Nadya rubbed her temple. For some reason, her head was starting to feel a little heavy. She blinked several times.
"Mr. Mahendra..."
Mahendra turned around.
"Yes?"
"I'm a little dizzy."
Her head had still felt heavy ever since she drank the juice he'd given her earlier. She lowered her head when the man approached.
"Maybe you're tired," Mahendra replied, trying to calm her down.
"I'm sorry if I scared you earlier."
Nadya shook her head.
"Hmm... no." She deliberately let that answer slip from her mouth, even though she'd actually been terrified the entire time. But she was even more afraid that the man in front of her would get angry and do something she didn't want to her.
"Still dizzy?" Mahendra asked again.
"A little."
Mahendra sat down on the edge of the bed. Nadya grew even more nervous. Her hands once again clenched the edge of the blanket.
"Mr. Mahendra..."
"Hmm?"
"Don't... go too fast."
The man didn't answer. Nadya closed her eyes. The only thing on her mind was the promise she'd made to Nayra when she'd had to give way to her sister a few hours earlier.
"Nadya, wear this!" Nayra exclaimed when they had just arrived in the bridal suite.
Earlier, she'd hurriedly pulled Nadya by the hand even though the wedding was still going on. It was the end of the celebration tonight, after all.
Nayra tossed a dress onto the bed.
"What does this mean, Sis?" Nadya asked in confusion when her sister handed her a thin white dress.
"Take my place on the wedding night," she replied casually, making Nadya gasp in shock.
"What do you mean, Sis? I still don't understand."
"You're taking my place tonight."
Nadya thought she must have misheard.
"What?"
Nayra stood in front of her while packing clothes into a suitcase.
"I said, you're replacing me."
"No way!"
Nadya immediately shook her head.
"Sis, you're not joking, are you?"
"I'm serious."
"No!"
"You have to. You have no choice!"
"But, Sis, how is that even possible? They'll find out for sure," Nadya protested.
"We're twins. No one will notice!"
"I don't want to!"
"You have to agree, period!"
Nadya stared at her sister in disbelief.
Nayra stopped packing. Her beautiful face suddenly turned tense and gloomy.
"Then what am I supposed to do?"
"I can't go through with the wedding night."
"Why?"
Nayra bit her lip.
There was no way she could tell Nadya the real reason.
She couldn't admit to Nadya that she'd been keeping a secret for a long time—one that could destroy her marriage.
The man marrying her couldn't find out that she was no longer a virgin. Especially if Mahendra learned about the nightlife she'd successfully hidden from their mother.
Then Mom would find out automatically. Nayra couldn't imagine how her mother would react if she learned that her beloved daughter was no longer a virgin and had been willing to sell herself to every lecherous man.
"I'm scared," Nayra finally replied.
Nadya frowned.
"Scared?"
"He's much older than me, Nad."
Nayra stepped closer and clasped her younger sister's hand.
"I can't do it."
Nadya fell silent.
"Then what about me?"
"You're my little sister."
"And because I'm your little sister, you can force me to do this?"
Nayra fell silent.
For a moment, guilt showed on her face.
But she quickly pulled out an envelope and placed it on the table.
"Your college expenses."
Nadya stared at the envelope.
"Sis..."
"I know you want to go to college."
Nadya bit her lip.
That dream had been buried long ago by their circumstances.
After graduating from high school, she hadn't even been sure she could continue her education.
Nayra knew that.
"Do you think I'm not tired? You know how much I've done for our family, don't you?"
Nayra's tone changed.
"Ever since I was little, I've helped Mom. I got up first every morning, took care of the house, helped with the selling, and handled everything."
Nadya remained silent. She continued listening to her sister's tirade.