ログインBefore my wife went into labor, a nurse handed me a stack of consent forms. Buried among them was an optional prenatal paternity screening offered through St. Briar Medical Center's new genetic-services program. I'd barely started signing when my mother-in-law, Margaret, charged at me and slapped me across the face. "You monster! My daughter is risking her life to give you a child, and you want a DNA test?" Before I could explain, the hospital-room door flew open. Vanessa pressed a pair of medical scissors against her neck, her eyes bloodshot. "Daniel, I've given you seven years of my life. You know who this baby's father is. Why would you humiliate me like this?" When I saw the thin line of blood on her throat, my heart broke, and I dropped to my knees. I tore up the testing form and ordered my attorney to draft an unconditional agreement transferring assets to the baby. To comfort her, I drove across Aldercrest searching for her favorite honey-lavender shortbread. But when I returned to the hospital room, I heard laughter inside. "Vanessa, thank God we reacted quickly. If he'd signed that testing form, everything would've been over." "Why worry? Daniel's an idiot. I only have to cry, and he believes me." Then a familiar male voice said, "Once the birth certificate gives the child the Raleigh name, everything Daniel owns will belong to the three of us." The words froze me outside the door. I turned away and called my attorney. "Cancel the agreement. Then hire an investigator and uncover everything." At the baby's welcome reception, I would personally present Vanessa with the gift she deserved.
もっと見る"Ugh!" Suara lenguhan panjang terdengar memenuhi ruang kamar saat Andi menyelesaikan permainannya.
"Enak," ucap Andi, merasakan nikmat yang tiada tara. Namun berbeda dengan Febby yang tidak merasakan klimaks sama sekali. Wajahnya menyiratkan kekecewaan mendalam. "Sudah keluar Mas? Kok cepet banget, ngga sampai satu menit. Perasaan baru masuk." Febby mengeluh sambil menghela napas panjang. Sudah sering dia mengatakan kalau dia tidak pernah puas dengan permainan suaminya. Dia juga tidak pernah merasa ada yang keluar dari bagian inti tubuh, yang menandakan dia belum mencapai puncak. Namun Andi seolah masa bodo. Yang penting nafsunya tersalurkan. "Aku lelah. Tadi itu aku udah berusaha untuk lama, tapi malah keluarnya cepet." Selesai melampiaskan hasrat, Andi berbaring di sebelah istrinya tanpa merasa bersalah sama sekali. Raut kesal dan kecewa terlihat jelas di wajah Febby, yang selama dua tahun menjadi istri sah Andi. Selama dua tahun itu dia tidak pernah merasakan klimaks saat berhubungan dengan suaminya. Kenikmatan hanya dirasakan oleh Andi, bahkan Andi tidak pernah membuatnya nyaman di atas ranjang. Andi juga kurang perhatian, hanya memikirkan diri sendiri. Pernikahan dua tahun terasa semakin hambar bagi Febby. Namun tidak ada yang bisa dilakukan. Toh Febby yang memilih laki-laki itu menjadi suaminya dan mereka sedang menjalani program kehamilan. Ya, Andi dan Febby sudah didesak oleh kedua orang tua mereka agar secepatnya memiliki anak, tetapi sampai detik ini tidak ada tanda-tanda Febby mengandung buah cinta mereka. "Kamu mau langsung tidur Mas?" tanya Febby pada suaminya yang baru saja pulang kerja dan meminta dilayani. Selesai dilayani, Andi berbaring di ranjang sambil memejamkan mata. "Iya, aku ngantuk. Kamu masak makan malam aja dulu. Kalau udah mateng semua, bangunin." Febby menghela napas panjang, turun dari ranjang lalu memakai pakaian satu per satu. Matanya melirik Andi yang terlelap, padahal baru saja kepala suaminya itu bersandar ke atas bantal. Tidak ada ucapan terima kasih. I love you. Atau gombalan yang keluar dari mulut Andi, membuat Febby merasa tidak dicintai sama sekali. "Mandi dulu dong Mas, masa langsung tidur." "Hem," sahut Andi datar. Selesai memakai pakaian, Febby melangkah mendekati pintu lalu keluar. Sedangkan Andi sudah jauh mengarungi mimpi. Langkah kaki Febby dihentikan oleh ibu mertua di ambang pintu dapur. Wanita paruh baya itu menatap wajah menantunya yang lesu sambil mengerutkan kening. "Kamu kenapa, Feb?" "Ngga apa-apa Bu," jawab Febby, pelan, melanjutkan langkah kakinya mendekati kulkas. Ratih mengikuti Febby ke dapur, membantu menantunya menyiapkan bahan makanan. Sejak kemarin wanita paruh baya itu menginap di rumah kontrakan dua kamar tersebut. Satu bangunan rumah yang baru dua bulan ditempati itu berada di komplek perumahan Melati. Rencananya Andi ingin mencicil rumah yang mereka tempati sekarang agar tidak bayar kontrakan lagi. "Suami kamu mana, Feb?" tanya Ratih. "Mas Andi tidur Bu. Katanya capek," jawab Febby seraya mengeluarkan bahan makanan dari dalam kulkas dua pintu. Beberapa jenis sayur dan ikan segar dia letakan di dekat wastafel untuk dibersihkan. "Kamu udah konsultasi lagi ke Dokter Kandungan?" tanya Ratih pada menantunya. "Udah Bu, katanya aku sama Mas Andi harus sering minum vitamin biar subur. Aku udah dikasih resep vitamin itu. Semoga aja ada kabar baik bulan depan." "Amin," ucap Ratih. "Selain berkonsultasi ke Dokter, kamu juga harus pergi ke Dukun beranak. Atau ke mana kek. Biar kamu cepet isi." "Udah Bu, tapi emang dasarnya belum dikasih aja. Kalau memang belum rejekinya, ya mau gimana lagi." "Kalau gitu, coba kamu konsultasi ke Dokter lain. Misalnya ke Dokter Dirga. Dia sepupunya Andi. Siapa tahu dia bisa bantu kalian. Kasih saran apa untuk membantu mempercepat kehamilan kamu." Febby terdiam. Sebenarnya sudah beberapa kali mereka gonta-ganti dokter, tetapi tidak ada perubahan sama sekali. Beberapa dokter juga menyarankan untuk memeriksa kesuburan satu sama lain, namun Andi selalu menolak dan mengatakan kalau dia sehat. Sementara, selama berhubungan Febby tidak pernah merasa puas. Bahkan durasinya hanya sebentar, tidak sampai tiga menit langsung crott. "Lebih baik kamu coba dulu saran Ibu," ucap Ratih yang selalu mendesak Febby agar cepat hamil. Andai kehamilan bisa dibeli, Febby akan membelinya agar bisa secepatnya memberi gelar ayah pada sang suami. "Kalau kamu ragu, mending komunikasikan dulu sama Andi. Biar kalian lebih yakin. Ibu sih percaya sama Dokter Dirga. Banyak kok pasien dia yang berhasil hamil." Febby menghela napas panjang. "Nanti aku coba bicarakan sama Mas Andi. Kalau dia mau, besok aku dan Mas Andi ke tempat praktek Dokter itu." Ratih tersenyum, "Nanti alamatnya Ibu kasih ke kamu. Kamu dan Andi langsung ke sana aja. Nanti Ibu bikin janji biar kalian ngga antri." "Iya Bu, makasih." Saat sedang berbincang, Andi datang mendekati kedua wanita di dapur. Pria yang memiliki tinggi 170cm itu duduk di depan meja makan dengan lesu. "Bikinin aku kopi," katanya memerintah Febby. "Tunggu sebentar Mas. Aku lagi masak." "Ck! Aku maunya sekarang!" Andi mengeraskan suaranya, membuat Febby terhenyak kaget. Ratih dan Febby saling tatap, Ibu mertuanya itu memutar bola mata meminta Febby menurut saja. "Biasa aja dong Mas, jangan marah begitu," sahut Febby kesal. "Kamu ini. Suami minta kopi malah nanti-nanti. Utamakan melayani suami dulu, baru yang lain! Gimana sih!" cecar Andi memarahi Febby. Ratih hanya diam, tak membela menantunya ataupun menasehati Andi. Baginya pemandangan seperti itu sudah biasa terjadi. Dia pun mengalami di rumah. "Sabar Mas." Terpaksa Febby menunda masakannya dan membuat kopi untuk Andi yang sudah tidak sabar. Dengan perasaan kesal, Febby meletakkan kopi hitam pesanan suaminya ke atas meja. "Mau apa lagi Mas? Sekalian aja, aku mau masak." Andi melotot, menatap istrinya seperti ingin menelan hidup-hidup. "Kamu ngga iklhas?" "Bukan ngga ikhlas Mas, aku kan cuma nanya sama kamu. Kamu mau apa lagi? Biar aku ambilin sekalian." "Ngga ada, aku cuma mau kopi." "Ya udah," sahut Febby pelan. Ia kembali melanjutkan memasak makan malam, meski perasaannya kesal. Sikap dingin Andi sudah berlangsung lebih dari satu tahun. Tanpa alasan yang jelas, Andi tiba-tiba jadi kasar dan bahasanya tidak pernah lembut seperti dulu. Febby curiga suaminya memiliki wanita idaman lain di luar sana, namun ia tidak pernah mendapatkan bukti apapun perselingkuhan itu. Suasana hening. Di ruang dapur yang tidak luas itu hanya terdengar suara dentingan sendok dan panci. "Mumpung ada Andi di sini. Ibu ngomong aja langsung sama kalian berdua." Ratih membuka pembicaraan di ruang sunyi itu. Andi mendongak, "Ngomong apa Bu?" tanyanya datar. "Ibu mau ngasih saran, gimana kalau kamu dan Febby konsultasi aja ke Dokter Dirga. Sepupu kamu itu. Dia kan Dokter kandungan terkenal. Kebetulan dia buka praktek di Jakarta. Kalian bisa ke sana. Kalau kamu mau, nanti Ibu bikin janji sama dia. Biar kalian ngga antri panjang. Maklum, pasien dia kan banyak." Andi manggut-manggut. "Oke, aku setuju. Aku dan Febby akan ke sana." Ratih tersenyum. Ia tatap menantunya yang tengah sibuk mengaduk sayur di dalam panci. "Kamu dengar kan. Suami kamu setuju. Kamu juga setuju kan?" tanya Ratih pada menantunya itu. "Iya Bu, aku setuju," jawab Febby.The fallout spread faster than I expected.By that evening, the video from the baby's reception had circulated throughout Aldercrest's business community.Vanessa's affair, the false paternity, the Cole family's attempt to seize Raleigh assets, Caleb's theft of confidential information...Any one of those scandals could've ruined the Cole family.Lawsuits were filed, partners terminated contracts, lenders demanded payment, and active projects stopped.Within a month, Colewell Development collapsed.Their polished estate was listed in a court-supervised sale. The cars, jewelry, and shares were sold wherever a buyer could be found.Victor seemed to lose his spirit overnight.A man who'd once cared more about dignity than anything else eventually came to wait outside Raleigh Industries for me.The wind was fierce that day.He wore a wrinkled old suit. His hair had turned gray, dark circles shadowed his eyes, and he carried two bags of inexpensive health products.When he saw me
Vanessa collapsed to the floor as though every bone had disappeared from her body.She crawled toward me and wrapped both arms tightly around my leg."Daniel! Daniel, please!"I know I was wrong. Forgive me this once. Please let me go."We were husband and wife. I gave you seven years of my life. You can't be this heartless."Her voice turned hoarse from crying, and tears streaked her face.Once, I would've softened immediately.Now, when I looked down at her, I saw a stranger.The baby began wailing again.His sharp, urgent cries cut through the chaos in the ballroom.Margaret cried as she held him.She finally seemed to understand that there was no lie left large enough to hide the truth.Clutching the baby, she stumbled forward and lowered herself before me."Daniel, I'm begging you."We were a family. The baby is so small. Please don't take this all the way."I shook my head and stepped back.The police officers had already entered the ballroom.One of them looked
Vanessa suddenly lunged at me, tore the report from my hand, and ripped it into pieces."It's fake! Every word is fake!"With her hair disheveled and her eyes red, she shouted at the guests below the stage."Daniel, you forged this because you want a divorce without giving me any property. What kind of man does that?"This is your biological son. Do you have another woman, and is that why you chose the baby's reception to humiliate me?"She wept beautifully.At that point, however, I felt no pity. Her performance only seemed clumsy.I'd intended to reveal no more than necessary, but she refused to admit anything even with the truth in front of her.Fine.The display changed again.More evidence appeared.There was security footage of Caleb entering my home late at night.There were statements showing Vanessa transferring money from my supplementary card into Caleb's account.There were clear photographs of them embracing and kissing in hotels, shopping centers, and parking
The slap left Vanessa stunned.Tears flooded her eyes.Whatever else she'd done, Margaret still rushed forward with the baby and placed herself between Vanessa and Victor."Victor, what are you doing?"She just finished postpartum recovery. Are you trying to put her back in the hospital?"Victor's chest heaved as he pointed at his daughter."This is what happens when a mother excuses everything."If you hadn't indulged her all these years, she'd never have become this shameless."Margaret's face reddened, and her voice rose."What kind of thing is that to say?"Can I control who our daughter loves?"Victor nearly laughed from sheer disbelief."You still dare say that?"Do you care nothing about Colewell Development? Once this gets out, how's our family supposed to face anyone in Aldercrest?"Margaret lifted her chin. She was clearly frightened, but she refused to surrender."What do the choices of two young people have to do with us?"She tightened her hold on the baby












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