Marry My Billionaire Second Husband - Chapter 164

Chapter 164: Smooth Sailing I
Matteo wondered if he had saved the entire galaxy in his past life for a glimpse of such beauty. Even just breathing the same air as this woman seemed like a luxury that came with a high price.

Well, whatever that price was, Matteo was more than willing to pay for with the rest of his life. Everything he did was for this moment― to see Amelia Kentwood in a wedding dress, walking straight to him at the end of the aisle.

He hadn’t even noticed that he had stopped breathing until Amelia placed a hand against his chest. Her touch was as gentle as a flap of a butterfly’s wing, but Matteo could still feel the warmth of her palm seep through his clothing and into his heart.

“Matteo?” she asked unsurely. “Is… Well, how do I look?”

Slowly, Matteo raised his hand to wrap around hers. He held her hand tightly against his chest, relishing in the silky smooth feeling of her smaller hand in his.

“Like starlight,” he muttered beneath his breath, his voice so soft that if it weren’t for the fact that Amelia stood so close, she would’ve no doubt missed it. “You look breathtaking.”

In reply to his words, Amelia simply smiled. She was glad that Matteo liked it on her as much as she did― if her father and mother had seen the dress, she knew that they would’ve adored the design as well. Her fingers glided down the smooth silk and played with one of the embroidered flowers. This dress felt like a bridge that connected her to her mother even beyond the walls of death.

“Do remember to breathe,” Amelia joked, raising her hand from her dress to glide down Matteo’s nose. He blinked and reeled away slightly due to the ticklish sensation, but a smile bloomed to match hers.

Without saying anything, he leaned in and captured her lips in a gentle kiss. This time, it was Amelia’s turn to hold her breath. She moved with him, and when they pulled apart, Amelia’s body felt so light despite the heavy dress that was on her body.

“I take that as the husband likes the dress,” Amelia said with a laugh as she turned back to look at Jenna, who was busying herself with the flower arrangements in the waiting areas.

She pivoted back to look at them only when she realized they were done with their private moment, and a red-cheeked smile burst forth.

“Thankfully so!” Jenna said, sighing in relief. “If it’s alright with you two, I’ll need to steal Amelia for a bit for the adjustments.”

Amelia very reluctantly peeled herself away from Matteo’s side and back in the direction of the changing room. Once the door was closed, she watched as Jenna bustled back and forth with her pins and notepad.

“You don’t understand how relieved I am to hear that you two like the dress,” Jenna said as she scribbled on her little book. “It was all thanks to Mr. Montgomery’s help that the dress could be completed in time, after all. I am sure he would’ve loved whatever you wore, but this is still the best possible outcome.”

Her words caused Amelia to perk up. “Matteo did?”

“He did,” Jenna said with a nod. “Mr. Montgomery hired seamstresses who could help finish the job in the tight time frame. Without their help, I’m not too sure if I will be able to finish all of this myself!”

Jenna shook her head and sheepishly laughed.

“Speaking of which, have you decided on a wedding date yet? Your grandfather provided an approximate timeline, but it would be mighty helpful if you had a fixed deadline by which the dress should be ready.”

“I’ll have to discuss this with my grandfather first,” Amelia said mindlessly. Her eyes were already at the door that separated Matteo from her. She could imagine him on the other side, patiently waiting for her to emerge once more.

Her heart warmed at the thought.

“You should,” Jenna said. “You’re a wonderful little lady. And Mr. Montgomery seems like a good man. There aren’t too many like him now in these trying times. Better hang onto him as soon as possible! Otherwise, I’m sure there will be more than many others who would salivate at the thought of being his bride.”

***

“I am so proud of you,” Horace Hawthorne said as he gently patted the back of Amelia’s hand. They stood on the second floor, overlooking the ballroom right below. “With the charity well on its way to success, these children will have an opportunity for a better future at last.”

Thanks to Carlo’s performance at X’el Inc., word had spread among the socialites about how an orphan delinquent had gone from zero to hero. He rose quickly in his studies and had helped out immensely in X’el Incorporated, and his accomplishments had started to spread among those who had bigger wallets than they would ever need.

With how the word had spread, more and more people were interested in this unassuming charity― after all, the more brilliant minds emerged, the more they could make money off of them as though these kids were investments.

It was insulting, their way of thinking, but Amelia could close an eye to it as long as these children could have better futures.

Tonight was the first event that was set up in honor of the Hope for Scholars Charity, and thanks to the reputation of the Hawthornes and the Montgomerys, every influential family in Solara was in attendance. This event was the final step needed to seal the charity’s success. After this, it would be smooth sailing from here on out.

Or the final straw that would break the camel’s back.

“If only Emmeline paid more attention to these things,” Horace said with a sigh. “Hope for Scholars had been in her hands for years, and it had never been as successful as this. It is good that she’s soon to be married. Hopefully, after that, she will learn to grow up and be a little more independent.”

He then looked wistfully at Amelia, smiling.

“Speaking of weddings, have you and Matteo finalized the date yet?”