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 mere

particularly beautiful, at least not in her

complimented her on her looks, but things changed after

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

was about to speak when a black Volkswagen pulled

the figure

It was Leslie.

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

smooth hair, and his deep, handsome

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

she quickly lowered her head and nervously tugged at her messy

gaze lingered on Aurelia’s face,

the same

fair, with only a

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

day.

the fifty–thousand

was asking for money so

Linda and approached to

get

straight into the hall.

meeting. Hurry up,” Leslie

Leslie truly harbored no favorable feelings toward her.

Aurelia refrained from saying anything for Linda’s sake and

The

of couples getting married that day was

forms and taking photos, the

the marriage certificate and looked

blank before she

be acknowledged that

didn’t look bad either. She hadn’t expected the civil

to admire

beautiful couple. My judgment is

from her bag and handed it

Leslie’s apartment. Move in today, cultivate your relationship, and let me have my grandchildren

feeling too embarrassed

me ‘Miss‘? Call

tease

Aurelia felt awkward.

daughter–in- law to have two kids in three years. But since

earnestly, almost pleading

her, Aurelia couldn’t bear

they had the marriage certificate now, and legally married couples living separately wouldn’t

couldn’t just take the money without fulfilling her

things

move

and

She looked back.

What’s he looking at?

Aurelia moving in and planning

eyebrow in mild

him so boldly. She indeed had quite the

moving in

gaze and said coldly, “I’m heading back to

caught

company

Leslie nodded indifferently. “Yes.”