Marrying the Billionaire Lawyer

One Year Earlier.

"I'm sure Daniz won't expect the surprise I'm about to give him," Riana murmured softly, looking satisfied with herself after decorating her boyfriend Daniz's television room. Today, the man she had been dating for two years was celebrating his birthday. Riana had prepared a surprise by secretly visiting Daniz's apartment while he was at work this afternoon. Earlier, she had lied about being sick and apologized for not being able to join him for a special dinner on his birthday.

Since Riana had a spare key to Daniz's apartment, she could freely visit without his knowledge. She had prepared various decorations and a birthday cake to support the surprise.

With full concentration, Riana set everything up – decorating and transforming the TV room into a romantic place for an intimate dinner.

After everything was neatly arranged according to her plan, it was time for Riana to get ready. While waiting for Daniz to return, she dimmed the lights and hid in a corner of the room.

Thirty minutes passed, and according to the schedule, Daniz finally came home. Riana felt anxious and excited from her hiding place, impatiently waiting to see his reaction to the surprise she had carefully prepared.

However, it seemed her hopes were dashed. Instead of surprising Daniz, Riana surprised herself. She witnessed her boyfriend entering the apartment while embracing a seductive woman. They kissed, and Daniz even carried the woman and gently laid her on the sofa.

"No need to rush, why don't you take a shower first, and then we can have dinner together?" the woman said in between their kisses. She even helped Daniz unbutton his work shirt, revealing his muscular upper body.

"Not in the mood," the man replied. "I miss you so much, Tasya Adelina. I just want to feast on you," Daniz teased, planting short kisses on the woman's lips and neck. "Or maybe we should shower together?"

Tasya laughed and playfully glared at him. "No way! What if your girlfriend finds out?"

Daniz shook his head. "No chance she'll find out. Riana said she's sick. I invited her for dinner, but she couldn't make it. She's always making excuses and causing trouble."

"Yeah, why are you still with her then? I heard you two are even planning to get engaged, right?"

Daniz nodded. "You know how it is with Arab families. They like to arrange marriages for their children. My parents intentionally arranged this with her to preserve our lineage. Besides, I'm willing to accept the arrangement because she's wealthy. She has been supporting me financially for a while. It would be a waste to let her go just like that."

"And funny enough, you use the money she gives you to treat me." They both laughed. "You're so wicked, Za," the woman teased.

"What can I do? I've loved you all along."

In her hiding spot, Riana tried to hold back her tears. It hurt so much to hear all the conversations between her boyfriend and his lover, but she tried to keep her emotions in check and continued listening in silence.

"Then, if you really marry her, what will happen to us, Za? We can't be together anymore, can we?" Tasya's face suddenly looked sad, and she seemed skilled at pulling at Daniz's heartstrings.

"Don't worry; you'll always be the one I love the most," Daniz confidently replied. "I'll still visit your apartment regularly."

Tasya smiled happily and pulled Daniz closer. Without hesitation, she hugged and kissed him, and Daniz let it happen, seemingly enjoying the intimacy.

"I just don't want to break up with you," the woman said again.

Daniz shook his head, using his hand to move a strand of hair covering Tasya's cheek. "I could never leave you, my dear. Besides, Riana is so complicated and overly religious. She won't even sleep with me like you do. She considers it a sin, saying it's not the right time. Such a hypocritical woman. She refuses to enjoy life. Besides, she's still stuck in those old-fashioned beliefs."

As they both laughed again, Riana decided to reveal herself. She switched on the light, which was close to her hiding position, and the room suddenly became bright.

Daniz and Tasya, realizing Riana's presence, were shocked. Moreover, they were now half-naked.

"Riana, I-I can explain this-"

"Enough!" Riana interrupted Daniz. "I don't want to hear anything from you!" She pointed directly at his face. Oh, sorry, correction. Perhaps Riana no longer considered Daniz her boyfriend.

"Riana, but this is not how you think it is. All of this-"

"Enough, Za!" Riana emphasized. "You don't need to explain. I've heard everything."

Daniz stood up, not caring that his upper body was exposed without any cover. His main concern was to explain everything so that Riana would listen to him.

"I apologize; what you heard isn't true."

Riana stepped back cautiously and deliberately avoided getting closer to where he stood.

"Here, I should be the one apologizing because it turns out I'm not up to your taste. But don't worry, I'll ask Dad to cancel our engagement plans immediately. And as for our relationship, we better end it today."

"No, Riana!" Daniz shook his head. "I don't want to break up with you."

"Whatever," Riana replied quickly. "If you don't want to break up, that's not my concern. The important thing is, from now on, I consider us to have no relationship at all."

****

Riana let out a long sigh and brought her hand to gently massage her aching chest. Once again, tonight she had a terrible dream, a dream she had been trying to bury deep inside her for a long time.

Remembering the event from a year ago when she caught her boyfriend being affectionate with another woman, Riana felt her own trauma. Because of that incident, she had tightly closed her heart to any other man, including Rayyen, the guy who was currently close to her. She was afraid that the old wounds she had tried so hard to bury would resurface and shatter her life once again.

"Why?"

Alana, her twin sister, who realized she was awake in the middle of the night, spoke to her.

"Another bad dream?"

Riana nodded, closing her eyes, trying to neutralize the painful feelings attacking her heart.

Alana, who understood her twin sister's condition very well, immediately sat up and approached her, then hugged her tightly.

"Don't think about it. It happened a long time ago, right? Besides, no one will hurt you like Daniz did back then."

In Alana's embrace, Riana nodded.

"I'm just scared, Sis. I've tried so many times to forget it, but that incident keeps appearing in my dreams."

"That means you're still holding a grudge against Daniz. Remember, no matter how bad he was, you must sincerely forgive him so that there's no burden left in your heart and mind."

Riana let out a heavy sigh. It wasn't easy for her to forgive, let alone forget. Her heart was still in so much pain because of the betrayal he had committed.

"It's not easy, Sis, to just forget like that."

"Well then, you have to move on quickly. Find someone else to replace Daniz so you can forget about that scoundrel as soon as possible," Alana said with a playful tone.

Riana chuckled softly.

"A person with trauma, and you're asking me to find a replacement quickly. Seriously! Besides, it's not like you've moved on from Elfathan."

"Arghh..." Alana pouted. "Why bring up Elfathan? You and I are different!" She pursed her lips, feeling annoyed because her twin suddenly brought up the guy she used to like.

"I'm just making a comparison, Sis. It's not easy for both of us to forget someone who once entered our hearts."

Alana sighed softly.

"Well, if it continues like this, you'll remember Daniz until the end of time. Do you want that? To be stuck thinking about Daniz your whole life? I don't!" She emphasized.

"I'm scared, Sis," Riana murmured softly. "I'm afraid of being hurt again, like before." She fell silent again, repeatedly sighing before speaking again. "You know Rayyen, right?"

Alana nodded.

"Who doesn't know a handsome guy like him?"

"Yesterday, he proposed to me. He even asked when I'll be ready for engagement."

Alana was surprised. The information she just heard caught her attention.

"So, what did you do? Did you accept? Don't tell me you refused."

Riana shook her head.

"I didn't answer him. Like I said, I'm traumatized. I'm afraid Rayyen is just playing around."

"But Rayyen comes from a wealthy family. Moreover, it's impossible for him to hurt you."

Riana smiled faintly. There was some truth in Alana's words. Rayyen came from a religious family. His way of treating his mother and sisters showed that he was caring, responsible, and highly respectful towards women.

"Nothing is impossible."

"But Rayyen doesn't seem like the kind of person who would hurt you." Alana argued confidently. "Let's bet."

Riana shook her head. She still doubted Rayyen's sincerity.

"I still can't take the risk."

Alana slid down from the bed and walked to the closet. She grabbed a prayer mat and returned to Riana.

"Here, you should pray. Ask for guidance from God. If I were you, I wouldn't waste this opportunity. When else would a handsome, rich guy like Rayyen propose to you?"

Riana laughed lightly. Her twin sister was quite daring to provoke her like this.

"Okay, then you should marry Rayyen. He won't be able to tell the difference between the two of us anyway."

"Unfortunately, I don't love Rayyen. So, I'll gladly give him up to you."

Riana rolled her eyes in annoyance. Why was her twin sister so confident? But because some of what she said was true, Riana decided to follow her advice and find the best position to go back to sleep.

This evening, Rayyen drove his black Range Rover at a moderate speed towards a house in one of the elite complexes in the central part of the city.

Upon arrival, Rayyen neatly parked his car in the house's courtyard and casually strolled towards the door before mustering the courage to knock.

"Good evening..." He greeted politely to the woman who opened the door. "Is Riana here?"

The woman nodded. "Good evening. Hi, Rayyen. Yes, I'm Riana," she replied.

Rayyen immediately chuckled. His facial expression suggested that he didn't believe the woman in front of him. "Ck, Alana," he clicked his tongue. "Stop kidding!"

The woman in front of him held back a smile. "Who's kidding? I really am Riana," she tried to convince him.

"If you were Riana, every time I meet you, I usually hug you."

"Hug?" the woman repeated. "Are you serious?"

"Liar!" Another voice interjected. Both of them turned to the source of the voice. "The truth is, it's not hugging but pinching like this..." The woman who had just arrived approached and playfully pinched Rayyen's waist until he groaned in pain.

"Oh my God..." he said. "That hurts, Riana!"

Riana looked at him with a cynical gaze. "Don't complain. It's your fault for coming and causing a commotion."

Rayyen laughed at Riana's protest. "I must be joking, Na. Besides, even if you were identical twins, I know exactly how to distinguish between you and Alana. So there's no chance of getting mixed up."

"Oh, really?" Alana expressed doubt. "How do you distinguish us, then?" she asked curiously.

"Just a small example," Rayyen said. "Riana has a birthmark on the tip of her nose, while Alana doesn't. Also, their eyebrows may look similar at a glance, but Riana's are much thinner than Alana's. Don't you two notice those differences?"

Alana smiled in amazement. She didn't expect Rayyen to pay attention to such a small detail. It was true that at a glance, Riana and Alana's physical appearances didn't have any noticeable differences. If someone didn't know them well, it would be difficult to distinguish.

"That's crazy. You pay so much attention," Alana mumbled.

Rayyen nodded. "That's what lawyers do. They have to investigate even the smallest details."

Riana and Alana nodded in agreement.

"Hey, am I not allowed to come in? Have I been standing in front of the door all this time? According to the old saying, I might miss my chance at love," Rayyen protested. Since he arrived, the twin women hadn't invited him inside yet.

"Sorry..." Alana said. "Come in, Big Brother. Inside, Ashraf and Marwa are already here."

Rayyen glanced at Riana and nodded, following the two women inside to join the other family members.

It had been a long time since they all gathered, so Marwa took the initiative to arrange a dinner party at their parents' house. Riana had intentionally invited Rayyen to make the event even more lively. Everyone knew that he was excellent at lightening the mood with his playful act.

"Good evening, Mommy Karin." Rayyen greeted politely as he shook hands and reverently kissed Mrs. Karin's hand.

The address of "Mommy" deliberately used by Rayyen for Mrs. Karin certainly surprised everyone present, including Marwa and Ashraf.

"Mommy... Mommy... since when did you become my mom?" Marwa joked with a curious tone.

Rayyen chuckled softly. "Relax. This is just practice, Marwa. Soon, I will be your brother-in-law."

Marwa immediately snorted, prepared to counter Rayyen's remarks. Debating with Rayyen was something she was accustomed to. "Hmph, very confident, aren't you? Are you sure Riana will accept you?"

Rayyen reflexively glanced at Riana, who was sitting next to her mother. "I'm sure. I pray every midnight for God to soften Riana's heart for me."

Everyone smiled at Rayyen's response, which seemed like a joke. However, Riana remained silent. His words had touched her heart.

"Alright..." Ashraf, who had been busy carrying baby Ciarra, spoke up. "It's getting late. Let's have dinner together."

They all moved to the dining area, took their seats, and enjoyed the dinner.

"While eating, Rayyen," Karin offered when they were all seated at the dining table. "Riana prepared all the dishes."

Rayyen nodded politely. "Yes, Mom. I'll try each one."

Riana quickly helped serve the dishes one by one. Meanwhile, Marwa intentionally observed their interactions and found them endearing enough to comment, "Rayyen is taking advantage of being served by Riana."

He immediately laughed. "Just consider this as Riana's internship as a wife. So, when we're married, it won't be a surprise."

Riana glanced at him. "As if I'm going to agree to marry you just like that."

Rayyen immediately retorted, "Confidence is important, Riana. Besides, Allah prefers His followers to always have positive thoughts about their fate and destiny." He then looked at Mrs. Karin, who was feeding her. "Mom, if I propose to Riana, do you think she'll accept?"

Riana widened her eyes. She hadn't told her mother anything about Rayyen proposing to her.

"Well, if Riana wants to, why not?" Karin answered diplomatically. She wasn't the type of parent who imposed specific conditions on her children's prospective spouses.

"So, that means you approve?" Rayyen confirmed.

Karin nodded. "The most important thing is that Riana's prospective husband is of the same faith, responsible, and, of course, respects women. Just like Ashraf, for example."

Rayyen nodded with a smile. "Thanks God, that means you've given the green light, right?" He glanced at Riana, who was sitting next to her mother. "That means, I just need to wait for Riana's answer."

The large Al-Qadrie family continued their dinner ritual together, discussing everything from jokes to serious matters. Without realizing it, the night grew late. It was time for Rayyen to take his leave.

"I'm going home, Ash. If I'm a little late, Mom tends to get worried and calls non-stop."

Ashraf laughed. "Alright, take care on the way."

After saying goodbye to Mrs. Karin, Marwa, and Alana, it was Rayyen's turn to say farewell to Riana.

"I'm heading home now. I'll let you know when I arrive."

Riana nodded softly, but before she could respond, Rayyen spoke again.

"But if I message you, please reply. Don't ignore me like usual. And don't forget, this Sunday, I want to invite you to have dinner with my extended family. I hope you'll accept the invitation."

Riana nodded shyly, giving a signal that she accepted Rayyen's invitation. "Yes, I'll make sure to come."

"Alright then, see you later."

Riana carefully observed her appearance through the mirror once again. She meticulously checked whether the makeup she had just applied was perfect or needed a few more touches.

This evening, according to their schedule, Rayyen would pick up Riana and take her out for dinner together. Nervousness surged within her. Riana was a little afraid that Rayyen might actually propose to her tonight, just as he had hinted during their phone call a few days ago.

"Why are we having dinner, anyway?" Riana asked at that time.

"Dinner is for getting to know each other better, as a potential son-in-law," Rayyen replied, laughing lightly.

"Oh, come on! Can't you be serious for once?" Riana teased.

"Riana ... Lau jama'tu ayyaama umri min farohin maa tusaawie lahdzota min wakti ma'aki. I never play around with feelings," Rayyen said, suddenly becoming serious. "I genuinely want to marry you."

Because of that sentence, Riana had trouble sleeping. For the past two nights, she had performed the Istikhara prayer, seeking guidance. She still felt scared. The wounds from the past betrayal had not completely healed. She was still afraid of being betrayed again. No! She couldn't let history repeat itself. Healing was not an easy process, and even now, the pain from Daniz's betrayal still lingered.

Riana stood in front of the mirror, lost in her thoughts, her mind wandering aimlessly. Memories from the past, Rayyen's words from that night, and other thoughts all merged in her mind. Before long, a voice called her back to reality. She recognized whose voice it was.

"Riana! Daydreaming again," a woman behind her called out. "Your boyfriend is waiting outside."

Riana immediately turned around, responding with a small chuckle to her twin sister's playful comment. Alana was like that, always teasing and joking with her.

"Yeah ... yeah ... I'm done now," Riana replied. "Hey, sis. How do I look?" She stood up, turning around to showcase her outfit.

"It looks good, don't worry. You always look beautiful," Alana replied honestly.

"Typical Perez. You're praising me because you want something in return, aren't you?"

Alana burst into laughter. She couldn't understand why her twin sister found it so hard to believe. At least she complimented her instead of criticizing. Usually, Alana was too lazy to argue about appearances.

"Oh, stop being so skeptical. I mean it. You look great this evening."

"Thanks. In that case, I'll head out now."

Alana nodded, smiling sweetly as she followed her twin sister.

"I'll pray that Rayyen proposes to you tonight. And if it happens, I hope you make the best decision for yourself," Alana said.

Riana stopped in her tracks, looking at Alana before embracing her twin sister.

"I also hope that whatever I choose will be the best for me, Kak," Riana replied, feeling a moment of emotion. They continued their steps towards the living room. There, a casually dressed man was waiting, humming softly in his seat.

Handsome.

That was the impression Riana always got from Rayyen. Yes, she knew that all the Maliq descendants were exceptional. Being the partner of one of them would be an honor. Not to mention that Rayyen himself was a famous lawyer. He had successfully handled many significant cases.

"Kak Rayyen," Riana greeted. Rayyen immediately stood up.

"Ready to go?"

Riana nodded and followed Rayyen's steps towards the car. They hurried to reach their destination before Maghrib prayer.

Upon arriving, Raima welcomed them both. Rayyen's only older sister took Riana and introduced her to their parents who were already waiting.

"Mom, look. Your potential daughter-in-law has arrived," Raima teased, making Riana blush.

The entire Maliq family had always known about Riana's close relationship with Rayyen. They always attended gatherings, important events, or had dinner together. But strangely, they hadn't officially acknowledged their relationship. Raima had dropped hints at them many times, but they seemed to ignore them.

"Are you two friends but intimate or something?" Raima asked on one occasion when Riana and Rayyen attended a family event.

"What does friends but intimate mean?" Rayyen was confused.

"It means being close friends like a couple," Riana explained.

"Oh my. You're exaggerating," Rayyen chuckled. "Besides, we're not meant for casual dating. It's better to get married right away. It's so obvious that we like each other."

Realizing that Rayyen and Riana had a mutual attraction, Eliza immediately asked her youngest son to invite Riana to dinner at their house. There were so many questions she wanted to ask. If she was lucky, her good intentions would be fulfilled.

After performing Maghrib prayer together, all the family members gathered in the dining room. They chatted and engaged in conversations until Eliza began the main topic.

"Riana, I want to thank you for your time and willingness to attend this small dinner."

Riana nodded respectfully, a small smile forming on her lips. Actually, this wasn't the first time she had dinner at Rayyen's house. But for some reason, tonight felt different. There was a sense of nervousness creeping into her heart.

"Thank you, too, Mommy. I should be the one thanking you for inviting me to dinner."

"Mommy ... " Rayyen interrupted. "It's like having dinner with the president; so formal to speak." He then looked at his mother. "Let's get to the point. If we were in court, the judge would interrupt you if you spoke too much."

Eliza protested, not appreciating Rayyen's remark. He was always like that, speaking bluntly to anyone, especially to his mother. "Riana is a guest. You can't skip the pleasantries."

"Alright," Rayyen replied, rolling his eyes. "Riana, Lau jama'tu ayyaama umri min farohin maa tusaawie lahdzota min wakti ma'aki. I never play around with feelings," he said again, becoming serious. "I genuinely want to marry you."

That sentence had kept Riana up for the past two nights. She had performed prayer, seeking guidance. She was still scared. The wounds from her past betrayal had not completely healed. She was still afraid of being betrayed again. No! She couldn't bear to go through it again. Healing was not an easy process, and even now, the pain from Daniz's betrayal still lingered.

Riana stood there, lost in her thoughts, her mind wandering aimlessly. She wondered what tonight would bring. All her thoughts converged and filled her mind until she was abruptly snapped back to reality by someone calling her name.

"Riana! You're daydreaming again," a woman behind her chided. "Your boyfriend is waiting outside."

Riana turned around and gave a small chuckle in response to her twin sister's comment. Alana was always like that, teasing and teasing her.

"Yeah ... yeah ... I'm done now," she replied. "Hey, sis. How do I look?" Riana stood up, turning around to show off her outfit.

"It looks good, don't worry. You always look beautiful," Alana replied honestly.

"Typical Perez. You're praising me because you want something in return, aren't you?"

Alana burst into laughter. She couldn't understand why her twin sister found it so hard to believe. At least she complimented her instead of criticizing. Usually, Alana was too lazy to argue about appearances.

"Oh, stop being so skeptical. I mean it. You look great this evening."

"Thanks. In that case, I'll head out now."

Alana nodded, smiling sweetly as she followed her twin sister.

"I'll pray that Rayyen proposes to you tonight. And if it happens, I hope you make the best decision for yourself," Alana said.

Riana stopped in her tracks, looking at Alana before embracing her twin sister.

"I also hope that whatever I choose will be the best for me, Kak," Riana replied, feeling a moment of emotion. They continued their steps towards the living room. There, a casually dressed man was waiting, humming softly in his seat.

Handsome.

That was the impression Riana always got from Rayyen. Yes, she knew that all the Maliq descendants were exceptional. Being the partner of one of them would be an honor. Not to mention that Rayyen himself was a famous lawyer. He had successfully handled many significant cases.

"Kak Rayyen," Riana greeted. Rayyen immediately stood up.

"Ready to go?"

Riana nodded and followed Rayyen's steps towards the car. They hurried to reach their destination before Maghrib prayer.

Upon arriving, Raima welcomed them both. Rayyen's only older sister took Riana and introduced her to their parents who were already waiting.

"Mom, look. Your potential daughter-in-law has arrived," Raima teased, making Riana blush.

The entire Maliq family had always known about Riana's close relationship with Rayyen. They always attended gatherings, important events, or had dinner together. But strangely, they hadn't officially acknowledged their relationship. Raima had dropped hints at them many times, but they seemed to ignore them.

"Are you two friends but intimate or something?" Raima asked on one occasion when Riana and Rayyen attended a family event.

"What does friends but intimate mean?" Rayyen was confused.

"It means being close friends like a couple," Riana explained.

"Oh my. You're exaggerating," Rayyen chuckled. "Besides, we're not meant for casual dating. It's better to get married right away. It's so obvious that we like each other."

Realizing that Rayyen and Riana had a mutual attraction, Eliza immediately asked her youngest son to invite Riana to dinner at their house. There were so many questions she wanted to ask. If she was lucky, her good intentions would be fulfilled.

After performing Maghrib prayer together, all the family members gathered in the dining room. They chatted and engaged in conversations until Eliza began the main topic.

"Riana, I want to thank you for your time and willingness to attend this small dinner."

Riana nodded respectfully, a small smile forming on her lips. Actually, this wasn't the first time she had dinner at Rayyen's house. But for some reason, tonight felt different. There was a sense of nervousness creeping into her heart.

"Thank you, too, Mommy. I should be the one thanking you for inviting me to dinner."

"Mommy ... " Rayyen interrupted. "It's like having dinner with the president; so formal to speak." He then looked at his mother. "Let's get to the point. If we were in court, the judge would interrupt you if you spoke too much."

"Hushh!" Eliza scolded, not accepting Rayyen's behavior. He had always been like that, speaking candidly to anyone, especially his mother. "Riana is a guest. You can't just skip the pleasantries," the middle-aged woman protested.

"You're taking too long with pleasantries, Mommy. We might end up staying until late at night. It's not proper for me to bring a young lady home late at night. It's taboo," Rayyen replied playfully.

"Ehem!"

RMommy, who had been silently observing her wife and youngest son bickering, cleared her throat. Her gaze now shifted to Riana, who was sitting right beside Rayyen. She thought it was time to clarify the purpose of inviting the youngest daughter of the Alqardrie family.

"Riana," Mommy spoke up, "Abi wants to get straight to the point. The reason we invited you here is to ask if you're willing to become Rayyen's wife."

Riana's suspicions were confirmed. She had anticipated this question. Now, it was her turn to remain silent and ponder over her answer. What response should she give to Rayyen's parents, who were eagerly waiting?

"Riana ... " Rayyen began, turning slightly towards her. He looked into her eyes with a smile. "I'm sorry if Abi and Mommy's question caught you by surprise. But, as I mentioned before, I truly want to take our relationship to a more serious level. To make you my wife and the future mother of my children. After all, we know each other well."

Rayyen took a deep breath, maintaining eye contact with Riana as he spoke again.

"Will you accept my proposal, Riana?" he asked.

Riana was lost in thought. She had prepared her answer when she was at home, but now, she seemed to have run out of words to respond to this critical question.

"I-I ... "

"I-I, what?" Rayyen asked, trying to catch up. "I'm serious, Riana. But if you need more time to decide, I don't mind. You can take your time to think about it."

Riana continued to gaze deeply at Rayyen, trying to read the emotions in his brown eyes to steady her heart before giving a final answer.

"I have decided to accept your proposal, Rayyen."

"Thanks God."

Everyone around the dining table immediately expressed their gratitude after hearing Riana's answer. They were relieved that the beautiful hijab-wearing woman had accepted Rayyen's proposal. Especially Eliza. Happiness shone brightly on her lovely face.

"Then, next weekend, Abi and Mommy will visit to formally propose to Riana. Hopefully, our intentions will be well-received by the Alqardrie family," Eliza said.

Riana nodded, agreeing to Eliza's plan. Now, her task was to share this news with her extended family at home.

****

"Are you alone, Ray?" Yizam asked as he arrived at the restaurant.

Earlier, Rayyen had called both of his cousins out of the blue. He intentionally invited them to have lunch at a famous restaurant. Instead of calling, Rayyen believed that some information was better conveyed in person.

"No, there are three of us," he replied casually.

"With whom? I don't see anyone else here." Yizam and Ashraf looked around, searching for the person referred to by their cousin.

"I'm here with the guardian angels and the watchful spirit," Rayyen teased.

"Damn it!" Yizam immediately cursed. He had just arrived, and his cousin was already up to his usual antics.

"All right, all right," Ashraf intervened, taking over the conversation to prevent Yizam and Rayyen from arguing as usual. "What's the reason you invited us both for lunch?"

"Next weekend, God willing, I'm going to propose," Rayyen said casually. "I want you both to be there to accompany me."

Yizam and Ashraf were taken aback. They were both grateful that what Rayyen had wanted for a long time was finally coming true. They knew how much effort their youngest cousin had put into persuading and convincing Riana that he was worthy of marrying her.

"Is this not a joke, right?" Yizam confirmed, although his facial expression clearly showed that he was being sarcastic.

"It's true. There's no way I'm joking about something serious like this, Zam."

"Thank God," Ashraf chimed in, sitting beside Yizam. He offered a response to the news that Rayyen had just shared. "Finally, after a long wait, you got an answer."

Rayyen nodded. What Ashraf said was true. It hadn't been an easy task to convince Riana. He even had to face Marwa, persuading his cousin's wife that he was genuinely serious about making Riana his life partner.

"Yes, Thanks God, Ash. Destiny is like a bunch of tempeh. No one knows what it holds."

Yizam, sitting beside Ashraf, immediately snorted after hearing Rayyen's comment. He couldn't understand why his cousin was so difficult to take seriously during conversations. This was probably why they doubted how someone like Rayyen, who always acted like a jokester, could become a successful lawyer.

"Then, when do you plan to get married?" Yizam asked again.

"As for the exact date, Riana and I are still discussing it. Personally, I want it to happen as soon as possible. But if she and the Alqardrie family have their own calculations for the date, that's fine too," Rayyen replied.

Ashraf nodded in understanding. He also agreed with Rayyen's decision to give Riana and her family the freedom to choose the wedding date. The most important thing was that both parties had come to an agreement.

"If you need anything, just let us know. I'm ready to help with whatever it is," Ashraf offered.

"What Ashraf said is true, Ray," Yizam added. "If you need anything, just inform us."

"Thanks," Rayyen nodded. "In that case, how about you sponsor my wedding, Zam?"

Yizam burst into laughter at Rayyen's suggestion. "You wish! I'm not falling for that one. You're on your own for that."

The three cousins continued to enjoy their lunch, discussing other topics while anticipating the upcoming special event in Rayyen's life.