Semua Bab LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN: Bab 11 - Bab 20

“What do you even see in her, Gian? It’s obvious she’s just another gold-digging woman chasing after you. You should divorce her already!!”Instead of listening to the tirade, Gian simply let out a quiet scoff and hurried after his wife toward their room.“You’ll regret this!” Mrs. Lestari spat behind him.Now here Gian was silent, nearly a full minute after entering the room, watching Aurelia carefully spread ointment over her scraped elbow.“What did Professor Luhut say? Was he mad?”“He’s fine. Really. Don’t stress about it. What matters is you get better first. We’ll talk about class later.”“Thanks again, Don. Lunch on me tomorrow or the day after,” Aurelia said with a sweet smile, waving at her phone camera.The video call ended. Only then did she realize Gian had been watching her.“Don’t be manipulative,” Gi

“What were you doing just now??”“Huh?”Aurelia nearly panicked, but forced herself to stay composed. With a thin smile, she spoke softly, “You shouldn’t sleep on the couch. Staying up too late and sleeping like that will make your muscles stiff. Come to bed, Gian.”Gian shot her a sharp look, his brows pulled together. But strangely, that intensity slowly softened. He didn’t say anything else, maybe because he was exhausted, or maybe because he chose to postpone his suspicion. In the end, he just nodded and walked to the bedroom.But the night wasn’t over for Aurelia.Instead of dozing off, she hugged her pillow and watched Gian, who was now sitting on the edge of the bed removing his watch. “Can I ask you something?”“Right now?”“Yes. About your father.”Gian glanced at her, then let out a short breath. “What about him?”“Is your father… as strict as your mother?”“You’ve met him at our wedding,” Gian muttered without looking at her.Aurelia clicked her tongue. “We only made eye co

Silence crept between them almost instantly.Mr. Mahesa had spoken his hopes with a meaningful smile, but what followed made the air grow tight.Aurelia turned to Gian, her face paling, her mouth parting as if to interrupt. Gian merely pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly uncomfortable with where the conversation was heading.“F-Father,” Aurelia finally spoke, hesitant. “We haven’t even..”“Oh?” Mr. Mahesa lifted a brow, then let out a soft laugh. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean to pressure you. Just… a simple wish from a parent. Don’t take it too seriously.”But the laugh wasn’t enough to lighten the tension.“Wishes are fine,” Mrs. Lestari cut in flatly, placing her teacup on the table with a small clink. “But don’t hope too high. Someone like Aurelia might not even be able to give you a grandchild.”Aurelia froze. Her eyes dropp

“Gian,” Aurelia hissed softly, especially when the man whose name she whispered tightened his hold around her from behind, their cheeks brushing gently.Gian didn’t just rest his cheek against hers, he let his breath graze her skin, warm and deliberate. His left arm circled her waist, not merely to hold her steady, but to make a statement no one in the room could challenge: she’s mine.Aurelia could barely breathe, not from discomfort, but from how fast her heart was pounding. Gian’s scent was so close, steadying yet utterly confusing. When she turned slightly, their eyes met, and Gian looked back at her with a calm, almost lethal expression. His smile was thin, barely there, but enough to send heat rushing through her body, startlingly warm and unexpectedly comforting.“What are you doing?” she whispered, barely audible. Her cheeks burned, blooming red like a flower opening in late autumn.Gian couldn&rsqu

The small apartment felt unusually quiet when Gian unlocked the door. It was on the seventh floor, with a balcony overlooking the city park. Not very big, but comfortable enough for two people. The living room and kitchen shared an open layout, furnished with modern minimalist pieces. Shades of gray and cream dominated the space, giving it a calm yet slightly cold atmosphere.Aurelia stood at the doorway, taking in her new surroundings with forced steady breaths. This wasn’t the large house she’d been living in with Gian’s family. No maids, no grand dining room with crystal chandeliers, no sharp clicks of his mother’s heels striking marble floors. Just silence.“Come in,” Gian said briefly, setting his suitcase down in the corner.Aurelia followed slowly. She slipped off her shoes and stepped onto the warm carpet, feeling the kind of quiet that cut deeper than Mrs. Lestari’s scolding earlier that afternoon.&ldquo