Spontaneously, Monica covered her mouth, unintentionally shocked by what had just been said by the man who had been filling her days recently—the man whom she had targeted to be her life support."Did I hear it correctly? Do you want to marry me?" That was the only question her tongue could muster, suddenly feeling stiff.Joe stared into Monica's eyes intensely,"Listen first. I mean, I want to ask permission from Kylie first, whether she allows me to marry you—""But of course, she has to agree. You have the right to make choices. Besides, religion doesn't prohibit it, right?" Monica interrupted with great joy.She almost couldn't contain herself from jumping with happiness.However, in front of her, Joe shook his head, making Monica pout because she didn't understand what the man meant by being so elaborate. Wasn't it the man's right as the husband to make decisions in his household?"That's not the correct concept, Monica. I am indeed the husband and have the right to decide the di
After fully understanding her husband's intentions, Kylie's body automatically rose. Even the table in front of her shifted due to her movements. With an unconsciously gasping breath, Kylie looked towards Joe with a poignant and sharp gaze."You want to get married again? Hahaha! Don't joke!"Kylie tried to laugh, although it felt like the laughter coming from her mouth was very bitter. She tried to think positively, assuming that Joe was joking or trying to surprise her with some emotional twist. Unfortunately, Joe still looked very serious.The man stood up. His eyes glanced anxiously at Kylie as if afraid that the woman before him would explode."Kylie, please listen to me first. I am not joking at all. There is a woman who needs my guidance, so I want to marry her to ensure that our closeness doesn't turn into a sin."Kylie blinked her eyes several times; a thousand pains seemed to pierce her heart. Yet, what Joe revealed might not even be true. She gazed at the face of the man wh
Not hearing Joe's response to her question convinced Kylie that it was true. That the real reason was Joe being tempted by the charm of the karaoke hostess. "Oh God...," Kylie moaned. She was still accompanied by sobs that seemed endless from her red lips. "You're so heartless!" she protested angrily. Honestly, Kylie never expected that her husband, who in her mind was always gentle and deeply in love with her, would have intentions to betray their sacred love! Her mind refused to accept it. "I can't believe that you have such rotten behaviour. At home, I pretend to be gentle and full of love for myself, but outside, I shower the same love to another woman. Even a karaoke hostess gets a share of your affection!" Kylie continued to curse while seeking forgiveness repeatedly. Her heart was in pain. Very painful, indeed; she couldn't describe how hurtful it was when the fleeting temptation of a karaoke hostess overshadowed her pure love and dedication! For a wife, there is no more s
About 5 years later ...."Don't run around, Dear. You might fall."Celine tried to catch Eve, who was happily running around in the yard, though she struggled a bit due to her bulging belly. Despite the difficulty, Celine continued to chase after her princess. Witnessing this from inside the house, Zack quickly walked over to them."Sweetheart, don't make Mama worried," Zack said, catching and holding Eve in his arms."Papa, why haven't the others come yet? It's taking so long," Eve said amusingly.At the age of five, Eve was already very smart. Celine and Zack never expected their firstborn to be chatty like her mother but wise like her father."They'll be here soon, don't worry. That's why Eve has to be a good girl. No mischief, no running around, be kind to Mama," Zack continued, pointing towards Celine.Celine smiled while gently rubbing her growing belly. She was truly grateful that, in this second pregnancy, she didn't experience the same difficulties as her first. Even the doct
"Enough!"Her hand lifted as a sign that she no longer wanted to hear any excuses. She grabbed the haphazardly placed shoulder bag on the table, then walked away without looking back at her interlocutor. Her steps were brisk as she headed towards the visitor cafe's parking area, where her beloved automatic blue motorbike patiently awaited with its white-striped design and Bugs Bunny sticker.Yes, only the blue automatic motorcycle with the cherished Bugs Bunny sticker faithfully awaited her, never thoughts of infidelity or deceit. It was the only companion accompanying her wherever she went without demanding elegance or a beautiful dress with high heels."Celine!" the man she left behind in the cafe shouted."Celine, wait!" Since Celine showed no intention of turning, the man called her name again, hurrying to catch up with the girl.Celine held back the tears with all her might, not wanting them to spill now. Not now, she thought. She couldn't afford to appear weak in front of that j
She saw her mother walking toward the door, where Gina held her."Back home already? Why so late? Overtime, huh?" Her mother bombarded her with questions, worried that Celine was coming home late due to meeting Leo after work."Um... yes, Mom. Just a little overtime, chasing the targets," she lied."Seems like Celine just cried, Mom," Gina added, observing her sister.Celine shook her head vigorously and quickly replied, "No, Mom. It's just that I opened the helmet visor, and a bit of dust got in my eyes."Gina and her mother exchanged glances without suspicion. Celine was too introverted to be open about her problems, even to her mother. She left her naughty sister, who was still nodding knowingly. There was a slight sense of guilt in her heart for lying. But what can she say? She didn't want her mother to know the actual situation.She hurriedly went to her room. It was the safest place to pour out all the heaviness in her chest. She threw herself onto the bed with a Bugs Bunny-them
Celine Andrews is what her father named his firstborn. She was born on July 11, 1996, during the beautiful twilight on the western horizon. She was born after her mother endured the pains of contractions since dawn at a nearby midwife clinic.Firstborns are always a special surprise. Back then, there weren't widespread ultrasound examinations to determine the baby's gender. However, the elders in the family, her maternal grandmother in particular, believed in predicting the baby's gender based on the signs exhibited by the pregnant mother.At that time, Celine's maternal grandmother believed their future grandchild was a boy. Consequently, the family prepared a name for a boy. But, when the baby was born, it turned out to be a girl. With little planning about the character, her father quickly decided."Let's name her Celine; what do you think, Dear?" Mr Felix suggested to his wife while cradling the tiny baby. He was enchanted by the hues of the sunset that infiltrated through the win
"Celine, please come to my office for a moment?" Mrs. Jane, the Head of Department, approached her desk a few minutes after the start of work.Celine, who had just started arranging the shoe materials from the preparation department to be checked and then deposited to the sewing department, looked up and replied, "Sorry, Ma'am. Can I call Kylie to continue checking this material first? Because today it have to enter the sewing job line."Line is a term for the division of the sewing department because of the shape of the work team, which is lined up lengthwise. Mrs Jane nodded as she said she was expecting Celine soon."Yes, Ma'am. I'll follow you right away."She hurried towards the sewing department room and called Kylie, one of the Line members who often filled in for her when Celine was assigned to another department or helped her when multiple jobs came up. Celine was overwhelmed by checking alone."There, Kylie! The boss came calling." A person Celine later found out was named E