Andrew pressed the car key to facilitate his lady's entrance. Since leaving the store, Alice hadn't uttered a word. She seemed to be in a bad mood, which oddly made Andrew happy. Swiftly, Andrew got into the car, following Alice, who was already comfortable in her seat. After placing the four shopping bags, Andrew immediately started the car's engine and left the store."Where to next?" Andrew initiated the conversation."Today, I want to shop to my heart's content. So, just take me to the mall," Alice replied with a flat expression.Andrew smiled and spoke again, "What's wrong? Is there a problem?""No, there's none. But I don't like it when you get too close to my friend," Alice warned seriously, inviting Andrew's laughter."Come on, Baby, Mayang and I were just chatting," Andrew said amid his laughter. He reached out to pinch Alice's sharp chin playfully. "Or are you jealous?" Andrew teased."Hello, my dear Andrew, there's no word 'jealous' in my dictionary. So, don't get too arrog
Instantly, Alice lifted her face to look at Andrew, who was now smiling teasingly. Now, Alice was even more irritated, and she chose to stay silent until they reached the parking area. Roughly, Alice threw the two paper bags containing the stilettos onto the passenger seat. Still calmly, Andrew fastened Alice's seatbelt. "Why are you always sulking when we're outside?" Andrew grumbled in amazement. This wasn't the first time Alice got angry for no apparent reason when they were out together. "It's because you love to show off in front of other girls," Alice said in annoyance, making Andrew burst into laughter. Cup... Andrew kissed Alice's lips and then smiled again. "I like it when you're jealous," Andrew whispered, immediately feeling a strong push from Alice's chest. "Insane. How could I be jealous? I just don't like your wandering eyes when you're with me," Alice's words only made Andrew's laughter grow louder. Andrew glanced at Alice for a moment, then stepped on the gas pedal
Andrew observed Alice, who was currently washing the dishes and glasses from their meal. From behind, Andrew could clearly see every curve of Alice's sexy body. Among the many women who had accompanied him, Alice was the only one still a virgin. A woman whose honor he had taken away. Now, what was Andrew doing to her, other than leading her further into disgraceful behavior? Andrew had been haunted by guilt lately, and he couldn't predict what their relationship would be like in the future. Would it end in the sacred bond of marriage, or would they choose to live separate lives? Andrew never knew where their relationship would lead.Lately, a feeling of weariness had been disturbing his thoughts. The sex that used to be like his daily bread was no longer exciting. Seeing his friend Gibran, who had changed drastically after falling in love with his secretary, made Andrew understand one thing: life must have a purpose. Andrew didn't understand whether the feelings he had for Alice were
Ringing loudly, the phone interrupted Andrew as he entered the room. Andrew glanced briefly to locate the source, making sure it wasn't Alice's phone that was ringing. However, he was mistaken; it was his own phone. Swiftly, Andrew stepped towards the table where the phone was placed. Seeing the name displayed, he quickly slid the green icon to answer the call."Yeah, Boss, what's up?" Andrew asked hurriedly. If his boss was calling, it meant he had to leave right away."Did you forget my schedule today?" replied the boss with irritation."Sorry, Boss. I'll be there in fifteen minutes," Andrew responded quickly."I'll be waiting at the office," ordered the boss before ending the call."Shit!" Andrew cursed, then rushed into the bathroom. How could he forget his boss's schedule for this evening?Taking only five minutes, Andrew finished his shower. He tossed the towel he had used onto the bed and headed towards the walk-in closet. Quickly, he put on his clothes, combed his hair, and sp
If others who didn't know Lexy well might judge him as a straight man. Behind his macho and fashionable appearance, Lexy had a gentle personality like that of a woman. Additionally, Lexy had a sexual orientation that deviated from the norm. He was more interested in the same sex than in women. So, it wasn't surprising that Alice sometimes regarded Lexy as her own brother. Even during photoshoots, Lexy was the one who always helped Alice choose suitable clothes. It was not uncommon for Lexy to assist Alice in putting on her clothes."Stop it, Lizi, you're not allowed to eat indiscriminately. Who'll be in trouble if you gain weight? Yourself, right?" Lexy protested, snatching the third slice of pizza from Alice's hand. "Remember, your schedule is booked until the end of the year. You have to maintain your weight," Lexy reminded seriously.Alice sighed in annoyance and responded to Lexy's warning, "Whatever!"This was one of the things that sometimes made Alice disgusted with her profess
While stripping off all his clothes, Andrew gazed at Alice's peacefully sleeping face. Then, wearing only boxers, Andrew entered the bathroom to freshen up before joining Alice in rest.With a body and mind feeling refreshed, Andrew slowly slipped under the blanket, gently shifting his body to reduce the distance between them. Andrew embraced Alice, who was currently facing away from him, inhaling the soft and sweet aroma that had become his addiction. Gradually, Andrew closed his eyes with a calm feeling, following Alice into the realm of his dreams.At half-past six in the morning, Andrew was already awake. His schedule for the day was very tight. He would resume his routine of picking up and dropping off Gibran at the office. Being on time was a non-negotiable rule for Andrew when dealing with Gibran. Seeing Alice still peacefully asleep, Andrew hesitated to wake her up. Andrew took a moment in front of the mirror to ensure his appearance was perfect. After that, he approached the
Lexy took the lead, pressing the elevator button as Alice approached. Soon, the sound of the elevator bell opening echoed. Simultaneously, Lexy entered with Alice, and fortunately, the small square-shaped space was only occupied by the two of them."Liz, I'm annoyed seeing your face, you've been in a bad mood since yesterday, making me want to go shopping," Lexy grumbled, still receiving indifferent treatment from her boss."Well, let's go shopping then," Alice replied casually. Alice's gaze remained focused on the scrolling numbers indicating their current location.Ding... The elevator stopped. However, it didn't mean Alice reached her destination; instead, other passengers would join the elevator. The opening doors momentarily froze Alice in her place. Still, she quickly regained control after taking a deep breath to neutralize her pounding heart. Then, she shifted her body slightly, making room for the intergenerational couple entering the lift. Meanwhile, Lexy, who was now beside
Andrew got up from the bed when he didn't find Alice by his side. Still feeling lazy, Andrew walked out of the room to look for his woman."Baby?" Andrew called out when he found only two cups of coffee and hot milk on the dining table."Emm..," Alice's answer was just a mumble."Surprisingly, you're up early in the morning, hmm," Andrew said as he approached Alice, who was squatting next to the pantry, putting their dirty clothes into a large bag."The laundry service will be here soon. Look, our dirty clothes have piled up like this. Besides, we have to leave for work early today, right?" Alice replied, continuing her activity."But it's not this early, Baby. Look, it's only five in the morning," Andrew replied, a bit surprised by Alice's behavior. It's not usual for her to diligently do housework."Tell me, is something wrong with you?" Andrew reached for Alice's wrist to stop her.Alice smiled and said, "Nothing, I'm fine."Andrew pulled Alice's slim waist until it hit his chest.
Andrew couldn't hide his emotion when he uttered the marriage vows. Just a few seconds ago, those sacred words resonated in a room adorned with white and silver tones. Andrew managed to pronounce them loudly and smoothly, accompanied by the harmonious echoes of the official announcement. Now, Andrew looked at the beautiful woman beside him, gazing at the woman in a white kebaya who had been lowering her face. Andrew reached for the fingers of the woman named Alice Nichole Wirawan and then placed the ring on her ring finger.Slowly, Alice lifted her face, daring to look at Andrew with teary eyes. With trembling hands, Alice switched to holding Andrew's fingers, placing the ring on his ring finger as a sign that their relationship was now recognized both in the eyes of religion and the state. Nothing could separate them now except death.After Alice kissed the back of Andrew's hand for the first time, Andrew kissed Alice's forehead while reciting a prayer. This was followed by a collect
Now they were all in the dining room except for Melinda, who had not come out of her room yet. Despite receiving a warm welcome from Papa and Andrew's younger sibling, Alice's heart was not at ease. The key was Melinda, Andrew's mother. She was the instigator of the arranged marriage plan between Andrew and Nafisah that Alice had successfully thwarted. This was the reason causing fear in Alice at the moment."Alice, are you feeling better?" Anindya asked, as Alice looked pale and anxious since her arrival."I'm fine Nin, I'm okay," Alice replied with a smile."There, your Mom finally came down. Women always need more time to get ready," Januar whispered so as not to be heard by the hijab-wearing woman currently descending the stairs.Andrew and Alice immediately approached to greet Melinda. Then Melinda sat next to Januar, facing Alice without saying a word. The woman stared at Alice expressionlessly, while Alice chose to lower her head, her heart pounding. Honestly, Alice wanted to g
Andrew remained silent while playing with the ends of Alice's hair as she leaned against his chest. The facts he learned today truly opened his eyes, making Andrew determined to keep Alice by his side. However, a significant obstacle lay ahead. Could he keep the promise he made to Alice? Could he prove to her that his love was not just a mere joke? This time, Andrew was truly serious about falling in love, a feeling he had never experienced before. His emotions for Alice were so strong that Andrew felt powerless. He was like a tortured man awaiting a death sentence, just waiting for certainty from Alice. Ahead were two obstacles that Andrew couldn't predict. How to thwart his arranged marriage with Nafisah and waiting to see how Alice's parents would react when he came. Everything was still unclear, making Andrew's heart feel uncertain. All he could do now was wait, because forcing his will on Alice would be akin to torturing her. And Andrew didn't want to inflict more wounds on Alice
"Do your parents accept a prospective son-in-law like me?" Alice said with a wistful smile, looking at Andrew who was driving seriously.Andrew remained silent. Unable to answer Alice's question because he had never introduced a woman as his girlfriend to his parents."I haven't tried," Andrew finally answered, seeing Alice's disappointed expression. "We will meet my parents soon after you're ready. And I hope that won't be too long," Andrew said firmly, then reached for Alice's fingers to hold them.Alice snorted in annoyance. Why did it have to be so complicated? Alice's intention was to corner Andrew, but it turned into a boomerang attacking herself."Ahem... So, who was the woman in a hijab you hugged at the mall that time? I'm sure it wasn't your sister Nindy," Alice asked, shifting the conversation in a teasing manner."Are you jealous?" Andrew teased, receiving only a head shake from Alice. "Okay then. I won't answer if that's the case," Andrew replied, holding back a smile."J
"Oh, my God, I forgot to inform Mr. Andrew. I might get scolded later," Lexy muttered while holding his phone.Andrew, who was still talking with his colleague, immediately excused himself to answer the call."What's wrong, Lex?" Andrew said, getting straight to the point."Alice is now in the hospital, Sir," Lexy replied hesitantly, successfully surprising Andrew."Since when?" Andrew asked, sounding clearly panicked. Now he was walking towards the exit door of the ballroom."At 7 pm, Alice had a fever again. Then...""Tell me, which hospital?" Andrew interrupted impatiently."Medical Center Hospital, Cendana Pavilion VIP 03," Lexy explained quickly.Andrew quickly took brisk steps towards the parking area. Due to his haste, Andrew didn't even reply to the greetings of the security personnel on duty there. In a rush, Andrew started his car's engine and swiftly left the building area. Ignoring his duties entirely, he considered the most important thing at the moment was to meet Alice
A beautiful woman of English-Indonesian mixed heritage walked casually down the hospital corridor. Despite nearing half a century, her age didn't seem to affect her beauty. Her glossy, black, long hair was neatly tied. There was not a hint of sadness on her face. Unlike most mothers who would panic upon hearing that their daughter was sick, she remained calm and composed. Two words aptly described the expression on Valerie's face: calm and composed.Lexy, who had just stepped out of Alice's hospital room, was startled to see Valerie's arrival."Where's Alice?" Valerie asked arrogantly."Inside," Lexy replied briefly. Regret instantly crept into Lexy's heart. It seemed he was greatly mistaken in contacting a woman who did not deserve the title of a mother.Valerie stared at Lexy sharply, as he stood there dumbfounded, blocking her way. "Can you step aside?" Valerie said sarcastically. Lexy immediately snapped back to reality and quickly stepped aside, making way for the arrogant woman
At exactly seven in the evening, Asih, accompanied by Zahra, arrived with the bouquet of flowers ordered by Lexy – red and white lilies, Alice's favorites. Since their encounter at the flower market, Alice had never been late in ordering flowers to adorn her apartment. Every three days, Alice would order lilies and use a courier service to deliver them to her apartment."Where's Alice?" Asih asked with a worried expression."Alice is in her room, Ma'am," Lexy replied politely, accepting the bouquet from Zahra's hands and inviting them to enter.Asih's eyes instantly welled up with tears seeing Alice curled up under the blanket. Slowly, she approached the bed and sat by Alice's side."Oh, Lord, Miss, how did it come to this?" Asih exclaimed, tears rolling down her cheeks.Asih held Alice's shoulder while gazing at the pale face before her. Then, with trembling hands, Asih reached out to touch Alice's forehead."Son, let's go to the doctor. Miss Alice has a high fever," Asih said in pan
"Alice, what's wrong, Sir?" Lexy asked in a panic, barging in past Andrew. Passing through the living room, Lexy caught a glimpse of an empty whiskey bottle there. Without permission, Lexy entered Alice's room. Fortunately, earlier when Andrew called, Lexy was on his way to Alice's apartment. In his rented house, Lexy was restless after seeing the news on television about the marriage of the man who had once been engaged to Alice. So Lexy decided to cancel a date with his girlfriend and chose to accompany Alice during the weekend. And indeed, Alice violated Dr. Henry's prohibition on consuming alcohol again."Liz?" Lexy called when he saw Alice curled up under the blanket. "You're really stubborn, I've told you not to drink again, but you keep breaking the rules," Lexy scolded while taking a compress cloth from Alice's forehead."Alice has a fever, but she hasn't regained consciousness; I don't know where she keeps her medicine," Andrew said, walking towards the bed. "I'm also confuse
And Andrew finally gave in. With uncertain feelings, Andrew reached for the back of Alice's head and gently kissed her lips. Shortly after, Alice released their lip connection to take a breath. She looked into Andrew's eyes, now filled with passion, and kissed Andrew's lips again to release all the burdens in her chest. In reality, Andrew was the only man who always worried about her, the man who always came at the right time. Without any resistance, Andrew took Alice's body to the bedroom.Andrew started his actions, playing with Alice's body until she felt crazy. Unlike usual, this time Andrew quickly finished their passionate encounter. Alice quickly got up from the bed and put on her clothes casually, while Andrew still stared at Alice's back with an indescribable feeling."Liz!" called Andrew, instantly making Alice turn and mumble, "As long as we're having sex, I've never used protection. I'll take responsibility if you get pregnant," Andrew said for the umpteenth time, looking