Chapter 190: A Love Letter from Mother

“My dearest child,

I’m sorry that I can only convey this through a letter. At first, I wanted to explain everything directly in front of you, Frel. However, seeing how you always asked me to leave, were unwilling to meet me, perhaps this is the only path left.

I know you really hate me, but please spare a little of your time this once to read my story before you decide to hate me forever.

You may already know a lot about me through magazine profiles or other media. However, there is something you need to understand: not all of my life story is told there. Including the fact that I once lived in the Cinta Kasih Orphanage.

Yes, I was an orphan from a young age and became homeless after both of my parents passed away due to illness. They were sick because of starvation. Sad, isn’t it? That is the reality.

A few months after their passing, I was evicted from the rented room because I couldn’t afford the rent. Fortunately, I was found by Mrs. Eka and taken to the orphanage.

There, I was treated very well. I received food every day, could bathe with clean water, play with friends my age, and even go to school like other children. I was very happy there. Although I often missed my parents, the affection given by Mrs. Eka and the caregivers was more than enough, even though that love had to be shared with the other children.

I studied harder than anyone else. I didn’t care that I was just an orphanage child. I tried not to feel inferior and always appeared cheerful. Those efforts paid off. I often won national-level science olympiads and received achievement-based scholarships.

When I was in junior high school, I gained a best friend who was incredibly kind. She was very beautiful, her hair was fragrant, and her skin was so smooth. Viona, that was her name.

I know you love Viona very much and may think that everything I’m telling you is just a lie. But wait a moment, Frel. Don’t close this letter. Please read it until the end.

That friendship continued into senior high school. Viona introduced her childhood best friend named Aditya Alfred Sebastian. The three of us went to the same school.

Aditya was a very pleasant person. He was always smiling, handsome, and smart. Almost all the female students liked him and competed to get his attention. Meanwhile, I chose to act normally. I didn’t want to have high expectations of Aditya.

Until one day, Aditya suddenly confessed his love to me. I could hardly believe it. I never imagined that Aditya would choose me over the beautiful and wealthy girls out there. I initially refused because of the wide gap in our economic status. But he kept convincing me that he didn’t care who I was or where I came from. He didn’t care that I was an orphanage child. Aditya loved me sincerely. In the end, I accepted him, and we officially began a relationship.

At first, we were very happy, especially since Viona seemed very supportive of our relationship. She shared in our happiness. After more than two years together, Aditya’s mother suddenly found out about everything. She hated me deeply, especially because of my background.

We were forced to separate. Aditya was arranged to marry Viona on the grounds that their family company was on the brink of collapse. I’m sure that wasn’t the real reason, but rather because I was only an orphanage child who had nothing.

After graduating from senior high school, Aditya and Viona got married. Yes, they married at a very young age. Aditya was forced to live a married life while attending college and leading his family’s company.

I loved Aditya very much, Frel. I loved your father very much. Even one day before their wedding, I desperately went to meet Viona. I knelt and begged her to cancel the wedding. But what happened? Viona left me alone with her rejection, without saying a single word.

I was completely devastated. She didn’t even pay attention to my tears and pleas. I never imagined that our friendship would be destroyed in an instant.

At that time, I lost my way. It felt like there would never be another man who could care for and love me as sincerely as Aditya did. There would never again be a man who always comforted me and shared laughter with me. No man who was so kind and patient, who never showed disgust when walking beside an orphanage child like me.

When hope seemed to disappear, Mrs. Eka asked me to continue my studies in London. There, I only received a scholarship that covered tuition fees. I was forced to work part-time and stay at Mrs. Jeni’s house, Mrs. Eka’s relative. Mrs. Jeni and her husband loved me very much and even treated me like their own family.

Two years later, I returned to Indonesia for a holiday and to visit the orphanage. On my last night in Indonesia, I met Aditya, who already had a one-year-old child at that time. We had dinner at a hotel. However, because the longing was unbearable, we lost control and stayed the night there. We poured out all the stories we had lived through, about how much Aditya had suffered after being separated from me. It turned out that after all those years, our love was still the same.

I knew that night Aditya was very fragile, just as fragile as I was. He cried while apologizing to me. He regretted not being able to fulfill his promise to protect me and always be by my side. He even told me about his mistake on his first night with Viona before their child was born.

Your father truly felt guilty. He was haunted by enormous regret. I couldn’t bear to see him like that. We released all our feelings that night, and everything just happened.

A few weeks later, I realized that my period was late. After seeing a doctor, it turned out I was pregnant. I didn’t tell Aditya because I was too afraid of destroying Viona’s marriage. In the end, I took a year off from college and chose to give birth in Indonesia. I was determined not to show myself in front of Aditya or his family.

When I was pregnant with you, I accidentally heard a wife complaining to her husband in a park about not having children yet. I was moved by the affection between the couple. I followed them to find out where they lived. In the end, when you were born, I was forced to place you in front of their house. I was sure you would live better with that couple than in an orphanage like me. At least, you would receive full attention with them.

Forgive me, Frel. I never meant to abandon you, but circumstances forced me. I had nothing at that time. Life was very hard, my dear. Especially when we are all alone. I had to return to London to continue my education so I could earn a living for all of us.”

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