As darkness fell, Jareth hosted a cozy andvish banquet within the castle.


    His wife had a fondness for teddy bears, so every nook and cranny of the castle, including each dining table, was adorned with adorable stuffed bears —


    a brown one dressed in a ck tuxedo, symbolizing Jareth, and a light pink one in a pristine white wedding gown, nestled beside the brown bear, representing Mari.


    Since his wife had dietary restrictions that prevented her from eating overly greasy foods, the feast predominantly featured dishes that suited her pte. Yet, every dish was made from exquisite ingredients flown in especially for the asion, light but guaranteed to satisfy everyone;


    Since she couldn''t drink alcohol, there wasn''t a single ss of wine on the tables tonight, all were reced with various juices and tea beverages.


    When it came time for the newlyweds to toast, Jareth prepared a homemade bubble tea for Mari. She hadn''t indulged like this in a long while due to a long hospital stay, downing threerge cups in one go, the sweetness making her beam with joy.


    During the entertainment segment, Jareth, with his arm around his wife''s waist, stood on stage to watch Thad, Arnold, Aaron Ashbourne, and Chasel sing a heartfelt rendition, much to the anticipation of everyone present.


    The melody that filled the room was "Nothing''s Gonna Change My Love For You" — a song they had secretly rehearsed early in the morning.


    This song was chosen by Lily for their wedding, as noted in her diary, wishing to sing for Lord Jareth and Mrs. Abernathy.


    Now, it was a wish fulfilled posthumously.


    But Jareth believed, with every fiber of his being, that Lily, in spirit, could see this moment and was blessing them from above.


    Evadne gazed deeply at her beloved, moved by the romantic serenade, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.


    "Evadne, didn''t you tell me Thaddeus couldn''t sing?"


    Camille teased, nudging a blissful Evadne, "He''s not half bad. At least he''s on pitch."


    "Though he acts all nonchnt and confident in front of me, he actually gets up an hour early every morning to practice this song."


    Evadne, supporting her cheek with her hand, couldn''t take her eyes off her man, "I know exactly when he gets up every day.


    He''s the kind that always scores a hundred but ims he barely studied, while in reality, he''s been burning the midnight oil."


    "Wow. I had people like that in my school, and I couldn''t stand them. So pretentious," Camille joked with a shake of her head.


    "Sister, he''s quite the character," Nydia couldn''t help but join in the teasing.


    Evadne, with a mock scowl, replied, "Don''t you dare talk about him. I''m very protective of him! Besides, what''s wrong with Thad putting in a little effort? Unlike some people, who don''t take things seriously, singing like they''re trying to climb Everest, missing the pitch more often than not."


    "Ah! Arnold might not be a gifted singer, but you''re being too harsh!"


    Camille, feigning offense, went to tickle Evadne, whoughed and squirmed away, "Look at you! I didn''t even say it was Arnold, yet you''re already taking it personally. Has your heart already married into their family? Haha."


    The two friends ended up in a yful scuffle, with Nydia watching andughing along.


    Suddenly, Nydia''s face turned pale, and she covered her mouth, quickly excusing herself from the banquet hall like a gust of wind.


    At that moment, Jason, the secretary, was busy attending to the guests and missed the situation unfolding with his wife.


    "What''s with Nydia?" Evadne, puzzled, watched her sister leave.


    "I''ve been helping Mari with the wedding preparations these past few days, and I''ve been with Nydia the entire time," Camille expressed her concern, "She''s been looking rather pale and hasn''t had much appetite. I''m not sure if she''s sick or just not adjusting well."


    "Really? I need to check on her!" Concerned for her sister, Evadne immediately excused herself from the table.


    Meanwhile―


    The happy couple on stage, watching their brothers sing with joy, shared a tender moment. Jareth, unable to contain himself, wrapped his arms around his petite wife, kissing her forehead, cheeks, and lips.


    A lifetime wouldn''t be enough to express his love.


    Suddenly, Mari''s clear, lucid eyes widened, and she gazed intently at the crowd below. Her eyes fluttered, and her lips trembled uncontrobly.


    Tears gathered in her eyes, shining like two pristine amber stones.


    "Honey, what''s wrong?" Jareth, seeing his wife in tears, panicked.


    "Lily."


    Mari''s voice was hoarse and stuttering, as if she had been thirsting for a long while.


    Even though her voice was faint, Jareth heard every word, crystal clear.


    "Mari! You... you''re talking?!"


    Jareth, overwhelmed with emotion, struggled to control his expression, "Mari! You really spoke?!"


    "Jareth."


    Mari lifted her hand, pointing towards a spot close to them on the ground, smiling through her tears, "I-I see Lily."


    Jareth followed his wife''s gaze.


    There was nothing there.


    No Lily, nothing at all, but he still smiled contentedly, as if a long-lost friend had traversed great distances to attend their wedding.


    "Yes, Lily''s back."


    Jareth whispered into her ear, "I can see her too. She''s smiling at us."


    Evadne, after asking several servants, found Nydia in the washroom at the end of the corridor, hunched over the sink, retching miserably.


    "Nydia!"


    Evadne stood behind her sister, looking at her pale, pitiful face, and the tears that welled up in her eyes. Suddenly, her eyes widened in shock, and she grabbed Nydia''s cold hand:


    "Nydia! Could it be?!"


    "Evadne." Nydia, trembling, her eyes reddened with tears.


    Finally, she couldn''t hold back any longer and broke down in front of Evadne.


    "I''m pregnant. I''m carrying Jason''s baby."


    Evadne gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock, tears almost breaking free! Emeric would be a granddad, Myra a grandma, and she and Thaddeus would be the cool aunt and uncle!


    Evadne wiped away the tears on Nydia''s cheeks and hugged her tightly, her voice trembling with joy:


    "When did this happen?"


    "I''m not sure. I''ve never been to the doctor to check."


    Nydia''s eyes were swollen from crying, her sobs making her look all the more pitiable, "Jason and I were always careful. But at the beginning of this month, we..."


    "You guys didn''t take precautions?"


    Evadne was a bit upset now, "Even though Jason loves you so much, he''d choose no one but you, you''re not married yet. He hasn''t even formally asked Emeric for your hand. To just go ahead, focusing on your own pleasure without considering your wellbeing, that''s really not cool!"


    "It''s not like that!"


    Nydia''s cheeks flushed a deeper shade, as if they were dripping with rose juice, "Jason did use protection. It''s just, that morning, after I sent him off to work and went back to tidy up the room, I found..."


    "What did you find?" Evadne''s curiosity was now burning fiercely, dying to know. Nydia closed her eyes, her voice barely a whisper, "The condom was broken."