Substitute Mother
Chapters 176. He Knows
The ringing of the phone never sounded this terrible to Judith. Waiting for Owen to pick up the phone made him nervous half to death, whereas before their conversation was called like someone else's light chat topic.
This time it's different. Judith wants to talk to Owen, four-eyed. About the future of their relationship. Judith has not yet decided on Jeanno's offer, but maintaining her relationship with Owen is clearly not a man she loves, she says is also wrong.
“Halo? Sorry, I just finished. What's up, baby?”
Judith bit her lip. His breath was blocked especially when he heard the cheerful tone of his interlocutor across. “Hey. Sorry I slept early last night, so can't take your call”
“Do you get sick?”
“No, I'm fine. Owen, when are you coming home?”
“Today is last. My train leaves later in the afternoon, probably until after dinner. You're going to pick me up, right?”
Judith nodded, a second later realizing that Owen would not see her. “Yes, I'll wait at station”
“Good. I miss you so much, Aleta. Tomorrow we have to go together, okay?”
“Yes, Owen”
“Alright, then I continue the show, huh? see you later, baby. I love you”
The connection was cut off, but the hand grip on the phone did not come off. Owen's return of less than twenty-four hours made his shoulders even more heavy. They will meet, which means Judith will say the final decision regarding their relationship. There will be one more person who is disappointed. Judith knows this sounds very ungrateful, but Judith hopes she will still make friends with Owen.
“I'm sorry, Owen”
**
In the shabby white-painted room, two men sitting opposite each other were throwing serious looks. One of them was wearing a typical prisoner's outfit, which was leaning with his hands folded in front of his chest. The other man was wearing an ash suit, with his papillae whiskers adding a serious impression to his face. The man grabbed a map from inside his bag, handed it to the interlocutor in the opposite seat.
“You're sure he's the mastermind of everything?”
The whiskers are paplang, pointing with the chin towards the map whose contents are being read by the prisoner. “All written plans. He's behind it all, launched through Mr. Thomas Alexander”
“Bjak”
The young man slammed the map given by the lawyer. His face was red withholding emotion, his teeth were grinding, his hands were clenched ready to throw a fist at someone in his shadow, someone who was the source of all the trouble that had befallen him the past year.
“You can't fight Thomas Alexander, Arman. You know for yourself how powerful he is. There you will lose before even touching the tip of his nails”
There was nothing funny about the lawyer that made Arman laugh. He looked cynically at the middle-aged man who was the lawyer of his family. “I have no intention of touching Mr. Thomas. I know where my limit” is
“Targetku only one, Jeanno Alexander”
“Only for the sake of protecting his whore. He destroyed me, destroyed my marriage, destroyed my family. You know, my dad really likes Jeanno?”
The paplang mustache nodded faintly.
“How much longer until my day of freedom comes?”
“Arman.”
“How many days?”
“Two months more”
“Arman, whatever you plan, I hope you stop now”
Arman pulls the tip of his lips up, forming a grin that makes the nape bristles. “Uncle, I've lost everything. Prison life is not so bad. So I guess. I don't care if I have to spend my time here”
“…. After I killed Jeanno Alexander”
**
Owen gave his big smile when he saw Judith actually waiting for him at the station. The man even half ran to hug his lover. No matter the gaze of others, he missed half to death on the beautiful girl.
“Jeez.. I miss you so much. You know?”
Judith chuckled, patting the shoulder of Owen who was holding her tightly. “Tau. You'll say it every day”
“One week feels slow. I feel like I want to run away, go home early and see you”
Judith did not answer. Owen also did not urge him to respond. The man preferred to hold her tightly and hide her face on Judith's shoulders. Which he thinks is the most comfortable place for now. Without knowing that the shoulders that became his back are storing heavy loads that are ready to be thrown at him in a matter of hours.
“Owen, let's go home. I've cooked your favorite food”
At least, Judith wanted to have some good memories before they officially ended the relationship.
**
“How's the project you're handling, Jean? You haven't reported it to papa since two days ago”
Jeanno massaged his nose. Fortunately, his father made regular calls, not video calls. Of course Thomas will judge him if he sees his appearance that looks messy now.
“Currently. Walked well. For details I will send you by email. Sorry I was late to tell papa”
The satiated validation heard by Jeanno did not bring any reaction to the handsome's face. The man sighed, his mind still focused on Judith and their conversation yesterday.
“Jeanno”
“Yes? Sorry pa, I'm sleep deprived so not focus”
“Mama said Aera made several video calls by calling ‘mama’. Is there nothing you want to explain to us?”
Silent. Jeanno held her breath, she really did not expect that such a question would be thrown over the phone while they were discussing work.
“Jeanno?”
“I'll explain later when I get back, papa”
“Papa wait”
“Papa, promise me one thing”
“What?”
“When I've finished my story, whatever the response of papa and mama, please.. don't disturb this woman”.
*
There was no answer from my father. Without knowing that Thomas was on the other side, hearing the despair implied in his son's words. All his life, Thomas had never heard his son ask for anything in such a pleading tone.
**
“Where are we going, Owen?”
That day Judith had been asked by Owen to prepare to leave. Without being told their purpose. Oh, Judith hasn't had a chance to talk about their relationship last night either, because Owen looks exhausted and Judith certainly can't bear to tease him with bad news. Be their show today Judith set as the right moment to be honest.
“Special place. You must like”
Judith smiled. “Don't till I get the wrong costume, huh?”
“No, coke. You look beautiful in your clothes now”
Entrusting her shop to be guarded by Alya, Judith once again asked for permission not to enter. He needed time to think, because today was Jeanno's last day in the city with him.
“Aleta? You daydreaming what?” yang asked gasped as Owen's hand perched on the back of his hand. His face lifted, realizing the speed of the car was stopped due to red lights.
“T-it's okay”
“You sick?”
“No, Owen. I'm fine”
While waiting for the red light, fingers that are still on the steering wheel are knocked original. “Aleta, may I ask you something?”
“Ya?”
“The night I had dinner in your apartment, I smelled a perfume that was so masculine. Like a man's perfume. The smell is familiar, I've smelled it before”
“Oh it..” Judith did not seem surprised, for some reason she did not feel like a woman caught cheating. “Mr Jeanno did stop by to eat together. The perfume you smell may be his perfume”
“Ah so..” Owen turned his head, looking at Judith doubtfully. “You... how close are you to him?”
“We're close, because he's the husband of my late sister and the father of my only niece. Why?”
“It's okay. It's just that, you know, she's so charming. I'm the only one who has trouble taking his eyes off him because he's so handsome and charismatic. Especially women. You certainly agree with my opinion, right?”
Judith's forehead shriveled, not understanding the meaning of Owen's sentence. “What are the points of your words, Owen? You think I'm attracted to him just because Jeanno is handsome?”
Owen rubbed his face rough. The red light does not change color. The debate between himself and Judith must continue.
“Sorry, I didn't mean to have any negative thoughts on you. It's just, I'm scared. I've only had you for a few months, it's only natural that there's fear when my position is far away and you're in a room with a man far above me”
Judith threw away her face, choosing to look at another car outside the window. Not entirely blaming Owen, because Judith understood what he was afraid of. Because in reality Owen's fear proved to be true. Judith remains as a woman who is still enamored of the charisma of Jeanno Alexander.
“Aleta? You mad at me?”
“No. It's only natural that you're jealous. I understand”
Owen ended their conversation when the light turned green. Along the way they keep talking normally, with lighter topics. Although inwardly still stuck, because Judith did not bother to convince Owen that there was nothing between him and Jeanno.
**
