Part 48.


    ra woke up earlier. She went straight to the kitchen. There were Mbok Iyem, Mbak Anik, and Mbak Cici preparing breakfast.


    “ra, would you like some hot chocte?” Mbok Iyem offered. She remembered the girl’s favorite drink.


    “No, Mbok. I’m here to help prepare breakfast!” ra replied.


    “No need, dear. Mr. Joe will get angryter!” Mbok Iyem cautioned, while the other two servants just looked at ra in surprise.


    “Mbak Iyem, Mbak Anik, and Mbak Cici, my family will pick me up next Sunday, and I will stay with them. Before I leave, can I help you?” ra offered. She just wanted to get closer to the people living in Joe’s house.


    Mbak Cici looked at ra. She was indeed on the girl’s side. While Mbak Anik, she preferred Vivian. The servant always reported everything happening in the house to the woman who was currently Joe Sebastian’s ex-wife.


    Mbok Iyem chose to remain neutral and not take sides between ra and Vivian as the two servants argued about it.


    “ra, prepare some tes, spoons, and forks!” Mbok Iyem instructed. She handed ra a cloth to start drying the utensils.


    ra obeyed what Mbok Iyem told her.


    “ra, where is your family?” Mbok Iyem asked curiously.


    “I don’t know, Mbok. Uncle Joe hasn’t told me,” ra replied. “By the way, Mbok Iyem, what gift would you like from me?” she offered.


    “I don’t need anything, dear. I just want you, ra, toe here often!” she said.


    ra smiled, her gaze shifting to the woman beside Mbok Iyem who was busy frying fish. “Mbak Anik, what gift would you like from me?” she offered. Although she knew Mbak Anik never acted friendly towards her, ra remained kind.


    “No need, Mrs. Vivian often gives me expensive and nice things,” she refused without looking at ra.


    “Well, alright. How about I get something for you, Mbak Cici?” ra offered, turning to Cici who was cutting green vegetables.


    “Anything, dear,” she replied with a wide smile.


    “Alright,” ra said. She had finished drying the tableware and took them to the dining room.


    Then, ra returned to the kitchen. She prepared apples and strawberries, Joe’s favorite fruits.


    She peeled the apples while recalling the events fromst night when Kimmy caught her and Joe kissing. ra smiled to herself. Warm feelings spread through her heart.


    “ra!” a baritone voice called from behind. She was sure it was Uncle Joe’s voice.


    ra lowered her head, pretending not to hear, embarrassed because there were three other servants in the kitchen.


    “ra! Can’t you hear me?” Joe whispered, suddenly standing behind ra.


    “What’s wrong, Uncle?” ra replied. She turned around, their eyes meeting.


    “Make me some coffee, bring it over there!” Joe pointed to a seat next to Vivian’s pool.


    “Alright, Uncle!”


    “Don’t take too long!” he teased with a mischievous nce.


    “Okay.”


    ra took a ss and made coffee for Joe. Meanwhile, the other three servants remained silent, not used to seeing Joe this close.


    “Also, bring these cookies, dear. Mr. Joe likes these biscuits!” Mbok Iyem said, handing ra a small box of cookies with strawberry jam.


    “Thank you, Mbok,” ra epted it and then carried a cup of coffee and snacks to the backyard.


    ra walked slowly, while Joe stared at her with a teasing look.


    “Here’s the coffee and here are the cookies, Uncle!” ra said, cing the tray in front of Joe.


    “Thank you, my dear ra,” Joe said, staring at the girl without blinking.


    ra nodded and turned to go back to the kitchen.


    “Where are you going?” Joe asked, reaching for ra’s hand, stopping her from leaving.


    “I’m going to the kitchen, Uncle,” ra replied.


    “Who allowed you to go to the kitchen! Come here, sit here!” Joemanded.


    ra looked at Joe, there was only one chair there. The chair Joe was sitting on.


    “There’s only one chair, Uncle, besides, I still have to peel fruit in the kitchen,” she excused herself.


    “Who told you to sit on the chair? Come here, sit here!” Joe ordered, patting his thigh.


    “But, Uncle…” ra protested. She was afraid the servants in the kitchen would make her the subject of conversation.


    “But what!” Joe pulled ra’s hand, and the next moment ra was sitting on hisp.


    Joe embraced ra in his arms. Ignoring the three servants who might be watching them.


    “Please let go, Uncle,” ra pleaded softly.


    “Be quiet, ra, don’t protest. Why do you always contradict me? Just sit and be quiet, I want it like this, just for a moment!” Joe whispered. Holding ra tightly in his muscr arms, making her unable to move.


    ra remained silent, sitting in Joe’sp. It was useless to resist or try to break free, her strength was nothingpared to his.


    “ra,” Joe whispered, with no intention of releasing his embrace.


    “Yes, Uncle,” ra replied. Slowly, she began to feelfortable in the man’s embrace.


    “If every morning could be like this, I would surely be happy, ra,” Joe said.


    Every moment spent with ra was precious to Joe. Especially now that Joe knew Freddy Lim’s profile. He probably wouldn’t approve of his rtionship with ra. Truly, Joe also felt this was unfair, why didn’t ra’s family ask her toe back from the beginning! Why now, when Joe had already harbored feelings of love for ra.


    “Uncle, please let go, Uncle,” ra requested. “Someone might see us, Uncle,” she added. Truly afraid that Mrs. Linn or Mr. Bond might suddenlye.


    “Why does it matter!” Joe didn’t loosen his embrace, but instead held ra tighter.


    “I’m scared, Uncle!” ra insisted.


    “Why are you scared, ra? They’re not ghosts!” Joe replied.


    “Uncle, I’m scared!” rained.


    “Alright, I’ll let you go, but you have to apany me to the office this morning, okay?” Joe offered with sparkling eyes.


    “No, Uncle, I want to go shopping. I need to find something to give to Mbok Iyem, Mbak Cici, and Mbak Anik. I want to give them souvenirs,” ra exined.


    “Oh, so you prioritize them over apanying me to work?” Joe asked.


    It felt very heavy. Even though there were still six days left, the feeling of loss had haunted him sincest night.


    “No, Uncle,” she replied.


    “In that case, apany me to the office, and I’ll apany you shopping, how about that?” he suggested.


    “Alright,” ra replied.


    “Okay, you go shower first, and I’ll showerter. We’ll have breakfast together, and then you’ll apany me to the office, okay?” Joe confirmed.


    “Yes, Uncle.”


    ra stood up. Joe grabbed her hand again.


    “What else, Uncle?” ra asked.


    “I wouldn’t mind if we showered together!” he joked, with a teasing smile.


    ra shook her head vigorously, rejecting Joe’s offer.


    ==?==


    ra, Joe, Mrs. Linn, and Mr. Bond were enjoying breakfast. Joe finished his morning meal with a ss of water.


    “We’re leaving now, ra!” Joe said, ncing at his wristwatch. He was wearing his work clothes: a dark gray suit with a maroon tie hanging from his cor.


    “Yes, Uncle,” ra replied.


    “Dad, Mom, I’m taking ra to the office so she won’t be bored at home!” he exined.


    “Yes, but ra must be brought home on time, don’t stay outte, especially don’t take her back to your apartment, Joe!” Mrs. Linn cautioned.


    “Yes, Mom! Don’t worry too much! I’m experienced!” Joe replied as he led ra out of the house.


    Mrs. Linn shook her head, her lips trembling as she watched her son’s behavior. “Does Joe forget that he’s not a teenager anymore, or does everyone who falls in love be irrational?” she sighed.


    Mr. Bond just smiled.N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    .


    .


    Mr. Joko opened the car door for Joe.


    “I’ll drive my own car! You can rest this morning!” Joe said. He led ra to his ck McLaren, his favorite.


    “Yes, sir,” Joko replied.


    Joe opened the door for ra. Then, he went around and took the driver’s seat.


    “ra, buckle up!” Joe ordered. He then drove the car at a moderate speed towards Blue Jewelry.


    ==?==


    Later that day.


    At Mr. Bond’s residence.


    The doorbell rang. Vivian stood at the door. She wanted to check on Kimmy and make sure about the news regarding ra, who was supposed to stay with her actual family.


    “Come in,” Mrs. Linn invited Vivian to sit in the living room.


    “Thank you, Mom.”


    Vivian entered and sat in front of Mrs. Linn.


    “Where’s Kimmy?” she asked.


    “Kimmy is in her room!” Joe’s mother replied curtly.


    “Where’s ra, Mom? I heard her family wanted to take her home, finally, there won’t be any interference anymore, separating me and Joe!” she said proudly.


    “ra is currently out with Joe. For now, it seems like you’re the one causing interference in their rtionship. Joe has told me everything, and you’re no better than ra!” Mrs. Linn replied.


    “What do you mean, Mom?” Vivian asked, with an incredulous look at what she just heard.


    “Your rtionship with Joe is over, even though it’s hard, Joe has managed to move on. And don’t forget, you were the one who filed for divorce from Joe. Why do you also want to reconcile? It’s the same as licking your own spit, Vivian!” Mrs. Linn exined.


    “What do you mean, Mom?” she asked again. Refusing to ept the reality she just heard.


    “You’re only allowed toe to this house to meet Kimmy, not to ask Joe to reconcile! Understood!” Mrs. Linn stood up and went to her room, leaving Vivian alone in the living room.


    Vivian took out her phone. Intending to call Alex.


    To be continued.