Elsa stood speechless, lost in her thoughts, not knowing how to respond to Elie. He, calm and confident, continued to explain the situation to her.
"We're going to go straight to the hotel to make our marriage official and then pick up your things. You're going to live at my place, or rather at our place!" he said with a smile.
"Our place?" Elsa exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes, with my parents and my sister!" Elie confirmed.
Elsa took a moment to think. "Okay, it doesn't bother me anyway. Besides, I have no belongings to bring, so we can leave."
Intrigued, Elie asked her, "Why don't you have any things with you?"
Elsa's voice became heavier as she replied, "Mine were all burned. I no longer have a home. My family is all lying in a hospital bed, and my older brother has gone to heaven to join our ancestors. I believe I am the only one spared from the accident so that I can carry this burden on my shoulders and back. So if my situation doesn't bother you, that's fine."
Elie looked at her with compassion and said, "Alright, it doesn't bother me, not really!"
Feeling a little lighter despite her burden, Elsa extended her hand in a gesture of formality. "So, it's a deal!"
Elie firmly grasped her hand. "It's a deal!" he replied with a reassuring smile.
On the road,Elsa stood there, a look of curiosity on her face. She first apologized, realizing that her question might seem intrusive. However, the mystery surrounding Elie's sudden decision to get married troubled her. "It all seems too beautiful to be true. Why do you want to get married so quickly?" she asked. She continued, pointing out that money didn't seem to be a problem for him. With his attractive face and wealth, even a wheelchair shouldn't be an issue. She was convinced that many girls would be ready to marry Elie unconditionally, because after all, money solves a lot of things.
Elie, however, had a different perspective. "Not quite," he replied with a sigh. "There's a girl who refused to marry me because of my health. Not all girls are as vulgar and narcissistic without pride as that."
Elsa shrugged with an ironic smile. "Well, I guess I'm one of those vulgar girls you're talking about. It's true, I'm willing to do anything for money."
Intrigued, Elie asked: "Even if you're asked for your body in exchange?"
Elsa answered without hesitation: "If that's all I have to offer then sorry, but yes, it's not like I have a choice."
Elie's tone became more serious as he realized the depth of Elsa's words. "I see!" he murmured, as if he was becoming aware of a painful truth.
Determined to understand the situation, Elsa questioned Elie: "To judge by that, do you love this girl? The one who refused to marry you?"
"Yes, very much!" he admitted nostalgically. "We were even together."
"And why did you break up?" Elsa asked with growing curiosity.
Elie looked down and replied sadly: "Because of my accident; I wasn't born like this."
Elsa reacted with genuine surprise: "Wow! Sorry to say this, but if it were my choice, I would have chosen a prostitute who would agree to stay by my side no matter what happens for the money instead of an angel who abandons you at the most critical moment. That's why I've always hated angels; because I've never believed in angels anyway. Because I don't even know where mine is..."
Thus their conversation unfolded, between painful revelations and bitter reflections on love and money in a world where everything seemed to have a price.