"Aurorae, are you ready, Honey?"
Aurorae nodded confidently when Raphael picked her up directly to her room. Once again, the woman checked her appearance in the mirror before stepping out into the backyard, where her wedding ceremony was taking place. He also ensured that he would officially become the wife of Mario Harald.
It never crossed his dream that he had to marry someone he didn't love at all. Aurorae even had time to think, how come life could be such a joke? Just because she slept with Mario, she had to get pregnant, and now she is forced to marry even though she didn't want to.
However, what else can I do? Everything has already happened. It's been so hard for him to refuse. The result? There is no. To maintain the family's pride, like it or not, he finally gave in.
"Aurorae ... can Papa say something?" asked Raphael when they had not moved from the hotel room.
"What do you want Papa to talk to me about?"
Raphael approached Aurorae's position, grabbed both of his daughters' wrists, and then spoke again, "When you become a wife. Be kind to your husband. Accompany him in good times and bad." Raphael took a deep breath and then continued. "Papa knows that maybe you were forced to marry a child from the Harald family to protect the family name. But you know, Mario deserves you. He is a good man. So it is appropriate to marry you, who is also a good woman."
"Pa..." Aurorae responded. "I know Papa definitely wants the best for me. I know that Mario is a man who is supposed to be with me. So, what's the point in thinking about that?"
He smiled. The man immediately landed a warm hug on his only daughter, unlike Aurorae, who could only wince and then mutter to herself.
I'm sorry, Papa.
Forgive me.
Sorry if your daughter suddenly decides to separate from her husband in the future. No matter what, I can't go on living with a man I don't love.
After unraveling his embrace, Raphael led Aurorae out of the room and immediately took the woman to the event venue. Carrying an outdoor theme, the backyard of the Quartararo family's residence was used to hold a private parties, but it still looked sacred.
Stepping towards the altar, hundreds of eyes stared in amazement at Aurorae's figure. Flashes of camera flashes hit every step as the woman walked. The strains of Brian McKnight Jr.'s song 'Marry Your Daughter' echoed along Aurorae's steps as she approached Mario, who was already standing to welcome her.
"Mario ... I entrust my beloved daughter to you," Raphael ordered. The man released his grip on Aurorae. Surrendering the daughter, she loves the man of her choice. "If one day you don't love him anymore, I beg you... return him kindly to me."
Mario smiled and nodded.
"I will make sure that I will take care of your beautiful daughter until the end of my life, Pa. I promise that."
Mario grabbed Aurorae's fingers. He was taking the woman a small step towards the altar. Get ready to start the wedding procession.
"Are you ready to be my wife?" whispered Mario when they were both standing on the altar.
"Do you think I'm kind of unprepared?" Aurorae replied coldly.
Mario smiled knowingly. No more answering. He prefers to focus on immediately starting the wedding ceremony. He solemnly followed a series of processions until finally, and he was declared husband and wife officially.
Standing so still, Aurorae tried to get through the party. It welcomed the guests who attended the event. When it was Tristan and Sophia's turn to come, they both gave their congratulations.
"I'm relieved to see you two are finally officially married," said Tristan. The man is now standing right in front of the bride and groom. Turning his head for a moment, he stared closely at Mario while holding his hand. "Welcome to the Smiths, Mario. We're brothers now."
"Thank you, Mr. Tristan," said the man. "Ah, I meant Tristan," he corrected immediately. But still, his words could have sounded more relaxed.
Previously, Tristan had emphasized to Mario to start learning to call him by his first name when he was outside the office. You have to get used to this so that their relationship can be more intimate than before.
"No need to be awkward, Mario. You do have to get used to it considering our current status as family."
Tristan's gaze then turned to Aurorae. Taking a step forward, the man invites the woman to hug him.
"Congratulations," he said almost in a whisper. "I hope, after this, you will no longer be so stubborn. Remember, now that you have a husband, you will soon become a mother. Be a good example for your family."
Aurorae broke their embrace. Glance, then soon heard clucking.
"Don't overdo it, Tristan. You say it as if I really enjoyed this wedding."
Tristan immediately nodded.
"Trust me, I was like this when I married Sophia. You think I'm happy? Of course not at all."
Tristan then turned around. He grabbed Sophia's wrist, who had been standing behind her—asking the woman to come forward, aligning their positions. "But time inevitably made me fall in love with Sophia. Who would have thought, the hatred that I used to cultivate, actually faded by itself. And now? In fact, it has been replaced by an intense feeling of love. I can even go crazy if I have to lose a woman who is now standing beside me."
Instead of being impressed by what Tristan said, Aurorae still didn't seem to care. After all, he felt that the marriage he was doing today was nothing more than a formality that was not in the least bit based on feelings of love.
"That's your story. Don't forget, Tristan. We are different. The problems we experience are not the same."
"Says who?" Tristan delict. "Essentially the same. Living a household without love, right?" asked the man, narrowing his eyes. "Now you can painstakingly refuse. But no one knows what will happen next, Aurorae."
"Tristan is right." Sophia, who had been faithfully listening, became excited too, then spoke. He wanted to convey his opinion to the stubborn woman with that smug look.
"Now you can avoid it, Aurorae. But no one knows how you will feel in the future. Moreover, later you two will see each other more often. Sleep in the same room. Spend more time together. Not to mention, there will be a cute baby in your life."
"Then? You two reckon that after all that, I will succumb to this naive guy next to me?" Aurorae immediately glanced at Mario at that moment. "Seriously! Don't expect too much. You are not Gods who can predict the future."
Tristan nodded. His face remained relaxed in response to Aurorae's words.
"It's up to you. Sophia and I are just reminding you. What's for sure, don't hate too much. It'll end up causing you trouble."
Mario just smiled. He was feeling the upper hand because he got the defense of Tristan and also Sophia.
"Don't worry. You don't need to worry. I myself am sure that in the end Aurorae will fall in love with me on her own."
"Don't dream," Aurorae said quickly. "That's not going to happen, Mario."
"So which country are you picking up for your honeymoon?" asked Tristan. As a traveler, he knows that his assistant has always enjoyed exploring various cities and countries. Just curious about where the man will invite Aurorae to spend their intimate time.