LOGINAurelia 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
The living room was still heavy with the aftermath of the commotion. Aurelia sat on the couch, pale and trembling, even as Gian kept wrapping his arms around her and rubbing her back in an effort to calm her down. The mug of warm water in her hands remained untouched. Mbok Sumi stood awkwardly in the corner, her head lowered as she nervously twisted the edge of her batik skirt. Meanwhile, Mrs. Lestari sat nearby, her sharp gaze making the entire room feel tense."Enough, Gian. I can't keep worrying like this," his mother finally said, breaking the silence. "Just bring Aurelia back to the house. I'll be there, Mbok Sumi will be there, and so will everyone else. At least she won't be alone while you're at work."Gian let out a long breath and glanced at Aurelia, who was still sitting frozen in place. His heart was caught between his desire to protect his wife and his belief that their apartment was the right place for their little family. He knew his mother's intentions were good, but s
"Ahhh!"The scream shattered the silence of the night.Aurelia stood in the middle of the apartment living room, her face drained of color. Her entire body trembled as she wrapped her arms protectively around her stomach, instinctively shielding the baby growing inside her. Her breathing came in ragged gasps while her eyes darted around the room.A moment ago, she could have sworn someone had been trying to open the apartment door from the outside. She had clearly heard the handle rattling.Seconds later, the door actually swung open.Aurelia stumbled backward, nearly dropping the glass in her hand."Lia!"Gian's panicked voice rang out.He appeared in the doorway, followed by Mbok Sumi, who was carrying a bag of trash. The tension on Gian's face was obvious as he rushed straight to his wife."What's wrong?!"Aurelia was shaking so badly she could barely stand.Without thinking, Gian grabbed her shoulders a







