After Betrayed, I Married My Boss

Claire stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was made up naturally, and she was wearing a pastel-colored kebaya matching the theme of today's event.

Before she knew it, the wedding day of Jeremi and Anna had arrived. Two hypocrites, if you asked Claire.

‘You’re strong, Claire,’ she whispered to herself, even as tears spilled over once again, wetting her cheeks.

“Please, stop crying, you’ll ruin the makeup,” she muttered to her reflection, wiping her tears with a tissue. But it was useless; the tears only rolled down her face faster.

Claire covered her face with both hands. She turned out to be not strong enough to face this trial. It hurt so much that it was even hard to breathe.

“Claire, I’ve never asked for a single cent from you. Your uncle and I took you in and raised you all this time without ever complaining about the expenses. After all, you’re our niece. But just this once, Claire, I’m begging you. Please let Jeremi go and let Anna marry him. Don’t you feel sorry for Anna? You’re not pregnant; you can still find another man who is better than Jeremi.”

The words of Aunt Terry, Anna’s mother, kept echoing in her ears. It hurt deeply; she said it so easily simply because Claire was living under her roof.

It wasn't that easy to let go of and surrender the man who had been by her side for five years.

“Why does this hurt so much?” Claire sobbed, thumping her chest a few times.

A knock on the door made Claire turn her head. She wiped away her tears with a tissue and looked back into the mirror, ensuring her eyes didn't look too swollen—even though it was hard to hide.

Claire walked to the door and opened it. The wedding was being held at Anna’s house, which had a spacious yard set up for a garden party.

“Claire,” said a motherly-looking woman wearing a hijab.

“Aunt Sarah?” Claire called out.

The plump woman stepped into Claire’s room and pulled her niece into a warm hug. Claire couldn't hold back her tears any longer; she broke down and wept uncontrollably in her aunt’s arms.

“Stay strong, sweetie. Maybe this is Allah's way of showing you that Jeremi wasn't a good man for you,” Aunt Sarah said softly.

Sarah was the younger biological sister of Claire’s late mother, just like Terry. Previously, Claire had lived in Bandung with Sarah and her husband, Iwan, who didn't have children of their own. They loved Claire dearly and treated her as their own daughter. However, after graduating from college, Claire decided to work in Jakarta when she received an interview call. That was why she was currently staying at Aunt Terry and Uncle Cornor’s house—the parents of Anna, who was still a university student.

Claire and Jeremi had been dating since their college days in Bandung. Jeremi’s parents lived in Jakarta, which was why Jeremi moved to Jakarta after graduation.

“Stay strong, Claire. I know it’s hard, but you have to let him go,” Sarah said, gently rubbing Claire’s shoulder.

“He told me he loved me so much. He promised he would always be by my side and that he only wanted me to be his wife. But now, he broke every single promise, and I’m the one left in unbearable pain. We were already engaged; we even set the wedding date! The venue was booked, the wedding organizer was hired... but he ruined everything, Auntie. What did I ever do wrong for him to be this cruel to me?” Claire wept, tears continuously streaming down her cheeks.

“I can’t even bear to watch their wedding. I’m not strong enough to stand out there and put on a fake smile. I just can’t, Auntie.” Claire sobbed even harder.

“Then don't go out. Stay here; no one will come looking for you anyway,” Sarah comforted her.

“You should go back downstairs, Auntie. Aunt Terry might need your help,” Claire said, wiping her tear-stained cheeks.

“How can I leave you like this?” Sarah asked, gently stroking Claire’s hair.

“I’ll be fine,” Claire replied. “Maybe once I feel a bit better, I’ll come down.”

“Are you sure?” Sarah asked carefully.

“Yes, Auntie, go ahead. I’ll be fine. I’ll come down later after the holy matrimony is over,” Claire assured her.

“Alright, then. I brought you a drink. Drink this and calm yourself down. If you really can’t bear to watch, just stay up here,” Sarah advised, and Claire nodded.

Sarah then left the room, leaving Claire all by herself.

Left alone, Claire could only stare blankly, trying to cope with the aching pain in her heart.

Claire stayed inside her room for a long time. She sobbed quietly as she heard Jeremi reciting his sacred vows downstairs in front of everyone—binding himself to Anna and making her his wife before Allah. Sadly, it was Anna’s name she heard being spoken, not hers.

When a heart is broken, only tears can ease the pain—even if they can't heal it or make one forget.

Once she felt calmer, Claire went into the bathroom to wash her face. She even used a damp towel as a cold compress over her swollen eyes, hoping to reduce the puffiness so it wouldn't be noticeable.

Returning to the mirror, Claire reapplied her makeup—this time a bit heavy and striking to conceal her puffy, frog-like eyes.

When she felt presentable enough—though her heart was still far from okay—Claire decided to step out of her room. She walked outside where the bride and groom were on the stage, performing several Sundanese cultural traditions, as Anna’s parents were originally from Sunda.

Claire chose to stand quite a distance away from the crowd near the stage.

‘I let you go with as much sincerity as the love I gave you. My heart and I will deal with our own pain, so go be happy in your new life,’ Claire thought somberly, staring at the stage.

“Stop staring at him with that foolish look,” a voice suddenly interrupted, making Claire turn toward the sound. She was shocked to see Damian standing there, dressed in a batik shirt and black jeans.

“Why are you here?” Claire asked, taken aback.

Damian let out a sigh. “Does your world revolve entirely around Jeremi? How long were you two together anyway?” Damian asked, leaving Claire confused.

“Didn’t I tell you yesterday? I’m Jeremi’s cousin. Naturally, I’m here,” Damian stated.

“Ah... right, I forgot about that,” Claire murmured.

“They say love makes people stupid. It turns out they’re right,” Damian remarked, prompting Claire to scoff and cross her arms over her chest. She turned her head away from him.

“Jeremi’s father is my mother’s younger brother,” Damian explained.

“What a coincidence... But why did Jeremi never mention it? He knew you were my boss,” Claire noted.

“I’m not your Father.”

Claire glared at the composed man standing next to her. “Should I just call you Uncle then?” she teased deliberately.

“No. Call me Honey.”

Claire shot her boss a sarcastic look. “Sure, Honey who happens to be super fierce.”

“Only people with low IQs call me fierce,” Damian retorted coolly.

“What do you mean? My IQ is low?” Claire snapped, turning around to face him directly.

“I didn’t say it, you did,” Damian said. “You’re just like a turtle—so slow.”

“You clearly don't know that a turtle can beat a long-legged horse like you!” Claire shot back, glaring fiercely at Damian.

“A long-legged horse?” Damian questioned. “How bold of you to call your manager a long-legged horse. Are you tired of having a job?” Damian threatened playfully.

“Always resorting to threats! Hmph, you long-legged horse,” Claire grumbled under her breath.

Their lively banter as they faced each other did not escape Jeremi’s gaze from the wedding stage. Jeremi kept staring at Claire and Damian with a pang of jealousy, completely ignoring Anna, who was trying to talk to him.

‘How on earth does Claire know Damian?’ Jeremi thought bitterly.

***