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

particularly beautiful, at least not

some people had complimented her on her looks, but things changed

she gradually abandoned the practice, at

when a black Volkswagen pulled up, interrupting

the figure stepping

It was Leslie.

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

his smooth hair, and his deep, handsome features gleamed

turned

head and nervously

on Aurelia’s face, showing no

she the same woman from

unusually fair, with only

the sunlight, presenting a delicate allure that starkly contrasted

day.

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

asking for money so

Linda and approached to greet him.

get back

straight into the hall.

a meeting. Hurry up,” Leslie interrupted and

seemed Leslie truly harbored no favorable feelings toward her. Even his

Aurelia refrained from saying anything for Linda’s sake and followed

The

married that day

the entire

the marriage certificate and looked

before

be acknowledged that Leslie appeared exceptionally

look bad either. She hadn’t expected the civil affairs bureau’s

happily approached to admire the couple’s

a beautiful couple. My judgment is

key from her bag

apartment. Move in today,

Aurelia hesitated, feeling too embarrassed to

Call me Mom,”

tease me like

Aurelia felt awkward.

I’m not the kind of mother–in–law who pressures her daughter–in- law to have two kids

looked at Aurelia earnestly, almost pleading for her to agree

her, Aurelia couldn’t bear to

certificate now, and legally

take the money without

was thinking about taking things one step at a

move

felt a cold and piercing gaze

She looked back.

What’s he looking at?

moving

eyebrow in mild

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

in

said coldly, “I’m heading back to

displeased, caught hold

the company

Leslie nodded indifferently. “Yes.”