CHAPTER 296: WALK ME DOWN THE AISLE

Georgia’s POV

When I woke up the next morning, the other side of the bed was already empty. The sheets were cold, and when I glanced toward the desk where Nick usually left his bag, it was gone. He must’ve left early.

Still half-asleep, I dragged myself out of bed and followed the faint sound of chatter coming from the dining area. There, I found Vicky, Prudence, and Katie already having breakfast. The warm smell of coffee and toasted bread instantly made me smile.

Vicky spotted me right away and waved. "Morning, sleepyhead! Come join us," she said, pouring coffee into a cup and handing it to me the moment I sat down.

"If you’re looking for my brother, he left early," she continued. "Oliver was supposed to meet him at the office. I actually ran into him in the elevator on my way here."

Prudence nodded as she buttered her toast. "He told us not to wake you. Said you were exhausted from all the wedding preparations yesterday, and since you’re on leave, you deserve to rest."

I covered a yawn with one hand and smiled faintly. If only they knew I’m not tired because of wedding plans, but because of their dear Nicholas and his version of ’punishment’ for teasing him last night.

"Yeah," I said instead, trying to sound casual. "I’m on leave, but I still need to head out later. I’m visiting Wendy this morning, then I have to meet another wedding planner and the caterer at Nick’s office in the afternoon."

Katie looked up from her plate, her big eyes bright with excitement. "Can I come with you, Mommy?"

I couldn’t help but smile. I reached over, cupping her cheek before giving it a playful pinch. "Not today, sweetheart. You’ve got kindergarten, remember? But..." I leaned closer, whispering conspiratorially, "I can bring home some fried chicken later if you promise to behave."

Her face lit up instantly. "Okay!" she chirped, nodding enthusiastically before going back to her breakfast.

I chuckled softly and took a sip of my coffee, feeling the warmth spread through me. Mornings like this, quiet, lighthearted, and full of small joys, made everything feel just right.

"I can come with you to visit Wendy if you’d like," Vicky offered as she sliced her pancakes. "Then we can meet up with Ella for lunch before you head to Nick’s office."

I blinked at her, surprised. "You can do that today? Aren’t you busy with work?"

"Mm-hmm," she said with a grin. "There’s not much going on in the office anyway. My team basically runs on autopilot at this point. Ella and I were supposed to meet about the hydroponics system for Nick’s new ships. Since you’re a co-owner of Urban Paradise Farm too, you should join us!"

I smiled at the thought. "That actually sounds perfect. I won’t be managing my team at Pacific Manning Services anymore after the wedding, so this might be the right time for me to start working with Ella full-time. I’ll miss my old job, but I’ll love being at the farm even more."

"It’s settled then," Vicky said, clearly pleased. "I’ll text Ella after breakfast so she can reserve us a table. You can get ready while I finish up here."

The rest of breakfast went by in a pleasant rhythm—laughter, light chatter, and Katie telling a story about a classmate who apparently believed fairies lived in the school garden.

By the time I was done with my coffee, the plan was set: Vicky and I would visit Wendy in the morning, then meet Ella for lunch at a restaurant near her office, where she’d show us the prototype of the hydroponics system soon to be installed on Nick’s new ships.

I stopped by Wendy’s doctor first before heading to her room, and to my delight, she was already walking when I stepped inside.

"Well, well... looks like someone’s ready to go home," I said with a grin as I watched her take careful, steady steps across the floor.

Wendy turned toward me, her face lighting up. "You’re absolutely right. This old lady just wants to get out of here—wherever home may be. I’m done with hospital food," she joked, making me chuckle.

"Doesn’t it hurt when you walk?" I asked, wincing a little as I watched her move slowly back to the bed.

"It’s manageable," she said, smiling as the private nurse helped her sit down. "Now, tell me—how’s the wedding coming along?"

"It’s going smoothly," I said, taking a seat beside her. "The wedding planner and her team are great. We just need to pick the dishes today to finalize the menu, and tomorrow they’ll start measuring everyone for the suits and dresses. After that, it’s mostly updates until the big day."

"I’ll make sure I’m running marathons in two weeks so I can keep up with Katie on that day," she teased.

I laughed softly before saying, "Actually, I asked Bella to post an ad for a nanny. I’d like to hire one before the wedding; it’ll be a full-time position. Just focus on getting better."

Her brows drew together, and she gave me a playful frown. "Don’t tell me you’re replacing this old lady?"

"Of course not," I said quickly, shaking my head. "It’s the opposite, really. I don’t want you chasing after Katie all the time. Let’s face it, you’re not getting any younger, and I am worried about you. I’m promoting you to house manager. You’ll have your own team, and all you need to do is give orders. No heavy work, I promise. You’ll be the big boss when we are out of the house."

Wendy’s eyes widened, then she broke into a proud, radiant smile. "Only a fool would say no to that! Of course I accept!" She turned to her nurse, her tone full of joy. "You heard that? I’m getting promoted!"

I couldn’t help but laugh. That was Wendy—always humble, always full of light. Even in her hospital gown, she radiated warmth that made the whole room feel like home.

"There’s one more thing," I began nervously, my palms already starting to sweat. "You see... I’m getting married soon, but I don’t have Dad or David anymore."

I swallowed hard, my voice trembling a little. "So, I was wondering if... maybe... You could walk me down the aisle instead? You’re the closest I have to a family besides Ella, but she’s my maid of honor. You are like a mom to me, and if you say yes, then even without my parents or my brother, I’ll feel like I still have family with me... because it’ll be your hand I’m holding while walking towards Nick. And—"

I was rambling, too nervous to stop myself, until Wendy reached out and gently took my hands, her touch instantly grounding me.

"Darling," she said softly, her eyes glistening. "You don’t have to explain. It would be my greatest honor to walk you down the aisle and give you to Nicholas. Both of you deserve all the happiness in the world."

That was it—I couldn’t hold it in anymore. My chest tightened, and before I knew it, tears were spilling down my cheeks. I threw my arms around her and hugged her tight, crying the way Katie does when she needs comfort. Only this time, I was crying from joy.

Wendy chuckled lightly, patting my back. "It’s alright, my dear. I’m happy you finally found the man you deserve. I’m sure your parents, David, and his wife are watching you right now. And they’re probably saying, ’There she goes again, that silly girl—crying instead of celebrating.’"

I laughed through my tears, clutching her even tighter. Somehow, in that moment, everything felt whole again, as if my whole family was with me.