IVANA'S FAKE MARRIAGE
SURMISE

A smile was painted from the corner of Jose's lips as he stared lovingly at his wife who was still asleep in bed.

Jose approached Ivana gently rubbed the belly of a very loved woman, where now there is the fruit of their love that is growing.

"I love you, Iv", whispered Jose quietly. He did not want to wake his wife. Ivana often feels nauseous in the morning.

As if not affected by Jose's touch before going to work, the woman did not budge a bit from her sleeping position.

Jose opened the door handle, and saw a waiter working in front of the room that had previously been Ivana's room. It will be their children's room.

"Good morning sir", greet the maid saluting Jose respectfully.

"Hem". Jose just answered the brief greeting. "Oh yes, my wife is still asleep, lest you wake her up" Jose ordered.

"Okay sir", replied the servant obediently before the superior went down the stairs.

"Good morning sir", greet Hilda the servant whom Jose strongly believes. The only waiter who worked the longest at Almiron's estate. Hilda replaced Jupe. After Jupe betrays Jose's grandfather.

"Morning. Is my breakfast ready, Hilda? My wife is still sleeping, you'll take breakfast to the room. During my time at work, I trust you to look after my wife Hilda because my wife still has a lot of rest should not be more activity, should stay in the room only".

"Okay, Mr. Jose. Trust everything to auntie" Hilda replied as she poured warm milk for her employer.

Moments later, Jose had just finished breakfast when Ellios approached him in a slight hurry.

"What's the matter Ellios, why are you in such a hurry" Jose asked as he cleared the tip of his lips with a clean white cloth.

"Sorry to bother you sir, outside there's Hector wants to see you. He said there was something important he wanted to tell you directly, sir".

"Hectors? Why does he always come so early. What does he want Elli?"

"Hector didn't tell me sir. He said it was very important and would tell you directly, sir".

"Did I tell him to meet the master at the office? Aren't we leaving now, sir?"

Jose stood up from his seat. "Have him meet me in the study, now", Jose ordered as he passed from before Ellios who immediately nodded her head respectfully.

*

"Tell me why do you want to talk to me?".

Hector was standing right behind Jose's office door. He opened the fedora hat he was wearing.

"There was a foreign woman hiding in my car, sir. Until Maria and I got to Nasviel, I had absolutely no idea of the foreign woman in the trunk of the car I was driving".

Jose rests his back, while Ellios stands right beside him as Hector explains his arrival to meet Jose.

"I first expelled the woman because I suspected she might be an intruder who would harm people on the estate. But it turns out that the woman read the sign of the name of the Nasviel plantation. I saw him very surprised. Then the woman who claimed to be named Dulce said that she knew Mr. Leonel" Hector explained.

Hector's explanation made both of Jose's bushy eyebrows instantly intertwine. Even the man straightened his back listening to Hector's story more seriously.

"Dulce claimed to know Mr. Leonel from his late lover, your brother Juan..."

Of course, Hector's story just made Jose and Ellios surprised not kepalang.

"Dulce? Juan's lover?", murmured Jose while thinking and remembering that name.

"My sister never mentioned that name. All I know is, Juan doesn't have a lover". Jose is still thinking about remembering his brother Juan's past.

Jose turned his attention to Hector. "Where is that woman?".

Jose moved from his seat.

"There's in the car, sir. Did you let that woman in?"

"no need. Let's go meet. She had to explain what she meant by claiming to be my sister's lover".

Jose's out of his study soon. Ellios and Hector.

*

Jose and Ellios, standing not far from the car, knew no one was there.

"Hector where is the man", cried Ellios approached Hector who was still checking in his car.

"Come, sir, I warned the girl not to go anywhere. He denied my orders".

"You're wasting my time, Hector. You better get back to Nasviel. You're needed there. Don't let a single stranger into my wife's estate. This is the last time I remind you", said Jose, who looked upset at Hector.

"Yes, master Jose. Im sorry. But it's true there's a woman named Dulce that's the master. If master allows I will look for him and immediately bring before tuan–"

"No need! I missed the meeting this morning. You messed up all my schedules".

"Ellios asked Adrian to prepare my horse. I'll go around the fields. And you're resetting today's meeting".

"Okay sir", replied Ellios. While Hector had turned his car around to return to Nasviel's plantation.

*

The morning sun was pungent on Ivana's skin. "Ahh I'm having bad luck again, uhh Jose must have gone to work" he murmured.

Geck..

Geck..

Geck..

"Lake in!"

Hilda opened the door. With a friendly smile on her face with a tray filled with food and a glass of milk for Ivana.

"Before going Mr. Jose told me to bring your breakfast" Hilda said as she arranged the meal on the table.

"Thank you Hilda. I'd better take a shower first".

"He's miss. As long as the lady takes a shower I will change the bedsheets" Hilda smiled.

*

"It feels so fresh. My body feels fine. I didn't feel sick this morning" Ivana told herself.

"I'm not hungry yet" he muttered as he stared at the food Hilda had brought a moment ago.

Ivana chose to go to the balcony.

"I haven't seen a few weeks of agave fields and farmers who work every day in the morning and come home in the afternoon" Ivana said, watching her husband's flourishing agave fields.

A happy smile was painted on the beautiful face of the woman. But only for a moment. When a pair of Ivana netra captures the figure of a woman she does not know her husband Jose.

Suddenly the happy smile faded. Ivana's body suddenly shakes. The two bright hazels stared unblinkingly at Jose who was hugged by a foreign woman.

Immediately Ivana's fingers rubbed her stomach. While the left hand rests on an iron fence, supporting his body. At once both of her eyes warmed, when she saw the woman's fingers coiled around her husband's waist.

As much as Ivana's energy regulates her breathing. Her chest feels tight. There's no way Jose would betray me. Maybe that woman's a family I don't know yet..?"

"Or..."

...***...

Looking forward to Emily's new novel on 🙏