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?"

her head seriously. "No, but there's something else.” "What?"

skin is as thick as

added, "Of course it's the gift. Did you forget what Isaac gave me? That's worth

even waste it! She was not stupid enough to not know how

money never betrayed anyone. What was

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

definitely isn't anything so mundane," Erin replied.

everything he said today was

things

before pausing to look at her continuing to rummage through everything.

"Oh, right!"

as it was romantic. It was obvious the people who decorated it gave it thorough thought. Just then, James said from outside,

Erin nodded repeatedly. "Yeah."

in Minerva, but she was a Zidonian at heart, inheriting the country’s culture and tradition in her bones, so the