Marrying My Ex's Father

"Two lines?"

"Whose test kit is this?"

Jingga stared wide-eyed at the small object in her hand. Two distinct red lines were visible, as if slapping her with reality. She had found the test kit in the car of Gery, the man she had been dating for three years.

Today was supposed to be the happiest day of Jingga's life. She was already wearing a beautiful white wedding gown, complete with a veil and a small tiara on her head. Jingga's once radiant face was now grim. With trembling hands, she reached into the small bag hanging from her wrist, searching for her phone to call Gery.

Empty.

Jingga sighed deeply, realizing she had left her phone in her room.

"I hope this isn't what I think it is..." Jingga whispered, trying to push away the terrible suspicion that was beginning to poison her mind.

All this time, Jingga had trusted Gery completely. He had never shown any signs of infidelity. Gery had always treated her well and maintained boundaries in their relationship. Not once had he touched her inappropriately.

"So... whose test kit is this?"

"Could it belong to Gery's personal driver?"

Jingga swallowed, trying to calm herself. But her heart was pounding even faster, a sign that a bad premonition was beginning to envelop her.

A few minutes later, Gery's car, which she was riding in with her father, Broto, suddenly stopped.

"We're here, Jingga," Broto's voice broke her thoughts.

Jingga furrowed her brow. The 23-year-old woman looked out the window. The car Broto was driving was parked at a building. But Jingga felt that this place was not the hotel Gery had booked for their wedding.

"No, this is not the hotel where I got married," Jingga murmured softly.

"We're stopping for a moment. There's something Dad wants to talk about first," Broto replied calmly.

Jingga merely nodded. Perhaps her father wanted to surprise her. With her beautiful flowing wedding gown, she got out of the car and followed her father's steps.

As soon as she entered the building, Jingga froze. Before her, a woman stood in a wedding gown identical to hers.

"Loly...?"

Loly was her sister, the biological child of Broto and Dewi. As babies, they were switched at the hospital and only reunited at the age of fifteen.

"Loly is getting married today," her mother, Dewi, said in a soft but firm tone.

Jingga winced. As far as she knew, Loly had never introduced any man to their family. Now, suddenly she was getting married? And on the same day as her wedding?

"Why am I only finding out now? Who is her fiancé?" Jingga asked, trying to comprehend this strange situation.

Silence. No one answered. Everyone in the room exchanged glances, except Loly, who suddenly burst into tears and hugged Jingga tightly. "Jingga... I'm so sorry," she sobbed into Jingga's shoulder.

Jingga's heart began to pound erratically. Something was off. But Jingga still tried to remain calm.

Soon after, Broto approached Jingga and looked at her hopefully. "Jingga, this time you have to concede."

"Concede?" Jingga frowned. "For what?"

Dewi let out a long sigh before finally answering the question that raged in Jingga's heart, "Loly's fiancé is... Gery."

It was as if the world stopped spinning. Jingga instantly froze.

"What?" Jingga's voice trembled. She was shocked and hoped she had misheard.

Dewi looked at her directly. Then repeated what Jingga had asked. This time very clearly. "Gery... your fiancé."

Jingga's heart felt squeezed. Dewi’s words were very painful, making Jingga’s heart feel torn.

"No... this must be a joke," Jingga thought.

Jingga's knees weakened, her body swayed, but her hands quickly gripped the sides of her gown to remain standing upright. Her breath hitched.

"No... this can't be!"

"Jingga..." Loly's voice sounded hoarse. "I'm pregnant."

Jingga stared blankly at her. As if something had pierced her heart.

"Pregnant?"

Jingga felt like laughing, but her chest was too tight to even make a sound. She knew that in the past few months, Loly and Gery had grown closer because they worked in the same office. However, she never expected them to end up having an affair.

"With whom?" Jingga asked softly, though in her heart she already knew the answer.

Loly didn't answer, only hung her head, her face wet with tears. Loly's lips seemed to be sealed.

Seeing her daughter's condition, Dewi immediately put her arm around Loly, as if protecting her biological child. Remembering Loly, who had been neglected in the orphanage for fifteen years, made Dewi feel very guilty. A few years after Loly returned, Dewi no longer treated Jingga like her own daughter.

Dewi always supported Loly's every wish.

No matter how great Loly's mistakes were, Dewi would never scold her.

"You have to understand, Jingga. Loly made a mistake... and now she's carrying Gery's child."

Jingga shook her head, refusing to accept the reality she had just heard. The word "mistake" uttered by Dewi made it seem as if what Loly had done was not a fatal error. Loly had taken her fiancé, and Dewi didn't understand the pain Jingga was feeling.

"IMPOSSIBLE!"

"You have to accept the fact that Gery is no longer yours, Jingga."

Jingga's heart immediately screamed. She grabbed Broto's arm, pleading with a look full of agony. She hoped her father would understand. "Dad... I want to talk to Gery. I want to hear it directly from him. Take me to him."

Broto seemed hesitant about Jingga's request. Broto refused to take Jingga. "Gery said he doesn't want to see you this time."

Jingga clutched her gown, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "You're joking, right, Dad? This is my wedding day! I want to see him!"

Dewi seemed to show sympathy as she placed her hand on Jingga's shoulder. Dewi's voice sounded gentle this time, but like a stab. "It's alright, Jingga... you're still young. You can find another man better than Gery."

Jingga looked at her mother with eyes that were starting to redden. Concede? All this time, Jingga had always conceded.

Since Loly returned to their family, Jingga had never again held the same place in her parents' hearts. To gain even a little sympathy, Jingga was willing to drop out of college. Unfortunately, Broto and Dewi always prioritized Loly in everything. Even going so far as to make Jingga work to pay for Loly's college tuition.

But not this time.

"It's alright, Mom," Loly's voice suddenly cut in. "Let Jingga marry Gery. I'll be the one to concede. I... will abort this child."

"Abort?" Broto was startled. "That can't happen! We already lost you for fifteen years. I don't want to lose my grandchild too!"

Jingga shook her head, feeling as if the whole world was spinning around her. Her once neat makeup now looked messy from her tears.

"Dad... call Gery. I want to talk to him," Jingga pleaded weakly.

Broto sighed, but finally complied with Jingga's request. After several rings, Gery's voice was heard on the other end of the line.

"I'm sorry, Jingga. I can't marry you."

Jingga’s heart felt completely shattered. She couldn’t believe that Gary would break up with her over the phone.

"Gery... what do you mean?" Jingga's voice trembled. "This can't be! We're preparing to get married in a few hours..."

Jingga repeatedly wiped her tears, still trying to talk to Gery over the phone. Jingga's appearance was utterly distraught this time. Her heart felt shattered into pieces after Gery said he would marry Loly.

"I made a mistake, Jingga. I have to take responsibility for my actions."

The phone in Jingga's hand fell to the floor. She froze, her brain unable to process any more words. Gery's words were so real, they weren't lying. Gery had betrayed her.

"You're so cruel, Gery."

Jingga's hands clenched, her body trembling violently. Anger, heartache, and disappointment mixed into one.

Jingga's eyes stared at Loly, who was still crying. In her hand, the test kit she had found in the car now felt so heavy. With a swift movement, Jingga threw the object at Loly.

"You cheap woman! So this belongs to you, huh?" Jingga's voice was full of pain and rage.

SLAP!

Jingga slapped Loly, letting out a little of her uncontrollable emotions. She worked day and night just to pay for Loly, but she was repaid with betrayal.

"You ba—"

Before Jingga could say more, Dewi's hand landed hard on her cheek. Dewi wouldn't tolerate it and slapped her back. Not once... but twice, and it was so hard it made Jingga's cheek red.

"You ungrateful child!" Dewi's voice was full of hatred. "We regret ever taking care of you!"