Menantu Pahlawan Negara by Sarjana

Chapter 4

Aurelia arrived early at the Civil Affairs Bureau, finishing her bread just as Linda unexpectedly showed up.

“Ms. Linda, what brings you here?” Aurelia inquired.

Linda smiled as she spoke, “I couldn’t bear to miss such a significant

With that, she reached into her bag and handed Aurelia a carefully wrapped gift, emphasizing the importance of the occasion.

“Aurelia, going forward, Leslie will lean on you quite a bit. Consider this a small gesture of a mother–in–law’s affection,” Linda conveyed, her eyes radiating warmth.

Perplexed, Aurelia opened the gift to find a five hundred–thousand–dollar cheque.

She looked at Linda with disbelief, saying, “This is too much. That’s not necessary.”

Linda stopped Aurelia from returning the check. She smiled and said, “It’s not too much. You deserve it.”

“Me… Deserving?”

Aurelia widened her eyes. Lately, she had been bombarded with words like, “You’re about to be an orphan, who would want you? Who would still like you? Who would protect you?”

Her boyfriend of three years betrayed her, and even the caregiver bullied her.

She had thought she was about to be abandoned by the world, but at this moment, she felt a long–lost warmth.

Aurelia, who had been holding back for a long time, teared up.

There were too many words in her mind, but she didn’t know where to start.

“Ms. Linda, thank you.”

“Silly child, I know you’re going through a tough time. I understand you may be reluctant to ask me for help. Soon, we’ll be a family, and you don’t have to pretend to be tough in front of me. Accept it with peace of mind,” Linda said, gently patting Aurelia’s head.

Aurelia felt a warm sensation in her chest.

No matter how much they gave, those who truly loved you never seemed enough, while those who didn’t love you felt like they took too much.

Such an example was the Martinez family.

Unwilling to give and wanting even more from her.

As Linda spoke, she suddenly leaned closer to Aurelia’s face.

“You’re getting married today, and you’re not wearing makeup?” she asked.

Aurelia shook her head and asked, “Isn’t makeup not allowed for ID photos?”

Linda chuckled heartily, “Why are you such an honest child? Something as important as a lifetime commitment can’t be taken so casually. Luckily, I brought some makeup. I’ll give you

a makeup look that enhances your natural beauty.”

Upon hearing this, Aurelia couldn’t suppress a wry smile. Linda was familiar with the concept of pseudo–natural makeup

Before Aurelia could refuse, Linda’s foundation had already been applied to her face. She had no choice but to let Linda do her makeup.

A few minutes later, Linda looked at Aurelia with satisfaction.

“Aurelia, you’re naturally beautiful. Why don’t you dress up more often?”

“Ms. Linda, you don’t have to comfort me.”

Linda’s words as mere

considered particularly beautiful, at least not in her own

days, some people had complimented her on

in applying makeup. As her workload increased, she gradually abandoned the practice, at most opting for a

was about to speak when a

the figure stepping out of

It was Leslie.

vibe, dressed in a black shirt and trousers with a couple of buttons undone

the steps, a gentle breeze tousled his smooth hair, and

Leslie turned his head and caught

lowered her head and

Aurelia’s face, showing no

the same woman

complexion was unusually fair, with only a few freckles

a gentle, rosy glow in the sunlight, presenting a delicate allure

day.

fifty–thousand check in Aurelia’s hand, and his

she was asking for money

Linda and approached to greet him. “Hi,

need to get

straight into the hall.

for a meeting. Hurry up,”

feelings toward her. Even

refrained from saying anything for Linda’s sake

The

couples getting married

photos, the entire

certificate and looked at the photo on

mind went blank before she could believe she had indeed gotten

be acknowledged that Leslie

look bad either. She hadn’t expected the civil

admire the

a beautiful couple. My judgment is indeed

of compliments, Linda took a key from her bag

apartment. Move in today, cultivate your relationship, and let me have

too embarrassed to look at

Call me

tease me like

Aurelia felt awkward.

the kind of mother–in–law who pressures her daughter–in- law to have two kids in three years. But since you’re already married, are you planning to live separately? What do you think,

Aurelia earnestly, almost pleading

her,

now, and legally married couples living

also couldn’t just take the money

thinking about taking things one step

I’ll move in

felt a cold and piercing gaze

She looked back.

What’s he looking at?

about Aurelia moving in

an eyebrow in mild

dared to scrutinize him so boldly. She indeed had quite the audacity. Was she so

moving in so eagerly?” Leslie

gaze and said

caught hold of

the company collapse without

Leslie nodded indifferently. “Yes.”