Free Web NovelChapter 60: Chapter 60: A Childhood Photo Together
"Leave?"
Anne smiled. "How could I possibly leave? I heard there’s going to be a shivaree tonight. I’m the only bridesmaid, so I can’t just take off."
"..."
Sophie Shaw’s face visibly reddened.
Anne laughed and patted her on the shoulder. "Relax. I won’t join in on the raucous fun with everyone else. I promise to keep a low profile and not cause any trouble."
"You promised. No trouble."
"I promise."
Sophie Shaw linked arms with her and walked toward Alaric Blackwood.
Most of the guests had been seen off, leaving only the closest family and friends of both sides.
Coming out of the grand hotel, Sophie Shaw watched as Joseph Shaw and Bianca Kane got into a stretch Lincoln with Joel Kane. The rear window silently rolled down, and Joseph Shaw, his eyes red, gazed at her, looking like he wanted to say something but couldn’t.
Sophie Shaw turned her head away, averting her gaze. A pang of bitterness hit Joseph Shaw, and in the end, he said nothing, rolling the window back up.
The stretch Lincoln quickly drove away.
Vianne Kane was bundled up tightly, keeping a very low profile throughout the wedding. Now, she linked arms with Damian Morgan and followed him into another car.
The Kanes had all left, one after another.
Sophie Shaw’s expression was calm. After making sure Anne had gotten into a car behind them with Jaden, she joined Alaric Blackwood in the wedding car, heading for the old Blackwood family residence.
On the way, she tugged on the wide sleeve of Alaric Blackwood’s groom’s suit. "Mr. Blackwood, can we cancel the shivaree?"
"Probably not."
’If we were at Maplewood Estate, I could cancel it. But the key is that we have to spend the first night at the family residence. With my parents there, we can’t skip the proper procedures. Otherwise, with how sharp Mandy Halloway and Quentin Blackwood are, they’d spot that something’s wrong in an instant.’
The discussion led nowhere, so Sophie Shaw tactfully dropped the subject and fell silent.
When they arrived at the family residence, the butler was at the door to greet them.
Unlike the casual approach of the Kane Family, who had only simply decorated the bride’s room and lacked any festive wedding atmosphere, the old Blackwood residence was decked out in lanterns and colored streamers. Large red lanterns hung high, and from the courtyard to the house, wedding-related items and decorations were everywhere.
Neighbors from the surrounding area came to share in the good fortune. Anyone who entered the house received wedding candy and a red envelope.
The moment Anne stepped inside, the butler stuffed a red envelope into her hand, and a grin immediately spread across her face.
She tucked the red envelope into her pocket, the delight in her eyes impossible to hide, her expression as sly as a fox.
As luck would have it, Evan Ford caught a perfect glimpse of her expression. He recalled the blood-curdling shriek from the men’s restroom and the image of Anne stuffing a handful of cash into her bag. He now had a preliminary assessment of this bridesmaid: her eyes lit up at the sight of money.
He moved farther away, finding a quiet spot to light a cigarette.
"Gimme one."
Alaric Blackwood found him and squeezed into the corner beside him.
He handed over a cigarette and a lighter, casually remarking, "Your sister really didn’t come back."
"If she said she wasn’t coming, she wasn’t coming."
"Jaden told me about the video."
"Don’t try to plead his case."
"Please. Why would I plead his case? It’s none of my damn business."
Evan Ford was the most detached, indifferent, and desireless of the three of them. His world revolved around work. His life was so dull that besides inheriting the family business and occasionally having some fun with friends, he had absolutely no interest in romance or marriage.
Alaric Blackwood had once suspected he might be into men.
"I’m leaving in a bit. I won’t stick around for the shivaree tonight."
Alaric Blackwood took a deep drag from his cigarette. "My eternal gratitude for not causing trouble."
"Jaden loves a lively scene. He’ll definitely join those rich kids to stir things up."
"Let him."
Alaric Blackwood rubbed his throbbing temples. Remembering last night, he pulled out his phone and dialed his assistant, Preston Chase. "Go to Night Feast, meet the owner, and get a copy of last night’s surveillance footage from both Booth A in the first-floor bar and the parking lot."
Evan Ford raised a questioning eyebrow. After Alaric hung up, he asked, "What do you need surveillance footage for?"
"The drinks last night weren’t clean. And there was something off about the designated driver, too."
Before Evan Ford could say more, Alaric Blackwood clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Since you’re leaving early, I have a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
"My car is still over a hundred kilometers away. All four tires have been slashed. I need you to make the trip." ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
"Not going."
Alaric Blackwood shot him a cold glare. Evan Ford’s gaze was even colder. "You want to order me around? Call me ’big brother’ first."
"You’re two months younger than me."
"So what? You married my cousin. Even if I’m younger, I’m still your big brother now."
"Get lost."
"Then I’m lost."
Evan Ford flicked the cigarette from between his fingers and walked away with a casual air.
Alaric Blackwood had no choice but to contact his other assistant, telling Lydia Wynn to make the trip, change his car’s tires, and drive it back to Maplewood Estate.
Inside, Mandy Halloway, who had finished attending to the guests, was thrilled. The moment she had a free second, she immediately pulled Sophie Shaw upstairs and took her to Alaric Blackwood’s room.
The bedding was a festive four-piece set embroidered with a dragon and phoenix. On the floor were two pairs of red slippers. All of Alaric Blackwood’s personal items had been duplicated, and everything was red. Even the rinsing cups and towels in the bathroom were decorated with the Double Happiness symbol.
Sophie Shaw glanced around the room. It was huge, several times larger than her own. The walk-in closet didn’t just hold Alaric Blackwood’s clothes; Mandy Halloway had also thoughtfully prepared a few changes of clothes for her, making it convenient for her and Alaric to come back for short stays anytime.
"Let me show you Alaric’s childhood photo albums."
Because the wedding had been arranged in a hurry, the official wedding photos would have to be taken later.
Sophie Shaw didn’t mind. Either way was fine with her.
Mandy Halloway took a thick photo album from a drawer in the bookcase, brought it over to Sophie Shaw, and had her sit down on the edge of the bed to look through it page by page.
She saw Alaric Blackwood’s 100-day-old portrait. The little chubby baby was smiling happily, a small, round red dot painted between his eyebrows. He was lying on a red plush blanket, plump and chubby, wearing a festive little dudou that left his back and two round buttocks exposed.
She couldn’t help but let out a PFFT of laughter.
"Sorry."
She felt she’d been a bit improper, but Mandy Halloway didn’t think anything of it and laughed along with her. "Alaric was a little butterball when he was a baby."
Still smiling, Mandy Halloway flipped through the photos, then pointed to a picture of Alaric Blackwood with a little girl. "Look, this is a photo of you two when you were children."
Sophie Shaw stared at the little girl in the photo and realized it was indeed her, looking to be about three years old, wearing a white princess dress. And Alaric Blackwood, in a sharp and handsome little black suit with a red bow tie, was holding her small hand. He looked to be about six?
She remembered Alaric Blackwood saying that she used to follow him around all the time when they were little, calling him ’Alaric’...
"I don’t even remember taking this picture."
Mandy Halloway’s expression was gentle. She softly took her hand and said, "You were so little then. It’s normal not to remember."
"Are there any other photos?"
"You and Alaric only ever took this one. Although I really wanted to take more for keepsakes, but..."
Mandy Halloway had more to say, but on second thought, today was a joyous occasion. It was best not to bring up unhappy things and ruin the atmosphere.
She changed the subject, flipping to the photos further back to show Sophie Shaw. "This is Alaric in elementary school, middle school, high school..."
They were about halfway through the album when a tall, imposing figure appeared in the doorway.
Without a word, Alaric Blackwood strode forward, snatched the album away, glanced at the photo they were looking at, and snapped the book shut with a THWACK. fгeewebnovёl.com
"Mom, you need to ask my permission before looking at something this personal."
