I'm Not a Cheap Woman

The Other Lie

"Mom... Why come early in the morning?" Zionel.

"Can't I come to my own son's apartment?" Falera.

"It's not like that, but..."

"Hi..."

A woman suddenly appeared behind Falera and cut off Zionel's speech leaving the man wide-eyed.

"How's mommy..."

"Since when have I taught you to welcome such a guest Zio. Honey.. let's go in." Falera said as she stepped in followed by the woman.

She was the last woman to be betrothed to Zionel, Varisa.

Zionel sighed then immediately closed the door. The man searches for Stevani's whereabouts but is no longer in the dining room.

"Zio, this is Varisa" Falera said.

"I already know." replied Zionel flatly.

Varisa reaches out her hand to introduce herself, but Zionel ignores the woman, leaving them to search for Stevani.

"Please understand, that's Zio's attitude." whispered Falera.

Varisa only smiled faintly in response to Falera's remark.

*****

Zionel discovers Stevani's whereabouts in the room, the woman gasps as Zionel pats her on the shoulder.

"What are you doing?" ask Zionel.

"What kind of question is that? didn't you tell me to dress up."

"Sstttt. Listen to me Van, outside not Alex but mommy and also. ah shit. why should I meet that woman." Zionel sounded very upset.

Stevani narrowed her eyes. "So that knocked on your mother's door, and then who was the other woman you meant to piss you off?"

"Whatever mommy thinks, she brought Varisa, the woman I'm going to be betrothed to." replied Zionel.

"It looks like your mother's starting to show the real attitude that she doesn't like me."

"I don't care about Van, I don't want any other woman involved in my life other than you. So this time I ask you to do your part as my future wife again."

"It's an order or a request for help, why do I still sound arrogant" Stevani said.

Zionel sighed. "Okay, this time I'm asking you for help. Get that woman out of my face."

Stevani chuckles amusedly.

"What are you laughing at?" zionel asked in annoyance.

Stevani immediately shook her head. "Come out, I'll be done soon. I should look better than that woman don't."

Zionel nodded his head and went out of the room to meet his mother and Varisa.

"What is the need for mom to come here in the morning?" zionel asked after approaching them.

"Why do you look unhappy with mommy Zio's visit?"

"It's not like that, I'll be out soon because there's a need. And also today Vani and I will order a wedding dress." Zionel replied.

Varisa. "Wedding dress? Who's getting married?"

"Zio is joking, baby, we haven't agreed to this marriage yet" Falera said.

"What is this aunt?" ask Varisa.

"It looks like my mother hasn't said it yet, I'm getting married and my future wife is staying here. Honey.. hurry up. Mommy waited too long." cried Zionel.

"Zio stop. when mommy says you agree to get married next week. I purposely brought Varisa here so you know this woman is going to enter the Cruise family. He's more suitable and mommy already knows who his parents are."

"Don't we already discuss this mom, oh come on. I don't want to argue anymore."

Stevani came out of the room and approached them. Zionel smiled and greeted Stevani by kissing the woman's cheek.

Stevani is still stunned because the kiss plus Zionel's question as if they had a night of intimacy. The woman smiled awkwardly then nodded her head.

"Good morning aunt." said Stevani.

"Morning." Falera replied flatly and began to show her dislike.

"This is my future wife who I will marry next week, there is or is no blessing from my parents" Zionel told Varisa.

Varisa got up from her seat, she felt anger from being humiliated like that.

"Tante should have said that Zio had a future wife" Varisa said.

"Calm Varisa. You misunderstand, baby, there's no marriage in Cruise's family without our blessing" Falera said. "Zio, didn't we tell you to wait for our decision. Why are you so stubborn." he added.

Zionel took Stevani's hand. "Didn't you teach me to learn to be responsible. Stevani is currently pregnant with my son, the successor to the Cruise family. I can't postpone marriage anymore."

Zionel's words surprised everyone, especially Stevani who currently has to play a pregnant woman in front of the two women.

"What did you say? Pregnant?" after saying that Falera instantly fell unconscious making them all panic.

They all immediately took Falera out of the apartment to a nearby hospital.

*****

In the hospital....

Cruise's family is still waiting for the doctor to leave the treatment room. Nicholas Cruise continues to blame his son for making his mother fall unconscious. Fortunately, after Zionel said it happened, his father did not faint. It's just that they arrived to look at Stevani increasingly unhappy.

Stevani did not dare to approach the Cruise family, until finally Zionel was the one who approached him.

"You don't have to be afraid, mommy will be fine." Zionel said.

"Why are you saying that, Zio? Are you out of your mind?" stevani whispers.

"Isn't that most likely."

"Why are you so confident you can haunt me in just one night. I'm sure nothing will happen to my body."

"Don't start again Van, I'm doing this too so mommy no longer insists on refusing our marriage."

"What if something happens to your mother?"

"I know better mommy's health, she's not a weak woman. Believe it or not, this was just a charade he did for me to give up. I've experienced this one year after losing Haena." replied Zionel.

"What do you mean?" stevani asked in confusion.

Zionel let out a long breath. "It's not time we discussed this. But trust me, it will be fine. Soon Alex is here, you're gonna have to go with him."

"You're really crazy, under these circumstances you're still thinking about that fake marriage."

Zionel gritted his teeth holding in anger. "Follow my orders Van, don't keep provoking my emotions. Remember, your sister's treatment is still me paying for it. Don't you think I'm softer with you, so you're getting brave enough to deny all my wishes."

Stevani is eager to hit the man next to her at the moment. Cruise's family's gaze towards him grew even scarier, but Zionel still forced him into the hell before him.

"Oh my God, what trials will I face. Zionel should have accepted the woman, she was very beautiful and classy. It's very different from me being uneducated and not having a family like this" Stevani thought.

Alex really came when Stevani was swept away in his mind. It was Zionel's voice that made him realize.

"Go away... Let me face the Cruise family." Zionel ordered.

"But.. won't their views get any worse on me?"

Zionel looked at him sharply without answering Stevani's remarks.

"Oh well I'm going." added Stevani.

"No need to say goodbye to them, let me handle it. And I'll see you there soon."

Stevani takes a deep breath and leaves Zionel to follow Alex to the hospital.

*****

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