Chapter 2 Part 2 On Marriage Condition

Since the small meeting in the ballroom, we've been talking and even going hangouts or dinners. I felt comfortable being around him, and he seemed enthusiastic about all the subjects I was talking about.

Until one night, he was kneeling in front of me, in the middle of a simple rest with a classic piano accompanied by a word-by-word connection from him. He looked at me sharply, and there were tears under his eyelids. Slowly he said a sentence that made me nervous.

"La, I'm sorry if this is strange and maybe after this you might hate me. However, I can't do anything, La. It's a risk I have to take. I've loved you ever since, ever since we first met. Then it's like fate says you're what I want, until we finally find each other again. Would you like to be my wife?" Tell him to take out the red box, and open it. I saw a diamond ring in it and it seemed to fit very well in the circumference of my thumb.

One word that could describe my expression that night was "Surprise." Whoever thinks the person I've loved in secret has the same feelings for me. Who thought he'd come back after a long time missing and hard to find. Who would have thought this could happen to me.

I just bowed my head and occasionally scratched my cheeks because, unconsciously, my tears came down from the shock of all the pleasures I could get instantly.

Soon, he decided to apply and marry me officially in front of my parents.

It's not an easy journey, because you're a tough man and you don't want your daughter to marry anybody. Moreover, dad is very strongly attached to the term caste. For him only the high caste is worthy to be the companion and successor to his throne. Renald didn't come from a family that he could count on, so he easily rejected him and even humiliated him.

***

"You just let Laila go, and I'll give you a suitcase of this money," he said to Renald when he asked for permission to marry me.

"Dad, not everything can be bought with money!" said I in a loud tone.

"It's just love with your treasure, and then I just give him what he wants," he said proudly.

"In part, I've prepared the right husband for your life. He fulfilled all my choices, bold, rich, precious, educated, her descent was obvious. Not like this man!"

Renald shut up.

He stood long enough in front of his father's body, hoping there was a little bit of courage for him to speak.

"Sir, I've known Laila since the beginning of college, and I'm frankly going to marry her. It's true, I'm not from a family equal to you, but I can guarantee that Laila won't be short," he said slowly after a few minutes he just froze.

Dad laughed cynically, "Your monthly salary may only be for her lipstick."

"What are you working for and how much do you earn a month?"

"I have small-scale ventures in the convex and printing sector, a monthly turnover of about 20-30 million Sir," he said in a vague, vibrant voice.

"Hahaha, 20 to 30 million you said? I'm not sure my daughter's life is gonna be good with your inputs just like that."

Honestly, I was mad at the situation. I feel unlucky to be part of this conglomerate family because my life is like a whole set and unable to choose my own way of life, including marriage.

Renald seemed shocked by the statement, he turned his head toward me. From the blink of his eyes, I'm sure he's gonna give up that afternoon and go home empty-handed with hope that's been wounded.

"Okay, if you want to. I'm gonna get out of this house, and I'll leave everything you've given me. Oh, yeah, one more, I'm going to transfer all the assets in my name to Tania," said I in a loud tone, and immediately left my father's office regardless of my name being called by him so loudly.

Since that meeting, I've been living in an apartment for seven days and wanting to hand over the textile company to Tania, my sister-in-law. Of course I won't be quiet, because he hates that woman so much. In the end, he fell down and gave me a blessing despite a series of agreements signed by a notary. The agreement covers no inheritance rights for Renald, instead he gives him 10% of the shares of his main company, PT Cakrawala for additional income, and the content of the last agreement is that Renald is not allowed to be exposed by the media that he is not from a conglomerate family. Yes, the content of the agreement is very complex, especially in the last part of the content. I had to hide the true identity of this candidate husband, and he was forced to pretend to be a conglomerate family.

After the deal was agreed, Renald and I went out to the swing in the backyard of the house. I sat down and swung the body so that this swing would move along, I invited Renald to sit next to me.

"Re, your dad's mom, how?" My question.

"They don't seem to be able to come, because they're out of town too," he said.

"Sorry, La. If you haven't met my parents, maybe after we get married, I'll introduce you to them directly to my hometown," he added with his face down.

Yeah, I understand, Renald's parents can't come here, because they're going to refuse this marriage because of my father.

While Mom, she's a gentle woman, I'm given the freedom to choose my way in life, and never arranged including this marriage. She seemed to accept Renald as her children, too. That's what makes me confident and steadfast in this marriage, because there's a sincere desire from my mother. Though at the end of the decision she gave me a little bit of a touch that regained my trauma, I tried to convince her that Renald was a good man.

"La, in life we always have problems. Fight together. Don't be alone. I'm glad you married Renald, he looks nice and loves you sincerely. When one day he turns into someone you don't know, you don't give up, but remind him of your beautiful moments. Don't be afraid to fight, because after the fight there will be a strong sense of bond," said my mother in the room. She seemed to understand my worries that arose after the marriage, but in her eyes she was able to convince me that I could carry the ark of the household for the rest of my life.

***

The next day, just ahead of a month's wedding, me, mom, and Renald met at a cafe near the City Road. We're discussing the budget division and the concept. We agreed to share the expenses or each contributes 50% of the total cost. Then in connection with the concept of the show, Renald handed it all over to me and my mom because he didn't understand. He trusted everything to me, because he believed I had a good taste for this marriage. After a brief discussion with him, he went back to the office. Meanwhile, my mom and I are waiting for the wedding organizer to discuss the whole series of wedding events.

"Sorry, ma'am, why is the concept closed, huh?"

"We want an intimate concept, only the family and the closest people are invited," I replied.

"Wow, do you mean Mr. Andrew wasn't invited by you?”

Mother looked at me slowly.

"Who's Andrew?" asked my mother who just heard a strange name from Agnes' mouth.

Agnes looks confused, she bites her tongue and looks frightened at me.

"No one, Mom," I said slowly.