With that stern edict, Farhan turned and made his way back up the hospital stairway, each step measured and resolute. Lee's mission to fetch back the defiant assistant was cut short when he saw Farhan's return. Pausing, he steeled himself for confrontation. "Mr. Qin, about Lestari, she—"Before they could finish, Farhan strode past without a sideways glance, consumed by the aftershocks of his clash with Kartika, and oozing an aura frostier than the hospital's antiseptic corridors.The crowd of women, picking up on the icy blast emanating from him, stood frozen in place, none daring to intercept him with questions or pleas.Yet Farhan hesitated at their silent stares, pivoting to scrutinize one among them."You, why are you still here?" he questioned, his voice razor-sharp, pinning Suo Qiao beneath an arctic stare that sent shivers down her spine, her mind scrambling for an alibi."Farhan!" In the midst of this standoff, Lestari's desperate voice echoed from across the hall.They all
Lestari was dumbstruck, feeling all color drain from her face.She could never have anticipated Farhan's words. What did he mean by advising her to be more careful next time? So, was he implying that today's fall, her injuries, were all her doing, and that Kartika had nothing to do with it? He wasn't planning on holding Kartika accountable, was he?No, that was not what she should be focusing on right now. The question at hand was why Farhan had returned with such a change of heart. It must have been something Kartika said, Lestari concluded, her face paling at the thought.In an instant, overwhelmed by her swirling emotions, Lestari lunged at Farhan, sobbing softly in his embrace."I'm sorry, I'll remember what you said. It's just...my wound hurts so much, and the doctors...they said it will scar. My mind is a mess right now. Where did you go earlier? Farhan, did you hear about the scar and think I'll be ugly... that you won’t want me anymore?"The soft warmth clinging to him only ag
At the hospital, it was Vina Damayanti who took care of all the administrative tasks—registering, queueing, and paying—while Kartika, feeling under the weather, curled up in a chair tucked in a corner, waiting for Vina to handle everything.Vina returned to find Kartika's complexion was off, her concern mounting. "Are you okay? Being pregnant seems as bad as being ill," she remarked, reaching to check Kartika's forehead heat.Relieved to find her friend feverless, Vina assumed it was just the discomfort from morning sickness causing the issue.Kartika, rubbing against Vina's palm, let out a weak laugh. "I'm actually doing alright, just really sleepy and nothing else seems appealing except for sweets.""Eating sweets? Even in normal times, you shouldn't indulge too much, let alone during pregnancy. We'll check with the doctor," Vina responded, cautiously advising her friend.Kartika nodded in agreement, "Alright."Watching Kartika so obedient, Vina felt a nostalgic blend of affection a
Kartika stood perplexed, the color draining from her face at Farhan’s words.She didn't expect him to say that—implying the accident was her own fault and clearing Kartika of any wrongdoing. It became clear that any hopes of peaceful coexistence with Lestari had dissipated, and Lestari would most likely blame Kartika for the fall, regardless of what had happened.It seemed Kartika would have to be more vigilant around Lestari from now on; the woman was not as simple as Kartika had initially thought. She might have pretended gentleness and vulnerability, which would be fine if true to her nature, but a façade hiding malice was a different matter altogether.“I’ll take good care of myself,” Kartika reassured Vina. “And look, her plot against me backfired, didn’t it?”“Yes,” Vina agreed with a nod. “It’s comforting when the harm intended for others rebounds upon the instigator.”Their conversation was interrupted as the waiter served up another sweet treat for Kartika.Vina’s eyes widene
"It's nothing."Kartika answered Farhan with a faint smile, her shoulders raised in a slight shrug. "I was just trying to see things from your perspective, which is why I can understand why you might feel compelled to place the blame on me. You're protective of her, and that's normal."As she spoke, Farhan’s gaze bore into her, unrelenting and intense."So what then?" he bit back, his eyes narrowing with a predatory intensity."I mean, it's natural for you to prioritize her," Kartika continued, pausing briefly before adding, "If I were you, I would probably do the same."Kartika hadn’t been saved by someone before, hadn't felt the desperation that Farhan had, but she could still imagine, even if her empathy was only a fraction of what Farhan felt. That moment when death looms, when your next breath might be your last—only to suddenly find a hand reaching out to pull you back. Who wouldn't be moved by such an act?Farhan’s expression was overcast, his features stormy as he looked back
Kartika managed to send Farhan packing without so much as raising her voice, let alone an argument. The door slammed with enough force to send echoes ricocheting through the hallway. She shrugged off the tension and tenderly stroked her belly, whispering words of comfort to her unborn child. "Don't be scared, baby. Don’t mind him. When you grow up, you can't be like him with such a terrible temper."After her private rebuttal, she readied herself for the office.—No sooner had Farhan stepped into the garage than his phone rang. Still riled up from his exchange with Kartika, he pulled out the phone with a grimace but his anger faded as he saw the caller ID and he limply accepted the call."Dr. Chen."It was Mrs. Qin's primary physician."Mr. Qin, good day."Dr. Chen’s voice was as measured and gentle as ever. "I hope I’m not bothering you. I was hoping to discuss Mrs. Qin’s current condition and schedule a check-up for her sometime soon if that's convenient for you?"Farhan gripped th
Returning to their respective duties, Kartika immersed herself in work with renewed focus. Before going upstairs, they agreed to take grandma to the hospital the next day, and speak with her about it after work. There was an unspoken understanding between them; neither brought up the topic of divorce. Their last trip to the civil affairs office was a heat-of-the-moment decision that unfortunately coincided with grandma's surgery complications, resulting in delays. This time, Kartika was not in a hurry. She decided it was best to wait until grandma had recovered from the surgery before going to the bureau to finalize the divorce, avoiding any potential complications. She suspected Farhan was likely thinking along the same lines.—Around noon, Kartika headed downstairs as usual to get some porridge, thinking of trying a different vegetarian flavor today. She had barely reached the lobby and was about to strike up a conversation with the vendor when her phone rang. The call was from Dim
Silence filled the car as Dima scanned the surroundings, not continuing the previous topic but instead asking Kartika what she felt like eating. She didn't fancy anything too rich or fatty; she just wanted porridge for lunch. However, she had already joined Dima for porridge once before, and suggesting it again seemed inconsiderate. She relinquished the choice to him."You sure?" he asked, seemingly surprised by her deference. "I haven't lived in the country for many years.""It's fine," Kartika replied calmly. After all, she wasn't planning to eat much.An idea struck her, and she added, "It's my treat, whatever you choose.""Really?" A light smile played on Dima's lips. "Then I must choose carefully."He settled on a Chinese restaurant. As Kartika stepped out of the car, she took a moment to observe the restaurant's upscale decor. In times when her family hadn't faced financial turmoil, she would frequently patronize such establishments with her friends. After the Shen family's down