Chapter 33

Ava’s POV

A nagging feeling had been clawing at the back of my mind since the night of the ball. Something felt off—like there was a critical task I needed to complete, something I couldn’t quite place my finger on, and it was slowly driving me insane.

And the worst part? I remembered every single detail from that night. My explosion at the ball still gave me a twisted sense of satisfaction, but then came the parts I’d rather forget. The way I had practically melted into his arms, saying something ridiculous about liking his eyes. Seriously, what was that? What was I thinking?

“Lilian, are you even listening to me?” Isabella’s sharp voice cut through my thoughts like a blade.

“No,” I replied, a little too bluntly.

Isabella glared, clearly unimpressed. “Seriously, you have to take this more seriously. We have a week and three days to plan a wedding that’s going to be the talk of the country for months. At this rate, it’s too much for us. Maybe we should hire an event planner.”

I blinked at her. “I thought you already hired one? And she was on her way?”

Isabella threw her hands up, exasperated. “Well, with this attitude, we’re going to need five planners to get it all done!” I couldn’t help but laugh. “You don’t have to be so dramatic, Bels. Alright, I’m sorry. What were you saying?”

“I was saying that with time ticking down, we need to speed things up. You need to decide on specifics: colors, themes—everything. So when the planner gets here, we won’t waste time.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Now you’re the one who hasn’t been listening. I’ve said it over and over—I want a small, simple wedding. Besides, it’s only going to be you attending from my side.” I lowered my voice, not really in the mood to rehash this part. “And don’t forget, this is all based on a contract.”

Isabella rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. “Which is why you should go all out, Lilian! For one, you’re marrying the Alpha King, and for two—well, you’re marrying the Alpha King.”

I rolled my eyes right back at her. “There’s really no getting through to you, is there?” I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Look, I just want to focus on my new job and doing what I actually love. All of this will be over in a year anyway, so why make a fuss?”

Without warning, Isabella grabbed my face, pulling me so close that our noses almost touched. “Lilian, I love you, but this is not your decision to make. You’re having a big wedding, and that’s final. Now, what color do you want? She’s going to be here any minute, and time is running out.”

Her last words lingered in the air, echoing ominously in my head. Time is running out. Why did that phrase stick with me?

Before I could dwell on it any further, there was a knock at the door.

“That must be the event planner,” Isabella said, standing up and smoothing down her dress. She was practically vibrating with excitement. “Finally!”

A woman bustled in, carrying armfuls of fabric swatches, papers, and a tablet balanced precariously on top. She looked… (The sentence cuts off here in the original)

(The following is a reconstruction of the unclear section based on context):

marveled at us, her face lighting up with a professional smile.

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Chapter 33

“Hello, I’m so sorry I’m late,” the planner said, her breath slightly short. “Traffic was terrible, but I’m here now, and we’re going to get everything sorted.”

Isabella waved her off with a gracious smile. “Oh, don’t worry about it. We’ve still got plenty of time.” She turned to me with a pointed look. “Though we do need to speed things along, right, Lilian?”

I groaned inwardly, knowing I was about to get roped into a full-blown wedding planning session whether I wanted it or not.

The planner set her things down and pulled out a massive binder. “Alright, let’s get started! First things first, do you have a theme in mind? Something classic, romantic, modern?”

Before I could answer, Isabella jumped in, practically buzzing with excitement. “I was thinking something elegant. Maybe a royal theme! It fits perfectly considering Lilian is marrying the Alpha King. Gold accents, chandeliers, maybe a grand ballroom setting?”

I raised an eyebrow at her. “Bels, are you planning my wedding or yours?”

She shot me a look. “I’m just helping.”

The planner flipped through her binder, pulling out pictures of extravagant, over-the-top weddings. I couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed. This was the complete opposite of what I wanted.

“I really just want something small,” I said, but my voice was drowned out by Isabella’s enthusiastic chatter.

“Ooh, what about floral arrangements? Lilian, you love roses, don’t you? We could do white and gold roses with greenery all around the venue. It’ll be stunning!”

“Actually, I—”

“And for the dress,” Isabella continued, “we need something timeless. A gown that screams power but is still delicate enough to show her beauty.”

The planner nodded, scribbling down notes as if this were already decided. “I have a few designs in mind that would be perfect for that. Let me just pull them up…”

I sat back, realizing this was going to happen whether I liked it or not. The room buzzed with conversation, both Isabella and the planner talking over each other, throwing out ideas: colors, decorations, venues, floral arrangements…

Despite myself, I found my interest piqued as the planner showed me a few dress options. I wasn’t the kind of girl who dreamed about her wedding day, but the designs were undeniably beautiful. My parents hadn’t granted me permission to dream or fantasize, plus I’d already had one wedding, but as much as I hated to admit it, a part of me wanted to look good, to feel powerful, even if this whole thing was a contractual mess.

“What about this one?” the planner asked, showing me a sleek, off-the-shoulder gown with intricate beading and lace. “It’s modern, but still has that royal feel.”

Isabella’s eyes lit up. “Yes! That’s the one!”

I tilted my head, considering it. It wasn’t terrible. In fact, it was nice. I could see myself in it. “It’s… good,” I admitted.

Isabella grinned like she’d just won the lottery. “See? I knew you’d come around. You have to trust me on this, Lilian. We’re going to make this the event of the century.”

I sighed, knowing there was no point in fighting it anymore. “Fine, but can we please keep the guest list small?”

Isabella gave me a sympathetic look. “Maybe, but you know how these things go. Everyone will want to be there. It’s not every day the Alpha King gets married.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not every day that I get married under these circumstances,” I muttered under my breath, but…

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Chapter 34

Isabella either didn’t hear me or chose to ignore it. The planner continued asking questions, moving on to the finer details. Did I want a live band or a DJ? Should the ceremony be indoors or outdoors? What about the cake?

As the discussion wore on, I found myself getting more and more pulled into it despite my earlier reluctance. Isabella’s enthusiasm was contagious, and the planner was surprisingly good at her job, offering ideas I hadn’t even considered.

By the end of the session, we had a rough plan in place: a grand venue, gold and white décor, a mix of modern and classic elements. I still wasn’t entirely sold on the whole “big wedding” idea, but at least it wouldn’t be a complete disaster.

The planner gathered her things, smiling brightly. “I think we’ve made some great progress today. I’ll send over a more detailed proposal, and we can tweak anything you’re not happy with.”

I nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and apprehension. This was really happening. In just over a week, I’d be standing in front of an audience, marrying the Alpha King, Grayson Blackwood. A man I didn’t love. A man I barely knew. A man who stirred something in me that I didn’t understand or want to.

As the planner left, Isabella turned to me, her face glowing with excitement, though she toned it down, sensing my mood. “Are you mad at me?”

I shook my head, though a part of me wanted to be frustrated with her. I just couldn’t. “No, why would I be?”

“Because I basically strong-armed you into having a big wedding?” She bit her lip, her eyes searching mine for a hint of anger or resentment.

I sighed, letting the tension in my shoulders drop. “I’m not mad at you, Bels. If I hadn’t known you for so long, maybe I would have been. But I know you’re just trying to look out for me. And if I’m honest…” I hesitated, feeling the vulnerability slip through my words. “I didn’t want a big wedding because I don’t let myself want things. I’ve been too scared to want anything more for so long. But maybe… maybe I do want that fairytale wedding. The kind written about in books, you know? And it took this—your stubbornness—to make me realize it.”

Her face broke into a wide grin. “It’s going to be perfect, Lilian. You’ll see.”

I couldn’t help but smile back, feeling a small flutter of excitement, even if I wouldn’t admit it aloud. But just as I started to respond, my phone buzzed on the table beside me, the sharp sound of the notification breaking the moment.

Instinctively, I reached for it, my smile fading as soon as I saw the message flash across the screen. My heart stopped.

“What is it?” Isabella’s voice was distant, like a muffled echo, as I read and reread the words on the screen.

“It’s Liam,” I whispered, a strange numbness spreading through me. “There was an accident.”

“What do you mean an accident? What happened?”

“The car…” My throat felt tight, my chest heavier with each word. “The car Grayson took out today… it was found crashed…”

09:00 Fri, Dec 13 TG Chapter 34