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61. First Steps
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2026-05-08 16:13:40Aurelia let out a quiet breath and forced a small smile. She was trying to push the rather unpleasant events from the night before out of her mind. She had begun to realize that someone like Kirana was the kind of person she needed to watch carefully. But for now, she decided to set it aside. Today marked the beginning of something new for her. Her first step as a private tutor.
The doorbell chimed softly but clearly, cutting through the quiet afternoon in an upscale neighborhood in So
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LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 174. About the Sweet Reunion
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. Something urgent came up. I'll call you back later."The short message was finally sent.Gian stared at his phone screen for several seconds longer than usual, as if hoping Aurelia would understand. Even though he knew that, for what felt like the hundredth time, he was postponing time meant for his wife.His thumb had hesitated before pressing send, but the reality in front of him left no room for another choice.With a long breath, Gian slipped his phone into his suit pocket.The real world demanded his presence, even when all he wanted was to choose Aurelia, waiting across the ocean.As he approached the front door, the noise outside grew louder.Camera flashes.The glare of spotlights.Reporters shouting over one another.All of it shattered the usual tranquility of the official residence."Mr. Gian! Is it true that you met Chef Devina this afternoon?""Are you pl
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 173. Why??
"Mom..." Gian drew a breath. "Why? Why are you asking me that?""I heard Devina came to your office. Around lunchtime," his mother replied calmly.Gian blinked.So the news had already reached her.He rubbed the bridge of his nose, recalling Devina's gaze in his office. Calm. Certain. Direct.Divorce Aurelia.She had said it without hesitation.And he had refused without hesitation."Yes, she came," Gian finally admitted. "Without an appointment. She brought lunch and invited me to eat with her. We only talked for a little while.""A little while?" Mrs. Lestari raised an eyebrow. "And... did she ask for anything?"Gian suppressed a sigh."She wanted me to divorce Aurelia."His voice was low but firm."I told her I never would."A flicker of relief crossed his mother's face, though it didn't last long."Good. But there's still something I need to know, Gian."Mrs. Lestari stepped forward and took a seat."When the past comes knocking, even the most honest person is tested by how they c
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 172. Do You Still Love Her?
Aurelia nodded, signaling that she accepted Baskara's offer.The decision came with a heartbeat that thundered louder than usual in her chest.She reassured herself that this man was not a complete stranger. He was Caca's father, after all. Caca had been her private tutoring student.So wasn't it reasonable to trust him?Wasn't there already a connection between them that made things feel a little safer?But when they stepped out of the restaurant, she was met with a small surprise.She had assumed Baskara would be driving himself.She was completely wrong.A sleek black car was already waiting at the entrance, and a chauffeur stood beside it, promptly opening the door for them.Aurelia felt slightly awkward.She climbed into the car and sat beside Baskara.The scent of expensive leather filled the enclosed space.Without saying much, Baskara immediately pulled out his phone. His fingers moved swiftl
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 171. A Good Opportunity
Aurelia shot to her feet.Her body felt hot despite the cool air drifting from the restaurant's ventilation system. Her cheeks flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and irritation as she stared wide-eyed at the man sitting across from her."I'm sorry, but I'm married. And I don't think it's appropriate for me to hear something like that," she said, her voice trembling but firm.A few people at nearby tables glanced their way, making her even more uncomfortable.She lowered her gaze briefly and took a deep breath to calm herself.Meanwhile, Baskara let out a soft chuckle.His expression remained calm, as though he found her reaction amusing."Hey, don't get the wrong idea. That's not what I meant. I was joking," he said, raising both hands in surrender. "When I said you were interesting, I wasn't talking about you personally. I just realized you might be the perfect temporary assistant."Aurelia frowned."An assistant?"
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 170. It's Me
No.She couldn't bring herself to look back toward the street.Aurelia squeezed her eyes shut, her entire body trembling as though she wanted to disappear from the world.A sob escaped her lips, soft but unmistakable."No! Don't hurt me, please!"Silence hung for a fraction of a second.The pounding of her heart roared in her ears, louder than the traffic surrounding them.Then—"Calm down. I'm not going to hurt you.""No!" Aurelia snapped as she quickly pulled her arm free.A second later, she realized something.That voice...Her eyes flew open.It made no sense, but she recognized it clearly. Not only because of its calm tone, but because...The man had spoken Indonesian.At least, that was the first thing that crossed her mind."Mrs. Aurelia. It's me."Her head turned sharply.Her gaze landed on a man with a firm, handsome face and an awkward half-smile.For a moment, she sat frozen, her mind refusing to process what she was seeing.Then she whispered, almost inaudibly,"Mr. Baska
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 169. The Incident Before Her Eyes
Aurelia sat alone in a small café tucked away on a corner of Lygon Street. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the scent of toasted bread, filling the cozy space around her. Through the large window beside her, she watched people moving through the city in its usual rhythm, fast-paced, purposeful, and seemingly without pause.She held her phone in both hands, staring at the screen that still displayed her last conversation with Sophia.She had rewritten the same message several times:My deepest condolences, Sophia. I hope your grandmother rests peacefully.Yet it still didn't feel like enough.There was something deeper she wanted to say, but she couldn't find the right words.In the end, she pressed send anyway and leaned back in her chair with a long sigh."I hope Sophia stays strong," she murmured before taking a sip of her cappuccino, which had already begun to cool.To distract herself, Aurelia slipped her AirPods into her ears. The IELTS listening practice she had r
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 166. A String of Messages
The notification sound from her phone kept chiming, shattering the silence of the dorm room still wrapped in Melbourne's chilly morning air. The window had been left slightly open, letting in a sharp breeze that carried the damp scent of last night's rain. Aurelia stirred beneath the covers on her
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 165. New Step
Aurelia’s legs felt heavy as she descended the airplane stairs. The cool night air greeted her the moment she stepped out of the cabin, a stark contrast to Jakarta’s humid, crowded atmosphere. So this was it: Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, a place that had existed only in her imagination for months
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 164. Refrain
The sight of Aurelia disappearing beyond the gate left a weight in Gian's chest that felt impossible to carry.The last glimpse of her back, the brief sway of her long hair before she vanished into the crowd, left him rooted to the spot.He stood there silently, his heavy breathing
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 163. Go
Gian finally finished his sentence. His voice was deep, trembling yet resolute."...but never think that I've given up. I'll keep fighting to win your heart back, even if it takes the rest of my life."The words seemed to slip through the walls Aurelia had spent so long building aro
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