He, Elena, and Helen left the vehicle and were greeted by an enthusiastic Jennifer. The vampire had been awaiting their arrival and was dressed up for the occasion. She sported a proud smile when she spotted Elena.

“Congratulations on your engagement, darling,” she gushed and embraced her future daughter-in-law. “You look lovely today. I’m so glad you recovered well. I’ve been worried about you.”

“Hello, Jennifer. It’s nice to see you,” Elena replied and shyly returned the exuberant hug. “Thank you for your invitation.”

“Don’t mention it, it’s my pleasure.”

They separated, and Jennifer greeted Helen and her son, who had been watching the scene with crossed arms and a sour scowl. He wasn’t particularly keen on sharing his fiancée with the women—he would have rather spent Elena’s day off on a date with her.

“Keep her safe while I’m gone,” he reminded them sternly.

“Of course, who do you take us for?” Helen replied and wrapped an arm around Elena’s waist, affectionately hugging her. “She’s in safe hands with us.”

Not used to being the center of attention, Elena grew increasingly flustered and had a hard time controlling her blush and the fast beats of her heart, so the vampires had long since noticed her rising excitement. Ryder only sighed, still not happy about the arrangement. Expecting him to leave his soulmate, especially when she looked so deliciously cute, was quite cruel. He gnawed on his lower lip, his fang digging into his skin as he struggled with himself. It was only for a few hours, then he would have her all to himself.

“Have fun today, petal,” he said and leaned in to kiss her lips. “I’ll pick you up later, just give me a call.”

“Thanks, Ryder. Enjoy your day.”

Jennifer had booked a private room for them in a local bridal shop. The establishment was extravagant and offered a wide range of different dresses in all sorts of styles. Elena went straight for the designs featuring flowers and petals, which amused her companions but didn’t come as a surprise.

“Since you like flowers so much, why don’t we style your hair with them on your wedding day?” Jennifer proposed while Elena was in the changing room, trying on the first dress. Its white, flowing fabric made her feel like a princess or a fairy—the sparkly butterflies stitched on its hem had caught her attention and were the main reason why she had picked it.

“Sounds lovely,” Helen agreed and giggled when Elena sputtered an excited, “Yes.”

Elena opened the curtain and showed them the first dress, twirling in a circle so that they also saw its open back. She observed herself in the large mirror standing in the room and was in awe—she had never seen herself in such a pretty garment, so she barely recognized herself.

“This one looks great,” Helen gushed and clapped. “But it’s a little too long for you, I think.”

“Right, and the embroidery on the skirt makes it difficult to shorten it,” Jennifer added and got up, inspecting the other dresses that had been prepared by the shop owner. They hung on a wooden clothing rack and only waited to be worn by Elena.

The young witch frowned a bit but had to admit that the length wasn’t ideal. “I’ll try on the next one,” she decided. Helen was at her side in an instant and helped her open the zipper. Removing the dress on her own would have been next to impossible. Helen put the dress back on the clothing rack and fetched another one that Jennifer handed her.

This was only the beginning of a surprisingly exhausting afternoon—in the span of a few hours, Elena wore over fifteen different dresses and slowly grew tired, but her two vampire companions were brimming with energy, discussing the options they had seen so far. They all agreed that one wedding dress stood out from the others—the one Elena personally liked the most. It was tight around her shoulders, chest, and stomach, covered in lacey flowers and leaves. At her hips, it flared out and reached the floor. Its many layers of white chiffon reminded Elena of Cinderella’s dress. Lacey vines cascaded down from her hips, creating a dreamy, fairy tale look. The dress had long sleeves, which were fitting for the cooler temperatures of fall.

“This is the one,” Jennifer smiled, having noticed the looks Elena kept throwing at the dress. Her eyes had sparkled when she had worn it, and she had stared at her reflection for a long time in disbelief.

“I think so too, it’s definitely the prettiest,” Helen said and giggled. “I bet Ryder’s jaw will hit the floor when he sees Buttercup wearing such a cute flower dress.”

“Helen, don’t call me that,” Elena said.

“Sorry… the nickname is too adorable.”

Jennifer smiled at the younger woman’s antics and paid for the dress along with a few other accessories, shoes, and a fitting purse. This afternoon had been a delightful experience for Jennifer. She was fond of Elena and considered her a part of the family, so it was only natural to lend a helping hand with the wedding preparations.

The women left the shop, Elena thanking Jennifer for her gift, and brought the boxes with the dress and accessories to her car. While they drove back to Jennifer’s home, Elena contacted Ryder and told him they were done—he seemed quite relieved to hear it and promised to pick her up soon.

After the short call ended, Jennifer glanced at her for a moment before her eyes returned to the road. “So, Elena, I’m curious. Are you and Ryder planning a family?”