Episode 4

"What's so great about Vale compared to Angela? Despite having a master's degree, her parents are just small business owners. Can't be compared to Angela, who was born into a conglomerate family. Besides, she's also beautiful and knows how to please you. So, what makes you think twice, Kelvin?" Annisa spoke again with a high intonation, feeling annoyed that her only son seemed to regret breaking up with Vale.

"Mom, aren't you tired of discussing this every day?" Kelvin stood up from his seat. "The assets given by Grandpa Jason are already plenty, Mom. Even if I marry a homeless person, it won't make us starve. But, you always demand that I marry a woman who is much richer. Am I just a son to you, or just bait for your profit? " he continued louder.

"Kelvin!"

"I broke up with Vale, as you wished. So, there's no need to discuss this again. Especially about Angela. I know better whether she deserves to be my wife or not," Kelvin retorted. He wasn't intimidated at all even though Annisa shouted at him. Instead, Kelvin boldly snorted and left his mother alone.

Not stopping there, as soon as he arrived in his room, Kelvin slammed the door shut and threw himself onto the bed. Annoyed, angry, and resentful were what he felt right now. Annoyed because Vale had outdated principles, angry because his mother worshiped money too much, and resentful because now Vale was married. She was no longer someone's girlfriend, but a wife. A relationship witnessed by religion and the state. Damn!

"Just a few days after we broke up, she suddenly got married. Who is that guy anyway, someone who wanted Vale or just a guy hired to retaliate against me? Ahh, whoever he is, he must have slept with Vale. I, who dated her for four years, lost to a man who may have known her for a long time or not. Truly scum!" Kelvin cursed while throwing his phone aimlessly. Letting it fall on the pillow so that Vale's updates were no longer within his reach.

Kelvin's mood immediately worsened. He came home early to calm himself down from his busy work, but instead, he was confronted with a reality that made him even more exhausted.

After being angry for quite some time, Kelvin picked up his phone again. Then he typed a message to Vale. It was short, just asking who Vale's husband was.

"All I know is that he's a man better than you, who can love me without dirty thoughts."

A reply message that made Kelvin furious. His jealousy went wild because of that sentence. It wasn't entirely wrong, because at that time, he was indeed the cause of their relationship's destruction. However, Kelvin still felt he was right, because he was like that too because of Vale, whom he thought was so old-fashioned.

"Have you slept with him?"

Stupidly, Kelvin replied like that.

"What do you think?"

One answer that made Kelvin's heart unstable.

"You refused to do that with me but easily did it with someone else. What kind of woman are you?"

"We were just dating, while I'm already married to him. Please understand that, Vin."

Vale's answer sounded casual, deliberately belittling Kelvin's existence all this time.

"But, we've been dating for four years. That's not short. You shouldn't disregard that,"

Kelvin sent another message expressing his displeasure. Unaware that far away, Vale was laughing at his attitude.

"You know that four years is not short, but have you ever planned our future together? Like getting married or even proposing, for example. There's none, right? And you ask me not to take that into account. Sorry, Vin, I'm a woman with dignity. Don't compare me to your women who have been blinded by lust."

"You scum, Vale!" Kelvin yelled while throwing his phone.

This time not to the pillow, but to the floor until it reached a low point. It's a pity that such a mute object that knows nothing has to end tragically because of its master's ignorance.

"You can keep this a secret, Vale. But, I won't stay silent. I will find out myself who your husband is. I will prove that he is nothing more than me," Kelvin continued, still with his anger reaching its peak.

If only Vale knew Kelvin's expression at that time, she would surely rejoice. Because just by reading a message implying dislike, Vale couldn't stop smiling happily.

__________

"I didn't even know that he was already married."

An answer that Kelvin heard from Virza—an old friend who lived in Indonesia. He knew who Vale was and what her relationship with Kelvin was. However, he was surprised when Kelvin said that Vale was already married.

"Do you never interact with her father anymore? You said you had collaborated with him before," Kelvin said, unsatisfied with the information he received.

"I still do. But we never discuss Vale's marriage. If she really got married, there should be a big celebration, right? Even if I wasn't invited, I would have heard about it. But I haven't."

Kelvin pondered for a moment. On one hand, he believed that Virza was telling the truth, but on the other hand, he was also convinced that what Vale uploaded wasn't a lie. The wedding certificate seemed genuine.

"Did she keep her marriage a secret? Is that why her husband's name was covered?" Kelvin thought to himself.

"Vin, are you still there?"

Virza's reprimand brought Kelvin back to reality.

"Yes, sorry sorry." Kelvin remained silent for a moment, then continued his sentence, "If that's the case, I'll ask for your help. Find out about Vale. Whether she's married or not. And if she is, please find out who the man is."

"Okay, I'll let you know if I have any information."

Soon after that, the call ended. Kelvin returned to focus on his slightly piled-up work, although it was difficult because Vale's presence was so disturbing.

Meanwhile, in a different place, Vale was alone with her husband in their room. The time difference was six hours ahead, so it was almost twilight where Vale and Riu were.

"I'm going to have dinner at my dad's house later. But, there are a lot of colleagues attending because it's a business discussion. So, it's okay if you stay home, right?" Riu asked while taking off his suit jacket.

"It's okay, I can have dinner at home. And I can also prepare the materials for tomorrow's interview."

Riu nodded slightly. Then, he asked for Vale's help to push his wheelchair into the bathroom, while also supporting his body when changing seats for bathing.

"Can you ... undress by yourself?" Vale hesitantly asked. During their time as husband and wife, this was the first time she was helping Riu. Usually, it was Riu's right hand that did it, and unfortunately, he wasn't at home at the moment.

"Do you mind helping me?"

Vale's cheeks immediately turned red. Help? Undressing one by one until the rounded navel? Oh, how horrifying. Vale wouldn't be able to do that.

"If you mind, it's okay. I'll just wait for Baron."

Upon hearing Riu's words, Vale became conflicted. She didn't know what Baron was doing out there, whether it would be quick or take a long time. Meanwhile, Riu needed to get ready for dinner. However, just imagining doing it herself made her heart race uncontrollably.

In her confusion, Vale didn't even realize that Riu was looking at her with a sweet smile.

To be continued...

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