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Alesya crossed her arms in front of her chest. Covers a cleavage that is so dense and seductive. Making Bryan's three friends unable to hold back for too long, touching. Squeezing. Even sipping the tip which is believed to be very ripe.
"Up to you. Whether you want to enjoy it alone or together is up to you. The important thing is to break in and start production!” said Bryan indifferently. Leaving Alesya frozen in the main doorway. What a heartless husband, throwing his own wife to three hungry crocodiles.
"Good then. It means …"
"Sorry, my brother-in-law likes to throw tantrums when he's around people."
Alesya was stunned. Turning to Nicholas, who was suddenly beside him. Covered his body with a jacket and hugged him tightly.
"I said goodbye to going upstairs. It's time for my sister to take medicine.” Very politely, Nicholas asked permission for Bryan's three friends to give him the way.
"Uh, Nik!"
Nicholas stopped in his tracks and glared at one of them.
"What? Do you want him to go on a rampage? "Lastly, he was caught in the hospital by security at the front." His eyes narrowed.
“A-in the hospital?”
Nicholas nodded. "Want to continue?"
"No!" reject them simultaneously.
****
"Don't thank me. I don't need it," Nicholas adjusted his glasses' position before leaving Alesya at the end of the stairs.
As if nothing had happened, Nicholas simply walked away, without explaining the meaning and purpose of accusing Alesya of having a mental disorder. Nevertheless, Alesya remained thankful to Nicholas for saving her from Bryan's friends.
"Thank you, Nik!" Alesya said before Nicholas disappeared behind his bedroom door. The girl also curled the corners of her lips, happy to have a friend in the house.
Even though Nicholas didn't show or say it directly, what he did earlier was more than enough to prove that he was on her side.
"Do you have no shame or what?!" Bryan scolded Alesya, who stood at the edge of the stairs. Before the girl could even take a step, confused about where to go, Bryan appeared as if possessed.
"What do you mean by 'no shame'?" Alesya raised her eyebrows, puzzled by Bryan's conversation.
"Why did you pretend to be crazy in front of Nicholas? To the point where Nicholas had to deny it to them!"
"Nicholas? What are you talking about? I don't understand at all," Alesya raised her face. "Besides, it's better if Nicholas says I'm crazy rather than you leaving me alone downstairs and telling them they can do anything to me. Where's your conscience?"
"Conscience, you say?" Bryan smiled thinly. "Do you realize what I did earlier was for your own good? You could get pregnant quickly and be free from all of this, Al!"
Slap!
Alesya slapped Bryan's cheek with her palm.
"Do you think I'm cheap?"
Bryan nodded. "What else do you call it if not being cheap? Selling yourself to become a wife just to pay off your father's debt. Tell me, what do you call it if not being cheap?" He gripped Alesya's cheek with one hand. "I don't want to be the father of your child!"
Alesya squirmed, trying to break free from Bryan's grip on her cheek.
"Do you think I'm willing to have a husband like you, Ar? No! I don't want that, even if I have to die!"
"That's why I'm handing you over to my friends so they can help you."
Alesya shook her head. "No! Thank you. I have a way to have a child without you."
"Fine." Bryan let go of Alesya. "Hurry up and get pregnant. If not, I'll hand you over to my friends. I'll give you two months."
"You're crazy! Two months? Do you think I can get pregnant that easily?"
"Even though you're not a cat, if you're healthy, it won't be difficult for you to get pregnant, Al. I think two months should be more than enough for you. If you're still not pregnant, it means you're barren. All debts will be paid off, and I can divorce you!"
"You're crazy, Bryan!"
"You're the crazy one! Wanting to involve me in repaying the debt! You don't know how lucky you are. Your father has a lot of debt, but it's my father who's paying for it. Now you're demanding a child from me; you're all insane!"
"I don't want your father's help either," Alesya said softly, desperate with her life. "Tell your father to just dig up my parents' graves. I give up!"
"Fine. If that's what you want, I'll tell my father." Bryan left Alesya, closed his bedroom door firmly, and locked it from the inside.
Alesya sobbed, staring at the closed bedroom door. Her body slumped to the floor, lamenting her bleak future. She felt she couldn't face it, let alone find happiness.
"Bryan said you've prepared all the remaining assets to be seized?" Alesya's swollen eyes remained tightly shut.
Her trembling lips heard Handoko's voice from the other end of the call. Had Bryan reported everything to that man so quickly?
"If that's true, I'll have your lawyer come to handle all of this. Sign whatever he asks for so you can be free from me. After that, you can separate from Bryan and find a new place for your father and mother."
"I... I..."
"If you're still unsure, there are a few more hours to convince Bryan. I'll call you again tomorrow morning, and if you and Bryan haven't taken action by then, your parents' graves will be removed."
"Listen to me..."
Alesya squeezed her phone tightly. Before she could finish speaking, Handoko ended the call. In this situation, how could she find a way to talk and find a solution?
In the silence of the night, Alesya remained seated, hugging her knees. Occasionally, sobs escaped from her mouth as she thought about what she needed to do to save her deceased parents.
"Let Alesya chase her dreams on her own. Believe me, my dear, even though we're no longer here and no one can continue the business, by hiring others and making them leaders, everything can return to its former glory. Besides, the assets we have won't run out even if they're passed down for seven generations," Aditama said when his wife objected to Alesya taking a different path from them.
That day, Alesya's mother disagreed, fearing that their only child would have a difficult life or be deceived by others. She was aware that the business world was not a healthy place if you wanted to stay at the pinnacle of success.
However, Aditama believed that what they had would be enough for their future generations, so he gave Alesya a significant permission to determine her own path in life.
Alesya wiped away her tears roughly. "If only that day I had listened to everything Mother said," she murmured, regretting every decision she had made, leading to this tragic outcome.
"If only Father hadn't lied," she sighed again. "Seven generations?" Alesya shook her head. She didn't even have enough for one generation, let alone paying off the main loan.
"If you're evicted, where will you be moved to?" Alesya stared blankly at the phone in her hand. A family photo was displayed there, taken when she had just graduated from high school. Truly happy. Living with both her parents, surrounded by wealth and love. But all of that slowly disappeared after her mother's death, followed shortly by her father, leaving behind many surprises.
03"Pregnant? Is that it?" Alesya rubbed her flat stomach before staring at Bryan's closed bedroom door. "Just once, I think that's enough."She slowly got up, grabbing the staircase railing for support. Alesya walked, dragging her steps to knock on Bryan's bedroom door. She was ready to entice her husband as the beginning of her efforts."What is it?" Bryan opened the door. "You can sleep in another room, not here. I'm not willing."Alesya held the door with her foot. "I beg you, Ar. Just this once, I want to get pregnant!""Don't be crazy! I won't allow it!""Bryan, please, I can't let my parents' graves be evicted!" She winced. Her foot was indeed stuck, but she didn't mind as long as she could get in.It seemed like Alesya was truly insane now. She forced her way in so she could pressure Arya into doing it."Bryan!""You're crazy!""Why are you two constantly arguing!"Bryan and Alesya stopped. They both turned to Nicholas, who was at the threshold of his room."Alesya here wants
04“Nik … Nicholas!!”The sound of knocking on the door echoed. Accompanied by Bryan's voice calling out Nicholas' name. Annoying Nicholas, who had just closed his eyes, because he had something important to do last night."Tsk, can you let me rest for a while!" he complained in his heart. Tried to sit up, but it felt very heavy. His right arm also felt numb and numb."Ah, Alesya, I might forget," he muttered to himself. Pay attention to Alesya's beautiful face, who was peaceful in her sleep."Your father asked me to give birth to Bryan's baby. Meanwhile, Bryan even asked three of his friends to give me seeds. Saying I'm a cheap woman who wants to sell herself so my father's debts are paid off."Nicholas' eyes were tightly closed. They don't understand what kind of business their father is running to bring an innocent girl like Alesya into their lives. To the point of begging Bryan to sleep with her.Suddenly wearing revealing clothes and ending up wearing underwear like last night. W
05Alesya, who really believed that Nicholas was a bit crooked, of course didn't care about her and Nicholas' condition. The AC remote was called several times when Alesya accidentally touched something."Do you work at your father's office too?" Alesya, who had just come out of the bathroom, approached Nicholas as he was getting dressed.The girl looked relaxed with a towel wrapped around her slender body. She walked over to Nicholas's wardrobe to find suitable clothes to wear.Nicholas shook his head. "I'm not interested in the world my father is involved in.""Oh, I thought you were just like Bryan." Alesya pulled a shirt from Nicholas's wardrobe. "Nik, can I borrow this?"Nicholas turned to her and nodded when he saw the maroon shirt in Alesya's hand. "Go ahead. If you need something else, just let me know.""Thank you. You're so kind.""Don't mention it. I just want to counteract my father's evil intentions."Alesya forced a smile. Nicholas's response, for some reason, didn't ali
06"Thank goodness if they're done," Handoko whispered, feeling relieved as he noticed something different about Alesya this morning."We've been staying for just one night, and Alesya's already blushes like that. How about if we stay for a month and go sightseeing? Consider it a celebration of our success, covering and seizing everything!" Mariana hugged Handoko."Are you sure this is safe? Alesya won't leave the house and find out everything?""She won't. Trust me. Alesya is ignorant and blind when it comes to her father's business.""Well then, if you arrange everything, I'll rest." Handoko kissed Mariana's forehead. A testament to his pride in having such a clever wife as Mariana, who had provided the idea that saved his company from bankruptcy.Getting angry and refusing seemed useless now. When Alesya tried to find suitable clothing to wear, her stomach was already hungry, and she wanted to go down for breakfast. But searching for suitable clothing took up a lot of time.None of
07Devin responded, "I know that. Bryan told me everything.""So please, Dev!" Alesya pleaded. "I beg you. Even though I'm no longer the good girl, at least I want to do it with someone I love."But Devin shook his head. "I can't, Al.""Why? Don't you love me anymore?""It's not that.""Then what?" Alesya asked further."Devin and I are getting married soon. I won't let my future husband sleep with his ex-girlfriend." A girl who suddenly appeared interrupted. She stared sharply at Devin and Alesya. "You too, Al! All this time, you were asked to learn but refused. Now you regret it and even suggest that my future husband commit a sin. Shameless woman, you don't know when to appreciate what you have!!"The girl pulled Devin's arm away from Alesya."Let's go home! The catering business is done!"Devin complied, just going along with what the girl wanted, even though he still wanted to stay there. To accompany Alesya and listen to all the bitter stories she had endured.Alesya tightly clo
08"How is it?" Nicholas couldn't wait for Alesya's response to the dish he had prepared.Although there was no doubt about the quality and taste of his cooking, he still feared that all this perfection might not mean much to Alesya.Alesya nodded slowly between bites, savoring every mouthful. However, on the last bite, she furrowed her brow."Why? Is it not good?" Nicholas worried now. The sudden change in Alesya's facial expression made him fear that she didn't like the food."It's good, but...""But?" Nicholas followed up, leaning in and waiting for Alesya's answer."The portion is very small. Just five bites and it's gone. Come on, Nik!" she protested, pouting her lips and pushing her empty plate towards Nicholas.Nicholas scratched his non-itchy head. "The portion is meant to be like this, Al. What matters most is the taste, so customers come back here to enjoy it again. Moreover, if we make it larger, it might not look as nice as it did.""So what's being sold here isn't just th
09"It's not good to waste food. There are many people out there who lack food, even though they work hard. They toil from morning to morning, just for a mouthful of rice. And you? You're like this," she scolded him, not stopping even when Nicholas had stopped chewing the satay in his mouth.Angry? No. In between bites, Nicholas smiled. He was impressed by Alesya's deep appreciation for food. Unlike him, who often left food behind. After frequently tasting dishes in the restaurant kitchen, none of them could make Nicholas eat until it was gone.Seeing Alesya eat so heartily and able to finish two portions at once made Nicholas admire her even more."Nah, see? Finished! You needed some persuasion!" Alesya pouted, wiping away the traces of satay sauce left on the corner of Nicholas's lips.Nicholas was taken aback, his chest pounding. His body suddenly felt cold when Alesya touched him. He couldn't quite understand what was happening, but Alesya's small gesture had triggered an unexpect
10"Go ahead and take a shower first. I need to organize some reports," Nicholas said as he sat in a corner of the room. He began working by turning on the laptop that was there."Can I borrow some clothes again, please? Bryan's wife is in the other room, and I don't want to go there to get spare clothes," Alesya asked hesitantly.Even though she was already staying in his room, Alesya now wanted to borrow clothes as well. Not only that, she was also using Nicholas's toiletries. Depending on him to this extent, Alesya felt hesitant to express her wishes."It's okay, go ahead and use whatever you think you can or need. I won't object," Nicholas replied before refocusing on his laptop, no longer paying attention to Alesya, who was now touched by his permission.Alesya was still holding back her emotions. She opened the wardrobe and checked Nicholas's clothes that were suitable for her to wear."This will do, but what about the top?" Alesya complained silently as she unwrapped a triangul
Gibran continued, "As for our divorce, I've already agreed to it. We'll proceed with the legal process, and you'll be free to start a new chapter in your life. I hope you find the happiness you deserve."The conversation between Viska and Gibran marked the beginning of the end of their tumultuous marriage. While their emotions were still raw, they had come to a mutual understanding that it was time to move on and seek happiness elsewhere.Gibran's frustration and pent-up emotions poured out as he defended his actions. He felt betrayed by Viska, who had consistently pushed him away and made unfavorable comparisons with Nicholas. Their relationship had become a battleground of insecurities, and Gibran had sought solace with Shabila.Viska's accusations stung, but Gibran was determined to make her understand the context of his actions. He continued, "Viska, I don't want to justify what I did, but it was a result of our broken marriage. We both contributed to its downfall. I needed someth
190"Also," Bryan paused, kissing Silvi's lips briefly."Don't forget that the night we were together, I can assure you, it's my child."Silvi shook her head. "It's not Devin's child. Do you think after that night, I didn't do anything with other men? Did you really think that night was the only time someone touched me? No, there have been many other nights with so many men because I felt like I wasn't pure anymore. So I was free to do it with anyone since my life was already a mess.""S-so... instead of slightly more ruining myself, and the last time it was done to me was by Devin. That's why he's willing to take responsibility. He's also convinced that this is his child."Bryan let out a bitter laugh, releasing Silvi from his embrace. "Is that so?" He loosened his tie, which had felt suffocating after hearing Silvi's explanation. "Let's prove that what you said is true." He took off the suit jacket that clung to his body.“W-what are you doing?” Silvi stepped back. Hugging her own b
189"No way! I won't leave until I meet Gibran. He has to take responsibility for this child," Shabila insisted, refusing to budge. She held onto Viska and stood her ground."Leave, I said! Go!"Viska couldn't bear Shabila's stubbornness and forcefully pulled her arm, nearly causing Shabila to stumble."What's wrong with you!" Shabila pushed away Viska's hand and fixed her disheveled hair. "Are you afraid your husband's actions will be known to your parents? Or is it that you refuse to accept the truth?" Shabila began to rant."I don't understand what you're saying. Now leave!" Viska demanded."Wait, Viska! Mom wants to ask this woman something." Viska's mother restrained her daughter and turned to Shabila. "Why did you let my granddaughter get pregnant? Don't you know he's already married? What do you want from us? Money?"Shabila seethed with anger. Her dignity felt insulted when the middle-aged woman mentioned money."Do you think I'm a lowly woman who just surrenders her body to a
188Shabila spent the whole day in frustration, angry that she couldn't meet Gibran at his cafe. She paced back and forth in her room, thinking of ways to meet him."Do you think you can avoid me forever? You won't be able to, Gibran. I have to make you take responsibility for the child I'm carrying. You won't be able to escape. Just wait and see."Shabila clenched her fists, planning a thousand ways to meet Gibran. "If I can't find you at the cafe, I'll come to your house. Let's see if you can still avoid me," she muttered to herself.Gibran decided to visit the club where he had met Shabila some time ago. He had a bad feeling about Shabila's visit to his cafe and wanted to find out what had really happened between them that night. Honestly, Gibran didn't remember much because he had been heavily intoxicated that night.Upon arriving at the club, Gibran called one of the waitresses and conveyed his request to meet with the club's owner."I'd like to discuss something important with y
187"What brand would you like, Miss?" The employee asked while displaying several different brands of pregnancy tests.Shabila looked puzzled, which only fueled the employee's suspicions. "Is this your first time buying a pregnancy test?" she guessed with a condescending glance."Y-yes," Shabila replied hesitantly. Seeing the employee looking down on her, Shabila's heart began to boil. "I am already married, just so you know. Here's my ID," she said abruptly, opening her wallet and showing her ID card, which still stated her marital status as MARRIED. Her divorce from Arya was only religious; it wasn't legally recognized yet.Seeing the ID placed on the counter, the pharmacy employee became flustered. She was torn between embarrassment and guilt. "I'm s-sorry, Miss, I didn't mean to—""It's fine, I understand!" Shabila retorted sharply, then pointed towards the pregnancy tests. "So, which one is the best?" she asked.She deliberately didn't want to prolong the issue since she wanted
186Several days had passed, and today was the ceremonial bath event for Silvi. Everything was well-prepared, and the guests were moved by the event, which was expertly guided by the paid organizers, arranged by Silvi's parents. Silvi's large family wore matching light green kebaya, while Devin's family, who were present, wore light blue kebaya. The event was conducted with great solemnity, and Silvi looked beautiful despite wearing makeup that wasn't too flashy.This ceremony included many symbols and motifs that served as lessons or guidelines for the couple, influencing their married life. These symbols or motifs mainly conveyed advice and useful insights for the newlyweds' life together. That's why Mama Silvi insisted on holding the ceremonial bath event, even though Silvi and Devin had been married before.In addition to the food ordered for the guests and relatives, the organizers had prepared specific dishes usually served during this ceremonial bath event. These included tumpe
185Meanwhile, Silvi and Devin listened to the doctor's explanations during the examination. Silvi's pregnancy was already at three weeks. The doctor prescribed vitamins and anti-nausea medication since Silvi mentioned she often felt dizzy and nauseous. Devin didn't ask any questions because it was his first time in a obstetrician's office. He was confused about how to react. Silvi was the one who asked all the questions.Silvi got her next appointment scheduled, and then they left. Devin and Silvi went to the hospital's pharmacy to pick up the prescribed medicines first. Then, Devin asked Silvi where she wanted to go."I don't know. I just feel like lying down in my room.""Why's that? Don't you want to go out together?" Devin asked softly. They were now in the car. "How about having ice cream and buying some new sleepwear for you?""What's the point of buying sleepwear?""Because you're pregnant, and I want you to sleep comfortably. How about it?""I don't want to," Silvi said, maki
184As a father, whose heart wouldn't break upon learning that his daughter is pregnant with no official partner by her side? He felt like a terrible father, willing to do anything as long as the man who impregnated his daughter, Silvi, would take responsibility.Pregnancy is never an easy journey for a woman, especially without a husband by her side. The man Silvi referred to as the father finally decided to find Devin, the man who should be held accountable for what happened to Silvi. He took a taxi to Devin's whereabouts, hoping that he would indeed be there. Impatiently sitting in the taxi, the weary-looking man, no longer in his youth, stared at his phone screen. The journey from the city to the village was quite long, which was why he opted for a taxi. Besides, he didn't want any unpleasant conversations about Silvi if he had brought his driver along.Fortunately, he found out about Silvi's pregnancy before it was too late, or who knows what might have happened. He sighed wearil
183Nicholas didn't want anything to happen to their unborn child. So, he tried his best to grant her wishes. Besides, Alesya's request was relatively easy to fulfill, and it had been quite some time since they had visited her hometown."Are you happy?" Nicholas asked.Alesya turned and nodded. "I've really missed my hometown. As nice as it is to live in the city, the hometown is the number one place to visit," Alesya replied. "Besides, all my childhood memories are buried there."Hearing Alesya's response, Nicholas could only smile. He, who had lived in the city since childhood, never experienced life in the village. So, he didn't fully understand what Alesya meant. In his mind, Alesya might just miss the peaceful atmosphere of the village because the city was quite noisy."Get some rest; I'll wake you up when we arrive," Nicholas said after a moment of silence."Okay."Alesya adjusted her seating position to make herself more comfortable. She also slightly reclined her seat to make