The intern my husband brings home feeds our son hard liquor. My husband merely says I'm making a mountain out of a molehill when he finds out. Ultimately, our son dies. After his death, I leave the country to be with my parents. That's when my husband regrets everything.
View More"Ceraikan Rara! Ibu sudah nggak kuat punya menantu bodoh seperti dia!”
Rara yang baru saja ingin menyambut kepulangan Nizam, suaminya, sontak membeku saat mendengar ucapan sang ibu mertua.
“Tadi, ibu Ratna, kenalan baru ibu yang kaya itu, datang ke sini. Eh, si Rara malah nyuguhin air putih, bukan jus jeruk. Emangnya dia kira kita nggak punya modal buat menjamu tamu!?”
Dari suaranya, Rara yakin itu adalah Endang, wanita yang menyandang status sebagai ibu mertua Rara sejak empat tahun ke belakang.
“Nggak cuma itu, Rara keluar menjamu tamu cuma pakai daster! Ibu Ratna sampai kira dia pembantu! Gimana Ibu nggak malu!?” ujar Endang dengan marah. “Udahlah, Zam! Ceraikan Rara saja sekarang, terus nikahin Jeny!”
Rara membelalak.
Ibu mertuanya … bilang apa? Menyuruh sang suami untuk menikah lagi?!
‘Nggak, Mas Nizam nggak mungkin ngelakuin itu sama aku …,’ batin Rara dengan yakin seraya mengingat perjuangan suaminya itu untuk mendapatkan restu dari kedua orang tua pria itu empat tahun yang lalu.
“Bu, semua ‘kan sudah Nizam atur." Suara Nizam terdengar. “Jeny akan jadi istri kedua Nizam, sedangkan Rara tetap jadi istri pertama.”
DEG!
Hati Rara hancur berkeping-keping saat mendengar ucapan sang suami. Air mata membendung di pelupuk mata.
Jadi, benar? Suaminya ingin menikah lagi?!
Endang mendengus kasar, masih tidak begitu puas. "Kamu sih dulu kepincut muka cantik Rara doang! Nggak mikir ke depannya!"
Nizam mengusap kasar wajahnya. "Ya, mana tahu akan begini, Bu." Wajah lelah itu bercampur dengan emosi. "Aku nggak nyangka banget sekarang dia malah makin jelek dan nggak bisa ngerawat diri." Dia pun menegaskan, “Kalaupun memang Rara nggak begitu membanggakan sebagai menantu, tapi paling nggak dia bergunalah di rumah untuk bantu-bantu. Lumayan kita nggak usah bayar biaya pembantu.”
Hati Rara sakit bagai diiris sembilu saat ini. Tubuhnya bergetar menahan tangis sembari menatap daster yang dia pakai saat ini. Terlihat sangat usang dan bahkan ada robek kecil di beberapa bagian.
'Karena ini Mas Nizam bilang aku jelek dan lebih cocok jadi pembantu?' ratap Rara dalam hati.
Namun, apa daya Rara? Bagaimana cara dia bisa merawat diri jika dirinya saja tidak pernah diberikan uang lebih untuk sekadar membeli make up atau baju baru?
Tidak, tidak perlu bicarakan alat make up atau baju baru. Kalaupun punya barang-barang itu, Rara juga tidak akan sempat menggunakannya! Selepas subuh saja Rara sudah harus berkutat dengan begitu banyak pekerjaan rumah!
Menyapu, mengepel, memasak dan mencuci semua baju penghuni rumah ini adalah pekerjaan Rara sehari-hari. Selagi Rara melakukan hal itu, ibu mertua dan kakak iparnya hanya bersantai selonjoran di sofa!
Jadi, apa berpenampilan seperti ini sepenuhnya salah Rara?!
Tak tahan, Rara langsung membanting terbuka pintu depan untuk melabrak Nizam dan Endang.
“Apa maksudnya semua ini, Mas?!” Rara berseru dengan suara lantang, matanya yang berkaca-kaca memancarkan kekecewaan. “Kamu mau menikah lagi!?” Dia memandang ibu mertua yang tampak menatapnya kesal. “Siapa juga itu Jeny!?”
Nizam tampak kaget dengan kedatangan Rara yang tiba-tiba. “R-Rara?” Dia tidak menyangka sang istri telah mendengar semuanya!
Berbeda dengan Nizam yang gugup, Endang tampak memasang ekspresi mengejek. “Iya, Nizam mau nikah lagi sama perempuan kaya! Kenapa? Nggak senang?"
Rara terperangah mendengar ucapan Endang. “Ibu! Wanita mana yang senang melihat suaminya menikah lagi dengan wanita lain?! Terutama tanpa persetujuannya!”
Endang langsung melotot ke arah Rara. “Kamu berani ngebentak Ibu sekarang?! Dasar menantu kurang ajar!”
Baru ingin Endang melayangkan tangannya ke wajah Rara, tapi Nizam menghentikannya. “Sudah, Bu. Jangan marah-marah. Nanti darah tingginya naik lagi ….”
Rara menatap sang suami. "Mas, ini semua hanya karena paksaan ibu ‘kan, Mas?" Dadanya terasa sesak. “Kamu nggak benar-benar tertarik dan ingin menikahi wanita lain ‘kan, Mas?!”
Nizam membuang muka, seakan malas ditanyakan langsung oleh Rara yang tampak kecewa.
Rara menghampiri Nizam dan menggoyangkan lengannya. "Jelaskan padaku, Mas! Apa benar kamu mau menikah lagi?!” Dia menggertakkan gigi. “Kalau iya, kenapa?!”
Karena cengkeraman tangan Rara, Nizam pun akhirnya merasa jengkel dan menghempaskan tangan sang istri dengan kasar.
"Karena aku bosan hidup miskin dengan perempuan lusuh seperti kamu!"
Nizam menatap Rara yang membeku di tempatnya. Muak sudah melihat wajah istrinya yang kuyu dan tidak secantik dulu itu.
“Masa kamu nggak ngaca sih? Kamu itu sekarang cuma beban di rumah!”
Bulir bening mulai mengalir menuruni wajah Rara.
“Udah nggak kerja, dandan untuk menyenangkan suami pun nggak pernah! Bisanya cuma bersih-bersih dan ngurus anak doang, itu pun nggak sepenuhnya becus sampai ibu harus setiap hari marah-marah sama kamu!”
Nizam memutar bola matanya dan melanjutkan.
“Beda dari kamu anak yatim-piatu yang nggak bisa apa-apa, Jeny itu anak orang kaya yang cantik!” Nizam memasang senyum kemenangan melihat wajah terluka Rara. “Kalau aku menikah dengan Jeny, dia bisa membantuku dapat kerjaan di Jaya Corp! Aku bisa jadi kaya! Sedangkan kamu, bisa apa?!”
Mendengar nama perusahaan itu, Rara mengerjapkan mata. Jaya Corp? Apa suaminya sedang membicarakan tentang perusahaan ternama dengan aset miliaran itu? Wanita bernama Jeny tersebut menjanjikan Nizam posisi di perusahaan itu?
“Sekarang, kamu bisa lihat ‘kan bedanya kamu sama Jeny sejauh apa?” tanya Endang dengan senyum penuh puas. “Udah kayak tanah sama langit!”
Rara tak bisa berkata-kata. Dia sulit percaya dengan apa yang dia dengar.
Jadi, karena dirinya tidak berdandan maupun membawakan kekayaan, Nizam lebih memilih untuk menikah lagi?
Selain itu, semua hanya untuk posisi di sebuah perusahaan!?
Perlahan pancaran cinta penuh harap yang sebelumnya masih sempat hinggap di sepasang manik Rara berangsur menghilang. Hanya ada kekecewaan dan kebencian di sana.
Karena Rara tidak berbicara, Nizam berkata, “Sudah, aku capek! Cepetan kamu siapin air hangat buat aku mandi …,” titahnya seraya berjalan melewati Rara ke dalam rumah.
Nizam yakin bahwa Rara tidak akan bisa berbuat apa-apa selain menerima keputusannya. Lagi pula, selain dirinya, wanita itu sekarang sudah tidak punya siapa-siapa lagi.
Sebenarnya, Nizam pernah dengar Rara punya satu kakak laki-laki. Akan tetapi, kakaknya itu tidak setuju dengan pernikahan mereka. Alhasil, saat Rara menikah, kakak laki-laki Rara yang tidak pernah Nizam temui itu memutus hubungan dengan sang istri.
‘Ya … kasihan sih. Tapi … salah sendiri bucin,’ batin Nizam dalam hati.
Sadar bahwa Rara hanya terdiam di depan rumah, Nizam menoleh. Pria itu menautkan alis dan berseru, “Rara! Kamu tuli, ya?! Cepat siapin ai–”
“Cerai.”
Nizam terbelalak.
“Apa?”
Rara menoleh, menatap dingin ke arah Nizam. “Aku minta cerai,” ulang Rara dengan penuh keyakinan. “Kalau kamu memaksa menjadikan Jeny istrimu, maka ayo kita bercerai!”
Once I got home, I immediately hit up my friends who were back in the country.From my friends, I learned that Jamie had gotten together with Tara after he was released from prison.However, as time passed, Tara looked down on him and often jeered at him, all because she thought he was a loser.On the other hand, he blamed Tara for everything. He wouldn't have lost his family if not for her.Driven by resentment, he drugged Tara and stuffed her into a suitcase, suffocating her to death.The domestic police force had taken on the case. He had only found out about my address because he stole my deliveries to my friends in the country, knowing that I'd still keep in touch with them.I snickered. How typical of Jamie!My friend apologized to me. "I'm sorry. I didn't know he'd go to extremes and look for you abroad."I grunted. After the call, I smiled. Since Jamie had knocked on my door, I couldn't just spare him. And it was a piece of cake to deal with criminals on the run.As
Jamie's face looked ghastly.After all, in his heart, Tara had always been the sweet little sister who needed his care. The sudden discovery of Tara's true colors must have been a huge blow to him.His voice was hoarse, and his eyes looked bloodshot."Why?"Tara, on the other hand, had already resigned herself to the situation and shrugged indifferently."For what reason, you ask? It's all because Noelle and her son stood in my way!"Jamie's breathing quickened. "I've always treated you like a sister. I've been good to you, and yet you hurt the person I loved the most. Do you not have a conscience at all?"Tara, chilled by Jamie's angry roar, sneered. "No one wants to be your sister! I know you've been good to me, but we're not blood-related. "So, why can't I fight to be with you and secure my own future? I admit I didn't do a good job now that everything's come to this."But are you any better than me? You act like you deeply love Noelle, but the moment a woman beckons at yo
After addressing me, Jamie turned to the police, explaining, "Sorry! Ever since my son died, my wife has been a bit unstable..."He gestured to his head as he spoke."Please return to your duties. I'll make up for the losses."I chuckled, "Huh? Are you saying I'm mentally unstable? Jamie, would you believe me if I told you that Tara was one of the reasons behind Andy's death?"Jamie didn't even hesitate. He immediately blurted out, "That's impossible."Tara chimed in with feigned innocence, "Yeah! Noelle, I know you've never liked me much, but there are legal repercussions if you slander me."They sounded so sure of themselves. The people around us were drawn to the commotion.In my disheveled state, I looked exactly like the mad woman Jamie had described. The onlookers pointed and whispered about me."I heard her son died. That's clearly because she didn't take good care of him, yet she insisted that it was her husband and that young woman who were responsible.""Shh, keep yo
When I arrived at the hospital, Jamie's car was still parked at the same spot. The trunk was still open and raised high.My heart ached. That trunk was what killed Andy.I had perhaps stared at it for too long, as the trunk seemed to come alive and open its blood-soaked mouth. I felt like I might fall into an abyss if I stared any longer.After a long time of gathering courage, I finally retrieved the footage from the dashcam.Holding the small USB drive in my hand, I silently vowed, "Andy, I won't let your killer off the hook, even if that person is your father..."I took a deep breath. Just as I looked up, I saw Jamie pushing Tara not far away from me.I immediately crouched by the side of the car.They didn't notice me.Suddenly, Tara's expression shifted to one of terror as if she had seen something, but it quickly disappeared.After Tara sent Jamie on his way, a blond young man walked toward Tara.A gut feeling told me I needed to get closer.Before I knew it, I was at
"You're such a failure! You can't even protect your own child," taunted Tara.She didn't bother pretending anymore and revealed her true colors, probably because it was just the two of us in the hospital room, I raised my hand and slapped her hard.Not to be outdone, she lifted her hand, ready to hit back, but then her eyes caught sight of something.She grabbed my hand, forcing me to hit her face instead."Noelle, hit me a few more times if it makes you feel better. It doesn't matter, as long as… It makes you happy."While speaking, a triumphant smirk crept onto her lips."Noelle, I know Andy is gone, and you're hurting, but you shouldn't take it out on innocent people!"I turned in the direction of the voice.Jamie stood at the door, his face filled with conflicted emotions.The moment I saw him, Andy's bruised and pale face flashed before my eyes.I closed my eyes.After a while, all the noise around me faded. I opened my eyes again.Jamie's weary face appeared in fron
"Andy, don't scare me." I quickly picked up my son and prepared to rush to the hospital.But at that moment, my feet felt as if they were melded to the ground. I couldn't move.After struggling to make it into the hospital, I saw a doctor and immediately grabbed his hand."Please save my child!" I cried out in despair.But before the doctor could speak, Jamie interrupted, "What are you doing now?"He then turned to the doctor and said, "Doctor, I'm sorry. Forget about her. Please go and change Tara's dressing first!"A hint of hesitation flashed across the doctor's face. "Perhaps, I should take a look. This lady doesn't seem to be faking it. Checking won't take much time."The doctor was about to reach out to examine Andy, who was in my arms, but Jamie immediately yanked me away.He smiled apologetically at the doctor. "She's my wife, and she has a habit of lying. I didn't expect she'd go as far as lying about our son this time."Tara, who was sitting in a wheelchair, pouted a
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