Masuk
Vivienne’s POV
I was in the hospital corridor when all that ruffled over me were the words of the doctor. “Mrs.Vivienne, the tumor in your brain has already pressed into your nerves. You must make a decision as soon as possible.” My hands trembled. With such force, I held onto the shattered medical report with my hand, crushing all the bitter truth inside. In recent times, I've been experiencing severe headaches that have caused me to vomit. Occasionally, nosebleeds would appear suddenly. I initially believed it was fatigue or a mild illness caused by too much stress and sleep deprivation. It was unexpected to realize that all those symptoms were just the beginning of a nightmare, as the test results indicated the presence of an abnormal growth in my brain. My physician recommended two treatments that I should consider. Only 50 percent of patients in craniotomy surgery will be successful. My life could potentially extend beyond its current lifespan if it were to be successful. Otherwise, I might never wake up from the operating table again. My treatment options could be conservative, with medication and chemotherapy being the only options available. Still, it would involve losing my hair, going bald, and only remaining alive for a few more years due to my body's gradual decline. To be honest, I was terrified by the 50 percent. Since I was a child, I had been afraid of needles. The task of administering scalpels and undergoing surgery with a cold instrumentation could determine my survival or death. Unless I had surgery, the tumor would continue to grow and cause me significant pain that ultimately led to my demise. I closed my eyes. It was then that I could picture my husband, who is of Julian's face. Seven years had passed since we became husband and wife. I cherished his presence and wanted to extend my relationship. Later on, a picture of my son Maximilian Fitzgerald was taken. The bright and attractive son who is the shining light of my life. I felt brave when I thought about them both. I couldn't just give up. Having summoned all the might, I returned to my physician and declared: “Doctor, I've made my decision. Would it be possible for me to undergo craniotomy surgery?” My doctor glared at me with seriousness and stated, "The success rate is only fifty percent. Aren't you afraid?" I smiled smugly and replied, "None. I have faith that my husband and son will accompany me. I'm not afraid of anything as long as I have them.” With a nod, the doctor said, "Very well. You can schedule the surgery within a month with my assistance.” The hospital left me with a shaken heart, but I was optimistic nonetheless. I ran for home, hoping my husband and son would join me. When I arrived, the maid informed me that Julian was at the company. Nonetheless. The Fitzgerald Group was where I immediately went, without any hesitation. I was about to enter the president's office when I heard a voice. The man appeared in front of it. “If you made Ophelia your secretary, wouldn't it be shocking to Julian?” I froze. From inside the doorway, I observed Dylan who was Julian's close friend sitting nearby. Ophelia Ersya. I was struck by that name like lightning. How could it not? She was the woman Julian had been in love with for a decade before finally finding her. My gaze remained fixed on Julian's desk as I breathed deeply. Sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the collar of his black shirt was slightly undone. He seemed like a married man, feeling cold and composed. His voice was sly. “That's not your concern, Dylan." With a grimace and an awkward expression, Dylan proceeded to say. "I've only ever addressed Vivienne as your wife out of respect. But, everyone around you knows your marriage is a hoax! The marriage certificate that you and your partner possess is not genuine! I'm glad you fashioned it! Haha!” There was no indication of a turning point in the world. My visage became pale, and I froze in the entrance hall as if struck by a lightning bolt. What did I just hear? Was Julian merely pretending to be my spouse? Julian looked back at the door without realizing I was there. Dylan remained curious, his voice echoing with excitement. "What the hell is up Julian? Are you planning to get rid of Vivienne, with Ophelia having her back? My chest tightened as if by magic. The words spoken by Dylan soon made me feel sharp as a knife. I was terrified. Vivienne's actions during her drunken seduction could have been avoided if she hadn't become pregnant and pretended to marry her for the sake of the child. It'll save their marriage. Ophelia was left heartbroken by it. She has only returned now because she's made a full recovery. I covered my mouth in an attempt to alleviate the nausea that was brewing inside. It was hard in my head and it started shaking all over me." I remembered that night clearly. We had been drinking at the bar and we were there, too, with Dylan. Julian was fully cognizant of the fact that I never drugged him. Julian's business rival had done it. It was a mistake. It was I who volunteered to stay with Julian that night and rescue him. Why did Dylan choose to twist the narrative and make me turn into the antagonist? With a mocking expression, Dylan asked again, "When will you be ready to marry your daughter Ophelid and wed her in an opulent style with honor?" Without a diagnosis of heart condition, Ophelia would not have had any chance to succeed, as he cruelly added. The speaker was. She was excited because she didn't want to cause you any hardship. Her position as a spouse should have been your responsibility throughout. Eventually, Julian looked up in apparent anger. Dylan was advised to stop talking as his eyes were made sharp and cold. He said with clarity. “Vivienne and I are already carrying Maximilian.”Vivienne's POV “Oh.” Maximilian accepted the answer just like that. Then he yawned small and adorable and rested his head on my shoulder. “Mom, are you tired?” “Yes,” I answered honestly. “A little.” He nodded again, then lifted Dino and placed it on my lap. “Dino will watch Mom. Dad too.” I swallowed my tears. “Yes. Mom is being watched over.” Julian returned with two cups of tea. He set them down gently, then stood awkwardly, unsure where to sit. I shifted slightly on the sofa, making space without looking at him. He sat at the edge. The distance between us felt like a fragile compromise we both accepted. “You can see the beach from the window,” Maximilian said enthusiastically, pointing. “Can we look later?” “Later,” I replied. “When Mom feels a bit stronger.”Julian glanced at me quickly and the word stronger hung in the air, heavy. He nodded slowly, then looked at Maximilian. “Let’s make a small breakfas
Vivienne's POV “Max.” That was all I could manage. In an instant, he was running toward me. His small body wrapped tightly around my waist so tightly I almost lost my balance, but I didn’t care. I held him, stroked his hair, felt his heart racing like that of a child terrified of losing something precious. I closed my eyes. Tears spilled freely. I missed him. God, I missed him so deeply. “Mom, really?” he asked, looking up at me, his face wet, his voice shaking. “Is this really Mom?” I smiled through my tears. “Yes, sweetheart. It’s Mom.” Maximilian cried harder, hugging me again. “Mom, I missed you. I missed you so much ” I bit my lip, holding myself together so I wouldn’t completely fall apart. “I missed you too. So much.” Then I felt his small hand move gently, touching my cheek, as if he needed to make sure I wouldn’t disappear. “Mom’s sick, right?” he whispered.
Vivienne's POV This morning arrived with a gentle light too gentle for a body that still felt unbearably heavy. I moved slowly around the small apartment, as if every step had to be negotiated first with the pounding in my head. Sea air slipped in through the slightly open window, carrying a salty scent that clung to my skin and hair. I usually loved it. Today, it tasted bitter. I took my morning medication with a glass of warm water, waiting for the nausea that always came late but never failed to arrive. I sat on the edge of the bed for a long while, counting my breaths, waiting for the world to stop spinning. When I finally stood up, my legs still felt foreign, as if they didn’t belong to me. I let the wall support me, moving slowly toward the living area. The apartment was quiet. Too quiet. There was no small laughter. No hurried footsteps. No innocent questions filling every corner. I swallowed the sting in my chest and forced
Julian's POV I hugged Maximilian, feeling his small body shake with emotion. “Yes, Maximilian. Today.”He hugged me back tighter than usual. As if he were afraid that if he let go, my words would disappear like a morning dream.“Dad, I miss Mom Vivienne,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “I miss her so much.”My chest tightened. I know, sweetheart. But I couldn’t say it. I could only rub his back and nod slowly.“Me too,” I finally said. “That’s why today we’re going to Mom’s place. We’ll see Mom Vivienne together.”He lifted his face, wet with tears he hadn’t realized were falling. “Really?”“Really.”But beneath that certainty, I felt nervous. Afraid. A mix of emotions I couldn’t fully explain.Because I didn’t know how Vivienne would react to seeing both of us. I didn’t know if it would make her happy or only make things harder for her. I didn’t know whether this was the right decision, or one driven by guilt that never stopped gnawing at m
Julian's POV Ophelia gave a faint nod and went to the bedroom to get ready. I stayed seated, staring at her untouched cup of coffee. Cold like her heart this morning. Flat, silent, and somehow making me feel like I was losing something I couldn’t fix with words.About half an hour later, Ophelia emerged, neatly dressed. Without much to say, she took her car keys and stood in the doorway.“Don’t forget Maximilian’s breakfast,” she said briefly.“Ophelia,” I called before she could leave completely.She looked at me for a moment. I wanted to tell her that I appreciated her. That I was sorry. That I didn’t want our relationship to fracture like this. That I wanted to do everything right. But no words came out.Because whatever I said would only sound like an excuse.“Take care,” I finally said.Ophelia gave a small, forced smile, trying to look fine. “You too.”Then the door closed, leaving behind a silence too large for this small living room to c
Julian's POV I woke up far earlier than usual. It was still dark outside, the curtains untouched, the room cold. But what pulled me from sleep wasn’t the air, it was the weight in my chest, the sense that whatever I had done last night hadn’t truly resolved anything.I had been honest with Ophelia. I had told her the real reason Vivienne was sick. A brain tumor. That was why I couldn’t walk away from her, even while trying to build something with Ophelia. That should have been enough, right? It should have made everything clearer. And yet, somehow, it didn’t feel that way.I stared at the ceiling, letting my thoughts drift without direction. The clock ticked softly, each second a reminder that time was moving forward while I remained stuck caught between two lives I couldn’t merge.Honestly, I had hoped that telling Ophelia the truth would bring some relief. Like loosening a knot that had been tightening around my chest for too long. Instead, what remained was a sha







