EMBRACE YOU: Presence & Poison
Episode 74

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My mother cut my words, as usual. I don't want to cry and look weak in front of them. But I couldn't stop the pain in my throat and my heart.

I don't know what kind of mother I have to face anymore. I was just silently unable to answer until I felt Aunt Yuan sitting close to me and gently rubbing my shoulder, as if she understood what I was feeling.

“What is that right? Everything your mother told you all this time is true? You don't want to share that legacy with Daniel, you also feel sick and upset at your family?” Aunt Pia glared at me.

“Not like that.” My voice sounded a little shaky.

“Tell me your reason, so that your mother and we can understand it.” It was a soft and calm voice belonging to Aunt Yuan. This woman with white skin and narrow eyes looked at me while nodding.

Then my eyes glanced at my mother, looking at her who was also looking at me impatiently. “Before answering all that, I want to ask one thing to mother and mother should answer it honestly.”

“What?! You—“

“Kak, stop! Relented first. You just have to answer it.” Hearing the defense from Aunt Nuri made me even more sure I wanted to ask her the question that I had been so eager to ask her.

I swallowed my hard-earned salivary and convinced myself that whatever I would later hear, I could not give up. I can't blame myself. Until that question came out of my mouth.

“What do you mean by mother's words back then if I was just aunt Rose's stepson?” I could see the changing faces of my mother and two aunts.

“Isn't it more normal for mom to say I'm Aunt Rose's niece? Please answer bu.” My heart was beating faster than usual, faster than when I was in danger in the woods. More nervous than usual.

I fear.

“You heard wrong! I—ibu never said any of that!” My mother nodded at me with a high voice.

“I clearly heard it because mom said like that while yelling at me. where might I not hear it!” Now that my tears had dripped down my cheeks, I did not sob just that my eyelids could not stand it anymore even though the tightness in my chest was getting worse.

For the next ten seconds they were all silent no one answered me. “What is this? Why would no one answer?”

Now Aunt Yuan also seemed curious and anxious to see the attitude of these three women before us.

“Mom never said any of that! Where's the evidence if you hear it?” Mom yelled angrily at me, she stood up and pointed at me.

“If you don't want to share the legacy, just say don't slander mom like this! Although a child is not devoted to his parents but the feelings of mother will still mendo’mu the best! I will not allow you to’a as a child, you calm down!” Mom grabbed her bag violently and walked out of the house quickly. But in the doorway suddenly mom stopped and turned to look at me.

“Mom betrothed you to Henry. Go on a date with her and stop interrupting other people's fiancees!”

“Bu! They've already canceled the engagement a long time ago. Bayu has the proof.”

Mother had already disappeared in the doorway when I wanted to answer her. I don't want to share it! I'm even going to leave everything to Mom and Daniel, this intention I set before the abduction. But now I'm the bad one here.

“You should know how your mother is! We should be able to resolve the mistake now but look what happened.” Aunt Pia also stood up, looking at me disappointed but from her view she seemed to be hiding something.

Aunt Nuri and Aunt Yuan are left here. They both fell silent, thinking. “Aibi know after one ‘kan?” Guess I look at the woman who always looks to wear a blazer every time I meet her. Aunt Nuri is the mother's youngest sister, she is unmarried even though she is already past thirty.

This woman prefers to pursue a career first even though I know many men ask her to marry. Maybe it was because Aunt Nuri was the only woman working among all of the mother's younger siblings, so she better understood my position.

Aunt Nuri looked at me wrong. From her gaze I knew she didn't blame me like Aunt Pia did. “How do you think? What are you thinking?”

“My guess is getting more confident considering how my mother's attitude changed for me when I divorced my father. Mom kept demanding and blaming me all my life.”

Aunt Nuri nodded slowly. “Aibi has no right to answer. Your mother has to answer everything.”

I looked down, started sobbing and crying. Can't stand this tightness.

Now I don't even know who I am anymore. It was like my life was a lie! I can no longer afford it.

“Seeing how big brother's attitude is today, is it possible that he will say honestly?” The question of aunt Yuan whose hand was rubbing my back made me sob even more. It feels like for a long time no one has understood my current position.

“That's what I worry about. Brother is so stubborn. I don't know if he'll tell you the truth.”

“Why don't you answer yourself?”

“That's not my right. I also don't know how this all started.” I straightened my body, rubbed my cheeks and looked at Aunt Yuan and Aunt Nuri who were now sitting near me.

“I'll find out for myself. Aunt right, mom won't tell you the truth.”

“Say if you need aunty help yes.” I smiled and nodded slowly.

“Then now answer aunt's question. Are you really not going to share that legacy like your mother said?”

“Even before my mother said I had intended to leave everything to my mother but Aunt Rose's lawyer told me that this inheritance could be moved in someone else's name if I was married. But I've asked my friend for help so I can change ownership as soon as possible, I just have to take the rest of the certificate that is in Aunt Rose's safe in another city but it's not so because—“ My speech stopped once I remember about the kidnapping.

I haven't been able to answer all that until their arrest is certain. Considering this is a secret case being worked on by the military. I can only guess what happens if they find out about the poison Rey used.

The poison that slowly damaged my body.

“Why?”

Suddenly my gaze turned and slowly the pain came again. Unbearable pain all over my body. I felt a throbbing pain all over my body. I don't know which part is the center of the pain.

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