Tristan was immediately taken aback when he was busy talking. Suddenly Edward appeared behind him. Even more surprising, the man came with Sophia with him. Predictably, this was deliberately done by his best friend to inflame him, who will be divorced shortly.
After more than a week of not seeing each other for the first time, Tristan saw his wife again. In his eyes, he believed that Sophia’s condition was very good and could be much happier.
“Nick…” Edward scolded. “You heard my question, didn’t you? Can Sophia and I join you guys here?”
Nicholas glanced at Tristan first. Seeing that the man next to him looked normal, only then did he respond to Edward’s question.
“Go ahead. There is no prohibition for you to join this table.”
Edward smiled happily. He pulled out a chair and then led Sophia to sit there immediately. Deliberately set the woman’s position to face Tristan, who was now enjoying his drink.
“You’ve been here long?” Edward asked Nicholas as a conversation starter. He glanced at how Sophia and Tristan seemed to be stealing glances at each other.
“We’ve been there a long time. After a work meeting, Tristan and I decided to have lunch at this restaurant first,” Nicholas explained while sipping the strawberry milkshake in front of him.
“What about you? Just got here or has it been a while?” The man asked again.
Edward, looking through the menu at the time, nodded immediately. Lifting his face, he smiled again.
“What a coincidence to meet you here. Sophia and I ourselves probably only arrived 30 minutes ago. We both went to the diamond shop on the third floor.”
Nicholas’s brow furrowed deeply. Followed by a question that escaped his lips.
“You guys went to the diamond shop before?”
“Yes, Nicholas Alistair,” Edward nodded. “We both just finished looking for a couple ring to wear to the wedding.”
Tristan almost choked on his spit at what Edward had to say. The court has not yet announced the official divorce status, but this pair in front of him has prepared everything for their marriage. Tristan struggled to keep his face looking normal.
Meanwhile, Nicholas, astonished, asked Edward as if he was deliberately digging for information.
“Wedding rings? Isn’t that an exaggeration? Isn’t Sophia still legally Tristan’s wife to this day?”
Sophia immediately looked down. Either feel awkward, uncomfortable or maybe just embarrassed. She certainly looked uncomfortable after Nicholas said that. She even kept glancing and occasionally glaring at Edward, intending to ask the man to end his silly attitude, which seemed childish.
“Oh dear Mr Alistair. Don’t be so surprised,” Edward replied casually. “We both know that they will soon be separated, right? There’s nothing wrong with me making preparations from now on so that it won’t be a hassle later. We even intend to hunt for a building as well as a suitable place to be a honeymoon destination.”
Nicholas nodded. Then it didn’t take long to respond.
“I’m actually curious, when are you two really getting married?”
Edward laughed. Changing a more relaxed sitting position, the man leaned his shoulders on the chair. Still maintaining a smile on his lips, he folded his arms in front of his chest and didn’t take long to reply, “As soon as the separation is official, the next day I will immediately propose to Sophia. A week later we will be married. Because I am an aristocrat, so Westminster Abbey I chose to hold our wedding procession,” Edward explained at length and in great detail.
From the sentence that came out, it was clear that there was a tone of arrogance that seemed very intentional. Everyone in the United Kingdom also knows that not just anyone can get married at the iconic Westminster Abbey. Only the royal family or nobles who still have a relationship with the British monarchy can carry out sacred processions there.
Glancing at Tristan’s expressionless face, Nicholas was sure that his best friend must be having difficulty keeping himself from getting emotional. Several times, the man deliberately turned his face as if he was reluctant to see the new partner in front of him.
“I see, you’re too early to talk about marriage, Ed,” Nicholas later rebuked.
“Not.” Edward interrupted, then shook his head. Grabbing Sophia’s wrist, the man smiled and then looked back at Nicholas and Tristan. “The two of us have taken marriage very seriously many times. Sophia has even agreed to this plan. So what’s so early?”
The man then grinned sharply. “If the woman-to-be agrees to start a new household right away, I shouldn’t have to worry, right? It’s up to if the previous partner didn’t like it, I don’t care. It’s none of my business either.”
Edward spits out those words while glaring mockingly at Tristan. It’s very satisfying to see how his best friend looks increasingly uncomfortable with all the words he says.
“Besides, Nick…” Edward continued. It didn’t seem like one session of the man had spoken enough this time. It was as if he wanted to pour everything out like aji while the main suspect was in front of him, namely Tristan. “I don’t want to do something stupid a second time. In the past, I could have missed until the woman I love was captured by my own friend. When he could, he would hurt, torment without mercy, waste without thinking much. Then after realized? By not knowing himself he wanted to come back? Gosh!”
“Edward!” Sophia scolded after hearing the man beside her was getting out of control. “No, Sophia.” Edward turned and answered quickly. His forefinger was pointed straight at Tristan’s face, who was frozen in position. “I’m speaking the facts here. The man should have known how sick you were. Intentionally being toyed with. Tortured and then wasted. So now? Come as if there was no sin. Then hope for forgiveness and at the same time beg to start over again from the beginning? For God’s sake, how shameless this man is.”
Edward uttered this sentence full of emotion. Continuing to shake his head, he couldn’t understand why the man he used to know so well, who didn’t even dare to touch a woman, could turn into a merciless devil.
“As long as I breathe, and with all the strength and ability I have, I will never let you come back and hurt Sophia,” Edward said emphatically.
“As a reminder, tomorrow is the first trial of your divorce. If you have any shame, you shouldn’t have to come again considering your presence is also unnecessary. That way, this divorce process can be completed without having to wait long. And of course, if this is done quickly, Sophia can be free from you soon.”
At the same second, the man got up and grabbed Sophia’s wrist, asking her to stand up. “Let’s get out of here, honey. Don’t you prefer Asian food to European? Don’t worry, I’ve learned a lot about what you like and don’t like.”
Sophia complied. Not saying a word, he got up immediately and followed where Edward had taken him. While Nicholas, who saw Tristan silent, immediately patted the man’s shoulder. There was nothing he could do but ask his friend to be patient and not take revenge which would only make matters worse.
***
Damn it! In one sweep, all the things on Tristan’s desk immediately scattered on the floor. Not enough, the man with an athletic body put his hand on the table to channel the emotions he had been trying so hard to suppress.
If he hadn’t thought about Sophia, maybe Tristan would have smacked Edward right in the face when he was at the restaurant. Hate to see how the man deliberately mocked and even continued to provoke Tristan to get emotional.
Meanwhile, Raphael, who had just entered Tristan’s room, immediately gasped when he opened the door. From his blind, he saw how the state of the room was so chaotic, just like an earthquake had just occurred.
“Jesus, Tristan. What the hell is going on?” scolded the man. Taking big strides, Raphael unhesitatingly approached his only son. Seeing the back of Tristan’s red hand, he hastily pulled the man to follow his steps towards the guest sofa.
“Quickly sit down!” Raphael’s order didn’t want to be refuted. As soon as he made sure Tristan was seated, he walked over to his desk and looked for the medicine box he always kept in the drawer. When he found him, he rushed to take him to his son.
“What is this? Why are you acting stupid like this?”
Raphael kept nagging while treating the wound on Tristan’s hand. Cover the bruise with transparent plaster. After he finished, the man looked at Tristan as if asking for more explanation as to what was going on.
“Please tell Papa, what made you like this, Tristan? What is the real problem with you?” Tristan took a deep breath until his shoulders lifted dramatically. He exhaled in a huff as if the pain that hit his chest couldn’t go away no matter how hard he tried.
“Pa, am I so despicable that I don’t deserve forgiveness?” mumbled the man quietly. He said it sadly as if he were carrying a heavy burden.
“What do you mean, son?” Raphael pulled his face deep. Of course, he was confused. Tristan’s question has yet to be answered, and he suddenly goes on a rampage to injure himself. Now, he had to go back to searching for answers to the strange questions that had escaped his son’s lips.
“I know my sin is too great for the evil I’ve done to Sophia. But don’t I have a chance for forgiveness?”
“Oh Lord.” Raphael cried out, hearing what Tristan just said. He finally understood his son’s anger, sadness, and disappointment. Wanting to calm down, Raphael chose not to answer right away. He leaned closer, closing the distance between the two of them. Then without hesitation embraced his only son warmly.
“Don’t say things like that, Tristan. Everyone deserves forgiveness. Even if he’s a murderer. If he admits he’s wrong, then repents and promises not to do the same thing again, there’s nothing wrong with giving us a second chance. After all, God alone is omnipotent. merciful. Why are we humans being arrogant by deliberately not giving a chance?” said the man at length while patting Tristan’s shoulder to calm him down.
Once the hug was unravelled, Tristan tried to digest the advice his father had said one by one. After all, he had promised himself not to do it again.
“Pa, I know, it might be too late to realize that all this time I really loved Sophia. Not to mention all the things I did in the past that he definitely couldn’t forget. But honestly, I still don’t want to just part with Sophia.”
“Then keep chasing and don’t give up. Prove to Sophia that you still deserve to be by her side,” Raphael suggested.
Before the trial hammer could be heard, he thought his son still had a chance to win Sophia’s heart back. “Is that possible?” Tristan asked again for an opinion.
Raphael nodded. A smile he threw at his son.
“Nothing is impossible in this world, son. If you haven’t tried, how will you know what the results will be. While you can, do whatever it takes. Show Sophia that you’re not the Tristan you used to be. better than before.”
Aurora suddenly appeared from the door when the two of them were having a serious conversation. She who realized something had happened to Tristan immediately approached and reprimanded him.
“Why again with your hands, Tristan?”
“Tristan is all right, Aurora.” It wasn’t Tristan but Raphael who chose to answer. He knew that his daughter would surely ask questions after this if she saw something that didn’t match her eyes. It was Aurora’s nature always to want to interfere in anything that had to do with Tristan.
“It’s okay how?” The woman stepped closer. Grabbing Tristan’s bruised wrist. Holding it, then looking questioningly at the two men in front of him.
“What are you guys hiding from me?”
“Nothing, Aurora,” said Tristan lazily. “We have nothing to hide from you.”
Aurora immediately seated herself right in front of Raphael and Tristan. Deliberately took a position in the middle to simultaneously see the two men in front of him.
“I know both of you well. So I can of course tell when you’re being honest and when you’re lying. Besides, before going in, I had a chance to hear the two of you talk a little.”
“Aurora,” said Raphael. He knew his daughter would act after this. Instead of letting it go, it’s better to prevent it before it spreads everywhere, right? “Don’t start. Poor Tristan who’s on his mind right now.”
Aurora nodded. Then threw a bland laugh at his father.
“Yes, I know that, Pa. Tristan and Sophia must be pitied. Then who is to pity my fate, now? What did I do wrong to be treated unfairly like this?”
Aurora’s eyes flashed with anger. For the umpteenth time, she had to feel very disappointed because she was always ignored. It was as if she didn’t even think about her fate.
“I know, from the first Tristan didn’t have the slightest feeling of liking let alone love me. But why didn’t he just refuse this marriage from the start so that I didn’t expect too much? Why do you have to give me empty hopes so many times it hurts like this? Why, Pa?” she asked Raphael.
The next second, the woman’s gaze shifted to Tristan. “Why, Tristan? Why do you have to play with my feelings like this?”
“Aurora, I beg you. Don’t start this fight now,” Tristan said quietly. The man tried to grab Aurora’s wrist. Asking the woman in front of her to be calmer.
However, instead of obeying, Aurora even pushed Tristan’s hand away. Casting a disappointed look, the woman spoke again.
“Back then, I was willing to give in. Letting you marry Sophia. Not only that, I also had to give up again when you and Sophia went to Dubai together. Now? I won’t be stupid again, Tristan. Your heart, which has now changed, loves Sophia. I don’t care in the slightest. A promise is still a promise. I will always charge you for marrying me!”
“Aurora, enough!” scolded Raphael in a slightly raised voice. End the fight that again happened to his two children.
“Can’t all of this be discussed in an amicable and cool-headed manner? You two are both adults, right?”
Aurora nodded. Rising from her seat, the woman spoke one last time.
“Papa should have just advised Papa’s one child.” Point it right at Tristan’s face. “Tell him to stop placing his hopes too high on a woman who clearly doesn’t want to be with him anymore. Don’t let him, because he stares at Sophia so much, that he doesn’t realize that there have been other women who have been more sincere in waiting and accepting him under any circumstances.”
After the sentence was ejected, Aurora chose to leave with anger still enveloping her. Leaving the two adult men who could only stay silent because they didn’t know how to respond anymore.