Upon hearing the plan, Curtis paused to consider it. After a moment, he gave a decisive nod. "I'll summon Natalie," he said. "You head to the hotel and start making arrangements."
With that, Curtis set the wheels in motion, and before long, Natalie arrived at the hotel. She was ushered into the bridal lounge.
Emmett studied Natalie's face, which bore a striking resemblance to Alice's. She found herself nodding in approval. She had never imagined that the face she had once despised would prove so useful. The only concern was Natalie's gentle demeanor, a stark contrast to Alice's fierce, proud bearing. It was a discrepancy that could potentially give them away.
Natalie's skin was smoother, her features more natural than Alice's. Emmett found herself appreciating these differences.
After some time, Emmett reiterated her request for Natalie's assistance, ending with a stern warning. "Natalie, the Cullen family has been very good to you. Once this is over, I'll arrange a specialist consultation for your mother. But you must keep today's events a secret. If the Howards find out...you know the consequences."
Natalie's fists clenched at her sides. She had thought that after that night, she would have nothing more to do with that man. But now, they were asking her to step in for Alice, to complete the engagement with Adrian. It was a risky move, one that could easily reveal the events of that night. But Rosalie's illness couldn't wait...
"Okay, I agree," she finally said.
Once Natalie gave her consent, two aides helped her into a custom wedding dress worth millions. The skirt shimmered with embedded diamonds, a sight of breathtaking beauty. However, Natalie was a bit slimmer than Alice, and the waist had to be adjusted with a few pins to fit properly.
A white lace veil was then draped over her head, obscuring her view.
Curtis led her downstairs and handed her over to Adrian. The man took her hand, and through the layer of gloves, Natalie could feel the warmth of his palm. Her heart fluttered.
Everything was so beautiful. The lavish engagement ceremony, the multimillion-dollar wedding dress she was wearing - it all felt like a dream. The handsome man standing before her seemed like a fantasy beyond her reach. "Alright, let the future bride and groom exchange their engagement rings!" The pastor's voice pulled Natalie back to reality. She looked up, meeting Adrian's gaze.
Adrian's lips curled into a faint smile. The engagement party, meticulously organized by the Howard family's butler, was just another event to him, part of the spectacle. Marrying Alice was merely a formality.
But now, as he looked at the shy woman before him, an unexpected wave of happiness washed over him. He found himself thinking that perhaps... getting married might not be so bad after all.
He slid the engagement ring onto her finger, and the diamond sparkled beautifully. The light caught in Natalie's eyes, igniting a surge of excitement within her.
Following the pastor's prompt, she picked up the other ring and attempted to place it on the man's finger. Her hand trembled slightly.
Adrian's voice was soothing as he whispered, "Don't be nervous."
Natalie felt a pang of sadness as she lifted her gaze, looking at his blurred yet handsome face through her veil.
The man laughed softly, took her hand, and firmly grasped her fingers, guiding the ring into place.
"Let us wish this perfect couple well," the pastor announced.
Someone in the crowd called out, "Mr. Howard, give us a kiss!"
Adrian, usually detached and composed, wouldn't ordinarily be swayed by such remarks. But today was different; it was his engagement. He gazed at the beautiful woman in the wedding dress, wrapped his arms around her waist, and amidst gasps from the crowd, kissed Natalie through her veil.
Beneath the veil, her lips were soft, carrying a hint of cherry blossom scent that left him feeling captivated. It brought back memories of that night when she lay beneath him, innocent and sweet.
Adrian pulled Natalie closer, deepening their kiss.