91

Maisie's POV

Randi sat next to me, and the atmosphere became more cheerful. "Yeah, he's like that. Always reliable. But sometimes he also needs to be reminded to have fun."

I laughed, feeling the truth in her words. "That's true. Maybe tonight could be a good opportunity for that."

We continued our light conversation, discussing various things from the food served to future plans. Randi was a fun person, and I felt comfortable with her.

"Did you come alone?" I asked cautiously. I didn't want Erina to be here too.

"Yeah. My parents are out of town, so I'm representing them."

I wanted to ask about Erina but hesitated. Her mood was good, and I didn't want to ruin it by bringing up that woman.

They chatted casually, making small talk. I glanced at Alexander occasionally. Their conversation with Wahyu seemed to be getting more serious.

However, my attention was diverted when I stood up to get more water, and someone bumped into me from the side.

"Ouch!" I yelped in surprise. The bag in her hand fell to the floor, spilling its contents everywhere.

"Sorry, sorry." Bela quickly crouched down, trying to help pick up the scattered items.

But Bela's hand stopped when she touched a silver bracelet. She picked it up and examined it quickly.

Then she looked up, staring at me sharply. "Did you steal this bracelet?"

"What?" I blinked. "I didn't even know that bracelet was in my bag."

"Don't lie!" Bela shouted loudly, causing other guests to turn and look at her. "We've counted the souvenirs, and one is missing. So it was you who stole it?" she accused, pointing at me mercilessly while still crouching on the floor.

I was stunned in disbelief. "I don't even know where the souvenirs are!"

Guests began to murmur. Alexander and Wahyu immediately stopped their conversation. Alexander's face hardened as he strode towards me.

But what happened next made Alexander freeze in place.

"Look! This is clearly my sister's wedding souvenir. Other guests haven't received their souvenirs yet, so why have you? It must be because you stole it!" Bela continued to rage.

I wouldn't accept it. I bent down to grab the bracelet from Bela's hand.

But suddenly... snap!

The seam of my dress on my back came apart. The zipper of the dress opened, exposing my bare back to the public.

Randi, who was still sitting in Alexander's chair, moved quickly. She took off her jacket and draped it over my shoulders.

My body trembled violently, holding back embarrassment under the gaze of dozens, even hundreds, of people who were now talking about me.

I looked up, my vision blurred by tears meeting Alexander's intense gaze. But Alexander stood frozen, neither approaching me nor protecting me.

My heart felt sliced open. I felt alone in this world again.

With a trembling voice, I shouted at Bela. "I swear I didn't steal it! I don't even know how that bracelet got there!"

Without waiting for anyone's response, I grabbed my bag from the floor and ran out of the room. The dress under Randi's jacket was nearly slipping off because the zipper was completely open. I couldn't stay there any longer if I didn't want to be a spectacle.

I ran out of the room, my breath quickening and tears still streaming down my cheeks. The atmosphere outside felt calmer, but my heart was still in turmoil. Pain and betrayal enveloped me, clouding all the beauty of the night.

Outside, the sounds of music and laughter were fading. I knew I couldn't return to that crowd. Not in this state. My heart felt heavy, and I just wanted to find a quiet place to reflect.

Not far from there, I stopped in a small garden surrounded by twinkling lights. The night breeze felt refreshing, but it couldn't erase the pain in my chest. I sat on a bench, holding my bag while staring at the dark sky.

"Why did this happen?" I whispered to myself, feeling tears wetting my cheeks again. I felt so alone, even though there were many people around me having fun.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching. I turned and saw Alexander standing in front of me, his face filled with concern. "I... I was looking for you," he said, his voice trembling.

“Why didn’t you defend me?” I asked, my voice breaking. “You just stood there, watching me like this.”

He was silent for a moment, as if the words had struck him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what to do. But I’m here now.”

I could see sincerity in his gaze, but the pain still ran too deep. “I can’t keep going like this.”

Alexander stepped closer, and in an instant, he embraced me. I felt calm, even though my heart was still turbulent. “We’ll find a way out of this,” he whispered, making me feel a little better.

I didn’t understand why Bela would accuse me like that. I just stammered and asked Alexander to take me home.

Alexander nodded slowly, understanding my mixed emotions. “Alright, let’s go home. There’s no point in staying here if it makes you feel worse,” he replied softly, gently stroking my back.

He linked his arm around my waist and guided me out of the garden. The atmosphere outside felt calmer, and although my heart was still heavy with hurt, Alexander’s presence provided a sense of safety.

As we walked to the car, I felt the weight on my chest gradually lift. Maybe, just by leaving that place and talking to Alexander, I could start to cope with everything.

Upon reaching the car, Alexander opened the door for me. After I sat down, he got in, started the engine, and drove away from the party area. The journey was quiet. I stared out the window, trying to calm my thoughts and recall the beautiful moments that had existed before all this happened.

“If there’s anything you want to talk about, I’m here,” Alexander said after a while. His voice was warm and attentive.

I took a deep breath, trying to gather my words. “I just don’t understand why Bela would accuse me like that. We’ve been friends for a long time. Why doesn’t she trust me?”

Alexander looked at me for a moment before responding. “Sometimes, people do things we can’t understand. Maybe something happened between them that made her feel the need to protect herself.”

“I don’t know,” I replied, my voice trembling. “It hurts so much.”

He took my hand and held it tightly. “We’ll get through this together. I won’t let you face everything alone.”

His words strengthened me, and even though the pain was still there, I began to feel hope. Maybe, with Alexander’s support, I could find a way to rise again.