"I hate you," Cheryl whispers right by Lily's side as she steps out of her father's luxurious SUV. Hearing that, Lily's heart feels like it's being pelted with thousands of invisible pebbles, making her instinctively retract her body.
The shoulder-length haired woman takes in as much air as she can. Trying to normalize all her senses that momentarily paralyzed because of the words spoken earlier. From the corner of her eye, Lily can see the girl walking gracefully, hand in hand with her father. As if what was just said was just a meaningless word, interpreted differently by Lily herself.
"Miss Lily, don't stay far from Cheryl, okay? I'm worried," says Anna, making Lily jump in surprise. When she turns around, the middle-aged woman, elegant in her maroon kebaya, is already not far from where she stands.
"Yeah, Mrs. Anna."
Deep down, Lily believes this will be quite difficult to do. Fresh in her memory is how the girl stripped Lily bare with eyes full of wo
Lily tries her best to normalize her heart rate. Every time she expresses longing for her parents—especially Rianto, her father—her mother always manages to make her feel small again. Such deep longing should diminish because of various words from the woman who conceived and bore her.Whenever asked about her job, Lily knows she's guilty. But she's not ready to take the risk of being forced back to her hometown. Not because she's started to enjoy her job. Not at all. Lily chooses to stay here, rather than having to hear many things that still haunt her mind.One thing she feels for sure now. Pain without visible wounds on her skin. At the end of the phone call, her mother said, "Your father has a message for you, take care of yourself. You are now back under our watch, Lily."She really wants to respond to those words, but everything gets stuck in her throat. Does Lily have to accept all of this? Absolutely not. Lily understands her mother's good int
Two days had passed, and Cheryl had been acting cold towards her. The little girl's emotions were testing Lily extraordinarily. Everyone in the house said she was the most patient nanny who still endured Cheryl's behavior. Lily responded with a smile. Actually, she wasn't that patient. The self-healing she did facing Cheryl was significant. However, she didn't complain.To her, Cheryl was like a box full of secrets. She wanted to uncover the bottom of that box as soon as possible. Lily had once dreamed of what it would be like to have the title she now held. Everything was enveloped in love, and Lily didn't want to regret it. That's why, when faced with someone like Cheryl, she felt like she had found an oasis in the desert of her life. Maybe a little more patience would pay off. Lily hoped for that. Cheryl's soul suddenly became important to her for some reason.This morning, Cheryl wasn't at the breakfast table. Her employer was out of town while Mrs. Anna had a flig
Lily couldn't possibly not talk about what happened to her young miss. Especially since this is the second time the same thing has happened. Fortunately for Cheryl today, she didn't have to attend the swim meet. She just had to write an essay as a replacement as the girl told her nanny.Maybe it's because of that story that Lily finds herself here. After being invited in by the room's owner, Lily walks slowly. It's Anna Adam's private space. Lily has often passed by this large carved door, but only now does she enter it.Lily is treated to a heavenly sight here. An indoor garden with many flowers, shelves of succulents, and a fish pond whose rippling water soothes the soul. Maybe if Lily stays here long enough, she could fall asleep without any desire to wake up again. That's how delightful this corner is made."Sit here, Lily."Lily smiles. The voice is so warm, as if talking to a close friend. But who is Lily? Just a nanny. Not forgetting the tray of sn
"I'm actually scared, Mrs. Anna, to meet Mr. James again," Lily finally speaks to Anna. The incident last night really made her tremble facing her boss. This Monday morning, the middle-aged woman is already sitting at the dining table. While the young miss and her employer haven't shown up yet.Anna just chuckles softly. "James isn't angry, Lily. Besides, you've given your reasons. Now, it's even better, James surely won't stay silent about this incident." She sees her granddaughter's caregiver nodding slowly."James didn't fire you, did he?"Lily can't help but smile. "If I were fired, I wouldn't be in this kitchen anymore, right, Mrs.?"That answer makes Anna laugh. "We need you, Lily."Lily's lips twitched. This time it's not the awkward smile when facing her employer, but a touched smile because of Anna's acceptance as such a good lady towards her.However, the sudden surge of worry makes that smile disappear."Why?"Lily b
Fourteen years ago, Lily met Levi Mathias for the first time. It was by chance because Levi turned out to be the nephew of Lily's favorite lecturer, Sadewa Winata. They met because Dewa was sick at the time. He couldn't teach while his lesson materials were entrusted to Levi.Polite, smart, courteous, and humble. That's the figure Dewa described about Liliana Bertha, his proud student. Maybe that's what kept Levi getting closer to Lily. Given lots of attention, understanding, affection, and love, which woman's heart wouldn't melt?Lily closes her eyes, shaking her head slowly to push away the dark memories that come back to haunt her."Lily ... are you crying?" asks the voice on the other end, only hearing small sobs since the call was answered.There's no response at all, the sobbing only intensifies."Lily ... what's wrong? Are you getting scolded by your boss? I'm really worried, Lily. What happened?" Risa presses impatiently."Levi, Risa
"Miss ... wait," Lily calls out, slightly out of breath. She's a bit troubled by the request from her young lady. Before leaving, Shery wanted a rice roll with sliced grilled meat. Just like when that breakfast menu was specially served for the young lady.As they enter this elite mall area, the girl is half-running. She says she can't wait to meet Abyan. Yet all along the way, she made sure Abyan isn't a pesky and noisy kid. Because Cheryl doesn't want to be friends with kids like that. Lily gets annoyed because she has explained several times, as if the girl doesn't believe her.Now, it's the girl who looks very excited. Cheryl laughs joyfully and waits for her caregiver to match her steps. "I can't wait, Miss.""But don't run. I'm worried you might fall; you know?"Cheryl blinks slowly, giving Lily a small smile. Then in one swift move, she's already hugging part of the woman's body, managing to steal some of her comfort. "I don't know how I can be thi
For first time reading Liliana Bertha's resume, there was a big question that popped up. However, it was answered straightforwardly and it seemed to be the honesty from her child's caregiver. James didn't expect that both Denny and Lily were from the same alma mater. For a long time, James stared at the sheet in front of him.His memory was forcibly dragged back to the conversation at the ice cream shop in the mall after Cheryl played."I really didn't expect to meet you here, Lily. Uh...Risa too, actually," Denny couldn't hide his enthusiasm facing the two women sitting in front of him.Don't ask James what Risa's expression was because the woman who had his child in her lap didn't seem awkward at all. It was different with Lily. She seemed to have lost her voice. Only responding with short words and a small smile."Do you all know each other?" Unable to hold back his curiosity, James finally interrupted Denny's excitement."Yeah. They're my alumn
Lily was busy with her phone, ignoring the small calls inviting her to join a fan club of someone she knows. She shook her head in wonder. How could there be a fan club for James Adam at Cheryl's school? Maybe if Risa knew about this, her friend would sign up right away. Considering the first time Risa met him, compliments about his looks slipped effortlessly from her lips. Not to mention the gossip about him. Lily was even getting tired of the questions, "Has Mr. James's wife ever come, Lily?" Or, "Yeah, I told you too. Mr. James is a Hot Widower."For Lily, none of that mattered. Cheryl was the most important thing to her. His status was none of her business. Not at all. Even if what most of the gossipers were also caregivers, it was true. James' face was indeed handsome, Lily admitted to herself, but that didn't make her fascinated by him. Not at all. It was enough for her to have any dealings with a man like James. It was more than enough.Her presence in James's h
Days go by, months roll by, years also add up. But one thing is timeless. Togetherness in the two-story house that is now never quiet again. Sometimes Anna's voice fills the corners of the room where Nika is too active to move. The seven-year-old is like a deer in headlights. She can't keep still. I don't know where her energy comes from. Anna is not afraid that something will break or fall because of Nika. But she was worried that her granddaughter would get hurt because she was too agile. Running here and there, sometimes jumping up and down while laughing merrily. Fortunately, Levant could accompany Nika's activities, although the youngest daughter had to wait until her middle sister came home from school. Meanwhile, Cheryl was really busy with her studies. Levant also started to have a lot of activities at school. Even so, Cheryl never wasted time with her family. Even Levant. Whenever there is an opportunity to get together, they do it with great j
Lily gazed at Nika, who had fallen asleep, fondly. She still remembered how she gave birth to her youngest daughter. Although there was a lot of drama, her gratitude never subsided. "Sleep well, sweetheart. Sweet dreams." She gently kissed Nika's forehead as she prayed, "Oh God, always protect my children from nightmares. From people with evil intentions. From the hypocrites around them. Make them good and virtuous children." Fixing the edge of Nika's blanket properly, tidying up the books that Nika had messed up, and making sure the room temperature was comfortable, Lily left the room. Which turned out to be awaited by James. "Not sleeping yet?" asked Lily, who carefully closed the door to Nika's room. "I can't sleep if you're not around." James sulked exactly like Levant. That's why Lily often joked that her husband transformed into his son when he was five years old. All Lily could do was to mess up James' rather messy hair.
Even though it was loud and noisy in her father's luxury SUV, Cheryl still had a quiet spot. Even though her mouth occasionally asked Levant not to tease her youngest sister, who had no idea where Levant's nosy behavior had come from, it was still a niche that sometimes demanded attention. She deliberately created a void in her heart to imprison the figure of Keana there. The figure that should have been there when she was sad, worried, lonely, read her stories, prepared her breakfast, and all sorts of activities that little Lily used to do. Like the woman who sat beside her father; who was never late to accompany her to do anything, even when she arrived in her red and white uniform. Not in a kindergarten uniform or even a time when her memory was not too perfect. The trip to one of the malls in Central Jakarta didn't take too long. Once in the parking area, James asked Levant and Nika's nanny to enter the shopping center first.
In the past, it took a lot of effort for Lily to get Cheryl to talk. This time, Cheryl could easily tell Lily anything, especially what happened to her. From her activities at school to her friends who she finds annoying. Cheryl had something to tell Lily. For her, talking to her mom is fun. Unlike her father, who often teases her. Especially about relationships with the opposite sex. "What's wrong, mom?" Cheryl folded her arms across her chest. Her face was sullen. The look in her eyes held irritation. "What's wrong with Papa?" Lily folded her smile. She reached out her hand to tidy up her daughter's long hair which was a bit messy. "I was asked about Noah. Am I his friend? When did I become Noah Narendra's friend?" "Drink the milk first, okay?" "I'm not Levant, Mom." Cheryl still didn't accept being treated like a child.Even so, she accepted the glass Lily handed her. She sipped slowly,
The second pregnancy was a bit risky for Lily. Her age made her worry, although not as much as the happiness that surrounded her. The doctor said, "As long as you take care of your womb, condition, and food intake, God willing, it will be fine." For Lily, everything that poured into her life now was more than a gift. What she had hoped for all this time, the millions of prayers she made in every prostration happened so easily. As if without burden, God gave her that wish when Lily let go of everything. When she let go of being a childless woman. Cheryl was enough for her to show off. Risa's advice to Lily was exactly that. So when her first pregnancy happened, the happiness was not only hers. But her whole family. Nita and Rianto often traveled to Jakarta to see their first grandchild grow. As befits the name Lily gave her second child-for Cheryl was her first-Levant Akala Virza. She hopes that her life will be as bright as her name.
The man was still frozen in front of the steering wheel. There was a moment of hesitation before he decided to actually get out and walk towards the place where James Adam's fare wall party was being held. Today, his coworker resigned. He chose to continue the business he had started rather than struggle under the command of someone else. There was a mountain of curiosity in the man's heart. Especially the words that had been bothering him since this morning. "I'm definitely missing Mr. James at work."He said honestly. His coworker this time was very dedicated to work."Mr. Levi could have. I had intended to resign a long time ago but the timing always clashed. It just so happens that my wife is spoiled beyond belief, asking to be accompanied at home.""Pregnant women have different hormones, boss," said Denny, James Adam's assistant. "Ms. Lily is so independent when she's spoiled, it's really funny.""Don't imagine someone's wife. Date someone else!"
"Where's Lily, James?" It was James' turn to be puzzled by such a question. Since leaving the room he had chosen to tidy up the files in his study first and then head to the dining room. Usually his wife, Sari, was preparing breakfast. But this morning, she wasn't there. Plus his mother's question just now. "Probably in Cheryl's room." That was all James could answer. "Morning, Grandma. Morning, Papa." Cheryl, cheerfully approached her father as well as her grandmother. Giving a good morning kiss befor
Lily is tired? She must be.However, her heart was happy because in addition to the wedding party that she had once dreamed of, it was perfectly realized by her husband. Even her wishes regarding the bridal room. Although she had protested, Lily was able to get her husband to comply. There was no bridal suite in the place where she spent her first night after becoming husband and wife. Even though the hotel had offered the most luxurious package to Lily, she refused. James actually didn't understand Lily's way of thinking. Wouldn't she be amazed to see how beautifully the bridal suite was decorated?James was eager to ask, but a smile and a sad look appeared on Lily's beautiful face. He did not want to ask further. Maybe later, when she was in a better mood, he would ask her about it."Tired?" asked James when he entered the room.He glanced at his wife who w
BALI The man frowns. The wedding invitation the receptionist had just given him was enough to make him tingle, but he would still tell his employer. There was no way he could hide this invitation from her."Keana," Andri called out loudly as he entered the long-haired woman's apartment unit."What the hell, you're screaming incoherently!"Keana, who was putting on her eyelashes, felt suddenly distracted. She felt like throwing her assistant with the boots next to her. It took a lot of concentration to put on those lashes and Andri succeeded in distracting her."I have a surprise for you."Andri grinned innocently. Handing the invitation to the woman. Keana snorted in displeasure but she read it anyway. She read the wedding invitation that came to her for a long time."When will it arrive?" She was still flipping through the ivory-colored invitat