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.”

thought of Linda’s words as

beautiful, at least not in her own

had complimented her on

workload increased, she gradually abandoned the practice, at most opting for a touch of lipstick for

speak when a black Volkswagen pulled

figure stepping out of the

It was Leslie.

casual, laid–back vibe, dressed in a black shirt and trousers with a

steps, a gentle breeze tousled his smooth hair, and

been staring for too long as Leslie turned his head

lowered her head and nervously

face, showing no sign of

same

was unusually fair, with only a few freckles

with a gentle, rosy glow in the sunlight, presenting a delicate allure that starkly contrasted with her pale and

day.

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

asking for

by Linda and approached to greet him. “Hi,

need to get back

straight into the hall.

Hurry up,” Leslie

favorable feelings toward

Aurelia refrained from saying anything for Linda’s sake

The

married that

taking photos, the entire process took around twenty

received the marriage certificate and looked at the photo on

blank before she could believe she

be acknowledged that Leslie

civil

admire

couple. My judgment is indeed

a key from her bag and handed it to Aurelia in front of

today, cultivate your relationship, and let me have my

too embarrassed to look at

me ‘Miss‘? Call me

tease

Aurelia felt awkward.

daughter–in- law to have two kids in three years. But since you’re already married, are you planning

pleading for her to

about Linda’s kindness to her, Aurelia

now, and legally married couples living

couldn’t just take the money without fulfilling

about taking things one step at

I’ll move in

said this, she felt a cold and piercing gaze and turned

She looked back.

What’s he looking at?

thoughts about Aurelia moving in and planning to discuss it with

eyebrow in

indeed had quite the audacity. Was she so eager to move

moving in so

said coldly, “I’m heading

caught hold of

the company collapse

Leslie nodded indifferently. “Yes.”