The aroma of steak wafted into Arleena's senses after her order arrived.Arleena looked lustfully at the tray of special steak plates brought by a waiter. One by one, the plates were placed on the table with warm smoke in the air. Arleena's eyes were glued to the smoke from the food that was still cooked and warm in front of her."Oh my, that looks really good," Arleena commented.Hearing Arleena's remark, Hugo immediately snorted with an amused smile. "You already ate steak during your office lunch hour. Now you're still tempted after seeing the steak again?"As if ignoring Hugo's words, Arleena immediately nodded her head. Arleena moved swiftly to pick up her fork and knife to get ready to eat the food she ordered.Hugo only noticed Arleena who was very bright looking at the food in front of them. Arleena's reaction at that moment reminded Hugo of the memory when they both ate at their favorite restaurant together a few years ago. Over the years, Hugo felt that Arleena had not chang
Arleena spontaneously hit Hugo's back softly in surprise at what he had just said.When Hugo turned his eyes to Arleena while grimacing in pain and surprise, Arleena just glared at him. But Hugo didn't feel there was anything wrong with his words at that time. Instead, he wondered why Arleena hit him just because of that question."Papa, he's often careless when he speaks, isn't he?" asked Arleena as she laughed awkwardly to Bernard, Quinn, and Albrack.While Hugo was still stroking the spot where Arleena had hit him, Bernard was frowning with an amused smile. The three Hugo family members looked at each other and chuckled, realizing that Arleena's situation was awkward.The truth was that Arleena just didn't want to have a discussion like this. Because she was not ready to face a request that was more responsible. But Hugo just blurted out and made her think of the issue of children."Yes, he does like to talk out of turn," Bernard replied, nodding his head in agreement.Quinn and Al
"What did you say just now?" Hugo immediately answered in a panic as well as a huff.Arleena just looked at Hugo casually as if she didn't feel guilty at all. Just like Hugo a few moments ago, during dinner with her family, Arleena folded her hands while putting on an innocent face. Really pretending not to know where she went wrong."What did I say wrong? I'm just asking and clarifying your words," Arleena replied with an innocent face that was annoying to Hugo.Hugo let out a long sigh as he lowered both shoulders limply. His eyes looked at Arleena in disbelief."But that doesn't mean we have to make babies now!" said Hugo exasperatedly. His voice was almost a whisper and full of emphasis. "I mean, if papa keeps bringing up babies, we have to figure out how to explain that marriage-""Are you crazy?!" Asleena immediately cut Hugo off. Instantly, the look on her face that had been holding back amused laughter became one of panic. "If we tell Bernard that our marriage is fake, he'll b
"Hey, Arleena, did Justin come to you again?" In front of Arleena, Gabriel asked a question.Now, Arleena was in a supermarket that had a special area for eating food. At the center table between Arleena and Gabriel, there was already an order of food that had just arrived a few seconds ago. Arleena deliberately invited Gabriel to come to this supermarket so that he could accompany her to chat."Yes," Arleena replied briefly while nodding once. "I don't know why he keeps coming and bringing up our canceled wedding plans."Gabriel smacked the glass divider beside them with his clenched fist. He was so furious, Gabriel couldn't say anything and made Arleena look at him in horror."That ex-boyfriend of yours... he blames you for your aborted marriage. He thinks you should have accepted him back like you did before," Gabriel grumbled at length in exasperation, remembering Justin's treatment all these years.Arleena only gave a faint smile in reply to Gabriel's words. At that moment, Arlee
One Month Later.Arleena was all smiles after being recognized as an exemplary employee. One of the company's big projects that lasted for four months had been completed. They all managed to achieve high targets-even more than they had planned."Congratulations, Arleena. You've worked hard. We'll give you a bonus for your achievement," said Danielle, the CEO of the company where Arleena worked.Arleena gave a sweet smile and bowed again. In front of her were her coworkers from the same and different divisions."Woah, Arleena, she always works so hard that she gets bonuses over and over again," said Denny, Arleena's male coworker from the finance division."That's right. I can't imagine how tired you were when you took part in a product collaboration project with a foreign company," Wiliam, who came from the same division as Arleena, also replied. He looked admiringly at Arleena.Arleena didn't really take them all seriously. Her chuckle sounded and made her dimples appear. Her heart w
[Erlica Carldon: We'll meet at the Red Mardona Motel tomorrow night][Ann Rennita: I didn't expect to fall in love with your touches][Sabrian Adelle: Looks like we have to be more than just a one night stand partner]Disgusting.Arleena's expression immediately turned into amusement after reading the three messages in the screenshot. For a split second, Arleena stared at the screen of her cell phone in disbelief."What is this?" Arleena then spontaneously burst out laughing. "He has sex with other women? He even had a one night stand too?"Next to Arleena. Gabriel, put the teacup on the table. As someone who managed to get hold of Arleena's fiancé information, Gabriel curved a proud smile.Precisely proud of himself who managed to provide this information."So, this..." Arleena stared at one more piece of information. "You got the date he checked into the hotel? And... you got proof of the reservation?"Gabriel raised his eyebrows in approval. "I told you, I can definitely find out i
What happened next was Justin's mother screaming in surprise, prompting the rest of the family to come over and calm her down.The guests whispered, some of them covered their mouths in disbelief, some others held their breath from shock and couldn't make a sound.Gabriel and Sessy, who were motionless in place, were transfixed watching the hot scene of Justin and the booking woman in the video."Why, honey? Surprised?" Arleena made a sound, then turned to Keenan. "Show me something else, my dear cousin Kenan."Keenan smiled disdainfully. But happily, he changed the screen display.The video changes to the notes view."This is some proof of chats and hotel reservations at eleven past twelve minutes at night. Hotel Tree Tycoon, New York."Justin was speechless.Then the projector screen changed again. Screenshot of one of the chat applications showing a chat room between Justin and one of the booking women."Chat from the man's side, Justin—my fiancé, says we'll meet tomorrow night at
Arleena couldn't believe what Keenan was saying. There was no way Hugo would come home from work without giving her a nice word. Or just an update on social media that shows you're on your way home.Unfortunately, Keenan said the correct sentence.When someone suddenly came to tell them that there was chaos in the courtyard where the event was being held, Arleena rushed to the location with Gabriel and Keenan. The three of them never expected with what sight to find."I LOVE HIM! HE PROMISES TO MARRY ME!"Arleena was taken aback, her mouth gaping involuntarily. On the event page there was a woman screaming in frustration. The guests had already dispersed to escape the woman's tantrum as she approached one table at a time."What is this?" Keenan just came beside Arleena. He was both confused and shocked at the chaos on the event page.Arleena and Gabriel couldn't say anything. Both of them were too stiff to react, because the strange woman there seemed to be possessed.The panicked scr
One Month Later.Arleena was all smiles after being recognized as an exemplary employee. One of the company's big projects that lasted for four months had been completed. They all managed to achieve high targets-even more than they had planned."Congratulations, Arleena. You've worked hard. We'll give you a bonus for your achievement," said Danielle, the CEO of the company where Arleena worked.Arleena gave a sweet smile and bowed again. In front of her were her coworkers from the same and different divisions."Woah, Arleena, she always works so hard that she gets bonuses over and over again," said Denny, Arleena's male coworker from the finance division."That's right. I can't imagine how tired you were when you took part in a product collaboration project with a foreign company," Wiliam, who came from the same division as Arleena, also replied. He looked admiringly at Arleena.Arleena didn't really take them all seriously. Her chuckle sounded and made her dimples appear. Her heart w
"Hey, Arleena, did Justin come to you again?" In front of Arleena, Gabriel asked a question.Now, Arleena was in a supermarket that had a special area for eating food. At the center table between Arleena and Gabriel, there was already an order of food that had just arrived a few seconds ago. Arleena deliberately invited Gabriel to come to this supermarket so that he could accompany her to chat."Yes," Arleena replied briefly while nodding once. "I don't know why he keeps coming and bringing up our canceled wedding plans."Gabriel smacked the glass divider beside them with his clenched fist. He was so furious, Gabriel couldn't say anything and made Arleena look at him in horror."That ex-boyfriend of yours... he blames you for your aborted marriage. He thinks you should have accepted him back like you did before," Gabriel grumbled at length in exasperation, remembering Justin's treatment all these years.Arleena only gave a faint smile in reply to Gabriel's words. At that moment, Arlee
"What did you say just now?" Hugo immediately answered in a panic as well as a huff.Arleena just looked at Hugo casually as if she didn't feel guilty at all. Just like Hugo a few moments ago, during dinner with her family, Arleena folded her hands while putting on an innocent face. Really pretending not to know where she went wrong."What did I say wrong? I'm just asking and clarifying your words," Arleena replied with an innocent face that was annoying to Hugo.Hugo let out a long sigh as he lowered both shoulders limply. His eyes looked at Arleena in disbelief."But that doesn't mean we have to make babies now!" said Hugo exasperatedly. His voice was almost a whisper and full of emphasis. "I mean, if papa keeps bringing up babies, we have to figure out how to explain that marriage-""Are you crazy?!" Asleena immediately cut Hugo off. Instantly, the look on her face that had been holding back amused laughter became one of panic. "If we tell Bernard that our marriage is fake, he'll b
Arleena spontaneously hit Hugo's back softly in surprise at what he had just said.When Hugo turned his eyes to Arleena while grimacing in pain and surprise, Arleena just glared at him. But Hugo didn't feel there was anything wrong with his words at that time. Instead, he wondered why Arleena hit him just because of that question."Papa, he's often careless when he speaks, isn't he?" asked Arleena as she laughed awkwardly to Bernard, Quinn, and Albrack.While Hugo was still stroking the spot where Arleena had hit him, Bernard was frowning with an amused smile. The three Hugo family members looked at each other and chuckled, realizing that Arleena's situation was awkward.The truth was that Arleena just didn't want to have a discussion like this. Because she was not ready to face a request that was more responsible. But Hugo just blurted out and made her think of the issue of children."Yes, he does like to talk out of turn," Bernard replied, nodding his head in agreement.Quinn and Al
The aroma of steak wafted into Arleena's senses after her order arrived.Arleena looked lustfully at the tray of special steak plates brought by a waiter. One by one, the plates were placed on the table with warm smoke in the air. Arleena's eyes were glued to the smoke from the food that was still cooked and warm in front of her."Oh my, that looks really good," Arleena commented.Hearing Arleena's remark, Hugo immediately snorted with an amused smile. "You already ate steak during your office lunch hour. Now you're still tempted after seeing the steak again?"As if ignoring Hugo's words, Arleena immediately nodded her head. Arleena moved swiftly to pick up her fork and knife to get ready to eat the food she ordered.Hugo only noticed Arleena who was very bright looking at the food in front of them. Arleena's reaction at that moment reminded Hugo of the memory when they both ate at their favorite restaurant together a few years ago. Over the years, Hugo felt that Arleena had not chang
"Why is he still coming to you? It's obvious you guys don't have anything to do with each other anymore," Hugo grumbled after his second encounter with Justin.Arleena remained silent. Justin's arrival was not what she wanted or expected. And that made Arleena feel like her mood was ruined. Throughout the trip, Arleena just looked out the window with her head resting on her hands.Arleena's mind replayed what Justin had said a few minutes ago. Even though she knew clearly that their canceled wedding plans were not his fault, but still. As time went on, Arleena was so moved by Justin's words that she lost focus.Arleena didn't know what was going on. Why did Justin keep coming around and couldn't accept the fact that they were separated?"Arleena, my offer still stands," said Hugo who noticed Arleena was distracted. Hugo tried to speak softly so as not to disturb her.There was no answer from Arleena.Hugo still paid attention to Arleena occasionally, alternately looking at Arleena and
[HUGO][I'll pick you up at the basement at three in the afternoon. Come to basement area AB]Arleena walked down the hallway to the glass door of the basement while replaying Hugo's message. Arleena had typed a reply to Hugo, but there was no reply from Hugo. The conversation between the two of them in the message was only limited to that.Arleena also didn't know why Hugo suddenly picked her up. Even though before Hugo left to take care of business in another country, Hugo never picked up Arleena's company office.Was it because of Justin's sudden arrival?Arleena sighed heavily as she put her cell phone back into her pocket. She raised her face and nodded briefly to the security guard as a gesture of greeting."Miss Arleena, someone was looking for you a few minutes ago." Suddenly, the security guard at the basement's glass door informed her.Asleena's steps stopped instantly, she looked at the security guard with a confused look. Asleena never felt like she had an appointment with
"Justin? What are you here for?"Arleena couldn't contain her annoyance when she actually saw Justin in the lobby of the building where she worked. This was not what Arleena had expected. There was no word from Justin that he was coming to the building. Especially now, Justin seemed to be looking at Arleena intently."I don't think you can live in peace after what you've done," Justin said with a snarky gesture.Arleena could see the annoyance and unacceptance on Justin's face. Seeing this, Arleena was instantly reminded of scenes in novels or movies where the male protagonist doesn't accept being hurt.Finally, Arleena couldn't help but laugh sarcastically as she looked away."I don't know why you came here, Justin. What happened a few nights ago should have been enough to wake you up," Arleena said. "And, what are you saying? I can't live in peace?"Justin's jaw hardened. He didn't answer, just watched as Arleena took a step forward. Both pairs of their eyes were locked together, as
The smell of food greeted Arleena's nose when she came out of the room.The clock on the living room wall read six in the morning. But Arleena had already seen Hugo in the kitchen, apparently cooking something that couldn't be seen clearly. Arleena wasn't sure if her eyes were directly seeing Hugo cooking food.As she walked closer to Hugo, Arleena realized that it was indeed Hugo in the kitchen. Arleena gaped in amazement and disbelief, her steps stopped a few meters from the kitchen mini bar, and noticed how agile Hugo's hands were chopping food ingredients."Hey, are you cooking something?" asked Arleena finally. She couldn't stand the new thing she saw in Hugo that second.In front of Arleena, Hugo only turned his head briefly before looking back at the ingredients. The sound of the knife chopping accelerated for a few seconds, then Hugo brought the vegetable pieces to the plate."Ah, you're awake. Don't be surprised to see me cooking," Hugo said as he placed the salad pieces as d