Episode 5

Archie sweetly smiled at her mother and future mother-in-law, now ready to step out of the room and head to where the marriage ceremony was to take place.

Archie's smile never faded as the elevator descended to her destination, the ground floor where the ballroom was located.

Upon reaching the ground floor, Archie was to be led by both of her mothers to a room where she would wait until the marriage proceedings were over.

But before they reached that room, Kaivan suddenly appeared and approached them.

"Brother, may I have a word with her?" Kaivan said to his sibling.

"Archie?" asked Risa, for Kaivan had not specified a name at all.

"Sister-in-law, some guests are asking for you," added Kaivan.

"Go ahead inside. I will stay here with Archie," Gita told her in-law.

Risa nodded and left to enter the space where the ceremony would take place.

"What do you want to talk about?" Archie asked Kaivan.

"Could you both come with me for a moment?" Kaivan asked Archie and Gita.

Archie and Gita exchanged glances and then nodded. They followed Kaivan's steps into a nearby room.

Kaivan pulled out his phone and showed a photo to Archie and Gita. The image captured Aditya and Adinda kissing in a basement.

"I'm sorry for telling you this late, but it's better than never," said Kaivan.

"I caught Aditya cheating with your sister, Archie. This is not the first time. After taking this photo, I've been tracking them," Kaivan explained further.

Archie looked at the photo, heartbroken, slowly retreating, and collapsing into a chair.

Tears fell, dampening her makeup-coated face, her heart shattered seeing her beloved entangled with her own sister.

"Archie …" Gita approached her daughter, embracing and trying to fortify her.

Gita faced Kaivan. "Why are you only telling us now? When the marriage is about to start?" Gita trembled as she spoke.

What mother wouldn't be crushed and saddened by her daughter's betrayal by another daughter? Gita couldn't believe Adinda would do this.

"Because I can't just accuse without proof. I've been gathering evidence and truth until today I found out Aditya has been staying at your house when no one was home but Adinda," Kaivan said sternly, expressionless.

Hearing this, Archie stared at Kaivan, bug-eyed, trying to stand though her body felt boneless.

"What did you say? Aditya stayed at our house?" Archie asked, and Kaivan nodded.

Kaivan shifted his gaze, hands pocketed.

"I have no agenda in telling you this. I just don't want to support my nephew's wrongdoing," Kaivan said.

"It's not too late, Archie. You decide what to do next, but I've told you the truth," Kaivan said and left the room.

After Kaivan left, Archie fell apart crying again, clutching at the tightness in her chest.

Today, on the happiest day she had anticipated, a shocking truth emerged. Archie felt like the most foolish girl, betrayed by the two most trusted people in her life.

"It hurts, Mom. Why would they do this to me, Mom?" Archie whimpered.

Gita wiped her daughter's tears and cradled her beautiful face.

"I will stop this wedding. I don't want you to marry a man like Aditya," Gita declared and left Archie alone.

Archie cried more, falling from the chair to the floor, her sobs out of control.

Meanwhile, Gita confronted her husband and their families. Kaivan and Adinda were there too, while Aditya was seated ready for the ceremony.

"I need to speak with you all, including Aditya," Gita said urgently.

"Mom, what's wrong? Where's Archie?" Dito asked his wife.

"Dear, I need to talk to everyone. I'll explain everything!" Gita panted.

Kaivan sighed, rising along with the others. Adinda appeared nonchalant, seemingly carefree.

Risa called her son to follow Gita. Guests looked curious as the families left the wedding area.

Upon entering the room where Archie remained, everyone was stunned by her distress. Her face wet with tears, she sat on the floor.

"Archie!!" Dito rushed to his daughter.

Archie's tears intensified in her father's embrace, the first man she ever loved.

"What's wrong, darling? What happened?" Dito asked again.

Archie remained silent, only her sobs answered.

"What's wrong with Archie? Wasn't she fine before?" Risa asked Gita.

Aditya approached, "Love, what happened?" He tried to reach Archie, but Gita slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch my daughter, you scoundrel!" Gita cursed.

"Auntie…" Aditya was shocked by his future mother-in-law's behavior.

"What's the meaning of this?" Anto asked, perplexed.

Archie left her father's embrace and stood. She alternated looks between Aditya and Adinda, then focused on her sister.

"Why, Dinda? How could you do this to me?" Archie asked quietly.

"You're not making any sense," snarled Adinda, her arms crossed.

Gita stepped forward and slapped her second daughter, nearly toppling her.

"You ask as if you're innocent, yet you've been cheating with your sister's fiance, Adinda!" Gita yelled, rage boiling over.

Everyone was shocked by Gita's words, except for Kaivan and Archie, who wept even more.

Aditya was dumbfounded, his affair exposed by his future mother-in-law.

"What are you saying? Me and Adinda?" Aditya feigned innocence.

"Silence!" Gita snapped.

"Mom, what's going on? Tell Dad," Dito pleaded.

Gita revealed everything, Kaivan's revelations, supported by evidence.

After Gita's disclosure, Dito punched Aditya into the ground.

"Dito, how dare you hit my son!" Anto exclaimed in defense.

"And what should I do when my daughter is hurt, huh! Your son is disgusting!" Dito roared.

"You can't blame Aditya alone. Clearly, your daughter seduced him," Risa intervened, blaming Adinda.

Dito clenched his fist. "It doesn't matter, this wedding is off!" he declared.

Those words made Archie embrace her mother, crying harder.

"Fine, we won't dishonor our son with a family like yours," Risa answered sharply.

"Kaivan, Aditya. Let's go home," Risa called to her brother and son.

"Enjoy your shame, Dito," Anto sneered.

Dito clenched his fists, preferring shame to allowing his daughter to marry a man like Aditya.

"Dad, forgive me," said Archie. Innocent yet apologetic.

"No, dear. It's better Dad feels shame than you marrying such a man. Besides, Adinda has long shamed me with her behavior," Dito said, glaring at Adinda.

Adinda fought back tears, cornered and unsupported by Aditya.

"Let's go home!" Risa urged.

"No, Sis," Kaivan refused with a head shake.

"What do you mean 'no'? We're done with them," Anto told his brother-in-law.

Kaivan ignored them, instead approaching Archie still in tears with her father.

"Don't worry, Archiena. I'll marry you," Kaivan proposed calmly yet firmly.

Everyone looked at Kaivan in shock, especially his family. His words halted conversation, eyes wide with surprise.

"Kaivan, what on earth are you doing?" Risa remonstrated.

"I will marry Archiena, Sister. Her family shouldn't suffer shame because of Aditya's actions," Kaivan stated, not even glancing at his sister.

Meanwhile, Archie gazed at Kaivan, tears flowing. She never expected her lover's uncle to speak as he did.

"Uncle Kaivan??"

To be continued…