Chapter 787 - Congratulations!

The first ones to congratulate the newlywed couple were Jasper and Ellie, followed by Sarah, Aiden, Sophia and Felix. As soon as they finished, Felix pulled Sophia to the side while making sure no one comes to close and bumps into her belly (by accident).

Aiden and Sarah wanted to step away as well, but were ambushed by Elanor's father, Richard, who was curious to find out more about Sarah and her relationship with Aiden.

"Last time I saw you, both of you were single. And now Jeff is married, and you… don't seem far from that step either.", Richard observed how smitten Aiden and Sarah are with each other. He pinched Sarah's and Aiden's cheeks few times (treating them like they are little kids) and made them promise that later they will spend some more time with him.

The rest of the bridesmaids and groomsmen wished a happy future to Jeff and JoAnna and then made space for family members to take their turns.

Heather used the microphone to announce to the rest of the guests that newly minted 'Mr. and Mrs. White' will be available to receive congratulations and good wishes in the garden, under the largest cherry tree, in ten minutes.

"Don't forget, you have a place to return to. Your room will always be left as is.", Edward reminded JoAnna.

"What are you saying? Are you cursing them from the start?" Elanor heard him, and she could not hide her displeasure. "From today, she is officially my daughter. What is that nonsense about returning to you? If she wants to come home to her parents, there is a perfectly good room for her in my home."

Edward was about to retort, but Stella pinched his arm and interjected: "And we are happy to welcome Jeffrey to our family, as our son. Both Anna and Jeff are free to come to our home anytime."

JoAnna and Jeff rolled their eyes silently while listening to their parents bickering.

"Congratulations! I've heard a lot about you." Richard told JoAnna while his red eyes filled with tears didn't leave necklace around her neck. "Welcome to the family." He said in a trembling voice and gave her a big hug.

"Make sure you take good care of her, or you will need to deal with me!", JoAnna's grandfather, James, warned Jeff with a big smile on his face.

Jeff never knew how to handle this old fart. And he still didn't forget how he gave him a hard time when they met in India!

Marcus with his family approached Jeff and JoAnna. His wife smiled, Lucas and Samara were indifferent, and Marcus could not hide that he struggled to squeeze that 'all the best' out of him.

Few minutes later, family members gave Jeff and JoAnna space… they need to go to the garden and start smiling and shaking hands with other guests.

In the garden, Julia was in charge of lining up guests who wanted to congratulate newlyweds and Heather reminded them not to take too much time with their turn because only half an hour is allocated for this activity. For anyone who does not manage to convey their congratulations in this time, they will need to look for the newlyweds during the party later, but they should be mindful not to interrupt any other activity.

JoAnna didn't want to spend time with these people, and Jeff was even less enthusiastic about shaking hands with individuals who are smiling while thinking how to backstab him. But some things had to be done, and this was one of them.

Sarah and Aiden sat at the table with Sophia and Felix.

Sarah observed that Sophia already looks tired while Jeff and JoAnna are busy with guests. She leaned closer to Aiden and spoke softly: "I think that we should disable Eve's notifications related to trouble for those four. They already have a lot going on. What do you think?"

Aiden agreed with her. "We can handle whatever is coming. And based on mom's analysis, if any trouble happens at this wedding, it will come for me or you. Jeff and Anna are too high profile at this event so people with hidden agenda will lay low while Sophia and Felix are not seen as a threat right now. There is no need to alert them with our problems."

Sarah looked at Aiden and her eyes sparkled. "I know that we are talking about an unknown trouble that we need to face in next few hours, but I'm really happy that we are going to do it together."

Aiden smiled in response and caressed her cheek for a second before giving her a light kiss on the lips. Two of them were dazed with each other and didn't notice that Emma and Brian joined them at the table with Ellie and Tom.

"Wow… are they always like that?", Emma asked Sophia while tilting her head toward Sarah and Aiden. Emma could not stop herself from remembering sounds Sarah and Aiden made while she waited with Brian for them to dress up… and she blushed.

"Like what? Lost in their own world without any awareness of their surrounding?", Sophia clarified. When Emma nodded, Sophia responded: "Yeah. Sometimes we are wondering how it is possible that they are functioning in a modern human society."

Their laughter got Sarah's and Aiden's attention.

"Oh, hi Emma, Ellie… and Tom and Brian. I didn't notice when you arrived.", Sarah smiled and was confused when her comment invoked another round of laughter. "Did I say something funny?"

"Ignore them…", Aiden pulled Sarah back to lean on him and kissed top of her head. "They are just jealous."

"Well, I must admit that seeing you two like that makes me feel a bit jealous.", Ellie pouted her lips slightly. How she sees it, Sarah and Aiden are a perfect couple and every girl would give anything to have a guy treat her how Aiden treats Sarah. 

"Oh? That is strange, considering that it's coming from you. How are things going with Jasper?", Sarah asked Ellie.

Ellie blushed and glanced at faces around the table. "Do all of you think that there is something between me and Jasper?" When she saw everyone nod, she closed her eyes and sighed. Ellie doesn't know how to answer Sarah's question. Something is going on between Jasper and her, but she is not sure how much of that 'something' is only a product of her imagination and how much is real.

There was a call from Heather for people to approach the dance area. It's time for father-daughter dance.

Aiden and Sarah shoot up to their feet at the same time and held hands while eagerly walking toward the dance area.

"I assume they like dancing.", Brian stated the obvious.

Ellie pinched Brian's arm. "Emma likes dancing also."

"Oh, then we should go as well.", Brian took Emma's hand in his and headed after Saran and Aiden, ignoring how flabbergasted Emma is.

With this, the ceremony part of the wedding is completed, and the party begins.