Now, with great enthusiasm, Cassandra sang along to the music, oblivious to the fact that the crowd was paying attention to her. One of the spectators even asked Cassandra to come up on stage and share her golden voice to entertain them that night.
Initially, Cassandra refused, but the insistence and encouragement from the other spectators eventually persuaded her. Half-conscious, Cassandra began to choose a song to sing that night.
After finding the right pitch, Cassandra sang a song by a famous Indonesian band. As she started singing, the entire audience followed Cassandra, enjoying the beauty of her voice.
Including Alexander, who was mesmerized and captivated by Cassandra’s talent. Shortly after Cassandra finished singing, the band manager approached her, offering a collaboration to entertain the guests on the beach.
The payment offered was quite high for an impromptu singer like her. “So, what do you think, Miss? We’ll pay you two million for one night to entertain the guests here. It’s quite lucrative, two million, you know.” The man in the white shirt persuaded her.
Cassandra blinked, still bewildered by the offer the man presented. Two million for one night was a fantastic amount for someone like her, who usually did odd jobs.
However, she couldn’t accept the offer because her visit to Bali was solely for vacation purposes, accompanying her employer.
“Sorry, sir, I can’t. I came here to accompany my employer on vacation, so I can’t make a decision without their permission. I apologize, besides, I’m only here for two days, sir, not staying here permanently.”
“Oh, I see. So, are you a house assistant or a babysitter?” the man asked.
“I’m a house assistant, sir. I take care of the house, cook, and clean. That’s about it. I live in Jakarta with my employer.”
“Well, in that case, you can resign and join me here. I’ll pay you two million per night, not per month like your employer does.”
“Emm… if it’s two million per night, then per month…”
“Sixty million,” the man quickly provided an answer as Cassandra started counting on her fingers.
“It can help pay off my debts, sir!” she exclaimed with sparkling eyes.
“It can indeed, and if the crowd gets excited, there will be bonuses from us. Sometimes the audience even showers money. How about it?”
“It’s easy for you to say, but my wife won’t be able to divide her time between home and work with just two million per month. Five million would be the most, and that’s if she works for a wealthy family.”
Cassandra was about to speak, but suddenly Alexander intervened, grabbing the opportunity.
“Eh?” Cassandra was taken aback. Alexander suddenly appeared and interrupted the manager’s words.
“Hey, who are you? You just came out of nowhere and started getting angry. My wife is not fine, and you want to work with her for two million per night? My wife can earn five million per month as a house assistant, even working from morning till night. And you want her to work with you for two million per night? Ridiculous!”
“I understand, sir. But in the morning until the afternoon, your wife can be at home and be a good housewife for your children. She only works at night, sir. Under our supervision, too. And yet, even singing is prohibited. It’s not good, sir, to restrict your wife.”
“Who’s restricting her? My wife does what I want her to do.” Alexander replied angrily, disliking the manager continuously persuading Cassandra to work there.
Alexander couldn’t imagine the hassle of constantly traveling between Jakarta and Bali to see Cassandra.
“I know she’s your wife, sir. Your responsibility and hers lie within your household. But there’s nothing wrong with a wife helping with the family’s finances. Maybe by doing so, your lives here can change.”
“She’s my wife, what’s it to you? Why are you so insistent?” Alexander snapped back.
“Not insistent, I’m just trying to improve-”
“That’s enough!” Cassandra raised her voice. “This handsome man is my husband. Because he has forbidden it, I’m sorry, but I can’t join. Even if you offer two million, five million, ten million, or even a hundred million, if my husband says no, I will still say no!” she declared, putting an end to the argument between Alexander and the manager.
If left alone, Cassandra was certain that Alexander would execute the plump man.
“Enough, sir. I already sang earlier. I entertained the guests here for free. So, let us go. Good night,” Cassandra concluded, pulling Alexander’s hand.
Whether it was due to her current condition or Alexander starting to lose his sanity, he had the audacity to tell a stranger that he was her husband, even though she had just told the manager that she was only a house assistant.
Whether it was the greatest achievement in their marital relationship or just a way for Alexander to express his frustration with Cesilia’s indifference, Cassandra couldn’t tell.
“Are you drunk?” Alexander stopped Cassandra, who was dragging him along.
“Drunk? Who’s drunk, Sir?” Cassandra furrowed her eyebrows.
“You are!” Alexander sniffed Cassandra’s breath, which emitted an unpleasant odor.
“What? I just had a soda drink there,” Cassandra pointed to the restaurant where she had eaten earlier.
“Oh my… that’s alcohol you drank. How much did you have?”
“Just one bottle,” Cassandra showed one finger.
Alexander took a deep breath and exhaled forcefully. He couldn’t understand how Cassandra ended up ordering wine at the restaurant. What happened there that made Cassandra order that drink?
“Alright, let’s go home before you get even more out of control. If you stay here, I’ll be the one in trouble looking for you.”
Alexander held Cassandra’s wrist.
“Let’s go home, alright, Love?” Cassandra teased, winking one eye.
Alexander shuddered. Cassandra didn’t know what was happening to her; she was just following the instructions in her mind based on what Alexander had said earlier.
“Wife, right? I told the manager that you are my wife, not an assistant. Note that, it was me who said it, not a hallucination,” Alexander said.
“Whatever!” Alexander walked ahead.
During the journey back to the hotel, Cassandra sang to herself and walked unsteadily, like someone who had lost her sanity. Alexander had to occasionally hold Cassandra to prevent her from falling or bumping into others.
He could only shake his head, never expecting that the money he gave Cassandra would make her drunk like this.
“If I hadn’t looked for you, maybe you would have jumped into the sea, Cas,” Alexander grumbled.
Softly, Cassandra could still hear what Alexander said, so she retorted, “If I jump, that would be great, Love. I wouldn’t be a burden to you anymore. If I die, there would be no reason for Mama to pressure you into having children. Your wife would already be deceased,” she remarked.
Unknowingly, she had just revealed that.
“What did you say earlier?” Alexander didn’t like what Cassandra said.
“Yeah, didn’t you say earlier … if I jump into the sea when you didn’t look for me? You should have just let me, right? If I die, you won’t …”
“Be careful!” Alexander pulled Cassandra into his embrace when she almost bumped into a coconut tree.
“You’re walking with your eyes!” Alexander protested, releasing Cassandra from his embrace.
“With my eyes? Why, Love? Shouldn’t I use my feet?”
“Enough, be quiet! Don’t answer anymore!”
“I’m not answering, I’m annoyed!”
“No, you’re drunk. That’s why you’re annoyed.”
“No, I’m not drunk, Love.”
“You’re drunk!” Alexander refused to give in.
“Yes, God … how do I say that I’m not drunk, just feeling bloated.” Cassandra was also confused.
“Whatever, say whatever you want!”
Alexander continued walking ahead. If he kept arguing, not only would Cassandra get drunk, but Alexander himself would too, dealing with Cassandra’s absurdity.
“Hey, Husband! Why are you going? Wait for me, Love!” Cassandra shouted as she chased after Alexander, who had already walked ahead.