Se connecter“Unable to even make milk properly—how could you possibly take care of a family? Milk should not be prepared with boiling water, yet that is exactly what you did.”Mery spoke sharply, venting frustration that had long been building. The turmoil in her own household had made her easily provoked, and Julia had become the only available target.Julia’s heart pounded. She held herself back, but her patience was beginning to wear thin.“I am not a servant. Please do not treat me that way,” she said, trying to remain composed.“So ungrateful,” Mery retorted, her face flushed. “Do you know how much I struggled for you back then? And this is how you repay me?”Julia drew a long breath.“I will replace it,” she said briefly, choosing to avoid an argument that would lead nowhere.She returned with a glass of warm milk, just as Mery wanted.This time, the woman seemed satisfied. She began to drink her calcium milk, then took a bite of the fried rice Julia had prepared.But not long after—Crash!
“I’ll ride with you.”Doctor Jhon was ready to return. Without much thought, he opened the door and sat in the back seat.“You can’t.”Nathan refused immediately. His hand shot out, grabbing doctor Jhon by the collar and nearly pulling him back out.“If not this car, what am I supposed to take?” doctor Jhon asked, clearly displeased.“Where is your car?” Nathan countered.“I already sent my driver home. I was planning to return with you,” he replied.Nathan looked at him suspiciously. “Don’t tell me you came here in an ambulance?”“My car is being serviced,” doctor Jhon answered lightly, with a faint smile.Elizabeth held back a laugh. She had not expected their conversation to go that far.“Whatever the reason, you can’t ride in my car,” Nathan said firmly, blocking him again.“Don’t be stingy with a friend,” doctor Jhon retorted.He had deliberately refused the other cars—especially Hermawan’s—just to be in the same vehicle as Elizabeth.“You want to sit in the back?” Nathan asked,
With her heart beating softly, Elizabeth returned to the villa. She did not yet know how she would explain everything to doctor Jhon—let alone how to apologize.She stepped inside carefully, almost without a sound, like someone who did not wish to draw attention. Her steps came to a halt as soon as she reached the living room.There, doctor Jhon was asleep on the sofa, still holding Noah in his arms. The sight appeared strangely natural—two figures from different generations, yet in nearly identical positions, as though they shared the same quiet rhythm.Since when had they fallen asleep like that?Had doctor Jhon realized that she had gone to the lake with Nathan?And if he had—would he be angry?“He’s asleep,” Elizabeth said softly, observing them closely.“Yes,” Nathan replied briefly.“I’ll take Noah. His neck must be uncomfortable,” Elizabeth continued, noticing how the baby’s head had tilted.“I’ll do it,” Nathan cut in, leaving no room for argument.Elizabeth simply nodded and
Reluctantly, Julia stepped into the guest room, which was not equipped with air conditioning. She paused at the doorway, looking into a space that felt unfamiliar to her. How could she possibly sleep tonight, when she had always been used to resting in comfort?Her irritation rose again. Her room had been taken, and even the food she had bought had been eaten without permission. She let out a long breath, trying to ease the emotions that kept building within her.Her hand slowly moved to her growing belly. A dull ache began to settle in—subtle, yet persistent. For a moment, she considered ordering dinner again, but the weight of exhaustion overcame her. In the end, she chose to lie down on the bed.Yet, not long after closing her eyes, the heat began to creep in. Sweat formed at her temples. The fan in the corner of the room turned slowly, but it was not enough to dispel the stifling warmth.Julia exhaled softly, then reached for her phone again. She refused to give up. Her fingers pr
A woman sat on the sofa, her face drawn with fatigue. Her fingers repeatedly pressed the call button on her phone. She had lost count of how many times she had tried, yet not a single call went through. The number she was trying to reach remained inactive.“I need you… but why aren’t you here?” Julia murmured softly, on the verge of despair.Was this what Elizabeth had once felt—when she tried to reach Martin over and over again, hundreds of times, without ever receiving an answer?From morning until evening, she had worked without rest. After work, she should have been able to retreat to a quiet, comfortable room. Instead, her mother-in-law had asked her to come to the family house under the pretext of discussing inheritance matters. Though her body was weighed down with exhaustion, Julia had still complied. Yet what followed was far from what she had expected.Rather than gaining any clarity, she had been asked to bring her mother-in-law back home with her. Now, she had to endure bo
Elizabeth did not fully understand why Nathan so often acted on impulse. She had considered voicing her objection, yet ultimately held back. After all, Nathan was her superior. In a situation like this, she found herself at a loss as to how she should apologise to Doctor Jhon.However, her irritation gradually faded as the view before her unfolded. From where she stood, a calm and beautiful lake stretched out—its surface reflecting a quiet, untouched serenity.The motorcycle Nathan had been riding came to a stop right at the water’s edge. He stepped down with an easy expression, then glanced back at her.“Get down.”Elizabeth nodded softly and followed. Though she was moved by the beauty of the place, a trace of guilt lingered—she had broken her promise.“I should have come here with Doctor Jhon,” she said quietly, stepping closer to the water’s edge.“Hm,” Nathan replied briefly.“I only went inside for a moment to put the flowers away and change. But you pulled me away straight away
“Baby, I would never ignore you. I’ll come to your mother’s house often to see you,” Martin said with a gentle smile. Without realizing it, the longing for his first wife had begun to rise inside him.“What are you planning to do at Mommy Merry’s house?” Elizabeth asked, pretending to be innocent.
Elizabeth looked at the maroon dress hesitantly before finally picking it up.“Auntie, this dress is so beautiful,” she said softly, brushing her fingers over the smooth, delicate fabric. Her eyes widened when she saw the price tag.“Yes, Miss. It’s all right. These clothes are meant for everyday w
“Oh, so this is her husband.”Nathan stared at the man’s photo against the blue background printed in the marriage certificate. The man was indeed handsome—perhaps that was why he could have two wives, Nathan thought with a hint of sarcasm. Still, he was certain he was far more handsome than Elizab
Elizabeth woke up when the day had already turned to late afternoon. Sleeping in such a luxurious room, with the calming chill from the air conditioner, made her rest feel incredibly deep.She only then realized that she was now covered with a thick blanket—though when she had fallen asleep, she ha







