Chapter 3

“Anna,” Efendi called out just as she opened the front door. His voice was heavy—too heavy—like he was carrying something ominous.

Anna froze halfway through taking off her shoes. Her eyes drifted to the living room. Renata and Efendi sat side by side, their faces drawn tight. Lusi was on the opposite sofa, one hand resting theatrically on her stomach. And the part that cut the deepest—Rendy was sitting right beside her.

Anna’s expression hardened.

“What’s going on? Why are all of you gathered here?”

No one answered. Efendi simply extended a brown folder toward her.

“Read this… and sign it immediately.”

Anna frowned, taking the folder carefully. The moment she opened it and scanned the first page, her breath caught.

“A divorce…?” she whispered, disbelief shaking her voice. She lifted her gaze to Rendy.

“Ren, are you really okay with this?”

Rendy exhaled slowly, staring down as if choosing his words with painful precision.

“This is what’s best for the family, Anna.”

Anna’s eyes widened.

“For which family? Our family is fine! Why are you talking like this?”

Renata spoke up, her tone cutting like ice.

“Anna, don’t make this difficult. This is a well-considered decision.”

Anna ignored her and stepped closer to Rendy.

“Ren, look at me. We’re fine. We just—”

Rendy interrupted her quietly but firmly.

“I’ve thought about this for a long time, Anna.”

Her voice rose, emotions spilling over.

“You never said anything to me! You made a decision about our future without even asking what I think?”

Lusi suddenly chimed in, voice trembling.

“Anna… don’t be selfish. We’re doing this for me and my baby.”

Anna snapped her head toward her.

“Selfish? I’m the selfish one?”

Lusi dropped her gaze dramatically, holding her stomach again.

“I’m just… I’m scared. I don’t want my baby to be born without a father.”

Anna let out a harsh, disbelieving laugh.

“That baby isn’t even Rendy’s!”

Renata slapped her hand against the sofa.

“Enough, Anna! Watch your mouth!”

“Why? Because you don’t like hearing the truth?” Anna shot back, glaring at Renata and Efendi one by one.

“Lusi got pregnant by another man, but you expect my husband to take responsibility? That’s not family—that’s manipulation.”

Lusi began to sob dramatically.

“I… I don’t know what else to do. Please don’t hurt me…”

Rendy immediately leaned toward her, taking her hand.

“Calm down, Lus… don’t stress yourself.”

Something inside Anna cracked.

She whispered, almost inaudibly,

“You’re… holding her hand? In front of me?”

Efendi let out a long sigh.

“Anna, you need to understand. Lusi’s in a sensitive condition.”

“I’m your wife, Ren. I’m your wife.” Her voice broke.

“So why are you kneeling for another woman?”

Rendy finally stood and gripped Anna’s shoulders gently.

“I promise I’ll come back to you. But right now… we need to separate for a while.”

Anna slapped his hands away.

“No. No, Rendy! We’re not fighting. There is nothing wrong with us. Why should I lose you?”

Renata shook her head slowly, almost pitying.

“Anna, you’re the one ruining everything.”

“Me? I’m the one ruining things? You’re the ones trying to force my husband to marry someone else!”

“Watch your tone!” Efendi barked, his voice echoing through the room.

Anna’s anger only surged. She grabbed Rendy’s wrist, pulling him toward the door.

“We’re leaving. We’re talking about this alone, not in front of them!”

Then—just like a scene she had seen too many times—Lusi collapsed to the floor.

“Lusi!” Renata cried.

Rendy tore his hand free from Anna’s and rushed to Lusi.

“Lusi! Lus, wake up! Can you hear me?”

Anna stood frozen.

“She’s faking it. She always does this.”

Rendy shot her a burning glare.

“Check her, Anna. Now.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Anna, don’t be selfish!” Efendi yelled again.

Anna’s voice cracked with frustration.

“I just want to talk to my husband without all this drama!”

Rendy turned on her sharply.

“If you want to go home, then go home alone!”

The words stabbed straight through her chest.

“Rendy… Ren, you can’t be serious.”

Renata added coldly,

“Stop being childish, Anna.”

Every eye in the room pinned her with blame. Anna’s breath trembled, but she finally knelt beside Lusi and examined her.

Her tone turned clinical, but the coldness in it was impossible to hide.

“Blood pressure normal. Breathing normal. No signs of distress. She’s just… being dramatic.”

Lusi blinked open her eyes and burst into loud sobs.

“Rendy… I’m scared… it hurts… please…”

Rendy scooped her into his arms without hesitation.

“Shh… I’ve got you. I’ll take you to your room.”

Anna stepped back, her eyes stinging.

“Ren… don’t walk away from me like this.”

But Rendy didn’t look at her—not even once. He was already carrying Lusi toward the guest room.

Anna tried to follow, but Efendi grabbed her arm.

“Don’t make Lusi’s condition worse.”

Renata added sharply,

“And you should be grateful, Anna. We’ve done a lot for you.”

Anna stared at them—the people she had always called family—and for the first time, she realized…

she was completely alone.

Frustrated and overwhelmed, Anna stormed into her bedroom and slammed the door shut. She walked straight to the mirror, staring at her own reflection. The redness from her seafood allergy still hadn’t fully faded, yet no one in that house seemed to care about her condition. Not really.

And the worst part—the part that hollowed her out from the inside—was how Rendy felt farther away from her with each passing day.