Erland was silent, now feeling cornered, feeling that all of this happened because he decided to marry Tiffany even though he didn't truly love her."I don't know if these are just your excuses ... You're acting like you're the one suffering the most," said Miranda with a sarcastic smile. "How would we know you're suffering if you seem happy with our daughter? You acted like a happy husband, a fiancé preparing a luxurious wedding ... Isn't that something that won our hearts? Made us believe you loved our daughter? So why are you saying now that it was all forced? If you didn't truly love her, you shouldn't have bothered doing all that! Or maybe you did love her then but you're a jerk, getting bored of her after having her completely?" she questioned loudly.Erland remained silent."Now you've come back after leaving her pregnant, and now she's had a miscarriage, she's grieving ..." Miranda shook her head, her eyes reflecting anger at Erland before focusing on Maelie. "You even returne
Erland was silent, Tiffany's words left him frozen, filled with guilt, but he couldn't take her back because it was impossible to share love. What she had done had already made him unable to stop hating her."You can't answer me, can you?" Tiffany asked loudly. "You know you're the bad one here... What I did was a form of protest as a wife... I became cunning because of you... I never intended to make him my love... He was just a close friend, not my lover... You should be able to differentiate how my relationship with him is compared to you and Maelie. We just needed each other, not with love!"Erland sighed."Yes..." He nodded his head."Maybe what I did with him was excessive, then I used my pregnancy to keep you. It's because I love you, whereas he was just a friend... He was just a friend!" Tiffany reiterated. "Do you think I don't hurt? My heart aches to see you always distancing yourself, and it turns out it's because you chose another girl. Such things made me want revenge, fe
"Whatever happens, I won't let you choose that traitor to be your next husband!" shouted Miranda with a sharp gaze, then pushed Tiffany onto the bed. "Now you'd better get ready. You're going to leave this mansion, even this city! I'll move you to Las Vegas to live with your brother; he'll watch over you, making sure you don't mash with the wrong men!" she continued firmly, then left without waiting for Tiffany's response.Tiffany took a deep breath, swallowed hard, and glanced around, feeling very sad about leaving but not wanting to see Erland with Maelie here either.'Is this my fate? I always get into trouble when I follow my heart, but I also suffer when I marry Erland, who was my parents' choice... So who can bring me happiness?' she asked herself, feeling so lost and nauseous, her mind filled with images of Erland, Leo, Maelie, and the moment she forced the doctor to abort her baby."I can't, I can't live like this, they're all bastards!" she screamed, pulling at her hair in fr
The atmosphere became awkward, and there wasn't much conversation between Erland and Maelie because Erland was busy with guests discussing business and renovating Alaina's room into a room for the twins, which would require remodeling.Maelie didn't know what to do besides focus on her children, who were still adjusting to the mansion. She couldn't stop thinking about Tiffany and Alaina, overwhelmed by guilt but unable to find a solution.That night, she put the children to bed in Alaina's room, on a large bed with safety rails. She tucked them in, then got out of bed and cleaned up the toys scattered on the carpet, putting them into a pink basket."Sis?""Amanda."She greeted Amanda, who had just arrived looking fresh in a red t-shirt and black shorts, her hair loose."You should go see Erland. I'll watch the kids," Amanda said, glancing at the sleeping twins.Maelie sighed deeply, then walked to the sofa and sat down, looking worried as she rested her head on her hand, which was pro
The cold atmosphere hit, making Erland quickly pull the blanket to cover his and his naked wife’s bodies, then hug her after making sure their bodies were covered up to their chests."I don’t like winter," he said."But I do," Maelie replied weakly, her eyes still closed. She rested her head on Erland’s arm, inhaling his scent, feeling his warmth from the skin-to-skin contact. "I like getting hugs like this... Warm, comfortable, and soft," she continued with a smile.Erland smiled, then bowed, brushing aside Maelie's hair that covered her forehead, making her look up at him."I feel like we’ve never had a moment like this since we got back together. This is the first time," he said with a happy blush on his handsome face. "It’s like we’ve never experienced separation... It’s like when I was still a deceiver in your life."Maelie gave a faint smile, but Erland quickly kissed her lips."I wish time would stop so we could stay like this," Erland said, pressing his forehead to Maelie’s."
A month has passed...Maelie had settled into the Erland Mansion in New York, and of course, Amanda was living there too because she could never let her live far away from her. However, Erland had asked Tommy to return to managing his company in Reno, and that means Amanda has to have a long-distance relationship with him.There were no more problems; Erland had officially divorced Tiffany, although he still often sent gifts to Alaina, who now lived with Miranda and Billy, while Tiffany stayed in Las Vegas with her brother.This morning, Amanda accompanied Maelie shopping at a supermarket along with a bodyguard who would always watch over them because Erland worried that Tiffany or her family might do something bad to them."I want to go to Reno," Amanda muttered while pushing the cart as her sister busied herself choosing items they would buy."Why do you want to go there? If you miss Tommy, let him come here..." Maelie replied casually, then took a box with a picture of cheese and p
Upon returning from the supermarket, Amanda locked herself in her room and did not want to talk to her sister at all, not explaining anything about what had happened between her and Leo.The girl was utterly devastated, refusing to eat, drink, or answer calls from anyone until nightfall."Amanda, I've made dinner, come and have dinner with us," Maelie said, leaning her head against Amanda's bedroom door.There was no response from inside."Amanda, please..." Name Lie sighed with a sad look. "Open the door... You need to have dinner. Come out. I won't talk about what happened at the market or anything else. I just want you to eat...""What's wrong?"The question from the living room diverted her attention, and she saw Erland, who had just arrived, carrying a briefcase and dressed formally in a black suit without a tie."Something happened to Amanda," she said, approaching her husband with a worried look. "We went shopping together at the market, and we accidentally ran into Leo...""Le
Amanda stood in silence, anxiously gripping the pregnancy test behind her back while keeping her eyes fixed on her sister."Damn, what should I do now? What if this test is positive? What should I tell her? Even if it's negative, I still have to explain everything to her... But... But I don't want her to know what happened between Leo and me!" she monologued to herself, occasionally swallowing hard."What are you hiding?" Maelie walked closer to Amanda."Um...""Mae..." Tommy stepped in front of Maelie. "Didn't you say you wanted Amanda to eat? You should get her some food since she said she only wants to eat here." He said with a smile.Amanda quickly threw the pregnancy test into the bathroom.The sound of something falling, though not too loudly, managed to distract Maelie, who ignored Tommy's words and chose to approach Amanda."I think you're hiding something from me," she said."Mae..." Tommy quickly moved towards them."I'm not hiding anything!" Amanda shouted with a frustrated
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