Substitute Mother

Chaptre 105. Tell Me It’s Real

Judith's body stiffened as the door of her room was knocked. He knows who the knocker is. There was no way Aera because the little girl had already slept for about two hours ago. While there is no one in this house but her, Aera and Jeanno. Unless Jeanno's house is haunted. To be honest in a situation like this, Judith prefers her bedroom door to be knocked by a ghost rather than…

“Judith, can I come in?”

Spending a lot of time crying caused Judith to have trouble hiding the patch on her face. Set on a roof with Jeanno, Judith realizes she will never be able to avoid the handsome man forever. After all, the bad good he had to face, right?

After sighing a few times, Judith grabbed the door knob. Jeanno stood there, even after giving him a new wound, Judith was still fascinated by Jeanno's good looks. The man stood up, with an expression he could not see.

“Come in, tuan”

Judith shifted her body, letting the sturdy figure into her room. Of all the nights they spent together, only this time Judith felt discomfort. And it looks like it was captured well by Jeanno. The young man twisted his body after being in the middle of Judith's room.

“I.. would like to apologize for last night's incident. My message seems very rude and disrespectful, even though you only carry out your duties as a surrogate mother of”

Inevitably Judith was touched by Jeanno's apology. Especially when the man's look expresses guilt for his actions. “It's okay, sir. I understand”

“I respect Nayara as the woman I love forever. But it seems like my ego has gone too far to limit everything related to Nayara. Even forbid you to enter my room”

“I don't know what I did hurt you or not, although I'm sure the answer is yes, I hurt you” Jeanno is not stupid, he can see a patch on Judith's face caused by crying marks. That's what Jeanno saw after he slammed Judith's phone a few months ago.

“I came here to give you a small gift, as an apology as well as a form of appreciation because you have done your job well”

Judith looked at Jeanno's hand outstretched at her. A small paperbag he couldn't guess what it was.

“Thanks, tuan”

Surprised, is the right feeling when knowing the contents of the paperbag. A maroon colored box with a familiar jewelry store name engraving. Once opened, a strand of necklace that cantk not play is there.

“T-lord. This...really for me? Is this not excessive?”

Jeanno. “So when I stopped by the store to pick up Mark's order, I saw the necklace. Imagine plugged in your neck, must be very beautiful. You deserve Judith, for everything you gave me and Aera. You deserve it”

Jeanno grabbed the necklace, turned Judith's body to face the mirror, and helped put it around her neck. Once perched there, Jeanno smiled with satisfaction.

“Cantik”

Once again, Judith will never, and will never hate Jeanno.

**

“I can't take it”

Nayara returns a box engraved with the name of a famous jewelry store. “I can't take any more gifts from you, Jean. This. overdoes for me”*

Jeanno. “I bought it because I felt you deserved it. I love you baby, I want the best for you”*

“So you rate diamonds as the best for me?” ask Nayara, skeptics. “Can you not judge me by the luxury items you bought, Jean?”*

“Nana, I didn't mean to patronize you”*

Nayara smiled, grabbing Jeanno's hand. “I don't need all the luxury you give me, Jeanno. I just need you to stay by my side no matter what. It's not that I don't appreciate you wanting to please me by giving me a gift. It's just, I'm not used to things like that. Having you is a new thing to me, our differences are so striking that it feels like I am always surprised every day”*

“Except..”*

“Except?”*

The smile turned soft. “Unless you're embarrassed to have a simple lover like me. I'm so different from your glamorous ex-lovers. But I have nothing I can offer you but this love. So please, Jeanno. Don't destroy me”*

“I don't understand where that thought came from. But I don't want to have you at all, baby. I will never be ashamed to show you, to show our relationship in front of others. As I often say, I accept you for who you are. I love you for who you are. This is also new to me, having you whom I love with all my heart”*

Jeanno followed Nayara's view. The tiny fingers were tightly held. “Then let us write our own end story”*

“I'll introduce you to my parents, Nayara”*

**

There is a golden anniversary invitation by the couple Jagad and his wife. The owner of Jagad Raya Corp., which is involved in broadcasting, invited the press, famous actresses and actors, business partners and other important figures. Jeanno was one of the people in the invitation.

“Should I come, sir? I mean.. last we went to an event like that, ended up with a bad” Judith biting her nervous lips, considering her encounter with Arman that scared her half to death.

“Do not worry. Mr. Jagad did not invite Arman”

“How can you know?”

Jeanno grabbed her tux, wearing it with a very elegant gesture in Judith's eyes. “Master Jagad once clashed with Mr. Robert, letting the cold war happen for years. It's been a long time they haven't talked to each other”

Judith nodded in understanding, a little relieved that she would not see Arman on the show. Jeanno turned around, looking at Judith who was still sculpting. “Prepare, regarding clothes, we will stop by my friend's boutique. She's already prepared your clothes”

There was a pleasure in itself when Jeanno took Judith to a formal event. Because he could see how beautiful the woman was in an elegant dress. Everyday as Nayara, Judith wore simple clothes that of course combined with simple makeup as well. But in a formal way, Judith is transformed into a Cinderella. Beautiful, elegant, classy. All mixed into one, very beautiful.

Like tonight, a light blue long dress wrapped around her slender body, plus a necklace accent that completes Judith's appearance. Jeanno almost applauded in admiration.

“Wow”

“Looks like you're going to grab people's attention from me, like last time on Iris Group”

Judith blushed, saying nothing but to welcome Jeanno's hand. Being within reach of the man made Judith feel protected.

**

Sharin had almost forgotten what it was like to come to a formal event like this. Since her marriage, she has never accompanied her husband to similar events. Not to, he said. She does not want to be introduced as the wife of a Bryan Dharma whose name is not as big as her father, or Thomas Alexander, or Jose Sebastian, or the leader of the Iris Group and Mr. Jagad Raya himself.

When his mother asked Sharin to represent his surname to the show, Sharin could not refuse. Wash your eyes, he thought. Maybe he could meet his old friend. After these few days of deep resentment from his past figure, it was time for Sharin to live the air outside.

The show impressed so solemn and smooth. At least that was what Sharin had in mind before her net caught a mismatched couple entering the Ballroom. Awe-inspiring gazes were flashed by every pair of eyes that greeted the couple.

Jeanno Alexander and his wife, Nayara Alexander.

The hatred that he had damped, inevitably reappeared. Like a blaze doused with oil, Sharin clasped his champaign glass tightly. Especially when Nayara's hand was sassy in Jeanno's arm. If killing was stopped, Sharin would run and stab Nayara with anything he could use as a weapon.

But no, no matter how hard Sharin wanted, he was still trying to think clearly.

“His wife is so beautiful yes, it is fitting that Jeanno Alexander love die to her”

“Yes, lately Mr. Alex quite often takes his wife to events. Though previously he was famous for keeping his personal life meetings”*

“I heard his wife had been quite ill in the last few years. There are even rumors that his wife died. But I don't think it's true, because we can see for ourselves now he's holding his healthy and beautiful wife”

‘Nayara got sick?’ Sharin. Condemning her who moved away and not knowing any developments regarding Nayara or Jeanno.

**

Judith breathed a sigh of relief when her makeup was undamaged after she ate a piece of cheese cake. He thought the lipstick would disappear, but it was still there and charming. Makes her smile satisfied. The woman washes her hands, preparing to return to the Ballroom with Jeanno. Jeanno's right, Arman's not coming. None of the representatives of Mr. Robert came.

The door of another room opened, a beautiful woman in a maroon dress stood beside him. Judith was too focused to notice the woman's hateful gaze.

“Hey”

Judith raised her face, intending to confirm if the woman was talking to her. But there were only two of them in the toilet, and the woman was not on the phone. “Ya?”

“I didn't expect we would meet again, Nayara”

Judith pensive. The figure before him was clearly an acquaintance of Nayara's life. Of course, he did not know who his identity was.

While on Sharin's side, it's just her feelings or.. Nayara doesn't seem to know him?

**