"I just got a message. There's an important party the day after tomorrow. You're coming with me. Buy the nicest dress you can find. I don't want you looking as shabby as that!"
Isvara let out a deep sigh, her hands twisting together in her lap. Her expression was blank as she stared straight at Erwin.
The man immediately rose from his seat and left Isvara alone in the restaurant.
'Maybe everything Erwin and his family said is true. I'm nobody now. I'm not someone worthy of respect—or even basic consideration.'
'Even if it isn't Erwin, Dad will find another man for me. And I still won't be able to refuse or run away anymore.'
Isvara smiled faintly, tears pooling in her eyes.
"I've met a good man before, and he became the most beautiful memory of my life. Everything else was just a formality, nothing more than my duty to obey my parents."
That evening, Isvara got ready for the party with Erwin. She wore a long white dress. Her hair fell loose, and she wore her usual natural makeup. When they arrived at the venue, she walked beside Erwin.
As soon as they entered, waiters carrying coffee approached them.
"Please enjoy this special coffee made by the Davendra family."
Erwin immediately took two cups, one for himself and one for Isvara.
"The Davendra family?" Isvara murmured, though Erwin could still hear her.
"You don't know the Davendra family? They're the most influential family in Jakarta. No one can rival them."
"I work for that company too. What an ignorant woman!" Erwin walked away from Isvara.
"Mr. Erwin, you brought someone to the party. May I ask who she is?"
"We've never seen her at any event before."
Several guests who knew Erwin turned their eyes toward Isvara. To them, she was a complete nobody.
"In that case, let me introduce her. She's my fiancée. Our families arranged the match, and because her family meets the standards, she's worthy of standing beside me," Erwin replied.
After a brief silence, Erwin said something that tore open Isvara's heart all over again.
"Unfortunately, she was married once before."
"So Mr. Erwin is broad-minded enough to accept used goods," one of Erwin's acquaintances quipped.
Isvara tried to soothe her wounded heart by taking a small sip of coffee. She began remembering all the conversations she'd had with Ezra about coffee.
'This tastes exactly like the coffee he made a while ago,' Isvara thought.
Isvara was filled with sadness and longing. She couldn't simply forget everything about Ezra. That man had treated her like a queen, even though their marriage had only been a contract.
'He was truly good to me. He treated me more like a human being than anyone else did—or perhaps even my own family.'
'He always made sure I had a sense of safety and comfort. He never made me feel afraid or pressured.'
Isvara could only murmur those thoughts to herself, overwhelmed by feelings she couldn't explain. Her throat ached as she held back the sob that was about to break free.
Anyone who had been paying close attention would have noticed that her eyes were already red, with tears beginning to pool in them. Unfortunately, no one was that perceptive when it came to her.
"This is an important event. Why are you spacing out? You're such a strange woman!"
Again and again, Erwin mocked Isvara. He was always making her shrink into herself and feel worthless.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the event is about to begin. Please welcome the head of Davendra Group, Mr. Ezra Davendra, along with Miss Andini, who has just arrived from overseas."
The emcee's words sent Isvara's heart racing. Her fingers tightened around the coffee cup she was still holding.
When the two of them arrived, Isvara stared in disbelief at the man who had once been her husband. Her eyes shimmered with tears, but to him, she was nothing more than a stranger.
"Ezra..." Isvara whispered her ex-husband's name.
She hadn't known that tonight's event was a party hosted by that handsome man. If she had known, she would have avoided coming with a thousand excuses.
But it was too late now. As people said, you couldn't turn cooked rice back into uncooked rice. So Isvara would simply make the best porridge she could from it.
The two stars of the party slowly descended the staircase to mingle with the other guests. Every eye was fixed on them.
"Mr. Ezra has never brought a woman to a party before. Tonight is the first time."
"Then she must be very important to Mr. Ezra."
"It certainly seems that way."
"She's so beautiful and elegant. No wonder Mr. Ezra fell in love with her."
Isvara's eyes remained fixed on her ex-husband. But the man still didn't know she was somewhere in the crowd of invited guests.
'So this is the woman you wanted to marry openly. Now you've gotten what you wanted.'
'I have every right to be happy for you. You deserve all the happiness in the world because you're a good man.'
Isvara could only speak those words in her heart. She smiled sincerely at Ezra and the woman beside him. Meanwhile, Erwin began approaching his boss with two glasses of drinks in hand.
The man didn't waste the opportunity to curry favor. He greeted Ezra and the woman at his side. But neither of them welcomed him warmly.
Erwin immediately yanked Isvara over. She looked awkward at being face-to-face with Ezra. Her hands clenched the dress she was wearing, and her gaze dropped slightly as those eyes continued studying her.
"Let me introduce my fiancée. Her name is Isvara." Erwin tried to show off, hoping to catch his powerful boss's attention.
'Fiancée?' Ezra asked himself. Without realizing it, both his hands curled into tight fists. He felt a surge of unwillingness at seeing Isvara with another man—especially hearing her called his fiancée.
'What's going on?' Ezra asked himself again.
"I-I—"
"Who told you to speak? You're just embarrassing me," Erwin snapped, glaring irritably at Isvara.
Ezra studied Erwin's behavior, his eyes sharp and penetrating. His stare seemed capable of stripping the man bare.
Erwin then turned to Ezra with a broad smile.
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Sir. I'm a manager at one of your company's branch offices. I look forward to your guidance moving forward."
Ezra didn't answer, and neither did the woman beside him. They simply stood there, observing the scene before them. Isvara suddenly clutched her lower abdomen. She moved closer to Erwin.
"I need to use the restroom for a moment."
Erwin turned toward her. "Fine. Go." He always spoke to Isvara in an irritated tone.
Without waiting any longer, Isvara left the uncomfortable scene and headed for the restroom. Ezra's eyes followed her every step, even after she had gone far away.
"Women are so boring and make everything complicated," Erwin remarked.
Ezra's sharp gaze immediately fell on Erwin. The woman beside him also looked at Erwin with displeasure.
Erwin continued smiling without the slightest hint of remorse for his arrogance and lack of manners. He kept hovering around Ezra, but the man immediately walked away from him.