LOGINMy heart shattered the second I walked into that bar and saw my boyfriend of three years making out with who I thought was my best friend. My boyfriend, the one who had just talked to me about getting married to me a few nights ago. In a night of heartbreak and alcohol, I bowed to forget about him. But fate threw me a curve ball when I woke up in bed with the person I least expected... Dad's partner and the same man that I had lost my virginity to when I was younger, Daniel Halloway. To make matters worse, we were married, and he refuses to annul our marriage. "I'll give you a divorce, but only after our contract is over. After that, you're free to go." he corners me back to the wall making me feel like a small prey, waiting to be devoured by its hunter. "But until then... You're mine, and I will do with you as I so damn well please." he whispers in my ear, sending shivers up my spine.
View More"Hasan! Mana istri kamu? Jam segini kok belum bangun!" teriak Bu Wati.
Wanita paruh baya itu baru saja bangun dari tidurnya. Jam telah menunjukkan pukul 7.30 pagi, tetapi kedua matanya tidak menangkap sosok perempuan yang hampir satu minggu ini sudah menjadi menantunya. Bu Wati berjalan ke dapur sambil mengikat rambut pendeknya, tetapi saat sampai di dapur kedua matanya terbelalak melihat Rosa, sang menantu, tengah berdiri di depan kompor sambil mengaduk sayur yang ada di dalam kuali. "Kenapa Bu, bangun tidur kok teriak-teriak?" tanya Rosa seraya berbalik badan dan tersenyum menatap Ibu Mertuanya. Sontak Bu Wati jadi salah tingkah dibuatnya, ia kira menantunya itu masih molor tapi ternyata sudah berkutak di dapur. "Nggak," jawabnya acuh lalu masuk ke kamar mandi yang ada di sebelah dapur. Rumah ini terbilang cukup dan sangat sederhana bagi Bu Wati dan keluarganya, tetapi tidak untuk Rosa, wanita itu sangat sengsara tinggal di rumah kecil bersama ipar dan para keponakan serta mertua yang masih lengkap. Namun, tidak ada yang bisa diperbuat olehnya selain menerima dan belajar hidup sederhana. "Rosa," panggil Hasan yang sudah rapi dengan seragam Securitynya. "Iya, Mas? Kenapa?" "Aku pergi dulu." "Nggak sarapan dulu? Ini sayurnya sebentar lagi masak, lo." "Tapi ini sudah siang, kenapa kamu tidak bangunkan aku?" "Yaaa ... aku kira kamu kelelahan, jadi aku tidak mau mengganggu tidurmu." "Tapi aku harus kerja, Sa." "Yaelah, kerja di ka--" Rosa menggantung ucapannya sebab Bu Wati telah keluar dari kamar mandi menatap sinis Hasan yang sudah rapi dengan seragam kerjanya. Bu Wati menatap sekilas putra bungsunya itu lalu pergi ke meja makan yang di sana sudah ada beberapa lauk hasil masakan Rosa. "Kalo kerja tu yang semangat, San! Bangun pagi sebelum ayam berkokok. Ini matahari sudah tinggi baru mau berangkat, rezekymu dipatok ayam baru tahu rasa!" omel Bu Wati seraya duduk di meja dan mencubit sepotong ayam goreng buatan Rosa. Hasan tak menjawab, lelaki itu hanya diam saja tanpa mengidahkan ucapan orang tuanya. "Aku pergi dulu, habis ini mandi dan jangan capek-capek ya," ujar Hasan lalu mencium kening istrinya tanpa perduli ada Bu Wati yang menatap ilfil kearahnya. "Sarapan dulu, Mas," ulang Rosa. "Nanti sarapan di tempat kerja saja." "Ya sudah kalau begitu tunggu dulu sebentar," ucap Rosa lalu pergi ke bagian rak piring dan mengambil wadah nasi untuk dibawa kerja suaminya. "Hasan-Hasan, jadi lelaki kok klemar-klemer! Contoh Kakakmu itu, kerja getol gaji besar, enak hidupnya." 'Hidup enak kok masih numpang sama Ibu,' ucap Hasan. Namun, sayangnya kata itu hanya mampu ia ungkapkan di dalam hati. Tak ada keberanian bagi Hasan untuk menjawab apa lagi membalas omelan Ibunya. Lelaki itu hanya mampu diam dan mendengarkan, sebab ia tahu dan sadar bahwasannya dirinya belum mampu untuk membahagiakan kedua orang tuanya. Apalagi dengan pekerjaannya yang hanya seorang Security, tentu hal itu berbanding jauh dengan kedua Kakaknya yang seorang Manajer disebuah perusahaan ternama yang ada di Kota Palembang ini. "Eh ... eh ... enak saja," kata Bu Wati seraya menepis tangan Rosa yang mengambil satu potong paha ayam goreng yang ada di hadapannya, "ayam-ayam ini bukan untuk Hasan, tidak ada bagian untuk kalian!" ucapnya, lalu mengambil paksa ayam yang ada di tangan menantunya. "Inget ya! Kalian itu tidak ada apa-apanya di bandingkan Farid dan Rohim yang sudah bekerja keras! Ayam-ayam ini khusus, hanya untuk pegawai kantoran, bukan untuk seorang Security macam suami kamu!" omel Bu Wati. Rosa menatap bingung ke arah Bu Wati sebab dari pagi yang berbelanja dan mengolah ayam ini adalah dirinya, bahkan uang yang digunakan untuk membeli ayam itu adalah uang pemberian suaminya, bukan uang dari Farid atau pun Rohim anak kebanggaannya. "Kenapa lihat saya begitu? Kamu tidak suka suami kamu diperlakukan tidak adil? Ya itu salahnya sendiri, jadi anak kok tidak becus, tidak pernah kasih uang keorang tua dan tidak ada keinginan untuk membahagiakan orang tua padahal saya sudah capek-capek membesarkannya!" omel Bu Wati tanpa perduli bagaimana perasaan putra bungsunya itu. "Sayang, aku pergi dulu," ucap Hasan, tanpa mengidahkan omelan Ibunya. Lelaki itu langsung pergi meninggalkan Ibu dan juga istrinya yang masih memegang kotak nasi. Sayangnya kotak nasi itu tidak boleh diisi dengan lauk enak yang sudah di masak oleh istrinya. Hasan pergi dengan perasaan hancur, tetapi ini bukan yang pertama untuk lelaki itu. Bagi Hasan, omelan Sang Bunda adalah penyemangat di pagi hari. "Bu ... dia anakmu, kenapa tega bicara seperti itu?" ucap Rosa yang tak mengerti apa isi kepala Ibu dari suaminya ini. "Heh! Perawan Tua! Sudah beruntung saya nikahkan kamu sama anak saya! Coba kalau tidak, sampai sekarang kamu pasti belum menikah! Mana ada lelaki yang mau nikah sama Perawan Tua seperti kamu!" hardik Bu Wati, seraya menatap sinis wajah menantunya. Rosa tak menyangka, wanita yang baru satu minggu ini di kenalnya, ternyata memiliki mulut yang sangat luar biasa. Hinaan dan cacian terus terlontar dari mulutnya, padahal hari masih pagi dan cuaca begitu cerah. Hatinya terasa panas bila didengarkan, tetapi wanita yang berusia tiga puluh lima tahun itu tak mau ambil pusing, sebab ia rasa mungkin saja ini baru permulaan dan mereka belum mengenal satu sama lain. 'Lihat dan tunggu saja, kamu akan tahu siapa Perawan Tua yang selalu kamu hina ini, Bu.' "Kenapa malah bengong? Mana kopi susu untuk saya?" "Kopi susu tidak ada, Bu. Adanya teh." "Ya beli di warung kalau tidak ada! Gitu aja kok repot!" "Saya masih masak. Orang di rumah ini ada banyak bukan hanya saya. Menantu Ibu ada dua dan mereka belum pada bangun. Kenapa Ibu hanya mengomel pada saya?" ungkap Rosa yang mulai tersulut emosi. Glontang-glontang. Suara sutil dan kuali bertabrakan. Sengaja Rosa mengaduk masakannya dengan menimbulkan kebisingan, sebagai tanda bahwa dia sedang memasak bersamaan dengan rasa kesal yang membuncah. Selama tiga puluh lima tahun wanita itu hidup dengan kedamaian, tanpa ada yang mengomel apa lagi menghina dirinya. Namun, setelah melepas masa lajang, Rosa seperti mendapat rasa baru dalam hidupnya. Bagaimana tidak, dirinya memiliki Ibu Mertua yang suka mengomel. "Heh! Perawan Tua! Bisa masak tidak? berisik sekali?" Rosa hanya diam, tak ada niat untuk menjawab. Meladeni ucapan wanita tua itu sama saja membuang-buang energinya. Namun, apa itu Rosa bila dirinya terus di hina akan tetap diam? Wanita tangguh itu tak akan gentar hanya karena sebuah hinaan. "Pagi, Ibu ...," ucap Tiara, kakak ipar tertua Rosa, "kenapa Ibuku yang cantik ini kok pagi-pagi sudah pasang wajah cemberut?" lanjutnya. "Ini lo, nggak suami, nggak istri mereka sama saja! Sama-sama lelet, klemar-klemer!" Degh! ***Layla ( four years later) “Listen, I'll call you back, ok? I need to tend to a few things. No, I should be off soon, we'll meet you out there.” Danny has been acting weird lately. It's worrying me. It hasn't been long since we got married. Did he really get tired of me so soon? I mean I gave him two beautiful kids, and I have done my best to make him happy. I get it, I have been so busy with everything around the house and kids that, maybe, he feels I don't pay him much attention anymore. “Danny, dinner is ready,” I say, softly, trying to hold back tears as thoughts of the possibility of an infidelity could be at bay. “Thanks, ladybug. I'm not very hungry. I might be here late.” he says as he sits in his office at home, going through piles of paperwork. He's been expanding his restaurants throughout the southern regions of California, and he's been planning on opening a new restaurant in the northern parts. This means he will probably be at home less. “Are you sure? Maybe I can bri
Layla (A few months Later)Today, Danny called me right around noon to tell me the good news. He's been on top of the Alejo case. I am happy to say that it is finally over. Vincent and Trevor were both sentenced to jail for a very long... Long, long time. Vincent was given fifty-five years in prison, with no chance for parole. When the media became aware of what was happening, they went crazy. The news was all over the radio, magazines, and tv news. The more they talked about it, the more women came forward, willing to testify against Vincent. There was no way they would get away this time. Plus, Vincent's dad was not willing to help him this time. Mr. Alejo was on Heather and Lisa's side this time. Thanks to his help, Lisa and Heather were well taken care of. He made sure that Vincent's goons were kept far away from the girls and them. If they threatened them in any way, he promised to visit them if he saw the slightest trace of harm.As for Trevor, he was given twenty years before
LaylaI woke up feeling light for the first time in a long time. It was like a big weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I decided it was a good time to go downstairs to begin breakfast, so I got up and washed up first, placed my slippers on, and made my way out of the room. But, maybe I should check on my little Zoey first. I didn't see Danny in bed, so I figured he was probably downstairs working out or something. "Zoey... Time to wake up, baby." I said while opening the door slowly. I looked at her bed, but it was empty. Her bathroom was empty as well, and her closet was dark, so she couldn't be in there. "Huh? Where is my little cutie-pie?" I wondered, placing my hands on my waist. That's when I realized. There was music playing, and it sounded like it was coming from downstairs. I smiled and made my way down. As I made my way, the music just got louder, but not enough to bother your ears. I could hear the beat of the song as Queen begins with the song, Another One Bites t
LaylaI sat at the kitchen island, waiting for Danny to get home. I was a nervous wreck because I haven't heard anything from him since I called him and sent him what was in that envelope. But- I'm still saving the best part for when he gets home.After I had gone back to the office, I got a call from, Heather. She wanted me to go and meet her. Well, I was reluctant at first, but the girl has gone through so much! So I decided, why not? So, I told my dad I would be leaving early, and I made my way to see her at the hospital. Heather was finally going to be allowed to go home, but what caught me off guard was that Vincent’s ex was also there. But the way that she was talking to her and holding her so delicately, making sure not to hurt Heather... It gave me love vibes. Yes, you heard me right. I think Vincent’s ex is falling for Heather, but I am not sure if she caught on yet. Oh... I hope that she is in love with her. I hardly doubt Heather goes that way, but hey, you never know! May






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