Mr. Lu pulled up in front of Atelier Lumière Bridal, a tall glass boutique tucked between two luxury stores.
Inside, rows of ivory gowns shimmered under soft golden lights.
Mr. Lu glanced back at us through the rearview mirror. "Have fun, ladies. Miss Huo, call me when you're all done."
We nodded before stepping out of the car one by one. Standing in front of the entrance, we paused in awe.
When we entered the store, a young man with blond hair and blue eyes, immaculately dressed, greeted us. "Welcome, ladies. My name is Lucas. Which one of you is the bride?"
Amy raised her hand, excitement etched on her face.
Lucas clapped his hands.
Two female staff members came over. One of them dragged Amy toward the changing room while the other guided us to the couch in front of Amy's changing room to sit down.
She offered us a glass of champagne each before excusing herself.
Amy pulled back the changing room curtain, revealing wedding dress number one. "Well?"
"Looks a little too plain," Daisy said.
Isabelle took a sip of her champagne. "Too early to decide. Try on something else."
I looked at Amy. "Too fancy for a beach wedding."
"Tough crowd to please," Amy said before pulling the curtain shut.
Amy tried on multiple other dresses, each different from the last. By the time she was ready to try on the last dress, everyone, including herself, was exhausted.
"Okay guys," Amy said. "I have one more dress to try on." Then she closed the curtain.
The fitting room curtain slowly opened.
Amy stepped out in a flowing ivory gown that moved softly around her as she walked. The bodice was fitted with delicate floral lace, and the off-the-shoulder straps rested lightly on her arms.
The skirt fell in light layers of tulle, with a slit in the front that showed just enough of her leg as she moved. A small train trailed behind her, adding a touch of elegance.
Amy turned toward the mirror, taking in the reflection. For a moment, she simply stared. She looked like a bride.
"Wow… I think I just found my dress," Amy said, admiring herself in the mirror.
Isabelle got up from her seat and walked over to Amy. "It was made for you, my dearest sister."
Daisy and I nodded in agreement.
After Amy changed out of the wedding dress and paid for it, we exited the building and walked across the asphalt toward the cake shop.
It was a cute little bakery tucked between two storefronts, its wide glass windows displaying rows of beautifully decorated cakes.
Soft pastel boxes were stacked neatly behind the counter, and the sweet scent of vanilla and freshly baked pastries drifted through the air the moment we stepped inside.
A glass display case stretched along the front, showcasing cakes topped with delicate flowers, glossy fruit, and intricate icing designs that looked almost too perfect to eat.
Amy's eyes widened.
"Well… this is dangerous," she muttered.
I walked up to the front counter. "Hello, we would like to sample some cake for my friend's wedding."
The cashier was a young woman with black hair tied up in a ponytail and brown eyes glistening with excitement. "One moment please. I will go get the owner."
The cashier returned with a much older woman wearing a light pink apron dusted with flour. Her silver hair was tied into a loose bun, with a few wisps escaping around her face. Fine lines framed her eyes, but when she smiled at us, they crinkled warmly.
She wiped her hands on a small towel before stepping forward, the sweet smell of vanilla and butter lingering around her.
"Welcome," she said kindly. "Are you ladies here for the wedding tasting?"
We nodded.
The owner led us to a small round table near the window. A few minutes later, she returned carrying a tray filled with small plates.
Each plate held a neatly cut slice of cake.
Vanilla. Chocolate. Strawberry. Lemon. Even one topped with glossy berries.
Amy's eyes widened. "Oh wow."
The owner chuckled softly as she set the tray down. "These are some of our most popular wedding flavors. Take your time."
She placed small forks beside each plate before stepping away to give us space.
Amy stared at the cakes as if she had been given an impossible task. "How am I supposed to choose?" she asked.
Daisy picked up her fork first. "With great responsibility," she said dramatically before taking a bite of the chocolate cake.
She closed her eyes for a second. "Oh my god."
Isabelle leaned forward suspiciously and took a bite from the strawberry slice. "This one is good," she admitted after a moment. "Not too sweet."
Amy nervously cut a small piece of the vanilla cake and tasted it. Her face immediately softened. "Oh… this is really good."
I took a bite of the lemon cake and blinked in surprise. "That's dangerous," I said.
Daisy looked at me. "What does that mean?"
"It means I might eat the entire cake before the wedding."
Amy laughed.
"I'm serious," I said, taking another bite.
Daisy reached for the berry-topped cake and sampled it next. "This one looks fancy," she said before tasting it.
A moment later she nodded approvingly. "This is wedding material."
Isabelle pointed her fork toward Amy. "You should pick two flavors."
Amy frowned. "Two?"
"Yes," Isabelle said calmly. "One elegant flavor and one crowd-pleaser."
Amy looked at the cakes again, clearly overwhelmed.
I leaned back in my chair with my fork in hand. "Or," I suggested, "we could simply eat all of them and call it research."
Daisy burst out laughing. "I support that plan."
After deciding on a cake, Amy went to the cashier and placed the order. We exited the building afterward just as Mr. Lu pulled up.
We climbed into the back of the BMW and buckled up. The engine revved before the car pulled smoothly into traffic.
Mr. Lu dropped everyone off one by one before taking me back to the mansion.
The next day came too fast for my liking. I walked into the hospital building, but instead of heading toward the internal medicine unit, I went straight to Chief Wang's office.
The hallway that led to his office was unusually quiet. It could be because of the wet floor sign in the middle of the hallway. A faint whiff of lemon-scented cleaner lingered in the air.
When I reached his door, I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled before knocking.
"Come in."
I opened the door and walked in, closing it behind me.
Chief Wang's office was neat and professional. A large wooden desk sat in the center, covered with organized stacks of patient charts.
Behind him was a floor-to-ceiling glass window that overlooked the city. To the left, shelves stretched from one end of the wall to the other, filled with medical books, while certificates lined the opposite wall.
"Dr. Huo," he greeted.
I took a seat in one of the leather chairs in front of his desk. "Sir, I would like to request a week off work. I will be traveling to Hawaii for a wedding."
Chief Wang looked at me. "That shouldn't be a problem, Dr. Huo." A warm smile crept onto his face. "You have been an excellent member of our team, and the gala was a success."
Warmth spread across my chest. "Thank you, sir."
Chief Wang nodded.