Part 3

It was a struggle just to afford daily meals because her mother's salary was exhausted by her father's medical expenses. Casandra had to work hard in the village to ensure that her siblings and father didn't go hungry.

Alexander had also mocked her for having such big dreams unsupported by a stable income. Casandra had mentioned her desire to become a researcher to her mother, and Alexander accidentally overheard it. As a result, he ridiculed and belittled her. He even expressed his dislike for a girl who couldn't grasp her own limitations.

Casandra had wanted to refute Alexander's insults that day, but she couldn't. His words were painfully accurate. She struggled even to continue her education, let alone provide for herself.

And now, for the sake of money, Casandra found herself in Alexander's house. Lastri had asked her to come and help for extra bonuses, as opposed to seeking help from her fellow domestic worker friends. Lastri believed it was better to involve her own daughter.

In just two days of work, leaving her father under the care of her siblings, Casandra earned a bonus equal to her mother's one-month salary. Yes, she had to work tirelessly without breaks for Alexander and Cesilia's anniversary event.

"Enough daydreaming. It's better if you go upstairs and quickly bring the juice to Cesilia," Lastri urged, tapping Casandra's arm to prompt her to leave. It was better to avoid any scolding from Cesilia by hurrying up.

"Yes, Mom." Casandra immediately made her way upstairs to deliver the requested juice to Cesilia.

Casandra encountered Meri as she started ascending the stairs. Seeing the elderly woman, Casandra felt a pang of sympathy and her compassionate nature prompted her to assist Meri up the stairs. With one hand, Casandra supported Meri to prevent her from falling, while her other hand carried the tray of juice for Cesilia.

"Who are you? I haven't seen you here before. Are you part of the event decorating team?" Meri asked, curious about Casandra's presence. She felt like they had met before, but couldn't recall where.

Casandra, a simple and kind-hearted girl, smiled warmly and politely responded, "I'm Casandra, ma'am. I'm Bi Lastri's eldest daughter."

Meri's heart warmed. This was the first time she had encountered such a gentle and polite girl like Casandra. Despite coming from a humble background, Meri felt that Casandra had a better character compared to Cesilia.

"That room," Meri pointed to Cesilia and Alexander's bedroom near the staircase. "I'm sure you want to deliver this juice to Cesilia," she continued, walking alongside Casandra even after they reached the upper floor.

"You're quite perceptive, ma'am," Casandra playfully bantered to ease any awkwardness. Truth be told, she felt a little nervous being in close proximity to Meri.

"It's not about being perceptive..." Meri raised her eyebrows.

"Call me Cas, ma'am," sensing Meri's unspoken question, Casandra quickly offered her preferred nickname.

"Okay, Cas. I'm not being perceptive, it's just that on this floor, there's no one else besides Alexander and Cesilia because they don't have children yet. And Alexander doesn't like avocado," Meri explained.

"Ma'am, you truly are a caring mother and mother-in-law," Casandra drew the corners of her lips upward, sincerely complimenting Meri.

Meri murmured, "I hope so." She could only affirm what Casandra said because she knew that in Cesilia's eyes, she was an annoying mother-in-law.

***

"Why is Mama here again? Didn't I already inform Mama of my decision?" Cesilia snapped when she saw Meri and Casandra entering her room together.

Frustrated, Cesilia immediately moved from the dressing table to the edge of the bed, folding her arms across her chest. Her lips curled up in displeasure at the sight of Meri.

"Mama came to approve your wish, Cesilia. Mama hopes that you've found a potential wife for Alexander so that he can get married. If possible, as soon as possible," Meri declared.

Lastri quickly followed Casandra into her room, seeing her eldest daughter running from the direction of the stairs. Casandra was in tears, her face swollen from crying.

It was all because of Alexander's sharp tongue, as he easily labeled Casandra as a woman who sold her body for money. Little did he know that the crazy idea of making Casandra a second wife for Alexander had unintentionally slipped out of Cesilia's mouth.

It wasn't a mutual agreement or an offer from Casandra. Moreover, Casandra would never want to become the wife of an arrogant and conceited man like Alexander. She was well aware of her position and status, so the thought of becoming his wife, especially just to bear his child, never crossed her mind.

"What's wrong, Cas?" Lastri was genuinely worried now. This was the second time she had seen Casandra crying uncontrollably, reminiscent of when she first heard about her father's brain tumor.

"Mom, I just want to go home. I don't need that bonus, Mom. I'd rather work in Mr. Yanto's rice field than be treated like this. Even if it's just a little, Mr. Yanto would never accuse me of selling myself!" Casandra sobbed, releasing all the heaviness that burdened her heart.

Casandra's mind was still fresh with the memory of Alexander pointing his index finger in her face, shouting and emphasizing that he would never marry her, even if it meant having a child with her.

"What do you mean, Cas? I don't understand. Please tell me slowly, what actually happened?" Lastri held Casandra in her arms, comforting her. "Come on, tell Mom."

"Mom, I swear on anything. I never asked Mrs. Cesilia to make me a paid wife so that Mr. Alexander could have a child. I swear, Mom. I never asked for any of this!" 

"A paid wife? A child? What do you mean, Cas?" 

Lastri was truly confused now.

"I was accused by Mr. Alexander of being persuaded by Mrs. Cesilia to become his second wife so that he could have a child, even though Mrs. Cesilia wasn't ready for pregnancy."

"Oh my goodness, why would Mr. Alexander accuse you like that? Where did he hear all of this?" 

"From me," Cesilia interrupted from the doorway of Lastri's room. "I told him that Casandra would bear his child."

"Mrs. Cesilia?" Lastri repeated, not believing what Cesilia had just said. Cesilia casually mentioned that Casandra would give birth to Alexander's child.

"Yes, I want Casandra to marry Alexander. Whether he agrees or not, I want it to happen, and within less than two years, Casandra should give birth to his child."

"W-what? Mrs. Cesilia, are you trying to rent my womb?"

Cesilia shook her head. "If I were to rent your womb, we would have to go through the IVF process. It would take a lot of time and money. Instead of wasting my time and money on the hospital, I'd rather use them for Casandra's father's tumor removal surgery. How about that?"

"What do you mean, Mrs. Cesilia?"

"I will fund her father's treatment until he recovers. I will provide him with a sum of money and guarantee the education of her siblings. As long as she agrees to marry Alexander and bear a child for us." Cesilia took a deep breath. "Not only that, as long as Casandra is Alexander's wife, I will find a house for her father and siblings to live in. So they won't have to travel back and forth here for his treatment. How does that sound?"

Lastri swallowed hard, imagining all the conveniences they would gain if Casandra really married Alexander.

If that happened, Lastri wouldn't have to hear her children's cries informing her about their father's deteriorating condition. She wouldn't have to worry about paying school fees when they were due. Most importantly, Casandra wouldn't have to plant rice in someone else's field or harvest coffee in other people's farms just to have a meal.

"I will discuss this with Casandra, Mrs. Cesilia," Lastri said after a few seconds of contemplation, leaving Casandra gaping in disbelief at her mother's words.

Her mother's response seemed to lean more towards accepting Cesilia's offer. It was indeed a tempting offer. But it wasn't good for her mental and physical well-being.

She had just heard that she would become a paid wife, and Alexander had already insulted and degraded her. As if Casandra was a disgusting germ.

"Very well, I'll give you until tomorrow morning. If Casandra refuses, then all of you can leave this place!" Cesilia snorted, leaving a threat to Casandra who clearly didn't accept her offer.

Casandra was at a loss. The opportunity to refuse and find another way out had been completely shut by Cesilia. Besides offering many advantages, Cesilia also exerted pressure with the threat of dismissal. In that case, how else could she avoid it, considering that finding a job was the most difficult thing at the moment?

Moreover, working for Cesilia could earn her a higher salary compared to being a domestic worker elsewhere.

"Mom, I..."

Lastri's voice trembled with a mix of desperation and determination. "Do you hear me, Cas? There is no more room for you to refuse. Because I will also lose my job."

"Mom, please. Don't ask me to accept all of this." Casandra pleaded. "I will do anything to earn money. But marrying Mr. Alexander, I can't do it." She clasped her hands in front of her chest, hoping her mother would grant her request. Hoping she would understand that Alexander wasn't the right man to be the husband of a poor girl like her, even if it was just as a paid wife.

Instead of listening to Casandra's plea, Lastri fell to her knees in front of her. She prostrated herself at Casandra's feet and said, "I beg you, Cas. It won't be difficult for you to become Mr. Alexander's wife. Just until you get pregnant and give birth to his child. After that, you and he can get a divorce, and your life can return to normal. Is that so hard? Sacrificing a little for the sake of your father and siblings?"

Casandra was taken aback. Suddenly, her mother went too far. A mother shouldn't beg like that.

But everything Lastri did still couldn't melt Casandra's heart because she thought ahead. She thought about her fate after becoming Alexander's wife and what would happen if they divorced in the future. As a woman, she would be the one disadvantaged, especially being labeled as a widow and separated from her own flesh and blood.

Therefore, Casandra could only shake her head as an answer. No, and that would remain her decision.

Lastri wiped her tears harshly. "Is that the decision you're going to make?"

Even though tears were already streaming down her face and her heart ached seeing her mother cry, Casandra still nodded, confirming her mother's question.

"In that case, this will be the last time you see your mother." Lastri reached for a drinking glass on the nightstand. She shattered it and was ready to cut her own vein with the broken glass. "Is this what you want, Cas?"

Casandra shook her head, tightly embracing her mother. "No, Mom. No, I don't want this," she whispered.

"If you don't want me to die, accept Cesilia's offer. So that your mother won't have to struggle to find money for your father's medical expenses."

"But, Mom..."

"Do you think I'm not tired of all this, Cas? Working hard as a maid, just to wipe away the tears of your father's pain."

"But, Mom, I and Mr. Alexander..."

The sentence remained unfinished as the weight of the situation sank into Casandra's heart. She realized that her mother's desperation had reached its peak, and refusing Cesilia's offer meant losing her mother forever.

"Accept it or not. That's what Mother wants to know." Cassandra discarded the broken glass and cupped both of her cheeks. "Now answer, do you love Mother and Father?"

Cassandra nodded softly amidst her uncontrollable tears.

"In that case, marry Mr. Alexander!"

It was so heartbreaking and painful. But ultimately, Cassandra still nodded. She agreed to her mother's wish to marry Alexander. She had no idea what her fate would be after this, as she couldn't envision anything. All that crossed her mind was Alexander's flushed face, glaring at her with hatred.

"Yes, God... grant me a miracle to escape from all of this. And if I am destined to marry him, give me the strength to endure it all."