Several days passed...Reluctantly, Erland followed his mother's request not to divorce Tiffany, even though today he would go to Nevada for work matters and Tiffany turned out to be in his apartment."I didn't expect her to come!" he said with annoyance."Maybe she misses you," Maelie replied, sitting beside Erland who was putting on his shoes. Sadness was evident on her face, unable to deny that her heart was starting to ache because she had to let her husband share love and attention again, there was also the worry that his first wife would settle in Nevada, thus depriving him of the chance to see her in Sacramento.Erland finished putting on his shoes and turned to Maelie, who looked elegant in a vanilla-colored dress with open sleeves and light makeup, but slowly he noticed the sadness in her eyes, so he immediately hugged her."I hate this!" he said sorrowfully and angrily. "I don't want to leave you..."Maelie released Erland's embrace with grace and looked at him with a smile.
At 7 p.m. in Reno, Nevada.Maelie and Amanda entered a ballroom adorned in shades of red and white, decorated with red roses, red balloons, and much more, giving the room a romantic ambiance. Guests began to arrive, talking and shaking hands, while Maelie and her sister helped with the service, arranging desserts in small love-shaped cups on the tables, where there were plenty of beautiful wine glasses and other dishes."Leo, where's the special cake?" Maelie asked as she approached Leo, who had just arrived."Um, Olivia and the others are bringing it here. I just need to prepare the space for them to pass without the cake getting damaged," Leo replied, scanning the area."Okay..."Maelie stepped aside, and shortly after, her team arrived with their large, shiny maroon love-shaped cake, adorned with cream resembling flowers and chocolate leaves turned green."Be careful," she said anxiously.People there immediately noticed the cake, as did the cameramen and Amanda, who promptly captu
Throughout the party, Maelie tried to maintain a professional demeanor even though her heart was shattered seeing the intimacy between Erland and Tiffany, as if he didn't care about her presence there, not even greeting her and instead seemed happy with the party."We should just go home," Amanda suggested, looking at Maelie sitting across from her, enjoying the dinner like everyone else."I'm tired, I want to rest first," Maelie replied, her gaze fixed on the food in front of her, poking at it with her spoon as if she didn't want to eat it."Then let's stay at the hotel.""No... Let's just go back to our old home.""What?" Amanda widened her eyes."I need to calm down." Maelie sighed, then glanced at Erland chatting with one of the guests, accompanied by Tiffany. "I don't know what all of this means... I feel like he wants to kill me now... Killing me by hurting my heart... It's too bitter, suffocating... I feel like I can't do anything.""I hope he's just trying to cover up your rel
Tiffany followed Erland with trembling steps until they reached the room and released her grip strongly, causing her to fall onto the bed."Erland!" she exclaimed in panic.Erland remained silent, walking towards the window and leaning his hands there, gazing outside with his breath hurried due to emotions and anxiety, all imagined by Maelie.'This is stupid, really really stupid. I shouldn't have just stayed silent when she's here... I shouldn't have been kind to Tiffany!' he thought angrily, even clenching his fists, feeling the urge to hit something. 'she must be very hurt... If not, she wouldn't have fainted, I've caused her suffering...'"Erland!" Tiffany exclaimed irritably. "why are you acting like this? How could you treat me like this, like a slave, like a stranger... I know you don't love me anymore, but I'm still your wife!" she continued firmly.Erland remained silent."I love you... I'm willing to sacrifice my youth just to be with you always... But it turns out what I ge
Successfully making Tiffany fall asleep despite having to make love to her, Erland quickly got out of bed and put his pants back on, then immediately contacted Tommy who had been trying to reach him several times but he didn't answer because he was still focused on Tiffany."Hello, Tommy. How is she? Have you gone to the hospital to see her?" Erland asked anxiously, walking towards the balcony."No, she's not at the hospital," Tommy replied over the phone, instantly furrowing Erland's brow. "I've checked the nearest hospital and there's no new patient by the name of Maelie Luisa. I've also checked several hospitals but there's no patient under her name," he continued."Oh God..." Erland sighed, running his fingers through his hair backward, then biting his lower lip while thinking about where his second wife might be."I've also tried to contact Leo but got no answer, and even Amanda doesn't want to respond. So the conclusion is they're deliberately avoiding us," Tommy explained again
With haste, Erland left his car after stopping in front of Maelie's house. He walked towards the front door and saw Leo sleeping on a long chair on the porch, his face covered with a jacket."She must be here," he thought, immediately pushing the front door, which turned out to be unlocked."Mae... Mae!"He shouted, traversing the eerily quiet hall until he reached the bedroom door, pushing it open to find it unlocked as well."Sweetheart..."He immediately halted upon seeing Amanda standing near the bathroom door as if waiting for someone. He hurriedly approached her with concern."Where's my wife?""She's inside, she's been vomiting," Amanda replied anxiously."Why did you bring her here instead? She should be in the hospital!""Just ask her!" Amanda exclaimed irritably. "This is all because of you, so don't get mad at me!" she continued firmly, then left.Erland sighed, trying to contain his emotions, realizing it was all his fault. He immediately pushed open the bathroom door, fin
"We're going to the hospital, okay?" Erland looked at Maelie with hopeful looks.Maelie sighed deeply, distancing herself from Erland by lying down with her back turned to him."I hate hospitals," she whispered."But you need to go to the hospital..." Erland held Maelie's beautiful but cold feet and gently massaged them. "Come on... Don't you want the best for our baby? I know you're a good mother... You won't keep suffering, you love our baby.""I know, but I really don't like hospitals... I won't be able to sleep well, and I don't like medication either... And if you follow me to the hospital, what if your family finds out about your possible affair?" Maelie said anxiously. "I'm worried they'll track your whereabouts because you left the party abruptly. That would be really bad.""No one will be able to track me, not even my father."Maelie let out a rough breath, then lay down and looked at Erland beneath her, considering him and remembering how Tiffany had been so eager for his at
At 7 a.m., Reno, Nevada.Tiffany lazed around in her hotel room, lost in thought, imagining Erland being with Maelie to the point of completely ignoring her.'He's just sweet to calm me down, then he hurts me again,' she thought, wiping away the tears that streamed down her cheeks. "It's Okay... I'll just stay silent now. But don't blame me if my retaliation hurts more than this... I swear, you two won't be able to be together again!" she said angrily, her eyes filled with vengeance until they shifted to the open door.Rosalia entered the room with a worried look, approaching Tiffany sitting on the bed."Sweetie, are you okay?" she asked."Yeah, I just feel nauseous and dizzy," Tiffany replied with a thin smile, but in her heart, she thought, 'Of course I'm not okay... Your damn son left me just like that just to be with that damn whore!'"Where's Erland?""Uh... He... He left early in the morning for work. He had a breakfast appointment with a client to discuss work."Rosalia furrowe
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