Chapter 275 Get the Marriage License First

Chapter 275 Get the Marriage License First
Leila's POV

My body was completely drained of energy. I could only lean against Theron's chest as he gently helped me clean up. His touch remained tender, a stark contrast to his passionate intensity just moments ago.

he warm washcloth moved across my skin with careful precision, his eyes watchful for any sign of discomfort.

When we finally returned to bed, exhaustion settled deep into my bones. The sheets felt cool against my heated skin as Theron pulled me against him, my back fitting perfectly against his chest. His arm draped protectively over my waist, his breath warming my neck.

"You feeling okay?" he asked softly, concern evident in his voice. His fingers traced small circles on my hip, a gesture both comforting and possessive.

I shook my head slightly. "I'm fine. Just a little sore in my back. Maybe you could massage it?"

Theron didn't hesitate. His strong hands moved to my lower back, applying just enough pressure to ease the tension in my muscles. His touch was methodical yet gentle, working through each knot with practiced precision.

I couldn't help the small sighs that escaped my lips as the soreness gradually melted away.

This simple act of care, his hands working magic on my tired body, seemed to bring us closer than even our passionate lovemaking had. There was something profoundly intimate about being cared for this way—something that transcended physical desire and spoke to a deeper connection.

I fell asleep to the rhythm of his breathing and the comforting weight of his hand on my hip.

Morning light filtered through the curtains when I next opened my eyes. Theron was already dressed in a perfectly tailored navy suit, checking his watch as he moved around the bedroom. He smiled when he noticed I was awake.

"Morning, beautiful," he said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I need to go to the office today. Will you be okay here by yourself? I don't want you to get bored."

I stretched, feeling pleasantly languid. "No, I'm visiting Margaret today. I'll probably spend the whole day at the Sterling Mansion."

His expression softened with disappointment. "Guess I can't convince you to keep me company at the office today."

I laughed, running a hand through my tangled hair. "If I came to your office, would you actually get any work done, Mr. Sterling?"

His eyes darkened briefly before he leaned down to press a kiss to my cheek. "Come on, let's have breakfast. I'll wrap up early tonight and pick you up for dinner."

"Sounds good," I replied, finally sitting up.

After a leisurely breakfast together, Theron drove me to the Sterling Mansion himself rather than sending James. He insisted on walking me to the door, his hand resting possessively on the small of my back. Margaret was delighted to see us both.

Theron kissed me goodbye with a reluctance that was almost endearing before heading off to Sterling Tower, leaving me in his grandmother's capable hands.

The day with Margaret passed pleasantly. We drank tea on the terrace, strolled through the immaculate gardens, and later arranged flowers in the sunroom. Her company was refreshingly straightforward compared to the complex politics of both the Randall and Sterling families.

As we worked side by side on a particularly challenging arrangement of lilies and roses, Margaret broke our companionable silence.

"Leila dear, how's the wedding planning coming along? Are you thinking San Francisco or Chicago? Any ideas yet?"

I carefully trimmed the stem of a pink rose before handing it to her. "Haven't really thought about it yet. No rush."

Margaret's eyebrows shot up in disapproval. "How can you not be in a rush? You're engaged now, wedding plans should be on the agenda." She positioned the rose with careful precision before continuing, "Not saying you need to get married right away, but start planning."

I considered her words as I selected another bloom. "I don't have any specific ideas yet, but I'll talk to Theron about it soon."

"That works too. If you need anything, just let me know." She patted my hand affectionately before adding with a wistful smile, "This time, we'll make sure the wedding is spectacular - to make up for what you missed before!"

My chest tightened at the reminder of our previous wedding—a deliberately muted affair that had been designed to placate the Reed family's sensibilities rather than celebrate our union. Before I could respond, Margaret continued.

"The wedding can wait, but you could get the marriage license first, couldn't you?"

I couldn't help the smile that tugged at my lips. "That's not a bad idea, but I'll have to see what Theron does about it."

After lunch with Margaret, her casual mention of wedding planning continued to echo in my mind. I found myself mentally sketching out what my ideal wedding might look like this time around. With no real experience in planning such an event, I decided to research online.

What began as casual browsing quickly transformed into an overwhelming deluge of information. Wedding venues needed to be booked at least a year in advance. Bespoke gowns required multiple fittings over several months.

Guest lists needed to be finalized before save-the-dates could be sent. Catering, flowers, music, photography—each category spawned dozens of subcategories, each requiring careful consideration and coordination.

Two hours into my research, I felt more confused than when I'd started. My head throbbed with the sheer magnitude of decisions that needed to be made. The wedding industry was clearly designed to overwhelm and extract maximum expenditure from emotional couples. Even with unlimited resources, the logistics were mind-boggling.

I closed my laptop with a sigh, rubbing my temples. Perhaps Margaret was right about getting the marriage license first.