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35. Normalization
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2024-08-23 00:36:36Related chapters
Between Love and Scandal 36. Ready To Be Apart?
In the dictionary of life, Aileen understood the meaning of risk. You choose to live, and you accept the risks of life itself. It was the same with the laws of nature. Every encounter has a separation. Whether you are ready or not, whether you like it or not, you will still face it, and you will be forced to always be ready.For Aileen, her meeting with Mark had an interesting history. They always fight over trivial things but can be united at any given time.Mark is a man with a character that is very difficult to read. He had thousands of secrets in every sentence that came out. He had thousands of stories that Aileen couldn't dig up as long as she knew him.Quiet? He's not quiet; he just prefers to talk about things he thinks are worth talking about, and for Aileen, that's a good thing. Mysterious? Aileen admitted that there were many things about the man that could not be guessed because his every move could never be read, and every wave of ideas that came out of his head could ne
Last Updated : 2024-08-23Between Love and Scandal 37. Left Behind
Aileen Stewart is a girl with beautiful blue irises. She made his life an adventure during his time at the branch office. They did many things together and solved problems together.The way Aileen solved problems and found a way out of every problem they faced made Mark admire the girl. In addition to her intelligence and dexterity, the girl was also good at finding faults and liked to grumble about trivial things, although people said she was not like that to others.There were unique and interesting things about her that Mark liked, and he wanted to continue working with her. Hell, he couldn't even say goodbye before leaving Surabaya Today.He took a deep breath, grabbed his phone, and looked at his watch. He wanted to find time to send Aileen a message to let her know that he had left unexpectedly early in the morning and hadn't had time to say goodbye.It was still four o'clock, and Mark doubted that Aileen was awake, so he put his phone back in his pocket and tried to rest for a w
Last Updated : 2024-08-23Between Love and Scandal 38 Demanding To Be A Multitalent
Mark argued with his father for a long time because the financial and management issues were already in the hands of their respective experts. As CEO, Lucas was responsible for solving the problems he had created.As an employee sent to do other things, it was very unfair for him to be forced back and told to solve new problems, as if he had no time off. Still, Mr Howard's decision was unanimous, and he could not oppose it.Mark finally said yes, he would start investigating the case after saying goodbye to Aileen and his office. Either way, he would leave them with some unfinished business. Most importantly, a substantial financial settlement.He returned to Manhattan to collect the things he had left behind and to say goodbye to the team that had helped him during his time there. He wanted to say goodbye to them before leaving. On the one hand, he felt guilty that he had to leave them with a job he had started and had not yet finished. At least she had tried to persevere.“I'll leav
Last Updated : 2024-08-26Between Love and Scandal 39 Farewell
Farewell. The words still ring in Mark's ears. He understand it when he was less than ten years old. To lose both parents at the same time in such a sad way.Even when he found a replacement, the separation never ended. It will always be there because the word "meeting" bound him.At least today's parting with Aileen differed from the one he had experienced before. He could still see her smile, even if he couldn't see her anymore. He could still call her if he missed her, although that was highly unlikely. Back to NYC and home, It felt completely different than before. Many things had changed because life had taught him many things.Ting!A message came to Mark's cell phone. He opened it. A name was clearly visible: Aileen Stewart. The girl had sent him a message.[Be careful on your way.] That was the message.Mark smiled. How mysterious Aileen was! A few minutes ago, they had a big fight, and now she even sent this sweet message.Mark did not want to reply so the girl would feel wh
Last Updated : 2024-08-26Between Love and Scandal 40. Coming Home
Returning home several months after Mark left her to go to Manhattan, she missed this place. The place where he had once been so stunned and amazed by the scenery that greeted him when he first walked in.Mark parked his car and entered the house, seeming to reminisce each time he left and returned.A girl in a hot pants suit, wearing only a white, cream-colored tank top, called out to greet him. "Brother Mark!" She immediately ran and hugged the man's body, leaving Mark surprised and uncomfortable."Lisa, your clothes are terrible!" Mark pushed the girl's body away and noticed her very revealing clothing."How many times have I told you not to wear revealing clothes when you're at home?" He grumbled immediately.Lisa laughed that Mark even commented on her clothes, even though she missed the man half to death. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm just home," she protested."Still, Lisa. There are men in this house. Take care of your clothes; I don't want them to see your exposed body like th
Last Updated : 2024-08-26Between Love and Scandal 41. Workaholic
The company's problems are complicated. It is a unit in which everyone must be able to work optimally, honestly, responsibly, and according to plan.If one party deviates, other parts of the company are affected. At least that's what's happening now, because of someone's cunning, the company is like the earth hit by an earthquake.Fortunately, Mark is the type of person who can act quickly but precisely. He was in his office with a pile of papers he had been going through on the table. His breath came in ragged gasps a few times, and his eyes turned forward to stare at the man who had approached him this morning.So tell me, what's your invention?" asked Lucas with a challenging look at his adopted brother.He knew Mark was a very reliable person, but his inner self was hoping that Mark would take it slow this time. Lucas wanted the company's problems solved, but he didn't want Mark to be seen as someone who could always be relied upon to lead the company.Mark casually pushed the pil
Last Updated : 2024-08-26Between Love and Scandal 42. Lisa Howard
“Well, I'm going to appoint Aileen as the company's marketing manager here. I will contact her immediately and ask her to come to this city immediately. But I'm going to wait to appoint her as a permanent employee. I will appoint her as a marketing manager with an internship status. I'll see how he performs over the next month and then decide how to proceed with her career here.” Mr Howard said.Mark held back a smile as he nodded his head. His father's agreement to appoint Aileen as marketing manager in NYC was enough to make him jump for joy, but Mark did not want to express himself so much.“All right, let's eat first," Howard said as he began to eat the food the restaurant staff had placed on their table.Father and son ate together silently, neither saying a word until the food was on their plates. Howard finished his meal first, and the older man immediately drank a glass of water and dragon fruit juice.Then Mr Howard tidied up the clothes he had worn when he got up.“I can't b
Last Updated : 2024-08-26Between Love and Scandal 43. Arrival To NYC
Aileen was overwhelmed with happiness when she learned that she had been offered the opportunity to fill a vacant marketing manager position in a company in NYC.It was a golden opportunity for her.In addition to furthering her career with the company, Aileen was excited that working in NYC would allow her to be closer to Mark and see him more often.That silly feeling was there, and Aileen couldn't shake it. That's why she organized her move so quickly, without much of a deadline. She was so excited that she stood at the airport waiting for someone to pick her up.Even though she had traveled a long way, Aileen looked very tidy. This was so that when she met the person to pick her up, she would look beautiful and not wrinkled.“Aileen!” someone shouted, making Aileen's heart tremble a little.However, Aileen immediately turned her head and put on a regular face. As she expected, the one who came to pick her up was none other than Mark. The young man looked dashing and handsome as al
Last Updated : 2024-08-26
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Between Love and Scandal 102. ENDING
The family was filled with happiness when Aileen finally gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Deborah Fredina Bagaskara. The smart and chatty little girl became a source of pride for her parents, as well as for her grandparents. The house immediately came alive with the arrival of the first grandchild in the Bagaskara family, which had been rather quiet in terms of descendants.Deborah’s birth story was quite an adventure. Aileen had cravings as her due date approached, and her parents had warned her to stay home. However, Aileen insisted on going to Monas (National Monument) to see the tower up close. “My goodness, darling. What a ridiculous request is that?” Mark was frustrated because he was in a dilemma: everyone had forbidden him to fulfill his wife’s wish, but as her husband, he couldn’t bear to deny her. During her pregnancy, Aileen had rarely asked for anything unusual.He felt terribly guilty if he didn’t fulfill her request. So, that afternoon, he decided to take Aile
Between Love and Scandal 101. Pregnant
Two months after their wedding, Aileen discovered she was pregnant because her period was late by more than a month. So, the menstruation she had on their wedding night was the last one she experienced after marriage. After that, she didn’t have any until a pregnancy test confirmed two lines. "Is it true, darling? Are you pregnant?" asked Mark, looking very enthusiastic. Aileen was so moved that she couldn't speak. She had, of course, hoped to get pregnant right away after marriage, but she never expected it to happen so soon. "Thank you, darling. I’m so touched. I'm going to be a dad!" said Mark, jumping around with joy. He immediately ran downstairs to share the good news with his parents. "What? Aileen is pregnant? Alhamdulillah!" Mrs. Anna exclaimed. She was so happy because she had requested from Aileen and Mark that they wouldn’t delay having children with contraception. Mr. George was just as happy and cheered when he heard the news. "Finally, Pa. Next time, we wo
Between Love and Scandal 100. Unforgettable Moments
And finally, the long-awaited day arrived. The Bagaskara family's house had been lavishly decorated for the important once-in-a-lifetime moment between Mark and Aileen. Aileen’s extended family from Mataram had arrived the day before and stayed at her apartment to ensure they wouldn't be late for the marriage ceremony and reception. The invitations, which numbered no less than a hundred people, came in waves, filling the yard which had been set up for a garden party, much like Lisa's party from before. The only difference was that the theme here was Mediterranean, whereas Lisa’s party had been modern and contemporary. The akad nikah ceremony took place at the large mosque near the Bagaskara home, attended by close family and a few necessary witnesses. Naturally, there were also a few showbiz reporters covering the wedding of such a prominent figure in the city. Mark successfully recited his vows in one smooth breath, and everyone cheered "SAH" when the imam asked the formal ques
Between Love and Scandal 99. Found
In the morning, even before Mark could head to the police station, he was shocked by a message from an unknown number on his phone's messaging app. When he opened it, the message contained a photo of Mr. George after an accident, lying by a river in an unknown area. Mark nearly screamed when he saw the worrying condition of his father in the photo. There were bloodstains on his father’s shirt inside his suit, which had torn in several places. Without thinking, he immediately called the number that sent the message, but there was no response. He sent several threatening messages and questions, but there was no sign of them being read or replied to. "Mr. Edo, please come to the house. I need help tracking a mysterious number. Someone sent me a picture of Dad injured somewhere unknown," Mark said while forwarding the image to Mr. Edo’s number.Mr. Edo acted quickly. He also noted down the sender’s number to have their IT team check it. While waiting, they speculated about where the pho
Between Love and Scandal 98. Disappear
That night, Mr. George came home late after attending an important invitation for a project planning. He didn't invite Mark, thinking his son must be busy preparing for their upcoming wedding.As usual, whenever he traveled without Mark, Mrs. Anna insisted that he use a driver. He had rarely been allowed to drive himself lately because of concerns over exhaustion. His advancing age made it necessary for him to be more compromising and dependent on others.On the way home, unexpectedly, one of his tires went flat. He had to get out of the car and let the driver search for a repair shop. Deciding to take a taxi, he provided his address and focused on his phone. He had been reviewing some documents that his secretary had just sent, trying to match the data with the recent meeting results to decide if the project would be profitable for his company.So absorbed in his phone, Mr. George didn't notice the driver taking a different route, not the usual one leading him home. Suddenly, he real
Between Love and Scandal 97. Lisa's Wedding
"Forgive Lisa, okay? Really, it wasn’t me who pressured her to rush you," Lucas said as they had dropped everyone off at their homes, with his being the last stop. Lisa had already gone inside due to being so tired. He took this opportunity to speak privately with Emma.Emma was just about to start her car to drive home alone when she heard Lucas’s words."Oh, no problem. Maybe if I were your sister, I’d rush you too, because she wants to get married, right? Maybe she just feels bad about going ahead of you, Ed." Emma responded wisely. Despite being an only child, the girl had such a mature and understanding attitude. She could always see the good in others. Even when discussing Courtney, she defended her, explaining that Courtney was simply devoted to her mother and that deserved some appreciation. Oh my!"Thank goodness you’re not offended. What if the more I pushed, the more you’d pull back? What would happen to me?" Lucas continued.Emma smiled, holding back a laugh. "I already
Between Love and Scandal 96. At The Peak of The Hill
Lucas, feeling sorry for Emma’s life being too heavily criticized by Lisa and Aileen, tried to change the subject. He asked about possible beginner-friendly hiking destinations that weren’t too far from Jakarta. “Are you really interested?” Emma asked, seemingly unsure of Lucas’s question. “Of course!” Lucas replied, shrugging his shoulders. “Whatever you like, I’ll like it too,” he added, which caused a burst of laughter around the campfire. Immediately, everyone began teasing the couple, who were clearly smitten with each other. “Come on, just get together already. Why drag it out?” Lisa scoffed, pouting her lips. “Yee... why are you so impatient? Want me to have a brother-in-law like Lucas?” Emma teased, stepping aside to the tent to grab something from inside. A few moments later, she returned holding a plastic bag filled with snacks. “Here! Share it equally, okay? Don’t fight over it!” she said, handing it to Lisa, who then distributed it to the others. “Wee, nice
Between Love and Scandal 95. Hiking
The day Mrs. Anna came back from the hospital after the poisoning incident, Mr. Alex, Lucas, Lisa, and Gio came together to visit and check on her condition. During their friendly conversation, Lucas once again suggested going hiking together once everyone was feeling better.Mark remembered this and quickly contacted Lucas to confirm that he and Aileen were available for hiking next weekend if their schedules allowed. Of course, Lucas was thrilled. He immediately started organizing the schedule with Emma, Lisa, and Gio.Mr. George and Mrs. Anna were a bit worried, but then they remembered that Mrs. Rebecca and Courtney, who had motives to harm their family, were still abroad for an extended period. So, they eventually gave their blessing."Really? Your friends are coming?" Emma sounded so excited on the other end of the line as she told the girl she was close with."Yes! Lisa and Gio are coming too. How fun is that? So, can you make it next weekend?" Lucas asked to make sure. He woul
Between Love and Scandal 94. Leave
"Shut your mouth, Al!" Mrs. Rebecca shouted loudly while holding her chest. Courtney, worried about her mom, immediately approached and hugged her. "Mom, are you okay? Hang in there, Mom, just stay calm. I won’t be easily tricked by them. Let’s go home, okay? You don’t look too well," Courtney urged, very concerned as she saw her mom's face turn pale and her chest rise and fall, struggling with her emotions. She feared her mom might suffer a heart attack, which could be dangerous, she thought to herself. "Listen! I’m leaving Dad for now! If anything happens to him, you’ll know how cruel I can be!" Courtney threatened as she pointed toward Mark and Mr. George. She then turned back toward her car, guiding her mom. Mrs. Rebecca reluctantly complied because she wasn’t ready to face the arguments from Mr. George and Mark. For a moment, she was terrified that Courtney would realize the truth and turn away from her to side with them. Thankfully, Courtney still loved and trusted her
