Altezza shook his head from side to side. His shoulders and neck felt stiff from too long spent hunched over the monitor screen. Suddenly, his phone rang, displaying Antony's name."Yeah?" he answered on the first ring."Still at the office?" Antony asked from the other end of the line. Altezza glanced at the watch on his left wrist. It was 4:15."I'll be heading home soon," he replied, leaning back in his chair. "What's up, cousin? Any problems?""None! Just wanted to extend an invitation. My beloved wife invites you and yours for dinner at our place tonight.""Finally, you both moved back to Manhattan?""Yups," Antony's voice sounded cheerful."Flavia?""She'll move next academic year. But for now, she's here.""Alright, then Adaline and I will come. Should we bring anything? Or perhaps the appropriate question is 'will you be giving us gifts'?""Already rich but still stingy. But be prepared, cousin, because another cousin will also be coming," Antony said playfully."What?!" Altez
"I always feel not quite right whenever I see you," Altezza replied curtly.Tessa, overhearing them, could only gape in disbelief. Although she didn't understand the man's words, she could tell that he was angry with his cousin. And she never expected to see that handsome face filled with such hostility, because as far as she knew, Altezza was always friendly to everyone."Are they arguing?" Tessa whispered to Adaline, who shook her head in response because she didn't understand what they were saying either."And please, stay away from my wife. Pretend you don't know her even if you accidentally meet her.""Oh come on, Cousin. How could I act like that? Ignoring an angel as beautiful as her just like that? Even other people would do a double-take if they saw her. What about me?" Gian seemed unwilling to back down. Altezza sneered."I don't care. Whatever the reason, you need to keep your distance from her. At least one meter. If not, I'll put blinders on that ugly head of yours." He t
The silence before the storm. Have you ever heard that term? That's what Adaline feels right now. There's an uneasy feeling filling her chest. A feeling Adaline can't quite interpret. Restlessness, discomfort, feeling off. Things like that, but she doesn't know what it's all for.There's nothing wrong with her job. Everything's going smoothly. There are no problems at home either. Although she noticed Altezza has been a bit quiet since their return from Antony's house. But Adaline thinks it might be because of work matters.There are no issues with her mother either because she just got a call from her to check on the routine checkup results. And her mother said everything's fine.So what's this feeling for?Adaline decides to have lunch outside the office area with Tessa. However, when it's time to return, Tessa has a bit of business to attend to, so Adaline ends up returning to the office alone.As Adaline enters the lobby, she's quite surprised to see Jovanka there. Even her fellow
“I myself don't understand, what 'new beginning' you want. Because my cousin clearly started a new beginning since you chose to leave him," Antony responds in his flat tone.The man's eyes glance back at Adaline hiding. Perhaps to make sure Adaline hears all of his words. And now Adaline realizes who Jovanka is, her status, and the reason why the woman is here and searching for her husband."Please, Antony. Give me one more chance." The woman looks so pitiful. Her face seems pleading."It's useless to plead to me. I'm nobody. I have nothing to do with your relationship.“If you really want to meet him, just find him. Because if you truly know him, you'd know where he is," Antony says before leaving the lobby area toward the executive elevator, followed by Gian and Duncan.From her spot, Adaline can see Jovanka sitting back on the sofa. The woman's shoulders appear to be trembling, her face covered by her hands adorned with diamond rings.On one hand, Adaline feels pity. On the other h
Two days passed just like that. Adaline knew that by now Altezza should have returned to Manhattan. But even over the past two days, the man hadn't tried to contact her at all. And Adaline hadn't tried to contact him either because she was afraid of bothering him.That morning was terrible for Adaline. Her morning sickness still hadn't subsided. This time it seemed even worse. Especially because for the past two days, she hadn't been eating properly or getting enough rest.Her body felt weak, her face pale. Every food she ate came back up. Only sweet tea settled well in her stomach.Tessa was so worried every time she went back and forth to the toilet. Sometimes the girl even waited for her, afraid that Adaline might faint from exhaustion."Ada, are you okay?" Tessa looked at her with concern.Adaline tried to wipe the cold sweat off her forehead. Her body felt weak, her head so light, and her eyes seemed to sparkle. Her face looked very pale. Even her lips were chapped."Let's go to
"Altezza?! Why are you like this? You used to say you loved me, but why have you changed like this?""Yes, but that was then. Back then, when you were the Jovanka I knew. The Jovanka who promised to be a good wife. The Jovanka who promised to give me many children."And I lost that love when the Jovanka I knew changed. Changed into an ambitious Jovanka. A Jovanka who likes to break promises," Altezza said flatly, almost without emotion."Altezza, you know my dreams. You know what I want to become. You gave me hope to pursue my dreams.""Yes, I did. I pushed you, I supported you to reach those dreams. But you never felt satisfied."When I asked you to stop, you didn't want to. Even though all I asked for was a momentary pause so you could at least fulfill my dreams, but you didn't make it happen."And I'm tired. Tired of giving you time. Tired of asking you to fulfill my desires," Altezza emphasized."Altezza, please. Haven't I promised that this is the last time? Now I'm back. Let's f
Adaline opened her eyes, unsure of how many times she had done so already. But this time, what she saw was slightly different from the last time she opened her eyes. The ceiling was still white, but the turquoise curtains she had seen before were no longer there."Darling, are you awake?" asked a voice beside her. Adaline turned her head and saw her mother-in-law standing on the right side of her bed."Mamma?" she asked, puzzled."Yes, dear. It's Mamma. How are you feeling now? Are you still dizzy? Weak?""A bit, Mamma," she weakly replied. "Where's Tessa?""She left to go back to the office earlier. She said she'll come back here later this afternoon. I've already contacted your mother; the driver is picking her up to come here," Delila continued without Adaline asking. "Why didn't you tell me that you were experiencing severe morning sickness?" Her mother-in-law reprimanded her. Adaline winced.The sound of the door opening diverted their attention. "Darling, are you okay?" Altezza
Now Altezza's forehead wrinkled. "How do you know that she still loves me?""She said it directly to the three of us. Me, Tessa, and Joanna. We met by chance and she suddenly told us about her love story."At that time, I didn't know that she was your ex-wife. And she also seemed unaware that I am now your wife. She sincerely wanted to apologize and get back together with you. She said she would change. Don't you want to give her a chance?"Altezza's forehead furrowed even more. He looked at Adaline with a puzzled expression. 'What does his wife mean by saying things like that?' The question filled his mind."We got married because of a contract," Adaline answered as if understanding the unspoken question from Altezza. "You wanted me to bear your son in exchange for the expenses you incurred to help heal my mother."Altezza shook his head. "I won't deny that. Because that's indeed the fact."But when I said my marriage vows, I meant them sincerely. This marriage is a covenant between