Aristocracy 101

Chapter 13

ADIVA BRIDE SHOP (Continuation)

“How’s my baby doing?”

Zoey’s energetic voice immediately filled the bridal shop, drawing the attention of everyone inside. Her presence was impossible to ignore; she carried a kind of brightness that seemed to follow her wherever she went.

“Zoey! Ivy! You came!”

Lilian’s face instantly lit up.

For the first time that day, genuine happiness appeared in her eyes as she rushed toward her friends and wrapped them both in a hug, the beautiful wedding gown flowing gracefully around her as she twirled slightly in excitement.

“Oh my God, babe, you look absolutely scrumptious,” Zoey exclaimed dramatically, placing a hand over her chest as she admired Lilian from head to toe. “If I wasn’t a girl, I would literally ask for your hand right now.”

“Yeah, right.”

Ivy and Lilian responded at the exact same time, both rolling their eyes.

If it had been anyone else making such a bold statement, they might have taken it seriously. However, this was Zoey. Everyone knew about her obsession with younger men, and she was already completely interested in someone else.

“Must you two always expose me like that?” Zoey complained, stomping her foot dramatically. “Can’t you just let me have my moment?”

“Yeah, right.”

Again, Lilian and Ivy answered together.

The perfect synchronization made all three girls burst into laughter.

For a moment, Lilian forgot about everything else.

The confusion.

The fear.

The distance between her and Oliver.

She was simply surrounded by the two people who had always made life feel lighter.

Standing nearby, Grace watched her daughter laugh with a soft smile. Seeing Lilian happy brought relief to her heart, but she couldn't ignore the amount of preparation still left to complete.

Clearing her throat, she gained the girls’ attention.

“It’s nice seeing you three enjoying yourselves, but we still have wedding preparations to finish. Remember, Lilian’s wedding is only a few days away.”

“What?!”

Zoey’s scream echoed throughout the shop, causing several people to turn toward them.

Ivy quickly covered her mouth.

“Manners, lady.”

Zoey immediately looked embarrassed.

“Sorry,” she mumbled, although her shocked expression remained.

“Wasn’t the wedding supposed to be in two weeks?” Ivy asked, clearly confused. “I remember seeing the announcement. I thought there was still more time.”

“The date was moved forward,” Vivian explained casually.

She tried to make it seem like it was nothing important, but she knew the sudden change could create problems.

However, for her future daughter-in-law, she was willing to handle any inconvenience.

“I’ll send out the invitations today.”

Lilian turned toward Vivian with hopeful eyes.

“Mom... can my friends join in the preparations? It has been such a long time since we properly spent time together.”

“Lilian, this is your wedding. You can’t just—”

Grace began, but Vivian gently interrupted her.

“It’s fine.”

She smiled warmly.

“Let the girls enjoy themselves. This is also an important moment for them.”

Before Grace could argue further, Vivian waved her hand and gently pushed her toward the door.

“We’ll leave now, Lily. I trust you can choose the shoes and accessories yourself.”

She placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Besides, I’m feeling tired. You know, us old people need our rest.”

She glanced at Grace with a knowing smile.

“Send me pictures later. I’ll leave everything in your capable hands.”

Lilian remained standing there, completely stunned.

She had expected Vivian to insist on supervising every single detail of the wedding.

Instead, her mother-in-law had easily handed everything over and left her with her friends.

“What just happened?” Lilian murmured.

Zoey immediately grabbed her hand.

“The shoes aren’t going to choose themselves, are they?”

She grinned.

“Come on.”

The rest of the day passed quickly as the three girls searched through countless shoes and accessories. By the time they finally finished, their feet ached, but their laughter had made the exhaustion worthwhile.

Since they were already outside, they decided to head to a five-star restaurant nearby to eat.

“I still can’t believe the youngest one among us is the first to get married.”

Zoey dramatically collapsed against her chair, rubbing her tired legs.

“Jealous much?” Ivy teased.

She raised an eyebrow.

“Maybe you should convince your Ryan to marry you. I’m sure your rich father would happily sponsor everything.”

She paused.

“Of course, that is if your brothers don't scare him away first.”

Zoey immediately narrowed her eyes.

“Says the girl who cannot go one day without arguing with Noah.”

The mention of Noah Davis made Ivy roll her eyes.

Her fiancé was both her biggest supporter and her biggest source of irritation.

They were the perfect example of a couple who constantly argued but couldn't imagine life without each other. Both were mature and disciplined, yet somehow they always ended up challenging each other's patience.

Unlike Ivy, Zoey didn't have a fiancé.

She only had an extremely protective family who spoiled her endlessly.

And she definitely wasn't brave enough to tell them about her feelings for someone younger, especially when she hadn't even confessed to him yet.

“Honestly, can you two ever stop fighting?”

Lilian laughed softly.

Looking at Zoey, she couldn't help but smile.

Despite being twenty-three and technically the oldest among them, Zoey had always acted like the youngest.

Maybe that was simply who she was.

The three of them were only separated by a year.

Zoey was twenty-three.

Ivy was twenty-two.

And Lilian was twenty-one.

Yet despite their different personalities, they had become inseparable.

They were each other's secrets, their support system, and the people they could always depend on.

Whenever things became difficult at home or when Oliver wasn't around, Lilian knew she could turn to them.

They were her safe place.

“Can I ask you something, Lily?”

Ivy's voice pulled Lilian out of her thoughts.

“Wait, Ivy, don't—”

Zoey immediately tried to stop her, but it was already too late.

“It’s okay, Zoey.”

Lilian gave her a reassuring smile.

“Ask me.”

Ivy hesitated before speaking.

Her expression was gentle, but concern filled her eyes.

“The pictures that spread online... are they true?”

The smile slowly faded from Lilian’s face.

“We know you’re not that kind of person,” Ivy continued quickly. “But we tried calling you, and you never answered. Then suddenly we heard about your marriage.”

She lowered her voice.

“We just want to know what happened.”

Lilian had prepared herself for judgment.

For accusations.

For people looking at her differently.

But she hadn't prepared herself for kindness.

For genuine concern.

Her throat tightened as she explained everything.

The rumors.

The strange night she couldn't remember.

The missing receptionist.

Everything.

By the time she finished, Zoey's hands were clenched tightly.

Her face was filled with anger.

“Who is the bastard that did this?”

Her voice trembled.

“If I find him—”

Even Ivy, who was usually calm and collected, looked furious.

She didn't say anything, but her expression spoke louder than words.

Lilian looked at them, her eyes becoming wet.

“I honestly thought no one would believe me.”

Her voice cracked.

“Not even Oliver.”

She looked down.

“The one person I thought would always trust me.”

Zoey immediately stood up and hugged her.

“No matter what happens, Lily, we’re here.”

Her voice softened.

“Through rain, storms, and anything else life throws at you, we’ll stand beside you.”

Ivy nodded.

“And if necessary, we’ll kick Oliver’s butt.”

Her small teasing smile finally broke through the heaviness.

“Only as an emergency measure, of course.”

Lilian laughed softly through her tears.

“Thank you.”

She wiped her eyes.

“That means more than you know.”

After a moment of silence, she looked between them.

“Would you two be my bridesmaids?”

Both girls froze.

Their eyes widened.

The silence lasted only a few seconds before Zoey dramatically gasped.

“Do you even need to ask?”

She placed a hand on her chest.

“If it isn't us, then who else would it be?”

Ivy smiled.

“Or do you secretly have other best friends we don't know about?”

Lilian quickly shook her head.

“No, no. I just wasn't sure if you would be available. I didn't want to disturb you.”

Ivy reached across the table and held her hand.

“Lily, even if we were busy, we would make time for you.”

Lilian stared at her friends.

For the first time in days, the heaviness in her heart felt slightly lighter.

She truly was lucky.