Married To A Cruel Widower

"What? I have to marry him?!"

Alena almost dropped her phone. The voice on the other end was too shocking to process. The bustling streets of Medan that afternoon, filled with vehicles going back and forth, seemed to vanish from her view. All that remained was the ringing in her ears, echoing along with her mother's booming voice on the phone.

"You heard me, didn't you? It's already decided, Na. Aziz is a good man. Our family owes his family a great deal!" Her mother's tone was firm, leaving little room for protest. The bright afternoon suddenly turned gloomy for Alena.

The 21-year-old woman blinked, staring at her flat shoes, as if hoping for answers to appear from them. "But... but, Mom. I'm still in college. How can I get married? Besides, I don't even know him!" she said in desperation. The noisy traffic around her suddenly became a mere backdrop to the fear surging in her heart.

Her mother sighed, as if trying to calm down a stubborn child. "Listen, Na. We're not wealthy people. If it weren't for Aziz's family, you wouldn't even have been able to go to school until now. This is the best option for all of us."

Alena wiped her face, feeling cold sweat starting to form.

Om Aziz? The strict man I've heard whispered about by the neighbors? A 38-year-old widower with two teenage kids? This doesn't make any sense!

How could her peaceful life as a college student suddenly turn upside down into a forced marriage story with a widower?

"Mom... Isn't Om Aziz strict? I've heard people talk about him," Alena's voice began to tremble, her fear growing more real.

There was a faint chuckle on the other end-not a pleasant laugh, but one tinged with bitterness. "People love to gossip, and you know that. They always find faults. Aziz is strict? Maybe he's firm, but that's normal for someone leading a lot of people. Don't believe everything you hear."

Alena let out a long sigh, trying to gather her thoughts. "But, Mom... I'm not ready. There's so much I still want to achieve. I'm only in my sixth semester. What about my future?"

"Na, listen to me. Life doesn't always go as we want. Do you think we're in a position to choose right now?" Her mother's words pressed harder on Alena's feelings. "Aziz's family has helped us for years. And Aziz... he's handsome, wealthy, and ready to build a family again. You'll be comfortable with him."

"Mom, this isn't just about comfort! I don't love him. And being handsome and rich doesn't guarantee happiness. I don't even know him!" Alena tried to resist, her voice growing hoarse.