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37. Stalker
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2026-05-03 13:37:28Their footsteps echoed softly through the quiet apartment hallway. Gian and Aurelia walked side by side, wrapped in a silence that was no longer awkward, though it hadn’t quite become comfortable either, like two strangers slowly learning the rhythm of each other’s hearts.
Gian unlocked the door. The moment it opened, the soft scent of lavender, the room fragrance Aurelia always used, welcomed them inside. But tonight, something else lingered in the air. A fam
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LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 180. Getting Better and Better
The black sedan rolled smoothly toward Melbourne’s CBD.Morning traffic was already building, cars packed tightly along the busy streets. Yet inside the vehicle, the atmosphere felt entirely different.Aurelia sat rigidly in her seat, clutching her bag against her chest. Every now and then, she glanced at her watch. Her breathing was quick, as if her heartbeat had fallen into sync with the pulse of the city around her.“How’s your first week as my assistant been?” Baskara asked.His eyes remained fixed on the road ahead while his fingers tapped lightly against the steering wheel.“It’s been okay, I guess. I still have a lot to learn. My English gets stuck sometimes, and I still need to review the meeting notes from yesterday,” Aurelia replied softly.She stared out the window and lowered her head for a moment, drawing in a deep breath to calm the anxiety lingering in her chest.“Don’t worry, Lia. It’s only your second week. Practice makes perfect.”As he spoke, Baskara gave her should
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 179. Don’t overthink it
The fine dining restaurant finally fell quiet after the clients excused themselves and left. The long table, lined with crystal glasses and porcelain plates, still carried the lingering aroma of black coffee. Aurelia remained seated, her shoulders stiff, her fingers gripping the edge of her notebook so tightly that the cover was nearly crumpled.It felt as though she still couldn't breathe freely in that room.Baskara slowly rotated his coffee cup before looking at her. A faint smile crossed his face, but his gaze was far too sharp to be considered casual.“There’s no such thing as coincidence, Lia.”Aurelia immediately turned toward him. Her eyes widened, and her breath caught in her throat.“What do you mean?” she asked, her voice rising despite her efforts to stay calm.Baskara leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers together on the table. His confident smile never faded.“There’s no way I would choose a private tutor for my daughter without knowing her background. Is that a
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 178. A Familiar Face
“Excuse me, you are Aurelia, correct?”A deep voice with a distinct Australian accent cut through the low hum of conversation. Even though he was speaking English, the man pronounced her name so naturally, as if he had known it for years.Aurelia turned at once.For a moment, her heart seemed to stop before racing even faster. Her lips parted slightly, her body stiffening as she gave a small nod.“Y-yes, I am.”The man nodded slowly. His gaze never left her face, as though he were studying every detail. There was something in his eyes that went beyond simple friendliness. It was the look of someone trying to piece together a long-lost memory.“I think I’ve seen you before,” he said carefully, sounding completely certain. “Are you related to... Mahesa Group?”The color immediately drained from Aurelia’s face.Her heart pounded wildly, even harder than it had during the
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 177. A Kind-Hearted Boss
“Good morning, Mr. Baskara,” one of the men greeted, shaking his hand warmly.“Good morning, Mr. Carter. It’s a pleasure to see you again,” Baskara replied fluently, a professional smile settling on his face.Aurelia rose as well and gave a polite nod. Her hands trembled slightly as she jotted down the introductions being exchanged around the table.Baskara leaned closer and whispered near her ear, “Hey, you’re not actually writing down all our small talk, are you?”She winced and shook her head.The comment nearly made her knees buckle, but somehow it also gave her the push she needed to keep going.The meeting began.Baskara walked the clients through several key points of the project, speaking smooth, confident English. Aurelia diligently took notes, though she occasionally struggled to keep up.“Could you elaborate on the budget allocation?” Mr. Carter asked firmly
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 176. Do your best!
Aurelia quickly grabbed her crossbody bag. Her fingers trembled slightly as she snatched up her room key, then hurried out of the dorm without a second thought.The cold air bit at her skin, but she barely noticed. Her gaze immediately landed on the luxurious black car parked neatly along the curb. The same car from yesterday, waiting for her with an unmistakable air of elegance that stood out among the ordinary vehicles around it.A sharply dressed man stepped out from the driver's seat. He hurried around to open the rear door, making Aurelia wince awkwardly. Still unaccustomed to such formal treatment, she lowered her head slightly before climbing inside.“Didn't you say we were meeting at the restaurant at ten?” she asked as soon as she settled into her seat, her voice still carrying traces of haste.Instead of answering right away, the man beside her, Baskara, turned with a faint smile.“Good morning, Lia.”Aureli
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 175. Stop Apologizing All the Time!
Morning arrived in Melbourne wrapped in golden sunlight filtering through the thin curtains of Aurelia's dorm room. The air was still bitterly cold despite the rising sun.Aurelia opened her eyes, her eyelids still heavy with sleep.She slowly sat up, giving her body time to adjust. Rubbing her face, she reached toward the nightstand and grabbed the glass of water she had prepared the night before. She drank it slowly, savoring the coolness that soothed her dry throat.The moment her gaze fell on her phone screen, she remembered something.The message she had put off reading the night before.With a sluggish motion, she unlocked her phone.Sure enough, there was a message from Gian.[Sorry. I just finished. Are you already asleep?]Aurelia stared at the message without much expression.Her heart had become numb to apologies that came too often without any real change behind them.Her lips moved sl
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 97. Taking Care of Caca
That afternoon, after seeing Gian off to the airport, Aurelia went straight to the bedroom. The suitcase that had been sitting in the corner earlier was gone now, as if reminding her that she would be alone for the next few days. But her thoughts were not fixed on Makassar. They were on the video
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 96. Provisions for Gian
Aurelia did not respond right away. Her hand still held the knife, but its motion stopped halfway through slicing a stalk of celery. The tip of the blade caught the daylight streaming through the kitchen window, a thin silver line glinting between them. Mrs. Lestari’s gaze pierced through h
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 95. Do you want to give up?
Aurelia stood frozen behind the bathroom door, her back pressed against the cool wood she had just shut tightly. Morning light slipped through the narrow bathroom window and fell across the tile floor, forming a thin line that felt strangely foreign to her. From the outside her breathing seemed c
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 94. The Chosen Woman
“So, what do you think, Aurelia?” Mr. Mahesa asked hopefully, as though speaking on behalf of Mrs. Lestari, who was too proud to say it herself.Aurelia turned to him with a faint smile. “I’m fine with whatever Gian decides, Dad.”Meanwhile, Kiran
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