THE MAN I SHOULD NOT LOVE

The rain poured heavily that night. From behind the large living room window, Alina stared at the yard, which was slowly becoming flooded. Lightning occasionally illuminated the sky, but it was not bright enough to chase away the darkness that had filled her home for the past three years. Three years. It had been three years since her family had lost everything. Three years since her father had died. Three years since their house had been seized, the family business had gone bankrupt, and everyone who had once claimed to be their friend had slowly disappeared. And for those three years, Alina had only had one name that she could never stop hating. Adrian Mahendra. The son of the Mahendra family. The family Alina believed had destroyed hers. “Alina.” Her mother’s voice made Alina turn around. The woman stood in the doorway with a pale face. In her hand was a black envelope that looked extremely official. “What is it?” Alina asked. Her mother did not answer immediately. She simply walked closer and placed the envelope on the table. Alina stared at it with a frown. “Who is it from?” “Mahendra Group.” Alina’s body immediately tensed. That name alone was enough to bring all her hatred rushing back. “Mom, I already told you. I don’t want anything to do with that family.” “I know.” “If they want to buy this house, just tell them no.” “This isn’t about the house.” Alina stared at her mother. “Then what is it about?” Her mother took a deep breath. It was obvious that she was trying to hold something back. Fear, perhaps. Or desperation. “Open the letter.” Alina did not move. “Mom.” “Open it.” Reluctantly, Alina took the envelope. Her fingers felt cold as she tore it open. Inside was a letter and a thick document. Alina read the first sentence. Then her eyes widened. “What is this?” Her mother lowered her head. “A contract.” “What kind of contract?” “A marriage contract.” Alina let out a small laugh. Not because it was funny. But because she truly could not believe what she had just heard. “Marriage?” “With Adrian.” Alina’s laughter instantly disappeared. Silence filled the room. Outside, the rain grew heavier. But to Alina, the sound seemed so far away. “No.” “Alina—” “I said no.” “Listen first.” “I am not going to marry him!” Alina rose from her chair. Her hands clenched at her sides. “He is the son of the Mahendra family. The family that destroyed Dad. The family that made us lose everything. And now you want me to marry one of them?” “Adrian is not his father.” “He is still his son!” “Alina!” Her mother’s voice was louder than usual. Alina fell silent. The woman stared at her with tears welling in her eyes. “Do you think I want to do this?” The question left Alina speechless. Her mother lowered her head and rubbed her face. “Do you think I don’t know how terrible that family is? Do you think I don’t hate them?” “Then why?” “Because we have no choice.” Alina shook her head. “There is always a choice.” “Not for us.” Her mother pointed at the documents on the table. “Your father’s company debt has not been paid off. This house will be seized within two weeks.” Alina froze. “What?” “You didn’t know?” “No.” “I didn’t want to tell you.” “Why?” “Because you were trying to build a life of your own. I didn’t want to destroy your future because of this family’s problems.” Alina stared at the letter again. “How much?” Her mother did not answer. “Mom, how much is the debt?” “Twenty billion rupiahs.” Alina felt as if she had just been slapped. Twenty billion. A sum she could not even begin to imagine. “We can’t possibly pay that.” “That’s why they came.” “Mahendra?” Her mother nodded. “They are willing to pay off the entire debt.” Alina let out a bitter laugh. “In exchange for me marrying Adrian.” “Yes.” “This is insane.” “I know.” “This isn’t a marriage. It’s a transaction.” “Yes.” Her mother’s honest answer left Alina silent. She sat down again. Her eyes remained fixed on the documents, but her mind was filled with memories of the past. Her father. His smile. The hand that had always held hers when she was little. And then came the day when everything changed. Their company had been accused of fraud. Investors withdrew. The stock price collapsed. Her father lost everything within just a few months. And at the same time, Mahendra Group continued to grow rapidly. Alina still remembered how her father had once said that the Mahendra family had stolen their biggest project. Not long after that, her father died of a heart attack. From that day on, Alina had sworn that she would never have anything to do with the Mahendra family. Yet now, fate seemed to be laughing at her. She was being asked to marry Adrian Mahendra. The man she hated most. “How long?” Alina asked quietly. Her mother looked at her. “Two years.” “Two years?” “The contract is valid for two years. After that, you can get divorced.” Alina looked at the last page. There was a signature there. Adrian Mahendra. A firm signature. Cold. As if the man already knew that Alina would have no other choice. “He agreed?” “He was the one who proposed the arrangement.” Alina raised her head. “He was?” Her mother nodded. “Why?” “I don’t know.” Alina felt something strange in her chest. If Adrian only wanted to help her family, why did he have to marry her? Why her? Why now? “I want to meet him.” Her mother looked surprised. “Alina.” “I want to meet Adrian.” The next day, Alina stood in front of the Mahendra Group building. The skyscraper towered over the city. Its glass walls reflected the cloudy sky. Everyone entering and leaving the building appeared to be wearing expensive clothes and walking with confidence. Alina took a deep breath. She was wearing a simple black dress. Her hair was tied back. There were no expensive pieces of jewelry or designer bags. She had not come to impress anyone. Especially not Adrian. “Good afternoon. I would like to meet Mr. Adrian Mahendra.” The receptionist in front of her smiled politely. “Do you have an appointment?” “Not yet.” “I’m sorry, but Mr. Adrian is currently busy.” “I’m Alina.” The receptionist’s smile slowly faded. It seemed that the name Alina was already known. “Please wait a moment.” The woman immediately picked up the phone. A few seconds later, she looked at Alina with an expression that was difficult to read. “Mr. Adrian asked you to go directly to the thirtieth floor.” Alina nodded. The elevator carried her to the highest floor. The higher the elevator went, the stronger her desire to cancel everything became. But she could not back down. Not for herself. For her mother. For the house that held all her memories of her father. The elevator doors opened. A man stood several steps away from her. “Alina?” “Yes.” “I’m Daniel, Mr. Adrian’s secretary. Please follow me.” Alina followed the man toward a large room. The black wooden door opened. And for the first time in three years, Alina saw Adrian Mahendra. The man stood near the window. He was wearing a white shirt and a neatly tailored black suit. He was tall, with broad shoulders and perfectly styled black hair. But what caught Alina’s attention the most were his eyes. Cold. Extremely cold. Adrian turned around. Their eyes met. For several seconds, neither of them spoke. Alina had seen him several times in the news. Adrian Mahendra, the heir to Mahendra Group. A man known for being ruthless in the business world. A man who never smiled in front of the cameras. But seeing him in person felt different. Far more intimidating. “Sit,” he said. There was no greeting. No small talk. “I didn’t come here to exchange pleasantries.” “Neither did I.” “Good.” Adrian sat across from her. The same documents from the previous night were already on the table. Alina stared at them. “You were the one who proposed this contract?” “Yes.” “Why?” Adrian leaned back in his chair. “Because I need a wife.” Alina stared at him in disbelief. “And out of all the women in the world, you chose me?” “Yes.” “Why?” Adrian was silent. His expression changed slightly. Only for a moment. But Alina noticed it. “Because you are the most suitable choice.” “That is not an answer.” “Not every question requires a satisfying answer.” Alina clenched her hands. “If you want to get married for business, find someone else.” “I’m not interested in marrying anyone else.” “Then why me?” Adrian stared deeply into her eyes. “Because you hate me.” Alina fell silent. “What?” “You hate me. That makes you safe.” Alina let out a small laugh. “So you want to marry a woman who hates you?” “At least I know you won’t pretend to love me.” His words left Alina silent. There was something in Adrian’s tone. Something she could not understand. “Two years,” Adrian said. “We will be married for two years. I will pay off your family’s entire debt. After that, we will get divorced.” “And during those two years?” “We will not interfere in each other’s personal lives.” “Even our relationships?” “If there are any.” Alina raised an eyebrow. “So you have a girlfriend?” “No.” “Why not?” “No time.” His answer was so flat that Alina nearly rolled her eyes. “Fine. Then what am I supposed to do as your wife?” “Play your role.” “Pretend to love you in front of your family and the media?” “Correct.” “And you?” “I will do the same.” Alina stared at the man for a long moment. She did not understand Adrian. He was too calm. Too cold. As if marriage were not something significant. As if a person’s life could be bound by a contract and end with nothing more than a signature. Alina picked up the pen. But before signing, she stopped. “I have one last question.” “Go ahead.” “Did your family really destroy mine?” The room suddenly felt even quieter. Adrian did not answer immediately. For the first time, his cold expression changed. His eyes grew darker. “Why are you asking?” “Because I want to know if I’m selling my life to the family that destroyed my father.” Adrian stared at her. For a long time. Then he said, “No.” Alina frowned. “No?” “It wasn’t my family that destroyed yours.”