5. Slip-up

All day long, Ajeng didn't see Evan anywhere. Maybe he went straight to the house he shared with Ella.

"Hah, thank God! It would be even better if he didn't come back here. Tomorrow, I'll go to work as usual. Visit Ella, go home, rest alone in this house. Ah, life is good," she said, comforting herself.

After this, she had to visit Ella more often. She didn't want her best friend to think anything.

"Are you hungry, ma'am? I just finished cooking." A middle-aged woman greeted her with a smile. "Let me introduce myself, I'm Bi Marni. I come here at certain hours, ma'am. Morning and evening. Would you like to eat now? You haven't eaten anything since noon. You must be hungry."

Ajeng looked around. There were no signs of life other than herself and Bi Marni.

"Sure, Bi. I'm really hungry. Just call me Ajeng. I'm still young, so don't call me ma'am." Ajeng sat at the dining table and took various dishes that looked appetizing.

"You are the lady of the house here. Of course I have to call you ma'am. I'm going home now. If you need anything, call me. My phone number is near the refrigerator," Bi Marni said.

Ajeng nodded. She gave the woman two thumbs up. "The food is really delicious, Bi. Teach me how to make it later, okay?"

"Sure, ma'am. I'll be going now."

Ajeng smiled at the woman. She seemed like fun to talk to.

After finishing her afternoon meal, Ajeng put the leftovers in the refrigerator to be reheated tomorrow. It would be good for breakfast.

She spent the rest of the day calling her mother, Ella, and receiving a call from Sander, her brother. Before she knew it, it was already 10 p.m. There was no sign of Evan. Ajeng's smile immediately widened.

"If marriage is like this, it's nice," she muttered.

Ajeng decided to wash her face and brush her teeth before going to bed. Today, she really enjoyed her time alone. No work, no nagging from Mrs. Martha, no sarcastic remarks from other employees because of her status as a childless widow.

"If I had known it would be like this, I would have chosen never to get married," she muttered before falling asleep.

She didn't know how long she had been dreaming when suddenly someone pulled back her blanket. She frowned. She was still dreaming, right?

The touch on her thigh made her jump in surprise. She immediately opened her eyes and looked into Evan's hazel eyes. Ajeng swallowed hard. She knew the meaning of that look. In the past, Dimas always gave her that look every time he asked for his share.

"Why are you wearing a short dress to sleep?" Evan asked hoarsely.

Ajeng almost kicked the man and screamed for help when her lips were covered greedily, until she realized that they had just gotten married that afternoon. And the purpose of being forced to marry Evan was to serve that man.

"Evan..."

"Call me Mas like you used to call Dimas," Evan ordered with a hint of anger.

Although she didn't understand why Evan was suddenly angry, Ajeng obeyed. Especially when Evan's touch made her brain unable to think clearly.

"Mas Evan!"

Ajeng gasped when she felt a sensation she had never felt with Dimas. They looked at each other breathlessly. It seemed that the man on top of her felt the same way. His face looked surprised.

"You..." Evan clenched his jaw and furrowed his brows. As if holding something back.

But eventually, the man lost control. He took Ajeng to a new world she had never experienced before. It turned out that she had become a different Ajeng. Whatever Evan did to her, it was clear that Ajeng had become a little wild and had also lost control.

It was unclear how long they had been longing for each other, but it was clear that Ajeng was exhausted now. Maybe it was because she hadn't been touched in a long time. Maybe that was her true self, Ajeng didn't know.

The pleasant euphoria gradually faded, replaced by guilt towards Ella. What if that woman found out that her husband had touched Ajeng tonight? Releasing his pent-up desires that had been suppressed for months.

No. Ella didn't need to know about this. Evan was smart to give her another house and not ask her to live with Ella. What woman wouldn't be hurt to see her husband touch another woman?

Even though Ella looked happy, her heart must have been bleeding. No woman wants to share her husband with another woman.

"Thank you," Evan whispered before kissing her shoulder.

Ajeng just remained silent. The man hugged her from behind, as if they were a loving married couple.

A tear rolled down her face and wet the pillow. Was this what it felt like to be a mistress? To be a woman who satisfied a man's desires? Men only act nice when they want something. Once their desires are satisfied, they go back to their old ways.

Not wanting to dwell in sadness, Ajeng closed her eyes. She endured the strange feeling of being hugged by Evan. The man she didn't dare talk to if Ella wasn't around.

***

"Today, Ella asked you to come to the house."

Ajeng stopped combing her hair. Evan didn't even ask why she was dressed neatly this morning in her work clothes. Even though today was supposed to be their honeymoon period.

Huh? Once again, Ajeng was unaware of herself. She was just a second wife who married because of the coercion of her crazy friend.

"What for? I want to go straight to the office," Ajeng refused.

"You dare to refuse someone who has helped your father?" Evan said with a sharp gaze.

Ajeng immediately looked away. She had expected the man's attitude to return to normal after his desires were satisfied. She felt like a paid woman. This was even worse than being insulted as barren by her former mother-in-law.

"Don't let Ella refuse to undergo treatment again because of you," Evan said coldly.

"You shouldn't have come back to this house last night. Focus on taking care of Ella. Instead of spending the night at another woman's house," she replied, just as coldly.

"Remember why I married you. Or do you want to pay off your debt to Ella?"

Ajeng gritted her teeth. A feeling of hatred was slowly rising within her because of Ella's actions. If her best friend hadn't been so selfish and forced her to marry Evan, she wouldn't be in this position.

"You don't need to repeat it; I know why you married me. After all, last night you used my sleeping time for your own pleasure," Ajeng retorted, her hands clenched.

Evan blinked, as if suddenly realizing something. His lips thinned before he spoke, "I was just momentarily lost last night."