The Wedding
37. Tony's Regrets

Tony's hand shook holding the letter he had read, Cora loves me? Tony muttered in his heart. He did not know if Cora loved him all this time, he was a man who was less sensitive to someone's feelings. She never saw the look of love in Cora's eyes and it made her sure that Cora didn't love her. Now that he hated himself so much, how could he not know his wife's feelings?

"This letter. . ." Tony could not continue his words, perhaps more precisely he did not know what to say at the moment. His tongue felt like his brain could not be used to think. Right now he just wants to meet Cora. He wanted to hug his wife's body tightly, hold her hand and never let go again.

"You understand what we're coming for, don't you? what's going on?" Charley already looked calmer at this moment. He sees the anxiety and sadness in Tony's eyes so he understands that Tony is also hurt by his daughter's departure.

"Sorry pa. . I caused Cora to leave. I promise I'll find Cora, I'll find her and bring her back. Please, just give me one more chance."

"There's enough opportunity we've given you." Charley hardened his jaw.

"What happened Tony?" Charista broke the silence between them.

"I doubt Cora ma. . ." Tony said softly.

"Why do you doubt Cora? Cora loves you Tony. Mama can see clearly in her eyes at you. You don't feel Cora's love? where is your love that was so strong. You used to love and trust each other." Charista looked at Tony wryly, "Please bring Cora back." Charista sobbed, he clasped Tony's hand tightly and looked at Tony expectantly. Charley who saw his wife crying immediately pulled her body into his arms.

"I promised mom and dad I'd bring Cora back, please give me one more chance." Tony stared into Charley's bead. Charley tries to trust his son-in-law, nods and takes Charista away from Tony.

...***...

Tony exerts all his power to find Cora. He could not find Cora in all the places he had visited. The woman's last banking activity stopped two weeks ago. Cora withdrew several hundred million from her savings and after that she never used her debit or credit card. Cora's cell phone number has been inactive for a long time.

There is little info he can find. He knew that Cora had bought an apartment in the Sunter area of north Jakarta. Tony brings in a locksmith to open Cora's apartment door for her. When Tony arrives at the apartment, his hopes of meeting Cora are shattered. He couldn't find Cora there. All the furniture in the apartment was covered with white cloth. Cora's apartment seemed to have been uninhabited for a long time.

Tony felt his heart break when he could not find Cora in the apartment. His heart felt empty like that little apartment. The residents of that apartment have left that place as well as Tony. The woman has gone, somewhere.

Tony walks into the room he believes Cora occupied during her stay in that apartment. He rounded his eyes when he saw the photo attached to the wall of the room. The photo of him who was looking at the wall of love during their honeymoon in Paris made a sense of tightness attack his chest suddenly. On the nightstand next to the only bed that adorns the room is a photo of Tony pouting. He walked to that bed. He laid his body on the king-sized bed and rubbed the empty part next to it.

"Where did you go Cora? why should we split up?" Tony said softly, he missed the woman he loved so much. Cowering over the empty, slightly dusty bed, he hugged his knees like a child abandoned by his world and trapped in deep solitude and sorrow. He has lost the world and his heart, Cora Dianthe.

...***...

(Flashback )

Cora walked into a luxurious apartment with a smile clearly on her face. He settles like a thief as he walks toward the man's room which has been filling his heart.

Tony gives Cora the keys to his apartment just in case Tony isn't in England, Cora can check the man's apartment. Cora opens Tony's room door slowly, wanting to surprise Tony this morning.

Cora opened her eyes wide when she saw her lover and Carol was fast asleep with Carol tightly hugging her body. Their clothes look messy on the floor. Cora's eyes began to glaze over as she looked at the sight before her. Tony who was awake at that time looked surprised when he saw Carol who was fast asleep and hugged him. He saw his body behind a blanket wearing only a boxer. He turned his gaze around them, Tony rounded his eyes when he saw Cora who was transfixed and crying. Quickly, he stood away from Carol and ran towards Cora. Carol who woke up immediately smiled sweetly to the two people who were standing in front of her.

"What are you doing, Carol?" Tony raises his voice to Carol, he hugs Cora's body tightly, he wants Cora to believe him.

"Have you forgotten what happened last night?we both enjoyed it." Carol smiles seductively at Tony, he covers her body with a blanket and approaches Tony.

"Does this all look like I've been lying to you?" Carol looked at Tony with a wounded look.

"I trust Tony, he can't do anything to you. I trust Tony, he's not gonna do anything that's gonna hurt me. We love each other and it takes trust to strengthen her, I trust Tony." even though Cora was hurt by what she saw, in her heart she believed Tony's love for her. She knew Carol was always doing everything she could to keep them apart.

"Thank you dear." Tony kissed Cora on the forehead and hugged her body tightly. Carol who saw the couple in front of her was not trapped by her trap could only smile cynically and leave the two of them still cuddling.

(End of Flashback)

🍃

Tony recalls how their love was tested. At that time Cora did not immediately believe Carol's trap which was seen as a betrayal that was clearly seen before her. Tony feels stupid to be fooled by Carol. He only sees Cora and Jhon in the photo at the time, but Cora has to see it with Carol in person. Tony did not expect the fear of unrequited love by Cora instead made the woman he loved leave him.

...***...

Jhon who was laughing at that moment with Michael sitting in front of him immediately fell silent and hardened his jaw when he saw the figure of Tony who entered the caf where they used to gather.

Jhon stands up to leave Michael, he doesn't want to deal with Tony who's already hurting Cora. For him, his best friend did not appreciate the woman he loved. How strong he wanted to grab Cora's heart, he would never be able to reach her. The woman's love is for one man only, Tony. His best friend who got the love of the woman he wanted so much was wasting the love of the woman and all that made Jhon angry and disappointed.

"Wait for Jhon." Michael pulled out Jhon's hand to sit back in front of him.

"I'm lazy to see Tony." John snorted angrily, Tony walking towards his two best friends. He smiled at Michael and sat next to him.

Silence trapped the three of them. Jhon and Tony looked at each other with views they could not mean. Eventually Tony could only relent and admit his mistake. "I'm sorry Jhon, I misunderstood you. . ." Tony said softly.

"Tell Cora your forgiveness, not me!"

"If he was here I would immediately apologize to him and accept all the punishment he would give me" Tony said softly. "I want to ask you for help, John. Do you know where Cora is?" Tony looked at his best friend with a glare.

"Sorry Tony I don't know where Cora is at the moment and if I did, I wouldn't tell you. Didn't I tell you I'd take Cora away from you if you made her hurt again?" John looked hard at Tony. He clenched both of his hands and tried to hold back his already mounting anger.

"I know I'm stupid for not trusting you."

"It's good if you know you're a fool. Not only stupid, you are also a br*ngsek man. You loser. How can you waste Cora loving you? did you forget how Cora got hurt when she saw you and Carol, she still chose to trust you. It's not like you don't believe it." Jhon stared intently at Tony, while Tony was silent, "That night after Cora ran from your office I met her, she cried all night to sleep on my shoulder. I didn't drive her home because I knew the only thing that could make her cry was you. When I laid her on the mattress, she pulled my hand and said your name. Even in sleep, he still calls your name. You don't realize you're the only man she loves." Jhon continued his words, he hardened his jaw. Her heart felt so sore and claustrophobic as she said Tony was the only man Cora loved, the only man to fill Cora's heart.

They were trapped in silence again. Tony said sorry, but he knew an apology would never be enough to fix everything. "We're looking for Cora together." Michael melted the tension between his two best friends. Tony and Jhon nodded their heads simultaneously, they dissolved in their respective minds.

...****...

🌷🌷🌷

.