Chapter 273 - Suspicious

At exactly three in the morning, Arti came knocking on the door to wake up Andrea. She had already taken a bath and was wearing her robe when she opened the door for her assistant. 

"Good morning, Arti," she said while rubbing her eyes. 

"Good morning, Mrs. Lu. The stylist and the make-up crew are already here."

Shi Hu came from behind Arti and greeted both of them. He then suggested for Arti to get ready for the day while he helps Andrea prepare. "Mrs. Lu, let me get your hair dry so we can start styling it."

"Is mom around?" Andrea asked, looking past Shi Hu and crowd behind him. 

"Madame Lu will be coming shortly."

A frown on her face was evident. She wasn't that familiar with him yet and would have felt more comfortable with Christina around. 

Her reaction made the Shi Hu chuckle and so he reassured her saying, "Don't worry Mrs. Lu. I prefer your husband compared to you. Haha! Though, I would not dare try."

Andrea gave an awkward laugh that almost looked like a sneer, but ultimately, she reluctantly let him inside the room and let him dry her hair. Thankfully, it did not take long for her mother-in-law to arrive. 

"Good morning, everyone! Today is a beautiful day!" Christina's declaration brought smiles to those inside the suite. Following her were four of Lu-Wei's security team and the photographers from yesterday, ready to take more pictures. This time, videographers also came along to capture every moment perfectly. 

Andrea heard the commotion from outside the bedroom and instantly knew who it was encouraging joyous conversations with the make-up crew.  

"Andy, my daughter. How are you? Did you have a good sleep?" Christina asked with the brightest smile on her face as she entered. 

"I slept, mom, but not sure about it being the best one. I was thinking of Lu Fang through the night."

"Oh, he did call me just before I came over. He said he was going to get an early breakfast - "

"Breakfast? Mom. It should be late in the evening in France," Andrea said with her brow raised. 

Christina's mouth hung open and although she was lost for words for a second, she managed to cope by saying, "Oh, then maybe it was a late dinner then. Haha. I was the one who got us all breakfast."

"Haha! Madame Lu is still sleepy, getting confused," Shi Hu suggested. 

"But then again, Andy. Maybe I heard him right. He is accustomed to China time, maybe he was planning on getting breakfast after all!"

Shi Hu and Christina laughed their hearts out and Andrea noticed how exaggerated their hilarity was. She could not help but be curious if there was more to it that she needed to know. 

"Andy, I know it's still early, but we need to get some food. We have a long day ahead of us and we won't be able to get an actual meal until lunchtime," said Christina. 

Arti helped distribute the packed breakfast before joining Andrea and Christina in the dining table for a meal. After which, everyone got ready for their task. 

The make-up crew, preparing Andrea's cosmetics and pieces of jewelry, the photographers and videographers taking pictures of the added elements and recording every detail that transpired. 

Since Andrea's hair was short, Shi Hu had to use a hair extension in order to create volume from the back of her head. As he was busy with her hair, a make-up artist had begun to cover her face with light foundation. 

When her hair and make-up were done, Arti helped her put on the wedding gown. Soon after, Shi Hu and Christina came back inside the bedroom carrying with them her jewelry and shoes. 

"Wow! This guy… your client, mom is loaded. Is he seriously going to let his wife wear a princess crown?" Andrea said, glaring at the sapphires embedded on the small tiara. 

If that wasn't enough, the necklace she was to wear also had a green sapphire pendant to it. For about a minute, Andrea was in deep thought. She slowly raised her engagement rings and realized, one of which was also made of green sapphire. 

Her actions quickly alerted Christina that she exclaimed, "Great, Andy! I totally forgot to get a ring! Is it okay if we use your engagement ring? What a coincidence, it's a perfect match to the jewelry my client had requested for."

Andrea became suspicious at that point, even recalling how her mother-in-law told her husband was getting breakfast. She would have just ignored her inkling if not for the sight of the pair of shoes she was about to wear. She did not get to study it closely, but out of nowhere, she said, "Glass slippers?"

She frowned, hearing her own voice. "I want the most expensive gown and Cinderella glass slippers!"

An image flashed into her head. She was in a hospital bed being embraced by her husband as she said those words. 'Could it be?' She asked herself in silence. 

Seeing that it was almost six in the morning, she gave her sister a wake-up call. It took nearly three attempts before Li Wen finally answered, "Andy, why are you calling so early?"

"Sis, can you trace Lu Fang's phone for me?"

"Why? and why are you asking me?"

"I'm occupied at the moment. Wen, can you trace his phone for me? I'm just a little concern. That's all," Andrea lied. The truth was, she was doubtful of her husband's actual whereabouts. 

Surprisingly, her sister answered swiftly than expected saying, "He is in France."

"That was quick," Andrea said while pouting her lips. 

Li Wen laughed but was fast enough to explain herself, "I have my tracking device as an app now, installed on my phone. Family members are in my favorites."

"Oh, yeah? How about telling me where I am?" She challenged her sister. 

"Haha! Simple! You are at…. tsk… give me a second... Ahah! You are at the Peninsula Hotel in Beijing. What are you doing there, anyway?"

"I'm helping my mother-in-law with something. We stayed overnight. Nevermind, Wen. I'll tell you the details later."

"Sure. Take care, Andy."

"You Too. Thanks, sis. Bye." At that point, Andrea felt heartbroken and was nearly teary-eyed. She was wrong all along. Somehow, she was excited thinking it was a surprise prepared by her husband.

Letting out a heavy sigh, she said, "Oh well, my mistake."

Moments later her dismay turned into anxiety that her beautiful face displayed a frown before grumbling, "His idea better surpass this. The bar has been set now."

Christina and Shi Hu heard Andrea's words completely, and they stared at each other trying to hold their laughter. Christina especially wondered if her son would end up in trouble after this day was over.