Chapter 5

Chandra let out a slow, heavy breath, each exhale feeling as though it carried the weight of the world.

Alexa's devastated face lingered stubbornly in his mind, the image refusing to fade. The disappointment in her eyes settled deep inside him, leaving behind an unmistakable ache of guilt.

God... did I make the right decision?

What if Alexa ends up hating me?

He dragged both hands down his face before running them back through his hair. Confusion was written all over him. So was the uncertainty over the impulsive decision he'd made only moments ago.

“I should've talked to Mom and Dad first... shouldn't I?”

He let out another weary sigh.

“But it's too late now. Even if Mom and Dad don't approve... I can't just call everything off after what I promised—”

He was still sitting alone in his room, lost in thought, when a knock sounded at the door.

“Sir, your mother's on the phone!”

Chandra blinked in surprise before hurrying to answer the door.

When he opened it, one of the housemaids was standing there, holding out a cellphone.

“Here you go, Sir,” the middle-aged woman said. “Your mother called earlier, but your number was unreachable, so she called my phone instead.”

Chandra nodded as he accepted it.

“My phone ran out of battery earlier. It's still charging, and I haven't turned it back on yet. I'll borrow yours for a moment, if that's okay.”

The maid nodded with a smile before returning to the kitchen to continue her work.

Chandra stepped back into his room and immediately called his mother.

“Hello, Mom—”

“There you are, Chan. What time did you get home? Why didn't you let me know?”

“Sorry, Mom. My phone died earlier, so it's been charging.”

“Oh... I see.” Her voice softened with relief. “That's alright. How was the trip? Everything went smoothly?”

“Yeah. No problems.”

“Thank goodness.”

Chandra hummed absentmindedly, his thoughts returning to everything that had just happened.

Should I tell Mom the truth... or should I keep it to myself?

“Chan?”

His mother's voice pulled him back.

“Yes, Mom?”

“You're really okay, aren't you?”

There was unmistakable concern in Mrs. Rose's voice.

“Why do you ask?”

“I don't know... I just have this bad feeling. I couldn't stop thinking about you. When your phone wouldn't connect, I called the maid right away.”

Chandra slowly exhaled.

She may not be my biological mother... but her instincts are incredible.

Maybe... I really should tell her everything.

“Mom...” he called after another long pause.

“Yes, Chan?”

He cleared his throat.

“There's... something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“But promise me you won't be too shocked.”

Mrs. Rose chuckled softly.

“I can't promise that, Chan. I don't even know what you're about to say. What if it really is shocking?”

Chandra took a deep breath.

Then, with obvious hesitation, he finally said it.

“I'm... going to marry Alexa, Mom.”

Silence.

A long, stunned silence.

Finally, Mrs. Rose spoke.

“What... did you just say, Chan? I think I must've heard you wrong.”

“You didn't.” Chandra released another slow breath. “The day after tomorrow... I'm marrying Alexa.”

“What?! You're marrying Alexa?”

The shock in Mrs. Rose's voice was impossible to miss.

“Yes, Mom. If you can, please come home tomorrow with Dad and the kids. I want all of you to be there for your eldest son's very unexpected wedding.”

“But... why, Chan?” she asked, still sounding bewildered. “Why are you marrying Alexa? Wasn't she supposed to marry Dr. Robert?”

For what felt like the hundredth time, Chandra sighed.

This one was even heavier than the last.

“It's a long story, Mom. The short version is... I'm trying to save Alexa's wedding. If you want the full story, you can ask Aunt Nancy and Uncle Lucas.”

Mrs. Rose fell silent for a moment.

“I'm... still trying to process this, Chan. But I'll ask Nancy later.”

Chandra didn't reply.

His heart was still pounding after finally telling her.

He had thought sharing the burden with his mother would make him feel lighter.

Instead...

Nothing had changed.

The weight on his chest remained just as crushing as before.

Even finding a moment of peace felt impossible.

“But, Chan,” Mrs. Rose said after a while, “if you're the one marrying Alexa, shouldn't all the paperwork already be taken care of? There's only tomorrow left. There's no way everything can be completed in a single day.”

“I've already talked it over with Uncle Lucas and Aunt Nancy. For now, Alexa and I will have a simple religious marriage ceremony first. After that, we'll process the paperwork and file for court validation through the Religious Court.”

A long sigh drifted through the phone.

“Answer me honestly, Chan. They pressured you into this, didn't they? And something serious must've happened to Dr. Robert if the wedding's being called off.”

Chandra slowly shook his head, even though she couldn't see him.

“Uncle Lucas didn't force me, Mom. I just couldn't bear seeing Alexa's wedding fall apart. Her family would be humiliated, especially after inviting so many business associates. I know how hard it is to earn those people's trust. So...”

“So you decided to become the replacement groom.”

He answered only with a quiet hum.

Another weary sigh came from the other end of the call.

“I've always wanted a daughter-in-law like Alexa, Chan... but not like this.” Sadness filled Mrs. Rose's voice. “If your marriage begins because of circumstances... what kind of future will the two of you have?”

“But you and Dad got married because of circumstances too, didn't you?” Chandra replied gently. “And eventually, you fell in love. You learned to understand each other. That's the kind of marriage I want too, Mom... one that's happy, just like yours.”

Silence answered him once again.

“I don't feel forced at all,” he continued. “I'm doing this because I genuinely want to help them. I've known Alexa and her family since we were children. And honestly... rather than seeing her marry some stranger whose character none of us knows, isn't it better if it's me?”

A small smile touched his lips.

“I also remember what you once said—that you wished you had a daughter-in-law like Alexa.”

“That... helped me make this decision.”

His voice softened into almost a whisper.

“So... please give me your blessing, Mom.”

---

“Alexa... sweetheart, please open the door. Come have dinner. Your father's been waiting for you.”

Mrs. Nancy knocked gently several times, hoping her daughter would come out and join them.

But hope was all it remained.

Alexa never answered.

“Well?” Mr. Lucas asked, suddenly appearing behind his wife and startling her.

“Oh my goodness!” she gasped, clutching her chest. “You scared me!”

“Sorry, honey. I didn't mean to.”

He looked toward the closed bedroom door.

“She really won't come out?”

Mrs. Nancy slowly shook her head, worry clouding her face once again.

“She hasn't answered at all.” Her voice trembled. “I'm scared, dear... I'm afraid Alexa might do something reckless.”

Mr. Lucas froze.