Chapter 1 Jorge disappeared

The day Ciara had been waiting for so long had finally arrived. It was a special day, a day that witnessed how sweet memories were engraved in her and Jorge's relationship. Ciara looked at her reflection in the mirror, smiling at herself, who looked very radiant. A beautiful face with elegant makeup made Ciara even more charming; today, Ciara would marry her lover Jorge. Just imagining it made Ciara feel happy.

"Ciara."

Ciara's reverie was instantly broken when she felt a hand touch her shoulder gently. From the reflection of the mirror, it was clear that Monica was standing behind her. Monica was Ciara's mother; she was a gentle and kind woman, just like Ciara. That made Ciara smile. She turned her body to face her mother, who was now smiling at her.

"You look so happy, Ciara."

Ciara just chuckled in response, and then she hugged her mother affectionately. "I really love you."

"Mommy loves you too." Monica gently stroked the top of Ciara's head.

"Let's go down; everyone is waiting for you," Monica said, inviting Ciara to go down.

Ciara nodded her head, and once again she looked at herself in the mirror. A big smile was perfectly engraved on Ciara's face, along with a luxurious white dress perfectly attached to her body. She was like an angel who had just descended from heaven.

Just as they were about to go down to the event hall, Jorge's parents suddenly walked into Ciara's room. Ciara frowned when she saw the look on her future in-laws' faces, not the smile of happiness they showed. Instead, they looked like someone who was worried. Suddenly, Ciara immediately stood up to Hendrik and Ayunda, who were Jorge's parents, followed by Monica from behind.

"Auntie, uncle. What's wrong? Why do you look worried?" Ciara asked to the point.

Jorge's mother Ayunda's eyes began to glaze over, her hand gently caressing the top of Ciara's head with affection. She took a deep breath before opening her voice. "Ciara, Jorge isn't here yet," she said, looking into Ciara's eyes intently.

Ciara furrowed her brow; she did not understand the meaning of Ayunda's words. "What do you mean, auntie? Jorge must be coming soon; we'll just wait," Ciara said with a simple smile.

"We don't know if Jorge will come or not." Suddenly, Hendrik, Jorge's father, opened his voice.

"What does that mean?" said Monica, confused.

"Jorge disappeared; there is no news; even everyone has been looking for him but has still not found him," said Adnan, Ciara's father, who suddenly appeared from the doorway.

Ciara froze in place, and slowly the clear liquid in her eyes fell without permission. Her chest felt tight as if it were crushed by thousands of irons. Ciara shook her head. She couldn't take her father's words at face value, so Ciara ran to the dressing table to pick up the flat object there. Her hands were busy looking for Jorge's number and calling him. She repeatedly called Jorge, but there was no answer.

Ciara slammed the cell phone in her hand. Anxiety, disappointment, and sadness mixed together. "Jorge, where are you?" Ciara muttered, shaking her shoulders.

"Ciara." Monica approached the child and hugged her tightly.

Ciara looked up at Monica, her eyes already puffy and her nose red from crying. "Mom, is my marriage going to be canceled?" Ciara asked with a sob.

"No sa-"

"The wedding must continue," Hendrik interrupted Monica's words.

Everyone who was there simultaneously looked at Hendrik, especially Ciara, who looked confused by Hendrik's answer. Ciara wiped her tears harshly; her heart was like being played here.

"What does that mean? Jorge hasn't been in touch, and that means the wedding is canceled, right?"

"We don't want to suffer the embarrassment of canceling this important event when so many guests have already arrived," Hendrik replied with a serious look on his face.

"What do you mean, Hendrik? Who will replace Jorge?" Adnan, who had been silent, now began to speak up.

Ceklek...

Someone entered the room at the same time as Adnan's question, and at that moment, Hendrik pointed to that person. "Edward will replace Jorge," he said firmly.

Edward, who had just entered, looked confused, looking at his father. What was this? He had just been called there and immediately appointed to replace his younger brother? It was ridiculous.

"Papa! What does this mean? Why should I?" Edward refused, looking away.

"This is for the sake of our good name; if this wedding is canceled, we will also bear the shame!" threatened Hendrik.

Edward was silent. He looked at Ciara with a sad gaze. Edward knew that Jorge was rumored to be missing; after all, Edward was Jorge's older brother. He might also feel sad because his younger brother suddenly disappeared.

"Edward, you are Jorge's older brother. You have to want to marry Ciara if you don't want our family to feel embarrassed because of Jorge's actions," Hendrik said, patting Edward's shoulder.

Edward was still silent. He looked at Ciara, who seemed to be crying. Let me not have the heart to see it; after all, Edward was close to Jorge and Ciara while still in college. But replacing Jorge as Ciara's husband was something Edward had never imagined.

"What does that mean? I don't want to! I want Jorge!" Ciara shouted, standing her ground.

The atmosphere there was suddenly quiet; the two families were discussing the decision to be made. While Ciara was still trying to contact Jorge, there was no answer at all.

"I don't want to marry Edward, papa! I want Jorge! Shall we postpone the wedding until Jorge returns?" Ciara was still trying to convince her parents to reject Hendrik's decision.

Adnan, the head of household in Ciara's family, was thinking. Adnan and Hendrik were quite famous businessmen, so it was only natural that they didn't want to be embarrassed and didn't want their names to be tainted because their children were canceled.

"Ciara will marry Edward," Adnan said, making a decision.

"Papa!" That made Ciara cry again at her father's decision.

"Edward! Don't you want to marry me? Edward, answer!" Ciara approached Edward; she pulled Edward's hand several times.

Edward was still silent. He looked at his father and mother, then said, "Papa, Momy. Do I have to marry Ciara? How will Jorge feel?"

"Jorge has already embarrassed our family by not coming to his wedding day; why think about him?" said an emotional Hendrik, then he said again, "If you don't want to, I will destroy your company."

His company was important to Edward, especially since Edward himself had developed the company from scratch. Edward's hands clenched into fists, his gaze fixed on the beautiful woman in the white dress there. He looked at Ciara with a sad gaze.

"Okay, Edward will!" Edward replied briefly, then chose to leave the room. Before Edward actually left, she had time to smile crookedly back at all of them.