Matteo wondered if he had saved the entire galaxy in his past life for a glimpse of such beauty. Even just breathing the sa air as this woman seed like a luxury that ca with a high price.
Well, whatever that price was, Matteo was more than willing to pay for with the rest of his life. Everything he did was for this mont― to see Alia Kentwood in a wedding dress, walking straight to him at the end of the aisle.
He hadn’t even noticed that he had stopped breathing until Alia placed a hand against his chest. Her touch was as gentle as a flap of a butterfly’s wing, but Matteo could still feel the warmth of her palm seep through his clothing and into his heart.
"Matteo?" she asked unsurely. "Is... Well, how do I look?"
Slowly, Matteo raised his hand to wrap around hers. He held her hand tightly against his chest, relishing in the silky smooth feeling of her smaller hand in his.
"Like starlight," he muttered beneath his breath, his voice so soft that if it weren’t for the fact that Alia stood so close, she would’ve no doubt missed it. "You look breathtaking."
In reply to his words, Alia simply smiled. She was glad that Matteo liked it on her as much as she did― if her father and mother had seen the dress, she knew that they would’ve adored the design as well. Her fingers glided down the smooth silk and played with one of the embroidered flowers. This dress felt like a bridge that connected her to her mother even beyond the walls of death.
"Do rember to breathe," Alia joked, raising her hand from her dress to glide down Matteo’s nose. He blinked and reeled away slightly due to the ticklish sensation, but a smile blood to match hers.
Without saying anything, he leaned in and captured her lips in a gentle kiss. This ti, it was Alia’s turn to hold her breath. She moved with him, and when they pulled apart, Alia’s body felt so light despite the heavy dress that was on her body.
"I take that as the husband likes the dress," Alia said with a laugh as she turned back to look at Jenna, who was busying herself with the flower arrangents in the waiting areas.
She pivoted back to look at them only when she realized they were done with their private mont, and a red-cheeked smile burst forth.
"Thankfully so!" Jenna said, sighing in relief. "If it’s alright with you two, I’ll need to steal Alia for a bit for the adjustnts."
Alia very reluctantly peeled herself away from Matteo’s side and back in the direction of the changing room. Once the door was closed, she watched as Jenna bustled back and forth with her pins and notepad.
"You don’t understand how relieved I am to hear that you two like the dress," Jenna said as she scribbled on her little book. "It was all thanks to Mr. Montgory’s help that the dress could be completed in ti, after all. I am sure he would’ve loved whatever you wore, but this is still the best possible outco."
Her words caused Alia to perk up. "Matteo did?"
"He did," Jenna said with a nod. "Mr. Montgory hired seamstresses who could help finish the job in the tight ti fra. Without their help, I’m not too sure if I will be able to finish all of this myself!"
Jenna shook her head and sheepishly laughed.
"Speaking of which, have you decided on a wedding date yet? Your grandfather provided an approximate tiline, but it would be mighty helpful if you had a fixed deadline by which the dress should be ready."
"I’ll have to discuss this with my grandfather first," Alia said mindlessly. Her eyes were already at the door that separated Matteo from her. She could imagine him on the other side, patiently waiting for her to erge once more.
Her heart ward at the thought.
"You should," Jenna said. "You’re a wonderful little lady. And Mr. Montgory seems like a good man. There aren’t too many like him now in these trying tis. Better hang onto him as soon as possible! Otherwise, I’m sure there will be more than many others who would salivate at the thought of being his bride."
***
"I am so proud of you," Horace Hawthorne said as he gently patted the back of Alia’s hand. They stood on the second floor, overlooking the ballroom right below. "With the charity well on its way to success, these children will have an opportunity for a better future at last."
Thanks to Carlo’s performance at X’el Inc., word had spread among the socialites about how an orphan delinquent had gone from zero to hero. He rose quickly in his studies and had helped out imnsely in X’el Incorporated, and his accomplishnts had started to spread among those who had bigger wallets than they would ever need.
With how the word had spread, more and more people were interested in this unassuming charity― after all, the more brilliant minds erged, the more they could make money off of them as though these kids were investnts.
It was insulting, their way of thinking, but Alia could close an eye to it as long as these children could have better futures.
Tonight was the first event that was set up in honor of the Hope for Scholars Charity, and thanks to the reputation of the Hawthornes and the Montgorys, every influential family in Solara was in attendance. This event was the final step needed to seal the charity’s success. After this, it would be smooth sailing from here on out.
Or the final straw that would break the cal’s back.
"If only Emline paid more attention to these things," Horace said with a sigh. "Hope for Scholars had been in her hands for years, and it had never been as successful as this. It is good that she’s soon to be married. Hopefully, after that, she will learn to grow up and be a little more independent."
He then looked wistfully at Alia, smiling.
"Speaking of weddings, have you and Matteo finalized the date yet?"
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