Ever since Ariana found out that Albina was pregnant, she knew that the two would definitely remarry at some point. Seeing the happy smile on Albina’s face, she unconsciously smiled as well.
-Congratulations! -Ariana shouted with joy.
With this marriage certificate, Albina was now Umberto’s lawful wife.
Albina rubbed gently against Ariana’s neck and whispered to her:
-I am already married. Ariana, and you, when are you getting married?
Her voice was very low and only Ariana heard it.
At his words, Ariana joked:
-Hey, you haven’t become a real mother yet and now you’re already starting to worry about my future?
Looking at Albina with pursed lips, Ariana pinched her nose helplessly, sighed and continued:
-Forget it, possibly it would be better for me to be single and not enter into any more relationships.
To settle her own affairs, Ariana was feeling pretty tired and didn’t really have any more energy left over to enter into love. Besides, she didn’t think she knew how to solve relationship problems. The unpleasant breakup with Santiago still bothered her a lot, so she now feared, or did not want any more love relationships.
The second sentence was heard by both Umberto and Macos, as she deliberately did not lower her voice.
Umberto glanced at Macos and found him pursing his lips, with a slightly annoyed expression.
-Macos, don’t stand stunned at the door. Invite us in and have some tea or coffee. Albina has been on her feet for half a day and needs to rest.
After saying this, Umberto, without waiting for the house owner’s answer, took Albina’s hand and went inside.
-Is there any fruit? Please wash some fresh fruits for us,” said Umberto.
Macos’ bad mood vanished by her sudden demand. He entered the room with Ariana while muttering under his breath:
-Do you really think this is your house and I am your servant?
Despite these complaints, he took some fresh fruit out of the fridge and served it to the three of them.
Albina, although only three months pregnant, was mildly nauseous, didn’t have a very good appetite and just wanted to eat something light or fresh.
Sitting in the air-conditioned living room, and eating sweet and sour lychees, Albina felt very satisfied and sighed in relief.
-Oh, that’s the life she deserves to live!
Umberto gave her a reproachful look and asked:
-What, going out with me to apply for marriage certificates is not a life she deserves to live?
Albina smiled, took him by the arm, leaned her head on his shoulder and pretended to be nice.
Umberto looked at her with pampering, peeled her lychees carefully and fed her.
The couple, one peeling and feeding her, and the other eating, created such a sweet and affectionate atmosphere that it seemed to Macos that an air of sweetness floated throughout his living room.
-Umberto, don’t show too much affection in public. You’re in my living room now, instead of your own bedroom,” Macos coughed softly and said.
However, the couple only glanced at him and went on with their actions without paying Macos any more attention.
Albina popped a bittersweet lychee into her mouth and turned to Macos:
-Macos, you’re jealous, aren’t you?
The latter became even more annoyed and said:
-Albina, you haven’t come especially just to show us your marriage certificates and brag about your love in front of us, have you?
Umberto wiped the juice off his fingers with a paper towel, looked at him and answered:
-Of course not.
After saying this, he took the bag he had with him, took out a few bags of candy and said:
-I bring you especially wedding candies so that you can get some more good luck from the happiness between Albina and me.
Then, he handed them some little bags.
Macos and Ariana were stunned, looking at the wedding candies in their hands.
-With our happiness, Macos, I think you will do better on your way to getting your love….. -Umberto continued.
Before he could finish his sentence, Macos immediately interrupted him and turned to Albina:
-Albina, you should control your Umberto well! Not only does he deliberately show off by showing me the marriage certificates, he even teases me, a poor bachelor, with the wedding sweets!
Umberto raised an eyebrow at Macos’ emphasis on the word “bachelor.”
He had thought that Macos had conquered Ariana’s heart, and even if he hadn’t, he would have confessed his love to her, but it seemed that the reality was not so.
Fortunately, when Umberto spoke, he was interrupted by Macos, so Ariana did not hear clearly what he had said and gave them a questioning look.
Macos sighed in relief at this and veiledly shook his head at Umberto.
Watching Macos’ reaction, Umberto drew a mysterious smile.
“Macos is not a very competent man, why hasn’t he gotten any breakthrough for so many days?”
Seeing that Ariana did not ask in depth, Macos sighed in relief, stood up and said to Umberto:
-Umberto, we are almost done with the fruit. I’m going to prepare some more. Come with me to choose some that Albina will like.
Umberto knew that this one was looking for an excuse to talk to him alone, so he nodded and got up from the sofa.
The two men entered the kitchen one after the other.
As soon as he entered the kitchen, Macos gave him a fierce look and complained:
-For God’s sake, Umberto, why are you letting it all out? My plan almost failed before I could even start.
Umberto gave him a sidelong glance and said lightly:
-I thought you had already declared your feelings for her. What the hell have you been doing all these days?
Macos was a little distressed at his words, then he peeked out the kitchen door to look at the two women talking in the living room, and sighed.
-Ariana’s been going out a lot lately. And I’ve asked about it. Her mother has suddenly come looking for her…..
Umberto was a little surprised to hear her words. Albina had told him that Ariana’s parents had divorced since she was very young, and that Ariana grew up with her grandmother, without the company and love of her parents.
At this point, Ariana’s mother, who had always ignored her, suddenly sought her out. Any sensible person could guess that this mother should have come with some intention.
-She has not been in a good mood the last few days and I don’t want to cause her any more trouble at this time.
To buy the house, Ariana had almost spent all her savings, so she would not move from here easily. As long as Macos remained her neighbor, he would have countless other opportunities to express his love for her.
What Macos did not lack was patience and he was willing to wait, no matter how long the wait would be.
Umberto slightly raised an eyebrow at her decisive look and said:
-Wow, I didn’t expect you to be so dedicated in love.
Macos waved his hand.
-I wouldn’t dare compare myself to you.
Before he met Albina, Umberto had always seemed like an indifferent man who had no interest in women, but who would have thought that in private he was a husband who pampered his wife so much?
Umberto took some of Albina’s favorite fruits out of the fridge and as he washed them, he reminded her:
-Obviously, the mother has not come with good intentions. Ariana is a sensible girl, but she lacked her mother’s love since she was a child and I’m afraid she will let herself be taken advantage of by her mother.
Macos, with a straight face, nodded silently.
He was no fool. Ever since he had heard that Ariana’s mother had come looking for her, Macos had raised suspicions, and he began to pay special attention to Ariana’s situation, unbeknownst to Ariana.
Umberto added while drying the fruits he had just washed:
-Although Ariana’s mother has not come with good intentions, it can be an opportunity for you if you know how to take advantage of it.
Hearing this, Macos remained immersed in his thoughts.
Only when Umberto was heading towards the living room with the plate full of fruits, Macos came to his senses and realized that Umberto, while talking to him, had formed a kitty out of different fruits and cut the watermelon into heart-shaped pieces.
“Wow, what a romantic man!”
Macos had to admit that Umberto was the best at pleasing his wife.
The couple ate and drank at Macos’ house, and, after two hours or so, got up to say goodbye.
After all, their relatives were still waiting for the couple to announce the happy news.
Albina climbed into the car and leaned out the window to wave goodbye to Macos and Ariana, waving her hand. And as the car drove away from the neighborhood, she spoke with a frown:
-I sensed that Ariana was not in a very good mood, and that she was often distracted when chatting with me. I don’t know what’s wrong with her.
Umberto did not hide it from her and told her what Macos had said.
At these words, Albina cried out, her eyes suffused with anger:
-How that shameless woman dares to seek Ariana! She is not worthy to be her mother at all!