Chapter Seventy

Chapter Seventy
The following day, Vivian came to the mansion early in the morning with her luggage. Harry told her that she could occupy one of the rooms on the second floor, for she'd be living with us from now on until who knows when. We accompanied her to her room.
"Please make yourself at home," Harry said.
"Thank you," Vivian replied with a grateful smile on her face. "This room is bigger than I expected." She laid her suitcase against the wall, walked towards the window, and opened it. Her smile widened as she looked outside. "Wow! I didn't know there are a lot of trees and birds here."
"My mother was actually a nature lover," Harry said.
"I see... Where is she now?" Vivian asked, turning to face us. She looks gorgeous, despite her faded jeans and purple top. Her hair sways with the wind behind her. There's an awkward silence that followed.
"She had just passed away," Harry said.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Vivian apologized immediately.
"It's okay. Please suit yourself," Harry said. "I think we should leave you alone for now to give you some space to adjust yourself here. We'll only call you if we need something."
"Got it. Thank you," Vivian replied.
Harry and I left Vivian to herself so that she could have time to familiarize herself with her new surroundings. Later in the afternoon, Harry asked me to tour Vivian around the mansion, so I gladly did it.
"So, are you married?" I asked while we were walking in the corridor. "I know this is a foolish question. I shouldn't ask about your personal life—"
"It's okay," Vivian replied with a smile. "I think sharing some information between employers and employees is normal and will deepen their bond or trust with each other. The truth is, I've been a single mom for about ten years now. My husband cheated on me; I mean, we aren't really married, so our two daughters are under my care."
"Oh... I'm sorry, I didn't expect that," I said.
"It's okay. It was my fault. If only I knew he was a playboy, I wouldn't have hooked up with him. Perhaps I'd have focused on my studies and have a nice career now," Vivian said regretfully.
"I know I'm not in the position to offer advice, but I don't think it was your fault if the man leaves you for another woman. That only proves you're innocent and tried your best to keep your relationship, but he wasn't serious at all in the first place; it must be hard for you to raise your kids alone," I said.
"Very hard," Vivian sighed. "My mother was right. I shouldn't have let that guy ruin my life, but I didn't listen to her. Look at me now, struggling to raise my two kids. I'm grateful that my mother's still there. She's the one who's taking care of my daughters."
Knowing Vivian's backstory made me realize that everyone is facing their own battles and sometimes outside appearances can be deceiving. Someone's smile might reach their eyes, but if you look closer you'd see the tears hidden beneath those eyes and the sufferings they were going through, and so it was very important to be kind with everyone because we knew nothing about them.
I stopped at the corridor and suddenly gave Vivian a hug. I don't really know what I am doing, but I know she needs it. She was taken aback but remained still. We are both silent for a while, then I take my arms off her.
"Thank you," she said, tears forming in her eyes.
"It's okay if you want to cry," I told her. "You don't have to bottle up your tears."
Vivian burst into tears as she hugged me again. I gave her a tap on the back. Seeing her in a vulnerable state makes me want to cry too. She eventually let me go and apologized for how she acted, for stepping over the boundary.
"It's okay. You don't have to apologize," I said.
Vivian wiped her tears, and we continued showing her around the mansion. "I think that's all," I finally said. "Just tell me if you need something."
"No, I should be the one to tell you that, ma'am," Vivian said. "I'm the maid, and you're the boss."
"Right. But please don't call me ma'am. It's weird for you to call me that when you're older than me. Just call me Georgia," I said.
"Right," Vivian agreed, and we both laughed.

The long-awaited day has finally arrived. I couldn't believe I was walking down the aisle in this beautiful ivory lace dress that trailed its yards and yards of hand-wrought lace train richly behind me, with a sweet-smelling bouquet of flowers cradled in the crook of my arm and a sweet smile on my face that I couldn't hide. So this is how it feels to be married to the man I love?
There were a lot of familiar and unfamiliar faces around, but they all blurred in the background, and even time itself seemed to slow down and dissipate as my focus was only directed to the man with whom I am going to spend the rest of my life.
Harry looked so handsome in his dark suit with a red rose design near his chest. He had a nice haircut, smooth hair, and a dazzling smile on his face. He was looking at me as I approached him. A beautiful melody, played by our friends Matt and Ryan and their company, reached my ears, but the harmony was stopped when a quarrel came from behind. I lost my focus on Harry and looked back.
"That's my daughter!" A handcuffed man followed by two huge police officers shouted, not in a drunk tone, but in a proud tone.
My smile widened as I realized it was my father. Of course he was not here to cause trouble, like what other people around were thinking, but to see me finally getting married. I saw him raise his hands, both of them, as he was handcuffed and waved at me. I waved back with the bouquet of flowers, acknowledging him.
When the gossips finally hushed and the music resumed, I continued walking down the aisle. I didn't have the bridesmaid, but Magdalene and John were there to support me. Meanwhile, Harry had Sir Simeon as his best man. I finally reached the altar.
The priest started the reading and asked if we take each other as husband and wife. Yes, of course, there was no reason not to. Then we take our vows, for better or for worse, that we'd always be together, swear to God. Harry slipped the diamond ring on my finger, and I did the same to him.
"In the sight of God and these witnesses, I now pronounce you husband and wife," the priest finally said.