The Faceless Billionaire Celebrity Wife-Chapter 341: Preparations.
As glasses were raised, Enoch cleared his throat, stepping forward for his toast. "I know today is supposed to be about new beginnings," he began, his voice warm and steady, "but I can’t help but reflect on how far we’ve come to get here. From the most unexpected start to finding love in the most unexpected way, every step led us to this moment." He paused, his gaze turning to Ruthlyn, eyes filled with admiration and tenderness. "Ruthlyn, I choose you every day—just as I did that day in the kitchen when I asked you to marry me, not out of obligation, but because I couldn’t imagine my life without you. Here’s to our future, to all the joy, laughter, and love still ahead."
A murmur of appreciation rippled through the small gathering, and Ruthlyn’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She raised her glass, her lips curving into a soft smile as she met Enoch’s gaze.
"I wasn’t expecting this," she started, her voice light with a hint of laughter, "not when we first met, and not when we found ourselves in the middle of an engagement I thought neither of us wanted. But life has a funny way of surprising you. Somewhere between the awkward moments and the bickerings, we found something real, something worth fighting for. Enoch, you taught me what it means to love without fear. To trust in something even when it doesn’t make sense. And I can’t wait to keep building this life with you."
She raised her glass a little higher. "To our love and the future ahead."
As the clinking of glasses followed, Enoch gently pulled Ruthlyn closer, his hand slipping to the small of her back. There was a quiet intensity in the way he looked at her, and without another word, he leaned in and kissed her. It was soft at first, a delicate brush of lips, but then it deepened, filled with the unspoken promises of their future, the love they’d fought to build. The kiss seemed to seal their bond in a way words never could, and as they pulled apart, their guests erupted into applause and cheers.
They turned, smiling together, arms wrapped around each other, as the afternoon sun reflected off the lake, casting golden ripples across the water.
The day, the love, the moment; it was the perfect view in Shikera’s sight. The perfect memory she could hold onto until after the surgery, when she returned.
If she did. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
★★★
As the D-Day grew nearer, the gadgets being transferred into Shikera’s private hospital room increased in numbers. With the persistent shortage of breath she experienced more frequently these days, she knew without anyone telling her that her health was gradually giving in.
The doctors came in more often than they used to, to check up on her, and when the day of Elovien’s live show finally arrived, she was on intravenous drip until her ride, in person of Noah, arrived, to get her to the media house.
The studio, a state-of-the-art facility designed for high-profile live shows, buzzed with controlled chaos. Rows of plush seats, upholstered in deep maroon velvet, stretched across the lower level, angled perfectly toward the massive stage. Spotlights, hanging like celestial bodies from the ceiling, illuminated the central area where the action would soon unfold. The black-and-white marble floor reflected the brilliance of the overhead lights, creating a sense of grandeur that made the space feel even more alive. Every surface gleamed, and the walls were adorned with sleek, modern panels that added to the studio’s refined aesthetic.
Cameras, some mounted on cranes, others handheld, were stationed at every conceivable angle, their lenses poised to capture the drama. A steady hum of conversation, punctuated by the beeping of technical equipment, filled the air. Crew members darted between stations, each assigned to a specific task, ensuring that nothing would go wrong once the cameras started rolling.
Maxwell, as the production’s relentless director that he was, moved with the precision of a maestro, orchestrating every detail with an exacting eye. He rarely stood still, his presence commanding as he barked orders, his voice cutting through the din.
"Camera Three, are we good? I need it ready in five—focus on the left side, we can’t have any shadows!"
"Jerry, make sure the lighting is tight on the backdrop. If it’s too bright, the set will wash out on camera."
He paused momentarily, then whipped around to a technician fumbling with cables. "What is this mess? Get these wires out of the shot! And can someone please check the mic levels on the backup feeds?"
"Calm down, Max," Skyler’s voice resounded from behind him. She gestured to the scurrying crew members and sighed, "I know we can’t afford any mistakes but please relax. Or we won’t be broadcasting an entertainment show today, but a crime scene where a show producer bit off the head of one of his workers."
In one corner of the studio, somewhat distanced from the flurry of activity, Shikera sat quietly, a notepad resting in her lap. Her gaze was focused on the bustling scene ahead, though the weight of her thoughts seemed heavier than the notes she scribbled absentmindedly. She had a calm exterior, but her hands occasionally gripped the pen a little too tightly, betraying her internal tension.
Team Leader Zuresh, ever the perfectionist, hovered nearby. Her sharp gaze was fixed on Shikera, though her focus was currently on the makeup artist standing beside her. "Make sure her makeup is light," she said, her voice firm and authoritative as she added, "But it has to be enough to conceal how frail she looks. I don’t want any sign of exhaustion showing up on camera."
The makeup artist nodded, carefully studying Shikera’s face, as she followed the instructions she was given while trying to tamp down the excitement in her pounding heart.
She was handling the make-up of a Mega family member, she would be opportuned to see Ethan DeLoach’s face first hand, and she had gossip that wasn’t yet presented to the public.
Her eyes lowered, down Shikera’s face and her bosom to the pale hand resting over her belly.
Shikera Anderson was pregnant!
