Chapter 19 The Wedding


    In the past three days, several well-to-do families in Emerdale received anonymous wedding


    invitations.


    Surprisingly, the Fords were also invited.


    When they received theirs, everyone was shocked.


    "Whose wedding is this? Why doesn''t it have a name?" Jonathan flipped the invitation over and again.


    Reba stared at the invitation card with sparkling eyes and said, "I don''t know whose wedding this is,


    but it''s going to be held in Oceania, the most luxurious cruise restaurant in Emerdale. A table there


    costs around 15,000 dors. That couple must be some low-key billionaires if they''re holding their


    wedding in that venue!"


    William snorted and said, "Humph. You''re still as short-sighted as ever. It may be true that this pair of


    newlyweds are no ordinary people, but why did they specifically invite us? Our family has been on the


    downturn until just recently."


    What William said burst some bubbles. They started wondering as well, "You''re right. The upper-ss


    families in Emerdale would naturally be invited, but why did we receive one as well?"


    An idea suddenly popped into Caroline''s head. She took out the newspaper from three days ago and


    asked, "Have you heard that a person spent 100 million on a ring called the ''Tears of Venus'' three days


    ago?"


    Everyone nodded, "Of course. News of him squandering 100 million on that fancy bauble made the


    rounds all over the city."


    Caroline made a guess. "I think that the man who''s getting married is the same one who bought that


    ring. As for the reason why he invited us, could it be that there is some connection between him and


    our family?"


    The other members paused for a while, digesting that piece of information. Anticipation started to


    ferment.


    Samuel eximed excitedly, "If that''s the case, then there is still hope for us to rise again! If we get


    familiar with these people, then along with our As deal, we''ll be able to really turn things around."


    William also nodded and said, "If what Caroline said turns out to be the case."


    "If so, are we going to the wedding?" one asked.


    William said with firm eyes, "Of course! Not only that, we have to foster a good rtionship with this


    new couple! Get ready. Let''s head to Oceania straight away."


    Everyone departed one after another. Caroline and Reba also turned to get ready upstairs for the


    festivities.


    William suddenly called out to them. "You two, wait a moment. Have you apologized to Leo yet?"


    "..."


    The smiles on their faces froze instantly.


    "We wanted to apologize but he didn''t answer any of our calls..." Caroline said reluctantly.


    William''s face also darkened. "It seems that he really is upset with us. Make sure you to apologize to


    him the next time you see him."


    "Okay..."


    The Fords had received three invitation cards, so Reba and Caroline would be going with him.


    That evening, the road to Emerdale Pier was filled with luxurious cars. This grand wedding and the


    earlier extravagant auction beforehand had drawn the attention of the city''s rich and powerful.


    At the same time, Leo was standing before a huge, luxurious cruise ship at Emerdale Pier.


    He looked at the time, then took out his phone and dialed a number.


    "Hello?" As usual, Lydia''s voice was cool.


    "Lydia, what are you doing now?" Leo asked in a soft voice.


    "I just picked up Emilia from school," Lydia answered after a brief pause.


    "Great. Don''t go home just yet. Can youe to Oceania Restaurant now instead?"


    "Why that ce?" Lydia asked in a tone of confusion.


    All of a sudden, a thought urred to Lydia. "Leo… If you want to ask me out, we don''t have to go


    there. A meal at Oceania costs an arm and a leg, you know?"


    "Don''t worry, about it, okay? Just go there first."


    After a moment of thought, Lydia relented with a sigh. "Alright, I''ll be there in 20 minutes."


    A smile spread across Leo''s face as he hung up the phone.


    "Leo, what are you doing here?" Suddenly, a cry rang out from behind.


    Leo turned around and saw William, Reba, and Caroline getting out of a car and walking over.


    The person who spoke just now was Caroline.


    William looked very happy, and especially excited to see Leo. He asked warmly, "Leo, what are you


    doing here?"


    Something suddenly urred to William and he turned around with a long face and shouted, "Why


    aren''t you apologizing?"


    Caroline scowled. "Sorry," she murmured, the words flowing out of her mouth as easily as burning acid.


    Reba smiled. "Leo, pleasee home. I did everything for the sake of our family. Now that our


    financial troubles are finally getting sorted out, we''re willing to wee you back into the fold."


    Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Is that so?" Leo said nomittally.


    "..."


    Reba and Caroline nearly lost it right there. What the hell was with that vague response? Was he


    going to y ball or not?


    Leo turned to William. "Dad, I''ll focus on building my own career now, but I''lle visit you as often as


    I can."


    The underlying meaning of his statement was clear: "I''m not returning to the family fold."


    Despite his disappointment, William patted Leo on the shoulder and said, "Where there''s a will, there''s


    a way. Do what you need to do. Just don''t forget to pay me a visit every now and then."


    "Of course," said Leo.


    "Who cares if youe home or not!" Caroline snapped.


    Reba quickly pulled her daughter aside and showed a pristine wedding invitation to Leo. "See?


    We''re here to attend a wedding in Oceania. How about you?"


    "I''m just waiting for someone here," he said with a smile.


    Caroline gave a superior smile and sneered. "Waiting for someone at Oceania? Do you know what kind


    of ce this is? Not just anyone can dine here. The reservation list is a week-long affair. And do you


    know how much it cost to have a meal here? At least 5,000 dors."


    Obviously, she saw Leo as a clueless country bumpkin who was trying every means to scam someone


    out of a meal here.


    "Do you know who the bride and groom today are?" Leo asked suddenly.


    This question instantly stunned Caroline and her mother, as they indeed did not know any of them.


    "No matter what, it''s not a ce for people like you. You don''t want toe back, right? Then wait for


    pigs to fly. Mom, don''t mind him. Let''s go." After that, Caroline got on the Emerdale Odyssey with


    Reba, with her head in the air.


    Leo stood there and kept waiting.


    10 minutester, a Mercedes pulled up at the pier.


    A beautiful woman in a ck business suit carried a cute little girl out of the car.


    "Dad!" The little girl scampered toward Leo as soon as she saw him.


    "Slow down, Emilia," Lydia reminded her from behind. "You don''t want to fall and hurt yourself."


    The golden setting sun shone on her perfect face. She looked cold, elegant and full of maternal


    brilliance.


    Leo''s heart melted at the sight of the two of them.


    "Dad, hug me." Emilia opened her arms.


    Leo held up her daughter at once while Lydia walked over. "What are we doing here at Oceania?" she


    asked.


    Leo smiled and said, "It''s a surprise."


    Lydia''s brow rose slightly. "A surprise? What kind of trouble did you get yourself into this time?"


    Leo shook his head and said to Lydia while staring at her cold eyes, "I just want a chance to prove that


    I love you very much."


    "..."


    Lydia was still unused to being stared at by a man in such close proximity, so she shoved him away.


    "Stop it. We''re in public."


    At this moment, a bespectacled man who looked like Oceania''s manager came up to Lydia. "Are you


    Miss Lydia Henderson?"


    Lydia turned around. "Yes, I am. Who are you?"


    The man was amazed by this beautiful woman but became humbler. "I''m Victor Sharp, manager of


    Oceania. At your service."


    Surprise shed in Lydia''s eyes. "Nice to meet you, Victor. What can I do for you?"


    "Pleasee with me, Miss Henderson," Victor said in lieu of an exnation.


    He led Lydia and Emilia to the VIP ess.


    Lydia gave Leo a questioning look.


    Leo smiled at her reassuringly and gestured for her to go ahead. Lydia took Emilia into her arms and


    headed towards Oceania.


    Inside the restaurant, a female staff member led Lydia into a luxury suite.


    She was immediately taken aback when she walked through the door.


    The room was adorned with various wedding dresses and beautiful jewelry.


    Each of them was custom-made and limited-edition. It was obvious that they were the works of famous


    designers.


    The three makeup artists and stylists rose to their feet the moment they saw Lydia. "Shall we begin,


    Miss Henderson?"


    It was a long time before Lydia regained her senses, and when she did, her hands flew to her mouth.


    She remembered the promise Leo made to her earlier: "I will give you a wedding that is five yearste."


    Meanwhile, Victor bowed slightly to Leo. "Everything is ready now, Mr. Cohen."


    Leo nodded. "Thank you," he said, a smile forming on his lips as he looked towards the huge cruise


    ship.


    "Five years ago, you didn''t abandon me when I waspletely down," he thought. "And now, I''m going


    to give you a grand wedding, and the promise of a lifetime of peace."