On the first day of Adaline's treatment, her room was so crowded. Emma, Violet, and Delila faithfully waited for her. But when quitting time arrived, Gian, Antony, Claire, Sir Benjamin, Duncan, and Tessa came to visit. Even Joanna, who had just returned from abroad, truly came bearing so many milk pies and pastries as Adaline had requested earlier.
"Finish them all. Not a single one should be left," she said, placing her package on Adaline's lap.
Tessa protested loudly because Joanna didn't give her any souvenirs. So Joanna opened a package and gave Tessa one piece of milk pie.
"Just one, I don't want to see your saliva dripping," she said mockingly. "That's why ask your lover to buy you souvenirs. Aren't you ashamed to ask for souvenirs when your lover is very rich?" Joanna taunted Duncan. Duncan frowned, but the others laughed.
They even had dinner in Adaline's room, although the nurse repeatedly reprimanded them for being too noisy. But what can you do? The atmosphere can't be calm when Tessa and Joanna are around. Especially this time, Gian tried hard to woo Joanna.
By eight o'clock, everyone chose to disperse. Except Joanna and Tessa. They insisted on accompanying Adaline and said they wanted to reminisce.
"Adaline, are you okay?" Tessa started the conversation. Adaline, still sitting, looked at her friend.
"If you're asking if I'm okay, the answer is no. I'm not okay. But if you're asking if I'm strong, I'll answer, yes. I'm strong," Adaline replied. Unconsciously, tears welled up in her eyes again.
"Adaline," they both said simultaneously. They climbed onto the bed. Tessa on Adaline's side and Joanna near her feet.
"You don't need to pity me. From the beginning, I already predicted all of this would happen. It's my fault for falling in love with the wrong person," she whispered.
"There's nothing wrong, Ada. Everyone has the right to fall in love. And heartbreak is one of the risks we must endure," Tessa replied wisely, and Adaline nodded.
"Not all love stories end happily. Although I always pray for us to end with a happy story," Joanna replied. Once again, Adaline nodded.
"Maybe it's just not the right time for her. And this is not over yet. You can still fight," Tessa tried to make her optimistic.
Adaline smiled. "I haven't admitted defeat yet. Not until these babies are born.
"Didn't I already say it to you, and to that woman?" Adaline felt unable to say her name.
Tessa and Joanna now looked at her puzzled.
"I love him. I fell for him. And right now, I am letting him accompany that woman. But I haven't given up.
"There's still time until these babies are born.
"I'm still asking the Heart Owner to turn my husband's heart back to me.
"But if by the time these babies are born and he still hasn't made his choice. That's when I'll give up," Adaline exclaimed with enthusiasm.
Her two friends smiled. Each tightly grasped Adaline's hand. Adaline returned the smile and tightly grasped her friends' hands in return.
Adaline did cry and feel down. Feeling unworthy of Altezza. Feeling her love wasn't deserving of Altezza. But her mother-in-law's words made her change her mindset again.
Flashback On
After crying her heart out, Adaline finally fell asleep again. Then when she woke up, she saw her mother-in-law sitting next to her bed with a book in her hand.
Her mother and aunt were going downstairs for their monthly checkup, making Adaline feel guilty for forgetting her mother-in-law's health.
"Thirsty?" her mother-in-law asked. Adaline nodded. Mrs. Delila handed her a bottle of mineral water with a straw attached. After quenching her thirst, Adaline lay back down.
"I'm sorry," her mother-in-law said softly. Her hand gently stroked Adaline's head. "You know I love you, right?"
Adaline had heard it many times before. And she had nodded many times as well.
"I have failed once again to fulfill my promise. But this time, I swear, this will be my last failure. After this, I assure you he will never leave you.
"he just needs a strong push to realize. And this time, you need to help me. Will you?"
"Mamma?"
"Don't you love Altezza?" the woman asked sadly.
"I love Altezza. I cherish him," Adaline replied sincerely. Her mother-in-law's face instantly lit up.
"And Altezza loves you too. he's aware of that. But he hasn't fully realized it and hasn't been able to express it.
"So please, don't give up on him. I want my child to be happy. And Altezza's happiness is you and your children," she said, rubbing Adaline's belly.
"Give him time. Until you give birth. If by then he still denies his feelings, I will leave all decisions to you. But until that time comes, you must follow everything I say. Agreed?"
Adaline looked at her mother-in-law puzzled. "I've said this to your mother, and she said she would follow whatever decision you make." Adaline just nodded in agreement. She would follow the path her mother-in-law gave her as long as it could make her attain Altezza's love. Perhaps this is the path that God has given her.
Flashback off.
Tessa and Joanna exchanged glances before turning their attention to Adaline. "Are you sure?" they asked. Adaline simply nodded.
"Just pray. Hopefully what Mamam said is true. And hopefully everything ends happily." Tessa and Joanna smiled and nodded, giving her their wholehearted support.
The next day, after a visit from the doctor, Adaline was declared fit to go home. With the condition that she shouldn't tire herself out, shouldn't stress, and shouldn't neglect her nutrition and vitamin intake. Both her mother and mother-in-law, along with her aunt, nodded in agreement with the doctor's advice.
They went home with the chauffeur. Initially, Adaline wanted to visit Jovanka, but she changed her mind because she was afraid of feeling jealous.
During midday after her return, Altezza also came home. Her face looked weary. She appeared visibly tired even though Adaline didn't know why. She smiled gently at Altezza, and Altezza, in turn, opened her arms, asking Adaline to step into her embrace.
"How are you?" Adaline asked.
"Fine," Adaline replied. "And you?"
"Fine," she responded wearily.
"You look pale and tired. Is everything alright?" Altezza smiled thinly.
"If she always gets hysterical every time she sees me leaving, you consider that alright, then maybe I'm alright."
Adaline felt sorry for her husband. She tilted her head up and cupped his face, stroking the area under his eyes with her thumbs.
"Anyway, you need to take care of yourself. Don't forget to eat. Don't forget to pray for everything to end soon," Adaline said with a soft smile on her face.
Altezza held both of Adaline's wrists and nodded. Adaline smiled at her husband's compliance. Therefore, she tiptoed and kissed her husband's lips.
Altezza was surprised by her wife's impulsive action. She returned the embrace and hugged her, despite being hindered by her wife's growing belly. She lowered her head and kissed her wife back with longing until they both gasped for breath.
Afterward, they chuckled softly. Altezza gently pulled her wife. They sat on the bed, and Altezza positioned her wife on her lap sideways. Adaline hugged her husband's neck and rested her head on his broad shoulder while Altezza gently rubbed her wife's belly.
"My good children. Take care of your mother if I'm not around. Don't make your mother sick. I'm sorry if I rarely spend time with you. Rarely accompany your mama too.
"But I promise, after all of this is over, I will always be there for you," she pledged firmly.
Adaline was touched by her husband's words. She hugged her husband tighter as if not wanting to let go. She deeply breathed in her husband's scent and tried to remember it. Right now, Adaline missed him so much.
"Do you have to leave again?" she asked, releasing their embrace.
"I told her I have to work. So I still have time until the end of the workday."
Adaline nodded. "I'm sleepy. Would you like to nap with me?"
Altezza, who indeed felt tired, nodded. Adaline stood up and climbed onto the bed. Altezza followed her. Adaline turned her back to Altezza, asking him to hug her and their two babies at the same time. The man gladly obliged.
Altezza made his left hand a pillow for Adaline, while his right hand gently rubbed Adaline's belly in circular motions. He felt a faint movement and was surprised by it.
"Did our baby just kick?" he asked, startled.
Adaline nodded. "Does it hurt?"
"Not at all. It's actually pleasant."
"Oh God, how amazing."
Altezza got up from his resting place. He lifted Adaline's top without permission and kissed her warm, bulging belly.
"Hello, my darlings. Don't misbehave in Mama's belly, okay? I love you both." And Altezza felt another kick right where he placed his hand. "Are they responding to me?" Adaline smiled and nodded.
"They can already hear. That's what the doctor said," Adaline replied, leaving Altezza amazed.
He looked at his wife with a sense of guilt. He had been neglectful as a husband and a prospective father. He didn't even know the development of his own child. Oh God, forgive your servant, he prayed silently. I promise to try to be a better husband and father.
Altezza lay back down and pulled his wife into his embrace again. This time, they lay facing each other. "Thank you for being patient," he said, kissing Adaline's forehead. "And thank you for carrying our sons and daughters. I only ask that you be a little more patient and willing to wait for me."
Adaline didn't give any response. She preferred to close her eyes and enjoy the warmth of her husband's embrace.