Chapter 2

Alex and Sophie were startled by the arrival of Dina and Lusi that morning. Lusi sat casually on a bar stool, enjoying slices of fruit and greeting Sophie with a sweet smile. Meanwhile, Dina was busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen as if the house belonged to her.

"How did Mama get into this house?" Alex asked, bewildered. He had made sure all the doors were locked before going to sleep.

"Did you forget? Papa bought this house and gave it to you both as a wedding gift. Of course it has a spare key. I asked your papa for it," Dina replied casually.

Alex shifted his gaze to Sophie. His wife closed her eyes for a moment, trying to hold back her annoyance and discomfort over her mother-in-law's unannounced visit.

"Sit down. Mama has prepared breakfast for you," Dina said.

Lusi quickly helped carry a large bowl of fried rice to the dining table and placed it right in the center.

"You should have woken up early and prepared breakfast for your husband," Dina remarked while spooning fried rice onto Alex's plate.

Alex glanced at Sophie, who looked increasingly uncomfortable.

"Does Alex usually leave for work with an empty stomach?" Dina asked.

Alex immediately shook his head.

"No, Ma. It's only this once that Sophie didn't have time to cook. We were exhausted last night."

Sophie nodded with an awkward smile.

"That's right, Ma. We came home late last night, so we overslept."

"Did you guys spend the night doing marital rituals?" Dina asked without hesitation.

"Mama!" Alex scolded. "This is the dining table. You shouldn't talk about things like that, especially with Lusi around."

"What's wrong, Kak? Lusi already understands," Lusi chimed in casually, continuing to eat her breakfast.

"If you two really engage in marital relations every single night, why hasn't Sophie gotten pregnant yet?" Dina said, staring sharply at her daughter-in-law.

"Mama, stop talking about things that don't need to be discussed," Alex said, his voice rising.

"Not need to be discussed? You've been married for two years, yet you still don't have a child. You think that's not something worth discussing?"

Sophie let out a long sigh. She placed her spoon down on her plate and looked calmly at Dina.

"Doesn't Mama already know the condition of my womb? The doctor himself said my chances of getting pregnant are very low. Knowing all of that, why does Mama keep forcing me? You never think about how I feel."

Dina gave a soft snort.

"If that's the case, join a fertility program. Or use a surrogate mother. What matters is that this family has an heir."

"Mama!" Alex exclaimed, unable to believe his mother's words.

Dina paid him no mind at all.

"Alex certainly wants a child. Every man wants offspring after getting married. If you can't provide him with one, Mama will find another woman for Alex to marry. A woman who can carry and give birth to his child."

Those words made Sophie freeze.

Her fingers trembled so violently that the spoon slipped from her hand and clattered onto the floor, breaking the silence with a sharp sound.

Sophie's face turned pale.

Meanwhile, Dina stood up, tidied her handbag, and walked toward the exit.

"Lusi, let's go."

Lusi quickly stood up and followed her mother.

"Mama!" Alex called out, rising from his chair.

Yet Dina ignored the call and walked right out of the house.

Alex moved to chase after her, but his steps halted when he saw Sophie running toward the bedroom, tears streaming down her face.

Without a second thought, Alex chased after his wife.

"Honey! Open the door!" Alex pleaded, knocking on the bedroom door that had been locked from the inside.

"What does your mother mean, Alex?" Sophie shouted from behind the door. "What evil plan is she cooking up to tear us apart? I knew she never liked me!"

"Honey, open the door first. We can talk about this properly."

"No! Get away from me! Leave me alone!"

Alex kept knocking for a moment, but Sophie refused to open the door.

Finally, he let out a long breath and stepped away.

He knew Sophie needed time right now to calm herself down.

## Chapter 4

That afternoon, Lea stood on her bedroom balcony, staring at a high school reunion invitation in her hand. She was still torn on whether to attend the event or skip it.

If she went, she would have to face former high school classmates who used to corner her and brand her as bad luck. Yet if she stayed home, they would undoubtedly gossip about her all over again.

Lea sighed heavily, then turned and walked back into her bedroom. She headed over to her wardrobe and opened it.

"Which one should I wear?" she muttered softly.

Her gaze landed on a neatly hanging white dress. A faint smile touched her lips.

"This one will do."

She wanted to look beautiful tonight. At the very least, she refused to let them look down on her anymore.

At seven in the evening, Lea stood outside the building where the high school reunion was being held.

She took a deep breath to steady her nerves, then stepped inside. After handing her invitation to the committee, Lea scanned the room.

Many of her former classmates were already there.

Some arrived with their partners, while others had brought along their children.

Out of everyone present, Lea seemed to be the only one who came completely alone.

She smiled bitterly.

Just as she was about to approach a group of acquaintances, someone suddenly called out her name.

"Lea!"

Lea turned around.

A woman was jogging over to her with a wide smile.

"Nana?"

Lea instantly recognized her. Nana had been her desk partner all through high school, the only person who always defended her when the rest of the class bullied her.

Nana stopped right in front of Lea and handed her a cream-colored envelope.

"Here, I wanted to give you an invitation."

Lea took it in confusion. When she opened the envelope, her eyes widened.

"You're marrying Eric?"

Nana nodded shyly.

"Yes. Don't forget to come, okay? And make sure to bring a date. Who knows, maybe you'll be the one to catch the bouquet."

Hearing that, Lea's smile slowly faded.

"I... just broke up with my boyfriend."

Nana's expression changed instantly.

"I'm sorry, Lea. I really didn't know."

Lea gave a gentle shake of her head.

"It's fine."

Before Nana could say anything else, a sarcastic voice echoed from behind them.

"No wonder she got dumped."

Lea closed her eyes for a second before turning around.

Sandra.

The woman stood with her arms crossed over her chest, wearing a mocking smirk.

"Besides, what man would ever want to stick around with a bad-luck charm like her?"

Lea's face flushed with rising anger.

"Sandra, enough."

Sandra only let out a small laugh.

"Why? Did I say something wrong?"

"Stop it, Sandra. Don't start," Nana warned.

Yet Sandra didn't care in the least.

"Am I lying? Ever since back then, every single one of her boyfriends either cheated or dumped her. How pathetic."

"Enough! Shut your mouth!" Lea snapped.

Sandra stepped forward until she was standing inches away from Lea.

"Why are you mad? Isn't it the truth? No man would ever want to marry you because you're nothing but bad luck."

Lea's patience finally snapped.

She grabbed a handful of Sandra's hair with all her might.

"Aah...! Let go! It hurts!" Sandra shrieked, struggling to pry Lea's hands off her.

"Your words have gone too far!" Lea yelled, her eyes welling with tears. "I am not a bad-luck charm! And listen very carefully, Sandra! I am going to show up right in front of you with the man who will become my husband. I'll prove to you that there are still men willing to marry me!"

Lea shoved Sandra back, making her stumble.

Ignoring the stares of every single guest in the room, Lea turned on her heel and stormed out of the building.

Arriving home, Lea slammed her car door shut.

She marched quickly into the house, her face blazing with fury.

"Father! Mother!" she shouted, tossing her bag onto the sofa.

"Mom!"

Adi, Dona, and Naila, who had been upstairs, hurried down at the sound of Lea's shouts.

"What is it, Lea?" Adi asked, confused.

Lea stared at her parents, her breath coming in heavy gasps.

"Lea agrees to the arranged marriage."

The three people in front of her fell dead silent.

"Please arrange the wedding as soon as possible."

With that, Lea turned and walked straight to her bedroom, giving no one a chance to ask questions.

Her bedroom door slammed shut with a loud thud.

Adi, Dona, and Naila stood frozen in place.

They exchanged glances, as if unable to process what they had just heard.

Just then, Ken emerged from his room.

"What's going on? Why is everyone so quiet?"

Naila turned to her brother.

"Lea... agreed to the arranged marriage."

Ken's eyes widened.

"Seriously?"

Naila gave a slow nod.

Meanwhile, a look of profound relief spread across Dona's face.

Without wasting a single second, she reached for her phone.

She needed to contact Dina right away.

A

fter all, the prospective groom's family had been waiting for their answer.

And now...

Lea had finally accepted the match.