The Runaway Groom

The bridal suite was decorated in lively fashion with rose petals, ribbons and balloons.

James, however, was frowning as Erin rummaged through everything. "What are you doing?"

It was almost as if she had forgotten that she was a bride that day.

In fact, she did not even turn around to look at her bridegroom as she smiled. “Irene told me that she left a gift here. I want to see what she prepared for me."

"Alright, you keep searching," James said. "I'll take a shower."

Erin waved him off, still facing away from him. “Let's go."

James was speechless—was the gift more important than him? It was as if she did not care about him already.

Walking up to her, he asked, "What, am I less precious than a gift?" Erin looked up, staring at him for almost a minute in shock, leaving James a little embarrassed.

"W-What are you looking at?" James asked, touching his cheek. "What, is there dirt on my face?"

"No, but there's something

as

before James could reply, Erin added, "Of course it's the gift. Did you forget what

money for the rest of her life, even waste it! She was not stupid enough to not know how nice

anyone.

her, "You should remember that Irene isn't as rich as Isaac, and she can't give you so much

it definitely isn't anything so mundane," Erin replied. "Now go take your shower—I'll find it myself."

if everything he

things turn out unpleasant like this? It was

pausing to look at her continuing to rummage through everything. "You sure

"Oh, right!"

She opened the door to find it all red, as celebratory as it was romantic. It was obvious the people who decorated it gave it thorough thought. Just then, James said from outside, "Zachary and Irene worked hard

Erin nodded repeatedly. "Yeah."

Minerva, but she was a Zidonian at heart, inheriting the country’s