Not wanting to bother thinking about Alexander and Cesilia’s marriage, Cassandra chose to wander around and find a good place to eat by the beach. After struggling to leave the hotel, she felt it was a good idea to reward herself for her hard work.
Moreover, since she was in Bali, it was time to enjoy the fruits of her agreement with Cesilia. After all, it was Cesilia who asked her to become Alexander’s second wife, not her own desire. So there was no harm in starting to enjoy the new life that had changed so much.
Yesterday, Cassandra had initially refused because she felt degraded being a paid wife. But seeing Cesilia’s behavior behind Alexander’s back made her think that perhaps being a second wife could be a way to heal Alexander’s heart.
However, that thought wasn’t finalized yet. Cassandra still pondered whether she should follow the traditional path of marriage or continue on the path she had chosen. Considering that Alexander wasn’t her ideal type of man.
More precisely, he wasn’t her ideal in terms of appearance, as Cassandra had dreamed of having a handsome, tall, and wealthy husband. But not a man who was indifferent, aloof, arrogant, and selfish like Alexander. Not to mention his sharp tongue that made anyone unwilling to have a husband like him.
However, now Cassandra was thinking, “Maybe it’s time for me to just be happy. Thinking about it is pointless because everything is already set in motion. Even if I wanted to cancel the agreement, it wouldn’t be possible. How could I repay such a large debt? Besides, Father has undergone surgery.” Cassandra spoke to herself while playing with the seawater with her feet, tilting her head to the sky, gazing at the shining moon.
Unable to see the sunset, she could still enjoy the beautiful night sky, which didn’t diminish the beauty of the beach.
Cassandra wasn’t just standing there; she also pondered what she should do next. Should she make Alexander fall in love with her or continue as they were, ensuring that Alexander wouldn’t touch her?
“Arrgghh!! It’s giving me a headache. It’s better to think about it later. Let everything flow like a river to the sea. Even though the rivers are different, they can still become one with each other here. That’s how it is with me and him. Besides, everything has already happened, and even if I wanted to stop, it’s impossible to go back to the past.”
Cassandra stretched her arms, letting the sea breeze caress her body. It felt like she was releasing all the burdens within her.
As she did, the corner of her eye caught sight of a restaurant with beautiful twinkling lights on the beach. She hurriedly approached to order food, having seven hundred-thousand rupiah in her possession, which was enough for her to enjoy a luxurious dinner at the restaurant.
As a result, with confidence, Cassandra sat down and ordered from the menu. She was unfamiliar with the dishes, but Cassandra relied on her instincts to choose.
Somehow, she was convinced that all the food there would be suitable and delicious on her palate, observing the other guests who were enjoying their dinner.
While waiting for her food to arrive, Cassandra surveyed the beach surroundings. She enjoyed her solo vacation without friends or a partner because Alexander didn’t know her whereabouts. That wasn’t a problem now; what mattered was that she could enjoy her time in Bali, period.
After fifteen minutes of waiting, her order finally arrived. There was lobster and betutu chicken served with three medium-sized bottles of mineral water and one bottle of an obscure beverage in a slightly murky glass bottle, seemingly fizzy, along with a glass of ice. Cassandra didn’t know what the drink was, but she ordered it based on the English writing on the label.
And now, Cassandra began to enjoy her dinner alone. Unlike the other guests who were engaged in conversation with their families or partners, it wasn’t a problem for her. Returning to her positive thoughts, Cassandra believed that this was how she could enjoy life without any obstacles.
Ignoring her surroundings, she eventually finished the lobster and betutu chicken, leaving no leftovers. She couldn’t understand whether she was still hungry or not. Why could she eat so much?
As a finale, she poured the fizzy drink into the glass of ice. As she tried it, she grimaced, feeling her tongue burn from the beverage.
“Oh my… what is this? It doesn’t even taste like the canned drink I usually have, but it’s bitter.” Cassandra took another sip. “Wait, it’s not bitter, but it’s tingling in my throat.” She tried again. “It’s good, actually, with a hint of sweetness. But why does it feel hot?” She repeated this process until she unconsciously finished half of the bottle.
Whether it was due to feeling full or discomfort in her stomach from consuming the foreign drink, her eyelids blinked, trying to comprehend what kind of drink had just entered her stomach.
Her head also began to feel heavy, and her vision started to blur, as if she had just gone on ten roller coaster rides.
“Is it because of the big prawns earlier, or the chicken, or this drink?” Cassandra reached for the glass still containing the strange beverage. Instead of stopping, she became more curious and drank it until it was empty.
“Oh my… how could it be uncomfortable in my throat? It’s swirling in my stomach, but… it’s actually good?” She spoke to herself, still curious about the beverage.
If only she had enough money to buy another bottle, she would have ordered another one. Fortunately, she only had two thousand rupiahs left. So she buried her curiosity until Alexander found enlightenment and gave her money to go for a walk like earlier. If only, right?
After finishing her dinner, Cassandra became interested in the music concert taking place on a small stage by the beach. She staggered her way towards the crowd.
Even though the sea breeze caressed her body, she felt hot. “Something is wrong, what’s making me feel uncomfortable?” she complained, still muttering without a clear direction or purpose.
Cassandra enjoyed the music and occasionally sang along, following the singer’s lead. Unbeknownst to her, her behavior had caught the attention of a man.
The man was none other than Alexander, who could only shake his head in disbelief. He was surprised to see Cassandra leaving the restaurant. She wasn’t full; instead, she was staggering.