Marie's legs felt weak as she dragged herself away from the hotel. Her chest was heavy, her thoughts in pieces.
What will become of me now? she asked herself, crying quietly as she looked back at the shining hotel building. What will I tell Vano? How do I explain that the one gift I had guarded for him was stolen by a man whose name I do not even know?
Her phone rang suddenly. She gasped, pulling it from her black bag. The screen flashed with Vano's name. Her eyes blurred as fresh tears fell.
Marie inhaled deeply, forcing herself to answer. "Hello?"
"Marie, where are you, my love? I just landed!" Vano's voice was full of excitement.
Hearing his joy made Marie's heart ache even more. Shame pressed down on her. She no longer felt worthy of him.
"I am on my way back to Mother's house. Do not pick me up. Just head to the hotel. We will meet there," she said softly.
Vano's tone shifted to concern. "Why do you sound so sad? We are finally going to see each other and this time we will not be apart again."
Marie wiped her tears quickly. "I am not sad. I am just overwhelmed with happiness. That is why I am crying," she lied, her sobs slipping through.
"You silly girl," Vano teased, "I am home now, and I am not going anywhere again. Stop crying or I will scold you if your eyes look like pandas. I only want to see the face of my beautiful bride-to-be."
Marie forced a small laugh. "Alright, my handsome man. Your princess will be dressed beautifully tonight. Wait for me at the hotel entrance so no wandering eyes dare to look at me."
"What is mine will always stay mine," Vano replied proudly. "I am not afraid of anything because I know my lover will never leave me. Marie, I miss you so much. Come soon, I cannot wait to hold you."
He whispered words of love before ending the call, words that made Marie cry even harder.
Clutching her phone, she whispered into the night, "I am sorry, Vano. I failed you. I was foolish. The one treasure I saved for you was taken by someone else. Forgive me, Vano. Please forgive me."
Later that evening, Marie returned to her mother's home. The small house looked peaceful with hanging plants decorating the porch and tall trees shading the yard. She knocked softly, her head bowed in shame.
The door opened and her mother, Mrs Lisa, appeared with a warm smile that faded quickly when she saw her daughter's pale face.
"Marie, what is wrong? Last night you told me you were going to meet Vano. Where is he? Is he already preparing for tonight?" Mrs Lisa asked one question after another, concerned with filling her voice.
Marie did not answer. She only stood silently with trembling lips.
"Tell me, child. What happened? Why do you look so downcast?" her mother pressed gently.
After a pause, Marie whispered, "Mama, should I really marry Vano?"
Her mother froze, staring at her in disbelief. "What are you saying? You and Vano have been together for years. You adore him. Marriage has always been your plan. Why ask me this now?"
Marie lowered her eyes. "I am just afraid, Mama. What if I cannot make him happy after marriage? What if he feels disappointed in me? And I do not want to leave you alone here either."
Mrs Lisa shook her head, her tone sharper. "You foolish girl. Of course you will live with him once you are married. And what do you mean by disappointment? What have you done that would make Vano feel that way?"
Marie's eyes filled with tears again as she gazed at her mother's face. The truth burned on her lips, but she could not speak it. She could never tell her mother what had happened the night before.
She forced a small smile instead. "Forget it, Mama. Maybe I am just nervous because I have not seen him in so long. Perhaps I am worried I will look different in his eyes now. That is why I feel unworthy of him."
Her voice cracked as she tried to disguise her pain with a lie.
"Never mind, it's just your feelings! After meeting him tonight, your restlessness will disappear when you see him," said the mother who was trying to reassure Marie that everything would be fine.
Mrs. Lisa left Marie to return to her previous activities.
While Marie was still silent even after the figure of her mother was no longer visible. She just looked down as he clenched his fists tightly until they looked white.
'Mama doesn't know that I've made an unforgivable stupid mistake. Mama doesn't know, I've been dirty because of my own mistakes,' Marie said to herself.
There was no sound when Marie cried because she closed her mouth as hard as she could with her hands so that her mother wouldn't hear the slightest sob.
Marie walked quickly into her room. And after that, she cried loudly with her face covered with a pillow.
Feelings of inferiority and guilt ruled her heart and mind. Where would she bring her filthy body away from all she had in mind?
Who knows? What she knows is that right now she just wants to cry as hard as he can with the hope that the tightness in her chest will lessen so that she can lift her head a little when she meets Vano later.
***
'No matter how much I regret, I won't be able to turn back time. Vano, I'm sorry. The only thing that I consider precious from this pathetic life I have accidentally given to someone else. There's nothing left, there's nothing good in me that can make you happy,'
From the car that had just stopped, Marie looked at the man she had loved for five years. Such a happy face greeted her arrival at this time.
Vano jogged with a smile that bloomed like a spring flower. And that made Marie even more regretful and guilty.
'In fact, I'm ashamed to show my face to you,' she quietly cried in her mind.
However, Marie immediately changed her face to smile as Vano approached and opened the car door for her.
Just as Marie got out of the car, her body was already floating because Vano was hugging her while turning.
Vano was so happy when he saw Marie, the lover he had missed for a long time in front of him. As if he didn't want to let go of Marie's comfortable body. Vano didn't care where they were.
"Honey, I miss you so much. This happiness is so explosive that I don't want to let go of this hug," said Vano in Marie's ear.
Tears flowed down Marie's beautiful face who kept her face buried in Vano's chest.
"Yes, I miss you too, Vano. I miss you so much, that it feels like hugging you like this is a gift that I don't deserve," Marie replied, crying.
"Hey, why are you crying? I'm here and we won't be apart again after this. Tonight I will announce our marriage. Be happy, honey. We will soon become one," said Vano soothingly.
"Yes, I'm so happy. I love you, Vano," replied Marie who hugged Vano tighter as if after this she would no longer feel Vano's warmth.
Being a wife who is loved by a man is the most beautiful thing in a woman's life. Moreover, being the wife of Ramon Arlo DeLuca. An independent young entrepreneur who will soon be announced as the sole heir to the DeLuca family.
Of course, many young women are vying for Vano's attention to be chosen as his companion.
But unfortunately, Vano's love only belongs to Marie since they were still in school. And that love is so heavy for Marie right now. The sin she accidentally committed disdained everything. Marie no longer has the courage and any hope that one day she will accept Vano's hatred.
***
It was a grand party that the DeLuca family held tonight to welcome Vano's return after completing his education abroad.
Many of the capital's well-known businessmen gathered in groups so that they could explain their status.
"Thank you for the presence of the guests whose names I cannot mention one by one. I, as the head of the DeLuca family, will announce the handover of the business that the DeLuca family has managed so far to our only son, Ramon Arlo DeLuca!"
After Mr. DeLuca's words, everyone cheered and congratulated Vano and also the DeLuca family for having a new company leader.
The excitement was not over when Mr. DeLuca spoke again and announced another piece of news.
"And again, today is a happy day for our son. Because Ramon will propose with the daughter of the Lawson family, namely Marie Maren Lawson!"
Again, the audience congratulated and applauded Vano and Marie who began to appear in front of the meeting hall.
The admiration for the two of them was unavoidable. Vano looks very dashing with perfect good looks. Meanwhile, Marie also looks elegant and charming with her soft stature.
Writing
Every word of praise Marie received that evening was followed by something bitter, something that cut her deeply. The whispers were not about her beauty or her grace but about her origin, a secret that had always been treated as shame. Everyone knew that Mrs. Lisa had given birth to Marie without a husband.
Some people whispered that if the DeLuca family had not once been helped by the Lawson family, Ramon would never have been allowed to marry her. To them, her presence was a disgrace covered by obligation.
But Vano was different. He never cared for gossip or for the shadows of her past. His love was simple and pure, without conditions. To him, Marie's happiness was the only truth that mattered. He chose to shut his ears to the cruel voices and fix his eyes only on her.
He drew her into his arms, holding her tight. His embrace pressed away the weight of the cruel remarks she had overheard. Marie looked up at him and found comfort in the warmth of his smile.
"Forget what they say," Vano whispered close to her ear. "It is not them I am marrying. It is you. And I will love you for the rest of my life."
Marie's lips trembled into a smile as her tears softened.
Then, in front of everyone gathered, Vano's voice rang out clearly.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let it be known that I, Ramon Arlo DeLuca, pledge my love to Marie Maren Lawson. She is the woman I have loved and will always love. She will be the mother of my children, and she will walk beside me until we grow old together."
Vano dropped down on one knee before her, holding her hand with reverence. His lips brushed across her knuckles as he spoke again, his voice steady and full of sincerity.
"Marie, will you be my wife? Will you stay by my side in both joy and sorrow for the rest of our lives?"
Marie's heart sank as tears spilled down her cheeks. She wanted to answer, yet inside she screamed a truth she could not voice.
'I do not deserve this. I am tainted. How could you ever accept someone as unworthy as me?'
Her silence was heavy, but her tears spoke all that her lips could not.