“I thought when you knew I was sick, you had the intention of coming home last night,” Alexander immediately confronted Cesilia with sarcasm as he saw her entering the room.
It was 9:00 in the morning, which was not the time Cesilia had promised him. Last night, if he remembered correctly, when Alexander informed her that he couldn’t be disturbed for a few hours, Cesilia had replied that she would be back before ten o’clock.
However, she showed up right at 9:00, looking disheveled as if she had just woken up, and the bags under her eyes looked even worse. It was unlike Cesilia, who usually took great care of her appearance when leaving the house.
Now, Cesilia appeared more disheveled, like a woman completely uncared for. How busy could she be? Alexander wondered in his heart.
“Sorry, I had some impromptu photo shoots that I couldn’t leave,” Cesilia forced a smile and sat on the edge of the bed, checking Alexander’s forehead.
“The fever has subsided, thank goodness. Frans always gives you the best medicine. Although, all he gets in return is avocado juice, right?” She made a small joke to dispel the tension between them and Alexander.
She deliberately did this because she knew Alexander was very disappointed with her for not being able to keep her promise, even if it was just about coming home on time.
It’s not that she wanted to disappoint Alexander again, but Cesilia couldn’t resist Maxime’s desires as she was completely under his control.
At the moment, she was only given two hours to be with Alexander at home, preparing everything for him. Cesilia was aware that Alexander didn’t want to be taken care of by their housekeeper. Specifically for his clothing and the needs around his room, Cesilia always set aside time to take care of her husband. However, ever since she got entangled in the crazy agreement with Maxime, Cesilia tried to convince Alexander that she was fine and still the same as before.
Even though she didn’t have much time left to be with the man she loved so much.
“Is your new boss’s schedule so packed that you can’t even spare time to see your sick husband?” Alexander asked, seeking honesty from Cesilia and asking for her affection in return.
At least he had some time with her today. Could he hope for more from Cesilia today? Of course, he should be able to if Cesilia truly loved him. It shouldn’t be difficult to take a half-day off, especially since whenever Alexander was sick, Cesilia could take leave until he fully recovered.
So, it was only natural for Alexander to yearn for something like they used to have.
Cesilia shook her head. “I can’t, my dear, because at 12:00, there will be a photo shoot in Bogor. I have to leave soon.”
“Is that all you’re going to do to visit your husband?” Alexander was not accepting it; Cesilia had barely set foot in the house before she had to leave for Bogor.
She hadn’t even offered him a glass of water, while he was still suffering from his illness.
“Forgive me. But I promise you I will come home earlier and try to stay at home today.”
“It’s only been a few days, Wid. But you seem to keep your distance from me. It’s as if there’s a tall dividing wall between us, as if there’s someone else in your heart preventing you from getting close to me.”
Those words suddenly came out of nowhere as Alexander said them.
“What do you mean? Are you accusing me of cheating?” Cesilia was upset, suddenly feeling like Alexander’s question was more of an accusation of her having an affair with Maxime.
She defended herself, stating that she wasn’t cheating, but rather trapped in a cunning agreement unintentionally. But honestly, Alexander was just asking calmly. He wasn’t making accusations like Cesilia believed.
“So, you think I’m busy with work like this because I’m with another man, right? As if there’s another man who forbids me from getting close to you? Is that what you think? Is that how little you think of me, just because I’m busy with photo shoots, even though you yourself supported my career as a model?”
So, all that support was just a lie to prevent me from being angry at you, isn’t it?” Cesilia accused, lashing out at Alexander with her statements, even though he didn’t have such thoughts.
“Wid, wait a minute! I was just asking, not accusing, let alone cornering you. But why…”
“Enough, Alexander! I came home hoping to calm my mind and relieve stress. But you ended up thinking badly of me. Accusing me of things I’ve never even considered in the six years I’ve been doing this job. I’ve never once thought of getting close to another man, let alone having a relationship as you accused me earlier.
You’re truly heartless. And I’m disappointed in you.” Cesilia grabbed her handbag and stormed out of the room, slamming the door so that Alexander would know how hurt she was by his words.
Alexander didn’t expect such an intense reaction from Cesilia when he had only asked a simple question. It was merely two words, “dividing wall,” which he never expected could trigger such immense anger from Cesilia.
Was it wrong for him to ask about that because Cesilia was acting as if he was just an obstacle at the moment? He shook his head. For him, it wasn’t wrong, but for Cesilia, it seemed to provoke an overwhelming emotional response.
It was terrifying and irrational.
“Sir, there’s Mr. Robert waiting outside. He said he has something to ask you. And downstairs, Mr. Frans is still talking to Mama in the living room.”
“Cesilia?” Alexander asked, not answering Casandra’s information right away, but instead questioning about Cesilia.
“Mrs. Widia left in a hurry, Sir. It seemed urgent. Oh, but I noticed she hadn’t had a chance to change her clothes. Is there an important call?”
“That’s none of your concern. Ask Robert to come upstairs, and then tell Frans that after he’s done with Mama, I want to ask for sleeping pills again. I wish I could sleep forever to avoid facing these complicated problems again.”
Alexander lay back on the bed, massaging his temples that were sore from Cesilia’s earlier outburst.
Casandra nodded, excusing herself to allow Robert to come upstairs.
“How are you today, Big Boss? Feeling better? After the First Lady’s visit last night?” Robert sat down beside Alexander, patting his friend’s arm. “Seems like you got quite a beating last night, to the point of exhaustion. Cesilia was the same way, from missing you so much,” he teased.
Instead of making Alexander laugh, it provoked a punch right on his arm.
“Don’t talk nonsense. Cesilia just came home and then left again.”
“S-She just came home last night? She said she would be accompanied by her cousin, but why did she only come home today?”
“Which cousin?” Alexander asked, suspicious because, as far as he knew, none of Cesilia’s cousins visited. They were all in another province.
“Maxime. She said her cousin who just arrived from overseas, and I saw them having dinner together last night. Very intimate, too.”
“How do you mean intimate?” Alexander still sounded irritated by Robert’s words.
“The way they met seemed like they had a close relationship between the man she called Maxime.”
“Are you sure?” Alexander tried to recall. “None of her cousins are named Maxime. Maxime… are you sure you didn’t mishear? But why does the name sound familiar to me?” Alexander furrowed his brows, thinking hard, recalling the names of Cesilia’s cousins one by one.
Ever since they got married, no one with the name Maxime ever attended their family gatherings.
“Are you sure his name is Maxime?”
“I’m sure, because I shook hands with that man.” Robert confirmed.
“Oh my… who is this Maxime?” Alexander bit his lower lip. His hand tapped on the bed, trying to remember who Maxime was, a name not on Cesilia’s family list.
He felt suffocated, unable to recall the name that seemed so familiar.
“Oh, right, Mr. Tomas’s son. Remember, our new business partner. The one we had dinner with, and Casandra jumped into his swimming pool?”
Alexander tried to dig into his brain for fragments of memories.
“Right, that’s it. Mr. Tomas, he has a son named Maxime too, right?” Robert stroked his chin.
“But are you sure the person I met was Maxime, Mr. Tomas’s son?”
“There might be many Maximes in the world, but I’m pretty sure there’s no Maxime on our family list. And if what you said is true, that Cesilia and Maxime know each other, then I need to find out what my wife is doing out there.”
“You should have done that a long time ago, Lex. Considering Cesilia works outside a lot, knows many people, both men and women. And to be honest, that night they looked so close and intimate, like a couple. In public, too, it’s absolutely absurd if Maxime is Cesilia’s cousin.”
“Besides, if he were her cousin, I would have recognized his face since I always attend your family gatherings here, even if it’s just for the free food. You better find out more, but remember to go back to the pharmacy to let them know she’s almost able to walk.”
Alexander agreed, grabbing his phone from the nightstand and calling someone to tail his wife wherever she went.
Alexander lay back on the bed, massaging his temples that felt sore due to Cesilia’s recent behavior.
Casandra nodded, excusing herself to allow Robert to come up to the second floor.
“So, how’s today? Are you going to the office?”
“No. I have no interest at all. It’s better if you handle all the office matters, Ger,” Alexander tossed his phone onto the bed after successfully contacting someone he trusted to provide accurate information about who Maxime was and why he was getting close to Cesilia.
He needed to find out more about their relationship, as Cesilia wasn’t someone who got involved with just anyone, even if it was just a friendship. She would never let another man kiss her head like Robert had mentioned.
“Oh my… if it’s like this, how can your company progress? The boss is lying down while the secretary is busy working. Instead of going to the office,” Frans chided as he entered Alexander’s room. “So, how is it? Is Frans joining us as usual? That man always brings avocado juice in his hands. It’s like he can’t be without that drink. Whenever he comes here, that’s the first thing he looks for in the kitchen. Only then does he meet Alexander, either in the room or in his office. Robert said he saw Cesilia with Maxime in the restaurant last night, and they were all lovey-dovey, kissing her head and everything.”
“Oh my!” Frans sat down on the left side, ready to listen to Alexander’s story about Cesilia’s suspicious activities outside.
“As long as we’ve been friends, I’ve never heard the name Maxime in the extended family list.” Frans spoke up, making his friend aware that the freedom given to Cesilia was too much and out of control.
Robert also had a bad feeling about the so-called cousin Maxime.
“I’d rather believe it’s an affair rather than filtering his words as a cousin.” Frans gave his opinion directly, regardless of whether Alexander would be upset due to his assumption. It’s better for you to assume that Maxime is Cesilia’s affair, so if this worst-case scenario happens, you won’t be as hurt, Lex. And if it’s true they are cousins, you should prepare yourself for heartache anyway. So, it won’t have any impact if they are truly related.”
Robert added, and both of his friends cornered him perfectly.
When they were united like they were now.
If only Alexander were healthier, bashing them both would be the right decision at the moment. Unfortunately, Alexander was still feeling dizzy, and Cesilia’s arrival was just like a fleeting breeze, which made his condition even worse.
“Instead of thinking about negative things, drink this!” Frans took out a bottle of medicine from his bag. It was a remedy he prepared himself, specifically for his friend.
“What’s this? Don’t make me crazy like Mama did.”
“No, you misunderstand. This will only make you feel relaxed and calm. After that, think about what’s right and what’s wrong between Cesilia and Mama’s request. If you consider Mama’s request as your new path to happiness, after drinking this, go meet your wife.”
“Casandra.” Alexander mentioned a name that suddenly crossed his mind, even though it didn’t feel like he was saying his wife’s name. Perhaps Frans meant Cesilia.
“If you think your wife is Casandra, then you should do it with Casandra.”