The relationship between Altezza and Adaline is improving day by day, especially after Altezza's confession to Adaline the other day. Adaline's confidence suddenly emerges.
As they had agreed, they started everything with a fresh intention. And Adaline finally found out about the secret door mentioned by her husband. It turns out Altezza had built a connecting door between his room and the one occupied by Adaline. And indeed, Adaline never knew about it because the door was hidden inside the wardrobe. The next day when she returned from the hospital, Altezza showed her the spot.
"This is why your wardrobe is so wide and doesn't have a lock," Altezza said as he opened her wardrobe door and slid the connecting door, revealing the inside of Adaline's wardrobe.
Adaline looked at him with a fearful expression.
"Don't worry, Honey. I've never abused this door for anything improper," Altezza reassured.
Adaline still looked at him with an incredulous gaze. The man just grinned.
They spent the weekend going out, not visiting family as usual. The reason being Altezza didn't want to get a lecture, especially from his parents. As the man had anticipated, when on the second day Adaline was discharged from the hospital and about to come home, his father-in-law came and scolded Altezza, just as the man had expected beforehand.
Altezza took her wherever Adaline requested. Eating out, visiting bookstores, and even watching movies at the cinema for two films. The man seemed not to mind. And surprisingly, throughout the movie-watching, he didn't feel bored or seem sleepy. So Adaline didn't feel guilty for boring the man.
They decided to have dinner at a Japanese restaurant because suddenly Adaline wanted hotpot. Not only that, Adaline's portion even doubled compared to what she usually ate. Altezza didn't mind; he even liked the way the woman ate.
Adaline's pregnancy has reached four months. Currently, they are gathered at Adaline's family home to celebrate her pregnancy.
Mrs. Violet couldn't stop smiling, and neither could Adaline's mother-in-law, Delila Quirino. Seeing them like that filled Adaline's heart with happiness.
"The Quirino ladies are so lucky to have husbands like the Quirino men," whispered one woman to Violet Scott, glancing at the Quirino men. "Adaline is also lucky to have a husband like Altezza. He's handsome, kind, and friendly."
"Lucky or not depends on our perspective, dear," replied Brianna, who had overheard the whispers wisely. "There's no marriage without problems. It all comes down to how we deal with them," she continued, causing the other women to blush with embarrassment.
Brianna Quirino indeed had a rigid character, just like her son, Antony. She wasn't the type to be overly friendly, so those who just met her always assumed she was arrogant. However, once you got to know her, she also had a mischievous side and a sense of humor. And she was also a caring woman.
"What's wrong, dear?" Delila Quirino looked at her daughter-in-law, who was currently holding her stomach with a furrowed brow. "Are you okay, dear?" she asked again, panicking.
"I'm fine, Mom. It's just that I feel something strange in my stomach."
"What's wrong with your stomach?" This time it was Violet who asked.
"I don't know, but it feels like there's something fluttering in my stomach. Like there are little butterflies flying inside."
"Oh my God..." Delila and Violet exclaimed simultaneously. Adaline looked at the two women alternately. "God has breathed life into the fetus you're carrying, dear. If previously the fetus was just a lump of flesh, then now the fetus in your stomach already contains the soul of your future child," Violet replied. Adaline nodded in understanding.
"You have to be careful. Right now, a soul is growing within you. From now on, you must always watch your words, actions, and feelings. Because inside the fetus, they will mimic all the actions of the parents. And they will start learning even while they are still in the womb.
"They will listen to what you say. They will feel what you feel. And they will behave as you behave. So, from now on, before doing anything, you have to consider the twins that are here." Delila Quirino replied, gently rubbing Adaline's stomach. "I can't wait to see what Adaline and Altezza's junior will be like." Delila's eyes sparkled with happiness. So did Violet's.
Elsewhere.
Jovanka stared at her manager with a sharp gaze. Her manager returned the stare with an equally sharp one. "Don't ruin your future because of this, Joe," the man cautioned.
Jovanka didn't care. She chose to shut her ears. Her career was important, but there was something else more important to her right now.
Evans shook his head. He was losing his mind. Jovanka had truly lost control. And soon, she would lose everything if she intended to continue with her plan.
"Joe, this is my final warning. I don't want you to proceed with your plan. Everything will end badly. You won't gain anything. You'll only lose in the end."
"And once again, tell him that I DON'T CARE!" She snapped at every word. "I don't care what happens next, all I know is I have to get that man back now!"
"Joe, please. Don't act crazy like this," Evans persisted in trying to change Jovanka's mind.
"I'm not crazy! And even if I am, it's all because of you! If only you hadn't offered me that contract back then. I wouldn't have lost Altezza!"
"Now you're blaming me?! Me?! When all I did was show you that contract."
"Have you forgotten that all those decisions were on you?! And if you've forgotten, I reminded you to hold back and not take that contract yet. But what did you say?
"You said working with that director was your dream. And if I need to remind you, I warned you about Altezza. But what did you say then?
"You said Altezza loved you too much and that he would never leave you! And now you're blaming me?!" Evans couldn't accept being blamed like that. His pride as an artist manager was wounded.
Jovanka wailed in front of him, lamenting all her mistakes, regretting all her decisions in the past. She herself was aware that her chances of going back were very slim. Maybe even nonexistent.
It wasn't just unlikely. It was indeed nonexistent.
Nil.
Zero.
But it wasn't Jovanka Lawrence if she didn't fight.
Jovanka looked again at the photos sent by her hired detective. She chuckled cynically at the figure on every page. She had to take action. If Altezza wouldn't come back to her, then he also shouldn't be happy with his chosen woman.
From the beginning, the position as Altezza's wife was hers. Not anyone else's.
Evans chose to step away from the woman. After this contract was over, he really had to leave Jovanka. He didn't want to be destroyed along with her. He had endured enough of all her antics. He was sick of it.
Even though she was his source of income, if he stayed with her any longer, he wasn't sure if he wouldn't go insane himself.
Jovanka searched for a name on her phone and dialed.
Altezza had just finished a meeting with the hotel clients. It was already too late to take Adaline out for lunch. And it was still too early to take his wife home.
Altezza glanced at his phone, intending to switch his silent mode back to normal when his eyes caught a message.
0xxxxxxxxx
Al, I'm sick. The doctor said I'm poisoned. Please help me.
Altezza furrowed his brow. He pressed the sender's number. The third ring was answered.
"Hello, who's this?" Altezza asked without preamble.
"Hello? Altezza Quirino?" An unfamiliar woman's voice responded.
"Yes. Who is this? Who's sick and poisoned?"
"Um. I'm Cindy. Jovanka's assistant. Jovanka is poisoned. The doctor just checked her, and now she's being treated at home."
"If she's sick, why didn't you take her to the hospital?"
"Well, she..." The woman sounded flustered. "Jovanka didn't want to go to the hospital. She said she's afraid. And she doesn't have any family here either. So, there's no one to take care of her. And I can't take care of her.
"Can I ask for your help? Please pity Joe. She doesn't have anyone. She's still living in the house you provided. She asked me to contact you, she said you would help her."
Then the call was abruptly disconnected. Altezza growled, torn between whether to go see Jovanka or not.
Indeed, in his acquaintance with her, the woman really disliked hospitals. If her condition allowed outpatient treatment, then Jovanka would prefer it. And once again, the woman's assistant gave another reason why Altezza should visit Jovanka.
The woman had no family in this city. All her family lived outside the country. Because Jovanka was a wanderer. And honestly, in almost seven years of knowing her and five years of being her husband, Altezza had never known her family. He had never even seen a photo of them.
Strange, isn't it? But that's the fact. The woman had never even gone home, and her family had never been seen visiting. And all this time, Altezza had never felt it was important.
But when it came to Adaline. Even before they knew each other for a week, he already wanted to meet her family.
Altezza roughly tousled his hair. Alright, for humanitarian reasons. And considering their past relationship, he would check on her condition. And afterward, he would ask someone for help to take care of her if needed.
And Altezza didn't realize that the choice he made was the wrong one.