MasukChapter 144That morning, the air around the hospital still felt cold, but the tension hanging in Camelia’s chest had not eased at all. She sat in a chair in the ICU corridor, her body exhausted, her eyes swollen from tears that had not truly stopped since last night. In her hand, her phone was still clutched tightly, as if it were the only thing she could hold onto amid the chaos.Quick footsteps approached.“Mrs. Camelia,” Ronal’s voice called firmly.Camelia immediately lifted her face. “Yes, Ronal?”The man stood in front of her, his face serious, his eyes sharp as if he had just discovered something important.“I’ve got the results,” he said without preamble.Camelia’s heart immediately started beating faster. “What do you mean?”Ronal took a deep breath, then looked at her straight. “The culprit is indeed Samantha.”Camelia fell silent. For a few seconds, she could not say anything, as if the sentence needed time to fully sink into her mind.“…I knew it…” she whispered softly, b
Chapter 143The hospital corridor felt cold and too quiet, even though people passed by without end. The white lights on the ceiling reflected off the polished floor, creating faint shadows that shifted every time someone walked past. In front of the emergency room door, Camelia stood with her body trembling, her hands tightly clasped together as if trying to keep herself from collapsing.“Ma’am, please wait outside,” one of the doctors said firmly yet politely as he pushed the ER door closed.“Doctor, please… he has to survive…” Camelia’s voice broke, almost inaudible.The doctor only gave a short nod before the door shut tightly.Camelia stepped back. Her knees felt weak. She almost fell if she had not quickly held onto the wall beside her. Her breathing was uneven, her chest felt tight as if something was pressing from within.“No… impossible…” she murmured faintly, her tears flowing uncontrollably.Not far from there, Aurora and Daven sat on the waiting chairs. Their small bodies
Chapter 142The next morning, the black car driven by Calvin stopped in front of the school gate. The sounds of other children arriving, soft laughter, and hurried footsteps created a lively morning atmosphere. But inside the car, there was a small warmth that felt far more meaningful.“Come on, hurry up and get out. You’ll be late,” Camelia said as she turned to the back.Aurora immediately opened the door excitedly. “Mama, pick us up later, okay!”“Yes, sweetheart,” Camelia replied gently.Daven followed, a little calmer, but still holding Camelia’s hand as soon as he got out of the car. “Mama, don’t forget, okay.”Camelia smiled, stroking both their heads. “Mama won’t forget.”Calvin was still sitting in the driver’s seat, watching them from inside the car. There was something in his gaze that morning—warm, but also as if he wanted to hold onto the moment a little longer.“I’ll get out too,” he said softly as he opened the door.Camelia turned to him. “Why? Don’t you have to rush t
Night slowly fell over the southern city, leaving behind a faint orange glow in the sky that gradually faded into darkness. Inside the black car slicing through the highway, the atmosphere felt warm even though few words were spoken. Calvin sat behind the wheel with one hand gripping the steering wheel, while the other occasionally held Camelia’s fingers as she sat beside him. The streetlights reflected on the windshield, creating faint shadows that moved along with the car.“Are you sure you want to go home now?” Calvin asked without taking his eyes off the road.Camelia turned her head, her loose hair swaying slightly with the movement. “I miss the kids,” she answered honestly, her voice soft but filled with undisguised longing.Calvin smiled faintly. “Me too.”A few seconds of silence passed, filled only by the hum of the engine. Yet the silence wasn’t awkward. It felt warm. As if both of them were quietly enjoying the simple togetherness they had long missed.“Even if it’s just fo
Chapter 140Calvin’s office on the upper floor of the branch building looked incredibly quiet, in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the project outside that had not truly stopped since morning. The large glass walls revealed a view of the southern city filled with tall buildings and busy traffic, while inside the room, only the soft hum of the air conditioner and the occasional ticking of the wall clock could be heard.Camelia sat on the long sofa near the window, her body slightly leaning back, both hands holding a small bag on her lap. Every now and then she glanced toward the office door, as if hoping the man would suddenly appear.“Still in meetings…” she murmured softly as she let out a breath.Her eyes returned to the view outside the window, but her mind was clearly not there. Since noon, she had come bringing lunch, hoping to spend time with Calvin, but instead had to wait quite a while because he was stuck in an important meeting.“Well, it’s work after all…” she whi
The afternoon in the southern city felt scorching. The sun stood high overhead, casting a blinding white light across the Ashford company branch project site. A thin layer of dust drifted into the air every time a project vehicle passed by, while the sound of drilling machines, the foreman’s instructions, and the clanging of metal echoed through the atmosphere. In the midst of all that busyness, Calvin’s figure stood out.The man stood in the outdoor area with a white safety helmet on his head and a dark safety vest wrapped around his tall frame. The white shirt he wore beneath the vest had begun to cling slightly to his skin because of the sweat. One of his hands held a blueprint, while the other pointed toward the building structure that was still under construction.“This section needs to be reinforced again,” Calvin said firmly to the project foreman. “I don’t want a single mistake in the foundation.”“Yes, Mr. Calvin,” the man replied quickly.Even under the blazing sun, Calvin’s
Chapter 26Calvin stood near the window in the hospital corridor, his face still tense. Ronal hurried over as soon as he saw Calvin finish his call.“Did you get it?” Calvin asked briefly.“Yes, Sir,” Ronal replied quietly. “Madam Camelia came to the hospital because one of her children is ill. The
Chapter 21Calvin stared at the bedroom door that was half open. Samantha was asleep, her breathing steady, her face no longer as pale as it had been the night before. The glass of medicine on the bedside table was already empty. He stood there for a few seconds, making sure the woman was truly asl
Chapter 23Camelia rose calmly from her chair. She lightly patted the napkin on her lap, then looked at Juna.“I’m going to the restroom for a moment,” she said softly.Juna nodded. “Don’t take too long. Daven’s food is almost finished.”Camelia gave the children a faint smile. “Mama will be right
Chapter 22Night finally fell.Aurora ran lightly from the living room toward the door as soon as the bell rang, followed by Daven, who walked faster than usual.“Uncle Juna!” Aurora shouted happily.The door opened, revealing Juna, who had just set down his small suitcase. Before he could say anyt







