Part 5

Casandra, who challenged, and Meri, who took action. That very night, Meri sent her subordinate to handle all the preparations for Alexander's wedding to Casandra. Following all the regulations set by the government to ensure Casandra's position was as strong as Cesilia's, in order to make Alexander's current marriage the only one.

Meri, who was fed up with Cesilia's behavior, planned to gradually remove her with Casandra's help. However, Meri had to pray a lot for Casandra to be willing to assist and truly become Alexander's wife forever.

With an unknown source of strength, Meri, who was previously weak and lying in a hospital bed, was now sitting up. She arranged and prepared her hospital room to make it suitable for Casandra and Alexander to have their wedding ceremony. With enthusiasm, Meri contacted several people to pick up Casandra's family, especially her father, so that Alexander and Casandra's marriage could take place as soon as possible.

Meri dispatched quite a few people, which resulted in a significant amount of money spent for such a sudden wedding. Among Meri's subordinates was someone tasked with the challenging mission of finding Cesilia and obtaining her signature. It was a sign that Cesilia allowed Alexander to remarry.

Cesilia, upon receiving the declaration letter, was naturally shocked. She wanted to protest because the initial agreement between Casandra and Alexander was to have a secret marriage and divorce as soon as their child was born. And now?

"Cesilia, hurry! The boss is waiting inside. Don't delay any longer, unless you want the contract to be canceled," a woman admonished Cesilia, who was still staring at the declaration letter. In her hand was a phone she used to contact Alexander.

Cesilia wanted to make sure what kind of marriage Alexander and Casandra were going to have before she signed the declaration letter. Unfortunately, until the final admonition, Alexander still hadn't answered her calls. Reluctantly, Cesilia stood up and signed the letter, immediately following the manager to take care of her work contract so that she could become a brand ambassador for a product she had long dreamed of.

***

While Cesilia started to attend to her work matters, Alexander stared blankly at the phone in his hand. He let Cesilia call him without any intention of answering. Alexander, who was already hurt, didn't want to receive any calls from Cesilia to maintain his strength to go through with the forced marriage with Casandra.

If he were to answer, Alexander knew his heart would rebel and strongly reject this forced marriage. Therefore, for the sake of his sanity, Alexander chose to ignore the calls and let two women prepare his appearance.

Meanwhile, in another corner of the hospital room, Casandra was also getting ready. The girl wore a kebaya that Meri had hastily ordered from her favorite boutique. It didn't matter if it was expensive because it was ordered on short notice; what mattered was that Alexander and Casandra could get married officially. They could have their own wedding photos if, someday, Cesilia gave in and left.

***

The atmosphere in Meri's hospital room became lively, crowded with several people ready to witness a supposedly secret wedding. However, seeing who was present, Alexander wasn't sure if it was just a secret wedding. He noticed the presence of an middle-aged man known as a wedding organizer in his area.

"Don't be surprised. Mama doesn't want Cesilia to have control over the child conceived by Casandra. Even though she won't have you completely, at least your child will know who brought them into this world." Meri gently tapped Elang's shoulder. "Don't resist and just go along with it because this is your mother. Without me, you would have never existed in this world, Lex."

Alexander winced. The gentle tap from his mother had no physical impact, but the softly spoken words pierced him. They shattered the loyalty he had nurtured wholeheartedly.

Alexander vowed that he had never even considered having two wives or marrying another woman, let alone having the approval of his mother and his current wife. It was truly distressing how the loyalty he had built all this time crumbled in the presence of Casandra.

"Everything is ready. Let's get married!" Meri exclaimed, dispersing Alexander's thoughts as he sat on the edge of the bed. He had no idea how long he had been lost in his thoughts. Now, Casandra was seated next to her father, wearing a pristine white wedding gown that hugged her slender figure. Not only that, but Casandra's beautiful face had been lightly adorned with makeup to preserve her natural beauty.

Alexander hesitated for a moment, looking at the girl he had belittled just a few hours ago. He had insulted her and called her a rustic girl. And now? Alexander couldn't utter a word. If Meri hadn't tapped his arm, perhaps Alexander would still be captivated by Casandra's beauty.

"Valid."

"Valid."

The words echoed harmoniously in the VIP hospital room, confirming the newly spoken wedding vows that officially made Casandra Alexander's wife. The simple ceremony concluded with a collective prayer, followed by a medical examination for Casandra's father. As promised, once Casandra became Alexander's wife, her father would receive proper medical treatment.

This is the only part that makes Casandra not regret becoming a paid wife. It doesn't matter how she will live her life as long as her family can live decently. Seeing Meri fulfilling all her promises, Casandra is willing to sacrifice even further to improve their lives, especially her father's treatment.

"Wait, you can't get married before explaining the letter I signed earlier," Cesilia said as she entered Meri's hospital room. She seemed out of breath, as if she had just finished a race.

Cesilia's appearance was also disheveled, as if she had just woken up and rushed straight to the hospital. Alexander furrowed his eyebrows upon seeing his wife's appearance. It was the first time he saw Cesilia in such a poor state in a public place. As a famous model, Cesilia always maintained her image and looked attractive, even when going out to buy vegetable rice. And now?

"What wedding?" Meri retorted, looking cynically at Cesilia as she approached her and Alexander.

"Alexander and Casandra's wedding, duh, Mom. Who else?" Cesilia grumbled, while trying to catch her breath.

"Oh, why does it matter? Do you want to cancel it?"

"No, I can't go back on my word for that. But please explain the meaning of the letter I signed. That's all. Once it's clear, they can get married."

"That letter is proof that you allowed Alexander to remarry." Meri raised her hand to silence Alexander. "Without that letter, Alexander and Casandra cannot get married."

"But why not, Mom? As far as I know, a secret marriage doesn't require all of that. Unless Alexander..."

"Marriage according to religious and state law!" Meri emphasized each word she spoke.

"T-that's impossible! If that's the case, I can't bear to see Alexander remarry, Mom! I'd rather..."

"Have a child? Divorce Alexander? Do whatever you want, Cesilia. It's no longer important. Because Alexander and Casandra are already married."

"W-what? No! This can't be. Weren't they supposed to get married this morning?"

"No. They got married early this morning. Now, you prepare the payment for Casandra."

Cesilia shook her head. "I don't want to, Mom!"

"You don't want to? How so? You agreed before, and now you want to go back on your word?!"

"I-I..." Cesilia looked at Alexander. "Lex, I beg you, divorce Casandra!"

Alexander turned his head. His eyes widened upon hearing Casandra's unexpected request.