n

n

n

nEllena immediately grabbed the cellphone and walked away from Lucas, then sat on the maroon sofa near the bedroom window.

nMeanwhile, Lucas just stared at him with his mouth slightly open, as if in amazement.

n'How can he be so relaxed, after daring to almost lose my mind,' Lucas grumbled to himself.

nHe then lowered his head, looking back at his heirloom which seemed to be getting tighter in there. Once again he failed to complete the desire that he had been trying to suppress for a long time.

nEllena's smile broke. The happy expression on her face was evident when she saw her brother's name on the cellphone screen. The figure she had missed for a long time.

nIn a flash, Ellena put the flat object to her ear, after sliding the green icon on the screen of the phone, as a sign that she received a call from Martin.

n

"Hello, Martin?

" Ellena greeted with such enthusiasm and a happy expression.

n

"Sister?

" Martin's voice sounded a little surprised, when he heard Ellena's voice.

n

"Where have you been? Why is your number off, huh?

" attack Martin immediately threw a few questions.

n

"Sorry, Martin. I deliberately turned off the phone because lately someone has been bothering me a lot.

" Ellena answered simply.

n

"You mean?

" Martin asked as if he didn't understand what Ellena was saying.

"Who dares to bother you?

"

n

"Never mind, it's not important either. That person isn't bothering me anymore.

n

"Why didn't you call me using your husband's cell phone?

"

n

"Ah, I think you're very busy. I didn't want to bother you.

" Ellena replied looking for an excuse.

"How are you? I missed you so much, Martin. Did your school go well there?

" She asked with slightly teary eyes.

nHow touched her heart when she could hear again Martin's voice directly. The moment she had been waiting for for a long time.

n

"I'm fine, my schooling is also going well. Are you and Mom not worried about me so you don't want to contact me like that?

" Martin said which made Ellena even more sad.

n

"It's impossible, Martin. I'm very worried about you. So is Mom. Even Mom often cries because she misses you, but I don't want to hear your voice, Martin, because it will only make her sadder,

" explained Ellena.

n

"I want to talk to Mom.

" Martin said quietly.

n

"You want to talk to Mom, Martin?

" Ellena asked again to confirm as she looked at Lucas who was already standing a meter in front of her.

nHowever, Ellena was momentarily stunned when she found Lucas who rolled his eyes and shook his head, as if to code her not to accept Martin's request.

n

"Ma-Martin, I'll call you later. Mom's in the shower right now,

" said Ellena, a little hesitantly and nervously, without taking her eyes off Lucas' face.

nA happy smile appeared on Lucas's face at this moment.

nEllena got up from the sofa, then walked over to Lucas who was still standing in the same place. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the perfectly sculpted face staring at him with a happy grin.

n

"Why?

" asked Ellena, giving him a questioning look, having stood in front of Lucas and stopped in his tracks.

n

"Why?

" Lucas turned around to ask, as if confused by Ellena's question.

n

"Why you?

" snapped Elena in annoyance.

n

"Me? What do you mean, why?

" Lucas replied still pretending not to understand, even though he already understood where Ellena was talking from the start.

n

"Why did you stop Martin from talking to Mother?

" Ellena grumbled.

nLucas was slightly taken aback, as if at a loss as to what to say.

n

"Hm … I think he called at the wrong time, honey,

" Lucas answered casually.

n

"What do you mean?

" Ellena widened her eyes as if she didn't want to heed Lucas' words.

n

"You can call her later, after our business is done.

" Lucas replied with an eye, teasing Ellena.

n

"What do you mean ….

"

nEllena could no longer continue her words when suddenly Lucas grabbed her lips quickly and occasionally gave a soft kiss there, making Ellena seemed to be taken flying for a moment without being able to fight back.

n

"Thank you, Honey.

" Lucas said as he kissed Ellena's forehead who was now lying beside him with a slightly out of breath.

nThey spent about an hour struggling in the heat on the bed. Although a little forced, Lucas was finally able to get her rights again as a husband. Although in fact not the first time, after Ellena returned home.

n

"Lucas, I need to get cleaned up and go back to helping Joana.

"

nLucas' hands quickly held Ellena's body as she was about to get out of bed.

n

"Aren't you tired, Honey? Wait a minute. You need to rest.

" Lucas pleaded, unable to bear to see Ellena who almost lost her strength because of her.

n

"No, Lucas. What time is it? I have to get dinner ready,

" Ellena replied forcefully and didn't want to care about what Lucas said.

n***

nEllena looked out of the room with plain maroon pajama clothes that wrapped her body. Her face looks fresher with loose hair that looks a little wet. She walked slowly towards the dining room.

nFrom a distance, it looks like Briana and Joana are preparing dinner. Looks like she's late.

n

"Ah, looks like I'm late. I was just about to prepare dinner, it turns out that Mom and Joana have already finished everything,

" said Ellena, smiling.

n

"It's okay, Elle. You've been cooking all day. We're just preparing at the dinner table,

" Briana replied very gently while smiling her face, while Joana just smiled without commenting.

n

"Where's your husband? Come on, let's have dinner!

" Briana asked as she looked up at Ellena, having finished with her work.

n

"Lucas just finished taking a shower, maybe he'll be here soon,

" Ellena answered quietly.

n

"Good night all!

"

nEllena had just finished speaking, suddenly Lucas's baritone voice broke through the room, distracting the three women who were there. Briana and Joana immediately replied to Lucas' greeting enthusiastically.

nMeanwhile, Ellena pulled out a dining chair and motioned for Lucas to sit there. Now they are ready to have dinner together, except for Joana who prefers to leave the room, knowing who she is in the house.

n

"Jo!

" Lucas called when Joana was only three steps away from the dining table.

n

"What is it, Sir?

" Joana turned around and immediately bowed, facing Lucas.

n

"Where are you going?

" Lucas asked dryly.

n

"I-I want to do something else, Sir. Is there anything else I can help you with?

" Joana answered quietly and a little nervously.

n

"Eat here!

" Lucas said commandingly.

n

"Wh-you mean, Sir?

" Joana immediately put on a nervous expression. How could I not, when suddenly her employer asked her to have dinner at the same table?

n

"Is my voice so low that you can't hear it?

" Lucas said without looking at Joana.

nIt suddenly made Joana a little clumsy. However, was it true what he had just heard? It seems very impossible. It's not like Lucas usually invites dinner together like this.

n

"Didn't you really hear it, Joana?

" Lucas asked again and managed to make Joana gasp.

nSince Joana's help at that time, Lucas had begun to change his attitude towards her. He became a little friendly, not too cold and often talked to Joana. He seemed very grateful to have a housekeeper who cared so much for his wife, like Joana. That's why he started to treat Joana like family.

n

"B-but, Master—

"

n

"Sit down, Jo!

" Lucas asked firmly, meanwhile Ellena and Briana looked surprised at Lucas' attitude.

nEllena immediately turned to Joana who still looked confused, then she smiled as if she understood what Lucas meant.

n

"Come on, Jo, let's have dinner together. Sit down!

" Ellena asked quietly as she pushed back the chair next to her, asking Joana to sit beside her.

nJoana was silent for a moment as if thinking.

"V-alright, sir, miss,

" he answered doubtfully.

nJoana walked slowly, full of doubts. Didn't think that he would have an employer as good as Ellena and Lucas who never looked at someone's caste. It was not wrong because he had been on their side all along.

n

"Think of us as your family, Jo,

" said Ellena after Joaan sat down beside her.

n

"Thank you, Miss. I am very happy to have an employer like you and Mr.,

" replied Joana, still a little hesitant.

n

"We are all the same, it is not appropriate to discriminate against each other,

" said Briana, who had been watching Joana's face slightly reddened.

n

"Lucas, how's the pastry shop doing?

" asked Ellena in the middle of their dinner. He had wanted to ask this for the past two days, but only now had the time.

n

"Store conditions are quite conducive, honey. I hired a pastry chef after you left,

" Lucas replied with a big smile.

n

"Tomorrow I will start working again. What do you think?

" asked Ellena seeking approval.

n

"Better not yet,

" Lucas answered flatly.

n

"Why?

" Ellena was dismayed, even though she really missed going back to work.

n

"Things are still precarious, honey. You'd better stay at home, don't go out without me!

" Lucas said emphatically.

n

"But ….

"

nEllena didn't continue when Lucas suddenly widened his eyes right at her. Instantly shrank and immediately looked down.

n

"Okay,

" Ellena whispered, forced to swallow her disappointment.

n

"I just don't want anything else to happen to you, honey. Do you understand?

" Lucas said while looking at Ellena's sad face, suddenly making the woman look up again.

n

"Yeah, I know.

" Elena whispered, frowning.

n

"Don't frown like that, if you understand,

" Lucas pleaded flatly.

n

"Yes,

" answered Ellena briefly, while Briana just shook her head with a smile.

nLucas flashed a smile.

n

"You can come with me to the office tomorrow, if you feel bored at home all the time,

" Lucas said, which managed to make Ellena round again with so much enthusiasm.

n

"Is that true?

" asked Elena, slightly flabbergasted.

n

"Yes, of course.

" Lucas answered confidently, turning his head to the right once.

n

"But, what can I do there? It must be boring to just stay still Ellena grumbled again, frowning.

n

"Your job is just to accompany me, Honey,

" Lucas replied with a smile, just like what Joana and Briana are doing now.

n