Finally, Evie sighed again. "If you're ever really bullied, come back and tell Mom, Dad, and me. Don't bear it alone!"
Evie kept nodding.
"Did you hear what I said or not?" Victoria stared at her.
"Yes, I heard you very clearly!" Evie said seriously.
"If you heard, you have to do it. Well, I won't lecture you anymore. You should rest early. I'm going back to take a shower too!" Victoria said, walking toward the door.
When Evie heard Victoria leaving, she murmured to herself, "She used to be just a little girl. How is she getting married now?"
In an instant, her eyes grew sore.
Ever since she was a child, she had been especially clingy to her sister Victoria. But her sister always thought she was boring and stupid, and didn't like to play with her. Sometimes, when Victoria was in a hurry, she would scold her and even hit her.
But Evie still loved her sister. She knew Victoria truly loved her, she just had a bad temper.
Now, hearing her sister say those words, she couldn't help but feel sad.
"Sister, I will take care of myself. You don't have to worry about me!" Evie murmured.
"Who's worried about you? I'm just jealous that you found such a handsome and rich husband!" Victoria replied without looking back.
She walked straight out of Evie's bedroom, slamming the door behind her, not even glancing back.
Evie stared at the closed door, and tears streamed down her face.
The truth was, she didn't want to get married either.
Before this, she hadn't felt anything special. But now, she couldn't hold back her sadness.
Hearing her phone ring, Evie got up to answer it.
Through her blurry tears, she saw it was Alexander calling. It took a long time for her to calm down before she picked up. "Hello—"
"Busy?" Alexander's voice came from the other end.
"No, I just took a shower and was about to go to bed. I have to get up early tomorrow!" Evie said, her face turning red. She quickly changed the subject. "How about you?"
"Working overtime at Sterling Manor."
"Oh, you have to work overtime today?"
"Just dealing with something temporarily."
"Are you almost done now?"
"Almost. Do you have anything to do this afternoon?" Alexander asked again.
"Ah?" Evie was stunned for a moment, not reacting.
"I thought I heard something wrong with your voice this afternoon."
"No, maybe you heard wrong!" Evie replied awkwardly.
"Are you sure nothing's wrong?" Alexander asked hesitantly.
"Really, nothing's wrong!" Evie said firmly.
There were some things she could tell Alexander, but some things she couldn't. And there was no way to say them.
"Good, as long as nothing's wrong!" Alexander didn't press further.
"Thank you!" Evie said sincerely. No matter whether Alexander was gay or not, his actions often made her feel warm.
"There's no need to be so formal between us. Evie, I can't guarantee that you'll find the happiness you want with me in the future, but I will do my best to fulfill my duties as a husband. From now on, please take good care of Mrs. Sterling!"
Evie's face turned red all the way to the roots of her ears. She whispered, "Please also take good care of Mr. Sterling!"
"Of course!" Alexander replied.
"Good night, Mr. Sterling!" Evie blushed even more.
"Good night, Mrs. Sterling!"
After hanging up, Evie stood by the bed, her heart pounding wildly, as if it wasn't her own.
But when she pinched her hand, it hurt.
Those words just now were really what Alexander had said to her. Evie couldn't help but smile.
It was only when Evie lay down to sleep, after her hair was dry, that she realized Alexander's words about her taking care of him had another meaning.
In the future, she hoped she could help him cover up his identity as a gay man.
She sighed deeply. Alas, she had been overthinking.
She had thought Alexander was sweet-talking her before, but she had misunderstood.
She couldn't let this kind of misunderstanding happen again in the future!
Evie said to herself.
Then, she fell asleep.
She dreamed that Alexander was feeding her a carrot. She was about to take a bite when the carrot disappeared. When she turned her head, she saw Owen chewing the carrot. He glanced at her and said, "Don't be jealous of me. It was given to me!"
Evie felt depressed. The next second, she woke up, and then she realized she had been dreaming. She was sweating.
She had even had a strange dream where she had become a rabbit, a rabbit whose carrot had been stolen by Owen.
After tossing and turning for a long time, she fell asleep again.
Just as she was sleeping soundly, she was awakened by her mother. "Evie, get up. Eat something, comb your hair, and put on your makeup. It's almost time." Amelia said gently.
Evie mumbled vaguely, "Mom, let me sleep a little longer. I'm so sleepy!"
"It's eight o'clock. The groom's family will be here to pick you up soon. It's not good to delay the auspicious time!" Amelia looked at her daughter and, after a moment, still advised her.
After a while, Evie got up, rubbed her eyes, and said, "Mom, even after I get married, I'm still your and Dad's daughter!"
"Yes!" Amelia nodded, pursed her lips, and didn't speak, but her eyes were red.
Evie didn't notice her mother's expression. She climbed out of bed and went into the bathroom to wash up.
When Evie changed into a red Chinese bridal dress, put on her makeup, combed her hair, and put on her phoenix crown, she looked at herself in the mirror and felt like it wasn't real. It was as if she had become a different person.
She thought of the poem from the Tang Dynasty—
Last night in the bridal chamber, the red candles burned bright. This morning, I pay respects to my in-laws before dawn. After making up, I ask my husband in a low voice, "Is the shade of my eyebrows too deep or too light?"
It was so beautiful!
Hearing the sound of her sister Victoria's voice, she turned her head and looked at her sister, a little embarrassed.
"Sister, after you get married, you'll be even more beautiful than me!"
"I don't know how long that will take!" Victoria rolled her eyes and said, "Today, you're the bride. You're the most beautiful!"
The makeup artist on the side also praised Evie for her makeup and beauty.
Evie smiled and said nothing.
Amid the sound of firecrackers, Alexander and his party arrived to pick up the bride.
Evie didn't have many thoughts. She seemed calm and quiet.
Until she got into the car and left the house, she lifted the corner of her veil and saw her parents and sister outside the car. Her eyes reddened after all.
She quickly put down the veil. In the end, she didn't want her family to see her attachment and reluctance.
This marriage, from the very beginning, was filled with helplessness. It diluted so much of the joy she should have felt.
Her hand was held. Evie's body stiffened for a moment, and the next second, she reacted.
She didn't struggle. She let Alexander hold her hand.
She knew Alexander was comforting her. She couldn't help but whisper, "Thank you." Alexander didn't respond.
After the wedding car left home, Evie didn't have the courage to look back.
Tears finally overflowed from her eye sockets and slid down her cheeks.
After arriving at the Sterling Mansion, after a series of rituals—ancestor worship, bowing to the hall, and being sent to the bridal chamber—Alexander and Evie returned to the new house at Sterling Manor to rest.
After entering Sterling Manor, Alexander directly pulled down the veil on Evie's head.
Evie's eyes narrowed suddenly.
It was like being trapped in the dark and suddenly seeing the light again.