Chapter 131 The Wedding Countdown
The mansion buzzed with constant noise that afternoon. Tailors decorators and planners filled every corner their voices blending into one restless hum.
Victoria stood in the middle of it all tall and elegant, her eyes sharp as she gave orders.
“The flowers must be white and gold, not cream. Cream looks dull” she said.
“Yes Ma’am” one of the decorators said.
“And the tablecloths should have lace edges not plain ones. This is a wedding not a luncheon” she said.
The decorator nodded quickly scribbling notes.
Victoria turned and clapped her hands. “Where is the chef? I asked for a tasting at noon” she said.
“He’s on his way ma’am” the maid said.
“He should have been here already” she said.
Carson stood by the staircase watching her. His face was calm but his eyes were tired.
Every day since the argument with Bridget he had felt more like a stranger in his own house.
“Carson come here dear” Victoria said.
He walked down slowly.
“What is it Mother?” he asked.
“I need your opinion on the seating arrangement” she said.
He glanced at the large chart spread across the table. “You don’t need my opinion. You’ve already decided” he said.
“Don’t be difficult” she said. “It’s your wedding.”
“My wedding” he said quietly “But your plan.”
Victoria gave him a sharp look.
“You sound ungrateful,” she said.
“I’m just honest” he said.
“Honesty can be tiring” she said.
“So can pretending,” he said.
She sighed and waved her hand. “You’ll thank me when the day comes. Everything will be perfect” she said.
“Perfect” he repeated softly.
Just then Bridget entered the room, her heels clicking on the marble floor. She wore a pale blue dress and carried a small folder.
“The photographer called,” she said.
“What did he say?” Victoria asked.
“He wants to confirm the outdoor shoot for next week,” she said.
“Perfect. Tell him yes” Victoria said.
Bridget hesitated.
“Carson do you think that’s fine?” she asked.
He looked at her for a moment. “Whatever you want” he said.
She frowned. “You could at least pretend to care” she said.
“I’ve done enough pretending” he said.
Victoria clapped her hands once.
“Stop this nonsense. We have work to do” she said.
Bridget looked down at the table her lips tight. “Fine” she said.
“Good” Victoria said. “Now about the guest list. We’re expecting over four hundred people. I’ve already invited the mayor the business council and the ambassador’s wife.”
“Four hundred?” Carson asked.
“Yes. It’s a grand event. It has to be” she said.
“It doesn’t have to be anything” he said.
Victoria looked up sharply.
“What did you say?” she asked.
“I said it doesn’t have to be grand. It just has to be real” he said.
“Real doesn’t impress anyone” she said.
“I’m not trying to impress anyone” he said. “You should be” she said. “Your marriage is not just personal—it’s social. Appearances matter.”
Bridget touched her hair nervously. “Maybe we can make it smaller” she said.
“No” Victoria said quickly. “People would talk. We can’t have that.”
“Maybe people should talk” Carson said.
Victoria frowned.
“Don’t be childish” she said.
“I’m serious” he said.
“So am I” she said. “We’re building a legacy here.”
Carson gave a small laugh.
“Legacy? Or illusion?” he asked.
Bridget’s eyes widened.
“Carson please” she said.
He looked at her. “I’m just asking”
Victoria placed both hands on the table. “Enough. I will not let you ruin this” she said.
“I’m not ruining anything” he said. “You’re acting like a boy throwing a tantrum” she said.
“I’m a man trying to breathe” he said.
Bridget stepped between them. “Can we not do this again?”
Victoria crossed her arms. “If he keeps acting this way there might not be a wedding to plan” she said.
Carson looked at her calmly. “Maybe there shouldn’t be”
Bridget gasped. “Carson stop”
Victoria’s face hardened. “You will marry Bridget. End of discussion” she said.
He met her eyes. “You can’t control everything” he said.
“I can control what happens under my roof” she said.
“Then maybe I need to leave it” he said.
Bridget looked frightened. “You don’t mean that” she said.
He sighed.
“I don’t know what I mean anymore” he said.
Victoria looked away forcing a smile for the planner who had just entered. “Let’s continue shall we?”
The planner looked nervous. “Of course ma’am” he said.
“Carson go and try on your tuxedo. It arrived this morning” Victoria said.
“I’m not in the mood” he said.
“Then make yourself be in the mood” she said.
Bridget reached for his arm gently. “Please Carson. Just do it for today” she said.
He looked at her hand on his sleeve then at her face. “For you” he said softly “I’ll try.”
Victoria smiled in triumph. “That’s my son” she said.
He didn’t answer. He walked out of the room the sound of his footsteps fading down the hall.
Bridget turned to Victoria. “He’s not happy” she said.
“He will be” Victoria said.
“No he won’t” she said.
Victoria straightened her shoulders. “Happiness comes later. Stability comes first” she said.
Bridget shook her head slowly. “Maybe that’s where you’re wrong” she said.
Victoria gave her a cold smile. “You’ll understand when you’re my age” she said.
Bridget said nothing. She turned and walked away her eyes glistening.
When the room finally emptied, Victoria stood alone staring at the piles of invitations and golden decorations.
For a moment her proud expression softened. She whispered to herself “It has to be perfect. It just has to.”
Upstairs Carson stood before the mirror in his room. The tuxedo hung on the door. He stared at his reflection his hands trembling slightly.
The laughter and voices downstairs sounded distant unreal. He drew in a shaky breathe which didn't seem to do him any good.
The sound of music and chatter floated up from below but to him it felt like the echo of a cage closing.
“One month” He whispered and closed his eyes.