"Hahh…" Mira let out a long sigh. Her workspace felt gloomy. None of the designs in her collection seemed to suit her daughter.
"Forget it, Mom. I really don't mind if I don't go," Dewi said, sitting on the sofa beside her husband. She felt a little guilty for not remeasuring herself and insisting on using her old size.
Topan let out a small snort, then added calmly, "Don't worry about it, Mom. If Dewi doesn't go, then I won't attend the event either. Mother can represent us instead."
Mira and Dewi immediately looked at Topan in shock.
"No! You two must go together," Mira said firmly.
That was impossible. The company's anniversary was held only once a year and was extremely important. Besides, ever since their marriage a few months ago, the two of them had never appeared together in public as husband and wife.
Mira glanced at the wall clock—it was already past five in the evening. If she had to sew a new gown for Dewi now, there wouldn't be enough time. The event would start at eight tonight.
'Come on, think, Mira!'
The middle-aged woman stood up and paced back and forth, searching for a solution.
Knock..knock…
There was a knock on the door. Mira startled slightly and hurried to open it.
Click!
"Hello, am I interrupting?" Ratna stood there with a bright smile. Behind her was Arya, bowing politely, which Mira returned with a nod.
"Not at all. Come in." Mira opened the door wider, inviting them inside.
"So? Has Dewi found a suitable gown yet? I want to see!" Ratna asked enthusiastically as she headed straight toward her daughter-in-law.
"Hmm, unfortunately not, Sist. None of them fit her," Mira sighed again.
She picked up her phone, and suddenly one name came to mind.
Qwenteen
"Ah, I've got an idea!" she exclaimed happily.
"There's still another boutique in this city owned by Qwenteen. I'm sure we'll find something suitable for Dewi there."
Qwenteen was Andri's close friend. Besides owning a well-known jewelry business in the city, she also ran a restaurant and a small boutique located on the outskirts of Florentia.
Ratna smiled, then shook her head gently. Sitting beside Dewi, she playfully pinched the woman's chubby cheek.
"Well, if you look closely, my daughter-in-law has gotten a bit fuller compared to before," she teased fondly.
"Mother— uhh…"
Ratna chuckled at Dewi's embarrassed expression, then softly stroked her cheek.
"No need to contact Qwenteen, Mir. I have something that will suit Dewi perfectly."
Dewi forced a small smile. She had actually been cheering inside, thinking she wouldn't have to go—but it seemed fate had other plans.
'Hah… guess I don't have a choice…' she groaned inwardly.
Mira looked at Ratna with furrowed brows. If her in-law said that, then she trusted her.
"Alright," she said with a nod and a smile.
Ratna then looped her arm around Dewi's as the younger woman stood up.
"Alright, Dewi, come with me to the mansion. Topan can go to the event first."
"But Mother, I can pick you both up and we can go together, can't we?" Topan protested slightly.
However, his mother's shake of the head left him with no room to argue.
"No. You're the president director—you can't be late. Don't worry, Dewi and I will be driven by Arya. Come on, dear…"
Ratna led Dewi out of the room, followed by Arya.
Before leaving, Mira approached her son-in-law and gently patted his arm.
"Just think of it as Dewi preparing a surprise for you. You'll just have to wait, alright?" she said softly.
Hearing that, Topan nodded in agreement, then walked out after the three of them.
---
7:20 PM
Dewi's POV
Huh… i-is this really me?!
Once again, I turned my body in front of the large mirror—again and again—just to make sure the woman wearing this gown was truly me.
Gyut!
"Ukh… that hurts…"
After pinching my arm, only then did I realize—it really was me. Hehee
"Dewi? I am coming in, alright, dear?"
Click!
I turned toward the bedroom door and smiled brightly when my mother-in-law stepped inside—then froze the moment she saw me.
"D-dear? Oh my God… you're so beautiful!"
Topan's mother hurried over, circling me while clicking her tongue in admiration.
"Mother, are you sure this is for me? Uhh… isn't this too much? I feel bad—"
Gyut~
"Aahh! M-Mother, that hurts!!!" I yelped when her affectionate pinch landed right on both my cheeks. Hufft… I really need to be careful with that habit of hers from now on.
"Say that again, hmm?"
I pouted slightly as she gently rubbed the spot she'd pinched.
"This is a gift from someone I loves very much—and now, I'm giving it to you, dear. I'm sorry… maybe the design is a little old-fashioned."
I immediately shook my head, protesting her last sentence. Old-fashioned? This gorgeous dress?! Nonsense! I felt incredibly comfortable wearing it.
"You look absolutely perfect," she said with a soft laugh.
"But come here—let me give your hair the final touch, alright?"
I obediently sat down in front of the vanity as she guided me.
The elegant middle-aged woman gently combed through my hair.
Her earlier words made me curious.
"Mother said this dress was a gift from someone you love… was it from Father?" I teased softly while looking at the mirror, noticing the faint blush on her face.
"Hehe… yes. From your late father, dear. I only wore this dress once, back then. After that, I never did again. Topan's father didn't give many gifts, so I always took good care of the ones he did."
I fell silent after hearing her explanation.
From her gentle smile, I caught something in the tone of her voice.
"Mother loved Father very much, didn't you?" I blurted out without thinking.
Oh no—please don't be offended. Ugh, my mouth… ckk.
For some reason, my thoughts drifted back to the photo album I once found in the storage room, and curiosity crept in again.
For quite a while, Mother stayed silent. I felt restless, waiting for her response.
"Yes. I loved Topan's father very much."
Mother… what really happened between you two? You said you loved him—yet your sigh sounded heavy.
"Look, dear. We're done!"
I focused back on my reflection.
"Wow… it's beautiful!!" I exclaimed happily.
My hair was left flowing in soft, natural waves—curly and loose—with part of it pinned to the left side using a simple silver hairpin.
"My daughter-in-law is so beautiful," she said warmly.
We both smiled at the same time.
Truly, I almost didn't recognize myself—especially after she styled my hair. I'd planned to leave it loose at shoulder length, but styled like this, it looked far better.
Dewi's POV END
Bzzzt…
Their attention shifted as Dewi's phone vibrated on the vanity table. She glanced at it briefly, then let the call end on its own.
"Hehee, Topan must be grumpy over there right now," Ratna said, shaking her head at her mischievous daughter-in-law who didn't answer the call.
Kriett…
Dewi stood up with a soft chuckle.
"Let him be, Mother. Needs to see that annoyed face once in a while, you know," she laughed.
Ratna laughed along with her. Dewi was completely different from her son—but seeing how their relationship grew warmer each day made her silently grateful.
Dewi glanced at the wall clock—it was almost half past eight. The event must have already started.
Without knowing why, she suddenly wrapped her arms around her mother-in-law's shoulders.
"Whether Mother believes it or not… love that acts in silence is far stronger than love spoken aloud. Maybe Father never said 'I love you,' but I'm sure his feelings for you were deep. Even if Mother still doubts it—your heart is far more honest, isn't it?"
After saying that, Dewi pulled away and smiled gently at her mother-in-law. She then turned and walked out of the room first.
Ratna froze in place.
Dewi's words warmed her chest. She was right. Ratna had been too focused on the past—the three of them: herself, Mira, and Kemal—when after marriage, Kemal had never once done anything suspicious behind her back.
"I… I miss you, Kemal…"
The whisper was so soft it was almost inaudible. But Dewi, who heard it from behind the door, smiled in relief.
She didn't fully know their past—but one thing was certain: both her mother-in-law and her Mommy had finally made peace with it.
●●●
8:15 PM…
The main hall looked extremely crowded. The celebration of Sagara Group's 60th anniversary was a public event, which meant anyone from all across Florentia was free to attend.
Medley Info was the only media outlet trusted to cover and publish the entire series of events that night.
The public buzzed with anticipation, eagerly awaiting the appearance of Sagara Group's successor, Topan Sagara, along with his wife—who would be making her very first public appearance since their marriage a few months ago.
If the hall was filled with lively conversations accompanied by soft jazz music, the atmosphere was the complete opposite in a room on the 11th floor of the massive building.
Topan had been standing by the large window of his office for quite some time now, staring blankly down at the city below.
He let out a breath, then dialed a number once again.
Tut…
"The number you have dialed is currently out of reach—" click!
"Tch… where did she go? Now her phone's not even active."
Topan exhaled softly and checked the time on his smartphone. He turned away from the window and adjusted his appearance.
Tonight, he wore a neatly tailored dark gray suit—clean, without a tie—paired with a black high-collared inner shirt that covered his neck with quiet composure.
His silhouette was firm, simple, and cold—not trying to draw attention, yet impossible to ignore.
Knock! Knock!
"Come in," he said coolly.
Cklek!
A woman entered the room, bowing politely.
"Arya will be a bit late since he has to pick up my mother and my wife. Have all preparations been double-checked?" Topan asked flatly.
"Yes, Sir. Everything is perfect. Would you like to go down now and give the opening speech?"
The woman—wearing glasses and a long brown tulle dress that flowed down to her ankles—nodded respectfully.
Topan nodded, satisfied.
"Start the event immediately, Esther. I'll head down now," he ordered.
Esther, the general manager, gave a short nod and quickly left the room.
Perhaps Dewi and his mother would arrive late—but so be it. They were already fifteen minutes past schedule. Topan would open the celebration first.
---
(Camera flashes)
The reporters' cameras immediately turned toward Topan as he entered the hall.
Whispers spread as the event was opened by the MC—who was none other than the company's general manager—followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Topan along with several board members.
Confusion was visible on their faces due to the absence of Mrs. Sagara beside the president director tonight.
Silence fell instantly when Topan stood at the center of the hall, ready to deliver his speech.
"Thank you for attending tonight. Amid your busy daily routines, you still took the time to be present at the 60th anniversary of Sagara Group. Going forward, we hope to remain a trusted name and continue being a leading innovator for the wider public."
Clap! Clap!
Applause erupted as Topan concluded his warm speech.
The noise gradually died down when people at the back began to part—clearing a path as if allowing someone to pass through.
Topan's eyes widened slightly when the figure he had been waiting for in restless anxiety finally appeared.
Dewi walked calmly toward him.
She smiled sweetly and nodded politely at those around her who made way.
All eyes widened in shock.
Camera flashes burst nonstop, capturing Dewi's elegant figure wrapped in a gray evening gown with a bright purple gradient that fell just below her knees.
The dress was modestly cut, featuring a high neckline and long puffed sleeves from shoulder to wrist, layered with a soft transparent outer fabric that gave a light, refined impression without revealing too much.
Her makeup was mature and neat—soft dark tones accentuating her eyes, while her lips were tinted a pinkish red with a subtle glossy finish. A matching pair of stilettos completed her look.
"I thought you weren't coming, hm…"
Without hesitation, Topan strode toward his wife.
"Hehe, I wanted to—but that was impossible, right? So… how do I look?" Dewi joked, striking a small pose in front of him.
Topan smiled warmly—a smile he rarely showed anyone, except the one woman now standing before him.
"Topan… hey, I—"
As Dewi met his gaze and saw that smile directed at her, her tongue suddenly went numb, her heart pounding wildly.
A faint blush crept onto her cheeks when Topan took the back of her hand and pressed a kiss to it.
"Beautiful… truly beautiful, my wife."
Clap! Clap!
His words rang clearly, sending the crowd into a frenzy of applause. Some even whistled loudly as they watched the couple.
Not far behind them, Ratna and Mira stood beside Andri, smiling with happiness.
They sincerely hoped that happiness would always accompany Dewi and Topan's marriage.
TO BE CONTINUED…