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.”

of Linda’s words

at least

complimented her on her looks, but things

As her workload increased, she gradually abandoned the practice, at most opting for a touch

about to speak when a

by the figure stepping out of the

It was Leslie.

exuded a casual, laid–back vibe, dressed in a black shirt

breeze tousled his smooth hair, and his

she had been staring for too long as Leslie turned his head and

self–conscious, she quickly lowered her head and nervously tugged at her

Aurelia’s face, showing

same

was unusually fair, with only

Aurelia’s face lit up with a gentle, rosy glow in the sunlight, presenting

day.

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

was asking for

and approached

get back to

straight into the hall.

a meeting. Hurry up,” Leslie

feelings toward

Linda’s sake and followed Leslie

The

of couples getting married that day

and taking photos, the entire process took around twenty

and looked at the photo

a few seconds, her mind went blank before she could believe

acknowledged that Leslie appeared exceptionally

hadn’t expected the civil affairs bureau’s camera to capture her in

admire the couple’s marriage

My

a key from her bag and handed it to Aurelia in

in today, cultivate your relationship, and let me have my

feeling too embarrassed to look

me ‘Miss‘? Call

tease

Aurelia felt awkward.

pressures her daughter–in- law to have two kids

almost pleading for

her, Aurelia couldn’t bear to

certificate now, and legally married couples living separately wouldn’t make

just take the money without fulfilling her

about taking things one

I’ll move

said this, she felt a cold and piercing gaze and

She looked back.

What’s he looking at?

moving in

raised an eyebrow

quite the audacity. Was she

in

gaze and said coldly,

displeased, caught

the company collapse

Leslie nodded indifferently. “Yes.”