Chapter 213: Chapter 211: How About I Offer Myself to You? (3)

The moment Zoe Ellsworth answered, Mrs. Ellsworth’s voice came through the phone. "I’m telling you, you brat! You didn’t come home all night! Are you trying to kill me with anger? What if Herman finds out? What then? Even if you didn’t do anything out of line, it still looks bad! We have to go to the bridal shop now, so where on earth are you?! Do you want me to drop dead right in front of you? Is that what would make you happy?"

"Mom, don’t get so worked up," Zoe Ellsworth said. "I was with Herman last night."

She glanced shyly at the man beside her.

The other end of the line went silent for a moment. "Why didn’t you say so sooner? You nearly gave your mother a heart attack! Where are you? I’ll send someone to pick you up and take you straight to the bridal shop."

"Okay." Zoe Ellsworth gave her the address and hung up.

"Let’s get up. We’re going to Angel Bride Photography. It’s a bridal shop under Young Master Grant’s name. Today’s the day you become a bride, the day I marry you. You have to be absolutely beautiful, so I can take you home as my wife."

Zoe Ellsworth sat up. "I thought I was never going to get married. My mom is always nagging me about my bad temper, saying I have no talents and practically no good qualities. But hey, I’m still getting married before my brother, right?"

Herman Hawthorne laughed. "That old virgin brother of yours probably won’t get married for another two years."

Zoe Ellsworth disagreed. "My brother isn’t a virgin. He and Chloe have been living together for a while now. I saw it with my own eyes."

Herman Hawthorne burst out laughing. "Alright, so your brother is a sneaky one."

They had just finished getting ready when they went downstairs. The car to pick them up had already arrived.

Chloe Marshall had come with the driver. Zoe Ellsworth got into the car, and Herman Hawthorne followed behind, driving Zoe’s car.

"Zoe, you two last night..." Chloe Marshall tapped her two thumbs together. "Did you... you know?"

Zoe Ellsworth nodded. "Mhm."

Chloe Marshall was happy for her. "That’s great. Zoe, I think Young Master Hawthorne is a really dependable guy. You’ll be very happy married to him."

Zoe Ellsworth nodded. "Even if he’s not dependable, I won’t be at a disadvantage. My mother-in-law and my mom have been best friends for years, so of course she’ll treat me well. I can’t be like Jean and have such bad taste in men."

Chloe Marshall was at a loss for words, not knowing what to say next.

The car stopped at the bridal shop. The manager came out to greet them personally, brought out the pre-selected wedding dress, and arranged for the makeup artist to start first.

Countless members of the media were scrambling for a spot outside the seven-star hotel and the church.

This was the one and only time Herman Hawthorne would be opening his entire wedding to the media.

He wore a white suit, his face radiant and full of energy, glowing with happiness.

He drove his own Rolls-Royce to pick up the bride, part of a motorcade of ninety-nine luxury cars.

The Ellsworth Family was marrying off their daughter, and the Hawthorne Family was welcoming a bride. It was an excellent match, a wonderful thing for both families.

With her makeup done and her wedding dress on, Zoe Ellsworth returned to the Ellsworth family home at eight o’clock to wait for Herman Hawthorne to pick her up.

Nora Ainsworth, Ethan Ellsworth, Quentin Grant, Jean Grant, and even Catherine Callahan, who came with Mrs. Grant, were all there.

Famous A-list celebrities and influential business tycoons were also in attendance.

Amidst the sound of firecrackers, the bridal motorcade arrived at the gates of the Ellsworth Residence at ten-thirty.

The car door opened, and Herman Hawthorne stepped out, waving to the media.

He then stepped into the Ellsworth home.

A little while later, escorted by her parents, Zoe Ellsworth emerged, led by the hand by Herman Hawthorne. She wore a white veil and a pristine white wedding gown.

She had a constant smile on her face, unconcerned by the media’s cameras.

After getting into the car, everyone headed for the church.

Only after all the guests had arrived did Zoe Ellsworth get out of the car, accompanied by her bridesmaid, Nora Ainsworth.

The best man was, naturally, Quentin Grant.

To be honest, Lord Grant did not enjoy being a best man, but he was the only one for the job. Ethan Ellsworth was the bride’s brother, so he couldn’t do it. Chloe Marshall was the prospective sister-in-law, so she was also out. Therefore, Quentin and Nora ended up as the best man and bridesmaid—and they were both just ecstatic about it.

Herman Hawthorne held Zoe Ellsworth’s hand, followed by Quentin Grant and Nora Ainsworth. Behind them, two little flower girls walked and scattered petals. The scene was romantic and heartwarming.

Ethan Ellsworth, Chloe Marshall, Jean Grant, and Marlon Marshall sat in the front row. After the procession reached the pastor at the end of the aisle, Quentin Grant and Nora Ainsworth also returned to their seats.

As the pastor began to address the couple, Nora Ainsworth watched Zoe Ellsworth. In that moment, she found that she truly envied her from the bottom of her heart.

’I’ll probably never have the chance to wear a dress like that in my entire life.’

’Compared to my situation, isn’t this what happiness looks like?’

Quentin Grant turned his head. Noticing her gaze fixed on Zoe Ellsworth, he whispered, "Feeling like you want to get married too?"

She turned back, her expression blank. She wanted to scream at him hysterically that she dreamed of it, dreamed of becoming his bride.

But for some reason, the words were stuck in her throat. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t say them. Perhaps that desire would remain a secret buried in her heart for the rest of her life.

"No," she answered, lying. "I never want to get married."

Quentin Grant froze. "You’re lying."

"I’m not."

"Then why do I feel like you’re lying? Nora, those eyes of yours can never fool me!" His heart suddenly ached because of her words.

"But these are the very eyes that successfully fooled you. Sometimes, isn’t it the thing you believe to be the truest that ends up causing the most pain?"

Quentin Grant was half-dead with anger at her words, his lips pressed into a thin line. The moment the pastor announced, "You may now kiss the bride!" he shot to his feet and turned to leave.

Chloe Marshall whispered, "Why did he leave?"

Nora Ainsworth replied calmly, "He’s having another one of his fits."

Chloe Marshall couldn’t help but chuckle. "His face was black as thunder. Did you say something to him?"

Nora Ainsworth shook her head, not wanting to discuss it further. "The wedding went smoothly. I’m happy for them."

Chloe Marshall nodded. "Me too. I think I’m even happier than I would be at my own wedding."

As the ceremony ended and people were leaving, Jean Grant stumbled forward, nearly falling. In that instant, Ethan Ellsworth grabbed one of her arms while Marlon Marshall caught the other. The scene was somewhat comical, but also discordant.

Marlon Marshall looked at Ethan Ellsworth with disdain. "Young Master Ellsworth, if you please, let go of her. I’m perfectly capable of supporting my own wife."

Ethan Ellsworth let go, a smirk playing on his lips. "I just helped her out. It would have been bad if she’d fallen. Did you really need to make such a big deal out of it?"

With that, he turned and left, Chloe Marshall jogging to keep up.

Jean Grant watched his retreating figure until it disappeared from sight.

"Shall we go to the hotel?"

For some reason, Jean Grant suddenly shook his hand off and walked ahead.

Marlon Marshall watched her go and muttered under his breath, "What the hell is wrong with you?"