Broken Memories, Intertwined Hearts

Phoebe was quite indifferent to it all. She wasn't that kind of typical young girl who fretted over her looks. This was her best friend's big day. As long
as her friend was happy, Phoebe was good.
"Hey, don't give me that look. Noel and Aaron were the ones who helped me with the decisions." Ethan quickly deflected the blame onto his two
buddies.
A sarcastic eyebrow raised, Phoebe had to admit this was typical of Noel. He was quite the possessive boyfriend. Ever since they started dating, he'd
discarded all her slightly provocative clothes. She had learned to adapt to his ways.
Ashley's face cleared up as she glared at Aaron. "Aaron, you old fuddy-duddy! How could you dress us so conservatively? I bet you were the one
who insisted on this extra layer of lace, weren't you?"
Aaron cleared his throat awkwardly. "I think this design suits you better. It's much better than the original one. It might seem a bit plain, but it's just like
Izzy's wedding dress, a masterpiece of a well-known designer. It fits perfectly!"
"You work in finance. Don't tell me you're a fashion guru now too."
Aaron was left speechless.
Ines smirked at the scene. She thought Aaron and Ashley made quite an odd couple. His calmness and warmth balanced out Ashley's quirks and
wittiness.
"Mr. Meyer, the photographers are ready. Once you're dressed, you can proceed with the photoshoot."
The groomsmen's attire was more straightforward - two tailored Armani suits in silver-grey. The outfits for the two babies were prepared well in
advance - a delicate pink princess dress for the girl and a miniature suit for the boy.
The whole process lasted till seven in the evening. It was late, so the family of four decided to head straight to their new home in the city.

The refrigerator was empty, as they hadn't cooked in a while. The only option was to grab groceries. The two babies sat face-to-face in the shopping
cart, with Ethan pushing them along. They seemed fascinated by the novelty of the ride, grinning from ear to ear.
The handsome couple, along with their adorable kids, attracted quite a few curious and admiring glances.
When they arrived home, both children were fast asleep. After tucking them in, Ines joined Ethan in the kitchen. She had become his shadow,
following him around everywhere. Ethan chuckled, "Izzy, you can rest for a while. You must be tired too."
"I can't sleep without you by my side. Seeing you makes me feel less tired."

Unable to convince Ines to rest, Ethan let her stay in the kitchen and help prepare dinner. By the time they finished, it was already half-past nine. Ines
hadn't had Ethan's home-cooked meals for a while now, so she relished every bite.
Just as they started to enjoy their meal, both children began to cry. Ines looked at Ethan in shock, realizing a serious oversight. "Honey, what are we
going to feed them?"
"Sweetheart, I think I forgot to prepare their food." Ethan looked slightly distressed.
They hadn't planned to stay in downtown, because the photoshoot was supposed to wrap up earlier. But with all the women, things had taken longer
than expected.
Ines couldn't hold back her laughter at the sight of the usually stoic Ethan looking flustered. It was clear he blamed himself for forgetting to prepare
food for their little babies.
"Alright, our dear Mr. Meyer made a rare blunder. Or rather, we both did. Let's quickly pick up the kids and figure something out."
Ethan was usually meticulous, especially when it came to their children. Ines had grown accustomed to relying on him, so this oversight was
unexpected.
Their two bright and cute kids could be quite a handful when hungry. They wailed loudly, calling out for their mommy and daddy.
It was rare for the kids to call out for their mother at this hour. Ines felt a mix of joy and anxiety. "What should we do, Ethan? I can't stand to hear them

cry. It's giving me a headache."
Ethan frowned slightly, "Maybe we could feed them some rice. It's quite soft. It might help tide them over."
Ines wasn't sure. "No, that's not a good idea. They might have teeth now, but we can't be reckless. How about I feed them some soup while you turn
the rice into a thin porridge?"
"Alright, that's the best we can do for now." With no time to waste, Ethan went to prepare the food for the kids.
"Ivy, Ollie, your father forgot to prepare your food. That's why you're hungry. I've already scolded him." "Have some soup first to fill your tummies.
You'll have proper food soon. Hold on, Ivy, it's your brother's turn. One spoonful each. There's plenty for both of you. No need to fight."
...
Hearing his wife's soft voice, and his children's sweet cries of "mommy" from the dining room, Ethan felt a wave of contentment wash over him.
By the time they had settled the kids, it was already eleven. Ines was too tired to move.

The Meyer family was busy preparing for the wedding. The women, especially, were full of enthusiasm. They even designed the entire wedding
ceremony themselves. Ashley was the most creative of them all. The wedding planners were sidelined, only occasionally providing information based
on their experience.
Everyone was busy. Even the two babies were taken to the room by Ethan, who was up to some secret project with them.
In reality, there wasn't that much to do. They were all seasoned veterans, capable of multitasking.
Silas and Herschel had taken over all business matters, insisting that Ines should rest at home and be in the best shape for her big day.
Everyone was bustling about, leaving Ines as the only idle one. Watching everyone work, Ines couldn't help but exclaim, "At least give me something
to do. I'm so bored."
"Ines, just relax and enjoy being the bride. Leave everything else to us," Ashley reassured her.
Ines looked at Ethan with a hint of forlornness. "Ethan, could you at least involve me a bit? Let me in on how to arrange a wedding. Otherwise, when
Ivy gets married, I, as her mother, won't know a thing. I'll become a laughing stock!"
Upon hearing this, Ethan's eyes were filled with amusement. This girl must have been seriously bored recently to come up with such an excuse.
"Alright then," he said, "why don't you pick out some of the wedding invitations? I have to write them out later. You can proofread them for me. Make
sure I don't miss or mess up anything."