LOGINThat night, Aurelia lay in bed with the blanket wrapped around her body. She watched Gian’s face shift into annoyance the moment he looked at his phone. A small laugh escaped her lips.
“Kirana again?” Aurelia asked with a quiet chuckle. Without hesitation, she reached up, touched her husband’s face, and kissed him softly. “Go ahead and deal with her first,” she whispered with a teasing smile.
Gian let out a low sound, his eyes gleaming with a
The question slipped out so casually from the mouth of a first grader. But to Aurelia, it struck like lightning in the quiet meeting room. Her breath caught, and the smile on her lips instantly froze.Across the room, Baskara was still focused on the files spread across the conference table, completely unaware that his daughter's innocent question had shaken Aurelia to her core.Before Aurelia could recover, the notification on her phone chimed again.The screen lit up with a name that made her heartbeat quicken.Gian.It wasn't just a text. He had sent her a photo.In it, Gian sat in a conference room wearing a perfectly tailored suit. His expression was serious, though he still managed a faint smile for the camera. Beside him, Rafi was busy flipping through a stack of documents.Below the picture was a short caption filled with longing.[I miss you so much. What are you up to, sweetheart?]Aurelia stared at the screen.
That morning, sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains of Aurelia's room. The smell of freshly toasted bread filled the small apartment. She sat at the little table by the window, looking down at a simple breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast with jam, and a steaming cup of tea. For a moment, she welcomed the silence, hoping it would calm the thoughts that had been weighing on her since the night before.The peaceful moment didn't last.Her phone rang.It was the ringtone she had assigned to calls from home.Her hand froze above her spoon.The hesitation was immediate. It was the same familiar reluctance she always felt whenever her parents' names appeared on her screen.Aurelia drew in a quiet breath.Should I answer... or ignore it?Her heart urged her to let it ring.Her mind told her otherwise.In the end, she gave in.She swiped the green icon and raised the phone to her ear."Hi, Mom,
Soft but confident footsteps echoed through the room.Devina, who had been organizing documents for the charity gala, instinctively turned around. Her heartbeat immediately became uneven as she saw the elegant woman walking in with calm, measured steps. Though streaks of silver now threaded through her hair and the passage of time had left its mark on her face, the quiet authority she carried was just as powerful as it had been years ago.Devina's lips tightened.A heaviness settled in her chest as memories she had long buried came rushing back without mercy.She remembered those days vividly, when she would visit the Mahesa family mansion, greeting everyone warmly while doing everything she could to earn Mrs. Lestari's approval for the sake of her relationship with Gian.Then everything fell apart.A storm of suspicion, manipulation, and slander had destroyed it all.Now, after so many years, she found herself standing face-to-face o
That afternoon, the Jakarta sky glowed with shades of gold and amber. The fading sunlight filtered between the city's towering skyscrapers, reflecting softly against the glass windows. The spacious venue where the Mahesa Group Foundation charity gala would be held was still buzzing with activity. Workers moved back and forth assembling portable stages, securing the overhead lighting rigs, and testing the sound system, which crackled before cutting out again. The gala was still a week away, but every detail had to be perfect.Amid the organized chaos, Gian stood with quiet authority. His suit was immaculate, though his shirt sleeves were rolled up. One hand held the event layout while his sharp eyes examined every detail. A slight furrow creased his brow, not just from the demanding schedule but from the enormous pressure to ensure the foundation's prestigious charity gala was flawless.From the opposite side of the hall, Devina walked toward him.Her hair was tied back in a simple pon
The question lingered in the air, colliding with the silence that filled the room.Devina froze. Her eyes widened in disbelief, as though she couldn't quite process what she'd just heard.Outside, the restaurant bustled with life. The clink of glasses, cheerful conversations, and the soft melodies of the live acoustic band blended into the familiar hum that usually soothed the atmosphere. But inside the private dining room, time seemed to stand still. The sounds beyond the door became nothing more than distant echoes, too faint to penetrate the heavy tension hanging between them.The air suddenly felt thin.Devina's fingers, which had been tidying the handbag on her lap, went still. Gian's question echoed inside her mind over and over, pounding against her heart."G-Gian... what do you mean?" she whispered, her voice trembling so faintly it was almost inaudible.Gian leaned forward, his gaze fixed on her with unwavering intensity. He didn't
The room was swallowed by darkness.Only the dim glow from Aurelia's laptop remained, casting a faint light across her face. The ticking wall clock sounded louder than ever, emphasizing the silence that settled over the office after the power went out."Bas?" Aurelia called softly, a hint of panic creeping into her voice."Relax," Baskara replied immediately. His voice was calm and reassuring. "It's probably just a temporary outage. I'll check."He started to get up but stopped himself. In complete darkness, searching for the door or a light switch would only increase the risk of someone getting hurt.Aurelia shifted in her seat, reaching for her phone to turn on the flashlight. Instead, her foot caught the extension cord beneath the desk."Oh my..."She lurched forward.Without thinking, Baskara grabbed her by the shoulder."Lia!"She nearly crashed into the desk, but his strong arm caught her just in time. In th
Gian groaned in frustration. He quickly grabbed Aurelia’s hand, which had been wandering a little too far. Within seconds, his body shifted, no longer lying face down.Aurelia, caught off guard by the sudden movement, let out a small cry as her body slipped from Gian’s back. Bu
That morning, the kitchen felt unusually quiet. The only sounds were the ticking of the wall clock and the soft hum of the air conditioner.Aurelia sat at the dining table wearing a loose white shirt and gray linen pants, her hair tied up in a careless ponytail. There was no smell of toast
That morning the sun was already high when Aurelia stepped out of the bedroom. Her hair was tied in a simple ponytail and her face was bare of makeup. But there was something unusual in her eyes, the look of someone walking around while carrying a question she could not put down.Her mind
Warm steam filled the bathroom. A thin layer of fog began forming on the large mirror above the sink. Morning sunlight filtered through the slatted window, casting soft reflections that shimmered across the white marble walls.Gian adjusted the faucet, making sure the water was warm enough







