Olivia Sparks

As the song was to reach its end, Maxen twirled Olivia one more time. Her laughter was soft and playful. "More," she requested while Maxen gladly obliged, twirling her one more time.

He dipped half of her body at the last beat of the conga, the noontime sun blinding Olivia that she had to close her eyes for a split second. It was when she opened her eyes that the only person she could see was Maxen.

Then it hit her.

"Want to do something crazy?" She scanned his eyes for the answer she knew would roll out of his tongue.

"Yes."

"How does a trip to the marriage bureau sound?"

A boyish grin painted Maxen's face. He lifted her up, spinning them both around and around, their euphoria infected the live band, painting smiles on their faces too.

Putting her back on her feet, Maxen gripped her hand. "Let's go before you change your mind."

It was a twenty-minute drive from midtown to Soho where the marriage bureau was, and the two made a quick trip to a jewelry shop to buy their wedding bands first.

"Pick whatever you want. I need to give the mayor a call," Maxen whispered in her ear before stepping out of the shop.

Her eyes twinkled, mirroring the sparkle of the rows of rings in front of her. Scanning left to right, her eyes subconsciously darted to the rack on the far left inside the glass-encased shelve.

"I'd like those in our sizes please." She blushed as she pointed to the ring's direction.

The staff excused herself just in time the door buzzed, telling Olivia that Maxen was back.

"He said he'll send his secretary for the waiver." He kneaded her waist when he felt an abnormal knot in his stomach. "Have you picked one?"

"Nailed it." Maxen beamed at her, taking the rings off from the case. Olivia bit her bottom lip as he slipped the ring in her finger, planting a kiss on it after. "There's no turning back now, baby."

Locking gazes with him, Olivia's eyes crinkled as she assured him, "I don't intend to."

Reaching the marriage bureau, they had to form in line along with other couples since it was a last-minute wedding and the mayor wasn't available to officiate it, which was perfectly fine with them. For once in Maxen's life, he felt like an average citizen as they sat in the waiting area for their names to be called.

Soon, the officiating judge called two pairs of names inside her chamber. Maxen and Olivia, and the couple who wore matching pink clothes.

"Okay lovebirds, I'll get these two married first because I don't want her to be popping her baby here in my office," the judge joked, jutting her thumb to the pregnant bride who was wearing a simple pink dress.

"Sure, sure. Go ahead," Maxen replied, sending a thumbs up to the couple's way.

When it was Maxen and Olivia's turn to get married, the judge scrutinized them, looking over her glasses. She directed upon seeing they don't bring a witness with them, "You need one person to sign your doc.u.ments as a witness."

Panic painted Olivia's face as she completely forgot about it. She was thinking of summoning Shadow over but Maxen beat her to finding their witness.

"Excuse me, sir. Sir!" Maxen took long strides towards the leaving group. "Would you mind being our witness?" he requested the father of the newly-wedded couple.

"Of course! Let's go, so you can make babies right away," the old man joked, dispersing the tense atmosphere in the room.

Watching the man sign the doc.u.ment, Olivia made a mental note of the old man's name and address so she could send him a thank you gift later.

The ceremony fleeted by, Maxen and Olivia didn't even realize they were married until the judge coughed, reminding Maxen to kiss the bride.

"Oh, yeah." He snapped out from his trance after Olivia squeezed his hand so tight it turned white.

The whole time he was transfixed on Olivia, afraid to let go of her hand, afraid that what was happening was all a dream but he knew in his heart that it wasn't.

Holding the small of her back, Maxen dipped Olivia, sealing their vows with a kiss.

"Thank you so much, sir." Maxen shook hands with the old man and walked towards the other newly wedded couple, shaking hands with them too.

"I hope you don't mind me taking your photo," the pregnant lady uttered, showing Maxen and Olivia a photo of their wedding kiss. "I can send it to your email."

"That would be lovely. Thank you so much." Maxen accepted the pregnant lady's phone typing in Jack's email address.

Time flew by, and it was soon the weekend—Finn's fourth birthday celebration. Maxen and Olivia were back in Nisia on different flight schedules, the same way they left the country. 

Thousands of miles away, the old man who was the registered witness of their nuptials, received a letter in the mail from his bank, telling him that his mortgage had been paid off and his retirement plan had been tanked to cover him for the basics for the rest of his life.

Up in Lin Estate, Olivia and Maxen arrived earlier than the other guests dressed as Suzy Bishop and Sam Shakusky from the movie Moonrise Kingdom, respectively. It was a "Four-ever Wild Safari" theme after all.

They intend to share the news of their surprise marriage but were instead welcomed with the news of Henry Lin sending Amelia to a psychiatric facility that morning. 

Even with that piece of news, the party went on as if trouble wasn't brewing in the Lin paradise. So the couple decided that it would be best if they keep the news under wraps for the meantime.

Meanwhile, Ava and Oliver were busy watching over the preparations in the Lin Estate's garden that was magically transformed into a camping site with teepees and picnic tables that were aesthetically arranged to fill the expanse of the venue.

The way the garden was prepared looked as if hundreds of guests were invited, but in reality, it was only the Lins and the Lees who were the guests for the said occasion that afternoon.

Soon, cars registered to the Lee Family rolled up the driveway. It was carrying the whole main branch of the Lee family, spearheaded by Patriarch Lee.

A servant welcomed the family by the main entrance and ushered them to the garden where food, booze, and fun was being served.

"Aiyoo! My boy Maxen is here!" Patriarch Lee stomped his cane on the grassy lawn upon seeing Maxen speaking with Ollie by the mobile bar. 

"A glass, please. On the rocks." Patriarch Lee winked at the bartender, sliding a crispy hundred dollar bill to the boy whose eyes shone dollar signs as he scrambled to serve the old man his drink. It was actually his old and golden trick every party—tipping the bartender the sooner he gets in the venue. 

He considered it as his investment so he wouldn't need to wave his hand or eye the bartender to get another fill of poison because the guy himself would make sure that Patriarch Lee's glass would never go empty for the entirety of the event.

"Where's your sister, Ollie?" Patriarch Lee scanned the area, looking for the famous Lin Heiress.

Beside Patriarch Lee, Maxen and Oliver chuckled. 

"Why are you looking for her, Grandpa? Tired of playing chess so you'll play matchmaking now? Leave that to the ladies," Oliver replied.

"Ha! I am asking because I wanted to warn Maxen to stay away from her. That woman is not someone Maxen could handle."

"Grandpa," Maxen trailed off to warn the old man but was interrupted when Patriarch Lee shushed him.

"I've seen her once in Lance and Selena's Ting Hun and I must say, she's one of a kind. A woman like her can't be tamed, one that you shouldn't think of crossing her path with because the next thing you know, you'll be wagging your tail at her every command. You don't want that to happen to you, do you?" He smirked when the memory of Olivia crossed his mind.

"About that, Grandpa," Maxen tried to speak again but Patriarch Lee babbled on.

"Ollie, did your sister bring a date with her? Where is she anyway? Is she with Ava?" He craned his neck and saw Ava speaking with her father, Adler, by the buffet table. 

The truth was, he was eager to introduce Olivia to one of his grandsons and he was starting to get impatient when he heard someone huff beside him.

Swiveling her barstool to face the Lee Patriarch, Olivia smiled, greeting him. "Good afternoon, Grandpa."

Patriarch Lee's eyes grew big as saucers, his hand tightened on the gold handle of his cane. "Maleficent, we meet again."

Rolling her eyes, Olivia informed the man, "Fortunately, I don't go by that name anymore."

"Ha! Good riddance. Then what name do you go by now?"

"O Sui." She winked, stretching her arm for Maxen to take, which he did. He kissed the back of it before standing behind her, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"Grandpa, meet Olivia. Olivia, this is the grandpa I've been talking to you about. He's a bit grumpy, it comes with his age."

Stumped for words, Patriarch Lee swung his cane, hitting Maxen on the leg. "You silly child! Why didn't you tell me earlier she was your O Sui!"