There is a full-body mirror inside the room. When Cleo lifts her head, she quickly sees her beautiful image while wearing her elegant and luxurious wedding gown. This is exactly the wedding gown she wanted to wear on her wedding day. The wedding dress she is wearing was designed by her mother years ago.

Cleo promised herself that she will wear this gown on her wedding day. So even if Cleo was starting to be hesitant with her decision, she still paid a lot of money to a famous dress shop to make her mother's drawing into a real gown. And the finished product is so breathtaking.

Cleo shed a few tears when she wore her wedding dress for the first time. Her mother knows the best for her. The gown emphasizes her curves making her look like a real model that comes out from a fashion magazine.

A pity that her parents refused to attend the wedding and let her mother sees the gown that she designed exclusively for her.

Even her father did not attend her wedding. Cleo only received news earlier that her father will go on a business trip today. Her big brother is also busy today with his work and did not even try to send her a call or a message saying his excuses why he did not attend the wedding ceremony.

During the wedding ceremony, no one brought Cleo to the altar. She only walked alone towards the altar and ignored the confusion on their guests' faces. Although it was where she should feel to be the happiest bride in the world, Cleo's heart feels so dull and empty—something that she should not feel on her wedding day.

"Why the long face, my dear? Today is your wedding day. You should stop wasting your beauty like that and smile."

Turning around, Cleo saw an old woman wearing an off-white gown. Her long, white hair is tied in a bun. Cleo almost burst into tears when she saw the old woman's gentle look towards her.

"Grandma..." Cleo whispered before running towards the old woman to give her a tight hug.

The old woman wraps her arms around her granddaughter's body. When she feels Cleo crying on her shoulder, the old woman gently rubs her back to soothe her.

"This child... You should stop crying now, my dear. You will just ruin your make-up."

"Grandma..." Cleo called her in between her sobs.

The old woman helps her granddaughter to sit first. As expected, her make-up is now ruined. Even her hair can now be compared to a bird's nest. Her grandmother gives her a handkerchief first before she sits next to Cleo.

"Grandma, I am so happy to see you today. You are the only one who..."

Cleo stops herself before she can even finish that sentence. But still, her grandmother knows what she is trying to say. On Cleo's family side, no one attended her wedding except for her.

This is one of the things Cleo has to pay to be with the man she chooses to marry.

"Thank you, Grandma... I really don't know how can I thank you for this." Cleo said as she gently wipes her tears. "I thought you will not also going to see me
today."

"My dear, you are my grandchild. Although I am already late, I still want to see my favorite grandchild in her wedding dress." Her grandma gently said.

Her soothing and gentle words make Cleo cry again. The old woman patiently soothes and coaxes her grandchild until the tears finally stop dripping on her face.

"Grandma, why are you late? Did something happen to you earlier?" Cleo softly asked.

"I visited Johan earlier." Her grandma said straight to the point.

Cleo's shoulders flinched in surprise when she heard that name. That is the name of the man who did literally everything for her so he can see her happy. It was already a month since she last time saw him. Johan told her not to visit him again and live her life in happiness with the person she choose to love and to spend her entire future with.

"Grandma, how... how is he?" Cleo carefully asked.

In truth, Cleo feels scared.

She is scared to know that Johan despised her now. He must also be cursing her entire existence and wishing for her death. But Cleo will never blame him if he did.

Johan...

He was sentenced to stay in the prison for the next fifteen years. It was because he accidentally killed the man who tried to force himself on Cleo. Johan stabbed that man on his chest several times until he was no longer breathing. When the police arrived, that was the scene they had witnessed.

They arrested Johan on the spot and brought him to prison. Before Cleo can prove his innocence, Chandler had stepped forward and stopped her. He told her not to help Johan or else, he will not marry her. Chandler made an excuse saying he cannot have his future wife thinking about another man.

Blinded by her love, Cleo id not say anything. Soon, she received news about Johan's imprisonment for the next fifteen years. Johan just turned thirty-one this year.

Once he gets released from prison, Johan will be having a hard time looking for a job. Many things will certainly change and he will have a hard time adjusting to it. His years inside the prison will also steal his chance to build a good family on his own and have children that will bring more joy in his life.

And it was all because of her.

Cleo knows that she deserves to be the recipient of their hatred. She deserves to feel and receive all of their anger and disgusts towards her. After all the things she had done just to marry Chandler, she is always ready if someone will get revenge on her someday.

Seeing how tensed Jannilyn is right now, her grandmother let out a soft sigh before tucking stray hair off her face. Then she opened her bag to get something inside of it and put it in Cleo's hands. It was a voice recorder.

"Grandma, this is..."

"Johan recorded his message for you."

Cleo tightened her hold on the recorder when she heard that. Johan still has words to tell her. But what are those? Did he pour all of his negative emotions into this recorder so she can feel his hatred, anger, miseries, and grief?

"You are overthinking again, Cleo." Her grandma softly said. "Trust me when I say Johan's only wish is for you to become happy."

Cleo stares at her Grandma Len. The old woman really resembles her mother. Cleo can already imagine what her mother will look like if she also reached her grandmother's current age. When Grandma Len gives her an encouraging nod, Cleo exhales first before she pushes the play button on the voice recorder.

(Cleo...)

The moment Cleo his familiar soft and baritone voice, her tears are threatening to fall once again.

(I heard from Grandma Len that you are getting married today. Congratulations, Cleo. You finally marry the man of your dreams.)

The is a faint noise in the background. It is probably the other prisoners and the police patrolling inside the visiting hall.

(You should be good from now on. You are no longer a single woman who can do everything she wants. You are now a married woman, Cleo. Please become more responsible from now on, okay?)

"Johan..."

(I hope that your husband will love you, Cleo. I hope he can see how precious you are. You are a woman who deserves to be happy. I wish that your husband will have a lot of patience dealing with you. Most importantly, I hope he will never hurt you or make you cry. You are the most beautiful when smiling, Cleo.)

"You are the only man who can think like of me that, Johan..."

(Cleo, you should be brave all the time and stop crying when things did not go your way. I can no longer wipe your tears. There is now a new person who will do that for you. Please live your life happily from now on. I am always wishing you a good and healthy life.)

"Johan..."

(Maybe I am not really the man who can stand by your side and spend your life with you. But it does not mean I cannot love you anymore. Ever since I realized that I am in love with you, I know that you will be the only person I am going to keep in my heart.)

"Johan, please..."

(Cleo, I love you. Goodbye.)

Soon, the recorder stops playing. Johan ended his message for her. This might be the last message he will say to her.

Tears are flowing from Cleo's eyes. No matter how many times her grandmother wipe her eyes, it seems like her tears will never stop. On her wedding day, Cleo is crying so hard while calling another man's name. She is crying her heart out but no one knows how to stop it.

"Grandma... This is all my fault... I did all these mistakes..."

The old woman did not say anything. She only hugged Cleo while consoling her. Cleo did not know how many minutes had passed, but her tears are still flowing out from her eyes.

"Grandma, I am so stupid! Johan... Johan is the one I truly love. And I realized it late. Everything is now too late to fix. What should I do? This is all my fault."

Cleo cried like a child in front of her grandmother. She does not care anymore if anyone can hear or see her right now. Cleo messed up a lot and now she is starting to earn the karma she deserves.

She is too stupid. Johan is the one she truly loves. Why does she need to realize it when everything is now a huge mess. Why does Cleo stupidly need to realize it late when she is now married and Johan will be imprisoned because of her? Why cannot she make a better decision?

"It is too late for me to fix everything now, Grandma. I ruined everything."

"It is not yet late, my dear." Grandma Len whispered in her ear. "You can still return everything back to its rightful place."

"What?"

"Cleo, everyone deserves a second chance."

Before Cleo can ask her the meaning of it, Grandma Len gave her an hourglass that fits perfectly in her hands.

"This is your last chance, my child. Please cherish what is more important to you and live your life with full smiles on your face."

"What are you talking about, Grandma? Are you doing?"

"Just close your eyes and have a good sleep, my dear. Everything is going to be okay once you open your eyes again."

Then Grandma Len turned the hourglass upside down. The white sand inside of it starts falling from above. Soon, Cleo feels a headache enough to make her eyes close tightly. The last thing she can remember is the gentle kiss that her grandmother placed on her forehead.