The door swung open, and they all rushed inside with excitement. Warren walked slowly towards Penelope, his eyes filled with admiration and happiness.
“Baby, I love you,” he said as he reached out and held Penelope’s hand tightly.
Their gazes met, and Penelope stood up, but Daisy coughed beside them.
“They hid my shoe, and I can’t walk,” Penelope explained helplessly.
Grace raised her hands and said, “It wasn’t me. It’s somewhere in this room. You’ll have to find it.”
Phillip and Andy carefully searched the room like detectives on a mission.
Warren stayed put, squatting in front of Penelope. He lifted her dress slightly, and she instinctively leaned backward. He didn’t seem to notice and casually asked, “Did you have breakfast?”
“Yes.”
“We still have the ceremony to go. I’ll ask Mrs. Brown to prepare something light for you.”
With his strong arms, Warren lifted Penelope into the air, and her missing shoe magically appeared beneath her dress.
“I only lifted your dress. Why are you so nervous?” he teased with a smile.
Penelope hugged him and smiled, saying, “I dropped some hints on purpose, or you’d be stuck doing push-ups again.”
“Really?” He chuckled but didn’t quite believe her. She rolled her eyes, impressed with his powers of observation.
He leaned in for a kiss, but the veil got in the way. “This is too troublesome,” he complained.
Penelope playfully blocked him. “Now is not the right time. Please wait for the appropriate moment.”
He laughed and walked out of the house with her, moving with a sense of boundless energy.
Penelope happily leaned on Warren’s shoulder. However, as soon as they reached the hotel, they were separated.
Penelope entered the lounge, and upon opening the door, she heard crying.
“Mom…” Chris was sitting on the sofa, crying loudly, surrounded by many toys sent to comfort him.
“Young master, your mother will be here soon,” the maid reassured him.
But he had just turned one year old today and didn’t understand. He continued crying relentlessly, seemingly never-ending. People in the lounge were nearly driven to madness by his non-stop wailing.
The door opened, and Penelope entered. Grandma Duncan stood up and said, “Your mom is here.”
The old lady had a headache from her grandson’s crying, and now she even wished he could go back into his mother’s womb.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” Penelope lifted her veil and quickly approached.
Chris tossed his toys aside and rushed to her, crying, “Mom!”
“Hey there, little man,” Penelope cooed.
Everyone in the room felt relieved. They could finally take a break.
Daisy worried that Chris might wrinkle Penelope’s dress, so she stepped forward and said, “Baby, let Aunt give you a hug. Your mother needs to keep her dress clean.”
But Chris wasn’t satisfied. He squirmed in Daisy’s arms, stretching his little arms toward Penelope and gazing at her with big, serious eyes.
Penelope kissed his face and smiled, saying, “Mom will take you for dinner later, okay? For now, let aunt hold you, sweetie.”
Chris pouted as if he’d been greatly wronged, and tears streamed down his cheeks.
Penelope sighed and said, “Alright, come on then. Your dad has already seen it, so it doesn’t matter if you get it a bit dirty.”
She reached out and took Chris into her arms. Chris lowered his head and nestled against her shoulder.
“Mom…” he said softly.
“Mom is here. Mom loves you,” Penelope reassured him, gently patting his back.
Penelope noticed that Chris was dressed in a suit, looking incredibly adorable. “Did Grandma help you put this on? You look really handsome.”
The elderly Mrs. Duncan smiled and shook her head. “He’s been searching for you all morning.”
Penelope smiled awkwardly and apologized to the old lady for Chris’s fussiness.
“Everything is ready. The bride should be ready to come out,” a voice outside announced.
Daisy helped Penelope lower her veil to cover her face. Penelope tried to persuade Chris. “How about staying with Grandma for a little while? Mom will hold you later, okay?”
“No,” he replied, wrinkling his eyebrows, looking remarkably like his father.
Penelope turned to the old lady and asked, “What should I do?”
The etiquette-conscious old Mrs. Duncan finally gave in at this moment. She waved her hand and said, “You can take him out with you.”
Penelope put Chris down on the ground and held his hand. She asked, “Can you walk on your own? Mom will hold your hand.”
“Okay.” His response was firm and definitive. Penelope breathed a sigh of relief and walked out with Chris.
Asher was waiting at the entrance, observing Penelope’s exit with Chris. He remarked, “Chris is like sticky candy. He’ll follow you anywhere you go.”
Penelope shrugged helplessly and commented, “I’m probably the first bride in history to walk down the aisle hand in hand with her son.”
Asher reached out and held her other hand, smiling as he said, “It doesn’t matter. After all, the one waiting for you is his father. He won’t mind.”
Penelope smiled and gave him a thumbs-up. Asher then became serious and prepared to begin. The door slowly opened, and all the guests inside stood up, looking at the couple with blessings.
At the far end stood a tall, strong man. He watched his bride with a sense of purpose, waiting for her to arrive.
Chris had sharp eyesight. He reached out and exclaimed, “Dad!”
Chris looked up at Penelope, pinching her hand to remind her to take him to his dad.
Penelope’s heart swelled with happiness as she gazed down at her eager and delighted son. She said, “Yes, that’s your dad. He’s waiting for us.”
“Let’s go,” Chris said with a smile, revealing a dimple in the corner of his mouth, looking cute and naughty.
****
In the hall of X University, everyone was rehearsing a play. Penelope, dressed like a queen in a long black robe with red trim and matching deep red lipstick, held a scepter and commanded the room. She recited, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all.”
A boy hidden behind a large oval mirror replied, “You are the fairest woman in the land, my majesty.”
A girl seated at the edge of the stage began reading the narration: “When she heard the sweet words from the magic mirror, the wicked queen was pleased.”