As they arrived at the restaurant, Heily's eyes widened at the grandeur of the setup.
Mrs Susan Rodriguez, Xavier's grandmother,greeted them warmly, her elegant dress and silver hair exuding poise. "Mr. and Mrs. Williams, I'm so glad you've arrived, " she said, exchanging pleasantries with Heily's mother.
Maria smiled as she introduced Heily. "This is my daughter, Heily."
Mrs. Susan's eyes lit up. "Oh, she's beautiful! I'm such a lucky grandma -in - law," she said, hugging Heily tightly.
Heily's father introduced her to mrs. Susan, and they exchanged greetings. As they made their way to the table, Heily's gaze met Xavier's piercing blue eyes, which seemed to bore into her very soul. She felt a shiver run down her spine and quickly looked away.
The Rodriguez family was already seated, and the table set with fine china and crystal glasses. Heily's eyes scanned the room, she noticed a young man who bore a striking resemblance to Xavier - Justin,his step brother.
As they sat down, mr Andrew's mistress, Chloe broke the ice, asking Heily about her studies. Heily replied that she had studied art, and mrs. Susan mentioned that Xavier was an avid collector of paintings.
Chloe's eyes narrowed as she watched Xavier and Heily's engagement become a reality. She had always envisioned her son Justin taking over the company, not Xavier. She began to develop hates on Heily
"Xavier, what about Lara?" Justin asked, his voice laced with feigned concern. "The woman you met at the club in Spain? Didn't you usually bring her to your events? What happened to her?
Xavier's gaze turned icy, his eyes flashing with annoyance. "That's none of your business, Justin," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "Don't try to act like you care. We both know you're just fishing dirt.
Justin's smirk faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "I'm just asking out of concern, Xavier." he said, his tone dripping with insincerity. "She's your woman."
"Enough" mr Rodriguez voice rose silencing the room. Both of you, stop it." He's eyes locked onto Justin, a warning glint in their depths.
The conversation turned to the marriage, and Mr Rodriguez announced that the wedding would take place the following day, Xavier's reaction was immediate, his anger evident as he questioned the rush.
"Grandpa, you told me the wedding would be after l return from my trip. Why the rush?" he asked, his voice low and menacing.
Mr Rodriguez's response was firm. "Because, Xavier, l want it done sooner rather than later. You'll take over the company's legacy's and this marriage will solidify your position."
Xavier's eyes flashed with resentment, but he nodded curtly. As the conversation continued, Heily noticed that Xavier's aunt, Isabella, seemed particularly fond of him.she took Heily aside and whispered words of encouragement , sharing about Xavier's childhood.
As the meeting drew to a close, Xavier excused himself without a word, his phone glued to his hands Heily watched him leave, feeling a mix of emotions.
Thinking about the event's, Heily lay in bed that night, she couldn't shake off the feeling that her life was about to change forever. The thought of marrying Xavier Rodriguez sent shivers down her spine.
Heily's thought drifted to her friends as she considered sharing the news of her impending wedding. Before she could make a call, her mother entered the room, a warm smile on her face. "Everything is ready, Heily. We've invited all the Williams family ,and they're excited to celebrate with us.
Maria's eyes shone with pride as she gazed at her daughter. "Heily, I'm so proud of you. She said, her voice filled with emotion Heily's curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, "mom, you said Xavier's mom was very nice, were you referring to Mrs Chloe.
Maria nodded. "Yes, Heily, i met with her after your father and I made the deal. She's a kind person, and despite Xavier's not being her biological son, she loves him like one. I was impressed to her warmth and generosity.
Heily's thought were a jumble of emotions, but she knew she had to put on a brave face for her family's sake. "Mom, don't worry. I'll do whatever it takes to make this work and protect our family's reputation. I'll take care of it myself, okay?"
Maria's eyes welled up with tears as she gazed at her daughter. Heily knew her mother still felt guilty about prioritizing family reputation over her daughter's happiness. Maria hugged Heily tightly, her voice barely above whisper. "You need to sleep early Heily. Tomorrow is your wedding."
As Maria turned to leave, Heily caught glimpse of tears in her eyes. She quickly wiped them away, not wanting Heily to see.
The next morning, Heily woke up to the sound of a knock on her door. "Heily, dear, are you awake?" her mother called out. Heily got out of bed and opened the door to find her mother standing with a stunning white wedding gown in her hands Besides her was a woman laden with makeup box and other beauty essentials.
"Good morning, Heily," the makeup artist said with warm smiles. "I'm here to make you look absolutely breathtaking on your special day. Go take a bath, put on your wedding gown, and leave the rest to me."
Heily's mother handed her the dress, and Heily's eyes widened in awe. The gown was exquisite shiny, long, and stunning. She took a deep breath, feeling a mix of emotions as she prepared to embark on this new chapter of her life.