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"You don't need to get involved in Alesya's life anymore. She's happy with my son Nicholas. It's better if you focus on your life and repent for ruining other people's marriages, including mine."

Mariana prevented and blocked Lusi from following Nicholas and Alesya. She didn't want Lusi to plant any ideas in Nicholas's mind to investigate the accident Aditama had that day.

"Don't act as if there's some hidden agenda behind Aditama's accident." Lusi stared sharply at Mariana. "And don't ever act like you're the one who stole Handoko from me. Understand, Anna, I am Handoko's first wife, not you?! I'm Lusi Yana, I'm Handoko's first wife because I couldn't give him children, so he cheated on me with you. When I found out my husband was cheating, you were already eight months pregnant with Bryan. I knew he could have children with you, so I let your relationship continue until now.

Because I realized I couldn't give Handoko children. And, for your information, the reason for having a daughter was just to cover up the fact that you were actually the second wife, and you're the one who stole another woman's husband, not me, Mariana. So enough, don't ever accuse me like that again." Lusi prepared to leave Mariana, but the woman grabbed her hand.

"Wait, say it again, what do you mean I stole Handoko from you?" Mariana gave Lusi a mocking smile, as if she were belittling Lusi's statement.

"That's exactly what happened. I'm Handoko's first wife, and do you know why I accepted Handoko's offer to seduce Aditama? Because why? Because I no longer received any affection from your husband. He was too busy with his supposedly failing company, so I got complacent, and Aditama's attentiveness truly spoiled me.

So I could finally feel the love of a real husband. Honestly, I never intended to do it until his wife died. I never meant to do it, not until his wife passed away. I truly did it solely to feel loved, that's all." Lusi cried, explaining everything as if Mariana were Liliana.

Mariana stomped away as if nothing had happened. However, after just a few steps, she turned around.

"Instead of crying here, it's better to take care of Handoko. I don't care about him anymore because I'm leaving with my son, Nicholas." She continued her steps, leaving Lusi completely frustrated facing the reality.

If only she hadn't played with fire back then, none of this would have ended like this.

Lusi kept apologizing, comforting, and reassuring that everything was fine because Alesya was still there. Lusi had hoped for a divorce from Handoko and to marry Aditama to replace Liliana, but unfortunately, not long after that, Handoko had an accident. And he told Lusi to take care of and protect Alesya.

"Where is Bryan now?" a woman asked as soon as Bryan answered the phone.

He was truly in turmoil now but still answered the call from someone who was not important at the moment. Bryan didn't want to answer, but Viska, who was calling non-stop, made it seem like her call was crucial.

"He's in the hospital. Why? My dad is in the hospital."

"Oh my gosh... When did your brother enter the hospital? That means Nicholas is there too, right? No wonder he wasn't at the restaurant, and he wasn't home either. Can I go there, please?" Viska offered quickly before Bryan could answer her question.

"It's up to you, whether you come here or not. Because Nicholas isn't here. I've got a headache," Bryan said before ending the call.

"Wait, please!" Viska stopped him. "If Nicholas isn't there, then where is he? I really need him right now. I'm scared because Gibran keeps chasing and harassing me. I want to ask for Nicholas's help to get Gibran to stop stalking me like this, please."

"Viska, listen. I don't know where Nicholas is, but what I know is that he left with Alesya. And, you should know that they're getting married soon, so try to fight for him before he really marries Alesya."

"Marrying Alesya? Isn't Alesya your wife?"

"She's not my wife anymore because today I've given her a divorce. We just need to handle our divorce papers, and then Nicholas and Alesya can take care of their marriage officially. And I think you know their relationship has gone far beyond that of a couple. Don't ever hope for more, especially to be with Nicholas."

"N-No, it can't be, Nicholas can't do that with Alesya because he didn't like women, right?"

"No, you're wrong. Nicholas isn't that kind of person. It's all Gibran's lies."

"Bryan, w-wait a minute. What do you mean?" Viska didn't understand now. Bryan had been telling her all this time that Nicholas was an abnormal man after she saw Nicholas kissing another man in a cafe.

"It was all Gibran's scheme to marry you. And Gibran paid hush money and asked me to instigate you so that you would believe Nicholas was a deviant."

"Oh my gosh... Tell me this is all a lie!" Viska bit her lower lip, hoping she had misheard Bryan's words.

"It's true, if you don't believe it, please ask Gibran if it's true or not. I still have proof of the large amount of money he transferred to silence you. So that's enough, if you want to fight for Nicholas, you better do it now because Alesya is now a widow." Without saying much more, Bryan ended the call, leaving Viska stunned.

Mariana's former lover, Nicholas, couldn't believe it. She had only just realized that all the oddities she had sensed were indeed true. Suddenly, Nicholas, who had never shown any unusual behavior, was accused of being in a relationship with another man. Gibran asked her to come to a cafe, and suddenly, she found Nicholas kissing another man. It was all so strange, wasn't it?

She should have listened to Nicholas's explanations from the beginning. He had repeatedly tried to explain, but Viska always denied it because Bryan had confirmed the bad news. And now Bryan admitted that it was all done at Gibran's behest. How could she have not seen through this, especially since Gibran and Nicholas had been close friends all along?

"Damn it!" Viska cursed, throwing her phone to the floor, shattering it. She didn't care about the destruction of her phone because the devastation in her heart was much greater.

Viska's hopes were shattered. She had just wanted to get close to Nicholas again, but he had left and walked away with another woman. Should she forcibly take Nicholas away from Alesya? Would Nicholas want to return to her after going through a marriage with Gibran, and would Gibran even let him go?

Viska screamed in frustration because she couldn't find the happiness that had left with Nicholas and Alesya. But was it so wrong for a man to have two wives? Viska tried to make peace with her broken heart.

"Where are we going? The route you're taking isn't the usual way home," Alesya asked, looking out the car window, puzzled because Nicholas wasn't taking the usual route.

Although they had only been there for a few days, Alesya knew that Nicholas wasn't taking her home. Moreover, they had been circling the city for hours, but there was no sign of the road leading to their house.

"Who said we're going home? I'm taking you somewhere," Nicholas said as he reached over and ruffled Alesya's hair before focusing back on the steering wheel.

"Where to?"

"If I tell you now, it won't be a surprise."

"Are you preparing a surprise for me?"

"Of course, for you. Anything that will bring happiness and make you smile, I will do."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me because you've brought so much happiness into my life," Nicholas replied sincerely from the bottom of his heart.

Alesya was the top priority in his life right now.

After a fairly long journey, Nicholas finally parked his car in a five-star hotel. He helped Alesya out of the car, held her hand, and led her inside.

"We'll be staying here tonight. I don't want you to be stressed out dealing with the problems at home. And for the time being, I might look for an apartment for both of us, until the house I'm building is completed and ready for you to move in comfortably and peacefully, without any disturbances from workers or flying dust."

Alesya's smile revealed the strength within her. She believed that the bitterness she had endured was a necessary part of the process to attain the happiness she now felt. This positive outlook helped her overcome the pain and trauma she had experienced.

Alesya had every reason to despise her father after learning the truth from Lusi. Her love and affection for Aditama vanished, replaced by a deep-seated anger. However, her feelings towards Nicholas remained unchanged. She didn't harbor any resentment towards him for being part of their complicated family history.