After several days of intense preparations and lessons drilled into her by Maria, the day of the wedding finally arrived. Yet the groom was nowhere to be seen, and it seemed clear that the ceremony meant nothing to him. For Ella, it was the same—just a formal procedure, carrying none of the emotions she felt inside.
On the wedding day, Ella and Kay had agreed in advance on the protocol they would follow and the performance they would put on for the guests. Ella took a deep breath, bracing herself for a long, exhausting day. She had no fear of speaking or appearing in public, but she knew these people were far from her schoolmates—they were businessmen and wealthy elites. Though the number of guests was small, their eyes measured every person like a currency to be weighed and evaluated.
Ella entered the hall with her parents, flanked by Kay's family and a small group of guests, all staring at her in astonishment. How could an ordinary girl from a normal family marry into the Marivan family?
Kay, for his part, stood frozen, mesmerized by her beauty and the strange feelings it stirred in him. I must enjoy this beauty while it's mine, he thought. Boldly, he took Ella's hand in front of everyone and declared,
"I'm lucky to have the most beautiful girl in the city."
Ella's cheeks burned with embarrassment. How could he speak such words without hesitation, he who had so often delighted in belittling her? She thought, He must be used to this.
With a polite, practiced smile, she replied,
"And I am lucky to have you, my dear."
Her words were sweetened for appearances alone, a shield against the reality of the situation. Deep down, she did not accept the act for what it implied—she was merely fulfilling her role.
Ella and Kay moved through the hall, introducing her to each member of his family one by one. She felt the sting of jealous glances on her back, yet none of them knew the reality of what she endured with this family or the suffocating life she faced.
When the ceremony concluded, Ella bid farewell to the guests and retreated to a side room to rest from the day's overwhelming noise. Her cheeks ached from holding up false smiles for so long.
Maria entered, clapping her hands, and said,
"It seems you've followed every instruction to the letter! Congratulations on this flawless performance… it really looked as if you two were in love."
Ella's irritation flared again. Her words were sweet on the surface, but venom lay beneath them. Is this all I am to them—a piece in their game? she thought silently.
With the party over, Ella wondered what the couple would do next. Would they spend their wedding night in the hotel, or at the house? Irritated by Maria's insinuation, Ella left the room.
Outside, she encountered her mother.
"Hello, Mom, how are you?" Ella asked softly.
Her mother smiled reassuringly.
"Better than ever. Your grandfather seems happy with the care he's receiving at the hospital, and your father and I are glad to see you content and getting along with Mr. Martin's family."
Ella sighed inwardly, keeping her unease hidden as she spoke calmly,
"Yes, I'm fine. Mr. Martin and his wife are treating me well."
Her mother then asked, smiling,
"Is your relationship with Kay going well? I saw how he looks at you—with love."
Ella hesitated, unsure how to answer. Finally, she said simply,
"It seems we're getting to know each other, but we cannot call this love—yet."
Her mother reassured her gently,
"That's okay, dear. Everything will be fine. One day, you will become the queen of his heart, and he will love you madly."
Ella froze. Shock and disbelief coursed through her. That is not why I am here… I am only a guarantee for my father's debt, not to win someone's heart.
Perhaps Mom is mistaken… or misspoke, she whispered to herself, the weight of confusion and disillusionment written across her face.
Her mother left, leaving Ella alone with her uncertainty and disappointment, silently asking herself: When will all of this end?