Chapter 4 Canceled Marriage

That night, Bella waited with a hopeful heart in the park that had witnessed many beautiful memories with Surya Pradipta, her lover. The dim light from the street lamps that lined the garden added to the magical and romantic atmosphere around it. The tall, dense trees waved in the gentle breeze, creating shadows that danced on the ground.

Bella sat on a park bench, gazing longingly toward the entrance. Time seemed to pass more slowly as she waited for Surya, who usually appeared with a gentle smile. However, after waiting for so long, it was not Surya who appeared, but his lover's assistant.

In the confusion and worry, Bella received a letter from Surya's assistant. Her heart fluttered as she opened the envelope, not knowing what she would find inside. Her eyeballs traveled from line to line, and every word she read felt like a blow to the heart.

The letter contained an unexpected confession. Surya Pradipta, the man she loved so deeply, had secretly married another woman. The reason stated in the letter left her even more devastated. Surya confessed that he could not continue this relationship with Bella because he respected Bella's honor and social status who came from a respectable family.

'For goodness sake, you don't deserve to marry a liar like me. I beg Bella to forgive me. It would be better if we end this relationship. You deserve a better man than me,' the last paragraph of the letter.

The words in the letter pierced Bella's heart. She felt the deep pain of being humiliated and abandoned in a lie. Tears welled up in her eyes, destroying all the beautiful dreams they had built together. "This is impossible. Look, I want to see your boss right now."

"I'm sorry ma'am, Mr. Surya has already flown to America," said the assistant, which made Bella even more shocked.

In the darkness of the night, the once beautiful and hopeful garden turned into a place shrouded in sadness and disappointment. The night wind seemed to feel the burden in Bella's heart, blowing gently but piercingly.

Bella sat alone, lost in sadness and desolation. Her heart was broken, but amid the pain, she felt a strength growing from within her. She knew that she had to face this reality and live her life without Surya.

*

Bella returned home with heavy steps, her heart full of devastation and disappointment. As soon as she stepped foot in the doorway, the atmosphere that greeted her was not what she had imagined. Her family, who should have known nothing, already knew all the hidden truths.

Her father, Hamza, approached Bella with gentle steps and hugged her tightly. The hug was like a fortress that provided warmth and protection in difficult times like this. Bella felt the vibrations of affection flowing from her father's body, providing some relief from her devastation. "For everything that happened, I promise that I will find a better man than Surya," Hamza said confidently.

On the other hand, his biological mother, Iravati, looked shocked and frightened. Her face was pale and her eyes radiated deep anxiety. Bella could feel the vibrations of fear that filled the air around her. Iravati had heard a prophecy from her relatives, which mentioned an unwanted reality. Iravati feared that the prophecy would come true.

Bella released her body from her father's embrace. "There are only three days left Father. Whom am I marrying, and how can you find the right man in just three days?" Bella complained.

Hamza placed his palm on his daughter's hair. "Trust me, daughter. Now go calm down in your room," Hamza said.

After Bella and her servants left the living room, Hamza and two women remained. His new wife and his ex-wife. They were both worried about Bella's marriage, which was on the verge of being canceled. The only person who chose to cancel the wedding was Iravati, Bella's biological mother. She didn't want her daughter to suffer for marrying the wrong person.

"How can you find the right man in just two days," Iravati protested.

"I think Mrs. Iravati is right. What if in two days you fail to find the right man for your daughter? What would happen to the family and the company's reputation," Elizha said.

"It's not a matter of good name or reputation. Right now I'm in a real dilemma. You know, Surya's family's notary declared to take back the company's shares. Most of the shares we have, belong to Surya. We are really on the verge of bankruptcy. Not to mention your debt Elizha," Hamza said in an up-and-down tone.

Iravati turned her gaze to the woman sitting next to her. "What debt? And to whom?" asked Iravati curiously.

"Elizha had a debt with Edward Sinclair of a substantial amount. But Edward is dead, and his son is collecting the debt," Hamza explained.

Iravati gave the woman a cynical look. She then urged Hamza to meet Edward Sinclair's son. Iravati was confident that she would make up for the debt, because for her at the moment the most important thing was that there was no enmity.

"All right, tomorrow we'll go. And you Elizha, stay at home. Monitor Bella so she doesn't do anything reckless," concluded Hamza.

*

The next day...

Hamza and Iravati walked tensely through the hallway to the car. They intended to go to the late Edward Sinclair's house, a place where they hoped to settle a long-dormant matter. However, before they could get to the car, a crowd of journalists suddenly confronted them.

Cameras lurked, flashes bounced around them, and the sound of excited reporters cheering filled the silence. Hamza and Iravati were surprised by the sudden presence of these journalists. They had not expected such a large number of journalists at this location.

In confusion and uncertainty, Hamza tried to keep his composure and talk to the reporters. However, the journalists did not care about the situation Hamza was in. They started asking him offensive questions about the attack on the hotel yesterday and even sneered at the fate of Bella's marriage.

Meanwhile, Bella, who was still grieving in her room, heard a commotion from the balcony of her room. She was curious about what was going on, so she approached the balcony and looked down. Seeing Hamza and Iravati surrounded by a crowd of reporters, deep anxiety flashed across her face.

In tense silence, Bella from the balcony of her room observed this scene. Her heart and mind struggled between the pain of loss and concern for the struggle she was facing.

Amidst this chaos and drama, these three characters face a severe test. They must navigate the merciless media onslaught while trying to resolve complicated personal issues. The question is, how will they deal with all of this? Will they find strength and solutions amid this shaking storm, or will they sink even further?