Three months later..."Are you sure you want to leave Dad here? Alone? Especially when your siblings are abroad?" Frans asked, sitting on the edge of the bed, helping Vanya pack her things into a suitcase."Remember when your mother was still alive, you promised you would never leave. You said you would stay here. But now what? You're leaving when your mother is no longer with us. So, who will Dad stay with, Van?" he continued, tears welling up in his eyes.Frans had tried to stop Vanya from leaving, but she was determined. So now, she was ready to depart after being accepted into a university in Australia. Wanting to leave behind all the bitter memories, Vanya made this decision to distance herself.However, after hearing Frans's words, Vanya sat down next to him and hugged him. "Dad, forgive me.""Dad doesn't need your forgiveness. What Dad needs is your presence here, Van. But if you still want to stick with your decision, Dad won't stop you.""Father..." Vanya covered her mouth, t
Before Veronica passed away, luckily, she had managed to see her second son, Vean, get married. She was the only remedy for the pain of witnessing Vanya's behavior, breaking the rules of life that God had set.At that time...At an altitude of 38,000 feet, Vean gazed at the diamond ring on his right hand. The object that had been the reason for his continuous smile. He couldn't wait to put that beautiful ring on the finger of the woman who had brought him back to Indonesia."Sleep, Vean. There's still an hour before the plane lands. You're allowed to be happy about returning home, but you must remember to take care of your health," his manager advised, successfully diverting Vean's attention. Unlike Vean, who seemed so enthusiastic, his manager's face looked sour."Relax, I'm perfectly fine," Vean replied with a thin smile, responding to his manager's somewhat curt words. It seemed that despite his willingness to accompany him, the man who had been by his side for the past few years a
"Mr. Vean—""Mr.—"So many questions from the media, but Vean didn't answer any of them, leaving Damian to take over completely."Please make way. We promise to hold a press conference soon. For now, please let Vean rest."Unfortunately, the reporters, who had been waiting for a long time, didn't give up that easily. Regardless of how hard Damian and the two security guards cleared a path, the media personnel still swarmed around Vean and asked for one or two statements to make into news.Vean and Damian were trapped in the midst of the media for quite a while. Fortunately, the situation gradually became more manageable, and they were able to get into the waiting car after airport security stepped in."Insane! How did they even find out about your wedding plans?" Damian asked, bewildered, after they were both safely inside the car. Despite years of dealing with the glitzy world of entertainment, Damian still often felt terrified by the media's ability to easily manipulate the narrativ
"You naughty child! You're finally back, huh? Do you still remember you have a Mom and Dad at home?"Vean smiled slightly in response to Veronica's greeting. Although it was said with a pretend angry tone, he could see the longing in his mother's eyes, which were now starting to well up with tears. A longing that was mutual because Vean also felt the same way."I'm sorry for only being able to come back now," Vean said as he hugged Veronica and let her cry in his arms.After satisfying her longing, their hug eventually loosened. Vean then hugged his twin brother, who was no less emotional than Veronica. Only after that did he briefly embrace his father and Keano, his brother-in-law."Let's go inside. We'll have breakfast together after all this time."Veronica didn't want to be apart from her son for a second longer. She even volunteered to take care of the dishes that had been prepared on the dining table."You still like Indonesian food, right?" Frans asked playfully."Of course, Da
"Yes, darling. Take anything you want."Laura narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Is there something you're hiding? Did you cheat on me in England, and that's why you're buying me anything I want as a way to make up for it?" "Seriously, what are you talking about? No, darling. No. Just ask Damian if you don't believe me."Vean's explanation had utterly failed to dispel Laura's suspicion. She was about to ask again, but Vean had managed to redirect her focus."Come on, hurry and choose. The best dresses might be taken by someone else.""Do you even realize how weird you've been acting since you returned?"Vean smiled mysteriously.** Laura thought that Vean's odd behavior would end there, but she was mistaken. That was just the beginning. The culmination of Vean's strangeness came when he insisted that she get a full-body makeover at the salon, from head to toe. He also insisted that she wear a dress of his choosing. A dress that, as it turned out, matched the shirt Vean had bought for
"Oh god, your hand—" Laura tried to get up to approach Emily and make sure the waitress's injury wasn't too serious, but Vean's large hand was already restraining her."Let it be.""But, Vean..."Unwilling to prolong a conversation he deemed unimportant, Vean promptly led Laura away from the scene. As they passed by Emily, Vean muttered softly but with an undertone of severity, "Next time, if you're not good at your job, go sleep at home."** The much-awaited day had finally arrived. The hotel ballroom where Vean and Laura's wedding reception would take place was already bustling with wedding organizers and the Frans family's staff, ensuring that everything would go smoothly in the hours to come.Accompanied by Vanya, Vean prepared himself in a room that had been set aside for the groom. Meanwhile, according to her twin brother, Laura was getting ready in another room."I still can't believe Vean is getting married this fast," Vanya commented, her eyes not leaving her brother as he m
"Why are you quiet? Mama is right, isn't she?! You couldn't even find a bride properly. If it weren't for Emily, what do you think our family's reputation would be, Vean?! Even this has already caused a scandal," Veronica said. The argument between mother and son prompted their father, Frans, to intervene so that the issue wouldn't escalate further."Vean, what Mama said is true. You should try to live this marriage first.""Dad, how can I live in a marriage with someone I don't love, Dad?""Then who are you going to blame?!" His father's question left Vean silent."That's enough, you can only stay silent. If there's an issue, let others handle it. Be mature. Papa and Mama want to rest," his father concluded, not allowing any further argument.Veronica and Frans then left Vean alone with Emily. The argument wouldn't end without someone mediating, and Frans was the only one who could do that."Dad... Ma..." Vean called out to his parents who left without looking back.qEmily remained s
"It's not like that. But I'm sure Mr. Vean is uncomfortable with me here," Emily replied."Never mind. Just sleep on the sofa," Vean said, then went to the closet to change his clothes.Emily simply followed Vean's instructions and walked toward the sofa, carrying her bag."Aaaaaaa...." Emily suddenly screamed, startling Vean. She immediately turned her back to him."Why are you screaming like that? You scared me. Do you think we're in the jungle or something?" Vean responded angrily.Emily screamed because she saw Vean suddenly take off his clothes. Emily saw Vean who was shirtless. One side of his cheek turned red at the thought of something unthinkable. "You... why aren't you wearing clothes?!" said Emily who still didn't want to look at Vean. "You think I'm taking off my clothes to execute you. Don't be overly confident, I'm not lusting after your flat body. Besides, I can't sleep if I'm not wearing clothes." "But... but I'm here. Can't you put your clothes back on," said