ma chérie | cl16

bonus: mr. and mrs. leclerc

July 16th, 2025
south of France

♪ heaven is a place on earth with you ♪

Adeline kept looking at her own reflection in the mirror, only now realizing that her fingers were subtly trembling as she extended them to grasp a glass of champagne on the dressing table.

"Mon ange, you look absolutely stunning," Pascale exclaimed as she expertly curled the final strand of Adeline's blonde hair, completing the entire look.

"Thank you, Pascale," Adeline let out a relieved sigh as she admired the hairstyle crafted by Pascale. "You really are a magician, do you know that?" She chuckled, and Charles' mom couldn't help but laugh.

"I only styled your hair, dear," she argued with a smile on her lips.

"You do look gorgeous Addy," Hazel said, appearing in the mirror's reflection while holding a glass of champagne and dressed in a long, light green silk dress. "In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful bride," she remarked.

"Hazel is more than right." Another woman in the window appeared, tears shimmering in her eyes. It was Pierre's mom.

"Stop, guys. The bride can't cry on her wedding day," Adeline laughed, attempting to resist the happy tears welling up in her eyes.

Everyone that mattered to Adeline was in the room with her, helping her prepare for the big day. Pascale, Charles' mother, and another Pascale, Pierre's mother (quite confusing!), along with Hazel, Janice, Olivia, Alex, Holly, and Lily were all there. Lily's Alex wanted to join as well (even though he obviously wasn't a bridesmaid), but he confessed that witnessing Adeline in a wedding dress would make his eyes "too sweaty." On the other hand, he had proposed to Lily a month ago, so perhaps he'd be too preoccupied with envisioning Lily in a wedding dress.

Knocking on the door interrupted the cheerful conversation of the women gathered in the room when a loud knocking echoed through the room.

"Do not even think about doing anything! I'll handle it," Alex said, setting down her champagne glass and smoothing the silk fabric of her dress as she stood up. "If it's Carlos Sainz, I'll just slam the door in his face," she added with a laugh, prompting Adeline to roll her eyes and chuckle in response.

Oh, the amount of drama her friends had gone through the past two years—Hazel and Pierre, Alex and Carlos... Thankfully, Holly and Max remained the same sunshine couple they were from the magical beginning.

"Oh, slamming the door," Alex playfully remarked, but Carlos walked in with a smirk on his face.

"Nice attempt, Serrano," he remarked before finally turning his gaze to Adeline. "Oh, Adeline, you look stunning," he admitted, finding it hard to look away from the beautiful blonde.

"I'll start blushing for real, now!" Adeline laughed, and then she tilted her head. "What's up, Carlito?"

"Oh, Vogue is here. Can I let them in?" Carlos asked.

"Yes! I almost forgot. Thank you, Carlos," Adeline quickly nodded, briefly glancing at the wedding dress on the hanger before shifting her gaze to the women who were cheerfully clapping in excitement. "It's time."

When Adeline and Charles had announced their engagement almost a year ago, Vogue had approached them, seeking permission to capture the wedding of the year. After all, a two-time World Champion and a famous lawyer were about to get married! No other magazine or paparazzi had a chance to approach the wedding venue; Vogue had exclusive access.