Chapter 1

• HAPPY READING
• ***
• The thing she avoided the most was when there was a family gathering. "When are you getting married?" was the most annoying question. It was something she always tried to avoid when gathering with her family.
• Perhaps this was a trivial question. However, the person asking it might not realize that it made someone uncomfortable. It causes social and psychological disturbances for someone.
• Maybe out there, asking when someone is getting married is a tradition. They consider marriage as something special that only happens once in a lifetime. And marriage is seen as an achievement to be celebrated.
• According to her, the progress of the world and education also influenced people's mindset about marriage. In the past, marriage used to be the parent's responsibility to determine a suitable partner, and it would become a burden if their child was not married. But now, it is the children who have the final say. Especially for single women like her, who are busy with work and have limited social interactions. Many men she has been in a relationship with have chosen to withdraw halfway. Even though the relationship has just begun.
• Mili once asked those who had been close to her why. After finding out, they chose to withdraw because they couldn't handle it. She owns an online shop with millions of viewers and hundreds of resellers in various cities. Dozens of dropship accounts now revolve around her. Yes, she is indeed busy managing her online business.
• Mili glanced at her phone screen. She saw three missed calls. The phone rang. "Mom calling." Mili slid the green button on the screen. She put her AirPods in her left ear.
• "Yes, mom." Mili focused her gaze straight ahead. She had just left the house compound.
• "Where are you?"
• "On the way, mom."
• "Oh my, you. I've told you to come in the afternoon. We have a family event, Mili. It's an important event, Aunt Shinta's."
• "Yes, I had work, mom."
• "Oh my. You have many employees. Can't they handle it?"
• "Joko didn't come, Mom," Mili said casually.
• "But Joko is your driver who brought the pickup, right? Did you replace Joko to pick up the goods from the supplier?"
• "That's right, mom."
• "Don't tell me you're the one lifting the goods?"
• "Yes, mom."
• "You're acting strange lately. I'm not joking," Mom Mili sounded annoyed.
• "Enough, Mom. I'm on the way now. I'll be there soon," even though she had just left her housing complex.
• "Make sure you come."
• "Yes, yes." Mili ended the call and placed her phone on the dashboard.
• Damn, she forgot to tell Dara that she would take her to Daniar's engagement event, her cousin. At least if Dara was there, she would feel safe and could go home right after the event. She had sent a short message to Dara earlier. Dara said she was at Ares' house and asked Mili to pick her up there.
• ***
• A few moments later.
• Mili looked around, staring at the two-story house in the Kemang area. The house looked luxurious with its all-white paint. The concrete fence and the classic iron gate stood proudly in front of her. Dara asked her to pick her up here. She parked her car in the front yard right in front of the house. Mili looked at a man standing in front of the gate. She looked confused. She was sure the man was about to lock the gate, but upon her arrival, he deliberately stood there silently.
• King looked at a confused woman right in front of the house.
• "Who are you looking for?" King asked, looking at the woman wearing a shiny black dress with a low-cut spaghetti strap.
• "I was supposed to pick up a friend. She said she's here."
• "Who's your friend?"
• "Dara."
• "Dara was just dropped off by Ares. Five minutes ago."
• "So, this is Ares' house?"
• "No, this is his parents' house. Ares lives in an apartment in Setiabudi," he said again.
• Mili nodded in understanding. She had once accompanied Ares to that apartment. Since their first meeting.
• "Do you also know Ares?" King asked curiously. He approached the woman.
• "Just acquainted. She's my friend's boyfriend," Mili replied, tucking her hair behind her ear.
• "Who are you?" Mili whispered into the man's ear.
• "Ares' brother," he replied.
• "Why don't you just call her?" King suggested.
• Mili agreed with the man's suggestion. She reached for her phone and pressed the green button on the screen. She glanced at the tall man still standing in front of the gate. The phone call connected. She looked at the man who was still watching her.
• "Where are you?"
• "I'm on my way. Just got back. I waited for you for over an hour. Thought it was canceled. I called you. Chatted with you. But you didn't answer."
• "I was on the road. From the market. You know how bad the traffic was."
• "What's the matter? Is it really important?"
• "Yes, it is. I asked you to accompany me to Aunt Shinta's house. My cousin's engagement is today. I really don't feel like going. I'll be asked when I'm getting married. At least if you're there, I have a reason to go back quickly."
• "You're so sudden," the voice on the other end of the line said.
• "I totally forgot. The event is starting soon." Mili glanced at the man who was still standing not far from her.
• "Are you busy?"
• "I have a client, but I'll be done soon. It wouldn't be nice to just leave like that. I can make it in the evening."
• "Oh come on. The event is this afternoon. It can't be postponed to the evening." She looked at the man standing there. She was sure he heard their conversation.
• "Just another hour. I need to take care of the boutique first. Awkarin wants me to sew her dress. She's been contacting me for a week."
• "Alright then. I'll go by myself."
• "Mili, are you mad at me?"
• "No, not at all. Who would be mad? I'm the one who suddenly asked you like this."
• "You're in such a hurry, huh?"
• Mili took a deep breath. "Yeah, my mom has been there since morning. I'm the only one who hasn't arrived yet. She's been nagging me."
• "Don't be lazy."
• "I can't help it. She's a difficult cousin. You know how Daniar is. Fine then. I'll go by myself." Mili said.
• "Be careful, okay? Let me know when you're back."
• "Okay. Okay."
• The call ended abruptly. She looked at the man folding his arms across his chest. Staring at her intently.
• "What's the matter? You've been staring at me the whole time," Mili started to feel uncomfortable.
• King furrowed his brows. He smiled cynically. "It's your dress."
• "Why?"
• "You're in a hurry, aren't you?"
• "Huh?"
• "The zipper on your dress isn't done yet."
• Mili looked at her dress through the car mirror. And it was true. She hadn't pulled it up all the way. She looked at the man approaching her. Standing right behind her. Her heart suddenly raced. The audacious man touched her back and pulled it up.
• "If you want, I can accompany you to the event," he whispered.
• "Huh?"
• Mili's mind suddenly went blank. She couldn't think straight. She felt like she was hypnotized and nodded without any clear reason. She still didn't fully understand what she was doing.
• "Okay. Wait a moment. I'll change my clothes," she said and smiled.