LOGINIsabella is faced with emotional turmoil as her family sees her as a means to an end and Richard's parents thought she was after their wealth even though she sacrificed everything to be the ideal wife to their son. Her infertility made matters worse as she was unable to give Richard an heir. Just when she believes her marriage is at its lowest point, Richard betrays her by getting her cousin pregnant Now, as she confronts a brutal divorce and battles to reclaim her self-esteem, the question remains: Will Isabella find the strength to rebuild her life and rise above the betrayals, or will Richard's regret drag her back into the mess of marriage she desperately needs to leave?
View More"Mbak, sebenernya aku suka sama Mas Adam. Gimana kalau kita tuker suami? Kayaknya Mbak Karin juga masih punya perasaan sama Mas Baim!"
Seketika Karina mengalihkan pandangannya dari layar ponsel. Dia menatap lekat wajah perempuan berusia dua puluh satu tahun ini lekat, lalu menggelengkan kepala."Nggak usah aneh-aneh, deh, Na. Mending bantu ibu sama Mbok Nah siapin makan di dapur sana. Mbak lanjut lipet baju dulu," sahut Karin berusaha mengabaikan permintaan ngawur Nana."Mbak Karina! Ayolah ... semua orang tahu Mbak nggak pernah diperlakuin baik sama Mas Adam. Tapi sama aku? Mbak tahu sendiri gimana perhatiannya. Dia bahkan tawarin aku buat jadi salah satu bintang iklannya!"Perempuan berjilbab itu tampak memejamkan mata sesaat. Sebongkah batu serasa baru saja menghunjam jantung. Harus diakui, penampilan adiknya yang lebih sering disapa Nana ini bisa membuat lelaki manapun gelap mata. Rambut pirang kemerahannya yang terurai panjang, tubuh indah menjulang seratus tujuh puluh sentimeter bak model, serta kulit putih mulus yang didambakan semua wanita. Apalagi dia seolah membiarkan semua itu tampak menjadi santapan empuk para lelaki mata keranjang.Semua yang ada di dirinya bahkan tampak lebih menawan dari empat tahun lalu. Lain dengannya yang semakin kurus. Wajah tirus dan mata yang cekung bagai pesakitan."Udah, ah. Kamu makin ngaco. Mbak ke belakang du--""Buna ...." Saat baru saja hendak beranjak, Tiara-- bocah berusia tiga tahun itu tiba-tiba berlari dari arah pintu, lalu menerjang tubuh Karin yang duduk di bibir ranjang."Hey, Oma di mana? Katanya kalian lagi bikin puding bantuan Mbok Nah di dapur?" tanyanya sembari mengelus rambut panjang bocah itu yang dikucir."Oma suruh Ara panggil buna sama Tante Nana. Sarapannya udah siap.""Kamu pergi duluan aja sama Tante Nana. Nanti bunda nyusul. Mau panggil ayah dulu.""Yuk, sama tante!" Nana beranjak dari kursi, menuntun tangan Tiara menuju ruang makan.Tiba-tiba di ambang pintu Nana menoleh kembali pada kakaknya seraya berujar, "Pikirin ucapan aku, Mbak. Kesempatan nggak pernah datang dua kali." Setelah itu dia berlalu.Terdiam Karin dibuatnya. Entah setan apa yang merasuki dirinya, saat mulai mempertimbangkan permintaan Nana.***"Kapan kalian mau kasih ayah sama ibu cucu? Nggak baik nunda lama-lama. Tuh, liat si Karin! Dia kasih kita bahkan sebelum kita minta." Hamdan membuka percakapan, matanya jelas melirik ke arah Karin juga Tiara. Tajam, juga dalam.Dia mematung, sejak kelahiran Tiara hubungan Karin dan Hamdan berjalan semakin memburuk dari sebelumnya. Meskipun mereka menyayangi Tiara, kehadiran bocah itu tetap tak bisa ditampik sebagai aib keluarga ini."Ah ... Nana, 'kan baru aja wisuda, Yah. Mas Baim juga belum siap jadi orang tua. Cepat atau lambat kita pasti pikirin itu buat ke depannya, kok," sahut Nana sembari memeluk lengan Baim yang hanya terdiam geming. Matanya lurus ke depan. Menatap Karin yang duduk di hadapannya.Karin sadar tatapan macam apa yang ditunjukkan lelaki masa lalunya tersebut."Aku kenyang. Duluan, Bu, Yah. Masih ada urusan. Karina! Ayo pulang ... saya tunggu di parkiran," sahut Adam tiba-tiba menimpali.Seketika mereka beralih pada lelaki ber-brewok yang tiba-tiba bangkit, mendorong kursi cukup keras hingga menciptakan bunyi yang nyaring. Dia berlalu begitu saja. Meninggalkan tanda tanya besar di benak mereka."Dari dulu suami kamu emang nggak pernah berubah, Karin. Nggak punya sopan santun!" cecar Hamdan dengan rahang mengetat.Karin menunduk, lalu bangkit setelah menuntun tangan Tiara."Ma-Maaf, Yah, Bu. Karin pamit dulu. Assalammualaikum." Karin pun beranjak setelah pamit."Wa'alaikumsallam. Hati-hati di jalan, ya, Sayang. Kapan-kapan ibu main ke sana.""Iya, Bu. Rina tunggu." Setelah menyahuti ibunya, bergegas Karin berjalan cepat menyusul Adam.***"Ngapain aja, sih? Jalan udah kayak siput. Kamu tahu, 'kan saya nggak pernah suka sama ayah kamu. Kalau bukan Nana yang minta saya nggak mau dateng ke sini. Buang-buang waktu," cerca Adam saat Rina baru saja masuk ke mobil."Maaf, Mas.""Maaf, maaf aja terus. Sepanjang empat tahun nggak cape gitu ulang-ulang kata itu? Saya muak denger--""Mas, tolong! Ada Tiara di sini." Bergegas perempuan itu menutup telinga Tiara sebelum sumpah serapah sempat terlontar dari mulut suaminya.Empat tahun sudah berlalu, selama itu mereka jalani pernikahan bagai orang asing yang tinggal seatap. Tak ada cinta, sepanjang itu Karin jalani hidup dengan caci-makinya."Terus kenapa? Dia memang harus tahu kalau saya bukan ayahnya. Anak yang terlahir tanpa asal-usul yang jelas ini, harus diakui sebagai anak saya? Menikahimu saja sudah membuat saya muak, Karin. Apalagi anak yang kamu bawa ini!"Karin terbungkam, dia paham betul bagaimana rasa kecewa itu Adam pendam selama empat tahun lamanya. Berpura-pura bahwa pernikahan mereka baik-baik saja, padahal kenyataannya tak demikian....Bersambung.The hotel staff greeted them with practiced elegance, whisking their luggage away as a manager personally escorted them to their suite."Mr. Donovan, everything has been arranged as requested," the manager said discreetly, handing over their key cards.Isabella raised an eyebrow at Seth, “Everything is arranged?...What did you do?”Seth just shrugged and kept smiling mysteriously.Once in their suite, Isabella gasped at the panoramic city views. "Seth, this view is incredible.""I know that's why I picked this room. I also have dinner reservations at La Casa Elegante for eight," he said, watching her explore the luxurious space. "It's one of the best restaurants in Mexico City.""I'm pretty tired," Isabella hesitated, then smiled. "But a Michelin-star restaurant? That might be worth staying up for."Seth checked his phone quickly - another message from his mother confirming the final details with Rosa. Everything was falling into place. He planned to introduce Isabella to Rosa after d
"Seth Donovan, what are you up to?" Isabella asked, watching him pack their suitcases with an air of mystery. They were leaving for Mexico City in the morning, and he didn't want Isabella to get a whiff of where they were going, but she was suspicious about how he had been acting. She knew they were travelling but didn't know where."Just trust me," he replied with a grin, carefully tucking something into a hidden compartment of his suitcase when he thought she wasn't looking.Isabella narrowed her eyes playfully. "I saw that.""No, you didn't," he said smoothly, closing the suitcase. "And even if you did, it's still a surprise."She hopped on top of their bed, watching him walk around the room. "I am tired of surprises, I don't think I can take anymore. Out with it please,”"Relax, you will like this one," he promised, pausing to kiss her forehead before pulling out a black silk blindfold "Put this on," Seth said with a mischievous smile.Isabella stared at it suspiciously. "You're
The drive home from the Riverside Hotel was quiet, Isabella staring out the passenger window, the envelope clutched in her lap. Seth kept glancing at her, wanting to say something but knowing she needed this silence to process everything.When they pulled into their driveway, they spotted Edward sitting on their front steps. He stood as they approached, his usual easy smile fading as he caught sight of Isabella's tear-stained face behind her sunglasses."Hey, boss," he said to Seth, then more gently to Isabella, "Everything okay?"Isabella attempted a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Not really.""Come inside," Seth said, unlocking the door. "We'll explain everything."They settled in the living room, Isabella curling up in her favorite corner of the couch, still holding the envelope like a lifeline. Seth brought her a glass of water before sitting beside her."I've been trying to reach you at the office," Edward said to Seth, his tone concerned. "When you weren't there for th
James pulled out his phone. "I can call them. Set something up for tomorrow, if you want." Isabella nodded slowly. "Tomorrow then." She looked at Seth. “Is that okay with you?" "Of course," he assured her. James stood, wiping his face one final time. "I'll let them know. And Izzy?" He hesitated at the doorway. "Thank you. For listening. For giving me a chance to explain." After he left, Isabella collapsed against Seth, finally allowing her tears to fall. "All these years," she whispered. "I thought I must have done something terrible to make them hate me so much. And it turns out...it turns out I just wasn't theirs." Seth held her tighter, his voice fierce. "You are worth so much more than their prejudices, Isabella. So much more than their narrow definition of family." She nodded against his chest, then straightened, wiping her eyes. The Rivera’s dining room felt too small, too intimate for the weight of the moment. Isabella strode in, her heels clicking against the fl












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