After enjoying a few days in Skopelos, everyone started packing so they could go to Switzerland for New Years Eve. It was exhausting, but they treated it as an escape- something that they seldom had. Moreover, everyone was ecstatic and excited to visit Switzerland.
Grindelwald Switzerland is a magical place. It was one of Lily’s dream to visit the place and enjoy its picturesque glaciers and lakes. To Lily, going to Switzerland with Zhuo Jingren and people that she considered as friends are something that she would never forget in her life.
Just like Lily, everyone thought that this is a memorable trip. The addition of Eliza and her twin brother Levi only made it more fun.
“Eliza seemed to like you a lot.” Li Shanshan sat beside Lily. They were currently on the train to Grindelwald.
“She is a good kid,” Lily answered.
“Good thing that her father agreed to make her come with us. I mean… Royalty and all.”
“He wanted her to find her own path.” She stared outside of the train. “Duke Phil wanted her own daughter to decide for her own future. Or maybe I am completely wrong and he just wanted her to have some fun.”
“Hmmm…” Li Shanshan nodded as she closed her eyes and leaned her head against Lily’s shoulders. “I hope she will find it soon.” After a few hours on the train, the group finally arrived in Grindelwald and check-in into their respective rooms.
Since the group already skied at Skopelos, some of them refused to ski when they arrived in the village. The decided to stay in their rooms or spend their time watching the views while riding cable cars. Then they decided to spend their New Year viewing ice sculptures and witnessed the World Snow Festival that is held every year in Switzerland.
“For some reason, my gut is telling me that this is the calm before the storm.” Lily intertwined her hands with her husband’s and held it in front of her. She then snapped a photo on her phone and smiled. “I honestly don’t want to feel this way…” she continued.
“You should learn how to relax.” He hugged her from behind, his hands wrapped on her waist as he eyed the snow-coated mountain top. Cold air slowly swept through them, making Lily shiver as she made herself comfortable in her husband’s arms. She leaned against his shoulders and sighed.
Lily had been in a world full of treachery and chaos that she honestly forgot what it feels to have a relaxing time with the people that she love. “Maybe we should do this more often.” She uttered, her voice low. “We should come back here… just the two of us.”
“Hmmm… then, let’s buy a house nearby.” He nodded. Right now, they were staying in a hotel just near the village of Grindelwald.
“It will be very expensive. But I agree… I really love this place. I think we should come back for our honeymoon as well.”
Zhuo Jingren kissed her cheeks and nodded. “Whatever you say.” He said. They have been staying in Switzerland for three days now and they were planning to go back to Hong Kong soon to take care of their business before their wedding.
At first, Zhuo Jingren wanted to spend the whole month of January in Europe for their wedding preparations. However, Lily’s reasoning about the Zhou Family was also right. She wanted to take care of them before the wedding so she could at least have a little peace of mind. “Before we leave for Hong Kong, we need to check your wedding gown. Bei Tian had been bugging me about this.”
“And we need to take photos too,” Lily added. Bei Tian was, in fact, bugging both of them because of this. He wanted a perfect wedding for Lily and he had been asking them to stop thinking about business and focus their full attention to the wedding- something that Lily found difficult to do because of the Zhou Family and other lurking enemies. “He seemed to be more excited than us.” She smiled.
He nodded in response.
“You know, now that I thought about it. I think we miscalculated. This wedding is just… the timing is awful.” Lily said. “I mean… the Lee Family is showing themselves, then there is the Zhou Family. I’m sure your mother will turn up soon.”
“I always thought my family was chaotic. Then, I met your family.” She added and laughed. “No offense. But they are the exact definition of crazy.”
“You are making it sound as if you are regretting marrying me. You can’t back out now, you know we are already married.”
Lily shook her head and giggled. “Too bad, huh?” Then her expression turned serious. “We can’t really bring a child into this kind of family.” Seeing Mikaela and her small family made Lily think about a lot of stuff about creating her own family. “With our enemies lurking… bringing a child in this world is dangerous. It is selfish for us to think that we can do it now.”
“I can protect you.”
“I know… But that is not the answer that I was looking for.” Lily said and turned towards him. “I want you to protect me and our child. Promise me.”
He laughed. “You are talking as if you are already pregnant.” Seeing the swirl of emotions in Lily’s eyes, Zhuo Jingren turned serious. “Of course, I promise you. I will protect you and our child.” She smiled in response and gave him a light kiss.
“I trust you.”
A simple sentence. A simple answer.
Lily trusted him. As naive as it may sound, she believed him. She knew that the only permanent thing in this world are changes. She knew that everything that they have could be taken away in a blink of an eye. But Lily decided to hold unto his promise, to believe in his words.
It wasn’t because of logic or her ability to analyze things. It was simply because of her emotions, her affection towards him. She trusted him, and this is something that the world cannot take away from her.
