Susan was extremely shocked. Hannah's wedding dress was dazzling, beyond words; a dream gown for any woman. Even the workers were awestruck, exclaiming, "The dress is pretty, and it looks so good on you, Miss Cooper!" Hannah, beaming, resembled a fairy princess.
"Miss Cooper, please take a seat. I'll do your makeup," the worker said politely. Susan sat at another dressing table, thinking she almost preferred Oscar's taste—far superior to Charles'.
"Miss Cooper, since the dress is outstanding, we'll be less lavish with the accessories. But don't worry, they're luxurious," the worker explained. Hannah's slight unhappiness at being perceived as materialistic prompted the worker to add, "Mr. Wells wanted us to tell you that."
Susan laughed. "Oscar is certainly honest." While discussing money felt cliché, Oscar was infinitely better than those wolves in sheep's clothing. The worker detailed each accessory: "This crown, the Halo Tiara, a gift from George VI, was inlaid with 1,311 diamonds, each symbolizing the king's love for his wife."
Initially uninterested, Susan soon became captivated. Her own preparations were simpler. Once dressed, she listened attentively. "This necklace, the Robinson Pelham, was designed by Phillippe Tournair," the worker said, fastening it. Its transparency and brilliance were breathtaking; undoubtedly priceless. "Mr. Wells only asked me to tell you its origin. It's a Wells family heirloom, an antique."
"Oscar's giving you his family heirloom, Hannah. He might be serious about you!" Susan exclaimed. The extravagance suggested a deep commitment; it seemed meticulously planned. This contrasted sharply with Hannah's forced engagement a month prior. One month hardly seemed sufficient for such elaborate preparations.
They spent the afternoon on makeup. A knock came. "Mr. Wells asks me to remind Miss Cooper the ceremony starts in half an hour. He's prepared desserts for you and Miss Phillips," the person announced before departing.
The makeup artist quickly opened the door, and the desserts were delivered. The worker separated them, saying, "Mr. Wells also asked me to tell you this."
"What is it?" Susan asked excitedly, curious about Oscar's remaining surprises.
"The chocolate before you, Miss Phillips, is Frozen Haute chocolate, made with 28 types of expensive cocoa beans and 23 carats of edible gold. The gold-plated cup and diamond-studded spoon are worth about twenty-two thousand eight hundred and four."
Susan was speechless; she felt it reckless to simply consume it. "The one for Miss Cooper…" the worker continued, "...contains strawberries soaked in exotic wine, complemented by cream and mint. It's worth… 1.28 million."
"What the fuck?" Susan exclaimed. "Who is he fooling? Soaked strawberries costing 1.28 million? I'd be priceless just for traveling abroad!"
The worker, accustomed to Susan's reactions, calmly confirmed the price. Susan's disbelief continued until the worker removed a strawberry, revealing a pink diamond ring nestled within. It gleamed brilliantly.
"Oscar's clever," Susan mumbled. "Expensive dessert; I'd feel awful not helping him put this ring on you." She removed the heart-shaped diamond, realizing the 1.28 million price tag wasn't an exaggeration.
After a moment, she held Hannah's hand, noting its slight tremble. "Shocked by his actions?" she asked. Hannah nodded, confirming her astonishment. "Me too," Susan agreed. "Right now, I think Oscar is extremely cool." It wasn't bribery; she simply believed Oscar deeply loved Hannah. Compared to Oscar's wedding, Charles paled into insignificance.