Love Redux: Fated to the Handsome Doctor

Time passed quickly since the last time Lara heard about her case’s progress. The final trial, which featured Miriam, truly became a benchmark of victory for her side.

Seno couldn’t dodge anymore. The presence of witnesses and the strength of evidence shattered his alibi, and all objections from his lawyer became futile. Lara could finally breathe a sigh of relief when the judge declared Seno guilty of assault and attempted murder.

Lara’s ex-husband had to rot in jail for his actions.

***

“How do I look?” Lara asked hesitantly after admiring herself in the mirror for some time. She had tried on the dress before, but when the long-awaited day arrived, Lara became nervous and didn’t know what to do.

“You look absolutely beautiful!” Mahya exclaimed without any doubt. Shanon thought the same. Carol also seemed to give her thumbs up. The three of them agreed that there was nothing wrong with the appearance of the bride today, who looked stunningly beautiful.

Lara smiled and felt even happier on her special day. After her trial ended and her ex-husband was sentenced accordingly, Andre suddenly proposed to Lara. Allegedly, the man had planned the proposal as a victory gift for her.

How could Lara refuse? Shanon and Mahya even came as Andre’s main supporters in winning Lara’s heart. There was no moment more meaningful than Andre’s beautiful words expressing his desire for her to be his life partner forever.

And, this was the result. Lara stood gracefully in a pure white gown that was very enchanting. Darren-her brother-in-law-was currently escorting Lara as she walked down the aisle to where her future husband, Andre, was waiting.

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Lara and Andre’s wedding took place solemnly and peacefully, with a thread of prayers accompanying their happy smiles. Not a single guest in the hall could hold back tears when recalling Lara’s struggle and Andre’s unwavering support.

“I will be the happiest wife in the world, Ndre,” Lara said tearfully. Mahya almost scolded her because the expensive makeup would be ruined by her repeated tears, but Andre protected his wife and glared at Mahya.

“I will be the happiest husband in the world, Lara. You are my world. That’s enough,” Andre whispered, planting a sweet kiss on his new wife’s lips.

Mahya smiled in relief; this time, she could confidently entrust her precious friend to Andre to be taken care of. There would be no more evil people who could hurt her. Lara had to believe that.

The afternoon event proceeded solemnly and devoutly. The wedding reception was held right after the blessing ceremony. The guests and the newlywed couple could then mingle and share their happy moments, including… moments with old enemies who suddenly appeared uninvited.

“I have a special gift for you, my wife,” Andre whispered to Lara when they finally got a chance to talk alone, after greeting the guests from friends and relatives.

“Who?” Lara asked, curious. Not long after, a figure appeared whom she knew very well. Tears of happiness immediately welled up in Lara’s eyes. “Melati?” She couldn’t believe it, seeing her former assistant sitting with Bi Yani at a not-so-prominent corner table.

“Lara! Congratulations!” Melati exclaimed, hugging her former employer. Bi Yani also expressed similar sentiments and hugged Lara tightly.

“Oh, Melati!” Lara felt like she was finally relieving the longing that had been buried inside her since Seno’s family left for Singapore.

“How are you?” Lara asked, curious.

“I’m fine, Ma’am,” she replied enthusiastically. Melati then explained that she returned to Indonesia and met Andre after Seno’s family went bankrupt.

Seno’s grandmother was arrested on charges of being an accomplice to her grandson in a case of illegal drug trafficking. Seno’s mother was hospitalized for mental trauma. Seno’s family suddenly became poor, and the police were frequently seen around the housing complex. Chaos was inevitable.

Workers were laid off en masse and returned to their hometowns, as did Melati.

“I finally persuaded Selly to come along because she had to be safe, Ma’am. Currently, Mr. Seno’s child is in the village with my extended family,” Melati explained, making Lara sigh heavily.

Apparently, Seno’s family’s situation had become chaotic, as Seno rotted away in jail. Lara didn’t know that Seno had truly rotted permanently because his mother, madam X, chased him even to the prison cell. His minions beat Seno every day, making him a family member who would find it difficult to lead a normal life anywhere.

“Here, for you,” Melati handed Lara a small gold box tied with a red ribbon as a wedding gift. “This is also a message from… Olivia.”

“O-Olivia?” Lara’s eyebrows shot up. She didn’t expect to hear that name again in her life. “Where is she? I didn’t invite her?” Lara asked suspiciously, but Melati immediately whispered to her.

“She said ‘forgive me’ and then gave me this small bag for you. Olivia didn’t have the courage to appear in front of you, so she entrusted it to me,” Melati said with a meaningful smile.

Lara swallowed hard. She knew that Olivia might have changed, but Lara didn’t expect her change to be shown so mysteriously like this.

“Just open it, dear,” Andre urged while tightly holding his wife’s hand. Lara nodded and began to open the batik-patterned paper bag slowly. She saw a velvet box of medium size, not too big. It seemed like it was enough to hold a necklace or similar jewelry.

“A photo?” Lara was surprised. It turned out that the box was used to hold a portrait that was not unfamiliar to her. Lara smiled, remembering the moments captured in that photo.

“What photo, dear?” Andre was curious to see the torn photo taped with clear tape. Truly, it was a strange gift!

“This is a photo when I received the crown as the Campus Queen, dear,” Lara explained with a hint of tears. She could guess what Olivia meant with that photo. Olivia’s sulky face next to Lara, drawn with a marker forming an upward curve.

Lara laughed, not expecting Olivia to apologize in this way.

“She… smiled, like that?” Andre continued to guess. Lara nodded. Melati also had to hold back her laughter because the photo looked funny, like a broken toy that was originally damaged but was hastily repaired to its original form.

“We… made up,” Lara whispered as she looked back at the portrait with emotion. In her heart, Lara had forgiven Olivia. After all, the information she had once provided to Andre had saved Lara’s life.

Olivia wasn’t as evil as she thought. However, they understood that living their own lives would be more enjoyable than pretending to be normal, as if nothing had ever happened.

“A unique woman,” Andre finally saw the positive side of Olivia’s attitude after hating her so much for so long.

“Let’s go back to the middle of the party,” Lara said, waving her hand to Melati and Bi Yani, who were waiting until the dishes arrived.

Lara’s wedding ceremony was warm and very enjoyable. She never imagined that a celebration of love like this would be sweet to experience and remember.

“And I will celebrate this love with you, forever, my wife.”

Lara blushed and let Andre kiss her again. The bad memories of the past were swept away by the beautiful memories of the present, with her new husband. Lara was truly happy. She felt grateful that Andre never gave up on winning her love.

“I will cherish this love always, my husband.”

***

The End.