Part 107

07

Devin 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 closed her eyes. She couldn't bear to see the man she loved leave with another girl.

"So, you came here not to meet me, but just happened to be here to arrange your wedding catering?" Alesya clenched the end of her dress, letting out her growing pain.

Before the wounds inflicted by Bryan could heal, they had been reopened by her encounter with Devin.

"Don't cry. You don't deserve this." A man spoke as he held Alesya's hand, guiding her to stand and hugging her tightly. "I will protect you until this issue finds a resolution."

"N-Nik..." Alesya sobbed. Once she realized who was embracing her, she found the solace she desperately needed at this moment.

"So, is he your boyfriend?" Nicholas handed a cup of instant noodles to Alesya. "He and that girl came to order catering."

Alesya accepted the cup of noodles. She pursed her lips, nodding faintly. "Devin already told me."

"Let's attend the wedding!"

Alesya shook her head. "I wasn't invited, why should I go? Besides..."

"Are you not allowed by your parents to leave the house?"

Without answering, Alesya only stared in amazement at Nicholas, who seemed to be able to read her thoughts. He was always there when she needed a place to pour out her heartache.

"Don't worry about your parents; both of them are going on vacation. They'll be back next month." Nicholas pulled a chair and sat in front of Alesya, resting his chin on his hand. "Don't ask me how I know. I can find out everything that happens in the house even when I'm not there. But they will never know what happens to me."

"If you know, can you tell me what happened to my father? What led to my marriage with Bryan?" Alesya's grip shifted from the cup of noodles to Nicholas' hand. "I beg you, Nik! Tell me... anything you know!"

"If only I knew, I would never withhold the information I have. I would definitely tell you."

"So?"

"They must be discussing it at the office. Because I have no authority there. I'm not interested in any of it either. But, as far as I know, the name 'Aditama' is not on my father's list of enemies. In fact, I heard that Aditama is a close friend of my father's."

"If that's the case, there's no way I should be treated like this," Alesya sighed. Her enthusiasm, her joy at Nicholas knowing some information, had all dissipated because there was no information about her father.

Alesya had hoped for some glimmer of light to know what to do to save her parents without hurting herself.

"But you don't have to worry, Al. I promise to resolve everything. To help you find out what's behind all of this." Nicholas rubbed Alesya's hand. "You're not alone."

"I know, thank you for everything."

Nicholas extended his hand and wiped away the moisture on Alesya's cheek. "I will protect and watch over you. But you must promise me one thing."

Alesya looked at Nicholas, holding back her sobs as best as she could. She waited, listening to every word Nicholas was about to say.

"Never cry again."

Nicholas pulled the corners of his lips, having an extraordinary effect on Alesya.

Her heart, which had been shattered, her life, which had been chaotic, lonely, and dark, all started to improve when a smile appeared on Nicholas' lips.

"Oh, by the way, Nik. Are you here as the owner or an employee?" Alesya teased, once she had regained control of herself. She returned to being the composed Alesya.

If only Nicholas knew, Alesya had begun to make peace with herself and her situation. However, whenever she was near him, Alesya would suddenly turn into a vulnerable girl, just like when she was around her parents.

"Why an employee? Why an owner?"

Instead of answering, Nicholas posed a question to Alesya.

"If you were an employee, I think you're too neat." She looked at Nicholas from head to toe. "If you were the owner, I think this instant noodle..."

Nicholas smiled, looking at the cup of noodles in front of Alesya. "I'll make something special for you. It won't take long. Just fifteen minutes."

Alesya shook her head. "I want to join."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

"Let's go!"

Nicholas' simple way of comforting Alesya wasn't with extravagance or branded items. It was simply by being there with her in the kitchen.

With skill, the twenty-five-year-old man executed the cooking process in the restaurant's kitchen, further impressing Alesya with his abilities.

"Mom and dad are going on vacation, so you can stay with me at home."

"For how long?" Shabila still had a displeased expression.

"One month."

"Why does it have to be me going there? Why don't you come home with me?"

Shabila was getting agitated again with Bryan.

"I have to keep an eye on Alesya and make sure she gets pregnant soon."

"That woman again! Didn't you say she and Nicholas have already done it? Today she even went out with..."

"I don't trust Nicholas. Especially Alesya."

"But Alesya's boyfriend is a real man, right?"

"That's true." Bryan placed his phone on the table. "But unfortunately, that man is getting married."

"Just 'getting,' not married yet. There's still plenty of time to unite them." Shabila retorted. She didn't like that Bryan was giving up so easily, let alone following his father's wishes.

Where were they heading with this secret marriage? Shabila was Bryan's first wife and held a deep love for him. However, Alesya was Bryan's legal wife and had the upper hand legally. Alesya could easily take control of Bryan and everything else.

"So, what are you going to do? I've run out of ideas, Sha!"

"Alright, then. I'll stay at your house until mom and dad return!" Shabila folded her hands in front of her chest. Her mind immediately began devising a plan to ensure Alesya got pregnant, whether by kindness or coercion, but she had to get pregnant.

"Before we go to your house, I want to buy CCTV."

"CCTV? For what?"

"To spy on Nicholas and Alesya. You said they slept together in Nicholas's room, and Alesya had bite marks on her neck. Is that right?" Shabila pointed to her own neck. "I'll install CCTV in Nicholas's room. I want to see if they have indeed consummated their marriage or not."

"Nicholas will kill both of us if he finds out we're messing with his room. You know Nicholas doesn't like strangers in his room."

"Make sure he doesn't find out." Shabila grabbed her handbag. "Let's do it now while he's at the restaurant. We'll come back here only after he's returned, as if nothing happened."

"But, Sha..."

"If you don't want to, you'd better divorce me!" Shabila threatened, raising her index finger.

Bryan swallowed hard, afraid Shabila would really leave him. His immense love for Shabila would undoubtedly become an open wound if she left his life. Nonetheless, messing with Nicholas' room would have serious consequences for Bryan's life and wellbeing. Nicholas might explode and lose control. Although, at this moment, Bryan chose to follow Shabila's wishes. It seemed better to him that Nicholas be angry than to lose Shabila. Bryan could think later about how to avoid Nicholas' wrath.