Aristocracy101

Chapter 13

“How’s my baby doing?” Zoey burst into the shop, instantly drawing the attention of everyone in the room with her boundless energy.

“Zoey! Ivy! You came!” Lilian squealed, her voice high-pitched with excitement as she rushed over to hug her friends, twirling slightly in her wedding dress.

“Oh my God, babe, you look so scrumptious. If I weren’t a girl, I’d literally ask for your hand right now!” Zoey teased, eyeing Lilian up and down with exaggerated interest.

“Yeah, right,” Ivy and Lilian chimed in together, rolling their eyes in unison.

If it were anyone else saying it, they might’ve taken it seriously, but Zoey had a well-known obsession with younger guys and was already smitten with someone else.

“Must you guys put me on the spot like that?” Zoey huffed, stamping her foot dramatically. “Can’t you just let me have my moment?”

“Yeah, right,” Lilian and Ivy shot back in perfect sync, and all three girls erupted in laughter, the sound light and carefree.

Mrs. Grace, standing by the sidelines, smiled at the sight of her daughter enjoying herself, but she couldn’t ignore the ticking clock. Clearing her throat, she caught the girls’ attention.

“It’s nice to see you all having fun, but we still have preparations to get through, and Lilian’s wedding is in just a few days.”

“What?!” Zoey screamed, her mouth dropping open in shock. Ivy quickly covered her mouth, muttering, “Manners, lady!”

“Sorry,” Zoey mumbled sheepishly, but she was still wide-eyed in disbelief.

“Wasn’t it supposed to be in two weeks?” Ivy asked, clearly puzzled. “I could have sworn the post said two weeks, not one.”

“Well, the date got moved up,” Vivian explained with a casual shrug, trying to downplay the shift in plans. “I’ll be sending out the invitations today.” She knew the change might cause some issues, but she could handle it. After all, for her daughter-in-law, the wedding was worth fighting for.

Lilian turned to Vivian with big, pleading eyes. “Mom, can my friends join in? It’s been so long since we hung out.”

“Lilian, this is your wedding! You can’t just—” Grace started, but Vivian cut her off, her voice light and understanding.

“No, it’s okay,” Vivian said with a soft smile. “Let the young ones have their fun. It’s their moment too.”

With a final wave of her hand, Vivian ushered Grace out of the shop. “We’ll be going now, Lily. I trust you’ll pick out the shoes and accessories. I’m feeling a bit tired, you know, us ‘old folks’ need to rest.” She glanced at Grace and gave a knowing smile. “Send me pictures later, okay? I’ll leave it all in your capable hands.”

Lilian stood still for a moment, blinking in surprise as her mother-in-law continued with an easy smile. “Besides, the girls need their moment too. Go on and enjoy yourselves.”

Vivian gently nudged Grace toward the door, and they both walked out, leaving Lilian behind in the shop, a bit dazed by the quick departure.

“What just happened?” Lilian murmured, still processing how easily Vivian had dismissed the wedding preparations in favor of giving her some space.

“Oh, come on, the shoes won’t pick themselves,” Zoey grinned, grabbing Lilian’s hand and tugging her toward the racks. “Let’s go!”

They spent the rest of the day shopping for shoes and matching accessories for the wedding. By the time they were done, their feet were sore, but they headed straight to a five-star restaurant to refuel.

“I can’t believe the youngest of us is the first to get married,” Zoey sighed dramatically, slumping in her seat and rubbing her sore legs.

“Jealous much?” Ivy teased, raising an eyebrow. “Try convincing your Ryan to get married. I’m sure your rich dad would sponsor it if your older brothers don’t kill him before the engagement.”

“Says the girl who can’t go a day without fighting and arguing with Noah,” Zoey shot back, sticking her tongue out in mock annoyance.

Noah Davis, Ivy’s fiancé, was a constant source of both love and frustration. They were the perfect example of a couple who couldn’t seem to stop bickering, even though both were disciplined and mature by nature.

As for Zoey, she didn’t have a fiancé—just an overly doting family who would spoil her no matter what. She didn’t dare tell them about her feelings for someone younger, especially since she hadn’t even confessed to the guy yet.

“Gosh, can’t these girls get along?” Lilian murmured, chuckling softly. She couldn’t help but smile as she looked at Zoey. Zoey, at 23, was the oldest of them all, but she had a way of acting like the youngest. Maybe it was just her personality.

The trio was close-knit, each one just a year apart: Zoey at 23, Ivy at 22, and Lilian at 21. They were each other’s confidantes and partners in crime.

Lilian felt at ease when she was with them. Whenever things at home got too heated, or when Oliver wasn’t around, she knew she could always rely on these two. They were her safe haven.

“Can I ask you something, Lily?” Ivy’s voice broke through Lilian’s thoughts, and Lilian turned to look at her.

“Wait! Ivy, don’t—” Zoey tried to stop her, her tone playful yet protective, but it was already too late.

“It’s okay, Zoey,” Lilian reassured her with a soft smile. “Please, go ahead, Ivy.”

Ivy hesitated for a moment, her eyes soft with concern. “Well... Are the photos that were spread online true? We know you’re not that kind of person, but we tried calling you, and you didn’t pick up. Then we hear about your marriage. We just... want to know what’s going on.”

Lilian’s heart sank. She’d expected accusations, maybe even anger, but all she felt now was the weight of their genuine concern. Her voice cracked slightly as she explained everything that had happened, including the strange night she couldn’t remember.

Zoey clenched her fists, her face flushed with anger. “Who’s the bastard that did this? If I catch him—”

Even Ivy, who usually maintained her composure, looked furious, though she didn’t curse.

Lilian’s eyes welled with tears as she looked at her friends. “I never thought anyone would believe me... not even Oliver. The one person I thought would always trust me.”

Zoey stood and wrapped Lilian in a tight hug, her voice soft but resolute. “No matter what, Lily, in rain or thunderstorms, we’ll be there for you. Always.”

Ivy nodded, her usually calm demeanor firm. “And if we need to, we’ll kick Oliver’s butt—just in case of emergencies.” Her teasing grin broke the tension, making Lilian laugh through her tears.

Lilian wiped her eyes, a mix of emotions swirling within her. “Thanks, guys. That means more than you know.”

After a long pause, Lilian hesitated before asking, “Would you girls be my bridesmaids?”

Both Zoey and Ivy’s eyes went wide, and the silence stretched on for a few moments before Zoey broke the ice. “Do you even need to ask? If not us, then who?”

“Or do you have other besties we don’t know about?” Ivy teased, her smile softening.

“No, no... I just wasn’t sure if you could make it. I didn’t want to bother you...” Lilian admitted, her hands fidgeting nervously.

“Even if we were busy, we’d still make time for you,” Ivy reassured, her voice gentle but firm.

Lilian’s heart swelled with gratitude, her relief evident. She couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have such great friends.