Romans de Ahmad Nurul Adib

"Get married? You’re joking, right? We don’t even know each other’s favorite colors yet, Rex."I stared at him wide-eyed. I let the fork in my hand slip, and it clinked softly against the porcelain plate. Behind the man’s sturdy frame, a huge wave crashed against the rocks. The white foam burst instantly, just like my thoughts at that moment. The sound of the crashing waves seemed to celebrate the madness that had just slipped from the lips of the man in front of me. I had just been kicked out. I had just lost my home. And now a stranger I’d met only last night was asking me to make a sacred vow.Rex didn’t seem bothered by my shock. Instead, he reached for his glass of red wine. He swirled the liquid briefly before sipping it with great composure. His sharp eyes stared at me from behind the rim of the glass. It was as if he were peeling away every layer of doubt from my face.“A contract marriage. Sounds more challenging and fair, doesn’t it?” he said after setting the glass down sil

"Where are you taking me? To a dump that’s more livable than that house?"I rested my forehead against the car window, which felt as cold as ice. Outside, the Australian morning fog crept slowly, shrouding the trees and streets in a gloomy gray. Rex didn’t answer; his strong fingers remained steady on the steering wheel. I glanced at him with stinging, puffy eyes, feeling so small inside this luxurious vehicle. I was just a woman who had just been kicked out of her own home, carrying a small suitcase filled with the shards of my shattered self-respect.Rex finally glanced at me, his sharp eyes still fixed on the road. “A better place than that isn’t hard to find, Emma.”“You don’t understand,” I whispered, my hand clenching the bag’s strap until my knuckles turned white. “My life ended last night. I have nothing left to be proud of. All that’s left are ruins.”“Every new building is built on cleared ruins, isn’t it?” he replied calmly. “I can give you a life far more worthy. More than

"Do you think I'm some cheap woman you can just take home without even touching me?"My voice sounded strange to my own ears. Hoarse, demanding, and a little slurred from the red wine still swirling in my head. Inside this luxury car, the silence felt so thick, leaving only the scent of the expensive leather seats and the sandalwood fragrance from the man’s body beside me. Rex, the man I’d just met at the club, remained calm. His strong hands gripped the steering wheel firmly, not the least bit affected by the reckless provocation I’d just thrown at him.He glanced at me briefly. His gaze held no lust, only a calmness that made me feel small. “I don’t take home women who’ve lost themselves, Emma.”“I haven’t lost myself. I’ve just found myself,” I replied with a hollow laugh, resting my head against the cold windowpane. The snow outside looked like endless falling white dust.The car slowed as we entered my neighborhood. Rex reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a small, rectangul

"Do you still have this number, or am I just too stupid for only realizing it now?"I whispered to my own reflection in the fogged-up bathroom mirror. Behind the glass stall, the sound of the shower masking the tremor in my shattered voice. I sat on the cold porcelain floor, hugging my knees while staring at Alex’s phone screen, which was still lit up. His name wasn’t there, just a string of numbers that had just shattered my world in a single brief call. My hand trembled violently as my thumb hesitated over the redial button. I needed to know. I had to make sure my ears weren’t betraying me tonight.I pressed the button. My heart pounded loudly, as if trying to beat the connection on the other end.“Hello? Alex? Are you on your way?” the woman’s voice sounded again. So sweet, so familiar.I took a deep breath, trying to swallow the bitterness clogging my throat. “It’s me. Emma.”There was a moment of silence. I could hear a soft sigh from the other end. No fear, no hint of guilt. Jus

"Alex, does the color of this dress still leave you spellbound?" I twirled in front of the large mirror that reflected my own image. This maroon silk felt so soft against my skin, hugging my curves perfectly. Outside, the Australian snow has begun to fall, wrapping the tree branches in a cold white hue, but inside this room, I’ve turned on the heater until the air feels so cozy. I want tonight to be an unforgettable night. Five years of marriage isn’t a short time, and I still love that man with the same thrill as when her first proposed to me under the drizze rain. I hear the door open. Those footsteps I know so well sound heavy, steps on the thick plush carpet. I smile widely, turning with sparkling eyes. “You’re home already? I was just thinking you’d be stuck in traffic because of the snow.” Alex doesn’t answer right away. He sets his brief case on the chair, then loose his tie with a rough-looking motion. His handsome face looked stiff, lines of exhaustion clearly etched ther