Chapter 3 Cancel Marriage

The next day, after venting her intense anger overnight and feeling the heartache of betrayal tearing at her, Elsa went to the place where her wedding dress was being made.

"Oh, Miss Elsa, can I help you with anything? The wedding dress is ready, we just need to wait for the big day."

Intan, the person specifically designing the dress, immediately approached Elsa, anticipating a conversation about the dress.

"Yes. Please get the dress now," Elsa replied with a smile.

"Sure thing, Miss."

Soon enough, the white wedding dress was in front of Elsa.

"I will put it on again," Elsa said as she headed toward the fitting room.

Intan was puzzled. However, she didn't say anything as Elsa changed into the dress.

"Beautiful, but sadly, I won't be able to wear it during the reception that I'll disrupt. It's better if I wear it now," Elsa mumbled in front of the mirror, looking at herself draped in the white gown.

"Miss, if I may ask, is there a problem? Wasn't the dress exactly what you requested?"

Intan's curiosity had reached its limit, and she finally asked when Elsa approached her wearing the dress she had designed.

"I'm going to wear it now," Elsa answered, giving a sweet smile.

"What do you mean, Miss?" Intan furrowed her brow.

"I've already paid for this, right? I just want to surprise my future in-laws, well, I mean my ex-fiancé's parents. I'm calling off the wedding. I have to leave now. The dress is beautiful."

Intan was astonished by the seemingly unreasonable explanation. Yet, Elsa paid no attention to the judgment. She walked towards her car and hurried off to Rio's house.

"Hey, are you free today? I'm on my way to your place. I'll be there soon."

Elsa placed the phone, which was making the call, in the phone holder right in front of her.

"Really? In that case, let me get ready. It's not nice to meet you while looking all disheveled like this," a male voice answered from the other end of the call.

"Yeah, I'm driving too. I'm hanging up."

"Alright, Sweetie. Take care, it's not like you to go out alone. Bye, Sweetie."

Elsa let out a breath after ending the call. The turmoil within her chest returned. Her eyes felt warm, even starting to well up.

"Don't cry, Elsa, you have to be strong." Elsa could only reassure herself as she was hurt once again.

Several times, Elsa took deep breaths. Her chest felt tight and constricted. Slowly, the air she inhaled was released from her mouth to ease the discomfort.

Elsa's car entered Rio's front yard. Before getting out, she intentionally tore the bottom part of the dress she was wearing.

Elsa saw the wide smiles of the people welcoming her. Those who would soon become her family, ultimately, everything was going to fail.

The car door opened, and Elsa returned their smiles. Slowly, she got out of the car. At the same moment, Rio's family, including Rio himself, appeared utterly surprised by Elsa's attire. She wasn't just wearing the wedding dress, but it had been torn in several places.

"Dear! What is this? Are you wearing our wedding dress? And why is it torn like this? What happened, Dear?"

Rio immediately approached Elsa, his worried face mixed with emotions.

"Yes, Mbak. What happened?" Raya-Rio's younger sibling-asked.

"Oh, my future daughter-in-law. What happened to you? Are you okay?" Tika-Rio's mother-was also very concerned.

"I'm perfectly fine. Thank you for worrying about me. Can I come in?" Elsa spoke as if her heart wasn't wounded.

"Yes, my future daughter-in-law. Come in," Tika replied.

"Dear, what's really going on?" Rio asked again as he entered the house.

"I don't want to linger here. So, why am I wearing this wedding dress now and why is it torn? I intentionally did all of this..."

"What do you mean, Dear?" Rio interrupted Elsa. His eyebrows nearly met.

"Listen first, don't interrupt me."

Tika and Raya were worried too. However, they remained silent, following Elsa's wishes. And so did Rio now.

"So, with my visit here, I want to convey that the wedding that's supposed to happen soon, will ultimately fail. I've decided to call it off."

"Dear! What on earth?"

"Mbak, why is that?"

"You can't just cancel it like that, Elsa."

The three people in front of Elsa instantly responded with sentences of denial.

"This is my decision to make. You can't force someone into a life they don't want. So, just accept my decision."

Despite the turmoil in her chest, Elsa didn't want to show that weakness to the man who had hurt her. The man who would only inflict more pain if the wedding went ahead.

"Tell me why, Dear? Why are you doing this?" Rio tried to reach out for Elsa's hand, but she evaded him.

"Figure it out for yourself, Sir. Basically, I've canceled our wedding. Our relationship ends here. I need to go now."

"Elsa, please. Don't do this. You're going to be my mother's wonderful daughter-in-law. Please don't act this way."

Tika also tried to prevent Elsa from leaving, hoping Elsa would retract her words.

"You can't, Ma'am. Don't worry, I've already settled all the wedding expenses. So, please, don't stop me from leaving."

"Where's your promise, Mbak? You said you'd help with our rent. And now you're deliberately canceling the wedding. You have to keep your promise, Mbak," Raya said.

"Oh, so that was your intention all along? You want to use me as a money-making machine? I was foolish in the past, blinded by love, and just went along with all your demands. Now, my eyes are finally wide open. From this moment on, don't ever interfere in my life again."

Elsa turned around. She walked out of her ex-fiancé's house.

"Elsa! You hypocrite! Disrespectful woman!" Tika shouted, trying to chase after Elsa.

"Ma'am! Please, don't. Let her go. We could get into trouble, Ma'am," Rio intervened.

"Don't let her cancel your wedding, Rio! You have to marry her! Don't act foolishly!"

"Yes, Mas! Go after her! I don't want to waste the golden opportunity right in front of us, Mas!" Raya argued.

The car horn interrupted the three individuals who were arguing. Elsa had left Rio's house, driving her luxurious car.

"You fool! How could you let go of a treasure like Elsa? What's wrong with you, Rio? Is there something bothering you? Why did Elsa act so audaciously?"

"Yes, Mas. You're being really foolish. You can't even win over a woman."

"You should've just stayed quiet. I'm confused myself. Why did Elsa cancel our wedding?"

"Damn! If it's like this, what does it mean for my relationship with Vela? I could have maintained a relationship with Vela by marrying Elsa. If Vela finds out it has come to this, she'll definitely be disappointed in me," Rio thought as he struggled with the reality that had unfolded.

***

"One step has been taken. Yes, maybe this is the beginning of everything, at least I managed to break free from this fake relationship. Only I loved, what's the point? Discard it before it adds to the wound," she thought as she ruminated on the current situation.

Elsa pulled her car over to change clothes. She didn't want to wear a dress that would only add to her pain.

***

"Bian! You know, within these two months you have to get married, right? Otherwise, you won't inherit a single penny from your grandfather. You've met Mr. Handi's daughter, right? The girl named Vela, she's beautiful. Why haven't you taken her seriously up to now? Do you agree to the arranged marriage?"

Laras, Bian's mother, was always nagging about the marriage that Bian continuously ignored.