Chapter 383
The Bennett homestead was about ten miles from the Garcia mansion, and the entire stretch was adorned with lights and decorations, a stunning celebration befitting the grand occasion.
A convoy of ninety-nine top-of-the-line luxury vehicles rolled past the cheering crowds, who watched with astonishment and envy along the decorated streets.
Teresa and Gabriel's lavish wedding united two of River North's wealthiest families, and news of the event spread bright and early. Long before the sun rose, throngs of media outlets staked out their spots, ready to document what was heralded as one of the most magnificent weddings River North had ever seen.
The drive was slow and deliberate. An hour later, the vehicles pulled up to the entrance of the Garcia mansion and eased to a stop.
The Garcia family, along with a host of close friends and relatives, had been eagerly awaiting their arrival. The moment Teresa's elongated Rolls Royce came to a halt, Gabriel practically sprinted to her side. Without waiting for her to step out, he bent over and swept her into his arms.
Holding the indescribably beautiful woman close to his chest, Gabriel's heart swelled with joy and anticipation. He lowered his head to her ear and, in front of all those watching, nearly bit her earlobe as he whispered huskily, "Sweetheart, all I want right now is you. What should I do?"
The previous night, in order to ensure Teresa got proper rest, he had restrained himself. Other than holding her while they slept, he had abstained from any further intimacy.
"Shut up!" Teresa scolded him with a glance, her cheeks blushing beneath the delicate makeup.
Gabriel chuckled with satisfaction at her bashful reaction. As they reached the grand entrance, he set her down. The matron of honor approached, and following age-old traditions, they were ushered in amidst well-wishes. Taking deliberate steps through the main door, they proceeded into the large hall of the mansion. There, Teresa and Gabriel performed the tea ceremony, presenting cups to Mason and Raymond, as well as to the couple, Patrick and his spouse.
William, holding Croissant in his arms, stood by as he watched Teresa and Gabriel, donned in their wedding attire, serving tea to the elders.
The rites were completed after the tea ceremony and after red envelopes were accepted. Gabriel then scooped Teresa into his arms and carried her upstairs to their room.
Like the rest of the Garcia family estate, their room was newly decorated with festive cheer. Vibrant red dominated the scene, and the floor and carpet were blanketed with rose petals.
Carrying Teresa into the room, Gabriel kicked the door shut behind him, hardly able to wait as he moved toward the large bed.
Reaching the bed, he gently placed Teresa down, but his head dipped down swiftly.
"Hey, take it easy!" Teresa quickly raised a hand to stop him. "Get this thing off my head and help me out of these clothes and jewelry. They're so heavy."
"Okay." Gabriel smiled at her, agreed softly, and then bent to kiss her lips, his words blurring into one another. "I'll help you undress right now."
As he spoke, his hands began to work at the buttons of Teresa's gown...
...
The formal wedding was held at the Bennett family estate.
Spanning hundreds of acres, the property was transformed into a wonderland of astonishing beauty.
By mid-morning, the prominent guests began to arrive. Among them, of course, was Hayden, known throughout the Imperial Capital as the esteemed Lin family's foremost daughter.
Upon arrival, Hayden didn't rush to mingle with the elites. After a brief greeting to Mason and Raymond, she went straight to find Teresa.
Being pregnant, she regretted not being able to stand by Teresa's side as a bridesmaid, so it was important for her to spend as much time with Teresa as possible.
However, after turning the corner, Hayden was about to ascend the stairs in the main hall. Glancing up, she caught sight of William. He was several meters away, arm-in-arm with Michelle, laughing and chatting with a few of the higher-ups.
Her steps faltered, and her gaze toward William deepened, lost in a trance, unable to look away.
William had evolved significantly since six years prior. His masculine allure and charm had grown more than just a tad.
Now, his every move, his laughter, and his mature demeanor all exuded an air of sophistication and extraordinary prestige.
Moreover, with William's current wealth, it was hard to imagine any woman who wouldn't be captivated.
Feeling a familiar gaze upon him, William turned his head to look her way.
Their eyes met in the air, their gazes intertwining.
Noticing Hayden's belly, which seemed even bigger than before, William felt a twinge of distress in his eyes.
"William, what's wrong?"
However, when Michelle's voice chimed in his ears, William's gaze, once full of tender concern, flickered and turned cold, almost heartless.
The next moment, he averted his gaze to look at Michelle beside him, lips curving in a small, gentle smile, "It's okay."
Michelle returned the smile and, as William resumed his banter with some influential figures, followed William's line of sight from earlier.
It was Hayden.
Observing Hayden still standing there, fixing her gaze on William unwaveringly, a barely perceptible smirk played on Michelle's lips, full of challenge.
Hayden, noting her smug expression, responded with a calm smile before continuing her stride upstairs.
As Hayden ascended to the second floor, Michelle leaned over to William and whispered, "I'm going to use the restroom."
"Alright," William responded, his eyes tracking Michelle as she left. He was less interested in watching her depart and more in scanning the crowd for Hayden.
Seeing Hayden heading upstairs while Michelle went towards the restroom, William turned his attention back to his conversation with the moguls.
On the other hand, as soon as Hayden reached the second floor, a housekeeper hurried over and respectfully said, "Miss Lin, Mr. William's fiancée, Miss Shen, would like to speak with you."
With a cold twist of her lips, Hayden nodded without hesitation, "Alright, lead the way."
She was curious to see what kind of mischief Michelle had in store.
"Right this way, Miss Hayden!" The housekeeper gestured towards the nearby indoor elevator with a respectful motion.
Hayden nodded slightly and followed the housekeeper toward the elevator.
Around the quiet corner outside the first-floor restroom, Michelle hadn't gone in; instead, she stood there, elegantly holding a glass of wine, waiting for Hayden.
She was certain Hayden would come to meet her.
After all, Hayden was the esteemed heiress of the Lin family—why would she fear her?
As expected, it was only a short time before Hayden appeared in Michelle's view, escorted by the housekeeper.
Watching Hayden draw nearer and with her prominent baby bump, Michelle lifted her lips in a sneering and triumphant smile.
"Miss Shen, Hayden is here," the housekeeper announced with due respect as she escorted Hayden to where Michelle stood.
Michelle, William's fiancée, and Teresa's future sister-in-law, also took on the role of the Garcia family's housekeeper. She would never dare nor desire to neglect her duties.
"So, what's the plan? Letting the cat out of the bag?" Hayden smirked confidently, eyeing an equally self-assured Michelle.
"Hayden, it seems like you should be more worried about yourself than me. After all, when your kids are born, they'll be fatherless bastards. You'll have your hands full then," Michelle taunted with a mocking laugh.
"William's not dead. And even if he were, men haven't gone extinct," Hayden retorted with a scoff. "Instead of worrying about whether my kids will have a father, you should be more concerned about whether you'll actually manage to marry into the Bennett family."
"Of course, I'll marry into the Bennett family." Michelle replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She continued, "Or do you still delusionally think William will return to you, fall in love all over again, and take you as his wife?"
At that moment, the final word left Michelle's lips, and she saw a familiar silhouette out of the corner of her eye.
