Adaline rubbed her throbbing head. Last night, she had trouble sleeping again. Even though she tried to go back to sleep after dawn, it felt very difficult. And now her work was piling up.She hadn't experienced morning sickness anymore. But still, there were times when she would vomit her food if nausea suddenly struck her. In return, she always kept mints in almost every accessible place.Tessa invited her for lunch. Adaline agreed. She really wanted to have spicy meatball soup.They walked to the office cafeteria. But she felt uncomfortable because she felt like people were watching her. And her suspicion was quite reasonable, because when she turned her head to look, they instantly closed their mouths and blatantly looked away.Adaline glanced at Tessa. Tessa looked back at her puzzled. When Adaline queued for lunch, she finally found out why people were staring at her."Seriously? So who's the third person then?" said the person in front of Adaline's queue."How would I know? May
"We only found out during lunch today. People were whispering, and it turns out it's all about this.""It seems that soon the journalists will be looking for the truth. And I think Adaline shouldn't go to the office for a while, especially since her condition doesn't allow it," Tessa glanced at her friend. Her face was slightly flushed after finishing her warm sweet tea.Delila nodded. She reached for her phone again and called Antony. "Yes, Adaline is at home.""...""It's okay, Antony. I understand. But please, Adaline might not be able to work for a few days ahead. For more details, I'll consult with her obstetrician first.""...""Yes, thank you, dear.""..."She hung up the phone. Delila stroked Adaline's forehead again. "The doctor will come shortly. You eat first, okay?" she asked gently.Adaline just nodded faintly. She didn't even have the energy to speak.Adaline could only manage to put three spoonfuls of food into her mouth. But even that was an improvement.The doctor arr
Adaline woke up feeling thirsty. She glanced at the clock on the wall of her room and realized it wasn't too late yet. It was only eight in the evening, but all the windows were already covered with thick curtains.Adaline glanced at her bedside table and saw that her glass was empty. She got up from bed to walk to the kitchen. However, as she was about to turn towards the kitchen, she could hear a conversation coming from the living room."Mom doesn't want to know. However you do it, you need to fix all these problems," her mother-in-law's voice sounded."Antony has tried to shut down the news portal. But some of the news has already spread through personal accounts. So, it's harder to contain," Adaline heard Antony's voice too. It seemed they were discussing the news Adaline had read earlier that afternoon."What about the TV station? Their social media accounts? That woman has even uploaded a lot of evidence photos of you guys. Even if we report her, it'll only make things worse,"
Altezza parked his car on the side of the house as usual, a habit he'd maintained since long ago. Although he no longer had spare keys to the house, old habits die hard. He knocked on the iron door several times until the figure of a middle-aged woman he knew appeared."Is Jovanka in?" he asked, to which the woman nodded in response. Altezza followed her inside, heading towards the kitchen and choosing to wait in the family room. In the past, Altezza would have gone straight upstairs to Jovanka's room. But this time, he refrained. He was a stranger now, so he was mindful of his position."Altezza, Honey, you're here," the woman exclaimed. She looked elegant in a maroon long-sleeved dress with a knee-length skirt, her face beaming.She half-ran towards Altezza, trying to kiss him, but he dodged."I came to talk," Altezza said flatly. He glanced at Cindy, Jovanka's assistant, and Evans, her manager."Speak," Jovanka's demeanor turned cold. "I don't have much time; I have an event with o
"We only have today and tomorrow. Just send her a legal notice first. If she doesn't respond, you appear in public tomorrow. I'll tell you all the facts about my relationship with her. My witness is Antony," the lawyer nodded in agreement.Altezza then revealed everything from the beginning of their meeting. The woman's request for a secret marriage and her desire to have a child, which was rejected by her due to career issues."Would you mind if we make a clarification video? At least to tell the public that what I've stated is with your knowledge," the lawyer suggested."Is that necessary?" Altezza actually objected. He didn't want his face to be known publicly for something as negative as this. But the lawyer nodded. "I'll think about it. But please remember, I don't want my wife involved. Especially not to be accused as the third party."Again, the lawyer nodded. Shortly after, he bid farewell. Altezza lay back in his chair, sighing heavily. His head throbbed painfully. This issue
Joanna widened her eyes at the 40-inch flat screen, shocked to see the news being broadcasted on one of the TV stations where her fellow model colleague was currently being interviewed.Once again, she felt blindsided. This time, it was her close friend, Adaline, being disparaged by her friend, Jovanka. And she had just found out about it.It was all because of her manager who always restricted her from using her phone and social media.Joanna glared at her manager. "You're really heartless, Fer!" she shouted, disregarding the hotel guests who were enjoying their snacks. "This is not trivial, Fer. My friend is the subject of discussion here.""Joan. I know you care about Jovanka, but...""Care about Jovanka? I couldn't care less about her!" Joanna snapped again.Her somewhat timid manager furrowed his brows and then widened his eyes with his mouth agape."Give me back my phone!" she demanded.Her manager retrieved the flat object from his bag and handed it to Joanna. Joanna searched f
Jovanka flopped onto her favorite plush sofa, lifting both legs and asking her assistant to massage them. Evans stood facing the window, observing the multitude of journalists gathered outside Jovanka's house."Everyone's gone crazy. I'm being chased by the news. And now everyone knows who Jovanka's husband is. Soon enough, Altezza will come back to me," Jovanka said proudly.Evans turned to look at Jovanka. "Are you sure he'll come back?" he asked sarcastically.Jovanka narrowed her eyes at him. "Of course. Haven't I told you he loves me too much?""You're too confident," Evans replied. He walked closer and sat on a single sofa, reaching into his bag and handing her a white envelope."If he really loves you that much, he wouldn't send you this letter," he continued.Jovanka roughly took the envelope and read it, then crumpled it. The letter contained demands—not requests—that instructed Jovanka to retract all her statements to the press and publicly apologize to the Altezza family. I
Adaline could only stare at the TV blankly. Eventually, what she tried to hide from her mother-in-law and aunt was exposed. Adaline and her mother-in-law had agreed to cover up the bad news that Jovanka was currently spreading. That's why ever since Adaline brought her mother-in-law and aunt to Delila's residence, they tried their best to keep both middle-aged women away from the television and engage them in various activities. Whether it was cooking, gardening, or just chatting. Turning on the TV was something they actively avoided.However, this afternoon, Delila was careless. Violet turned on the television right when a program interviewing Jovanka was airing, and both women were transfixed by the contents of the interview. And during the commercial break, their eyes turned towards her."Is there...?" both her mother and aunt asked simultaneously. Adaline could only offer them her smile."It's all just slander, Ma, Aunty," she said reassuringly. "That woman used to be Altezza's gi
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