The will read by the lawyer makes Vienna's life a nightmare. She never imagined that she would marry Ray - a cousin who was allegedly the son of her father's murderer. She wanted to run away from the harsh reality, but when she saw her mother her guts shrank and she ended up accepting the reality in front of her eyes. The girl vowed to avenge her father's death even at the expense of herself. Vienna's plan is certainly not easy considering that her cousin is also tough and has always been cold and cruel to her. Moreover, the man also has the support of a lover who is a partner of their family company. Who would have thought that love never chooses who it falls on. Vienna realizes that inside the hatred and resentment she nurtures, there are beautiful feelings for the man who has the title of her husband now. What will Vienna do this time? Will she continue her grudge or give up on Ray in the name of love?
The burial ground was still wet. Even the mourners were still at the funeral home. Still, the presence of a lawyer made the family members inevitably gather, including Vienna who left the crowd with hasty steps.
The girl walked half-run towards the living room. The place where the whole family was waiting for her. Her tanned eyes were fixed on her aunt's family who was only accompanied by her son. While the uncle who was the family's archenemy was not there. He obviously felt suspicious.
"One moment. Where did Uncle Zafar go?" interrupted Vienna before deciding to sit beside her mother.
Mrs. Farah bit her lower lip as she shook her head slowly. "Your uncle is out of town on an assignment, Win. He'll probably be back here the day after tomorrow. I'm sorry, son. There's something that can't be avoided."
"It's not because you're afraid that the contents of the will won't match your wishes, is it?" she asked.
"Vienna, watch your language!" snapped her mother, who immediately put a firm hand on her shoulder.
"Okay. Since everyone who is expected is already here, I, as the lawyer for the Bisma Kesuma family, will read out the will mandated by the deceased," the lawyer started his sentence. "Since Mr. Adi Kesuma, who is his son, has passed away as well, the remaining family is Mrs. Farah, his daughter," he continued.
Vienna's family and her aunt were still silent while listening to point-by-point about the division of her grandfather's family inheritance from her father's side. Until arriving at the very end, the middle-aged man who read the contents of the letter was silent for a moment.
"The distribution of shares worth 50 percent above will occur if ...," The speech was paused for a moment because the lawyer glanced at Mrs. Farah as the last family member left behind. " ..., one of the daughters of the late Mr. Adi marries Mr. Ray, who is Mrs. Farah's son," the lawyer continued.
Suddenly, everyone listening to the story was shocked. No wonder the arrival of Vienna, Ray, and their respective mothers was highly anticipated. It turned out to have something to do with them.
"Wait a minute, sir. Why do you have to read the will now? Why not after Grandpa dies?" protested Vienna with a sharp look in her eyes.
"Yes, sir," Ray replied a few seconds later.
"I'm sorry, this has been decided long ago. Your late Papa and Mrs. Farah also knew about the contents of the letter."
"What?" said Vienna and Ray simultaneously.
Within seconds, both of them glanced at Mrs. Farah, the living witness to the making of the will.
"Why did you and Uncle Adi agree, Mom?" asked Ray, already out of breath.
"I'm sorry, son. This is all your grandfather's decision. We love you so much that we couldn't refuse," Mrs. Farah replied, trying to calm her son down.
"So why is our family involved? Didn't you ever think about Rani's feelings?"
"Rani? Why does it have to be with Rani?" interrupted the lawyer with an astonished look on his face.
Mrs. Farah looked at Vienna with a surprised look. The next second she signaled Mrs. Arista Vienna's mother to give an explanation. Meanwhile, Wina who saw the scene looked at them in turn with a question mark on her head.
"There's no way Ray is marrying your sister Rani, Win. She's still in middle school. Even your father never said that," said her mother.
"You know that too, don't you? So why didn't I just set you up with Septi?" protested Vienna.
"It's not them, it's ... you."
No. That wasn't the answer Vienna wanted to hear. She swore that she still had a lot of dreams that certainly wouldn't be realized anytime soon. Her gaze now glanced at Ray who was still frozen in place.
"Me? Married to him?" she pointed at Ray with a sharp glance and a lopsided smile.
"Hey, arrogant girl. I wouldn't want to have a wife like you either. Not my type at all," Ray retorted, no less arrogant than the girl.
The two of them were at each other's throats with no one willing to budge. It left both their mothers and the lawyer shaking their heads. Meanwhile, the rest of the family excused themselves to greet the mourners who had returned to fill the front room. Leaving the chaotic situation behind.
"You can't do that, Mom. It's better to set him up with Rani. They're only ten years apart in age. Just like Mama and Papa when they got married."
"Your late Papa already made a decision. You were the one chosen to marry Ray," her mother explained.
"Why do I have to be the one who gets pounded? Is it because I often don't obey Papa and Mama's words?" asked Vienna with overwhelming emotion.
The lawyer who was there immediately got up from his seat. He excused himself because he felt he had done his job.
"I suggest the wedding take place immediately, madam," he told Madam Farah and Madam Arista. "In two weeks there will be an inaugural meeting of the elected directors following Mr. Adi's death. So before that happens, Mr. Ray should be able to lead the company after marrying Miss Vienna."
"I-yeah, sir. Thank you," Mrs. Arista said.
"You're welcome, ma'am. Excuse me."
Now it was just the four of them who began to look at each other in an awkward situation. Vienna was still adamant about her stance. The same was true for Ray. There was no agreement between them.
"Come on, kiddo. You have to help our family company. Don't let everything go to foreigners. We'll be the losers," Mrs. Arista said to Vienna.
"Yes, Ray. Your major is also in line with the company. Economic management. I'm sure you can do it," coaxed Mrs. Farah.
Both of them were still staring at each other indifferently. It had never occurred to Vienna that she would marry her own cousin. In 23 years of living in the world, she had never once reconciled with Fidell Ray Gautama. She was obviously in shock after hearing this strange decision.
"Mom, I'm going back home. I'm tired," Ray said, getting up from his seat.
"You can't do that, Ray. You have to say yes before you can disperse," snapped the mummy.
Vienna grunted in annoyance and searched for information on her phone screen. Her brain started surfing for ways to reject her strange arranged marriage. Until her eyes lit up when she found an article about inbreeding and the like.
Shortly after downloading the file, she showed it to her mother and aunt. Hoping her efforts would pay off.
"Have you seen it?" she said later. "We still have many ways to save the company. Ray can still lead the company without being married to me. After all, the proceeds can be shared equally."
The two middle-aged women turned to each other with bitter smiles. It made Vienna feel like there was something to hide. Meanwhile, Ray just stood there as if he knew what they were going to say.
"What do you think? Do you still love me and Ray? It's clearly written that marriages with cousins can give birth to offspring with abnormalities. Even though the incidence is small, it's still not good, right?" said Vienna.
Her mom shook her head slowly with a smile. "If that's the reason you don't have to worry, Win."
"Yes," agreed her aunt.
"Wait. What's that supposed to mean?" asked Vienna with her breath catching.
Chapter 1 Will Disaster
22/10/2024
Chapter 2 A reality
22/10/2024
Chapter 3 It's not an accident
22/10/2024
Chapter 4 Decision
23/10/2024
Chapter 5 Not a wedding dream
23/10/2024
Chapter 6 Terror
23/10/2024
Chapter 7 Revenge
25/10/2024
Chapter 8 The Mask
25/10/2024
Chapter 9 Stalking
25/10/2024
Chapter 10 Just Having Fun
25/10/2024
Chapter 11 Like Father Like Son
26/10/2024
Chapter 12 Like a real husband
26/10/2024
Chapter 13 The arrival of Varren-Ray's best friend
26/10/2024
Chapter 14 Fucking Marriage
26/10/2024
Chapter 15 Prank On Ray
27/10/2024
Chapter 16 Suicide
28/10/2024
Chapter 17 Please leave the daddy
28/10/2024
Chapter 18 Take a stand
28/10/2024
Chapter 19 Mr. Zafar left
29/10/2024
Chapter 20 Ray accident
29/10/2024
Chapter 21 What's wrong with Ray
29/10/2024
Chapter 22 You
29/10/2024
Chapter 23 She is different
30/10/2024
Chapter 24 Pregnancy program
30/10/2024
Chapter 25 Hug your wife!
30/10/2024
Chapter 26 Go home
30/10/2024
Chapter 27 Because of you
31/10/2024
Chapter 28 Can I ask for help
31/10/2024
Chapter 29 Do you like him
31/10/2024
Chapter 30 Just a husband on a paper
31/10/2024
Chapter 31 Staying at the in-laws' house
02/11/2024
Chapter 32 Begins to unravel the mystery
02/11/2024
Chapter 33 You're my wife
03/11/2024
Chapter 34 Mr. Zafar is coming
03/11/2024
Chapter 35 More complicated
04/11/2024
Chapter 36 Confessing feelings
04/11/2024
Chapter 37 Give me a chance
04/11/2024
Chapter 38 Threat from Sinta
04/11/2024
Chapter 39 DOUBT
05/11/2024
Chapter 40 Our beginning
05/11/2024
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