"Do you think I don''t want to meet someone? I just haven''t found the right person," Gary said


    somewhat resignedly. He had long regarded Nicole as just a friend.


    "Why don''t we just try the dates our families set up?" Ryder suggested, calm and collected. He figured


    since finding someone on his own wasn''t working, maybe arranged dates could help. In their circles, it


    seemed like good matches were meant to be.


    "Arranged dates don''t sound great. You hardly know the person. Are we really okay with deciding to


    spend our lives together like that?" Preston wasn''t too keen on the idea.


    "Emery’s doing pretty well with it, you know," Ryder said confidently. "I trust our families. They wouldn''t


    set US up with someone terrible. They''ve probably made sure we''d be a good match."


    Gary thought it over. "You might be right. Our families aren''t just trying to make deals; they want US to


    be happy."


    As Gary and Ryder seemed more into the idea, Preston was still unsure." You guys are serious?" "Why


    not?" Gary asked, starting to see some potential in the idea.


    Ryder agreed, seeing the benefits too.


    Preston let out a sigh. "Just leave me out of it." If Ryder and Gary ended up liking the arranged dates,


    Preston knew he''d be next. He could almost hear his mother pushing him to get married.


    The friendsughed. "Then you better find someone," they joked.


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    Just then, Emma noticed them standing around. "Eliar, stop chatting there. Bring our guests in," she


    said.


    "Got it," Er replied, guiding everyone inside.


    They walked in, chatting andughing. Preston, trailing behind, noticed a girl sitting quietly by herself,


    looking at a blooming peony outside.


    Something about her calm and the way she smiled at the peony caught his eye.


    "Hey, what''s up?" Ell ar came back for Preston, curious why he had stopped.


    Preston looked away and said, "Alright, let''s head in."


    But as he walked, he couldn''t help but nce back at the girl. Her image stuck in his mind,


    unforgettable.


    As more guests arrived, everyone was happy and congratting each other. Benjamin and Maximillian


    were especially having a good time,ughing loudly.


    "Congrattions, Benjamin, Maximillian," Thomas came over to say hi, with Harvey and a girl who


    seemed a bit younger than him following close behind.


    This girl was new to many guests, sparking their curiosity. "Who is she?


    We''ve never seen her before."


    Some guests whispered, "That''s the daughter of Lendell''s Mayor. She''s young, but she''s very smart.


    She''s a top student at the Royal Creek Institute.


    "My daughter told me she fell for Harvey right away and said she''d only marry him." "My cousin''s


    daughter also studies at Royal Creek Institute. She mentioned the same story." "Now that they are here


    together, it seems her wish came true."


    Ladies whispered to each other, sharing rumors. No one knew for sure, but looking at Harvey and the


    girl, they thought they made a nice couple.


    While the downstairs buzzed with activity, the bridal suite upstairs was just as lively.


    "Trust me, this jewelry set is perfect for you." "No, choose this one. It''s much nicer."


    Lulu and June were busy helping Nicole pick out the best jewelry to wear.