Chapter 3

Alice stared blankly at the mound of earth in front of her. She ignored the raindrops falling from the sky, as if the heavens wanted to cover up her never-ending tears of grief.

"Sis... why did you have to go so soon? Why did you leave me in this world? Weren't you the one who promised to always be by my side?" Alice whispered, caressing the gravestone embedded in the mound.

It was as if she was caressing Chloe's head, imagining Chloe sleeping in her lap, just as she always did when she felt tired after a day's work at the office.

"Sis... why do I have to marry Alden? I already have Gilbert, Sis," Alice lamented again, unable to contain her sorrow and bitterness.

She was indeed not capable of facing her new life. A life without Chloe and a life as Alden's wife. Giving up Gilbert, who loved her so deeply, and whom she loved equally.

Alice hit her chest as the tightness and pain returned.

"Why, God? Why do I have to endure such a cruel fate? Haven't you taken enough from my family? Now you took my sister away and made me the wife of a man who doesn't love me!"

Amidst the pouring rain, Alice cried uncontrollably next to the freshly dug grave. She blamed Destiny for never being fair to her. Should she end her own life to put an end to it all?

"Alice..." a man's voice spoke. He sat down next to her, embracing her tightly. His embrace always calmed her heart and mind. It was the embrace of a man she loved deeply and who loved her in return. The embrace of the man she hoped would be her husband one day.

"Gilbert... what should I do? What should I do after this?" she replied.

He sobbed even more in his lover's arms. "What you have to do now is be sincere. Sincerely carry out the line of destiny that has been outlined for you. And I'm sure happiness awaits you out there," whispered Gilbert.

 Trying to strengthen Alice, even though her heart is broken by the fact that happened. It feels like Gilbert is asking Alden to divorce Alice so he can take her place. Guard and protect Alice. However, Gilbert did not want to be selfish and only concerned with his feelings. Because he also appreciates the late Chloe and Alden, now Alice's legal husband.

 As well as her grandmother Chloe, who has high hopes for Alice and Alden's wedding. The older woman hopes Alice can live happily with Alden, a man she knows so well and is responsible. Even though when he officially became Alice's husband, Alden did not have a single attitude that showed responsibility as a husband. Never mind showing his responsibilities as a husband, the bridge of his nose is not visible.

Alden even ignored Alice, who had fainted and was still at Chloe's grave. In a state of crying and his body shivering with cold. "Seriously? I'm not sure I can do it. Even to stay alive, I won't be able to, Gilbert!" she whispered. Sincere? Of course, for now, this is impossible for her.

 From a young age, she lived in abundant love, and when she lost her family, Alice got a replacement from Chloe. Chloe, who was nothing to him, had poured out all the affection he had. So there is no inequality Alice feels because Chloe managed to fill the empty spot left by Alice's family. And now. Chloe is gone for good. Take all the affection and leave Alden as a substitute. Alden looked at her in disgust when he found out she was a Substitute for Chloe. At the same time, the woman is considered the instigator of Chloe so as not to tell about the disease, which is slowly eating away at her body. So he gave up and left for good.

 "Don't say that, Alice. You have to be strong. You still have a grandmother to look after. And you still have me, who will faithfully accompany and protect you. Even though you are not mine anymore. At least I can be a place for you to come home and complain," said Gilbert. Unravelling his embrace on Alice.

So that he could look into the eyes that always radiate happiness. However, now those two eyes were covered with such deep sorrow. Both eyes were also swollen and bloodshot.

"Believe me, Alice. You will be able to deal with all of this. You have to be patient and sincere. And believe me. I will always be by your side."

Alice smiled faintly, responding to what Gilbert said to her.

In truth, what Gilbert was willing to do could be accepted willingly if he were Chloe's chosen husband. However, at the moment, Alden was the man who held her husband's status. So, could she accept her written fate?

She didn't know. Alice could only surrender and accept, just like when her body floated and ended up in Gilbert's embrace.

Gilbert seemed not to want Alice to sit and mourn Chloe's departure any longer. Besides harming her mental health, the pouring rain and strong wind would also affect Alice's well-being later on.

Reluctantly, Gilbert carried Alice's shivering body away from Chloe's grave. He took her home, driving a car parked not far from the cemetery.

Unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes witnessed their togetherness. The eyes belonged to a man who was forced to marry Alice and, consequently, had to fetch her because of threats made by his mother.

None other than Alden, who grew to hate Alice even more as her family took her side.

Alden didn't want to be bothered by anyone at this moment. However, his mother pushed him to pick up Alice. And what he saw now only fueled Alden's growing hatred toward the woman he had married just a few hours ago.

Upon arriving home, Alice went straight to the bathroom to change her clothes. Gilbert bid her farewell as she entered the house, not wanting to cause discomfort with Chloe's close relatives and Alden's family still in the house. He tried to respect Alice's status as Alden's wife, so he left when she stepped inside.

Unbeknownst to Gilbert, as his car left Chloe's house, it almost collided with a vehicle driven by Alden.

In the car, Alden stared hatefully at the vehicle that had brought Alice home, especially at the man behind the wheel.

"Alden! Where have you been that another man had to bring your wife home?" a middle-aged woman immediately intercepted Alden as he stepped into Chloe's house.

"From the grave of the woman I loved," he replied without stopping his steps.

"If you came from Chloe's grave, then why was another man the one who brought Alice home?" the middle-aged woman, who was none other than Alden's mother, pressed, trying to catch up with her son as he headed towards the second floor where Alice and Chloe's rooms were located. The rooms, situated side by side, now one of them had been vacated by its owner.

"I don't know who he is, Mom. But wait, I'll ask Alice. So, please stay here!" Alden requested before ascending the stairs individually, leading him to Alice's room.

Resigned, seeing the glint of anger in Alden's eyes, the woman could only sigh. She stopped in her tracks and returned to the living room to prepare for the memorial gathering for Chloe.

Unaware that Alden had reached Alice's room, he entered without hesitation and stared sharply at her. Alice, who had just come out of the bathroom, was startled to see Alden suddenly in her room.

"Besides being shameless and cunning, you're also cheap! Using my future wife's grave as a place to have an affair with that man," Alden said flatly, stepping closer to Alice, who looked frightened while trying to cover her petite body with a towel.

"W-what do you mean?" she murmured as Alden pressed his body against the bathroom door.

"What do you mean, you ask?" Alden retorted, growing angrier as Alice refused to admit her encounter with the man at Chloe's grave earlier.

Alice could only nod silently, surrendering to whatever Alden would do to her just as Gilbert had advised her. To offer and accept willingly.