As Roy had expected, by the time they returned to their Beverly Hills home and opened their laptops, the internet was already flooded with photos from their wedding.
Since they hadn't prohibited guests from taking photos or asked them not to share them, and given that both Roy and Laila were public figures used to the spotlight, no one had felt any pressure about uploading the images.
But when Roy saw the photos taken and shared by the guests, his expression immediately darkened.
How could he have forgotten something so important?
"…Sorry. I still didn't do this right."
If he'd just thought it through a little more, maybe this wouldn't have happened.
"Why are you apologizing?"
Laila was flipping through the photos, each one capturing her and Roy looking perfectly matched, their happiness practically radiating from the screen. She was more delighted than anything—why would she need his apology?
"Don't you think they actually took some great shots?"
It was clear the guests had chosen the most flattering ones to post online. Aside from a few with poor lighting or awkward angles, most of them were genuinely nice. You could clearly see the love and joy between the bride and groom.
The comments on Facebook reflected the same sentiment:
"They look so happy. After ten years together, they finally tied the knot."
"Seeing how in love they still are after all these years… makes me believe in love again."
"I'm so jealous of Roy and Laila. Where is my Prince Charming?"
The couple's wedding outfits also drew a wave of admiration and awe.
"Laila's wedding dress is gorgeous! I'd give anything to wear that—even just for an hour!"
"Forget it. Just the gemstones alone probably cost more than you'll earn in your lifetime!"
"Who cares? It's beautiful! I always thought Laila was stunning, but wow—brides really are at their most beautiful on their wedding day."
But what captured the most attention was the wedding décor.
The crowd of A-list celebrities dressed as movie characters became the highlight for spectators. Business tycoons might hold power, but they weren't nearly as photogenic. Even if recognized, their tailored suits and refined looks simply couldn't compete with the star-studded flair of the film world.
"Wait—is that little Downey? Hahaha, he's dressed as Captain Jack?"
"OMG, my idol was there too! I'd heard she and Laila were close—guess it's true!"
"I saw Captain America. He's just as hot in real life!"
"Is no one talking about the church décor? Looks like every setup is from one of Laila's films?"
"You're right! Every single one! She's made so many iconic movies. And she's only thirty?! Meanwhile, I'm here wondering what I've done with my life…"
Laila scrolled through the flood of comments, giggling uncontrollably.
"You're not mad?" Roy hugged her from behind.
"Nope. Why would I be?"
"But you didn't want the wedding to be disturbed by outsiders. You even turned down million-dollar offers from several media outlets. And now, with all these pictures out there—wasn't that effort wasted?"
Laila smiled. "I didn't want our wedding disturbed—and it wasn't. We had our perfect ceremony. Now it's just some pictures being shared. And we look great in them. What's the harm in people seeing that? Think of it as a little gift to our fans."
Of course, that was just an excuse. She truly had hoped for the wedding to stay low-key. But her status made that all but impossible. Rather than let Roy wallow in guilt, she decided to let it go. After all, she was a public figure, and they'd invited plenty of guests—exposure was inevitable.
Seeing that she wasn't forcing a smile, Roy finally relaxed, though he still furrowed his brows slightly. He made a mental note to be even more meticulous in the future—to ensure something like this wouldn't happen again.
Laila rummaged through her suitcase and pulled out a collection of photos taken by the professional photographer at the wedding.
"Let's post some of our own. Pick the good ones!"
"Alright."
Roy wasn't about to refuse. If it were up to him, he'd announce to the entire world that this woman was his wife—the mother of his child—someone no one could ever take from him.
The two of them started sifting through the photos, laughing and reminiscing as they picked out their favorites.
"My mind went completely blank during the ceremony," Laila said, rubbing her forehead. "I didn't even know what I was doing."
She was usually so composed—not the kind of person to get overwhelmed by emotion. But she could swear, if someone had grabbed her hand and walked her out of there, she might've just followed them without realizing.
Roy chuckled and pulled her into his lap. "Same here. When I saw Grandpa walking you down the aisle, I could barely breathe."
If he hadn't been wearing a suit jacket, everyone would've seen how his shirt was completely soaked with nervous sweat.
Imagining that scene, Laila burst out laughing. "You getting nervous? That's rare!"
Seeing her laugh so happily, Roy smiled too.
After all, how many people get to marry the love of their life?
He was one of the lucky few—and he still couldn't believe it.
My wife.
What a beautiful phrase. Roy once again lost himself in that simple word, grinning like a fool.
Just as he was about to whisper some sweet nothings into her ear, Laila suddenly leapt off his lap and uploaded their carefully chosen photos to her Facebook account.
Seeing how focused she was on the screen, Roy could only rub his nose sheepishly and sit quietly beside her, not daring to interrupt.
Completely unaware of his moment of disappointment, Laila finished uploading the selected photos. Half of them showed her in her Western-style wedding gown on the island, and the other half featured her and Roy in traditional Eastern attire during the nighttime Chinese-style ceremony.
Because that part of the wedding was held at night, and all the guests had changed into Tang suits provided by Roy, no one had taken photos of the event.
Laila, wanting to promote traditional embroidery, chose to release a few shots herself.
In the past, she probably wouldn't have done something like this. But she loved her ancestral homeland. If there was a chance to promote it, why not?
The difference between these professional photos and those taken with smartphones or point-and-shoot cameras was crystal clear—and that contrast was perfectly showcased in the images Laila had just posted.