"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
The relationship between Altezza and Adaline is improving day by day, especially after Altezza's confession to Adaline the other day. Adaline's confidence suddenly emerges.As they had agreed, they started everything with a fresh intention. And Adaline finally found out about the secret door mentioned by her husband. It turns out Altezza had built a connecting door between his room and the one occupied by Adaline. And indeed, Adaline never knew about it because the door was hidden inside the wardrobe. The next day when she returned from the hospital, Altezza showed her the spot."This is why your wardrobe is so wide and doesn't have a lock," Altezza said as he opened her wardrobe door and slid the connecting door, revealing the inside of Adaline's wardrobe.Adaline looked at him with a fearful expression."Don't worry, Honey. I've never abused this door for anything improper," Altezza reassured.Adaline still looked at him with an incredulous gaze. The man just grinned.They spent the
Adaline smiled gratefully at the person who had just placed the documents on her desk. She resumed her work without opening the files she had just received. When Tessa reached for a document on her desk, the woman waved a brown envelope in front of her."What's this?" she asked, curious.Adaline furrowed her brow. She didn't know she had received an envelope. There was no sender's name on the A5-sized envelope either.Curious, Adaline opened it. She almost dropped all the photos inside if it weren't for Tessa who held them back. Her hands were remarkably quick."Is this?" Tessa opened each photo in her hands. She mentioned a date. It happened three days ago.Three days? What was Altezza doing three days ago?Adaline reached for her phone in the drawer. She opened a chat application and scrolled to three days ago.Husband:Madam, it seems I'll be coming home late. There's some urgent matter... (15:12)Adaline:(15:20) I understand.Husband:I'll be back late. No need to prepare dinner.
"Come on, don't listen to them. They're just jealous people," Tessa replied casually.After washing their hands, they stepped out of the restroom area. Once again, Adaline felt uneasy. Was it just her imagination, or were people looking at her differently now? What were they thinking? Were they mocking her? Or were they passing judgment on her? Adaline couldn't find the right words to describe how they were looking at her, but she definitely felt uncomfortable.Tessa wrapped her arm around Adaline's shoulder and squeezed her arm tightly. "Don't think negatively," she whispered softly. "Remember the baby in your belly," she reminded. Reflexively, Adaline's hand reached for her stomach, which was now slightly protruding.After work, Tessa invited Adaline to hang out again, hoping to cheer her up. Since Adaline was craving sweets, they chose a café with a variety of desserts on the menu.Adaline's tray was filled with a slice of cheesecake, chocolate lava cake, and a bowl of soup. She op
"I'm very sure. He's a very good man. I'm sure you'll like him once you get to know him. My lover is the ideal type of boyfriend and husband. He's caring and attentive," Jovanka praised with shining eyes. Joanna responded to her friend's words with a serious nod, while Tessa glanced at Adaline, who was now smiling faintly.In Adaline's heart, she did indeed agree with Jovanka's statement about Altezza's character, although there was a pain that emerged that she couldn't just brush aside."But if he's a good man, he shouldn't abandon a woman who's already carrying his child," Joanna commented again.Jovanka shrugged nonchalantly. "I also don't know why he did that foolish act. But indeed, since the beginning, when we were still together, he really wanted to have a child. It's just that back then I kept postponing it because I wasn't ready to give up my career."But even though it seems cruel, I like the way he handled it because it benefited both of us. So even if we get married later,
Adaline suddenly missed her mother. She asked Tessa to take her to her mother's house, and her friend happily agreed. Adaline sent a message to Altezza that she would stay at her mother's house, and Altezza said he would join her later.Throughout the journey, Tessa observed Adaline in silence. Adaline wasn't someone who liked to talk a lot and be chatty like herself and Joanna, but Adaline's silence this time still worried Tessa. Finally, tired of this suffocating silence, Tessa spoke up."Is everything okay?""She's a smart woman. She knows what she's doing. And she's clearly baiting me. I'm just saying what needs to be said, not what she wants to hear.""Adaline...?"Adaline turned and smiled. "You don't need to be sad like that." Adaline reached for her friend's hand, who was gently rubbing her arm. "Everything will be okay."From the beginning, I knew the consequences. Everything you heard from me is what I'm thinking. I won't try to make him love me or force him to choose betwee
Adaline's POV:"Dad?" I saw my dad sitting on a bench in the park not far from our old rental house.Dad smiled, patting the empty space next to him, and reluctantly, I walked over and sat down."Why are you here?" I asked, glancing at our old house. The house we left when I entered middle school. The house filled with beautiful memories where I grew up."Do you forget? Back when we were moving, you cried incessantly. Saying to us how much you liked our old house."I smiled and nodded. I did cry a lot back then, begging my parents not to move from there.I didn't want to make new friends because I had a hard time socializing. But Dad said everything would be okay. In fact, if we moved, I would be even happier.Dad said I needed to learn to be more sociable because life is more beautiful with many friends."Why are we here?" I asked, confused.My dad smiled. His face looked so fresh, cheerful, and of course, handsome."Just a reminder that we once had a past," my dad said casually. "Do
Is this some sorta karma?Altezza gazed at his sleeping wife, deeply asleep. The doctor managed to save her. Save their baby.After experiencing a heart attack and losing a lot of blood, his wife could finally return to them. Even though his wife is now declared in a coma, just like himself.Oh God. Is this my payback for all my past mistakes?Why are You like this to me?"Wake up, Darling. Please wake up quickly. Don't you have pity on our two children? I haven't even been able to give them names yet." Altezza whispered to his wife's hand.That hand was so small and weak. The hand that had been holding his all this time. The hand that had always touched him gently. Regardless of what Altezza had ever done to her.Altezza reluctantly rose from his seat. "I'll be right back, hurry and wake up." Altezza kissed his wife's forehead. He bid farewell to his mother and mother-in-law before leaving the hospital.He still limped, his leg condition worsening as he carried Adaline back then, but
Adaline accompanied Altezza back to the hospital for his therapy session. Three times a week, they spent two hours together, even though all Adaline did was watch. After the therapy, Gian would come and accompany them to take Adaline for her prenatal exercises. Altezza never liked it; he always felt jealous whenever Gian took his place as Adaline's companion. But what could he do? His body still wasn't healthy enough to assist. He just hoped that when Adaline gave birth, he would be the one by her side, not Gian.As for Adaline's pregnancy, she was now at 36 weeks, with three to four weeks left until delivery. Stefanie continued to persuade her wife to opt for a cesarean section during delivery, but Adaline remained firm in her decision to have a normal birth, despite knowing the condition of her body.But whatever happened in the future, he only hoped that Adaline would give birth safely. As well as their two babies.Was it just his imagination, or were they being followed since leav
Everyone was running towards the front room. Objects flew, hitting the walls and crashing into pieces. Ceramic and glass shards scattered on the floor. Along with it, the sounds of screams and curses echoed. It was deafening to everyone witnessing it.Yes, Jovanka was raging in her residence. She looked at her assistant with a sharp gaze while Evans stood silently with his blank expression."What's going on?" Cindy glanced between Evans and Jovanka. The middle-aged couple behind her were holding hands in worry and fear simultaneously. "Evans?" Cindy looked at Evans again, seeking an answer.Evans carefully navigated through the glass shards and picked up the papers Jovanka had crumpled in anger. It was a police summons addressed to Jovanka. Not only that, but Cindy also noticed several swollen credit card bills, penalty invoices from the agency's law firm, all addressed to Jovanka Lawrence.Cindy looked at Evans, and Evans returned the gaze. "I told you to stop. But you never cared."
"I'm still better than him, Ada. I won't hurt you. I also won't leave you waiting while I'm in a coma. Because I never wanted to be in a coma. Not like him who left you waiting for so long with the excuse of being in a coma," Gian replied again."Damn you! Come on, Brother, quickly take him home. If possible, send him straight back to Italy to his parents," pleaded Altezza, looking pitiful.Antony sighed. He slapped his thighs and stood up. "I need him, Al. I need a right-hand man since you took Duncan. Come on, Gian, get up." He ordered softly. Gian complied."Thank you," Altezza replied as Antony was willing to fulfill his request."We're going home, Ada," Antony replied, acknowledged by Adaline's nod. "But if you're indeed tempted by Gian's words, just contact me. I'll willingly help you file for divorce from your husband," he replied flatly.Altezza gaped at him while Gian cheered happily. "Yes!" He shouted."Damn you both! Get out of here! Never show up here again!" Altezza yelle
Altezza is indeed conscious, but that doesn't mean she can go home freely. Her broken bones have indeed improved during her coma period, but she still needs intensive care. Because her body didn't move for three months, some parts of her body became swollen and stiff. So, Altezza has to undergo regular therapy.The wound on her head has also dried up. Although the doctor stated that Altezza would definitely have side effects due to the surgery.Meanwhile, after Altezza regained consciousness, the legal process began. During the accident, it turns out that Altezza wasn't the only victim. Two other cars were also hit in the incident. So, the total accident involved four cars and nine victims, although it didn't result in any fatalities. However, among the nine people, Altezza suffered the most severe injuries, while the others only suffered minor injuries.Adaline has never wanted to know the cause of the accident. And her family has never discussed it in front of her to protect her and
Adaline felt kicks in her stomach. She groaned softly. Her eyes opened, and she could see the hospital ceiling in front of her.Wasn't she in the ICU earlier? Since when was she moved to the regular ward?Adaline glanced at the bed next to her. It was clear she had returned to the regular room she had been in. But her husband's bed, which was usually occupied, was empty.Adaline closed her eyes with her arm. She felt the IV needle in her left hand. It seemed she had passed out again, something that had happened frequently lately.Adaline heard her room door open, but she didn't want to turn or see anyone who came in.Footsteps and the sound of wheels approached her bed."Madam..."That voice? It sounded hoarse, but Adaline knew it so well. The voice she had longed to hear. Unwanted tears fell again. How could she daydream at a time like this..."Madam, do you really not want to see me again?"The tone of that voice? It sounded sad yet also joyful at the same time."Are you teasing me
Adaline sat motionless in her place. Her husband's body trembled violently, then convulsed momentarily. All the screens next to the man blared loudly.Adaline could only stare at her husband with an empty gaze. Someone wrapped their arms around her shoulders, pulling her back just as the paramedics arrived."We're leaving, Honey," said Delila's voice. Adaline turned her head and shook it, but Delila kept urging her to go."Mamma... Altezza... he..." she pointed to her husband. Mrs. Delila only nodded and continued to escort her out of the ICU room.Her mother-in-law settled Adaline into a long chair in the hallway. Adaline sat in silence. The commanding screams echoed only in her head. She twisted her hands, praying silently, hoping that God would return the man she loved.This wasn't the first time Altezza had an attack. But it was always frightening for her whenever it happened.Three months. Altezza had been in a coma for three months. Although the doctors said he showed progress,
Altezza opened his eyes, but he quickly covered them with one hand. The dazzling light hurt his eyes. Altezza squinted, trying to adjust his vision and figure out where he was now. As far as he remembered, he had just had an accident, but strangely what he saw now was not the ceiling of a hospital or the view of a treatment room, but large branches and dense foliage.Altezza sat up. He was quite surprised because he didn't feel the pain he should feel. He looked at his body and felt fine. But why was he there? Why was he in this vast green field? Why was he lying under a shady tree before?Altezza turned and was quite surprised to see someone he knew sitting next to him and even smiling at him. "Sir?" he asked, surprised.How long had they not met? If Altezza remembered correctly, the last time he saw that man was about eight years ago. "What are you doing here?" Altezza asked again.The man stared back at Altezza in surprise. "I should be asking you the same. Why are you here?" The m