Chapter 242 - One Month
On the same day, the wedding planner secured locations to visit after hearing about the couple's plans for a grand wedding in a castle.
Some spots were fully booked for touring, but the mere mention of the couple's name cleared out appointments in the blink of an eye.
The couple toured the outskirts of Ritan, but none pleased the couple, so they stretched far and beyond the country. The entire journey took three days of traveling across cities and towns until soon, they found the perfect location.
Above a scenic hill that overlooked a meadow was a mansion so enormous and tall, it appeared like a castle from afar. This was a hidden gem and the owners were even looking to sell off the piece of land, for they were deep in debt. Lina fell for the spectacular architecture, but stayed for the mesmerizing sunset.
"Oh my…"
In the backyard there was a stone wall whose height stopped right at her stomach.
Lina leaned against the stone barrier, breathless by the beauty of the sky. The sun was large in the distance, setting over trees from afar, its rays blinding. This was all she wanted. To exchange vows in such a spot would make her one of the happiest women in Ritan.
"This is it," Lina said to Kaden in a soft voice. "I think I've fallen in love."
"With the view?"
"Yes."
"You'll fall harder for the view right next to you," Kaden grumbled, resting an arm on her lower back.
Kaden always liked to keep a hand on her. A bad habit of his, perhaps. It was a constant reminder to him that she was real and very much alive. He glanced at her neck, long and lean. Then, he drifted his attention to her face.
Lina's side profile was beautiful. She was the kind of woman unaware of her charms. Even when her fingers skimmed the tables in the mansion or when her eyes lifted to a lovely painting, everyone would stop and look.
They'd drop their work and do nothing, but admire her from afar. There was not a single person who'd deny her of her beauty. She had delicate features of well-chosen genes from handsome parents on both sides of her family. But what shone the most was her heart of gold that blinded many but irked Kaden. She cared for the things that confused him.
Donating untouched cake to charity, using sustainable materials, and never touching genuine leather, this woman always managed to astonish him. He wouldn't be surprised if one day she decided to become vegan. But he knew she loved meat way too much to commit.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Lina asked him, gesturing to the sunset. "Look at the lavender skies blending with the pink clouds. I wish I had my paintbrushes with me."
"You paint scenery as well?" Kaden asked.
"Yes," Lina instantly said. "Oh, oh, quickly, Kaden. Look! I think I see white birds in the distance. This view is breathtaking."
"I'm looking." Kaden's eyes were on her.
Everyone was watching her. The fading sunset was a sight to behold, but only because she was there. He hated how unaware of her beauty she was. No matter his compliments, no matter his words, she'd only smile at the mention of her appearance. It wasn't a proud one either. Her smiles reflected embarrassment and her saddened expression made it seem like Lina would never believe it even if she was hypnotized.
Lina's mother did her damage. Evelyn's words cut deeper than the eye could see. Growing up, all her life being shamed by the woman who gave birth to her, the insults would follow Lina for the rest of her life. The mirror would show one thing and Lina would see something else entirely.
"Isn't it lovely?" Lina insisted.
Kaden gazed at her. "It is."
"I wish to paint it."
"And so does every painter," Kaden stated. No amount of fine brush strokes could capture her beauty perfectly. No amount of color mixing or careful observation by the painter could reflect the strands of her beautiful, silky hair.
"Boss," Sebastian quickly said.
Kaden turned his head. He shot everyone a deathly glare. There were too many people watching her. And he'd be damned if someone memorized her features better than he did.
When Lina shifted to face the noise, she found it strange. Everyone was either looking at the floor or the side, but not at the view. What could be so interesting about the smooth stone floor or the forest a mile away?
"The transaction is completed. The Apicem Solis Mansion now belongs to you," Sebastian responded with a bright smile.
"Apicem Solis, it's Latin," Lina realized. "Peak of the Sun. What a befitting name."
"That's my wife," Kaden praised. "The smartest woman I know."
Sebastian would certainly agree. He would've complained about this investment with no return, but seeing the low price and its size in comparison to the market, he decided there was no harm done. The Boss must've thought the same. The couple who owned this had long died, leaving the estate abandoned to an heir that was deep in debt.
If it wasn't for the wedding venue tour, no one would've known about this spectacular property at such a low price. Sebastian initially thought the wedding tour was a waste of time. Lina could handle it on her own. The Boss had way too much work to be touring the country just to find a venue for a one-day event.
"With the venue purchased as your property," the wedding planner carefully said. "The one-day wedding can be extended to perhaps two or three—"
"Who ever said about three?" Kaden deadpanned. "This will be a one-month celebration."
"What?!"
"No!"
Sebastian and Lina glanced at each other, their protests coming out simultaneously. Sebastian spoke the quickest and Lina a millisecond after him. For once, they agreed on something.
"One month is too extravagant and indulgent," Lina said.
Even the wedding planner looked like she witnessed a ghost. Such a request had never befallen her shoulders. She was a math expert and when he mentioned a month, she could only picture the profits!
"One week," Lina managed to say. "One week of celebration."
"Two."
"One."
"Two and a half."
"One," Lina deadpanned.
Kaden let out a sigh. He was hoping to see her in as many white gowns as possible, including red ones for it was tradition. He still remembered every detail of the stunning ruby dress she had worn in her first life.? He didn't know why she wanted to cut their celebration short, but knew she had more rationality than him sometimes.
"One it is," Kaden decided with a glint of humor in his eyes.
Everyone but him seemed stressed by this news. Did it make sense the groom was the happiest with the long celebration?
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