Replacement Bride
Homeowners

A chilly night with remnants of rainwater drenching the iron trellis of the balcony divider, Zoya stands with a glass of her favorite ginger tea. Staring at the star that began to show its presence after being covered in black clouds of night.

The sound of the door opening didn't make him turn his head either, because he knew it was Alex who had just come, he glanced at the circular clock on his wrist. At 22:30, Zoya smiled bitterly after her.

Sighing her breath slowly and entering with a faint smile welcoming Alex who had just returned from nowhere, Zoya did not want to bother.

''Are you home yet?'' Alex simply nodded, and smiled gently then passed into their room.

In her heart there is nothing at all for her to overtake Alex to the room, Zoya steps onto the sofa and puts her glass on the table then grabs the tv remote. 30 minutes later, Alex who came out of the room was already in his nightgown and looked fresher stepped into the kitchen and picked up a soda in the refrigerator.

Alex who saw Zoya was watching a drama on television intended to catch up with her, but just as she was about to sit on her butt, Zoya turned off the red button on the television remote while saying ''I'll go to sleep, good night.''

''Are you really sleepy?'' alex asked with a little scream because Zoya was going to go into the room but did not sound authentic from Zoya.

Fyuuha... Alex exhaled into the air, his hands rubbing his face and hair rough.

I don't know why his wife behaves that way.

Because Mark is delivering a bushel to him that he himself knows that the bushel belongs to Zoya and in it there is Zoya's own cuisine.

flashback this afternoon. When Alex was with Chintya, without knocking or saying a word, Mark just walked in and put a three-bed row on the table in front of Alex and Chintya and then just passed from there.

Alex who understands Mark's attitude and knows very well who Mark brings, Alex also suspects that Zoya has come and has seen himself being with Chintya at that time.

''Why is Mark being disrespectful like that?'' cetus Chintya with an annoyed face.

''You go home, because I have a meeting soon.'' Alex answered without answering Chintya's question.

''But I still miss you, Lex, '' with confidence, Chintya hugged Alex spoiled.

''Chintya be mature, this meeting is important to me.'' Alex pushes Chintya's body gently and stands fixing her jass.

''Well, ''' with a face that was bent Chintya was saying goodbye to leave but before that, Chintya turned her head back and kissed Alex's cheek without shame.

There was no expression on Alex's face, he just stared flat at Chintya's departure, and went to his desk to occupy himself with work.

Not long after, Mark went back in and gave a file to Alex's desk. ''I'm asking for your signature, boss.'' Mark said formally not as usual.

Alex who did not take a headache, immediately grabbed the file and opened it and read it for a while, but then his eyebrows fused together with his frowning forehead in wonder. ''Letter of resignation?'' Alex looked at Mark with many questions.

''Yes, I asked you to agree to that, but take it easy before I get out of here, I will finish my work that has not been done yet.''

''You don't joke, Mark !''

''What do you mean?''

''Today I made a mistake, and made a girl who knew nothing stroke her chest with a smiling face. You know very well I hate anyone who hurts a woman!'' clearly Mark with an uncharacteristic gaze, who seemed to be storing a lot of wounds there with the presence of bad memories in his past.

''Did Zoya deliver it?'' alex asked with a pointed line using the tip of his eye.

''I don't need to answer because you also know it, then I'm sorry to prepare the meeting materials in 30 minutes.'' Mark passes by, leaving his resignation letter still on Alex's desk.

Flashback.

____

The sun showed itself, the window that was not closed tightly made the sunlight enter and woke up the sweet girl who was sleeping fast.

Stretching his muscles and getting up from his bed, glancing to the other corner of the bed then just swiping his two shoulders and then going into the bathroom to clean himself was involved first.

After finishing in a neat dress complete with her bag, Zoya Khanza, who is the girl, came out of her room, but suddenly his steps stopped to see a man who fell asleep on the living room sofa with the state of the tv is still lit.

''Alex? awake..If you still want to sleep, go into the room.'' Zoya wakes Alex up.

''Are you tidy? then I'll get ready first, let me drive you to campus - Alex will get up from the couch but sit back because Zoya interrupts her speech.

''No need, I've booked a taxi, and he's been waiting out there. I'll go first, you don't forget breakfast''

Zoya just passed by and Alex just looked at her with her loving gaze. Alex can not distinguish the attitude of Zoya who is angry or is fine because of Zoya's cleverness that can hide his feelings with his indifference.

Then what did Mark say yesterday afternoon, Zoya stroking her chest with a smiling face, is that a form of jealousy or something else? she can't guess what Zoya is feeling right now.

Zoya just got out of the house, not the taxi driver he ordered who was currently approaching him but a woman in very elegant clothes was much different from her who at that time only used casual clothes, jeans with a hoodie.

''Are you Zoya ?'' ask her with a face that shows hospitality.

''Ya'yeah? what's this morning coming to my house?''

''Is Alex ready? ah must have been, then I'll go in, you be careful huh,'' without any shame, no, the woman passed through Zoya's body to enter the house but did not think Zoya even held her hand.

''wait?'' the woman's step, which was none other than Chintya, stopped and retreated a few steps back in her initial position.

''What's up?'' the friendly look of the face was no longer visible, with the look showing dislike for Zoya holding him back.

''You know this is my house, it is polite that the owner of the house is outside and you as an outsider just walk in.'' Chintya gaped upon hearing what Zoya said back then, her eyes squeaking dislike and violently releasing Zoya's hand that was still grasping her arm.