Dutch Courage.

From the outside, one can already see that the penthouse of her groom is a Seattle type with unit spans of over a grand 5,170 square feet.

Arissa's lips parted the moment she entered the apartment with Mrs. Wyatt and as if remembering her poise, she sealed her lips back.

The first thing that faced Arissa in the living room area was an impressive bejeweled Seattle skyline. The house had shades of charcoal, smoky white, black, and gold colors all over the surfaces of the house, all in equal proportions.

The floor of the apartment was covered with gray marble, and an Italian Fazioli F278 grand piano made of red spruce and with some part finished in black lacquer stood in one lonely corner of the living room.

Heavily masculine and Norden in shape, the living room was comfortably luxurious with high-class furniture. Her eyes appreciated how nice and unique the house was.

Arissa's face pulled taut seeing the wired art around the piano area. The arts before her were like an eyesore - Mildly monstrous Picasso-esque oddities of twisted limbs and contracted nudes and another was a naked drawing of a lady with flowers around her.

What the hell is he doing with nude photos - and for the fact that it was just before the piano, does it means that he gets his inspirations to play looking at them?

'What kind of man am I getting married to?' she asked herself inwardly as she looked at the three more nude drawings around.

From the glass door leading to the dining room were two contemporary candelabras hung above the dining table with also luxurious chairs around the dining table.

And then to the floating staircase like a Jenga game and underneath it, were two walls of built-in glass shelves. A small smile plastered on her lips as hints of who her husband's personality was - just judging from his house design and colors. Arts included.

But what is the need for wines as much as these?

"Tsk," Arissa clicked her tongue, "Dutch courage perhaps?" she asked out with humor.

A wine rack would have been better but he opted for two shelves of built-in wine walls.

And then from behind her, Mr. Wyatt walked into the scene behind her, "My son would be a bit late so why don't we eat," she suggested.

It's past five already and Nicklaus 'bit late' is surely five hours later and his bride would have loved to sleep by then.

Arissa turned to Mrs. Wyatt with curiosity buried deep in her stares, "Why is she suddenly this nice?" Arissa asked herself with uncertainty.

"Arissa," Mrs. Wyatt called her as she dripped a hand on Arissa's shoulder.

Arissa backed away immediately and Mrs. Wyatt's arms fell limply back to her side, "I would love to take a bath first Mrs. Wyatt,"

"....Mother,"

"What?"

"....You can call me mother," Mrs. Wyatt said softly staring into Arissa's eyes.

Arissa left brow arched more with discomfort towards the woman's attitude, "Am sorry Mrs. Wyatt. I can't," Arissa spoke out in disapproval of the change of name the woman wants.

In her own opinion, people she calls mothers - like her mother and her aunts - are the worst people on earth so she would do a big sin if she was to add this woman to that list without knowing her well.

Mrs. Wyatt's face fell but that did not diminish the light that followed her aura, "Okay. Let me take you up to your room and then we have dinner,"

Arissa nodded her head and followed behind Mrs. Wyatt and then up the floating staircase and even up there in the corridors, they walked past a few more grotesque pieces of art with similar paints as was in the living room.

Up the staircase, the place was covered with a generous amount of art side by side with the corridor walls and Arissa was grateful most are nature drawings and not some undressed lady.

"This is the gym room," Mrs. Wyatt halted as she stood before a door at the end of the spacious passage.

"C'mom." Mrs. Wyatt beckoned to Arissa as she turned to the other door opposite the gym room. Arissa turned to her and walked over to her, "This is the elevator door,"

Mrs. Wyatt said and before Arissa can prevent her hand, Mrs. Wyatt's hand grabbed her wrist before she pressed the elevator bottoms and walked in with Arissa.

There was a feeling that prevented Arissa from pulling away as she just stared at Mrs. Wyatt's hand on her wrist.

"Hope you don't mind?" Mrs. Wyatt asked also staring at their hands.

"No," Arissa approved.

And with Arissa's answer, Mrs. Wyatt stepped closer to her still holding her hand, and then, they got to the floor, as the elevator stopped.

And if Arissa said she has seen all the beauty in this house, she's wrong because this place passage alone is beating the whole house with a darker and cozy aura at the same time.

"Here. This is your room," Mrs. Wyatt said opening the second enclosure door.

The room is heated up well and mature. With a glowing pink sky ceiling, a luxurious amount of space, and coffee-brown wallpaper.

Her bed is just how she liked it - not insanely large to make you feel lonely even while asleep but just moderately enough for two people.

There was also a well-lit makeup area just away from a different door in the room. And a few steps away from her bed was a floor-to-ceiling vast window with a comfortable white fur chair before it.

"Do you like the taste of the room?" Mrs. Wyatt asked after a while as she gave Arissa time to look around the room.

Arissa did not respond to that but instead asked, "You designed it?"

Mrs. Wyatt took no offense to her hanging question but instead answered this with a little smile, "I did,"

Arissa only noted in response. She is a bit shocked she loves a present from a stranger - but she loves this room. From the space to the color to the ceiling and all, she loves this room.

"Would you like to see your closet?" Mrs. Wyatt asked and Arissa immediately snapped her head to her, "You prepared a closet for me?" Arissa asked with surprise.

"Yes. So would you like to see it?" Mrs. Wyatt asked patiently.

"I would,"

Mrs. Wyatt leads them to the door a few steps away from the makeup table.

Just like back home, Arissa expected a simple closet but to another shock of tonight, this was a walk in the closet. A generous amount at that, with clothes, bags, shoes, and a small shelf of perfume all wall to wall. Space was also very lavish, she can use it here as a whole apartment.

Arissa walked closer to the clothes rack and searched through them. Finding a good amount of blazers and pants between them, she turned to Mrs. Wyatt.

"I love the room," a smile tried coming out but she pushed it behind her lips and kept her face as neutral as usual.

Mrs. Wyatt still had that smiling look on her face as she veered around to a door by the right side of the closet, "And that is your bathroom. I would leave you now to dress up and meet me downstairs."

"Okay,"

"Should I get a maid to get him washed up also," Mrs. Wyatt asked as she nodded her head to the white cat that dwelled so obedient under his master's arm.

Arissa smile finally when she heard Blu. referred to as he, "It's a girl," she clarified.

"Oh. My bad!" Mrs. Wyatt gasped playfully and Arissa's left brow arched, confused with Mrs. Wyatt's blunt mood.

"Guess I would leave now," Mrs. Wyatt said seeing the smile disappear from Arissa's lips. She did not mean to be too blunt with her expression but the fact that the girl smiled at something she said, somehow exited her.

She seems to like this girl already.