All Chapters of LOVE BEYOND THE PAIN: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

184 Chapters

31. Grandmother's house

That morning sky was gloomy, but not dark. Like a sky still trying to recover from last night’s rain, carrying the weight of something still damp, yet showing a hint of light at the edge of the horizon. Gian was already standing by the car, his black jacket unzipped, his hair slightly tousled by the morning breeze.Aurelia stepped out of the apartment with slow, uncertain steps. She still had no idea where they were going. But for the first time, she wasn’t afraid.“Are you ready?” Gian asked without looking back, though he had already opened the door for her.Aurelia nodded. “I don’t know where we’re going, but… yes.”The drive began in silence. The streets were still quiet, the city not yet fully awake. But it was that very silence that made everything feel heavier, deeper. A soft classical piece played through the car speakers, blending with the steady hum of the engine.Inside the car, Gian

32. Because of her

Gian froze in panic. The desire that had surged through him just moments ago vanished instantly, pulled back like a wave dragged into the open sea. He bent down at once, eyes widening at the sight of Aurelia grimacing as she clutched her stomach. Her breathing was unsteady.“Aurelia? Hey, what’s wrong?” His voice tightened. He knelt in front of her, touching her cheek that was growing pale.“I’m fine… I just owww…” Aurelia bit down hard on her lip, her face contorting. Cold sweat gathered at her temples.Gian didn’t hesitate. He shot up, grabbed his jacket, and tossed it on.“We’re going to the hospital. Now.”But before he could lift her into his arms, Aurelia caught his wrist.“Gian, wait… I know what this is…” She bowed her head, cheeks turning pink. “It’s my first day of… my period…”Silence fell betw

33. We need to go home

“What do you mean?” Aurelia asked softly.She hadn’t expected their plans to fall apart just like that. The warmth that had filled the room moments ago suddenly dissolved into something cold. Her lips pressed together, but disappointment flickered in her eyes. Gian looked at her briefly, rubbing the back of his neck with a faint sigh.He glanced at his watch, then back at Aurelia, who was still sitting on the sofa. The laughter and comfort from earlier evaporated, leaving behind a silence that felt out of place, uninvited.“We need to head home,” he said quietly, though his tone made it impossible to misunderstand. Firm. “I’m sorry.”Aurelia lifted her head, confusion softening her expression. “What happened?”Gian exhaled before turning fully toward her. “Sorry the moment ended like this. But there’s something important I have to deal with.” He reached into his pocket an

34. Are You Ashamed?

Aurelia pouted at her reflection in the mirror.“What am I supposed to wear? Everything I own looks like I’m heading to the corner shop,” she muttered under her breath. She paced around the bedroom, pulling open drawers one by one, weighing which outfit might look appropriate to accompany Gian despite still having no idea where they were going. One thing was certain: her husband looked unusually serious, as if their destination was anything but casual.“Just wear whatever you have,” Gian said calmly from the doorway. Aurelia shot him an annoyed look but said nothing. In the end, she chose a plain white blouse and a black pencil skirt she used to wear back in college, the only thing that still looked remotely office-appropriate. Simple, but neat. She straightened the collar, sp

35. Don't be childish

Instead of answering the question she had just asked, Gian simply said, “Just a moment.”He put his phone to his ear while Aurelia stood there, frozen. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her chest tight as if something heavy pressed against it. Her body felt weak, yet she remained standing in front of the grand meeting building that suddenly felt cold and unfamiliar.Across from her, Gian was speaking with a neatly dressed woman whose faint smile Aurelia instinctively disliked, though she couldn’t explain why. Nothing about it was suspicious, really but she still felt like an outsider.A few seconds later, Gian turned back and walked toward her.“Let’s go. I’m done,” he said calmly, almost gently, as if nothing needed to be explained.His fingers reached for Aurelia’s hand, guiding her slowly toward the parking area. She followed, though her mind was full of questions. Their footsteps fell out of r

36. We Should Head Home

“What did you say?” Gian asked.Aurelia quickly shook her head. “Nothing. Forget it,” she replied.The car moved slowly through the light drizzle. The city streets were beginning to quiet down as night settled in around them. Inside the cabin, silence hung heavy, broken only by the occasional sweep of the windshield wipers.Aurelia glanced at Gian, who was driving with his usual unreadable expression. The streetlights cast soft reflections along the sharp line of his jaw, but his eyes looked distant.“There were a lot of beautiful women back there,” Aurelia said again, repeating what she had mentioned earlier. Her tone was light, as if it were nothing more than small talk.Gian didn’t answer right away. But the hands gripping the steering wheel seemed to tighten slightly.After a few seconds, he briefly glanced at her. “Are you comparing yourself to them?”Aurelia blinked, her heart suddenly tightening.“No…” she replied quietly. “I was just… curious.”Gian turned his eyes back to the

37. Stalker

Their footsteps echoed softly through the quiet apartment hallway. Gian and Aurelia walked side by side, wrapped in a silence that was no longer awkward, though it hadn’t quite become comfortable either, like two strangers slowly learning the rhythm of each other’s hearts.Gian unlocked the door. The moment it opened, the soft scent of lavender, the room fragrance Aurelia always used, welcomed them inside. But tonight, something else lingered in the air. A familiar smell, like the expensive perfume someone used to wear… someone from Gian’s past.Aurelia and Gian exchanged a quick glance. They both felt it, something wasn’t right.As they stepped inside, a faint rustling sound came from the kitchen. Instantly, their footsteps stopped at the same time.From behind the divider, a figure appeared, someone who made Aurelia freeze and Gian blink in shock.“Mrs. Lestari…?” Aurelia’s voi

38. The Cool Mother

“All right then. Please have a seat, Mrs. Lestari. I’ll make you some hot tea,” Aurelia offered as she walked toward the small kitchen.Mrs. Lestari gave a small nod and sat down on the sofa. Her eyes wandered around the room. The apartment was small and far from luxurious, but it felt warm and lived-in. There was the scent of liquid soap in the air, a hint of flowers from the diffuser, and small photographs hanging on the walls. Something about it made her feel both unfamiliar and… strangely intrigued.When Aurelia returned carrying a tray with two cups of tea, she handed one to her mother-in-law and the other to Gian, who was now sitting across from them.“Thank you,” Mrs. Lestari murmured. She touched the warm surface of the cup, as if trying to find comfort in the rising steam.There wasn’t much conversation that night. Gian remained mostly silent, and his mother looked awkward, occasionally adjusting her han

39. Please don’t let it be him

The morning sky was still gray when Gian ended the call. His tone sounded casual enough, but Aurelia immediately noticed the subtle shift in her husband’s expression.“His name’s Nathan,” Gian said as he pulled out his chair. “We worked on a project together a few months ago. Looks like we’ll be collaborating again next week.”Aurelia froze.“Nathan who?” she asked quickly, trying to keep her voice light.Gian opened his laptop. “Nathan Alfarizi. Studied overseas. He runs a creative strategy agency that’s currently partnering with my family’s company. We’re meeting to discuss digital marketing for our export expansion.”For a moment, the world seemed to stop.Aurelia’s heart began pounding unevenly.Nathan Alfarizi. The name that had once made her smile without fail or break into tears. They had been together for almost two years. But after her f

40. Marrying an Older Man

Aurelia lowered her head in silence. Nathan’s words still hung in the air, slicing through her like a cold wind against the back of her neck. Her body felt numb. Her voice was trapped in her throat.There was no way she could say it.I married Gian, the man you know, the man who is now your business partner.That would be a disaster.“What are you doing here?” Aurelia asked, trying to change the subject. Her voice sounded flatter now.Nathan wiped his face briefly before answering. “Meeting an old friend. He’s a guest lecturer at the Faculty of Economics. So… I dropped by.”Aurelia nodded, forcing a thin, fragile smile. “Sorry, I have to go. My next class is about to start.”Nathan looked like he wanted to say something more, but Aurelia had already turned away. Her hands were cold. Her chest felt tight. She didn’t dare look back.Aurelia opened the apartment

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