Chapter 79: Before We Say I Do

Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Before We Say I Do

Once they had sent all the necessary messages, they set their phones aside.

Elisha pulled the plush blankets up over their shoulders and settled back against the pillows. Henry tucked himself against Elisha’s side, resting his head over his steady heartbeat.

They stayed there in the quiet comfort of the bedroom, holding each other close as they looked forward to the life they were about to begin together.

Over the next few days, the wedding preparations continued smoothly, and before they knew it, only five days remained until the big day. That morning, a large, pristine package arrived from Italy containing their custom-made wedding outfits. With the wedding fast approaching, Elisha and Henry decided to try them on immediately to make sure everything fit perfectly.

They changed separately in the walk-in closet before stepping out and meeting in front of the full-length bedroom mirror. The moment they saw each other dressed in their tailored wedding outfits, they both paused. For a few seconds, neither of them said a word. Then their faces broke into happy smiles as they admired how perfectly the outfits fit them.

They spent a few more moments admiring their outfits in the mirror before carefully taking them off and hanging them in the closet. Once everything was neatly put away, they took one last look at the outfits before closing the closet doors.

The wedding suddenly felt very real, and neither of them could wait for the day to arrive.

The next morning, four days before the wedding, Elisha called the head housekeeper and the private chef into the main sitting room to go over the final preparations for the family dinner. He asked whether they needed any special ingredients or supplies.

The chef nodded and listed a few specific ingredients and supplies they would need for the dinner. Elisha immediately handed over one of his black cards.

"Get everything that’s required," Elisha instructed. "Make sure nothing is missed. I want everything ready for that night."

"Yes, sir," the chef and housekeeper replied before leaving the room to take care of the arrangements.

Just then, Henry came downstairs and found Elisha in the sitting room. He smiled softly. "Babe, let’s go out and pick up some wine for the rehearsal dinner. We already have some at home, but I want us to get a few more bottles for the occasion."

Elisha immediately shook his head. "No, baby. We can just order it online. It’ll be delivered straight to our doorstep. I don’t want you going out and tiring yourself unnecessarily."

Henry pouted slightly as he stepped closer and slipped his arm through Elisha’s. "I hardly ever go out these days. I just want to get some fresh air. Come on, let’s go together."

Elisha’s resistance melted instantly. "If that’s what you want, then let’s go get it."

He gave Henry’s hand a gentle squeeze as they headed toward the entrance. He picked up one of his car keys from the nearby key holder along the way, then walked out with Henry. Mike noticed them as soon as they stepped outside and quickly came over.

"You don’t have to worry, Mike. I’ll drive," Elisha said, giving him a reassuring smile. "You can take the afternoon off."

"Yes, sir," Mike replied.

Elisha kept hold of Henry’s hand as they walked toward the garage. He unlocked the car, opened the passenger door for Henry, and waited for him to get in before closing it. He then walked around to the driver’s side and got in.

He started the engine and drove out of the garage and through the estate gates.

During the drive, they chatted easily, exchanging a few laughs and occasional glances. A short while later, Elisha pulled into the private parking lot of one of the city’s finest boutique wine merchants and parked. He stepped out and walked around to open Henry’s door.

They walked hand in hand toward the entrance. As they approached, a few people recognized them and began whispering among themselves. Some smiled and discreetly raised their phones to take pictures.

"Oh my God, that’s ElyHen. Their wedding is in four days," one person whispered excitedly.

"They’re so cute together. I swear, I want to marry my best friend too," another admirer said.

A few more people glanced their way. Elisha paid little attention to them and simply kept a protective arm around Henry’s waist as they entered the air-conditioned store.

They headed straight to the vintage wine section and browsed the shelves together, selecting the bottles they wanted for the rehearsal dinner along with a few artisanal delicacies.

Once they had everything they needed, they took their purchases to the counter, and Elisha paid with his card. A member of the store’s security staff brought their packaged purchases out to the car and loaded everything neatly into the spacious trunk. Elisha thanked him and gave him a generous cash tip before returning to Henry.

They got back into the car, with Henry settling into the passenger seat while Elisha took the driver’s seat. Once they were both inside, Elisha started the engine and drove them home, the rest of the afternoon passing peacefully as they enjoyed each other’s company.

After making sure Henry was comfortable, Elisha walked around to the driver’s side, got behind the wheel, and drove them home. They spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing together, occasionally discussing the remaining wedding preparations.

The next day passed quickly as they took care of the last few things on their wedding checklist. The wedding arrangements were nearly complete, while the preparations for the family dinner continued smoothly.

By the following morning, the day of the rehearsal dinner had finally arrived.

Elisha woke slowly and turned toward Henry, who was still peacefully asleep beside him. He moved closer and pressed a soft kiss to Henry’s forehead before gently kissing his lips. After lingering beside him for another moment, Elisha carefully slipped out of bed so he wouldn’t wake him.

After taking a quick shower and getting dressed, Elisha headed downstairs to check on the preparations. The staff were already busy getting everything ready for the evening. Outside, the terrace had been arranged with elegant tables covered in crisp linens, soft fairy lights, and subtle touches of emerald green and gold to match their wedding theme.

Elisha then went into the kitchen to check on the private chef and kitchen staff, who were preparing the food and making sure everything they needed for the evening was in place. Satisfied that everything was progressing smoothly, he headed back upstairs.

By the time Elisha returned to the bedroom, Henry was already awake and stepping out of the bathroom, a fluffy towel wrapped around his waist and his blonde hair still damp.

Elisha walked over to him, wrapped his arms around his waist, and pressed a warm kiss to his lips. "Good morning, pretty."

Henry smiled softly, resting his hands on Elisha’s chest. "Good morning. How are things looking downstairs?"

"Everything is almost ready," Elisha replied, pressing another kiss to his cheek. "The staff has everything under control."

Henry nodded and glanced toward the walk-in closet. "Let me go, baby. I need to get dressed."

"I’m coming with you," Elisha replied, refusing to let go of his waist.

Henry chuckled and shook his head. "Suit yourself."

They walked together into the spacious walk-in closet. As they looked through their clothes, Henry glanced at Elisha.

"Oh, by the way, Eloise messaged me earlier. She said she won’t be able to make it to tonight’s dinner because she’s stuck on location until tomorrow, but she promised she’ll be front and center at our wedding."

"Alright," Elisha replied, pulling out a sharp, tailored shirt and a pair of trousers. "We’ll miss her tonight, but at least she’ll be there for the wedding."

Henry smiled. "You don’t seem jealous of her anymore."

Elisha raised an eyebrow. "Why should I be? I was never really the jealous type."

Henry chuckled, teasing him. "You were damn jealous, babe. A very jealous type."

They both laughed and continued getting ready. Once they were dressed, they spent the rest of the morning making sure everything was in place for the evening.

By late afternoon, the first cars began arriving at the estate. Soon, both sets of parents, close family members, and siblings had arrived and were warmly mingling on the terrace.

Hearing the familiar voices and laughter outside, Henry and Elisha made their way downstairs to join everyone. Their arrival was met with warm greetings from both families as everyone welcomed them, exchanged hugs, and continued their conversations.

A few moments later, two sleek luxury vehicles arrived at the estate. Prince Raphael and Frank stepped out of the first vehicle, while Raphael’s security detail followed closely behind in the second.

As Raphael and Frank made their way up the steps to the terrace, Henry’s face lit up. He stepped forward and pulled Raphael into a brief, friendly hug before greeting Frank with a warm handshake.

"Glad you guys made it, Your Highness" Henry said as Elisha joined him, resting a hand around his waist.

"Wouldn’t miss it for the world," Raphael replied with a bright grin, draping an arm comfortably around Frank’s shoulders...