Chapter 274 - Pumpkin Carriage

At the main restaurant of the Peninsula Hotel, a family of six were having breakfast in a private room. Inside, Li Wen had just put down her phone while letting out a heavy sigh of relief. 

"What about me? Where am I supposed to be?" It was Anton Yeong, asking with complete sarcasm. 

Li Wen glared at her younger brother and responded, "I doubt she will ask for your whereabouts. She is only concerned with her husband at the moment. Thankfully, everything has gone well so far." 

Yeong shook his dead and screwed up his face saying, "Who does this? This whole set-up is just utterly troublesome!"

Seeing her brother's reaction, Li Wen turned to Yanmei who was sitting beside him and asked, "What on earth did you see in my brother?"

Xia Ting laughed completely at his wife's remark but soon scolded her. "Now, now. Yeong is your brother. Perhaps if the two of you would spend more time together as you did with Andy, you would also understand where Yanmei is coming from."

"Don't worry Anton, we both know women like cold and powerful men like us, don't you darling?" He gazed at Yeong before winking at his wife as he said this. 

Yanmei giggled at their conversation, but Li Wen, whose face flushed, tried to change the subject altogether. "We better hurry up. Andy should be having her photoshoot soon. Yesterday, we were a little reckless, and she saw Mei-Mei in the lobby."

Meanwhile, back in the suite, Andrea was delighted to see the reflection of herself in the huge mirror that stood in the living room. If this was her real wedding gown, she might actually be in tears. She had to admit it; she looked beautiful, like a fairytale princess. She realized she might as well replace Cinderella.

What surprised her though was how Christina was crying from behind her. She turned quickly with both her brows raised at her before laughing completely. "Mom! Why are you crying? It's not like I'm getting married."

Shi Hu helped comfort Christina, silently whispering to her ears not to get carried away. 

Sniffing away her emotions, she replied to Andrea, "I'm sorry my dear. This is just practice for the real thing."

Those who understood laughed at the response. Arti, for one, could barely hold the pain in her stomach just thinking about what will happen in the next two hours. 

Shi Hu explained to Andrea that they were going to take photos of her wearing the gown as it will be the primary picture that will be made as an example for the upcoming events in the future. 

She gulped at the thought of being dainty but then again, here she was in a beautiful Cinderella wedding dress, looking like the real thing. She figured she could wing it. Besides, she was blessed with such an angelic face. Regardless if her poses were not model-like, the result will most likely be heavenly.

She chuckled at her own conclusion before following Shi Hu's direction and as she was having her photoshoot, her mother-in-law excused herself saying she also needed to get changed. 

After getting enough shots from inside the suite, Andrea had her pictures taken from the hotel's grand staircase and the hotel lobby. Wherever she went, the make-up artist followed her around, giving her a retouch now and then. 

As they were resting in the lobby, waiting for the next location of the shoot, two other photographers joined them and they reported to their colleagues. 

"I just took pictures of the venue! Man, it's awesome!"

"The groom was absolutely handsome. I might as well turn gay."

Only when their co-worker reprimanded them that they both shut their mouths closed, stealing glances at Andrea. She overheard them but did not think much of it. It was possible there was an actual wedding at the hotel. 

"Mrs. Lu, it's time to go have more pictures taken. Are you ready?" Shi Hu asked. 

"Okay. Sure."

As they walked, she was most definitely positive she saw horses outside the hotel entrance. She tried to take a closer look but from where she stood, however, there were too many people in front of her.

The Peninsula Hotel, although located in the center of the city, had an enclosed entrance and exit to it. Thus, the property has a huge loading and unloading area which can allow side parking for a limited period. 

When Andrea was already outside the lobby, she gasped at the sight of a pumpkin carriage drawn by four white horses. Her eyes were wide open and her lips formed into a circle, completely astonished.

She realized it was her ride, considering how the coachman smiled at her, gesturing for her to climb up. 

The carriage was painted in gold. It did not necessarily look like a pumpkin, but it was round and designed with veins and leaves from the base up to the top of the round body. 

"Mrs. Lu, get inside. We'll have pictures in the garden. For now, enjoy the ride," Shi Hu instructed. 

While inside the carriage, Andrea felt she was really a princess. She giggled at the thought and regretted not having brought her phone. She had earlier left it with Arti.

"Darn, I hope I can take photos later," she grumbled to herself, appreciating every detail of its interior.

Upon arriving at the left side of the property's garden area, they took photos of her as she sat inside the carriage. She also had photos from outside and even one closer to the horses. 

When Shi Hu was satisfied with all the pictures, Andrea had one more retouch before getting on the personalized wagon once more. Shi Hu, Arti and the rest of the crew tailed her by walk. 

Through the glass window, Andrea's gaze was directed to a very wide customized wall divider that surrounded most part of the hotel's garden area six or seven meters away.

She could see the tips of the castle backdrop as it was made higher than the wall that fence it. From the entrance, there were four men who were dressed as royal guards keeping watch. 

For unknown reasons, the sight made her heart skip a beat. As the carriage came closer and closer, her heart fluttered even faster. When it finally stopped, Andrea gulped. She realized something was not what she expected. 

Tears welled up in her eyes and the moment the door opened, water fell down her cheeks uncontrollably.

Alfred was waiting for her, extending his hand to help her down. He too was already teary-eyed looking at his daughter.  It took all his strength to speak, "Andy, my child. Come and give me a hug."

She instantly hugged her dad tightly after getting down. It took minutes for her to regain composure and as her make-up crew dried and covered the stain on her cheeks, Andrea remained silent, still overwhelmed for what she is about to see behind the wall in front of her.