Axell watched Zahra as she walked back to their room, struggling to stay awake. He smiled at his wife."Goodnight, Zahra," Axell said softly.Axell finished his now-cold coffee, smoked another cigarette, then went to the bedroom and tried to sleep again.Zahra was already sound asleep, hugging her bolster."Forgive me, Zahra," Axell said, looking at his wife's serene face.He gently kissed Zahra's forehead for a long time.Axell lay down beside his wife, hugging her until he fell asleep.In the morning, Axell woke up to find Zahra was not beside him. She had probably gone to the kitchen to help Mrs. Rasi prepare breakfast after her dawn prayer, even though Mrs. Inah and Mrs. Sri were also helping.Despite being told not to help multiple times, Zahra insisted on helping, as she was used to waking up early and doing household chores.Axell checked his phone and saw a message from Emily."I miss you too, Axell," the message from Emily read.Axell immediately deleted the message and did n
"What time will they be back?" Axell asked Zahra. "They said they were on their way," Zahra replied. "Okay," Axell answered briefly and sat on the sofa, playing with his phone. Zahra, who was putting on her hijab and niqab, glanced at Axell who was smiling at his phone. Curiosity stirred in her heart, but she chose to remain silent and never pried into Axell's phone. Zahra was too afraid of the truth, scared of finding something hurtful. It's not that she was suspicious, but she knew who her husband was. There must be many women offering themselves to him, even if Axell didn't respond, it would still hurt to see him being flirted with by others. "Honey, let's go downstairs," Zahra said, now fully dressed in her hijab and niqab. "Are you ready?" Axell asked. "Yes, let's go down and wait for Tama while watching TV," Zahra invited, pulling Axell's hand. "Let's go," Axell responded. They descended the stairs and found Mrs. Ania and Mrs. Celline watching television while en
"Can you play chess, Mr. Axell?" Yuda asked. "No, I can't play chess. When I was a kid, there was no time for that. I could only play when the basket of fried snacks was empty," Axell chuckled, reminiscing about his childhood full of struggles. "Mr. Axell likes to be humble," Yuda replied again. "I'm not lying. I grew up in an orphanage, and our orphanage didn't have regular donors. Only occasionally did someone donate, and we were grateful for it. For daily needs, the caretaker sold things in front of the orphanage, and we older kids would sell around the village," Axell explained. "Hard work never betrays the results, Sir. Now, you've become a successful person," Yuda added. "The wheel always turns, Yud," Axell said, taking a drag of his cigarette. Jojo and Yuda nodded. Meanwhile, the fierce chess battle between Rido and Rigo was still ongoing without a clear winner. "Earlier, young master Tama cried, wanting to take Ms. Emily to the mall," Jojo said. "Didn't Emily t
Ding.Notification of a message popped up on Axell's phone that he was holding."I've arrived home," the message from Emily read."Is Jojo acting weird or rude?" Axell replied."No, he's unusually quiet. All the way home without a sound, not even music," Emily replied with three laughing emojis."Good," Axell responded."Why?" Emily replied again."I'm jealous," Axell answered, ending the conversation and closing the previous message tab after deleting Emily's messages from his phone, then he sighed in relief.Zahra only observed her husband's strange behavior silently."Do not let me have bad thoughts, Allah," Zahra thought to herself.Zahra sat beside Axell, glancing at the phone in Axell's hand, but Axell promptly put the phone in his pocket and tightly hugged Zahra's shoulders."Darling, haven't you taken a shower?" Zahra asked as she moved away from Axell."I have," Axell replied shortly."The shirt smells. Change your clothes, dear," Zahra said.Axell was surprised but complied,
Mrs. Ania ran to call one of the guards to prepare the car, Axell carried Zahra out. Meanwhile, Mrs. Celline, who was initially indifferent and annoyed with Zahra, became panicked seeing Zahra completely powerless."Mom, what's wrong?" Tama and Rikel asked as they came out of their playroom hearing the commotion outside."Mom is sick, Tama and Ikel, stay here with the maid, okay?" Mrs. Sri persuaded."I want to go with dad," they shouted when they saw Axell, Mrs. Ania, and Mrs. Celline getting into the car heading to the nearest hospital. Jojo hadn't had a chance to turn off his car from dropping Emily off and immediately hit the gas to the nearest hospital."Zahra," Axell called, holding Zahra's pale cheek.Mrs. Ania appeared to apply eucalyptus oil on Zahra's neck and nose, but Zahra still showed no signs of waking up."Hurry up, Jo, turn on the hazard lights," Mrs. Celline, who sat next to Jojo in the front passenger seat, said."Yes, ma'am," Jojo replied and turned on the hazard l
"Darling, does that mean I'm pregnant?" Zahra asked with sparkling eyes.Axell only nodded and smiled softly at his wife."Ya Allah, Alhamdulillah," Zahra said as she hugged Axell tightly."Congratulations, my love," said Axell, kissing his wife's forehead.The couple embraced tightly, while Mrs. Celline just watched without intending to interrupt and chose to lie down on the sofa instead. Tonight she would stay overnight at the hospital."Take care of the pregnancy, don't get too tired, and one more thing, don't overthink," said Axell, framing his wife's face with both hands."Uh-huh," Zahra only nodded and rubbed her still-flat stomach."Zahra has to inform father and mother," said Zahra happily."Tomorrow, if you tell them tonight, they will insist on coming here. Tomorrow, Rido will pick them up," said Axell, and Zahra agreed with a nod.Axell hugged his wife again, and Zahra rested her head on Axell's broad chest."Thank you, my love," said Axell."For what?" Zahra asked, looking
"Do you want to eat something else?" Axell offered to Zahra, who looked weak after throwing up everything in her stomach.Zahra just shook her head."How about some fruit Zahranad?" Axell asked again."No, Axell," Zahra answered weakly.Axell was confused about how to help his wife and felt sorry seeing her so weak. He gently Axellsaged Zahra's shoulders."Ya Allah, hang in there, my love," Axell said, hugging Zahra tightly.Zahra just nodded weakly.A nurse brought breakfast for the patient."Let me feed you," Axell said softly.Zahra nodded obediently.Axell fed Zahra patiently while Mrs. Celline and Mrs. Ania were at the hospital canteen looking for breakfast.Axell hadn't finished feeding Zahra when she felt nauseous again and vomited."Please eat, our baby. Poor mommy is getting so weak," Axell said, stroking his wife's stomach."Drink some tea," Axell urged, and Zahra nodded in agreement."Do you want to eat more?" Axell asked, as Zahra's plate was still mostly full."No, Axell,
"Mommy?" Zahra called out as she opened her eyes, unable to believe her mother was already beside her.Zahra rubbed her eyes to make sure it was her mother, then immediately hugged her tightly."Congratulations, dear, finally I'm going to have another grandchild," said Mommy Melati while kissing Zahra's cheeks."I keep throwing up, Mommy," whined Zahra."Be patient, dear, that's the joy of becoming a mother," her mother said."Do you want me to feed you?" her mother coaxed."Yes," Zahra nodded."Axell, is this food for Zahra?" Mommy asked Axell."Yes, or should I get something new?" Axell asked."No, this is fine, I think," Mommy replied, and Axell nodded.Axell was busy with his phone."Hello Hardi, how are you?" Axell finally answered Hardi's call."I'm good, Mr. Axell," Hardi replied with a chuckle."What brings you to call me, Mr. Hardi?" Axell asked, glancing at the time as he had a meeting soon."Hmmmm... It's about your report for Hernadi," Hardi's voice was interrupted."What