The Strange Groom's Cursed Bride-Chapter 73: Eco-unfriendly

Alice knew this was going to be a tough day. She must be indeed cursed like that shaman had said, because it was always back-to-back problems.

Linda had completely ignored her, focused on the lady who had just approached her. Alice took that chance to head towards the main meeting area.

Alice barely made it past the welcome sign before she regretted every decision that led her here.

The "environmental team" wasn’t a grassroots, eco-warrior kind of crew. No. This was luxury activism. The kind where sustainability was a buzzword, and everyone cared about the earth just enough to post about it in curated Instagram reels.

There were seven people seated. Four men and three women, all impeccably dressed in stylish, tailored suits. They exuded an effortless sophistication that made Alice feel even more out of place.

They were all clustered beneath a large open-air pavilion beside the sports center, lounging in ergonomic chairs that screamed we recycle in style.

And they looked... perfect.

Even the guys were decked out. Sporty vests over pastel turtlenecks, subtle jewelry, expensive sunglasses hung low on perfect noses. It wasn’t a meeting. It was a fashion-forward United Nations panel on biodegradable vibes.

Alice, in her nearly wrinkled oversized tee and functional pants, looked like she came to volunteer at the back-end waste sorting line.

"Well, well, Aurora. Decided to grace us with your presence, finally? And dressed for a leisurely Saturday stroll, I see. How... quaint." A lady said, her voice a syrupy drawl, laced with an undeniable undercurrent of disdain. She made ’quaint’ sound like a derogatory term for something picked out of a dumpster.

Alice met her gaze, the sting of her words barely registering over the clamor in her own mind. She was tired, hungry, and still reeling from the morning’s emotional whiplash. She didn’t have the energy for social niceties, especially not with an arrogant rich kid. "Good morning, everyone," Alice said, her voice flat, devoid of any warmth. "Apologies for turning up late."

"It’s okay. We got a call from Block C. You’ve been sick. It’s nice you’re here," another lady said, a genuinely kind smile on her face.

Oh wow! Alice didn’t know they had... reasonable people here.

She felt compelled to smile back at the lady and so she did.

"Take a seat. Don’t block the sunlight," a guy dressed to the nines with expensive sunglasses perched on his nose drawled. Alice was standing right in front of him, casting a shadow. His tone was amused, not particularly malicious.

"Glad you could join us, Aurora," a young man said, his voice a deep rumble. He seemed genuinely pleased, but also, his eyes darted to Linda, who had just fully joined the group, a flicker of apprehension there.

"So... I just saw off Director Klint. What did I miss?" Linda said, clapping once as she looked at the group, her gaze landing on Alice. Her honey-colored eyes held a triumphant gleam.

No, please. Alice didn’t want to deal with this.

Linda flicked her hair back, a performative gesture. "Nice of you to join us. Though I thought you might at least try to look like you belong here. This is the Wildfire estate. Not some cheap home you used to live." Her voice was dripping with condescension.

Alice almost laughed. For real. Because if they had really seen the kind of place she lived in the North, they would have died. "I’ll dress better next time," she said in a flat, unbothered tone.

She noticed the strange looks she got from a couple of them. Mostly puzzled.

Shit. Had she said something wrong?

They all seemed to know Aurora. By chance, had they all met in some environmental thingy somewhere outside this estate before?

"It’s okay," Linda said, waving a dismissive hand. "I’m sure it would take your time adapting to your new life. Not everyone gets the luxury of being married to the mystery Wildfire dude." A pointed, fake sympathetic smile was plastered on her face.

Alice could hear the snicker all around her.

"I did hear he is hot though. She must have struck it lucky." One guy muttered, a smirk on his face.

Another guy, the one wearing the sunglasses, Julian, uninterestedly drawled, "Hot? Which dude describes another dude as hot? Are you sure you’re not gay?"

"If I were gay, I’d have fucked you. You look like a twink," the first guy shot back, his voice rising in outrage.

"What the fuck!" Julian sprang up, ready to attack, but Linda yelled a loud, "Quiet!" bringing them all to a sudden, stunned silence.

Glares were exchanged. Silent laughter passed between the others. A smug look from the guy who’d insulted Julian. Anger from Linda. And mounting stress from Alice.

What had she gotten herself into?

"We need to focus on the most important thing right now! We are far behind. And anyone who dares try to cause havoc here will be fined! Got it?" Linda snapped, her eyes sweeping over the group like a drill sergeant.

Everyone adjusted in their seats, chastened.

Alice made a mental note to find out who Linda truly was and what kind of power she held in this estate. She seemed to wield significant influence here.

"We are going to go over the final layout for the activity stations," Linda announced, her voice regaining its saccharine sweetness as she addressed the group, pointedly excluding Alice from her gaze. "And then the logistics for the recycling drive."

Julian nodded, pulling out a sleek tablet. "Right. So, for the ’Green Sprint’ obstacle course, we’re thinking biodegradable water bottles at the hydration stations, as per the environmental guidelines. Celeste, did your team confirm the compostable waste bins for the food vendors?"

Alice was... lost.

Celeste gave a crisp, professional nod. "All ordered and confirmed, Julian. Placed strategically to maximize user compliance."

What the hell did those mean?

"Excellent," Linda purred, taking charge. "And the ’Eco-Art’ mural? Aurora, I trust you will handle the procurement of the non-toxic, plant-based paints and recycled canvases?" Her eyes finally flickered back to Alice, a subtle challenge in their depths, daring her to fail.

Alice blinked. Non-toxic, plant-based paints? Recycled canvases? She hadn’t even known there was an Eco-Art mural, let alone that it was her responsibility. What the hell was that even?

"I’m sorry, but I... didn’t know I was supposed to handle that." The words were out before she could stop them, a genuine confession.

Because this was not something she could lie her way through. Definitely not.

Gasps rippled through the group.

"You didn’t know? Is that supposed to be an excuse?" Linda snapped, her voice rising in disbelief and thinly veiled triumph. "It’s tomorrow!"

"I apologize. I will... I can help in any way I can." Alice touched her temple, already feeling a headache coming on, the pressure building behind her eyes.

Linda had a tight smile on her face, one that didn’t reach her eyes. It seemed like the first genuine smile she was getting from the lady. "Sure. Why don’t you just join the main event and participate actively in representing us?" Linda suggested, her tone sugary sweet, but with a predatory gleam in her eye. She was setting a trap.

"What... are you talking about?" Alice asked, not liking her smile.

"It’s simple! Join the event as a participant. It would be fun. You can join the let’s say... race. Wear our brand and show how committed we are to our course." Linda’s smile widened.

Someone laughed, a low snicker quickly suppressed.

"Race? Ah!" Another whispered, understanding the true nature of Linda’s ’suggestion.’

Aurora didn’t do sports. Alice knew that much. Linda was trying to punish her, humiliate her.

Because from the look on Linda’s face, she seemed to be sure Aurora was going to embarrass herself. Which was silly because wouldn’t that mean embarrassing the brand? But oh well, what did she know?

"If that would make up for this, I would be happy to do that. I apologize once again." Alice said meekly, her voice soft, almost submissive.

Yes. This was the way to escape all of them. No fighting. No quarrels. No smartass sarcastic responses. Just play the part, get it over with, and get out.

Linda’s smile bloomed, genuinely pleased now. She leaned back in her ergonomic chair, a picture of smug satisfaction. "Just... try not to embarrass yourself," she said cheerily, enjoying her victory.

"But that’s your job, isn’t it?" Alice shot back, the words a quiet, lethal missile.

Shit.

NO SARCASTIC RESPONSES FOR GOODNESS SAKE!

Alice swore she hadn’t planned that. Maybe it was the exhaustion. It just... slipped.

Everyone was suddenly quiet. The silence was thick, palpable, as every eye in the pavilion turned to Alice, then to a now-frozen Linda.

"I... I will do my best," Alice finally added awkwardly. "I will do my best to support everyone and make tomorrow a success," she added again awkwardly, not sure what to say or do in this case.

This was the most Eco-unfriendly meeting Alice had ever attended in her life.

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