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 as

wasn’t considered particularly beautiful, at least

people had complimented her on her looks, but things changed after getting

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

Linda was about to speak when a black

the figure stepping out

It was Leslie.

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

smooth hair, and his deep, handsome features gleamed in the morning

for too long as Leslie turned his head and caught her gaze, causing

quickly lowered her head and nervously tugged at

face, showing

same

was unusually fair, with only a

up with a gentle, rosy glow in the sunlight,

day.

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

was asking for

Linda and approached

to get back to

straight into the hall.

Hurry up,” Leslie

truly harbored no favorable feelings toward her. Even his

refrained from saying anything for Linda’s sake and followed Leslie into the

The

of couples getting married that

the

received the marriage certificate and looked at the photo

went blank before she could believe she had indeed

be acknowledged that Leslie

the civil affairs bureau’s camera to

admire the couple’s

My judgment is indeed

her bag and

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

Linda!” Aurelia hesitated, feeling too

Call me

tease

Aurelia felt awkward.

I was just joking. I’m not the kind of mother–in–law who pressures her daughter–in- law to have two kids in three years. But since you’re already married, are you planning to live separately? What do you

looked at Aurelia earnestly, almost pleading for

to her, Aurelia

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

the

thinking about taking things one step at

move

said this, she felt a cold and piercing gaze and

She looked back.

What’s he looking at?

he having second thoughts about Aurelia moving in and planning to discuss

eyebrow in

so boldly. She indeed had quite the audacity.

about moving in so

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

caught

the company

Leslie nodded indifferently. “Yes.”