The Marrying Bet

Disclosure

Vara can still remember clearly. The Queen Mother was a middle-aged female figure with short-cut hair of a fiery red color that was so contrasted with her milky-white skin. Her eye makeup is smokey with salem colored lipstick. The Queen Mother always wears magnificent dresses studded with bling-bling that dazzle the eyes. Not to forget diamond jewelry ranging from earrings, stacked necklaces, bracelets to large-eyed diamond rings filled his ten fingers that looked beautifully maintained with a sweep of dark red nail polish.

"In front of him when you meet me, pretend you don't know each other."

The words of the Queen Mother really still stick clearly in Vara's memory.

Why is her ex-in-law here? Inner Vara wondered.

It seems Vara mistakenly referred to the middle-aged woman as her in-laws. The Queen Mother did not even acknowledge Vara as her son-in-law.

Similarly, Virda who is currently still stunned does not believe what he saw.

How can Roy's ex-wife be here? virda wondered.

"Mother, what's wrong?" ryo asked Virda.

Vara was stunned to hear Mr. Ryo call the Queen Mother Mother as Mother.

Sure enough? Is the Queen Mother the mother of Mr Ryo?

Then, Mr Ryo and Viceroy are brothers? Vara thought fast.

Virda merely commented a cold smile, staring intently at Vara.

"Mother, this is Vara Ma'am" said Ryo introducing Vara.

"Yes, I know," Virda replied quickly.

Ryo was stunned, how could his mother know?

Ryo sets his eyes on Vara who appears down but steals a glance. Clearly visible in Ryo's eyes both seem to know each other.

"I really didn't think we'd meet here" Virda said in a cynical tone.

Vara was just speechless, Virda's sharp eyes really intimidated Vara. The gaze that always made Vara feel trepidation.

"Mother, how do you know Miss Vara?" ask

Ryo astonishment.

"Ryo, this is the woman who has been Roy's wife" Virda replied.

Ryo was wide-eyed, as if he could hear the lightning striking inside his head. Instantly he almost forgot how to breathe properly. During this time Ryo had mistakenly suspected that Laras was the wife of Viceroy. But he did not think at all that his sister's wife was Vara.

How come Vara is Roy's wife?

How could?

Ryo could feel his heart rumbling again and the tightness slowly began to seep into him again.

"Return the Ryo company!" said Virda.

"What?" ask Vara astonishment.

"Didn't he say Roy loves you very much, ask him to return Ryo's company" said Virda.

"Wait, what does this mean, ma'am?" ask Vara.

"You don't have to pretend! You must have known that Ryo and Roy made such a fantastic bet! And look at the consequences of that gamble! Ryo lost the company and also almost lost his life!" answer Virda.

"And, do you know? It all happened because of you!" virda said as he pointed towards Vara.

Vara was completely reminded of the message from Viceroy, when facing the Queen Mother it is wiser to be silent and listen. However, he suddenly felt claustrophobic from being scammed like this. He was even charged with being responsible for things he did not do.

Virda really can't take it because his two children blame him. Ryo blames her for the Viceroy's divorce, and Ryo suffers a near-life defeat. Viceroy blamed Virda for losing his youngest wife.

Virda should be able to urge this woman in order for Viceroy to return Ryo's company. Putting all the blame on the woman who has made her two children to gamble which consequently really endangers the lives of her children.

"Madam, what exactly, the hell, is my fault? My marriage is even over because you don't approve of me, so why do you still blame me and hold me accountable?" asked Vara who finally dared to ask.

Virda laughed, to Vara, Virda's laughter sounded like Mak Lampir's laughter at a historical soap opera on television.

"You should know why I didn't approve of your marriage to Roy! You're just a tool for Roy to win his bet with Ryo! Roy is just using you for his victory! That's what's your main mistake!" lick Virda.

"So, it's your responsibility to reclaim Ryo's company from Roy's hands!" virda said again.

Virda still glanced at Vara. Right now the only way to get Ryo's company back out of Roy's hands is to urge Roy's ex-wife.

"Mother, please stop!" said Ryo.

"Ryo, this woman must take responsibility for her actions! Because she's married and divorced from Roy, you're affected!" lick Virda.

"What's this?" viceroy asked as he entered the room filled with a tense atmosphere.

Viceroy has just arrived at the hospital because Virda told him to come. Viceroy's eyes caught the figure of Vara who was currently in a dispute with her mother.

"Vara," Viceroy told Vara.

Vara was silent with teary eyes.

"Mother, stop!" ryo snapped who felt that his mother was really being outrageous.

Virda was silent, Ryo could see Vara who looked almost crying. Ryo really has no heart on Vara being blamed all out by her mother. Guilt soon plagues Ryo, hitting him like a wave ready to sink the ship.

"Mom Vara, have you been married to my sister?" ryo asked as he looked in disbelief at Vara.

"Yes, Mr. Ryo," Vara replied briefly.

Ryo breathed a heavy breath. Honestly, he really felt very devastated to hear Vara's confession. The woman who lately poisoned her mind with a charming smile, the woman who became her dream, and the woman she had wanted so far turned out to be her sister's wife. For Ryo, this was truly worse than the nightmare itself.

"Roy, all this time was Miss Vara really your wife?" tanya Ryo threw a look of disbelief at his sister.

"Yes, but it's no longer, because you must know for yourself, who's behind my divorce from my wife" Viceroy cast a skeptical look at Ryo and her mother in turn.

"Roy, of course, I can't possibly approve of your marriage if you're married just to win a bet! After all, I want your companion more than our family alone! Family is better than anyone else you don't know! Especially if you're married to an indiscriminate woman whose origins are unclear!" virda.

"Mother! How could you say that? I married Vara, because I wanted to get married, Mom! Didn't I tell Mom and Ryo from the beginning that I wanted to marry a woman of my own choice? It's just that you guys don't believe it" Viceroy said staring at his mother and brother in turn.

Viceroy looked towards Vara. Somehow he felt that his mother had ruined the scenario he had put together to get Vara back. His mother had actually exposed the problem of betting that Vara should not have known. Viceroy really did not want Vara to think that he was just playing and using it. He must be able to reverse the facts so that all can still be in line with his plan.

"I want to get married, you don't believe me. When I got married, you didn't believe anymore, and look now, I'm divorced from Vara, do you still not believe it?!"

"Roy, how can we trust you while you never even show me your wedding book!" sergeant Ryo.

"Then I was so sure that you were married just to win a bet with me!" ryo tuding.

"Ryo, even if I show you my marriage book, you still won't believe it! Wouldn't you rather believe that I got married just to win the gamble?!" sergeant Viceroy.

Ryo and Virda looked at each other.

"Ryo, you've even had the heart to insult and demean my wife! You mustn't pretend to forget all the insults you've done! You incited Mom, gave me misleading supernatural whispers!" sergeant Viceroy.

"And now you're accusing me of wanting to win? You should have a look at who is more ambitious to win the bet! I don't even care about that gamble anymore! It's just, aren't you the one who came and challenged?!"

Ryo could only be silent, everything said by his sister was a truth that Ryo could not afford. He really felt like he was the most guilty person in this matter. He recalled how he incited his mother, insulted, and demeaned Roy's wife in front of her. Ryo demeans Roy's wife because at that time he himself did not know who Roy's real wife. Ryo really has made a fatal mistake because he ate his own assumptions. Because he wanted to win the bet, he did not care about anything else.

"Mother, I'm sorry, ma'am," Ryo said towards Virda.

"I misidentified Roy's wife! I'm the ugh, ugh," Ryo held back his chest that rumbled back.

Ryo who had been sitting on his bed was seen collapsing forward while holding his chest.

"Ril!" exclaims Virda.

Viceroy immediately pressed the bell to call the nurse as well as the doctor. Panic really happened in the room, whereas Vara, could only be silent watching everything with a cold head.

...*****...

Virda fell silent with his empty eyes. Virda could only wipe his tears many times. Ryo had to go back to the ICU. Virda felt a tremendous tightness rumbling in his chest. Again he made a mistake that made Ryo had to return to life.

Viceroy could only sit in silence while covering his face with both palms. He really did not think that the plan he had prepared did not go according to his wishes. He really did not expect that Ryo and Vara turned out to know each other. The heart attack experienced by Ryo was also something he did not take into account.

Viceroy had already drawn up his post-divorce plans from Vara and won the bet, he would make Ryo's company in exchange for his mother to give him the blessing to bring Vara back in his life. Viceroy even closed the meeting regarding his betting problem with Ryo. But it turns out that his mother actually dismantled the problem perfectly and even accused Vara of being the main mastermind.

"Roy, forgive Mom," Virda said in tears.

Viceroy didn't know what to do with his mother.

"Mom, I don't understand, why you never heard me, I believe more what Ryo says, but not necessarily everything Ryo says is true" Viceroy said.

"Mom's just too worried about you, Roy," Virda said.

"Mother, I'm an adult, all my choices, whatever my decision, are all my responsibilities to my life! It's much wiser, if you respect my decision by supporting rather than opposing" Viceroy said.

"Mom should know that Vara means so much to my life. Our marriage was purely on a mutual agreement. Maybe at first my wedding goal was just to win a bet. But as time went on, I really fell in love with her, Mom, I've never been this happy with a woman who accepted me for who I was, not because there was anything" Viceroy continued.

"Really, if Mom and Ryo were to accept and welcome my marriage, this would not have happened, Mom," Viceroy said, staring at his mother.

Virda still shed her tears nonstop.

"Mother, I really don't like you arranging matchmaking for me. I still vividly remember how they all rejected me who had nothing, and now that I had everything, they were all vying to want me! While Vara, he doesn't even care even though I have nothing! He just wants me completely and completely" Viceroy said.

"Roy, forgive Mom," Virda still cried as he pleased.

Viceroy hugged his mother. The hard and firm figure looks so fragile because it cries for all its mistakes. Virda really regretted having made so many mistakes. As the parents he was too siding with Ryo, he incited Ryo's talk which apparently also incited other people's talk about Viceroy's wife. He even urges Viceroy's divorce which turns out to be a boomerang for Ryo. And now he again raises new problems by slandering the ex-wife Viceroy who does not know the problem of betting done by his two children.

The self-esteem guarded by Virda was too high. He doesn't know that the woman Ryo is supposed to be, with the woman Roy is carrying are two different women. It's just that, from the beginning Virda did want a daughter-in-law from among his own family. It was hard for him to accept Vara as his daughter-in-law.

"Mother, please respect my decision" Viceroy said.

Virda really just realized, that his youngest child is so mature. His hands were so sturdy that he gently patted his back. Thirty years ago, Virda was the one who always embraced and calmed his youngest child when crying because of fighting anything with his eldest son who never wanted to give up on his sister.

"Family Mr. Victoryo" a doctor came out of the ICU.

Viceroy and Virda immediately approached the doctor. Right now they hope that Ryo is okay. I don't know why Viceroy feels sorry for all the things he's done.

His relationship with Ryo is strange. He and Ryo compete with each other. Trying to outdo each other. Mutual satire, debate, and cold war always color their brotherly relationship.

Seeing her mother cry so hysterically was sad. As a result of their fantastic bet, Viceroy only realized that Ryo's life turned out to be far more valuable than the value of their bet.

...*****...

Vara sits in the hospital garden. Viceroy asked him to wait because the man had to accompany his mother first. Vara was puffed up, he lit his cigarette. Lately, cigarettes have become his escape when he wants to calm down. The puff of cigarette smoke allowed him to fly into the air.

Vara really did not expect that all this time he became a woman who became the sister-in-law of Mr. Ryo. Viceroy looks like a thick-pocketed unemployed. Vara's sucking back the cigarette.

The Queen Mother did not approve of their marriage because Viceroy was involved in betting with Mr. Ryo. It was only fitting that the Queen Mother hated her so much, that was what was currently circling in Vara's mind.

Viceroy immediately approached Vara and sat down next to Vara.

"Please have a cigarette" Viceroy said to Vara.

"You want to smoke too?" ask Vara to hand over the cigarette box to Viceroy.

Viceroy smiled and picked up a cigarette and lit it. Vara was stunned to see Viceroy who looked so cool when lighting a cigarette. The man breathed out the cigarette smoke he smoked.

"Geez-uhuk!" Viceroy coughed as he choked on smoke.

"Haha," Vara laughed.

Her ex-husband so failed to look cool, when it was so convincing. It even looks like an expensive cigarette advertisement star.

"Originally, it feels like I'm swallowing the exhaust of a two-stroke engine motorcycle" Viceroy chuckled while turning off the cigarette by stepping on it.

Vara smiled and still enjoyed her cigarette.

"Vara, I'm sorry for my mother's attitude towards you" Viceroy said.

"I'm sorry that so many misunderstandings have occurred between me, my sister, and my mother" Viceroy continued, staring at Vara.

Vara exhaled back her cigarette smoke.

"Vara, I didn't mean to use you to win a bet like my mom said, I actually married you because I wanted to get married, they just didn't believe me and thought I was joking. I can't joke about my life" Viceroy said.

"Vara, I'm seriously married to you, although I didn't love you at first, but as time went on, I really fell in love with you."

"Viceroy, I understand, at first our marriage was just a deal. I didn't think I'd fall in love with you either" Vara said, turning off her cigarette.

Viceroy smiled gently towards Vara who was also looking at him.

"Vara, let's get married again, we start our new life again, open all the new sheets, and close the old story that hurt us" Viceroy said.

Vara smiles.

"Viceroy, I really want to be back with you, it's just, we better give each other the space and time to really think and realize whether we really love each other or are just carried away," said Vara.

Viceroy was stunned to hear Vara's words.

"Vara, don't you want to marry me again?" ask Viceroy.

Vara shakes.

"Viceroy, I really want to marry you again, it's just, we have to give each other space and time so that we can be sure that we really love each other heart to heart, not just for the mere release of lust. Besides it looks like your mother is still so heavy to give her blessing."

"Vara, you don't have to think about blessing, my mother will definitely bless us" Viceroy said.

"Viceroy, I really love you, but can you respect my wishes?" ask Vara.

Viceroy rubbed his face with both palms. He realized that Vara was really disappointed in him.

A wounded woman can indeed forgive but it will certainly be difficult to forget.

And Viceroy must be able to accept Vara's decision, because Vara always respects and respects Viceroy's decision.