The Untouched Heart

Chapter 209 - Offended

“Of course you can. Everyone can come. Please, don't bring anything for me. I just want to invite a meal, no need to bring flowers, fruit, or any gift,” Mama said firmly. I'm laughing a little. Hendra wouldn't care about the warning.

We went back to Papa and Mama's house, then had lunch after sitting for a while in the living room. I helped Dira eat by adding whatever food she asked for. I am grateful that my two children are not picky when it comes to food. Fahri has been doing his job well since they first ate the extra food.

“Gerhard is acting a little differently today. Are you guys fighting?” ask Mama to me. He smiled meaningfully.

“Different how, Aunt?” I pretend I don't understand.

“He wasn't as happy as usual when he saw you. Did something happen when you met at this house?” ask Mama again.

“Nothing happened, Auntie. We were just talking and suddenly Ara barked furiously at him.” I lifted both my shoulders.

“Ara barking to Gerhard? What's up?” Mom took turns to look at me and Papa. “Did the dog hurt him? Is that why he looks so scared?”

“Nobody hurt anyone. Ara just barked hard. He didn't bite the doctor,” Papa said soothing Mama. “You don't know the nature of the Golden Retriever alone. This dog is very friendly with humans. They're just barking at bad guys.”

“So, I mean Papa, Doctor Gerhard is a bad guy?” ask Mama offended.

“Insting dogs are very strong and rarely wrong. You know it. Otherwise, the police will not create a special unit where dogs become their companions.” Papa took a spoonful of soup from the bowl alone. “Again the doctor had no ethics. Zahara is married, she still looks at him like a person in love.”

“Everyone has the right to fall in love. Why do you directly label him as having no ethics?” mama said again with an offended tone.

“Honey, enough. Stop all this.” Papa put the spoon and fork he held onto the plate. “It is enough to match Hendra and Zahara with others. For God's sake, I can't take it anymore. My son and my son-in-law have made up and they are living happily. I will not allow anyone, including my own wife, to ruin it.”

“I didn't ruin anything. Their marriage was long over. You never believed in me. Let's see how long this time they survive in their pretend marriage. This daughter-in-law you love will definitely cheat again.” Mama looked at me with a dislike look.

“I just helped him to be honest. It is better to see him flirting with other men and making out with them in front of our eyes than behind us. Sooner or later, we'll find out too. Where is my fault?” Mom looked at Papa angrily. “One time cheating, he will repeat it again.”

The sentence was very painful, but Mama wasn't entirely wrong. I am the guilty one. I couldn't continue eating I heard them fighting because of me. The atmosphere of the room was suddenly tense. Even the servants who were around us who were ready to serve us did not dare to move from their place.

The sound of laughter interrupted their quarrel. I looked to my left. Dira was laughing happily while looking at Papa and Mama. “(K) grandfather! (K)grandpa!” He pointed at Papa with his hand still holding the spoon. We were all stunned to hear it. The first one laughed, I followed him. Mama followed later. No one will be able to resist my daughter's charm.

“Mama!” He looked towards me. I kissed her head, and she continued eating.

“Maybe she mimics her father's nature,” Mama said casually. “Entah anyone.” I'm not holding back anymore. That phrase managed to provoke out my anger.

“If Auntie doesn't want to see me and my daughter are here, we'll leave now. Insult me, but not my daughter. I accept all this treatment. I deserve to get it. Aunty wants to insult and humiliate me for the rest of my life, and that's okay. But please, don't involve my children. Aunty believe it or not, Hadi and Dira are the children of Hendra, my husband.

“I will keep saying this until Auntie stops saying things that are not true about Hadi and Dira. Nora, Dicky, and Vivaldo are big liars. All the people who testified strengthening their statements were their paid ones. So, please, insult me. Don't my kids.” I didn't take my eyes off her at all as long as I spoke. I want Mama to know that I'm not messing with my words.

“Im sorry, Son. This should not have happened.” Papa looks bad. I smiled at him. “Spend your food before you go home.” I obey.

“Who said you could go home? You still have responsibilities to me.” My mom reminded me of our daytime habits.

“Not today, Aunt. I don't know if tomorrow I will come, but today I can't accompany Aunt to do gymnastics as usual.” I-i refused.

He's been insulting me for the last few weeks and I'm just quiet. Doctors have said that the cancer has not returned. Then I no longer need to guard her feelings and let her trample on me. I also won't want to be arranged as I please anymore.

Taking care of her is not my responsibility. I'm just a daughter-in-law she doesn't want. But I'm here for him on my own. I even opposed the words of my husband who had repeatedly forbidden me from coming to this house by myself in his absence.

“I think you did all this so that I could get hurt and accept you as my son-in-law. Turns out I was wrong.” Mama laughed a little. His face then turned serious. “If you go home now, then there is no need to come again tomorrow. You don't have to help me anymore. I can hire a nurse to do it.”

“True, I did this to win Aunt's heart again. But not for Aunt to accept me as a daughter-in-law. Again, I am the legal wife of Hendra, so Aunt like it or not, I am the legitimate daughter-in-law of Auntie,” I said firmly. “Can I ask that we continue eating? I don't want to be disrespectful by not answering Auntie when my mouth is full of food.”

Mom looked at one of the waiters. “Prepare the food box and put everything on his plate so he can leave immediately,” Mama said angrily.

The waiter looked uneasy between obeying the hostess' orders or keeping my feelings in check. I smiled at him and nodded a little. I put the spoon and fork I held on the plate as a sign that he could wrap it up so I could take him home.

“What you are doing is not right, Naava,” Papa said in a voice holding back anger. “You can't just kick my daughter-in-law out. What is going through your mind?”

“Papa just choose, me or him who came out of this house?” ask Mama sharply.