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40. Marrying an Older Man
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2026-05-03 18:42:52Aurelia lowered her head in silence. Nathan’s words still hung in the air, slicing through her like a cold wind against the back of her neck. Her body felt numb. Her voice was trapped in her throat.
There was no way she could say it.
I married Gian, the man you know, the man who is now your business partner.
That would be a disaster.
“What are you doing here?” Aurelia asked, trying to change the subject. Her voice sounded flatter now.
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LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 186. Don't Overthink Something Silly
Aurelia looked at the person who had made that comment one more time, wanting to confirm what had caught her attention in the first place.She even blinked rapidly, worried her eyes had deceived her.“Don't pay too much attention to it. Just treat it like trash,” Baskara said.Aurelia nodded in agreement.The man had turned out to be nothing more than an ordinary Indonesian. Probably someone who followed business fan pages and occasionally liked pretending he knew what was going on.“Oh my God...” Aurelia muttered under her breath.She smacked her own forehead, held a long breath, then released it forcefully.Her face burned with embarrassment and relief, like someone who had just realized their fear had been completely unfounded.Her cheeks puffed out in frustration, making her look like a child annoyed with herself.She even glanced around to make sure no one had noticed how ridiculous she must have looked.Across from her, Baskara remained calm, watching her without much expression
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 182. Ignore Gian
“F-Father.”The single word left Aurelia’s lips in a shaky whisper. Her heart pounded wildly, a mixture of nerves, emotion, and a longing she had never fully acknowledged before. Her feet carried her forward almost instinctively, as though an invisible force was drawing her toward the man she had not seen in so long, her father-in-law, Mr. Mahesa.The middle-aged man turned slowly. A warm smile spread across his face, softening the authority that had dominated the meeting just moments ago. The commanding businessman seemed to fade away, replaced by the gentle presence of a father. He gave a small nod and lifted a hand, signaling for Aurelia to come closer.With hesitant but eager steps, Aurelia reached for his hand and clasped it respectfully. To her surprise, the simple touch filled her with a sense of security, something she had rarely felt, even within her own family.“Sit down first, dear,” Mr. Mahesa said kindly, gesturing toward one of the comfortable chairs in the elegant priva
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 181. You Can Meet Him Later
Standing across the room was a tall, distinguished man whose presence commanded attention.Mr. Mahesa.Her father-in-law.His posture was impeccable, his expression professional, yet the faint smile on his face carried a warmth that only made Aurelia more nervous.Her heart pounded violently.Her hands trembled despite her efforts to keep them steady.Baskara gently patted her shoulder.“You can meet him later. For now, let’s focus.”Aurelia swallowed hard.Her knees felt slightly weak.She took her seat, opened her notebook, and uncapped her pen.Every movement Mr. Mahesa made seemed to pull at her attention like a magnet, but she forced herself to remain focused.The meeting began.Baskara and Mr. Mahesa took turns presenting their ideas, outlining business strategies and projections in clear, confident English.Aurelia recorded every figure, every argument, and every important point, occasionally glancing at the presentation screen to make sure she hadn't missed anything.Mr. Mahes
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 117. Clarification
The atmosphere in the Mahesa family living room was still thick with tension. Aurelia sat upright, even though her heart was pounding hard in her chest. Across from her, Mrs. Lestari watched with a cynical gaze, as if every inch of Aurelia’s presence was a mistake.“You look perfectly healthy for s
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 116. I’ll be patient
“My guess was right, wasn’t it? Your precious daughter-in-law couldn’t handle being part of this family.”The sharp remark slipped easily from Mrs. Lestari’s lips. Her tone dripped with mockery, as if the victory belonged to her. Her gaze stabbed toward Mr. Mahesa, who had once looked so proud of A
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 114. Kirana Grows Bolder
The ringing phone on the table shattered the fragile layer of silence in the room. Kirana’s name glowed clearly on the screen, making Gian’s chest tighten. His fingers lifted reflexively, about to grab the phone, but froze in midair when he realized Aurelia had already seen the screen.Aurelia’s ga
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 113. Aurelia’s Cold Demeanor
That morning, the clock on the dining room wall had just passed seven-oh-five. The scent of toast and warm milk filled the air, yet the atmosphere felt empty to Aurelia. She had woken earlier than usual, not because she had slept well, but because her mind had been far too loud to let her rest.At
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