Chapter 254 | The Attraction

Chapter 254: 254 | The Attraction

The festival grounds were nothing like Dexter had imagined.

When Tessa had described it as a neighborhood festival mixed with a picnic, Dexter had pictured something simple. Music. Dancing. Perhaps a few stalls selling food and drinks. Children running around playing games. Something old-fashioned and peaceful.

The reality waiting for them beyond the entrance was completely different.

Dexter stopped pushing Mira’s wheelchair for a moment.

"Well..."

His eyes moved across the enormous garden.

"I definitely wasn’t expecting this."

The garden itself was massive, stretching almost as far as a football field. Green grass covered most of the open space. Colorful banners hung between lampposts, and the distant sound of music mixed with laughter and conversation.

But the first thing that caught everyone’s attention was the structure at the very center.

A waterfall.

It rose almost ten meters into the air, surrounded by an elaborate circular pool and strange architectural structures that concealed most of the machinery operating it. Yet its most fascinating feature was the illusion it created.

The water appeared to be flowing upward.

Thousands of glittering droplets seemed to rise from the pool toward the sky instead of falling toward the earth. Under the sunlight, those droplets sparkled brilliantly, occasionally creating tiny fragments of rainbows that danced across the mist.

Lyra stopped walking. Her dark eyes widened, reflecting the shimmering water.

Even Mira stared.

Selene couldn’t see the spectacle, but she could hear the tremendous rush of water in the distance.

Dexter continued forward.

The waterfall was only the beginning.

Beyond the enormous picnic field were numerous attractions. A roller coaster rose above one side of the garden, its tracks twisting between several artificial hills.

Farther away stood a horror house decorated to resemble a ruined castle. Fog machines pumped mist around its entrance, and costumed figures lurked near the doorway, waiting to scare unsuspecting visitors.

There were shooting ranges and game booths. Candy stores and small restaurants were present. Children’s rides and prize stalls completed the scene.

There was even a large artificial lake with small boats drifting across it, their occupants laughing as they paddled in circles.

Families were everywhere.

Some had spread colorful mats across the grass and were eating together beneath large umbrellas. Others were walking between attractions carrying snacks and drinks. Children raced across the grass while their parents shouted after them. Groups of adults sat together laughing. Several families were already lining up for the roller coaster.

Dexter stared.

"So this is what Tessa calls a picnic?"

Mira’s lips curled. "Apparently."

"I feel deceived."

Lyra’s voice appeared inside their minds. ’It looks fun.’

Mira nodded. "It does."

Dexter looked toward her. Mira was studying the attractions with considerably more interest than he had expected. Her eyes moved from the roller coaster to the shooting range to the horror house.

"All right."

He pushed Mira farther into the festival.

"First, we establish our territory."

Mira glanced upward. "Our territory?"

"Picnic territory."

"That’s not a thing."

"It is now."

They entered through the main gate without difficulty. There were no tickets or guards demanding identification. The entire event appeared to have been arranged specifically for residents of the neighborhood and their guests.

Dexter searched for somewhere suitable. Many of the best spots near the waterfall had already been occupied.

Eventually, he noticed a large open patch of grass beneath the partial shade of an enormous tree. It was far enough from the busiest attractions that they wouldn’t constantly have people walking around them, yet close enough to the center of the festival to enjoy everything.

"Here."

Dexter stopped. "This should work."

The three women seemed satisfied.

"Give me a second."

Dexter flipped his hand.

Three folded picnic mats appeared.

He unfolded the first mat.

"Fwoop!"

It spread neatly across the grass. Then another. And another. He arranged the three large mats beside one another until they formed one comfortable picnic area.

"There."

Dexter stepped back proudly.

Lyra immediately sat down, folding her legs beneath her. Selene carefully lowered herself onto the mat beside her, using Lyra’s hand for guidance. The two of them settled in comfortably, their shoulders almost touching.

Dexter then turned toward Mira. She was still in her wheelchair.

"Do you want to stay in the chair?"

Mira glanced at the mats.

Dexter continued, "Or would you rather sit with us?"

Mira considered it but then spoke.

"Put me on the mat."

Dexter raised an eyebrow. "You’re sure?"

"I already came all the way here."

A small smile appeared on her face. "I might as well get the full experience."

Dexter smiled. "Fair enough."

He locked the wheelchair. Then he bent down.

Her right arm.

Unlike the rest of her body, which remained badly affected by her injuries, the arm had already recovered enough function for her to move it voluntarily.

Dexter slid one arm behind Mira’s back and the other beneath her legs.

"Ready?"

"Just pick me up."

"Bossy."

"Dexter."

"Picking you up."

He lifted her effortlessly. Mira’s arm moved around his shoulder for stability. Neither of them noticed several conversations nearby becoming considerably quieter.

Dexter carried Mira onto the mat. He was careful when lowering her, making certain her legs remained properly positioned rather than twisting awkwardly beneath her.

"There."

Mira adjusted herself using her recovered right arm. Dexter placed a cushion nearby, but before he could help her further, Mira used her arm to support herself. She shifted slightly. Then, with visible effort, she propped her head against her right hand. Her crimson hair spilled around her shoulders, catching the sunlight like threads of fire.

Dexter looked at her.

Mira noticed. "What?"

"Nothing."

"You’re staring again."

"I’m allowed to look at my wife."

Mira’s eyes narrowed. "You’ve become increasingly shameless."

"I’ve been practicing."

"Clearly."

Lyra silently laughed beside them, her shoulders shaking with suppressed giggles.

Dexter smiled and began arranging their things. What none of them could completely ignore, however, were the people around them.

The whispers had followed them from the parking lot.

Dexter Ashford was hardly an anonymous figure.

The discarded firstborn of the Ashford family. The bastard son who had spent years as little more than a servant. The man who had suddenly married three once-famous women from powerful families.

People wanted to see him. More importantly, they wanted to see his wives.

Dexter’s enhanced hearing caught whispers from several nearby picnic groups.

"That’s really him."

"Dexter Ashford?"

"Those are the three?" ℴℴ𝘮

"I heard they moved into this neighborhood recently."

"That’s Mira Calloway..."

"The silver-haired one must be Selene Frost."

"What about the dark-haired woman?"

"Lyra Vance."

Dexter heard everything but simply ignored it. If he reacted every time someone whispered his name, he’d spend the entire festival turning his head like a confused owl.

He opened one of the bags instead.

"Anyone hungry?"

Lyra’s head immediately turned.

Dexter stared at her. Lyra stared back.

"Why did I even ask?"

Her voice entered his mind. ’Because you’re considerate.’

"No. Because apparently I haven’t learned my lesson."

Lyra smiled sweetly.

Mira snorted.

Selene’s lips curved slightly.

Dexter was about to retrieve something when Mira suddenly spoke.

"They’re still staring."

"I know."

"It doesn’t bother you?"

Dexter glanced around. Several people immediately pretended they hadn’t been looking. One man became extremely interested in his drink. A woman suddenly found the grass fascinating.

Dexter shrugged. "Let them stare."

He sat down. "They’ll get bored eventually."

Mira studied him for a second. Then her expression softened. "Perhaps."

Dexter suddenly said. "This food is for later. Remember, we’re supposed to exchange meals with everyone."

Lyra’s gaze immediately drifted toward the cooler.

Dexter noticed. "Don’t even think about it."

Lyra blinked her eyes innocently.

Dexter narrowed his eyes. He want going to fall for it.

"But," Dexter continued, "we don’t have to sit here starving until then. There are candy stores, ice cream shops, snack stalls and probably a dozen other things around here."

That got Lyra’s attention. Her dark eyes immediately brightened.

’Candy.’

Her melodious voice appeared inside their minds.

’I want candy.’

Dexter laughed. "Of course you do."

Lyra smiled brightly.

"Candy it is. Anything else?"

Lyra thought for approximately two seconds. Dexter could practically see the calculations happening behind her eyes. He quickly turned away before she could produce a shopping list.

"What about you two?"