"I'm still better than him, Ada. I won't hurt you. I also won't leave you waiting while I'm in a coma. Because I never wanted to be in a coma. Not like him who left you waiting for so long with the excuse of being in a coma," Gian replied again.
"Damn you! Come on, Brother, quickly take him home. If possible, send him straight back to Italy to his parents," pleaded Altezza, looking pitiful.
Antony sighed. He slapped his thighs and stood up. "I need him, Al. I need a right-hand man since you took Duncan. Come on, Gian, get up." He ordered softly. Gian complied.
"Thank you," Altezza replied as Antony was willing to fulfill his request.
"We're going home, Ada," Antony replied, acknowledged by Adaline's nod. "But if you're indeed tempted by Gian's words, just contact me. I'll willingly help you file for divorce from your husband," he replied flatly.
Altezza gaped at him while Gian cheered happily. "Yes!" He shouted.
"Damn you both! Get out of here! Never show up here again!" Altezza yelled loudly. Antony and Gian left the room while Adaline laughed at all three of them. "Darling, don't be tempted by Gian's sweet talk, okay?
"He may be younger, but he's not more handsome than me. And he's not richer either. And don't forget he's also less experienced than me."
"Experienced?" Adaline furrowed her brow.
Altezza smiled and nodded. "Yes. He's less experienced than me. Remember, I'm better at making babies. While he's not." Adaline hit Altezza's arm in response.
How could he have such lewd thoughts at a time like this? Altezza held her hand and kissed it.
"I have indeed been at fault. Not just once but many times. And I truly apologize for that. Even though I don't know how to make up for my mistakes.
"I can only try to make you happy. I can only give you all my love.
"I can't promise happiness forever. Because there will surely be more obstacles ahead of us. But I will always do my best to preserve this love, this feeling. Our marriage and our children," he said seriously. Adaline nodded.
"Al, marriage isn't just the responsibility of one person. Marriage isn't just about two individuals.
"It's not just about the husband, not just about the wife. But there's also the family that we need to consider and protect their feelings.
"That's why I prefer if we compromise more often. For everything important, let's not keep anything hidden.
"I don't want any misunderstandings in the future. Adaline will try to always express what she feels. Adaline will try to be more open, not keep everything to herself. Because I know you're not someone who can read minds.
"But you also do the same thing in return." Altezza nodded. "Let's forget the past." Once again, they both nodded.
"So, you won't be tempted by Gian, right?" Her husband asked again, rewarded with a playful pinch from Adaline. Altezza groaned, but then he hugged his wife's shoulder and kissed her temple. "I love you, my lady."
"I love you too, Sir."
Their case was still ongoing. The police were still searching for solid evidence to be able to apprehend Jovanka. And they faced quite a challenge because there was no tangible evidence they could obtain as Jovanka had never made any explicit threats to them. All the messages that woman sent to Adaline didn't contain any threats at all. And Altezza was deeply shocked by this revelation. He didn't know that all this time Jovanka had also been hurting his wife.
Altezza requested to go home and receive outpatient treatment rather than staying in the hospital. His muscles hadn't fully recovered. Moreover, Altezza, who was used to exercising regularly, had to abruptly stop all activities, which had a greater effect on his physical health.
Gian's visits to their home often left the man shouting in frustration. How could he not, when every time Gian came, he would whisper with his wife, and when he asked what they were talking about, Gian's answers always made him want to throttle the man. "I'm just trying to persuade your wife to change her mind and end up marrying me." Or, "I'm still trying to make her realize that you're not the right husband for her."
And at one point, he came with a happy face, hugging Adaline tightly and making Altezza furious. Especially when he casually kissed Adaline's cheek. If only he could run at that moment. He would grab Gian by the collar and slam him to the floor right then and there.
"Sweetheart, wash your face with seven types of earth. I'll ask Ash to bring you water from seven wells and seven types of flowers," he commanded Adaline, who responded only with a shake of her head.
"What do you think I am?" Gian shouted.
"Remember, my wife is off-limits to you."
Gian sneered. He disregarded Altezza and chose to embrace Adaline's shoulders. "Just ignore that old, pathetic man, my lady," he said loudly, intending to provoke Altezza. He even glanced at Altezza on purpose as he lovingly kissed Adaline's hair.
Unlike Gian, Antony had a different approach. While Gian openly flirted with Altezza, Antony did it differently. He had his own way of teasing Altezza, even without changing his serious expression.
"What about your birth plan?" Claire asked one day.
"Not sure," Adaline replied.
She had been asked to undergo a caesarean process by Stefanie and her mother-in-law. But Adaline was still contemplating it because she hoped to have a natural birth.
"Don't forget. If one of them is a boy, he'll be my son," Antony stated. Altezza, who was undergoing outpatient therapy at the time, immediately stopped in his tracks.
"What do you mean?" Altezza asked sharply.
Antony shrugged. "You said you wanted a child like Flavia. So if the child she's carrying is a boy, he'll be my son. It just so happens that Flavia also wants a little brother, right, honey?" He asked Claire, who nodded.
"That's not fair. Just ask your wife. Why do you have to take my child?" Altezza argued.
"I already asked her. But it'll be a while before we get him. It'll take a few more months until he's born. Isn't that right, honey?" Claire nodded again.
"So, you're pregnant?" Adaline asked, and Claire nodded. "Alhamdulillah..." she said, full of gratitude. "Congratulations!" Adaline grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "You're going to have a child from your wife, yet you're still asking for mine?"
"Who asked for your child?" Adkshan looked at Altezza expressionlessly.
"You just told my wife that if our child is a boy, you'll consider him your own," Altezza half-shouted. The man had even started walking closer.
Antony glanced between Altezza, Claire, and Adaline. "I did say I'd consider him my own, but I never asked for the child from you, did I, Ada?" he asked Adaline. Adaline nodded.
"You see," he said mockingly. "What a foolish man. Why would I ask for your child when I can have my own?
"It's hard to fix his stupidity. I hope you'll be patient. But if you're not patient, Gian says he's still waiting for you," he said, winking at Adaline. This was the second time Adaline got that mischievous look from him.
Altezza groaned and tugged at his own hair. What was wrong with the men in his family? They were truly insane!