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

considered particularly beautiful, at least not in her own

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

often commented on her lack of skill in applying makeup. As her workload increased, she gradually abandoned the practice, at most opting for

was about to speak when a

the figure

It was Leslie.

in a black shirt and

his smooth hair, and his deep, handsome features gleamed

had been staring for too long as Leslie turned his head and caught her gaze, causing Aurelia to freeze

self–conscious, she quickly lowered her head and

lingered on Aurelia’s face, showing

the same woman from

complexion was unusually fair, with only a few

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

day.

sight of the fifty–thousand check

was asking for money so

was nudged by Linda and approached to greet him.

get back

straight into the hall.

meeting. Hurry

feelings toward her. Even his

Linda’s

The

of couples getting married

the entire process

the marriage certificate and looked at

her mind went blank before she could

must be acknowledged that Leslie appeared exceptionally

she didn’t look bad either. She hadn’t expected the civil affairs bureau’s camera to capture her in

happily approached to admire

a beautiful couple. My judgment is

a round of compliments, Linda took a key from her

is the key to Leslie’s apartment. Move in today, cultivate your relationship, and

feeling too embarrassed to

‘Miss‘? Call

don’t tease me

Aurelia felt awkward.

have two kids in three years. But since you’re already married,

Aurelia earnestly, almost pleading for her to agree

Linda’s kindness to her, Aurelia

now, and legally married couples living separately

take the

thinking about taking things one step at a

I’ll move

cold and piercing gaze and turned

She looked back.

What’s he looking at?

second thoughts about Aurelia moving in and planning to discuss it with

eyebrow in

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

about moving in so eagerly?”

said

displeased, caught

the company

Leslie nodded indifferently. “Yes.”