LOGIN“Welcome home!” Aurelia greeted cheerfully.
A bright smile spread across her face as she set a bowl of warm chicken cream soup on the dining table. The aroma of spices and broth filled the room, welcoming Gian home. Beside it, neatly sliced fresh mangoes were arranged on a plate, their vibrant yellow color brightening the simple dinner table.
“I actually wanted to make mango pudding, but I ran out of time, so instead I made—” Aurelia started explain
"Sweetheart, let's go to our room first."Those were the words that finally left Gian's lips after standing there in silence for what felt like forever, watching Aurelia cry and plead without getting any answers. His voice was soft, almost hoarse, as if he were carrying something unbearably heavy on his chest.Aurelia shook her head in disbelief."Gian?" she whispered, her voice breaking.Her whole body trembled. She tried to pull away, but she didn't have the strength. Gian gently but firmly guided her toward the bedroom.Once the door closed behind them, Aurelia continued struggling.Her breathing came in ragged gasps, and her face had gone completely pale.Gian held her shoulders, trying to calm her down."Lia, please calm down. I'm here. No one is going to hurt you."But his words weren't enough.Aurelia didn't believe them.Her sobs only grew louder.Then a knock sounded from outside the room.
The house suddenly felt frozen.The air, which had seemed perfectly normal moments ago, now pressed in from every direction. Aurelia stood rigid, her fingers still wrapped around Mbok Sumi's wrist as if she were being dragged into darkness itself. The older woman's body shook violently. Tears streamed down her face, and her broken sobs filled the air, making it seem as though the entire house could hear her anguish."Ma'am... I can't take this anymore..." Mbok Sumi whispered through choked sobs.Her words sounded full of surrender and heartbreak, carefully crafted to be as convincing as possible. Her shoulders trembled. Her body curled inward, presenting the image of someone deeply wronged.Aurelia froze.Her tongue felt tied. Her heart pounded so hard it hurt.Everything had happened so fast.In a matter of seconds, she, the actual victim, now looked like the aggressor cornering a helpless elderly woman. Mbok Sumi's swollen eyes, her
Aurelia hurried forward, her breathing ragged, her heart pounding so hard it felt ready to leap out of her chest. The sound of footsteps at the end of the staircase grew clearer, echoing through the narrow hallway illuminated by dim lights. The night felt suffocating, as though the very air around her had joined forces to keep her on edge. Her eyes narrowed, her body leaning forward, like a hunter preparing to catch its prey.The moment the figure stepped into the pale yellow glow of the hallway light, Aurelia froze.Her eyes widened.Her entire body tensed.She stared in disbelief.“Mbok... Sumi?” she choked out, her voice hoarse with shock, anger, and utter disbelief.The middle-aged woman jumped as though she'd just been caught stealing. Her body stiffened, her face drained of color. In her wrinkled hand, she was still holding something.A red marker.Its tip was still wet with ink.Aurelia's gaze immediat
The day seemed to pass faster than usual.The afternoon sun was already beginning to sink toward the horizon when Aurelia returned from campus. The family driver assigned by Mrs. Lestari drove her home in silence while her mind remained occupied with the developmental psychology theories she had been reading for her thesis.When she arrived home, she found her mother-in-law sitting comfortably in the living room, a cup of warm tea in hand.“How is it? Are you settling in here?” Mrs. Lestari asked pleasantly, as though she genuinely wanted to make sure her daughter-in-law felt comfortable living in the large house.Aurelia nodded awkwardly.“I am, Mom. The driver is very kind too. It's made commuting to campus much easier.”“That's good to hear,” Mrs. Lestari replied briefly.The faint smile on her face looked sincere at first glance, but Aurelia still felt a trace of uncertainty. There was something about the way her mother-in-law looked at her, as though she were always hiding an ult
Just as Aurelia tensed and turned cautiously toward the sound, a housemaid appeared with a friendly smile.She immediately let out a breath of relief."What is it?""Nothing, Mom," Aurelia answered quickly when she noticed her mother-in-law looking concerned.Aurelia's first day in the sprawling mansion turned out to be calmer than she had imagined.Although her heart had been full of anxiety about being separated from Gian for several days, she kept telling herself this was the best choice. Her mother-in-law's house was enormous, with a beautifully maintained front yard, and the security guards stationed around the property made her feel a little safer.That morning, a private driver assigned by Gian picked her up and took her to campus.Sitting quietly in the back seat, Aurelia watched the busy streets pass by. Every now and then, she checked her phone and read Gian's messages.[Did you make it to campus? Don't forget to eat, sweetheart.]A faint smile touched her lips.The message
Gian froze.Aurelia’s words landed like a gentle blow that somehow hurt even more. He had never expected her to say that. Despite all her hesitation, she was the one choosing to give in, accepting the very option she had firmly rejected before.“Sweetheart... are you sure?” Gian’s voice trembled, barely above a whisper.Aurelia looked at him and tried to smile, though the anxiety in her eyes was impossible to hide. “I just don't want you leaving with a heavy heart. If this is what we have to do, then I'll try to accept it. It's for our baby.”Gian let out a long breath. Taking both of her hands, he wrapped them warmly in his own.“I don't want you feeling pressured. I know how you feel about Mom. But I also can't leave you here by yourself and have any peace of mind.”Silence settled over the small living room. The only sound was the ticking wall clock filling the quiet spaces between them.Aurelia lowered her gaze and let Gian study her face. Deep down, she was trying to prepare hers







