Early in the morning, Erland had just arrived in Sacramento, swiftly heading towards Maelie's car accident location. He remained unmoved, observing the bustling scene there - police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and several teams of journalists.His heart pounded, and his body felt fragile, trembling, imagining the fate of his wife, her sister, and Leo."Tommy!"He immediately got out of the car and approached Tommy who was still standing with the police."How are they? Did they manage to evacuate them?"Tommy shook his head with a worried look."No... The fire department and the police haven't found them," he replied.Erland looked straight at the dark ravine illuminated by the lights of the firefighters' and police officers' torches, allowing him to see his wife's car so close to the river, overturned and wrecked. The sight made his heart race again."They're not in the car. The police only found their belongings scattered around the car, and some may have been washed away," Tommy
At 8 in the morning, Erland left the river after several miles of sailing with the fire department team. He sat silently on the riverbank, looking at his wife's damaged car and constantly imagining the moments they had together."Where are you, my love? If you're gone, why can't I find your body? Why can't Amanda and Leo be found either?" he wondered in his heart, feeling so weak, his body trembling with exhaustion.He sighed, then saw Tommy approaching him from above."Boss, you should rest," Tommy said, looking pale and disheveled."Okay..." Erland tried to stand up, and Tommy promptly assisted him.He walked out of the gorge gasping for breath, often stumbling but quickly getting up again. He continued walking until he reached his car."Let me drive," Tommy said."No... You go back to your apartment... With your car," Erland replied wearily, immediately getting into the car.Tommy furrowed his brow, worried that Erland might lose control as he was still shaken by what happened to h
Already in Alaska, precisely in Anchorage, Leo immediately invited Maelie and Amanda to a minimalist house with a monochrome atmosphere dominated by white and vanilla colors, not far from the lake. They could even see the mountain view while relaxing on the terrace.He immediately invited them in to see many packages inside a paper bag on the table and the sofa."Oh, it seems my friend has bought everything you need," he said as he approached the items.Maelie remained silent and immediately sat on the sofa, leaning her back and head as if tired and dizzy.Amanda quickly looked through the items in the paper bag, which included clothes, shoes, blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, and many more, including ingredients for making food."Why don't you buy a cell phone for us?" she asked, looking at Leo sitting on the gray single sofa similar to the other sofas."Phones are expensive and should be bought according to your wishes, so I won't buy them without you," Leo replied casually. "But
Tiffany entered the ICU room, which was so quiet with only the sound of the heart rate monitor, equipped with medical equipment, and of course, she saw Erland lying weak with medical equipment attached to his body; his head wrapped in bandages, his hands hooked up to an IV, and wearing oxygen while shirtless."Oh God, my son!" Rosalia approached Erland, wanting to touch him but afraid of hurting him because he looked so fragile."Darling... Oh my God..." Tiffany also approached with her fearful gaze.Erland remained silent, his gaze weak, observing them mourning him."Honey, I'm so worried about you..." Tiffany held Erland's left hand that wasn't attached to the IV. "But now I'm relieved... You are fine, I know it. You'll always pull through!""And you'll explain to me," Billy whispered with his cynical gaze.Rosalia wiped her nose, suddenly sniffing from crying, truly worried because her son didn't say anything."Son," she called."Who?" Erland whispered, furrowing his brow. "I don't
"So many sweet memories between us... We've been together since we were kids... You are my first love, and I am your first love too... It hurts so much because now I feel like a stranger to you," Tiffany said, her eyes welling up."Sorry," Erland murmured. "I didn't mean to hurt you, but I really don't remember anything," he continued."It's Okay... I understand.""You can help me remember everything... If I am indeed your husband... You would surely lead me in the right direction," Erland said again.Tiffany just nodded, then leaned down to kiss Erland's cheek....Alaska...Maelie woke up and looked around, imagining the atmosphere in her room, but now reality brought her to a new, rather simple room with a monochrome vibe. The woman remembered that she had to inform her husband that she was okay, so she immediately sat up and got out of bed."Oh, my waist!" She immediately held her waist, feeling so sore. "I sat on the plane for too long... Even my stomach feels stiff!""Sis..."S
After several days of hard work to find out where Erland was, Teddy finally managed to locate him and immediately went to the hospital. He was accompanied by one of his colleagues named Jacob, walking towards ward number 255 where the receptionist said Erland was being treated. However, as they were walking down the hallway, they abruptly stopped when they saw some people walking behind them, and among them was Erland sitting in a wheelchair with his legs bandaged and his head also wrapped in bandages, even his hands still had IVs connected to a pole being pushed by a nurse, while another nurse pushed the wheelchair alongside Tiffany. "Oh shit," Teddy muttered. "I guess we won't be able to talk to him now," Jacob replied right near Teddy's right ear while his eyes continued to watch them. "His family is controlling him... You'll be in trouble if his family finds out that you're Maelie's uncle," he continued cautiously. Teddy remained silent, his gaze fixed on Erland who remained si
Several months passed...Maelie sat quietly in a chair, gazing at the pair of twin babies she had given birth to via Cesarean section a few hours ago, precisely in a hospital quite far from her home. The baby boy and baby girl each lay on their respective cribs nearby, all healthy, dressed in blue and pink complete with caps, socks, and mittens."Erland... I never thought I would experience this moment without you, and it turns out it's not so bad," she thought to herself with a faint smile, reaching out to touch her baby daughter's cheek."Have you thought of names for them?" Amanda asked, standing beside her."I thought you would give them names," Maelie replied, turning to Amanda. "You've always been there for me, giving me attention during my pregnancy...""No no... I don't want to," Amanda shook her head. "You're their mother, so you have the right to give them names. Not me... I'm just doing what I should as your only sister."Maelie fell silent, then looked back at her babies.
New York ...With anxiety, Erland paced back and forth in front of the delivery room, waiting for Tiffany to give birth via natural method. The handsome man, wearing a black shirt and blue pants, occasionally glanced at his watch, then stood back towards the still-closed door, listening to Tiffany's groans as she likely struggled to deliver their baby."Why is it taking so long, it's been an hour," he said anxiously."You should accompany her," Rosalia said, seated in the waiting area.Erland shook his head immediately. "No, I can't. I don't have the courage... There will surely be a lot of blood," he said."But it's your responsibility to be with your wife during childbirth. You don't need to look down... Just hold her hand... Encourage her, strengthen her," Thomas said.Erland remained silent, seemingly hesitant to follow the advice from his parents."Think about how disappointed her parents would be if they knew you didn't accompany her during labor," Thomas said again."Alright...
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