Menantu Pahlawan Negara by Sarjana

Chapter 4

Aurelia arrived early at the Civil Affairs Bureau, finishing her bread just as Linda unexpectedly showed up.

“Ms. Linda, what brings you here?” Aurelia inquired.

Linda smiled as she spoke, “I couldn’t bear to miss such a significant

With that, she reached into her bag and handed Aurelia a carefully wrapped gift, emphasizing the importance of the occasion.

“Aurelia, going forward, Leslie will lean on you quite a bit. Consider this a small gesture of a mother–in–law’s affection,” Linda conveyed, her eyes radiating warmth.

Perplexed, Aurelia opened the gift to find a five hundred–thousand–dollar cheque.

She looked at Linda with disbelief, saying, “This is too much. That’s not necessary.”

Linda stopped Aurelia from returning the check. She smiled and said, “It’s not too much. You deserve it.”

“Me… Deserving?”

Aurelia widened her eyes. Lately, she had been bombarded with words like, “You’re about to be an orphan, who would want you? Who would still like you? Who would protect you?”

Her boyfriend of three years betrayed her, and even the caregiver bullied her.

She had thought she was about to be abandoned by the world, but at this moment, she felt a long–lost warmth.

Aurelia, who had been holding back for a long time, teared up.

There were too many words in her mind, but she didn’t know where to start.

“Ms. Linda, thank you.”

“Silly child, I know you’re going through a tough time. I understand you may be reluctant to ask me for help. Soon, we’ll be a family, and you don’t have to pretend to be tough in front of me. Accept it with peace of mind,” Linda said, gently patting Aurelia’s head.

Aurelia felt a warm sensation in her chest.

No matter how much they gave, those who truly loved you never seemed enough, while those who didn’t love you felt like they took too much.

Such an example was the Martinez family.

Unwilling to give and wanting even more from her.

As Linda spoke, she suddenly leaned closer to Aurelia’s face.

“You’re getting married today, and you’re not wearing makeup?” she asked.

Aurelia shook her head and asked, “Isn’t makeup not allowed for ID photos?”

Linda chuckled heartily, “Why are you such an honest child? Something as important as a lifetime commitment can’t be taken so casually. Luckily, I brought some makeup. I’ll give you

a makeup look that enhances your natural beauty.”

Upon hearing this, Aurelia couldn’t suppress a wry smile. Linda was familiar with the concept of pseudo–natural makeup

Before Aurelia could refuse, Linda’s foundation had already been applied to her face. She had no choice but to let Linda do her makeup.

A few minutes later, Linda looked at Aurelia with satisfaction.

“Aurelia, you’re naturally beautiful. Why don’t you dress up more often?”

“Ms. Linda, you don’t have to comfort me.”

thought of Linda’s words as

beautiful, at least not in her

her on

in applying makeup. As her workload increased, she gradually abandoned the practice, at most opting for a touch of lipstick for a hint

about to speak when a

the figure stepping out of

It was Leslie.

vibe, dressed in a black shirt and trousers with a

ascended the steps, a gentle breeze tousled his smooth hair, and his deep, handsome features gleamed

staring for too long as Leslie turned his head

lowered her head and nervously tugged at

Aurelia’s face, showing no sign of

same

unusually fair, with only a few

the sunlight, presenting a delicate allure that

day.

the sight of the fifty–thousand check in Aurelia’s hand, and his expression

she was asking

Linda and approached

to get

straight into the hall.

a meeting. Hurry

truly harbored no favorable feelings toward her. Even his casual

saying anything for Linda’s sake and followed Leslie

The

married that day

taking photos, the entire process took

marriage certificate and looked at

blank before she could believe

acknowledged that Leslie appeared exceptionally

expected the civil affairs bureau’s camera to capture her

admire

a beautiful couple. My judgment is

her bag and handed

is the key to Leslie’s apartment. Move in today, cultivate

feeling too embarrassed to look

calling me ‘Miss‘? Call me Mom,”

tease me like

Aurelia felt awkward.

kind of mother–in–law who pressures her daughter–in- law to have two kids in three years. But since you’re already married,

at Aurelia earnestly, almost pleading for

Linda’s kindness to her, Aurelia couldn’t

had the marriage certificate now, and legally

take the money without

was thinking about taking things one step at a

I’ll move

she felt a cold and piercing gaze and turned to look

She looked back.

What’s he looking at?

second thoughts about Aurelia moving in and planning to discuss

raised an eyebrow in mild

She indeed had quite the audacity. Was she so eager to move into

moving in so eagerly?” Leslie

said

caught

company collapse without

Leslie nodded indifferently. “Yes.”