{Third Person}
That evening, Lila returned home in an unusually cheerful mood.
Several servants followed her, carrying the shopping bags she had accumulated.
She had spent hours choosing things for the wedding and was still thinking about her purchases when she stepped into the house.
The butler approached her before she could head upstairs. "Miss Lila, your parents are waiting for you in the sitting room."
Lila looked at him in surprise. "My parents?"
"Yes, Miss."
She glanced toward the staircase. Since her engagement, her parents had frequently called her aside to discuss wedding arrangements, so she assumed they wanted to talk about the ceremony or perhaps have dinner with her.
"All right."
She went upstairs without giving it much thought.
The moment she entered the sitting room, however, her smile faded. Her parents were seated together, neither of them looking pleased to see her.
She stopped several steps inside. "What happened?"
