Don’t expect Casandra to wake up in Alexander’s embrace. Smiling to herself, she felt pleased that she had finally conquered her husband’s hardened heart. But remember, that scenario doesn’t exist here because Alexander is not a man with a gentle and loving heart.
He is stubborn, selfish, and devoid of compassion ever since Cesilia ignored him. That’s why when Casandra woke up due to the sound of knocking and excitement outside the room, the first thing she saw was the folded laptop, an inactive computer, and a pile of papers, just as they were before she closed her eyes.
Swearing to anything, her waist felt sore from sleeping in a sitting position. Her body also felt achy, experiencing chills and feverishness from not using a blanket. She was drenched last night.
She should be sleeping under a blanket, not in the cold AC room.
“Alexander, Lex, Casandra! Wake up, Mama wants to talk. Mama wants to hear the story from both of you. Come on, wake up, and let’s have breakfast!”
That’s roughly how Meri called and exclaimed from outside the room, waking up the newlywed couple who should still be sleeping in each other’s embrace. But no, Casandra was sleeping on the chair and Alexander was still curled up under the blanket.
Casandra stretched and yawned, loosening her stiff and aching muscles. She blinked, scanning her surroundings. The girl grimaced as she saw Alexander still sleeping curled up under the blanket.
Taking a deep breath, Casandra pressed the doorknob. She prepared herself to open the door and face the questions that Meri would bombard her with. She was certain that Meri had prepared a lot of questions to interview her.
“Good morning, Mama’s beloved daughter-in-law. Oh, you were sound asleep, didn’t hear Mama calling. It’s been almost half an hour, Mama has been here waking both of you up and…” Meri scanned Casandra from head to toe. The middle-aged woman smiled as she saw Casandra wearing Alexander’s shirt, a sign…
“Where’s Alexander?” Meri added, peeking behind Casandra’s back.
“He’s still sleeping, Mom.” Casandra slightly turned her body so that Meri could have a better look inside the room.
“Wait here!” Meri stepped towards the bed, patting Alexander’s arms to wake him up. Occasionally, she pinched her son’s nose to rouse him from his sleep.
“Come on, wake up! Mama needs something from both of you.”
Alexander blinked, trying to focus his gaze towards Meri.
“What do you need, Mom?” Alexander attempted to pull the blanket back over himself because, honestly, he was still very sleepy at the moment.
“I need something, that’s for sure. Lex, you have to sit and accompany Casandra. Watch out, both of you must do as Mama says.”
“Do what?”
“Don’t ask too many questions, don’t talk too much!” Meri tugged at Alex’s hand, urging him to sit up.
Reluctantly, Alexander followed his mother’s wishes. He dragged his feet as Meri pulled his hand along. As for Casandra, he had no idea where that woman was taking her. Alexander was confused.
“Oh… newlyweds. Oops, I feel bad for disturbing you two.” A woman greeted Casandra and Alexander.
The woman smiled, while putting on rubber gloves.
“Aunt Gita, why are you here? What’s going on?” Alexander asked, puzzled by the presence of his father’s distant relative.
“Well, Aunt has an important task from your Mama. She actually wanted to do it this afternoon, to make it more comfortable. But your Mama said she couldn’t wait any longer. She wants to make sure if you two have ehem-ehem or not.”
“Ehem-ehem?”
Alexander became even more confused. He couldn’t grasp the meaning behind his aunt’s words.
“Come along, don’t ask too many questions. You’ll find out the purpose of Gita’s visit soon enough.” Meri pushed Casandra and Alexander into the guest room.
Once they arrived in the guest room, Alexander became even more bewildered. He had no idea what his mother and aunt were planning to do.
“Come, dear, lie down first! So Auntie can examine you!” Gita ordered Casandra to lie down on a bed.
The girl looked confused and didn’t understand, but Meri quickly took over Gita’s task.
Since Gita had already put on sterile gloves, she couldn’t touch anything other than her intended task later on. Alexander, who was still standing at the doorway, became even more confused. He tried to think about what and why his mother was doing all of this.
Early in the morning, Gita had arrived, wearing rubber gloves. Now she asked Casandra to lie down.
But it didn’t stop there. As soon as Casandra lay down, Gita signaled Meri with a smile on her lips.
“Open up a little, dear!” Meri bent Casandra’s legs and spread them apart.
“M-Mom…” Casandra stammered, trying to prevent Meri from opening her thighs because she wasn’t wearing anything underneath.
“It’s okay, it won’t hurt.” Gita reassured Casandra before taking over Meri’s position.
“Ma…” Casandra squeezed the bedsheet. Her eyes widened, feeling Gita’s fingers sneaking in down there.
Similarly, Elang’s eyes almost popped out of his sockets as he watched Gita examining Casandra down there.
“She’s still intact, nothing has been done, sis,” Gita said without any hint of guilt. She removed her gloves. “She’s still intact like that, there’s no way she could get pregnant,” she continued.
Casandra’s cheeks turned crimson, while Alexander was at a loss for words. How could their mother bring her aunt to check whether Casandra was still a virgin or not?
It was truly insane!
In the next second, Meri glanced at Elang, piercing his heart with a sharp gaze.
“Do it quickly, or Mom will leave!” Meri threatened. She dragged Gita out of the guest room and pushed Alexander inside.
Meri also locked the two of them from the outside while shouting, “Don’t expect this door to be opened until you give Mom a grandchild!”
“Oh my goodness!” Alexander’s eyes widened in shock.
***
Countless times has Alexander paced back and forth in front of the bed, pondering how to get out of the room. He wants the door to be opened politely. Since earlier, Alexander has been trying, but Meri refuses to open the door, even though he has an important appointment with his business colleague today.
Alexander also wants to contact Cesilia, but he doesn’t know where she is now. He doesn’t have any updates. He wonders if his wife is really in Bali or not.