Meanwhile, Andre had just returned from the wheelchair station, pushing the assistive device to ease Miriam’s movement."Lara..." Andre murmured. How could he run into Lara again? And while he was with Miriam?“Are you back already?” Miriam asked cheerfully. Andre nodded and approached his colleague—though he still hesitated to call Miriam his fiancée.“Careful,” Andre advised, helping Miriam sit properly in the wheelchair he had prepared. If Miriam took a wrong step, the inflammation in her foot would worsen.“Thanks,” Miriam said as she sat down slowly, following Andre’s instructions. It wasn’t in vain that she made a small sacrifice to get Andre’s attention, which he rarely displayed in public. After all, they were supposed to be engaged.“Where did Lara go earlier?” Andre scanned the surroundings. He still wanted to see Lara and talk to her. Maybe by normalizing his presence around her, Andre could gradually mend the rift between them.He didn’t even want anything more.Andre just
Lara never imagined her feelings would become so conflicted. Andre wasn’t anyone special, so why did she feel uneasy about him ... getting married?“What am I thinking?” Lara gave a bitter smile while watching the flower petals sway in the breeze. The atmosphere on the hospital rooftop was cool with a strong wind blowing. Thankfully, a large tree nearby shielded Lara. Without it, she might have caught a cold.“Excuse me,” an old man suddenly passed by in front of Lara. She nodded, allowing him to pass without awkwardness. This was a courtesy Lara appreciated about living in Indonesia. The people were friendly and always ready with a smile.Lara felt slightly relieved, and the smile became contagious.“Hello, Mrs. Lara,” suddenly, Lara heard someone call her name.That person ... “Doctor Miriam? Hello,” Lara responded with a forced smile. How was the doctor already here? Wasn’t she limping earlier?“May I sit?” the doctor asked, pointing to the garden bench beside Lara.“Please do,” Lar
“What do you mean, Doctor?” Lara couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Was Dr. Miriam really trying to warn her? They had been fine before, hadn’t they?“I—I mean, I hope you don’t get sick again.” Miriam cleared her throat as she tucked away the stray hairs that the evening breeze had messed up. The yellow sky had turned gray. Soon, night would fall.“Oh, alright. Thank you.” Lara didn’t know whether to believe her or not, but there was no point in making things worse. She needed to leave. The evening wind was blowing too hard. She couldn’t afford to catch a cold! She would head home soon.“Would you like me to escort you?” Dr. Miriam offered. Lara gently shook her head.“I have other things to take care of. I’ll call for a nurse later,” the pregnant woman replied with a forced smile. The atmosphere between them grew tense again. Lara didn’t understand why Dr. Miriam’s mood was changing so much.“Alright then.”Lara nodded and took her leave. There was no reason to stay any longer. S
Lara fell silent upon hearing her mother-in-law's words. She was always like this—nagging and impolite. Lara didn’t want to escalate the situation. She didn’t want to argue with the middle-aged woman. Their quarrels would benefit no one. Lara just had to be patient, for the sake of the baby in her womb.“You know you’re pregnant, so take care of yourself! Don’t be careless! Oh, Lord! Why do you keep causing trouble for others?” Her mother-in-law continued to scold Lara without even looking at her. Ami only glanced at Lara briefly before resuming her makeup touch-up with a small compact powder she always carried. “So troublesome! Really!” Ami clicked her tongue in annoyance, waving her hand. Shortly afterward, a chauffeur dressed in an all-black suit approached them.“Take this child inside. Hurry!” she ordered.Lara could only sigh at each word her mother-in-law uttered. Nothing was pleasant to hear, and nothing was worth arguing about. The scorching weather that afternoon would only g
"Ami! Watch your mouth," Lusi said, her sharp gaze fixed on her only daughter. How could this woman speak so cruelly to her own daughter-in-law? "I never taught you to be this rude!" Lusi shouted, hands on her hips."Mama always takes Lara's side! What's so great about her?" Ami raised her voice, unwilling to back down to her mother's scolding. How could she love someone else more than her own flesh and blood?"Shut your mouth and leave! Didn’t you say you had an event? Then go!" Lusi turned her back and ordered another servant to push Lara’s wheelchair. Her beloved daughter-in-law must not suffer emotional pain because of her mother-in-law’s senseless nagging."Lara, it's okay, Grandma," Lara said softly, forcing a smile. But Lusi shook her head."She shouldn’t be allowed to get away with this. I’ll report her to Seno. She’ll regret it!" "But—""Enough. Just relax. Come on, rest for a bit." Lusi suddenly stopped, clutching her head. "Ouch!" she groaned, then slowly walked towards the
Ami couldn’t believe her ears. How could her own son defend Lara so blindly?“Seno! I’m your mother!” she shouted, her entire body trembling. Ami couldn’t comprehend how Seno’s love for his useless wife could surpass his love for his own mother.“Mama, you’re in the wrong. Seno isn’t playing favorites—”“Enough! You ungrateful child!” Ami cut him off abruptly. She almost struck Seno, but Lusi suddenly entered, yelling loudly.“Ami!”Ami was startled and held back her anger. “Ma—Mama?” she whimpered, tears streaming down her face. The overwhelming rage, coupled with the inability to vent it because of her mother’s intervention, left Ami feeling utterly conflicted. “Look at your grandson!” she screamed, but Lusi quickened her steps toward her.*Slap!*The sound of the slap echoed through the room, silencing everyone. Lusi had slapped Ami. Even Seno hadn’t expected his grandmother to act that way.“I told you not to bother Lara! Why didn’t you listen?” Lusi’s eyes widened, and the wrinkle
Lara’s question remained unanswered. They missed that intimate moment, each falling asleep on their respective sides of the bed. The call Seno had received was long, and Lara couldn’t wait. She eventually fell into a deep sleep, waking up hours later to find Seno also fast asleep beside her.The touch was gone.Lara couldn’t believe that Seno had only sparked her desire without any intention of fulfilling it."Hhhh..." Lara sighed, picking up the glass on the nightstand. After three sips, she fell back asleep until dawn.Lara never expected that the next day, Seno would suggest returning to their own home.***"Are we leaving?" Lara asked after opening her eyes. Seno was busy packing their belongings into a suitcase. He smiled at her, but Lara only responded minimally. Her feelings were still sour from the previous night. Seno hadn’t even mentioned it.“Yes, dear,” Seno said as he placed the suitcase on the bed. Lara flinched and protested, but Seno’s actions were merely to show her so
Seno was taken aback to see the woman who almost caused their accident wearing a friendly smile. Her tanned skin, dressed in a white shirt and her striking appearance, made Seno forget to blink.“You—how dare you smile?” Seno shouted, realizing that this was not the time to admire her.The woman had almost caused a miscarriage!“Sorry. Did I startle you? There was a cat crossing the road. I stopped the car to save it,” she said, putting on a sorrowful face. Her cheeks were flushed, and tears were welling up in her eyes. Seno was stunned. However, he needed to stay alert. He couldn’t be distracted by this woman’s beauty.“You nearly caused my wife to miscarry!” Seno pointed an accusatory finger at the woman, gritting his teeth. He was furious! But then, a moment later, Seno seemed to regret his harshness. The beautiful ponytailed woman was now shedding tears.“Hey—how dare you cry!” Seno snapped, not wanting to change his stance. He was the victim! How could he feel guilty in this situa