Maelie entered the room and was immediately awestruck by the metallic-themed majesty, complete with a king-size bed adorned with white sheets, beautiful white pendant lamps emitting a golden hue, a fireplace, a large TV, a long and wide sofa so comfortable for sleeping, a massage chair, and many other amenities.
Her gaze shifted to Erland sitting at the piano, playing Lord Huron's song "The Night We Met," accompanied by the original music, making it sound even more beautiful and melancholic."Erland..."Erland immediately stopped playing the piano, his gaze empty, but he could feel Maelie approaching him."You should keep talking to her... If you truly just want to choose me, then leave her in a good way... At least it won't hurt her too much," Maelie said anxiously as if understanding that Erland was angry."When I don't want to talk to her, then don't force me," Erland replied without turning.Maelie sighed, then placed Erland's phone on the piano keyboard and sat next to him."This is the first time I've seen you play the piano. What other things and talents are you hiding from me?" she asked."I can play the guitar, but I prefer playing the piano and harmonica," Erland answered, still not looking at Maelie. "As long as I am her husband, I still feel lonely, not feeling happiness, I will just sit and contemplate while playing the harmonica... But she doesn't like it. She would take it away and hide it... Then tease me... She thinks I would be happy with our intimacy, when in fact I do it because I don't want to disappoint her... I feel completely pressured and more trapped," he continued with a sad look, remembering every moment with Tiffany."Then what do you feel when you're with me?" Maelie asked.Erland immediately turned to her. "Of course, I'm happy. Your simplicity and innocence truly steal my heart. You behave so naturally, never tempting me... In my eyes, you are a very respectable woman," he said.Maelie smiled faintly. "You're just teasing me now.""No... I'm not teasing you but I'm telling the truth.""Then have you ever teased her praised her beauty, or admired her body when you were intimate?" Maelie asked, looking at Erland's body while imagining him with Tiffany.Erland immediately stood up. "I don't like that question.""I just want to know...""And after I tell you, you'll be angry!" Erland exclaimed with a frustrated look at Maelie. "Please... I just want to be here with you if I can. Living life with you forever is my mission... So please don't keep talking about her. Don't make me feel imprisoned again. I really..." he couldn't continue his sentence, as if finding it difficult to express his feelings.Erland moved to the bed and sat there, immediately taking off his shoes and throwing them in any direction."I'd rather sleep than constantly be asked about her," he said with annoyance.Maelie frowned. 'why is he the one angry now?'Erland fell silent, staring at the ceiling, which was a brownish-white color, unable to sleep. The man couldn't divert his attention to his wife who was just silent near the piano as if uninterested in doing anything."Do you want to eat or do something?" he asked.Maelie just stayed silent."Oh come on..." Erland immediately sat up. "I don't want us to keep arguing... Can't we be like before? Just pretend that you belong to me only and I don't have another wife...""How can I pretend everything is like before?" Maelie asked as she stood up and approached Erland. "I can't stop thinking about your first wife... Thoughts of her keep blowing in my mind... I think she's crying, or raging, or just silently enduring pain because of your attitude. I don't want to be prioritized over the suffering of another woman...""Okay... Okay..." Erland stood halfway and pulled Maelie to sit in front of him. "Now tell me, what should I do? What do you want from me?" He asked patiently.Maelie swallowed her saliva as if gathering the courage to answer."Tell me, I'll do anything you ask except leave you," Erland requested."Meet her as soon as possible," Maelie asked anxiously. "Tell her that you really can't be with her anymore but never say that your reason is because of me. I don't mean to rush to have you completely... But I think sooner is better before she feels even more hurt," she continued awkwardly."I'm asking this not because I feel more attractive than her... It's just like what you said that you will decide to be with me forever. So... I want you to start it soon... I mean... Respectfully leave her," she said again."I will do it," Erland replied calmly."Now...""Now?""You have to go back to New York now... Meet her," Maelie explained hesitantly, as if reluctant to let Erland meet Tiffany. "Finish everything then you can come back... I promise I won't be angry anymore if you're willing," she continued.Erland averted his gaze."Can't you do that to me?" Maelie asked."I will," Erland answered then touched Maelie's shoulder, looking into her eyes intensely. "But can we have some fun before I go?" he asked."Have fun?" Maelie furrowed her brows."I want you... It's been too long since we did it," Erland moved to caress Maelie's cheek, then descended to her hair, then stroked her slender neck. "Understand... When I'm with her, we don't make love... I can truly find satisfaction just with you." He pleaded, then leaned down, kissing her neck.Maelie closed her eyes, feeling the softness of Erland's tongue and lips sweeping her neck. Her body tensed, feeling the urge to refuse, but the pleasure and longing forced her to accept his touch."I love you so much," Erland whispered, looking back into Maelie's eyes.Maelie immediately embraced his neck and kissed his lips aggressively. She closed her eyes, enjoying the softness of Erland's lips, even her body began to squirm as she felt the touch of his strong hands."Mmm...""I miss you," Erland whispered amidst the kiss, slowly pushing Maelie to lie down with his right hand supporting her neck while his left hand caressed her stomach still covered with a blue dress."Show me... Prove that you're mine!" Madeline whispered."I'm yours..."Erland took a pillow for Maelie, then moved down and raised her shirt, revealing her flat and smooth stomach."My baby is here..." He gently kissed her stomach, while his right hand moved down to caress her thigh.Maelie swallowed her saliva, feeling a tickling sensation on her stomach and thighs until arousal rose and reflexively opened her legs.Erland continued to move down, then stood halfway and pulled down his black underwear until it came off and tossed it in any direction. He pulled his wife's leg and kissed her toe."I like your toe," he said with a smile."It smell bad, I haven't cleaned my nails for a few days," Maelie replied, chuckling, her sadness disappearing. She pulled her foot away but Erland held it. "Please...""I still like it even if it smells bad," Erland said, kissing Maelie's toe again. "I even like your whole body even though you haven't bathed for days.""You're bragging!""No, I'm not..."Maelie quickly sat up, pulling Erland back to lie on top of her so he leaned back."Don't talk too much!" she exclaimed.Erland kissed her lips again while his hands undid the buttons and zipper of his pants, revealing his super-hard manhood."Wow... I miss your sword," Maelie whispered, looking down at Erland's manhood."It's yours... Only meant to enter you," Erland replied with a smile."Come in now...""Don't you want me to make you wet first?""I'm already wet..."At 8 p.m, Erland arrived in New York and went straight to his mansion. He entered the living room, glanced around at the deserted surroundings, feeling bored, and began comparing life here to life with Maelie.'Surely being with Maelie would be better, especially since we'll have a baby,' he thought to himself."I thought you didn't want to come back today," said Tiffany, who came from another room.Erland, turning to her, noticed her somewhat pale face with slightly disheveled hair, wearing only a dusty pink dress, whereas she usually dressed eccentrically and glamorously."I thought you weren't okay, so I came back immediately," he said."I thought you didn't care about me..." Tiffany smiled thinly, approaching Erland to help him take off his black leather jacket. "You didn't answer my calls since morning... So I thought you were angry or had something more fun there."Erland immediately turned away and walked towards the dining room."I'm hungry, you should prepare food for me," he
Erland paced back and forth, occasionally glancing at the doctor examining Tiffany on the king-size bed with gray sheets."Am I too hard? But how... I can't possibly keep her. It will only hurt her more, and I'll lose Maelie too. I don't want that to happen..."The door opened.Erland turned to see his mother, Rosalia Geraldton, approaching him with a black branded bag matching her red outfit."Erland, what happened?" she asked anxiously, then looked at the still-unconscious Tiffany."She fainted suddenly," Erland replied, avoiding the previous issue."Oh my God... What if this is a sign that she's pregnant?""Pregnant?""Yes, of course. She told me that she's been trying to conceive for a few months now... Maybe it worked," explained Rosalia, then quickly approached the doctor.Erland was stunned, shocked, and instantly afraid that what his mother said was true.'What is this? If she's pregnant, it means I can't divorce her. Neither her family nor mine would allow that divorce to hap
On a quiet and cold night, Maelie sat silently on the balcony terrace, gazing at the beautiful night sky filled with millions of stars, seeming lively, yet contrasting her lonely mood."Sis..."She turned, seeing Amanda approaching with a glass of milk."Milk for you," she said."Mh..." Maelie pushed herself away from the chair's backrest, looking at Amanda and taking the milk. "Thank you."Amanda sat on another chair, watching Maelie drink the milk in silence, suddenly feeling sad remembering Erland, who was now with his first wife."Are you sad?" she asked."I don't know," Maelie answered, leaning back and staring ahead. "When I was a child... I thought life was so easy. School, work, then dating, getting married, having children, and living happily ever after with a complete family... But this is what I got... Both our parents passed away even before they could see me get married... And it turns out, I'm just a hidden wife. It feels bitter... I have to let my husband go back to his
Tiffany woke up and found Erland appearing from the dressing room looking cool in a black and white suit, black jacket, shoes, and neatly combed hair, and even his cologne reached her nose despite the 10-meter distance between them."Are you leaving?" she asked, sitting up."Yes, I'm heading back to Nevada," Erland replied, grabbing his phone and car keys before approaching Tiffany. "As I said before, there's an issue at the mining site. I have to go back to handle it," he continued with a flat gaze, unable to show any more sympathy towards Tiffany."Oh my God..." Tiffany sighed. "You know I need you, I've been feeling nauseous and dizzy... Why are you leaving?""Because I have to...""But I need you. You could ask your trusted person to handle it, right?"Erland sighed heavily and put his hands on his hips, then bit his lower lip, his gaze still fixed on Tiffany, who was starting to show a spoiled attitude as if forgetting what happened yesterday."Why?" Tiffany asked sadly."I reall
At 7 in the morning, Maelie just woke up and found a glass of milk and a sandwich on the bedside table, along with a note underneath the glass. She immediately sat down, took the paper, and read it.Happy birthday, Sistaa ... I love you so much, you mean everything to me ... May you always be healthy, beautiful, and never sad again. Just think about how to make your baby grow healthy and be born without any risks to your body. I'll be very excited for my first nieces. I hope it's a girl, because I'd gladly play dolls with her, or tie her hair, which might be the same color as yours ... I don't know what to give you, we're rich now. Lol! But maybe I'll make something special for you ... See you laterShe smiled faintly, then hugged the paper. "I shouldn't be sad after all," she said, then immediately enjoyed the strawberry jam sandwich, occasionally sipping on caramel-flavored pregnancy milk.Her attention was diverted to a knock on the door from outside."Come in!" she called out.In
Already arrived at her apartment, Tiffany immediately entered the room and found a handsome man with straight black hair undercut styled, looking so fresh and handsome, especially with no beard at all on his jaw."You're here," she said."And actually, I've been here since earlier," Leo replied, quickly sitting down after putting his phone in any direction. He looked at Tiffany, who seemed unenthusiastic, prompting him to stand up and approach her, pushing aside her hair and gently kissing her neck. "You seem so weak... Is it because you have a problem or because you're pregnant?" he asked."Both," Tiffany answered, walking towards the bed.Leo followed her, then bent down to take off her heels."Pregnant women shouldn't wear heels," he said.Tiffany smiled faintly, looking at Leo while imagining Erland, making her wonder if he had been gentle, maybe she wouldn't have felt so sad."Hey..." Leo smiled in surprise. "What are you thinking?""Um..." Tiffany immediately looked away and the
Erland was silent, looking at Maelie who was looking at him with hope, so he didn't have the heart to tell her about Tiffany being pregnant."Hey..." Maelie frowned. "Did you...""I've already said that I want to divorce." Erland stopped Maelie. "And her response made me even more convinced to leave her.""Really? What did she say?""She ..." Erland swallowed his saliva, trying to get rid of his nervousness. "She doesn't care about our marriage anymore so it doesn't matter if I want us to divorce..but she wants to leave all these problems to me... I mean... I have to explain to our family why we have to divorce... The point is, she doesn't want to take care of the divorce process." Finally, he lied but was still scared when Maelie frowned."Didn't she ask why you suddenly wanted a divorce? Why did she let you go so easily as if she didn't love you?" Maelie wondered.Erland sighed and shifted his focus to the spaghetti by moving it into the plate he had provided."I told you that there
At 4 pm, Amanda was at Luisa's Sweet Pastry, holding the inauguration without the presence of Maelie or Erland to avoid the cameras and the many people who were enthusiastic about tasting various pastry dishes and drinks without having to pay..It's not without reason, it's because Erland isn't ready to have new problems if lots of people spread photos of him with Maelie...However, he promised to show who he was in front of her extended family and close friends through a dinner that would be held at the bakery in a private room.Maelie was silent in the car, looking so beautiful in a blue dress with shoulders made as small as straps, wearing a full set of jewelry and make-up, and making her hair slightly curly.."I promise that when all our business is finished, you can show yourself as the owner of the bakery," said Erland who was sitting beside him."It's not a problem, I'm also happy to see Amanda become the owner….Besides, maybe she will come here often," replied Maelie calmly."Y
Several months passed...The situation improved, and Erland tried to forgive himself, rise from his despair, and was, of course, supported by Maelie, who always understood him, and he also received help from a psychiatrist.Despite this, he still often worried about Tiffany, wondering if she could be happy with the guilt of having aborted their child. And he still often saw Alaina from a distance at school.The man still felt something was missing, but he didn't want to have high expectations and chose to live his life as it was. Naturally, he focused on Maelie, the woman who was always there for him and accepted him despite the suffering he had caused her....Tonight, on their 6th wedding anniversary, the man took his wife to a hotel. He invited her to dine on the terrace balcony, with a view of the night lit by stars and the lights of vehicles and skyscrapers, and of course, the most beautiful sight was his wife, looking stunning in a long red dress with bare shoulders and her hair
At 10:00 PM, Maelie was pacing back and forth on the porch, waiting for Erland who had not come home yet and was ignoring her calls and messages.Amanda felt bored and genuinely sad seeing her sister so worried. Luckily, Teddy and Jane had returned to Sacramento and did not witness this chaos."Why don't you just act normal... Doesn't he usually come home late too?" she asked with a displeased look."For me, this is unusual... I feel like he doesn't want to see me anymore," Maelie replied anxiously, glancing towards the gate and seeing the security guard hurriedly opening it as a black car entered the yard."Tommy..."Realizing it was Tommy's car, Maelie immediately approached him as soon as he stopped in the yard. Amanda also walked over as the man got out of the car."Mae," greeted Tommy."Do you know where Erland is? Did you manage to investigate him today?" Maelie asked eagerly.Tommy nodded with a worried look. "Yes... I was with him all day, but I didn't learn much about what's
Thomas entered Erland's room and saw him sleeping on the sofa, with a lot of files that needed to be reviewed on the table."How could he neglect his work?" he grumbled as he approached his son, intending to wake him up, but his attention was diverted to Tommy, who had just arrived."Mr. Gerald," called Tommy.Thomas turned to Tommy, noticing he was carrying a file."Is there a problem?""No, there's good news," Tommy replied with a smile, handing the file to Thomas. "Carlos' diamond company is willing to collaborate with our company, all the terms are in there," he continued, glancing at the file.Thomas looked at the file with a frown, realizing there was a lot to read, then he remembered Erland and closed the file again."Since yesterday, Erland hasn't done any of his tasks," he said, turning back to Tommy. "And now he's fallen asleep. This is very unusual for him, do you know what he does at home that makes him still need rest at the office?""Um..." Tommy bit his lower lip, glanc
With unsteady steps, Erland climbed the stairs to the upper floor, arriving at the room and finding Maelie standing by the window. She turned towards him as soon as she sensed his presence."Erland..."Maelie immediately greeted Erland with a worried look."You're drunk again!" She grabbed his arm, looking at his dull face, the smell of alcohol from his breath making her wince. "Oh my God ... You stink!"Erland stared deeply at Maelie and then smiled."You are so beautiful!" he exclaimed lazily.Ignoring Erland's compliment, Maelie led him to the bed, laying his body on the edge. She took off his shoes and placed them near the foot of the bed."Why are you always like this? What exactly are you dealing with?" she wondered as she unbuttoned his shirt, which was damp and reeked of alcohol, imagining him spilling drinks on himself.Before she finished unbuttoning his shirt, he suddenly pulled her down onto his chest, then rolled over, making her lie beneath him."Erland...." She gasped i
Erland stopped his car in the driveway of the Billy Johnson family mansion, got out quickly, and saw Alaina just getting out of the car with Tiffany. He smiled at the little girl who was pouting at him from a distance, then took a package from his car."That's not my dad," Alaina muttered with a serious look."Why is he here? I thought everything was over," Tiffany mused, watching Erland walk toward them with a rather large pink paper bag."Hey..." Erland sighed as he reached them. "I... I brought this for her." He lifted the paper bag slightly."This feels strange after what you did," Tiffany said flatly.Erland smiled thinly."This isn't strange... She used to be my daughter, so I still love her and want to see her," he replied casually, then squatted in front of Alaina with a smile. "Sweetie... Daddy missed you so much."Alaina remained silent with a pout, clearly displeased with Erland's presence."Daddy bought LEGO for you; we can build a Barbie house together," Erland said, hand
Leo stood near the gate of an elite school, watching Alaina as she exited the building with her friends, looking around as if searching for someone. He entered the grounds and approached his daughter with a smile."You ..." Alaina squinted at Leo, slowing her small steps."Sweetheart ..." Leo crouched in front of Alaina and briefly touched her cheek. "I've come to pick you up.""Tony is supposed to pick me up," Alaina said, frowning. "Grandma said I'm not allowed to go home with strangers, so I have to wait for Tony here!" she continued, then ran toward a waiting bench near the security post.Leo exhaled sharply, stood back up, and looked at Alaina, who looked so cute and pretty with her long brown hair, wearing pink pants, a white shirt, and a red bag.'I can't waste this opportunity,' he thought, glancing around until his gaze fell on a luxury car stopping in front of the gate."Damn, she's here!" he said, clenching his fists, seeing Tiffany hurriedly exit the car and approach Alain
The next day...Maelie had just woken up after crying herself to sleep the night before. She glanced around the quiet room and saw Erland standing in front of the dresser, getting dressed. She quickly got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth.When she returned to the bedroom, she saw her husband sitting on the sofa, putting on his shoes. She felt a desire to approach him but felt awkward after their fight last night.Her attention shifted to his injured hand, which was unbandaged and looked terrible. She walked to the small cot, opened the drawer, took out the first aid kit, and approached him.She sat beside him, took his right hand, and placed it on her lap, examining the wound."A wound like this needs to be treated and covered with a bandage," she said."You always know how to heal wounds, but this time, I'm not so sure," Erland replied flatly.Maelie swallowed hard, sensing the deeper meaning behind Erland's words, perhaps referring to the caus
"Why isn't your husband home yet at this hour?" Teddy asked as he saw Maelie and Jane exit the twins' room. "It's already late," he added, glancing at his watch, which showed 10 PM.Maelie swallowed hard and walked to the sofa."Maybe he's busy," she said."But I think it's unusual for a boss to work this late," replied Teddy, frowning and glancing at Jane, who immediately sat next to him."You don't know how busy he is... you don't understand his job, so you should stay quiet," Jane said with a displeased look.Teddy exhaled harshly. "I just don't want him to treat Maelie the way he treated his first wife. I don't want him to get bored, start leaving her often, and then fall in love with a new girl...""Teddy!" Jane interrupted in a soft voice. "You shouldn't say that. You'll ruin your niece's mood!"Teddy remained silent, turning his face away as Maelie quickly stood up."I need to go to my room now," Maelie said.Jane nodded, letting Maelie walk towards the stairs. She then turned
Erland stopped his car at the side of the road, near a bridge where Tiffany was standing with Benjamin. He quickly got out and approached his ex-wife with a serious look."What are you doing here?" he asked."Waiting for you," Tiffany replied flatly.Erland frowned, feeling odd about Tiffany’s attitude. After staying away from him for so long, she suddenly wanted to meet again."He won’t hurt you, no gun or anything dangerous," Benjamin said flatly.Erland stayed silent."We need to talk. I'll be waiting in the car," Tiffany said, then walked towards her car.Curious, Erland followed Tiffany and got into her car, sitting beside her uncomfortably. He looked around, making sure there were no paparazzi or anyone who could take their pictures, which could cause trouble or gossip if their meeting became public."How are you?" Tiffany asked, looking at Erland, who looked dashing in his gray suit but with a beard that was too thick and hair that was too long, unlike his usual self. "You look