“You said you’d be home late?” Nayra asked when she saw her husband opening the door to their bedroom.
“Yeah, I suddenly missed my wife, so I came home right away,” Albi replied.
“Oh my gosh, since when did you become such a smooth talker?”
Albi sat beside Nayra and hugged the woman he had taken as his wife two years ago—the woman he loved so deeply. He hoped his love would remain the same, or even grow stronger, as time went on.
“There’s nothing wrong with making my wife happy, right?”
“Oh, so now my husband is trying to make his wife happy?” Nayra asked with a smile.
Albi nodded. “Of course. Whatever makes you happy, I’ll do it.”
“Including staying faithful to me?”
“Don’t ask about something when you already know the answer. Staying faithful is my responsibility. I chose you, and I’ve already vowed to make you my one and only. Never doubt that again, sweetheart.”
Nayra smiled. “I was only joking, Mas. Besides, I already knew that would be your answer. It’s just been a long time since I heard you say it, so I wanted to hear it again.”
“Oh my gosh, my wife is so naughty.” Albi tickled his wife’s waist. He knew it was her weak spot, so Nayra immediately burst out laughing and begged him to stop.
“Hey, where are you taking me?” Nayra asked when her husband suddenly lifted her as if she weighed nothing.
“Keeping your husband company while he showers isn’t wrong, right?” Albi raised and lowered his eyebrows with a meaningful smile. Nayra already knew what her husband wanted. Whenever things got like this, all she could do was surrender to whatever Albi had in mind.
“Don’t pout,” Albi teased when he saw Nayra drying her hair with a hair dryer.
“I already showered, and now you made me shower again. It took forever, and the whole thing lasted so long, too. I’m freezing, you know!”
“Freezing, sweetheart? Really? Weren’t we just overheated?” Albi continued teasing his wife. He took the hair dryer and helped her dry her hair.
“Whatever!”
Albi only chuckled, finding his wife adorable as she continued to pout. Then he hugged Nayra from behind and kissed her right cheek. Nayra could only smile at her husband’s utterly wild behavior.
“I love you so much. No matter what happens in the future, I hope you’ll never think about leaving me.”
Nayra smiled. “I feel the same way, Mas.”
Day by day, Nayra and Albi’s relationship grew more romantic. Nayra had been worried after remembering her mother-in-law’s words about arranging Albi’s marriage to another woman, but she gradually calmed down because nothing suspicious had happened lately. Laila’s attitude toward her had even started to soften again. However, Nayra didn’t know that Laila was making another plan to persuade her son to marry again.
“Sir, I just received word that the lady of the house is ill and is currently at a city hospital,” said Roki, Albi’s personal assistant, who had worked with him for a long time.
“What? Who told you?” Albi asked in shock. He hadn’t received any news at all.
“One of the housekeepers from the main residence told me earlier. Are you going to cancel today’s meeting?” Riko asked.
“Yes, cancel today’s schedule. Reschedule it once everything is all right,” Albi instructed.
“Yes, Sir.”
Albi immediately left the towering building. He asked his personal driver to take him to the city hospital. He wanted to see his mother’s condition, and he couldn’t understand why no one had told him she was ill. He was certainly angry and frustrated, especially since Kartika, his older sister, was usually the one who kept him informed.
“Why did this happen?” Albi asked when he saw Kartika standing outside Laila’s room.
“I didn’t know either. Aninda told me this morning. I didn’t tell you right away because I knew you were busy.”
“No matter how busy I am, if it concerns Mom, I’ll cancel everything.” Albi glared angrily at his sister.
“I know that. I’m sorry.”
“Then how is Mom doing?” Albi asked worriedly.
“You can ask the doctor directly. The doctor will be out soon, so make sure you ask everything in detail.”
The doctor finished examining Laila. Albi immediately approached and asked about his mother’s condition. After listening to the doctor’s explanation, he went into the room and walked over to Laila.
“Albi, you know I’m here?” Laila asked.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t know you were sick. I didn’t know you’d been getting regular checkups all this time, either. Please forgive me.” Albi felt terribly guilty.
“Albi, wait here for a moment. I’m going to see Mas Rijal, who happens to be in the hospital lobby.”
Albi nodded. Kartika quickly left the room, leaving him alone with Laila. Laila remained silent and didn’t say a word, which made Albi feel even guiltier. He knew she had to be terribly disappointed in him.
“Mom, eat something first. The doctor said you’ve also been skipping meals, which is why your condition got this bad,” Albi said as he picked up the food that had been prepared.
“No, I’m not hungry!” Laila refused, closing her eyes.
“Come on, Mom. Is there anything you want?” Albi coaxed.
“Will you really give me whatever I ask for?” Laila asked, staring at her son.
“Yes, if it’s something I can do.”
“Just marry Kharisma and give me a grandchild. That would make me very happy, and it would be more than enough, son.”
“Mom, why do I have to marry again? Why do you keep asking me to marry again? Why can’t I make you happy some other way?” Albi sounded frustrated by the words he was always hearing from his mother.
“Let me have a grandchild of your own blood, Albi. I’m old, and I don’t know how much longer I’ll be in this world. That’s all I want. I want to take care of my grandchild first,” Laila insisted, making Albi even more irritated and angry.
“Don’t make things up, Mom! I’m already married, and I love and cherish my wife. How could I possibly marry again?” Albi said firmly.
Laila suddenly clutched her chest, her breathing visibly labored. Albi realized he had raised his voice a little and immediately moved closer.
“Are you all right, Mom?” Albi asked anxiously. He quickly pressed the emergency button, worried when it seemed she was having trouble breathing. Albi was certain it was because he had shouted at her.
“Mom, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to, Mom.”
“I don’t mind if you won’t do what I want, but at least before I die, I’ve told you what I wish for,” Laila whispered between uneven breaths.
“All right. I’ll do what you want, Mom. But Nayra can’t find out about any of this. If Nayra finds out, I won’t go through with this plan to marry again.”