The Billionaire’s Unfulfilled Love

Two days before the wedding. Yuan sent his betrothal gifts to our house.

Betrothal or kolala as Guo Da Li, the boxes he sent contained gold jewelry, dragon and phoenix wax candles, tea and sesame leaves, wine or brandy, and many others that symbolized prosperity and good fortune as a formal proposal to my parents. We returned half of the gifts to accept the proposal and show that we want to have a good relationship with the Yuan family.

I was very happy to see his gifts. Heartwarming. Besides that, I know that he really prepared it.

Before our wedding day, Yuan combed my hair.

“Thank you. It feels good like this.” I said smiling. He smiled back.

“You know what? I only did it to you. I never did it to Hershey or any of my exes.” Yuan said with a smile. I feel very lucky because I was the first. I wasn’t even the first in his heart.. But now, it seems like I am.

“No. But thank you. Because at least this way, I came first.” I said softly.

We slept separately because it is forbidden for the bride and groom to be together.

The Wedding…

The day we have all been waiting for has arrived. I feel mixed emotions. Nervousness, joy and excitement because finally, I will experience marriage and commitment. This time it’s not a deal, but the truth.

I am very lucky because I am one of the women who will experience a wedding with a theme of Traditional Chinese wedding.

Many people attended and watched. Because it is rare nowadays to have this type of wedding.

There was a large procession where a red sedan picked me up and took me there. And Chinese people help each other to load the sedan. They also used fire crackers as well as drums and gongs. There was also a Lion Dance Troupe that performed.

Meanwhile, in the procession, Dryce and Yohann walked with Yuan to symbolize fertility.

We also did that test for Yuan as a groom. Like testing Yuan what he knows about me. By eating spicy, sour, bitter, and sweet to prove that he can handle every stage of marriage, and even a challenge that involves pain.

Yuan also had to hand over a red packet of money for those of our bridesmaids who meant to “give up” their friend which is me. Only when Yuan wins all the challenges will he be allowed to enter my room, where the final challenge will be to find the missing wedding shoes to put on my feet, and then I will be taken to the living room for the ceremony of Chinese tea.

We also did the Offering Tea Ceremony of the Chinese because it is one of the necessary traditions that must be performed by the bride and groom.

This is the time when the bride and groom express our respect, gratitude, and appreciation for the love, support, and efforts of our parents in raising us.

We did it at Yuan’s Ancestral House Wedding Reception. We used a red tea set with the symbol of Double Happiness, where the black tea is sweetened with dried longans, lotus seeds, and red dates.

Dryce was assigned to give cups of tea to Yuan and me, then we would shower and serve tea to our parents. And the first thing we offered was Yuan’s parents as we recited the…

“Mom, Dad. Please drink the tea.” we said smiling.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

After each sipping their tea, Yuan and I were given a red envelope with money and gold jewelry to bless the union and as an official welcome to their family.

We also served tea to Yuan’s paternal grandparents, older uncles/aunts, younger uncles/aunts, followed by their older married siblings.

Then we repeated it on my family’s side.

What we do is very heartwarming. This is the kind of wedding I’ve always wanted to experience.

We exchanged vows. Our parents are in front of us.

“I won’t promise not to hurt you because that’s part of married life. As long as I’m ready to do everything for you. Just don’t get hurt. I will be your knight in shining armor, your bestfriend. Your beloved and I will never leave your company no matter what. You are the beginning and the end of my world. I promise to respect, support, and love you, in times of ease, happiness and hardship, until my last breath. My love for you is as vast as the sky and as deep as the ocean. I promise to care for you and love you forever. I love you, my wife.” Yuan promised seriously. I smiled there and cried.

“With every waking moment, you are the first I want to see. I promise to be true to you, in joy and in sorrow, in wealth and in poverty. In your eyes, I found my home. I promise that we will build our dreams together, every step of the way. I promise to be faithful and true to you, in times when you are in the light and in the dark. Baby, always remember that.. With every beat of my heart, I feel my love for you. I promise to take care of this love and make it bigger every day. With our hearts together, I promise to be your strength in weakness, your cheer in sadness, and your companion in every adventure. I love you always, my wife.” I said smiling. I noticed the sudden bloodshot of his beautiful eyes. I smiled at him.

After our vows we bowed to our parents, to the deity and to each other.

After that we went to the Wedding Banquet.

There was this lavish eight-course affair hosted by our parents.

The evening’s menu consists of symbolic, auspicious foods such as fish for prosperity, a suckling pig to symbolize the bride’s purity, a chicken dish (usually chicken or duck) for peace and harmony, and a sweet dessert of lotus seeds for fertility. I usually change into a red qipao (long Chinese wedding dress) in the middle of the feast, and seeing a slideshow of childhood photos from both sides is also a must-do-like the noisy “yam seng” ( cheers) toast made towards the end of the reception to congratulate Yuan on becoming my husband.

It was a lot of fun. After our wedding three days before we went to my parents’ house which means I am no longer part of the family. Mommy and Daddy welcomed us with a small party. Yuan brought lechon pork as a gift.

“Take care of my dear daughter…” Dad said to Yuan with a smile but sadness.

“Yes, Dad.” Yuan replied.

“Don’t hurt her, Yuan. Love each other.” Mom instructed. Yuan just nodded with a smile.