The weekend arrived. With Adaline's pregnancy considered stable and Violet deemed healthy enough, the Altezza family finally decided to spend the weekend together in Kansas. It was also to celebrate the birthday of their daughter, Antony, Flavia.
From Kansas, they continued their journey to a mountainous area that was one of Flavia's desires. They arrived at their destination around nine in the evening, and amazingly, the little girl had already made reservations for all of them.
Four condominiums and two tents were reserved by Flavia and Abigail. The couples were assigned specific accommodations: Delila and Sir Benjamin Quirino, Antony and Claire, Altezza and Adaline, Emma and Violet.
One of the two tents they rented would be used by Abigail and Flavia, and the other by Gian. This naturally made Gian the subject of teasing.
That evening, there was also a bonfire. The atmosphere was lively, with a group of young people seemingly spending their weekend for fun. Adaline felt like a teenager again.
After settling all their belongings in their rooms, Adaline, Altezza, Claire, Antony, Gian, Abigail, and Flavia chose to gather at the bonfire event. They introduced themselves while eating roasted marshmallows.
After feeling quite tired, they decided to return to their respective rooms and sleep.
The next day, after breakfast, they enjoyed the outbound facilities. Abigail, Flavia, Claire, Antony, and Gian chose adrenaline-pumping games. Meanwhile, Altezza, Adaline, and the parents preferred to enjoy safer facilities, considering Adaline's pregnancy and also taking into account the health of the parents.
In the afternoon, they gathered again to rest before starting the evening activities. When the bonfire was lit again, the resort staff suddenly brought a lot of food displayed in the dining area buffet-style. They also brought two young roasted goats to the bonfire area.
It turns out that all of it was Antony's treat for all the lodging tenants as a gesture of gratitude for his daughter's birthday. The event was, of course, greeted with cheers from the guests.
Adaline enjoyed it all with a sense of emotion. Seeing how Antony showed his love for his eldest daughter. She recalled the incident in the office a while back and smiled unconsciously.
"What's wrong, darling? Don't smile to yourself like that. You're scaring me." Altezza whispered, covering Adaline's body with the small blanket he brought.
"Why be afraid of someone smiling?" Adaline turned to her husband.
"I wouldn't be afraid if your smile had a reason. But if you're smiling for no clear reason? That's worrisome." The man uttered, receiving a pinch from Adaline.
"For the pregnant lady. Don't eat too much. This should be enough." Suddenly, Gian handed a plate filled with slices of roasted goat meat and some steamed vegetables as meal companions.
"No need to act so caring. Remember, she's a married woman." Altezza said disapprovingly.
"So just being a husband already makes you proud. Where were you when your wife needed you?" Gian sneered.
"What do you mean by that?" Altezza asked, confused.
Gian glanced at Adaline. "He doesn't know about that incident?" Gian asked Adaline, who furrowed her brow in confusion. "The video at the office that time?" He asked again. This time, Adaline shook her head. "No wonder." Gian scoffed, openly insulting Altezza.
But instead of continuing the conversation and clearing Altezza's confusion, Gian just left his cousin and returned to the crowd of young people.
"Darling, what video is he talking about?" Altezza asked, curious.
"Your wedding video." Antony, who had been there for who knows how long, suddenly answered Altezza's question.
"What's wrong with our wedding video?" Altezza asked again. He truly didn't understand his two cousins who seemed to enjoy talking in riddles.
"Should I tell everything or should you?" Antony glanced at Adaline for approval. But then he continued without waiting for an answer. "Your ex-girlfriend sent a package to Adaline." He said, causing Altezza to widen his eyes in surprise. "It's not a big deal. Just an expensive chocolate gift. But the problem lies in the greeting card she included in the package, which seems to announce to the world that Adaline is pregnant and involved in an illicit relationship with a superior at the office. And those who didn't know about your marriage suddenly judge Adaline as if her pregnancy is a crime because she's having an affair with one of the board members? Well, something like that." Antony answered flatly.
"Regardless of the reason why that woman sent Adaline a gift, I still don't like the way she did it. I don't know your ex-girlfriend very well, and maybe because her behavior has always seemed bad to me, so whatever she does always seems wrong to me." Antony replied again.
"And I think that woman's sweet gesture wasn't without a plan. But actually, there's something I want to know. How could she send you that package? How did you two get to know each other?" Adaline glanced at her big boss and brother-in-law.
"I got to know Jovanka a few months before the incident in the lobby a while ago." She said. "My friend, Joanna, happens to be a model who is in the same agency as Jovanka. And coincidentally, they were involved in the same film project. We were introduced accidentally." Adaline answered truthfully.
"Did you really talk in detail enough for her to send you an expensive gift while you just met?" Adaline bit her lip. It felt right if she voiced her concern.
"To be honest, I'm not too sure myself. At our first meeting, she suddenly talked about her desire to get back to her ex-boyfriend. At that time, I really didn't know that the man she meant was my husband." Adaline glanced at Altezza.
"I don't know if she knew that I am the wife of the man she loves. And even if she knew, I don't know since when she knew it. Because if she did know about our marriage before we met, it means all this time she pretended not to know, just like me pretending not to know that she is my husband's ex-wife." She replied again.
Altezza stared at Adaline with a jumble of emotions.
"Since when?" Altezza wanted to know. "I mean, since when did you suspect that she knew about our relationship?"
Adaline shrugged. "I don't know, it's just my suspicion. I don't want to assume the worst." She answered still emotionless.
Altezza, Adaline, and Antony fell silent. They were all busy with their thoughts.