Riana

 "Don't!" the woman's scream sounded very loud.

 

"You need to be taught a lesson so you won't fight anymore!" The man hit her.

 

"I won't do it again. Forgive me." The woman begged, kneeling at the feet of the man who was her husband.

 

"You need to be taught a lesson from time to time." The man didn't care that his wife was begging for forgiveness; he dragged her into the room.

 

"Teach her a lesson so she won't argue anymore!" the mother-in-law shouted, provoking him.

 

Her husband slammed the door and dragged and pushed the unfortunate woman, causing her to fall on the bed—the place where they used to make love and share warmth.

 

"I have told you several times not to steal in my house and to do as my mother tells you. But why are you doing it again?" he scolded.

 

"I am hungry. I haven't eaten all day."

 

"Don't lie to me! Didn't my mother feed you? Why did you steal the food prepared for my sister and nephew?" he asked, raising his voice.

"I wasn't given anything," the woman replied, trembling.

 

"I have already told you not to lie, and yet you do!" The man even took off his belt.

 

The man who lifted the belt was named Reynald Adrian, and the trembling woman was named Riana Anita. They have been married for 5 years but have not been able to have children. Therefore, Rey blames Riana for not getting pregnant. To make matters worse, Riana's mother-in-law, Mayang, provokes her own daughter to hate her.

 

"Rey, come out quickly! Serly and her baby have arrived."

 

"Just a moment, Mom."

 

"Don't bother with your useless wife, just meet your family who has come!"

 

"Alright." Reynald put his belt back on.

 

He drank a glass of water from the bedside table and hurried out to meet his mother. Riana felt relieved and went back to the corner of the room. She covered her face with her hands and began to cry, lamenting her choices.

 

Reynald Adrian, a 25-year-old man, is handsome with a strong jawline, a sharp nose, and a height of 164 cm. He managed to make Riana fall deeply in love with him, even though she was admired by many men when she was young. Riana, who was beautiful, sweet, and innocent, made all the men go crazy for her. But she couldn't look at anyone but Reynald.

 

It turned out that her choice was very wrong. The handsome man had terrible qualities. He was temperamental, possessive, and extremely jealous. Just being greeted by another man would make him angry, and he would lock her in the house and not allow her to go anywhere alone.

 

"Riana Anita, come here!" my mother-in-law called from outside.

 

Riana quickly wiped away the tears that were streaming down her face. Then she went out to meet her mother-in-law.

 

"What's wrong, Mom?" she asked quietly.

 

"You're so comfortable lying around the room when you know that Rey's sister and nephew have arrived!" her mother-in-law scolded.

 

"Forgive me, Mama," she said, feeling dejected.

 

Riana didn't want to argue with her mother-in-law. She chose to give in rather than be the target of her husband's wrath later.

"Your wife is so useless. Just look at her emaciated body, like a walking skeleton," Serly sneered, chuckling softly.

 

"Yes, she is indeed a useless woman. I don't know why Rey still keeps her as his wife," Mayang scoffed.

 

"Riana, please prepare the food on the table!" Reynald ordered.

 

"Alright." Riana walked to the kitchen.

 

Occasionally, the woman looked back at her husband, who was carrying Serly's child. She felt jealousy in her heart toward her husband's cousin—yes, that's right—Serly is Reynald's cousin. Sally was a wonderful woman, and Riana felt insecure around her.

 

Serly was not a widow; she had a child without a husband. She got pregnant out of wedlock because she was too free in her social life. She went in and out of nightclubs and changed partners frequently.

 

"Dinner is ready," Riana said.

 

"Come on, Ser, let's eat first." Mayang took Serly's hand lovingly and led her to the dining table.

 

Riana watched with a bitter smile. In all her time as a daughter-in-law in this house, she had never been treated like Serly. Even though she had always done as she was told and had never resisted, she had never received any treatment or a smile.

"Rey, I haven't eaten yet," Riana held onto her husband's sleeve as he approached the two women at the dining table.

 

"You can eat later. Please take care of Leo for a moment. His mother wants to eat, and you might disturb her," Reynald said, handing the four-month-old baby to Riana.

 

Riana accepted him slowly, although her body shook since she hadn't put anything into her stomach. When she had taken a small portion of food for herself earlier, Mayang had thrown it on the floor. She only complained to Reynald about Riana's behavior and stole a plate of rice and a small portion of a side dish for breakfast.

 

"Rey, come look over here," Serly said.

 

"What?" Reynald asked.

 

"Try it!" Serly pushed a spoonful of food into Reynald's mouth.

 

"I can eat by myself, Ser," Reynald refused.

 

"Just once," Serly whined playfully.

 

Reynald remained unmoved, ignoring his younger cousin's pleas.

 

"Are you disgusted with me? Because I've been with many men," Serly lowered the spoon, still aimed at Reynald.

 

"It's not like that," Reynald defended.

 

"Then what is it?" Serly asked, her eyes welling up.

 

"Come on, Rey. Just this once," Mayang ordered.

 

Reynald sighed heavily and looked at Riana, who was still faithfully watching over Leo. The woman pretended not to see or hear the conversation at the dining table.

 

"All right, just one bite," Reynald said.

 

Serly was pleased to hear that Reynald was willing to accept the spoonful she offered. She aimed her spoon lovingly at the man who was her cousin's brother.

 

"That's it," Mayang said happily.

 

Meanwhile, Riana turned her face away, silently shedding tears at the sight.

 

"Eat well," Serly offered Reynald several side dishes.

 

"Yes," Reynald accepted Serly's offer.

 

"Isn't Riana the one who cooked?" Reynald asked.

 

"Riana? She didn't help me at all, in fact she ate it several times after cooking!" grumbled Mayang.

 

Reynald looked at Riana, who immediately looked in his direction when she heard her mother-in-law's accusation. The unfortunate woman shook her head, indicating that the accusation was untrue.

 

Suddenly, Serly burped, having overeaten of the food. "I'm so full," Serly said.

 

"Indeed, Mother's cooking is incomparable, isn't it?" Mayang asked, seeking praise.

 

"Of course, Auntie," Serly snuggled affectionately into her aunt's arm.

 

"And your parents? Are they doing well?" Mayang asked.

 

"They're fine, they're busy working on some projects in London," Serly replied nonchalantly.

 

"London! Tell them to bring me souvenirs, I also want to sell something in London," Mayang demanded.

 

"Of course, I'll tell my mother later," Serly said casually.

 

"You really are the best niece, Aunt. Unlike the children of your other siblings," Mayang complained.

 

"Of course, aunt," Serly said.

 

"If Rey hadn't married, you would have been my daughter-in-law," Mayang hoped.

 

"I wouldn't mind being the second wife, Aunt," Serly winked at Reynald, sitting in his chair.

 

"Too bad this woman would never agree to a polygamous marriage. If only Rey would divorce Riana. Then you two could marry."

 

Reynald ignored the conversation between his mother and his cousin. He decided to approach Leo, who was under Riana's care. Riana had been silent since the two women of different ages had spoken at the dining table.

 

He could still hear the conversation in his ears as he sat close to where he was looking after Leo. The baby couldn't be too far from his mother; Leo would cry if he didn't see his mother's face for too long.