Chapter 3171
Chapter 3171 Your Happiness Comes From Mr. Mallory
"Why is there so much food? Are you preparing for a grand party?" Nina could not help but ask. She then immediately denied it.
A grand party could not possibly be in the form of a barbecue.
"Luca, how many people did you invite? Should I go home and change into something else?" asked Nina. She wore a shirt and jeans today, thinking it was just a private gathering where comfort mattered most.
However, she did not expect Luca to prepare so much food. She wondered if many people were going to attend later.
Previously, Nina would not have cared about these things. It was fine as long as she was comfortable.
Yet, things were different now. She and Percy had already registered their marriage, and this matter had spread in their social circle. That was why she could not just act according to her own whim.
She had to consider Percy's reputation.
Every move she made and every word she said now represented Percy.
"No need. This is fine. Look, I'm dressed casually too. It's just some friends gathering together. It's not a big party. Almost everyone here is someone you know." Luca shook her head.
"Oh, that's alright, then. I take back what I said earlier. I'll just try to eat as much as I can. There's so much. I can't possibly finish it all." Nina returned to the couch and sat down.
Aunt Neile brought over a teacup and said, "Mrs. Mallory, you must promise to eat more. The ingredients were all marinated by Ms. Craw. They taste really good."
"I'll do my best." Nina awkwardly smiled. She looked at Lanie and then pursed her lips.
This child...
She thought he would be as reserved as Luke, but she did not expect him to have a bit of a mischievous side. He was intentionally trying to make fun of her, huh?
Lanie shrugged his shoulders helplessly and said to Luca, "Ms. Luca, I'm going upstairs to read for a while."
"Sure, go ahead." Luca nodded. Their conversation was not particularly interesting to the children, so she did not stop Lanie from going upstairs.
Tommy and Rainie also said, "Ms. Luca, we're going upstairs too. If you need any help, just let US know."
"You two hurry upstairs and play around. There are so many adults here. There's nothing you need to help with." Nina chuckled. She pondered for a moment and sent a message to Percy, telling him to buy some more fruits when he came later.
She felt like she had not bought enough.
Percy replied to her message shortly after: [How much should I buy?]
[Get a crate and buy whatever you find nice.] When Nina remembered that Percy did not usually shop for these things, she reminded him: [Make sure they're in season. Don't get ripped off by the supermarket staff.]
[Got it. Don't worry, your husband isn't that easily fooled.]
Nina smiled sweetly and put her phone away.
Luca poured her a cup of flower tea and asked, "Why didn't Mr. Mallory come with you?"
"He said he has some work matters to handle, so I came by cab first, thinking I'd come to help. But it turns out I'm not needed at all," replied Nina.
Luca pursed her lips and smiled. Indeed, there was nothing for her to do.
She had already taken care of everything.
"If you really want to help, you can help with starting the fire later, okay?" Luca teased her.
To ensure good taste, Luca did not choose to use an electric grill. Instead, she would be using a charcoal grill, so they needed to light the charcoal later.
Luca believed that only barbecue smoked over charcoal could bring out the best flavors in food.
"No, no." Nina quickly shook her head as soon as she heard what the task was. "I'm not good at that. Let the guys handle this kind of thing."
Vivian could not help but chuckle at their conversation. It was quite amusing.
Vivian's laughter caught Nina's attention. She looked at Vivian and suddenly widened her eyes. "Vivian."
Feeling uncomfortable under Nina's gaze, Vivian instinctively touched her face. Was there something on it? Neither Luca nor the kids had said anything earlier.
"What's wrong?" She felt uneasy as Nina stared at her.
Nina stood up and sat beside her. "Why do I feel like your skin has improved so much? What skincare products have you been using? Could you recommend something to me? My skin has been a bit sensitive lately, and I've been thinking about changing my skincare routine."
"I'm still using the same products as before," replied Vivian, feeling flattered by the compliments on her improved skin.
"It's really amazing. I feel like you look much better. It doesn't even seem like you're wearing makeup. Is this your bare face?" asked Nina.
"It is. I'm not wearing makeup. Why does everyone keep saying that?" Vivian's face turned red under Nina's gaze.
Nina turned around to look at Luca. "Do you think so too?"
"Yeah, her skin does look better, but she doesn't seem to notice," answered Luca.
"Your skin has improved a lot. I must know what skincare brand you're using. Maybe the products will work for me too. My skin has been so sensitive lately, and if I don't fix it, I'll be a wreck on my wedding day," said Nina. How her face often felt dry and sensitive, and there was visible redness.
Luca glanced at Nina’s skin and suggested, "Let me make a facial mask for you. I promise it'll leave you looking radiant for your wedding day, and your makeup will apply smoothly no matter what."
A glimmer of joy flickered in Nina's eyes. "Really?"
"Absolutely!" Luca nodded confidently. Skincare was something she understood well.
"That's great! Having a friend who knows about pharmaceuticals is a blessing," Nina exclaimed happily, giving Luca a big hug. "Luca, I feel so happy."
"Your happiness comes from Mr. Mallory, not from me." Luca patted her back, glanced at the time, and added, "Alright, I'll go outside and set up the tables and chairs."
If it were just Percy and Nina, the pavilion would be sufficient.
However, with more guests coming, they needed to add more tables and chairs in that area. They also needed to add a few more high-wattage lamps to brighten up the front yard.
"I knew there'd still be things I could help with. I'll lend a hand!” Nina exclaimed excitedly.
Vivian also stood up. "I'll help too."
"You’re the guests. You can just sit in the living room and enjoy some tea." Luca did not expect these two to offer help as well.
"Oh, come on. You know I can't sit still. Besides, it's not hard work, especially now that there's no sun in the front yard. Let US help. Right, Vivian?" Nina winked at Vivian.
"Yeah, Nina's right." Vivian nodded in agreement.
Unable to refuse, Luca let the two of them help with arranging the tables and chairs.
Once everything was set up, Luca and the others enjoyed some flower tea in the yard. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
With the afternoon sun blocked by the house, the cool breeze blew, dispersing the heat of the day.
Nina leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes comfortably. She held the cold drink Luca had made for her and sighed contentedly. "I just love this garden so much."