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46. Bathing Together
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2026-05-05 08:21:15Warm steam filled the bathroom. A thin layer of fog began forming on the large mirror above the sink. Morning sunlight filtered through the slatted window, casting soft reflections that shimmered across the white marble walls.
Gian adjusted the faucet, making sure the water was warm enough. As the sound of running water filled the room, he glanced over at Aurelia, who stood hesitantly by the doorway. Her body was still wrapped in a thin towel. Her hair was messy, and her cheeks were fl
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LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 194. Does Aurelia Know?
That afternoon, the Jakarta sky glowed with shades of gold and amber. The fading sunlight filtered between the city's towering skyscrapers, reflecting softly against the glass windows. The spacious venue where the Mahesa Group Foundation charity gala would be held was still buzzing with activity. Workers moved back and forth assembling portable stages, securing the overhead lighting rigs, and testing the sound system, which crackled before cutting out again. The gala was still a week away, but every detail had to be perfect.Amid the organized chaos, Gian stood with quiet authority. His suit was immaculate, though his shirt sleeves were rolled up. One hand held the event layout while his sharp eyes examined every detail. A slight furrow creased his brow, not just from the demanding schedule but from the enormous pressure to ensure the foundation's prestigious charity gala was flawless.From the opposite side of the hall, Devina walked toward him.Her hair was tied back in a simple pon
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 193. Devina's Honest Answer
The question lingered in the air, colliding with the silence that filled the room.Devina froze. Her eyes widened in disbelief, as though she couldn't quite process what she'd just heard.Outside, the restaurant bustled with life. The clink of glasses, cheerful conversations, and the soft melodies of the live acoustic band blended into the familiar hum that usually soothed the atmosphere. But inside the private dining room, time seemed to stand still. The sounds beyond the door became nothing more than distant echoes, too faint to penetrate the heavy tension hanging between them.The air suddenly felt thin.Devina's fingers, which had been tidying the handbag on her lap, went still. Gian's question echoed inside her mind over and over, pounding against her heart."G-Gian... what do you mean?" she whispered, her voice trembling so faintly it was almost inaudible.Gian leaned forward, his gaze fixed on her with unwavering intensity. He didn't
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 192. Do You Still Love Me?
The room was swallowed by darkness.Only the dim glow from Aurelia's laptop remained, casting a faint light across her face. The ticking wall clock sounded louder than ever, emphasizing the silence that settled over the office after the power went out."Bas?" Aurelia called softly, a hint of panic creeping into her voice."Relax," Baskara replied immediately. His voice was calm and reassuring. "It's probably just a temporary outage. I'll check."He started to get up but stopped himself. In complete darkness, searching for the door or a light switch would only increase the risk of someone getting hurt.Aurelia shifted in her seat, reaching for her phone to turn on the flashlight. Instead, her foot caught the extension cord beneath the desk."Oh my..."She lurched forward.Without thinking, Baskara grabbed her by the shoulder."Lia!"She nearly crashed into the desk, but his strong arm caught her just in time. In th
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 191. When His In-Laws Came to Gian's Office
The atmosphere inside Gian's office in Jakarta was thick with tension.Even the rich aroma of freshly brewed black coffee, brought in moments earlier by his assistant, couldn't cool the oppressive heat filling the room.Gian sat behind his desk, his jaw clenched. His fingers tapped repeatedly against the polished mahogany surface, a clear sign that his patience was hanging by a thread."Wasn't it enough that you took advantage of Devina?" His voice trembled with barely restrained anger. "You made her work herself to the bone when she was young, supporting the family when she should've been enjoying her youth. And now you're back, using Aurelia's parents as an excuse to guilt me into helping you. So this is your latest scheme?"The middle-aged couple sitting across from him slowly shook their heads.Their weary expressions looked carefully rehearsed, as though they were truly struggling to survive.But Gian knew better.Beneath those worn appearances lay a far greater ambition.They wa
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 190. Don't Undervalue Yourself
Morning arrived in Melbourne with soft sunlight filtering through the thin curtains of Aurelia's dorm room. Still wrapped in her cardigan, her long hair was slightly messy after falling asleep on the couch the night before with a list of vocabulary words she had never managed to finish memorizing.Her laptop vibrated quietly on the small desk.A new email.She hurried over, her heart immediately racing.IELTS Results Available.Her hands trembled as her breathing quickened. For days she had been consumed by anxiety, convinced her final preparations hadn't been enough.Slowly, she clicked the link.Her eyes widened.Overall Band Score: 8.5Her mouth fell open, but no sound came out."Oh my God..." she whispered.She covered her face with both hands, caught somewhere between bursting into excited screams and crying with relief.Every hour she'd spent practicing speakin
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 189. Don't Overthink It
"Bas... I'm so nervous," Aurelia murmured, pulling her jacket tighter around herself. They stood outside the IELTS testing center, where the crisp Melbourne morning air stung her ears.Baskara glanced at her, his expression as calm as ever."You've studied. You're ready, Lia. Don't overthink it."Aurelia let out a small huff, her eyes drifting toward the building's sign."What if my mind goes blank? The speaking section is terrifying, you know.""If you can argue with me about a project," Baskara replied evenly, "you can handle an interviewer."There was something in his eyes that didn't match his matter-of-fact tone. A quiet confidence that was strangely reassuring.Aurelia puffed out her cheeks, half annoyed, half amused."That wasn't arguing. I was learning, Bas."He raised an eyebrow."Learning or building mental resilience, it's the same thing. Think of today as more practice."They crossed the sidewal
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 29. Embarrashing
“Mom’s downstairs.”Gian said it flatly, but the impact hit Aurelia’s chest like a sledgehammer. She stared at her husband, panic flickering across her face as her trembling hand tightened around the edge of the kitchen counter.“Right now?” she w
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 28. Viral
“Liar.”“I’m serious. I really do have something to do here,” Gian said casually, gently squeezing the empty milk carton before tossing it into the plastic bag on the dashboard.Aurelia turned her head. “What kind of ‘something’? Don&r
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 26. Sugar baby
“You’re still asking me that after everything I did to you?”Gian’s voice cracked like a whip. His gaze was sharp, and the crooked smile on his face looked flat, almost painful. He stared at Aurelia with an expression she couldn’t read: disappointment, exhaustio
LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN 25. Older Man
“Don, seriously?! You’re just letting it happen? Lia’s gonna get snatched by that old guy!!”The voice came from one of Aurelia’s friends, still laughing as she hugged her soda bottle while staring toward the darker corner of the dance floor where Aurelia was
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