***
“Okay, close your eyes, babe. I’m going to turn you toward the mirror,” Evaline murmured.
I could hear the smile in her voice. My own smile made its appearance. I closed my eyes, and with shaky legs, I turned to face the mirror.
“Ready?” Maddie asked.
“You guys didn’t turn me into a clown, right?” I joked.
There was laughter. I giggled and then finally opened my eyes. I blinked and then gasped.
“You look gorgeous, babe,” Maddie said. From the mirror, I saw Evaline and Nina nodding.
They really did work their magic. Perfectly, I should say.
The first thing I noticed was my hair. Maddie didn’t overdo it. It was simple yet so beautiful. My hair was still down, but instead it was designed into a messy braid but with curls.
White flowers were pinned along the length, with a simple and elegant crystal tiara on top of my head.
My gaze moved down, and I was thankful to see that Nina kept my make-up light. My eyelashes were coated with mascara, and they appeared really long. My lips were painted and glossed with a light shade of red. Even my eyeshadow was a light brown, although it appeared a little sparkly. The eyeliner looked like a deep maroon. My green eyes sparkled with the colors that were chosen.
My neck held a single diamond pendant, the chain made with white pearls. My earrings were similar.
And then my dress. When I chose it, I was nervous, scared that Alessio wouldn’t like it. But now as I stared at myself in the mirror, I knew he was going to love it.
I looked beautiful. I felt beautiful.
The wedding gown was almost sleeveless. There was only a thin lace strap that went over my shoulders. My bodice was a V-cut, and the color was a light beige. White lace covered it with beads scattered all over. The dress was tight over my chest, but it became flowy around the middle of my stomach. It flared down on either side. The end of the dress was covered with the same lace design as my bodice.
I turned to my side, watching the dress trail behind me. It was long from behind, the train dragging. The dress wasn’t exactly white. The cloth underneath was a light beige, but it had white lace covering the whole dress.
My back was half covered with the lace, while the top part was backless. The dress flared at my back too, looking very flowy.
“I absolutely love this gown. It’s simple yet so elegant and beautiful,” Evaline said, her eyes on my dress.
“Thank you,” I whispered, staring at myself in the mirror.
“Here, let me get your veil on,” Maddie said. I bent down slightly so she could pin my long veil behind my tiara. It trailed behind my back, even longer than the train of my dress. The veil was made with the same lace material, covered with beads and flower designs.
Lena had it designed and made for me. It was my something new from her, representing her blessings for my happy future.
Just when I was about to whisper another thank you, there was a knock at the door. Maddie went to open it. She moved to the side as Isaak and Lyov walked inside.
They both halted in their steps at the sight of me, and I felt a smile stretching my lips.
“Look at you,” Isaak said, coming forward. “You look beautiful, Ayla.”
He hugged me, and my arms went around him, hugging him back just as tight. “You remind me so much of your mother. She would be so proud of you, Ayla,” he whispered in my ear before pulling away.
My eyes stung, but I quickly blinked the tears away. As Lyov hugged me, I tried my hardest not to cry.
“Are you ready?” he asked, pulling away. I nodded and looked down at myself.
“As ready as I can be,” I muttered. “Is Alessio ready?”
They both chuckled and raised an eyebrow. “What do you think? He has been ready for hours and getting very impatient. The guys had to lock him in the room to stop him from seeing you,” Lyov explained with a laugh.
A giggle escaped at the thought. I could only imagine. Alessio was impossible. Well, that was an understatement.
“It’s time, Ayla,” Isaak said.
Taking a deep breath, I nodded. On shaky legs, I took a step forward only to be stopped with Lyov’s hand on my arm.
“We got something for you,” he said. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I stared at him, waiting.
That was when I noticed they each held a small give box in their hands. Oh.
Isaak came forward first and opened the box for me. Inside, I found a pair of teardrop crystal earrings. “These were your mother’s. They are the only thing I have of hers. I believe they should be yours now.”
I stared at the earrings with my mouth open. “This could be your something old. If you don’t have one already.”