Adelia sat in front of her receptionist's desk, chuckling, the woman put the two thousand in her drawer. In just a short time, other guests began to arrive. She didn't have a chance to think about Emily and the two thousand.
After completing the check-in process for the next guest, Adelia immediately switched to helping the other guests who were in the middle of the registration process. Although her heart was still full of questions and a little jealousy about Edward and Emily, Adelia still tried to provide friendly and professional service to all guests.
Some guests asked questions about the hotel facilities, while others needed recommendations for places to eat nearby.
Adelia nimbly answered each question with a smile, trying to disguise her mixed feelings of curiosity and jealousy that had arisen earlier.While she was busy with her task, her mind occasionally flashed back to the arrival of Emily and Edward. Adelia felt that today would probably be a day full
“She's Edward's fiancée and Melinda is engaged to Afgan. The two wealthy couples are getting married next week, and we ... thank goodness I have you two to accompany me in my old age,” said Adelia as she stroked her stomach.After speaking to herself, Adelia took a small step towards the food stand to fill her hungry stomach.Adelia didn't realize how Afgan was always watching all her movements in silence. Seeing Adelia stroking her stomach several times, Afgan was a little suspicious, but by the time Adelia was devouring the food greedily, Afgan was laughing to himself. “She was hungry, you plebeian.”Moments later, the program continued with a lavish dinner. Adelia quickly retreated to a corner of the room with a portion of cake that she hadn't finished chewing. Trying to calm herself down, she savored the cake in the paper bowl she was holding while watching the guests enjoying their moment together.Suddenly, the tail of
Just as Adelia was about to stand up from the chair she was sitting in, her vision suddenly blurred, Adelia staggered again and her body unsteadily fell back into her chair.“Adelia, are you okay?” The coworker held Adelia, who already looked pale.“It's okay, I'm just tired of the conditions ha ... , uhm I mean, having to stand all the time.” Adelia was surprised that she had almost divulged her condition.Edward was also secretly watching Adelia, at the moment when Adelia was unsteady, he could no longer contain his feelings. With rough steps, he left Emily stunned, seeing that Edward had approached Adelia and carried her bridal style out of the party room.“UHm” Emliy was stunned by the situation. Holding back her embarrassment, the woman immediately ran after them.Afgan also witnessed the situation and was about to follow, but Melinda hurriedly pretended to hold her stomach.“Aowh, honey. Your s
“Uhm, I mean ... in the future, lah, I don't mean this!”“Adelia, try to explain, what I mean is, if Afgan leaves you, then... you have the right to find another man... then get married, then have a baby.. then...”Afgan and Edward smiled slightly, having understood the direction of Emily's messy and awkward conversation. Just a moment ago, her words were very firm and elegant.Edward immediately played a role to emphasize Emily's words. “Right, Afgan, won't you have a baby from Melinda, and then Adelia will have a baby from the man who will be her new husband later?”“New husband?” Afgan looked at Edward as if the man's words hurt him.“Yes, that's what I mean, new husband, baby from new husband's child, gosh, what's going through my head, I think I'm hungry.” Emily stood up to reach for her cell phone.“I'll order some more food, is Afgan going to eat together in this crampe
“Oh my, Afgan? What happened to you?” asked Melinda in a panic at Afgan's presence in her room. The party was over and everyone was going to rest.Melinda had finished showering and found Afgan coming home with his handsome face covered in sores.“It's okay, I just want to sleep, you made so much noise,” said Afgan softly.The pain in his body was not as painful as his scratched heart.“You must have gone looking for Adelia, isn't that right?” asked Melinda as she sat on the edge of the bed, while Afgan had begun to lie down with a tired body.Before Afgan could answer, there was a knock on the door from outside the room.“Who?” asked Melinda curiously before getting out of bed.“Us, your in-laws!” Achmed Al-Futtaim cleared his throat before answering.As Melinda opened the door, Afgan's mother immediately ran to the bed, surprised by Afgan's condition.&l
Melinda thought for a moment, she was a cunning woman just like Bayu.Of course she didn't want to give away as much money as Bayu wanted, but get nothing in return.“Alright, we'll meet in half an hour. You just wait there. I'll send the amount you want as soon as I hear everything you have to say.”Melinda hung up the call and grunted in annoyance. She had to see Bayu soon or she would be bullied for the rest of her life. In her heart, she planned to finish off the man who fathered the baby she was carrying because she didn't want Bayu to become too greedy and spill the beans to Afgan one day. However, this was not a good time as the news that Adelia was pregnant was bothering her and she had to do something about it.Melinda didn't know what she should do to get rid of Adelia without getting caught by Afgan. She was convinced that Afgan had started to love Adelia because his attitude towards her remained cold and standoffish. Only occasiona
Afgan stared blankly at the computer screen. Today he had decided not to go home for overtime because he knew that Adelia was taking the night shift.With the CCTV footage connected to his laptop, he looked at Adelia from a distance.Feeling very confused by the situation, where he was starting to feel like he wanted to have her as his real wife, Melinda appeared and declared her pregnancy in front of Afgan's parents.Suddenly Afgan straightened his sitting position. The CCTV screen was showing a live broadcast and at this moment, Afgan saw Edward in front of the reception desk with a bunch of Lily flowers in his hand.“What does that man want! Isn't he also unable to choose Adelia? Ofel has already distributed the invitations, that's a sign that your parents don't approve of your annulment either!”Afgan stood up and walked back and forth nervously while staring intently at his laptop.“You're just as cowardly, Edward! You
Adelia was driven back to the hotel after Edward had finished his treatment. She couldn't help but laugh because Edward's face was inert and wrapped in plaster everywhere including his sharp nose.“Why are you laughing at me? What's so funny?” asked Edward in an unhappy tone.“I was imagining you in a wedding suit with such an ugly face!”Edward was silent as Adelia alluded to his wedding to Emily. He really didn't want that day to take place.“It's a wonder about you guys, why you chose the same day to get married. But, anyway, I wish you a happy marriage and I'm sorry I can't attend your party.”Adelia's words made Edward feel sad, but he had to leave quickly so that his tears would not fall and make his ego disappear in Adelia's eyes.“I'll be on my way. Take good care of yourself. Don't forget to eat a lot for your son,” Edward said and then quickly stepped back and got into his car.
“Sorry, I can't take the night shift,” said Adelia. She was currently standing in front of Mrs. Smith, the CEO with Melinda at a side table, watching meaningfully.Adelia was present because she wanted to collect her last paycheck. Her intention was to use the salary to cover the cost of childbirth. Regular check-ups with the doctor also cost a lot of money.Mrs. Smith looked at Adelia with a look that Adelia already understood. The woman who had been the CEO was now intimidated by Melinda. The woman was beginning to show her power as the Young Madam and owner of the International Hotel.“Melinda, you try to find out who can cover Adelia's shift for tonight,” Mrs. Smith said with her head bowed looking down at her fat legs and hiding behind her fancy desk.Melinda immediately pretended to type something on her computer, the plan was already laid out in such a way, she didn't want Adelia to be able to attend her wedding so that in t
The next day, Melinda came home with a sluggish face and a tired body. Bayu had attacked her so hard that she felt a sting between her thighs.Carrying Shintya, the woman shouted at her servant."Take care of the child first and call Aunt Kusuk!" she ordered and strode irritably to the room.All the clothes were placed unceremoniously on the floor. The woman quickly made her way to the bathroom.Not long after, Aunt Kusuk came in and Melinda quickly got out of the bathtub wearing only a bathrobe."I'm so tired, put all your energy into giving me a massage!" ordered Melinda as she lay face down on the bed.The therapist, who was giving Melinda a massage, occasionally furrowed her brow as she watched Melinda's body covered in tiny blues and hickeys.After finishing Melinda's massage, the therapist quickly left the room. Her mistress was already fast asleep.The therapist immediately reported everything she had seen to Afgan.
Bayu sits in the corner of the cafe with a serious expression. Melinda enters the room, and their gazes meet. They sit in a quiet corner, under dim lights. Tension hung in the air."How did you find me after so long?" asked Bayu with a questioning, longing look on his face.Melinda took a deep breath before answering, "Afgan and I, we've been drifting apart. Something is wrong, and I feel like I'm losing him. I miss him, Bayu."Bayu looked into Melinda's eyes, trying to read what was really going on. “So, what do you want from me, Melinda?”Melinda was shaken. "I don't know, Bayu. Maybe I'm looking for answers. Maybe I'm looking for support. I feel alienated in my own home."Bayu nodded, feeling sympathetic. They engaged in an open conversation, expressing their respective anxieties. They talked about their overly complicated lives, about the haunting past, and about the sense of loss they felt.Occasi
Melinda approached him, gritting her teeth. "Time? It's been a year!""Shintya needs her father, now! You're going to ruin her first birthday with her father's absence?"Afgan growled, "You don't understand!""You don't understand, Afgan! You make Shintya and me feel insignificant!" Melinda shouted, eyes glazed over.Afgan felt stabbed by those words, but he persisted. "I'll be gone for a while, Mel. This is important to me.""And what is important to you, Afgan? What did you choose to miss this moment for?" Melinda tried to get his attention by grabbing the sleeve of Afgan's shirt."Let go!" she exclaimed.Afgan shook his head. "You can't just force me to leave Adelia.""She's dead, Afgan! Please come to your senses!"The argument escalated, and a tense atmosphere pervaded their home. Melinda felt disappointment and frustration growing inside her. Afgan, fixated on his inability to let go of the past, decided to leave w
Melinda felt a change in her relationship with Afgan. Although their home was again full of laughter and jokes, there was an ice that had slipped between them. Every day, Melinda felt like she was facing a cold wall that she couldn't break through. The once beautiful landscape became increasingly bleak.Melinda tried to find answers within herself. She brooded in the middle of the night, sitting on her bed with her mind in turmoil. The silence of the house was only interrupted by the wind tapping on the windows. "Why has everything changed?" she muttered to herself."Why is there no love from Afgan at all even though I got rid of that pesky woman?"Melinda always slept alone without Afgan. The cold nights were shared only with her little daughter who often woke up at night to ask for milk.A message arrived on Melinda's cell phone in the middle of the night, as she was giving milk to the little one.[Already asleep?]Melinda simply read the
That morning, the sun shone down on their house. Afgan sat on the terrace, gazing at the garden that was slowly recovering from its sadness. Today he wasn't working because it was the first day of 2024.All employees were closed and Afgan had no reason to work. The gaze of the man looked pseudo and passionless.Even though the house was quiet with most of the servants on leave, there was still the occasional sound of little Shintya crying.However, the man did not respond to the cries at all.Melinda came out of the house, realizing that their conversation last night still left a wound in Afgan's heart.“I'm sorry, Afgan,” Melinda said regretfully. Her hands made a tray of tea and glasses. Melinda stepped closer to Afgan and tried to soften the heart of the man who became her husband.“I know it's complicated, and I want to make you ha
“What do you mean?”Afgan begins to tell Achmed about Bayu and Melinda having an affair. However, Achmed didn't fully believe him until Afgan showed him the evidence from the recording.“Let's do a DNA test!”“Okay! Do as you wish, Dad!” Afgan refocused on his work and didn't respond to his father's words anymore.The DNA test was conducted, but Melinda cunningly managed to trick the test employee by taking a sample of Afgan's own hair left in her comb.A few days passed, and the DNA test results finally came out. Achmed held the results tremblingly, seeking reassurance over the doubts that crept into his mind. Afgan, who had kept his distance from the situation from the start, finally agreed to speak.“Dad, what's the result?” Afgan asked, his face determined.Achmed stared at the DNA test results, then nodded with disappointment. “This... this is impossible. The results show that
“You want to visit his grave? Yes! Go to the Sanjaya Cemetery in South Jakarta. Look for Adelia's name in block 7!” exclaimed angrily through the speaker on the cell phone. The man did not allow the security guard to open the door at all.Hearing the answer from Edward, Afgan's heart was like being struck by lightning and then slashed by several sharp daggers.“Go back to your country. I really hate you for letting Adelia's body go up in flames like that!”Edward switched off the call from the security cell phone. With languid steps, Afgan stepped back into his car.The fact that Adelia was dead made his life feel shattered. With his left hand, he called his father to check the whereabouts of Adelia's grave.The driver drove the car back to the airport. Afgan did not wait any longer, but went straight to the private plane that his father had prepared.“Go home, Afgan,” Achmed said wearily.“Adelia's grave is indeed there and the death
“What's going on, is she awake?” asked Afgan with his breath caught in his throat as he ran from the hospital parking lot to his mother-in-law's room.“No, she's not conscious yet, but we heard her delirious.”“Edward and Adelia?”Kanya nodded her head confidently, as did Achmed.“It seems that Adelia's loss has something to do with Edward.”Afgan snorted harshly then said, “that man has been gone since before the fire. He's already engaged to Emily and they've returned to Dubai.”“How could he be involved?” Afgan asked himself.“It's good you're investigating, Afgan. All the possibilities are there, after all you've been looking all this time.”“By the way, what about Melinda, have you forgiven your wife?” Achmed asked his son.Afgan looked at his father meaningfully. He couldn't bear to tell him the secret abou
“I'm sorry for everything I did that was unfair to her, Father.”Afgan's voice was hoarse and his chest felt tight.Achmed looked at his son with compassion. “We cannot control fate, Afgan. Life sometimes gives us difficult trials, but we must fight through them together. We will find a way out, and we will be stronger than ever.”Afgan nodded, the man wiping away tears with the back of his hand as he absorbed his father's words. Although there were still many questions and uncertainties ahead, he felt that his family would find a way to get through all the obstacles and rebuild their lives.The two sat together in the hospital waiting room, embracing each other in an emo-laden silence. They realize that in order to achieve happiness in the future, they must unite and support each other, even though the road ahead may still be difficult and full of challenges.“I'm going to go calm down, D