Chapter 159: Happiness Above Tears

Mrs. Viona walked closer and sat right at my right side. She remained silent for quite a long time before finally lowering her head deeply.

"I'm sorry," Mrs. Viona said with a trembling voice. "I know you might hate me after this. The key to all of these mistakes actually lies with me. I am the one who caused Aditya and Claretta to separate. I am the one who caused all of your suffering to begin."

Instantly I closed my eyes tightly.

Oh God, what other secret must I hear now?

"Now I will tell you everything," Mrs. Viona said. "I cannot keep this alone any longer while you become the victim of it."

She closed her eyes while letting out a long breath, as if gathering the remaining courage to reveal a truth. Suddenly Mrs. Viona looked at me with a gaze that I could hardly interpret.

"You must have heard a story at your school. A story about a pair of lovers who were forced to separate because of differences in economic status. You must know that the story is real. That pair of lovers is Aditya and Claretta."

No. Say that this is a lie!

At school, there is no one who does not know that story. An old legend that until now is still talked about at Bakti Airlangga High School. However, I never imagined that the pieces of that story were closely related to me, about my parents' past.

"Since junior high school I had been friends with Claretta. Back then she was a cheerful girl like you, friendly, kind, and intelligent."

A moment of silence fell over us. Mrs. Viona shifted her gaze forward and then exhaled slowly. I could only keep watching her from the corner of my eye, unable to move my whole body even the tip of my finger.

"She even had very high self-confidence, even though she grew up in an orphanage since she was little."

Claretta had lived in an orphanage? Really? What other truth must I face?

"When we entered high school, we were in the same school. Claretta entered through the achievement track, just like you. At that time I was very happy to be with her again. My happiness increased when I found out that Aditya, my childhood friend, also studied at Bakti Airlangga High School. Previously I heard that after graduating from elementary school, he and his family had moved out of town for a while," she continued, while I could only stare at her in silence.

"One day Aditya once asked me to introduce him to Claretta. At first I did not suspect anything at all. Until several months later, he confessed his love to Claretta."

Mrs. Viona suddenly covered her own mouth, as if trying hard to suppress the sobs that were pressing to come out.

"I still remember the sparkle in Aditya's eyes at that time," she said haltingly. "A sparkle that he never directed at me."

I was stunned hearing Mrs. Viona's confession that was so honest yet so painful.

"I should not have introduced them," she sobbed softly. "I love him, Frel. I love him. I am the one who has loved Aditya since long ago, but why did he have to love Claretta?"

The sobs that she had been holding back finally broke. She cried uncontrollably until her body trembled violently.

"For more than two years, I could only remain silent watching their intimacy in front of me. My chest felt tight every time he told me how lucky he was to have Claretta. It felt like my whole world was destroyed every time he confessed his love to Claretta right in front of my eyes."

Both of her hands were tightly clasped in front of her chest, as if trying to hold back the pain stabbing there. I could only respond with the blink of my eyes, drowned in the many suspicions raging inside me.

"Until one day, their relationship was discovered by Mother. She strongly opposed that relationship and did everything to separate them. Including arranging my marriage with Aditya with the excuse of a company that was facing bankruptcy," she said while wiping the tears that continued to flow heavily. "I know, Frel, it was all just a performance. I once overheard my father and mother, who were business partners of Aditya's family, clearly discussing that plan."

Silence once again enveloped the room. Not long after, Mrs. Viona took a heavy breath.

"I am the one at fault. I am evil, Frel. Instead of revealing their lies, I chose to remain silent and accept the arranged marriage with great joy."

My eyes widened in disbelief. How could Mrs. Viona agree to build happiness on top of her own best friend's tears?

"I still remember how devastated they were when the relationship had to end. How heartbreaking Claretta's cries were when she was embraced by Aditya as a farewell. I even remember clearly, a day before our wedding, Claretta knelt in front of me begging me to cancel the marriage. But," she paused for a moment, making me want to scream for her to stop, "but I ignored her, Frel. I turned away and left Claretta just like that. I did not care about her feelings at all. Forgive me, Frel. Forgive me."

Instantly my eyes felt hot, yet not a single tear fell. Only a sharp gaze full of wounds that I could give her as an answer.

Oh God, why can't I cry? Have my tears dried up, or has this hatred frozen everything?

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