Forced Mate

Divorced

It has been three weeks since Ayu settled in her parents' house. He plans to move into a new home he bought next month. The matter of his separation with Alex was already discussed with his master's men.

Dwiki was more silent at Ayu's confession. He did not know what to say when he heard the confession of his beloved daughter. Of course at first, he was surprised by the impromptu marriage. However, the man never expected that the princess who was always good at carrying herself could get pregnant outside the ropes of marriage.

Meanwhile, the usually chatty and nagging Arini can only hug Ayu when the woman starts to hiccup. He patted his son's shoulder, baby. Divorce is taboo in their family. However, he does not know what to suggest for Ayu to maintain her marriage.

"Please apologize Well, Mom," beg Ayu lirih in his mother's arms.

Dwiki shook his head three times with a flushed face. He stood up and went straight into his room. Disappointment is piled up inside him. He remembers his last conversation with Alex. Not knowing why, he already considered his son-in-law like his own son, so kind and obedient.

Ayu tells Dwiki that Alex never loved her. They married just to cover up Ayu's pregnancy. The middle-aged man was in disbelief, he could see the sincerity in the eyes of his son-in-law. No wonder he misjudged. With Arya, he was wrong.

In Ayu's sling there's Aeleya. For a week the boy became quieter. In the early weeks of Alex's return to Singapore, the baby was a bit fussy. In the second week, he was a little cheerful. However, after entering the third week, the beautiful baby became quiet. The typical babbling sounds of the baby are gone. Ayu has often checked her child's body temperature, but it is still normal.

The knock on the door of his room turned Ayu's gaze away. He immediately moved and opened the door. Ira was standing there. Ayu smiled and invited her brother-in-law to come in.

"Well, Aleeya is getting bigger," Ira praised. "Be well, son." He stroked Aleeya's head.

"Mother came alone?" asked Ayu who leaned Aleeya's head on her shoulders.

Ira nodded. He was now sitting on the chair beside Aeleya's box. The woman looked at Ayu inside.

"Mother said .. Do you and Alex want a divorce?" Ira hesitated to ask.

Ayu clenched her lips, then replied with a nod. He stroked Aleeya's back which started to move.

"We'll take care of it soon, Ma'am."

Ira was silent for a long time. She once envied her sister-in-law who married a caring man like Alex. He thought Alex was the perfect husband.

"What about Aeleya, Yu?"

"I can raise Aleeya myself, Ma'am."

"I was raised by my own mother, Yu. I'm happy, but sometimes there's still envy in those who have papa" Ira explained. He begins to advise Ayu to rethink her divorce for the sake of Aleeya's future. As a child raised by a single mother, he did not want his beautiful niece to feel the pain of not having a father next to him.

"It's the best decision Alex and I can make. Why do we continue to be together if indeed we have no feelings at all," bela ayu. He was well aware that love is an important right in a marriage. Maintaining a loveless marriage is like a ticking time bomb, one that might explode at any moment. "It's hard for Ayu, Ma'am. But, there is no other choice. Besides, I'm sure Alex will definitely still be diligent in visiting Aeleya. She loves Aleeya."

Yes, Ayu is sure Alex will visit Aeleya. He tried to convince himself, despite the fact that since Alex's departure, the man had never called at all.

***

The atmosphere of the room was gripping for weeks. The smile of the owner of the room was never seen. Not many words came out of Alex. Only occasionally request data and some documents. While attending meetings and meetings with some clients, the man tried to remain professional.

"Tonight, Mr. Boss has an appointment with Ms. Renata." Cleo read out Alex's schedule.

"Who's Renata?" ask Alex who turned his chair towards the big glass with views of the bay and the city crowd.

"I don't know either, Boss. Last night, Mr. Boss said it himself."

Alex turned his chair to face Cleo. He looked hard at his secretary. "So, what am I meeting Renata for! Already, tonight I don't want to be disturbed."

Cleo lowered her head for a while, then turned to head out towards her desk. In fact, Alex himself called him last night that he scheduled a meeting with Renata at seven p.m. The khaki-shirt woman scratched her non-itchy head.

No doubt, there must be a problem with his boss. It must have something to do with Alex's wife and daughter. Yesterday, Cleo came home early. He returned to the office because his phone was left behind. It was then that he accidentally heard Alex cry. The man seemed to smell the frame that was on his handle. The frame that Cleo knew contained pictures of Alex, Ayu, and the beautiful baby Aleeya.

Cleo's forehead lifted as she sat in her chair. Renata's name was no stranger to his head. Like the name he had heard before. He immediately stood up as soon as he remembered the Renata that Alex might have meant.

"Sir Boss, Mr Boss, Mr Boss!" call Cleo half-running as she enters Alex's room.

Alex was holding the frame on his desk. Almost the frame fell if only one hand Alex the other was not able to catch the object.

"Cleo! You can knock first!"

"Sorry, Mr. Boss. I was too excited" Cleo said. "I already know Miss Renata. He's the chairman of the company's legal team, sir. Oh yeah, is Mr Boss a legal matter?"

Alex's mouth was open a little. He forgot that he had made an appointment with Renata to discuss the matter of his divorce with Ayu. For three weeks, he did not contact the woman. Occasionally, he monitors Aleeya's progress from photos posted by Ayu and her family. Sometimes on social media, her mother. It seems, Ayu often brought Aleeya to Marissa's house. Looking at the many pictures of Aleeya being in that mansion. In fact, there are some pictures when Marissa visited Ayu's house.

"Sir Boss, shut up. Is the company having a problem?" Cleo kept asking. At one point, the company was fine, so why would Alex contact the legal team.

***

Alex's car turned into one of the advocacy offices. The place where he will meet with Renata, an advocate who happens to also cooperate with his company. He did not have an acquaintance of lawyers, so he chose to consult with his company's lawyers.

He climbed on the third floor, then entered in one of the rooms after being invited. A woman in a gray trouser and a white shirt with no sleeves greeted Alex kindly.

"Please sit!" The bob-haired woman.

Alex starts to reveal his problem once Renata asks. The lawyer listened carefully. Of course, Alex only revealed a small part. He only tells about the age of marriage, the baby he has, the reason for the lawsuit that Ayu will wither. Not forgetting his desire to divorce.

Renata nodded in understanding hearing Alex's explanation. He drank some warm tea before he started talking. "Well, because your marriage is registered in Singapore. Divorce needs to be settled here as well. In Singapore alone, divorce management is very difficult," explained Renata. He stood up and began to open the door of one of the cabinets. He pulled out a file, then sat back together.

"The divorce rules in Singapore can help you. A marriage of less than three years will not be prosecuted. In addition, the procedure is not original. But, sorry, are there any reasons that might incriminate you in a lawsuit?"

Alex shakes. He asked about things that might incriminate him. If it's about how they got married because of coercion, then it's very burdensome.

"Things that incriminate me mean for example, unreasonable treatment. What is meant here is alcoholism, physical violence, ongoing verbal violence, refusing to contribute to spending, obsessive behavior, homosexuality, severe mental illness, and compulsive gambling."

Alex continued to shake his head along Renata's explanation. He was not a good man, but none of the scoundrels he would do. What kind of man would hurt his own wife. It seems like a lot, and it's definitely not him.

"The second "point is adultery or infidelity. If ...," continued Renata who was immediately cut by Alex, "No, there is no such stupid thing at my wedding. Reason only one, my wife doesn't love me."

Alex doesn't like to admit that. His ego is too high to reveal that a man who has everything like himself cannot make his own wife fall in love. No matter how hard he tried, no reason was found that made Ayu not love him.

"The reason can actually be used. However, given there are children, it will be very difficult," said Renata.

Alex's eyebrows shot up. "So what kind of lawsuit can my wife file?" He felt the need to know, in order to hold Ayu for a long time. Who knows, there's still a chance for them to be together.

"There are still three points for a divorce lawsuit to be granted. Desertion for two years, and absolutely no news of the party leaving. A three-year farewell must be with the consent of both parties. Lastly, a four-year separation, this one doesn't need approval from the defendant."

There was a small smile on Alex's face. It is not wrong that he chose Singapore as a country to register his marriage. Hearing the terms of the divorce, only one that Ayu may take, separation for three years. That's if Alex agrees. Unfortunately, the man will insist on maintaining the marriage. The only option is the last option.

Four years is a long time. In a few months, Alex promises to get Ayu back in his arms.

"Successful in the submission does not guarantee it will be completed quickly. Unless there is a simplification of divorce from the plaintiff and defendant. It's about property and childcare."

"Okay, thank you. I'll have another discussion with my wife."

"Yes, fine. I wish you the best for your home."

Before leaving the room, Alex turned around and asked, "What am I missing until my wife wants to separate?" Alex turns his hands from head down.

Renata who stood still. His eyes were round not expecting the question to be posed by Alex.

"Not to answer! I know you're confused, I'm just confused. Excuse me."

Alex came out of the room. Come to think of it, he had done a lot for Ayu. According to him, there is no reason until the woman does not feel happy living with him. As busy as anything, he always put Ayu and Aleeya as the main thing. He admitted that the night of visiting Tamara's house was his fault. However, he did not know that Aeleya was sick. Ah, it's all because of the one of his lowbat phones. Fortunately, the phone was thrown and destroyed.

***

"Cleo, clear my schedule tomorrow. I'm going back to Jakarta" Alex told me.

Cleo just complied. Alex has a meeting with one of the board of directors. However, Cleo did not dare to go against his superior's orders. His face was filled with a smile like never before. If provoked by his emotions, Cleo was afraid Alex would come back cold like yesterday.

After work, Alex immediately took the fastest flight to return to Jakarta. He couldn't wait to meet Aleeya. For a long time he had not contacted Ayu, somehow the woman was in her present state.

Alex was standing at the door of Ayu's parents. There was a bad taste in his heart that he did not know what it was for. Maybe because he had visited at Ayu's house and there was a board containing advertising sales from one of the property agents. He didn't know what Ayu was selling the house for.

"A-Alex," said Arini with slightly enlarged eyes. "A-yao in!"

Alex according. However, there is something strange about Arini's unusual treatment of her. In the past, every time Alex came to his mother-in-law was always warmly welcomed.

"Well there, Mom?" ask Alex. He felt like he was not Ayu's husband. As a husband, he knew his wife's whereabouts.

"Ju is in his new home, taking care of the new furniture coming," Mother replied looking at Alex with both eyebrows raised as if asking, "You don't know."

"Tummy moved?"

Arini nodded. He said that Ayu chose to live in a nearby house, so that she could visit her parents' house more often.

"Let's tell you about your divorce."

There's a slab that suddenly closes Alex's throat. He was claustrophobic and just silent. His head slightly lowered, not daring to look at Arini.

"Despite the divorce, you are still Mom's favorite daughter-in-law" Arini said.

The cry from within shifted the eyes of the two. They enter Arini's room, where Aleeya has woken up and whines.

"You must know, your father came, Yes, Beautiful," said Arini who had carried Aleeya. The baby twitched, his eyes on Alex. "He's missing it."

Alex nodded. He started to advance to take Aleeya. The longing was so strong that it was like Bakan exploding when Aleeya had been in Alex's arms.

Alex and Aleeya are in the living room. They chatted a lot, as if Alex understood what the baby was saying.

"Yes, Daddy's missing too. Yeah, sorry, Daddy's gonna be here more often."

Aleeya continued to chatter. His feet and hands were swaying in the air.

"What's? You want us to stay together again? Daddy wants to too. Persuade Mommy, yes, dear."

Seeing his daughter's smile and laughter made Alex resolve. He will not let go of Ayu. They are fine and happy, why divorce? If reasoned not to love each other, Alex loves Ayu. He just needs time to ask her to love him.

Alex looked up as the creaking of the door sounded. From that door was Ayu and Dwiki who had just entered. An awkward smile was placed on the faces of the two people.

"Ha-hi!" greet Alex. He himself did not know why there was a guguo when he greeted Ayu. They're husband and wife, and they'll stay that way.

"When's it coming?"

"So," Alex replied, who immediately turned to Aleeya who muttered indistinctly. "Still playing" said Alex. She put her face on Aeleya's distended stomach, played and made her baby laugh cheerfully.

"Oh, you're happy again, huh?" ask Ayu to Aleeya. He was already sitting on the floor, right beside the sofa where Aleeya was laid.

The laughter of the three filled the room, making the two who were peeking at the head bobbles.

"Are they really getting divorced or not? It seems fine, strange," said Arini.

"Yes, I hope not, Mom. Ayu is a lasher. Who knows when it says just emotion."

Arini nodded and pulled her husband in. Isn't it good to interfere in the marriage of your own child. According to Dwiki, Ayu and Alex have grown up, should have known to make wise decisions.

"So, have you seen a lawyer?" ask Ayu.

They're already in Ayu's room. Aleeya had been sleeping since. Alex and Ayu are ready to rest.

"Yes, just a consultation. And, it seems like it would be hard if we were to get a divorce," Alex replied trying to hide a grin.

"Why?"

Alex began to tell about the terms of divorce in Singapore as Renata explained yesterday. He deliberately made a sad voice because he could not obey Ayu's wishes. But in his heart he was excited.

"Are we supposed to get divorced there?"

Alex nodded. "Yes, the rules are like that. Because our marriage is registered there."

They remained silent for quite a while. Drowning in each other's minds. Until, the silence was broken by Ayu.

"Then we don't have to get divorced" Ayu breaks up.

Alex clenched his lips straight away, holding back his furious screams from escaping. This was not his home, besides he did not want Aeleya to wake up.

"At least, until the conditions are met. It's okay, right?" continue Ayu.

"of course. Not getting divorced forever is no problem."

Alex grabs Ayu's hand, clasps for a long time and smiles. Ayu is his wife, and will forever remain that way. He promises to take Ayu and Aleeya to his house again. To hell with the new house Ayu bought, Ayu and Aleeya's only home is her.

***