Darian nodded hesitantly. He would keep his promise if the reason Yasmin gave was truly genuine and something he could accept. Considering the many mysteries and secrets of Fahira's life that had not been revealed yet. Darian himself was still waiting for the results of the investigation by David's trusted people.
"Come with me, Mommy!" Yasmin stood up from the sofa and headed towards the family's private library, followed by Darian behind her.
Yasmin sat in the chair behind the desk and opened a drawer.
"Here is Mommy's reason!" Yasmin said as she took out a brown envelope from the drawer and slid it towards Darian, who was sitting in a chair across the table.
Still looking at his mother, Darian reached for the brown envelope. He slowly opened it with his heart racing.
Thud. Darian's heart suddenly felt like it stopped. His hands trembled as his eyes began to read the contents of the letter, which seemed to tear his heart and pride apart.
"
Last night, Darian truly transformed into a little child who longed for his mother, like a mother and child who had been separated for a long time. Yasmin's gentle touch on the top of his head seemed to lull him to sleep, leading him into a beautiful dream. Darian felt as if he was thrown far back into his childhood memories, where he and Yasmin always spent time together.Yasmin woke up from her sleep just as the faint call to the Fajr prayer echoed in her ears, melodiously seeping through. Still with her eyes closed, her hand reached out to find the figure that had lulled her into a beautiful dream the night before. Those beautiful eyelids fluttered open as she scanned the entire room. "Did Darian leave last night?" Yasmin whispered as she got up from her soft bed. She gathered her beautiful hair and tied it in one place. She hurriedly left the room and stepped up the stairs to the second floor where Darian's room was located.Slowly, Yasmin's hand reached for the do
"Hey, beautiful!" greeted Darian with a beaming smile as the door opened wide. The man in the black suit looked completely different. Happiness radiated from his face. With his left hand sunk into his pants pocket and his right hand resting on the door frame, he looked even more charismatic. Fahira was momentarily stunned, admiring the perfection of the man standing in front of her."Why are you here so early in the morning?" Fahira asked, trying to divert her racing heartbeat. All night, she was restless because Darian didn't reply to her WhatsApp messages or calls, and now he stood behind the door with an innocent look on his face."I missed you!" replied Darian briefly, playfully raising his eyebrows."Cliché!" Fahira scoffed, getting even more annoyed, which made Darian chuckle softly. His brown eyes gazed at Fahira with a look full of love, making her heart race even faster."Let's go, sis!" Ariel interrupted. Instantly, Ariel's expression tur
Fahira's worries turned out to be unfounded. Yasmin welcomed her with open arms and even encouraged Darian and Fahira to get married."Fahira, please forgive Mommy, okay? We may not know each other well yet, but I believe Darian's choice is the best," Yasmin said gently. She reached for Fahira's fingers and looked into Fahira's deep black eyes tenderly."Mrs. Yasmin, you don't need to apologize. I completely understand your feelings," Fahira replied politely. Yasmin's gentle gaze instantly reminded Fahira of her own mother, and it sent shivers down her spine.It had been three years since Fahira's parents passed away, and during that time, she never visited their graves. Not because she couldn't afford the transportation from Jakarta to Surabaya, but because a letter had instructed her to stay with Ariel in Jakarta for an unspecified period for their safety. Fahira was afraid that something might happen if she dared to leave, especially for Ariel's safety.
Darian's heart was in turmoil after David's words. He couldn't pretend not to care about Alea if she was attempting suicide. The thought of Alea hurting herself again haunted him, and the guilt would stay with him for a lifetime. Darian contemplated whether he should tell Fahira about Alea or not."No," Darian whispered, massaging his nose bridge with closed eyes. He knew Fahira well enough; she would probably choose to leave him rather than see someone else getting hurt, and Darian didn't want that to happen.In the end, he decided to follow David's advice and meet with Alea, accompanied by David. He didn't want anything undesirable to occur. He was worried that Alea might do something reckless, and Darian didn't want to be trapped in an unwanted situation.From a distance, David observed Darian and Alea engaged in a serious conversation. Alea's eyes were filled with hatred as she stared at Darian. After a while, she stood up from her seat and grabbed a glass o
35This evening, David was once again assigned by Darian as a bodyguard. And of course, David gladly accepted it because he also wanted to meet Alea. His mind was restless since the incident when Alea poured water on Darian earlier that afternoon. He didn't know why he was so concerned about that girl. His life had become uneasy ever since he took away her innocence. Alea's eyes filled with hatred and anger haunted him like a spell that he couldn't shake off from his mind.David observed Darian's tender behavior towards Fahira as they conversed in the elevator. David felt like a mosquito now, regretting accepting Darian's offer to ride the exclusive elevator for top executives along with the two love birds. He gave them that nickname because he always witnessed their affectionate moments. It wasn't just David; anyone who saw them could read the significance of Darian's gaze towards the girl in front of him. Darian's world now seemed to revolve around Fahira."Swea
A man is seen sleeping in restlessness. He moves erratically, causing his king-size bed to look messy, as if he has just finished a heated battle. But in reality, he is only wrestling with his thick blanket. Occasionally, the sound of sighs fills the quiet and dark room. The only light comes from the shy moon peeking through the silver curtains, waving softly due to the breeze from the room's air conditioner. The silhouette of a man is seen sitting without clothes, then he tosses aside his only cover. Wearing only boxer shorts, he gets up from the bed and looks for his flat object to contact someone.A stifled growl masks the only rhythm that has dominated the silence when the number he called turns out to be inactive. He checks the time on the small screen in his hand. His hand reaches out to the nightstand, searching for something. Byar... The light greets his eyes harshly, and he quickly shields his sight with his strong hands. Dragging his lazy feet, he enters the bathroo
Darian really had to restrain himself from detaining Fahira in his room, considering the tasks he had to accomplish today. If he had the chance, he would undoubtedly spend time with the woman he loved. Darian quickly shifted his focus to the small screen in front of him and checked the data's compatibility with the files on his desk, seemingly calling for immediate completion.Darian was so engrossed in his work that he even skipped lunch. Fahira, who had reminded him several times, began to feel annoyed. She dared to enter Darian's room with a lunchbox she had ordered through go-food."Come on, Darian, have lunch first; otherwise, you might get sick!" Fahira persuaded, having been sitting across from Darian's desk for the past 10 minutes. But he remained unfazed, with both eyebrows furrowed in seriousness."Hmm..." Darian mumbled without diverting his attention from the small screen in front of him."Darian!" Fahira was getting frustrated and got up from
"Next week, we'll go to Surabaya together with Mr. Darian and Mr. David," Fahira revealed during dinner with Ariel. The 18-year-old teenager stopped chewing her food in surprise. She quickly swallowed the mouthful and washed it down with a gulp of warm tea to clear her throat."Are you serious, sister Fahira?" Ariel replied, stuttering in disbelief. He had longed to visit his parents' graves for a while. However, he had kept this wish to himself, not wanting to burden Fahira with his thoughts."Yes, I'm serious. It's a school holiday for you anyway," Fahira continued with teary eyes. She felt the same longing. Missing her hometown, cherishing memories with her parents and friends."Are you sure it's safe for us to go back?" Ariel asked, his smile fading as he remembered the foreign letter they found when they woke up in the apartment they currently lived in.Fahira smiled and nodded reassuringly, "I'm sure it's safe. We should finish our meal."The
That afternoon, David and Alea came to visit the twins. They were warmly welcomed by the entire Setiadi family. Apart from being Darian's personal assistant at the office, David was also his best friend. In fact, Yasmin had known about the close bond between the two men since they were in high school."Honey, aren't you tired of kissing baby Joziah all the time?" David protested, as Alea had been adoring the handsome face of baby Joziah non-stop since they arrived an hour ago. If observed closely, the two babies looked like duplicates of Darian, but one of them had darker brown eyes. Coincidentally, baby Joziah, with Darian's signature dark brown eyes, was in Alea's arms."Don't tell me you're jealous of this handsome little guy!" Alea squinted her eyes at David, her husband of three months and the father of the baby in her womb."You know how jealous I can be!" David replied, stealing a kiss on Alea's cheek.Alea laughed and apologized to Darian and Fahi
With a blossoming smile, Fahira examined herself in front of the mirror. She scrutinized her body, which had undergone drastic changes. From being slim and sexy, she had transformed into a curvier woman, especially in the chest area. The smile at the corners of her lips was momentarily concealed by the sudden appearance of tears in her eyes. Then, her hands lifted to cup her chubby cheeks in front of her reflection. Occasionally, she would gently press her cheeks to make them look slimmer, reminiscent of her appearance ten months ago when she was not pregnant with the twins.A heavy sigh filled the quiet room. The woman standing in front of the dressing table shook her head repeatedly, trying to dismiss the sudden negative thoughts that rudely disrupted her happiness and wreaked havoc on her emotions.Fahira reached for the makeup set on the dressing table to apply a bit of powder to conceal the dark circles under her eyes and her pale complexion. She als
In the waiting area outside the operating room, Yasmin and Santi remained silent. However, prayers continued to resonate in their hearts for Fahira's safety and the well-being of her two sons. Not far from them, Gavin hurriedly approached. He had learned about Fahira undergoing a cesarean section from his assistant. After completing his visiting duties for inpatients at the hospital, Gavin immediately went to the operating room."How is Aunt Fahira?" Gavin asked, trying to catch his breath. Hearing Gavin's voice, the middle-aged woman stood up and embraced him tightly. "We're still waiting!" Yasmin replied, still held in Gavin's embrace."Don't worry, Aunt, Fahira and her two sons will be safe and healthy. The surgery will be over soon." Gavin released the embrace and gestured for Yasmin to sit back down.Suddenly, anxiety overwhelmed Gavin's heart as he imagined Farah being in that operating room. The thought of being by his wife's side during a cesarean sectio
Ariel, who was about to leave for school, finished his milk and said his goodbyes to Yasmin. After kissing her on the back of her hand, the teenager quickly caught up with Darian and Fahira to say goodbye.The aroma of petrichor filled Fahira's senses as her wheelchair came to a stop. Her clear eyes scanned the entire garden, admiring the beauty of the blooming flowers. The colorful blossoms captivated her heart, which had been troubled since the night before. Fahira smiled as she watched butterflies and bees fluttering around the flower buds, like soldiers ready for battle."Are they more fascinating than your husband?" protested Darian, who had been observing Fahira's cheerful expression. For him, Fahira was the beauty he had admired all this time."Oh, I think my husband is just jealous of them. How can fellow butterflies be jealous!" Fahira chuckled, playfully squeezing the hand of her brown-eyed man."I am a jealous man," said Darian, kissing Fahira'
Days passed and months went by unnoticed, and now Fahira's pregnancy has entered the final trimester, which means the Darian family is now filled with a mix of worries and happiness about the upcoming arrival of the twins into the world.Since the first trimester of Fahira's pregnancy, Darian has been on high alert as a husband and has become more possessive and protective. He frequently goes back and forth to the office just because Fahira wants to be close to him. Fahira's sweet and clingy behavior has also increased multiple times since entering the eighth month of pregnancy. She experiences various discomforts, and Doctor Intan, who is in charge of Fahira's pregnancy, has already warned Darian and the family about the risks and vulnerabilities of a twin pregnancy.One of Fahira's severe complaints is the pain in her back and legs. She can't sleep if it's not Darian caressing her back or massaging her legs. Even light activities like standing and walking become diff
55The scorching sun, descending towards the southwest, failed to untangle the traffic jam in Jakarta, the capital city. Unfortunately, Darian was still trapped in the crawling traffic. Both hands, which had been resting on the steering wheel, were suddenly lifted when the harsh sunlight hit his retinas. He pulled down the sun visor to shield his brown eyes. Normally, no matter how long the traffic jam, having David in front of the wheel would never make Darian feel irritated like he did now. At least light banter or David's usual jokes would entertain Darian and make him forget how annoying it was to be stuck in traffic.After about 15 minutes, the car that Darian was driving slowly began to move. To dispel his frustration, Darian finally played his favorite song. The old song by Westlife started melodiously greeting his ears. As the music played, a sense of calm began to soothe Darian's heart, which had been grumbling incessantly. Unknowingly, his car began to move o
54David entered the Putra Corporation building feeling a bit annoyed since David hadn't picked him up as usual. Moreover, David hadn't given any updates at all. Usually, his personal assistant never skipped work or disappeared like this. He suddenly felt worried because David wasn't just his assistant; he was also his best friend—the only best friend he had.Reluctantly, Darian pushed aside his ego and decided to call David first."Shit!" Darian cursed under his breath when the operator on the other end of the line told him that David's phone was inactive.The elevator opened, signaling his arrival on the desired floor, and Darian stepped into his office. He glanced at David's desk, which was empty and tidy, indicating that he hadn't arrived yet."Lily, where's David?" Darian asked as they entered his office."I'm sorry, sir, I don't know. I tried to contact him earlier, but his phone was off," Lily explained, standing in front of Daria
53Four months later...Fahira was incredibly grateful that her first pregnancy didn't come with severe morning sickness like most pregnant women experience. However, she did feel nauseous and vomit every morning upon waking up. After vomiting the bitter yellow liquid, she would feel weak and easily exhausted. To alleviate the discomfort, she would drink warm tea and then rest in Darian's arms.As a result, Darian would arrive late to the office every day. David and Lily had arranged all of Darian's schedules to ensure he wouldn't miss any important company meetings. David himself became busier since Fahira's pregnancy began, with his workload multiplying several times over. He frequently had to go back and forth from the office to Darian's house whenever Fahira needed something.As the days went by, Fahira's clingy behavior and emotional sensitivity increased, often leaving Darian confused and overwhelmed trying to fulfill her desires. Furthermore, Fahir
"Miss Fahira! What's wrong?" Aminah called out, panicking as she had been in the kitchen earlier and witnessed Fahira's rush to the bathroom.Fahira could only manage a weak response, "I'll be fine, Aminah. Just feeling a bit sick."Despite her concern, Aminah gave Fahira some space, sensing that she might need some privacy. However, the uneasiness persisted, and Fahira couldn't help but wonder about the strange reaction she had to the mukbang video. She decided to keep it to herself for now, not wanting to worry anyone.Aminah knocked on the bathroom door repeatedly while calling out Fahira's name upon hearing Fahira's vomiting sounds. Shortly after, the door opened, revealing a pale and weak-looking Fahira. Aminah quickly assisted Fahira to sit on a chair and made her a cup of warm tea."Can you help me to the bedroom, Aminah?" Fahira asked after finishing her warm tea. The nausea in her stomach was starting to subside, but now she felt dizzy."S