“There’s no need for you to keep tabs on me.


    ”


    “I’m not busy at all.


    ” Bryson then added in a teasing tone, “I’m never too busy to keep an eye on you.


    ”


    Hannah rolled her eyes and huffed, “You tter me, Mr.


    Mitchell!”


    She waved her hand dismissively and made her way to the adjoining room in the back to meet with Lydia.


    To her dismay, Bryson followed her like it was the most natural thing for him to do.


    “People are already looking for you outside,” she informed Lydia.


    “Go and greet some guests first.


    And make sure you don’t identally expose our ns.


    ”


    Lydia got to her feet and gathered her skirts.


    “Copy that.


    Brayden is still taking care of the slide show.


    Stand guard and warn him if anythinges up.


    I’ll go and take care of those pesky guests.


    ”


    Sure enough, as soon as she stepped into the hall, she ran into Melissa.


    “Why are you hiding out here? Didn’t you say that you wanted to change your dress? Your stylist has been waiting for you!”


    Lydia hummed a casual reply and followed Melissa to the dressing room.


    Thetter continued to chatter along the way.


    “Listen, Lydia.


    You may not understand it now, but after you get married, you will see that we are doing this for your own good.


    You shouldn’t hold a grudge against your dad over this.


    ”


    Of course, even at such a crucial time, her mother did not miss the opportunity to brainwash her.


    Lydia swallowed her disappointment and asked, “But what if I’m not happy with our marriage, Mom?”


    Melissa stopped walking and turned to her daughter with a sigh.


    “Just think about the family, okay? We have been close with the Shaw family for generations, anyway.


    I’m sure that they will treat you well.


    I know Alick is a known yer, but I’m confident that he will turn over a new leaf for you.


    He should, for the good of his family and ours.


    Now, don’t make things any harder for me.


    ”


    Lydia smiled.


    If Melissa paid enough attention, she would have realized that it was a smile of relief.


    “I understand, Mom.


    ”


    Thinking that she had finally bent her daughter intopliance, Melissa nodded in satisfaction.


    “Now, go and change into your dress.


    I’ll wait for you outside.


    ” She ushered Lydia into the dressing room and closed the door.


    “Okay.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    ”


    Momentster, Lydia walked back out in a form-fitting, white silk dress.