Chapter 1 - Miserably Julian

Julian was sitting alone with Aurora by the pool, sipping wine, and gazing up at the night sky. It's quite chilly, but they're enjoying it together as they play with their feet in the water.

"Everything feels perfect," Aurora murmured, turning to Julian with a sweet smile.

Julian looked back at his wife and clung to her neck, slowly pressing their lips together. After three years of marriage, Julian and Aurora were still drunk in love, like tonight. Their marriage was filled with many obstacles, but they were happy together.

"Oh, stop you miserable couple." A grumbling voice was heard from behind Aurora and Julian's bodies. 

Aurora immediately pulled her body away from Julian and glanced in the direction where the voice came from. "What are you doing here, sis?"

"I also want to look at the stars tonight." Isadora, Aurora's sister, was the one who ruined the atmosphere tonight.

Isadora immediately sat down on a poolside chair, wearing her bath towel and a glass of beer in her hand, while Aurora stood up with an annoyed face. Julian immediately grabbed the nearest towel to cover Aurora's body so she wouldn't feel cold.

"Thank you," Aurora whispered to Julian warmly.

"You'd better go in and give the grandchildren to Mommy." Isadora chirped before Julian and Aurora left.

Julian turned his head and was about to answer her. However, Aurora held Julian's body and spoke back to her sister, "Can you not mind our business? We're happy now; can't you see that?" Aurora raised her voice as she pointed at Isadora.

Isadora, who was ignited by Aurora's words, immediately stood up from her chair and replied, "Did you just yell at your sister? Are you fucking serious, Aurora?"

Aurora sighed heavily. "Sis, that's enough. It's our decision not to have children yet."

Aurora tried to manage her emotions and explained them well. However, that was not what Isadora wanted. She continued to provoke and make Aurora's ears heat up even more.

"Since when did you become so stubborn and rebellious, Aurora?" Isadora was still not to be outdone. 

"Sis,"

"Shut up, Aurora! I had no idea that Julian was such a bad influence on you." Isadora looked at both of them sharply. "What have you done to my sister?"

"Isadora, enough!" Aurora tried to defend Julian, her husband, who had not been given time to speak.

Isadora walked forward until she was face-to-face with Aurora. They were only half a meter apart. Their hot breath and emotions could clearly be smelled between each other. 

"Don't ever try to defend your husband in front of me! He doesn't suit you at all! He has nothing!" Isadora emphasized every sentence that came out of her mouth.

"You don't know what he gave me. He's the kind of husband I want." Aurora's gaze made Isadora even more disgusted.

"Aurora, wake up! What do you expect from a man like that?" Isadora pointed at Julian, who was standing right behind Aurora, like a statue.

Aurora unhesitatingly brushed off her sister Isadora's hand for demeaning her husband. Aurora really saw Isadora becoming her enemy.

"Stop, Isadora!"

"You're more suited to a rich, handsome businessman's son who can give you everything. Someone who is your equal, not him!" Isadora again pointed at Julian.

"Isadora!" Aurora was already out of control, with a flushed face filled with emotion.

Julian had no choice but to step forward and embrace his wife.

"Don't interrupt me, Julian!" Aurora brushed Julian off with enough force.

"Honey, calm down." Julian was still trying to calm Aurora down after making a scene with his own sister.

"I can't; she already underestimated you, Julian!" Aurora emphasized this while looking at her husband.

Julian put his arm around Aurora's shoulders and looked at her warmly. Julian's eyes seemed to be talking to Aurora's. Within seconds, Aurora calmed down and obeyed Julian's words.

"Come on, let's go in, dear. I don't want to see her anymore," snapped Aurora, who immediately embraced Julian and walked back into their room.

"Aurora, remember my words! And you, Julian, you don't deserve my sister!" Isadora was still shouting from her standing position.

Julian did not release his hug from Aurora's body until they made it into the room. The door to the room was closed tightly by Julian, and Aurora immediately removed the towel covering her body while grumbling.

"Why does Isadora dislike you so much? She's not even married herself; how does she know about marriage and soul  mates?"Aurora circled her room with annoyed steps.

"Honey, that's enough. Let's get cleaned up and get some rest." Julian didn't want to respond to her and make things even murkier.

Aurora immediately nodded and followed Julian's advice. Aurora was much calmer than before. Aurora and Julian cleaned up together before jumping onto the bed and resting.

The next day, Julian woke up ten minutes earlier than usual. Julian looked at his wife, who was still fast asleep beside him. Julian slowly brought his face closer and kissed Aurora's forehead.

Aurora squirmed and changed her position, turning her back to Julian. Julian could only smile fondly before jumping out of bed.

"Are you awake, honey?" Julian asked as soon as he came out of the bathroom and saw Aurora already sitting on their bed.

"Yes, I want to go to breakfast with you." Aurora gave him a small smile before jumping down, making the bed, and going into the bathroom.

"Alright, I'll wait."

Julian and Aurora headed to the dining table together. Aurora's family had gathered, none other than Sebastian Kingsley, Felicity Kingsley, and Isadora Kingsley.

"Good morning, ma, pa." Aurora immediately gave her parents a warm kiss on the cheek.

Julian only greeted Aurora with a smile while pulling her chair.

"Thank you, dear." Aurora sat sweetly, and Julian sat next to her.

Isadora looked sarcastically at Julian. Julian tried not to respond and didn't want to make a scene in the morning. Felicity was helping get food for her husband.

"How was it? Did you try to make grandchildren for mom last night?" Felicity asked without hesitation.

"Ma!" scolded Sebastian as he looked at his wife.

"What's wrong, honey?" She said as she sat back down.

"They've been married for three years and still don't have any children. Is it wrong if I ask that?"

Sebastian was silenced by his wife's words. All movement in the dining room slowed down, and the atmosphere became awkward. Isadora was the only one enjoying the atmosphere, as evidenced by the knotty smile she was wearing.

"Is it possible that Julian can't give me a child?" Felicity continued her accusations, which were directed at Julian. 

"Ma!" Aurora has now reprimanded her mother.

"Did you check on that?" Felicity looked at Aurora.

"Not yet, ma. But," Aurora's words were interrupted. 

"I knew it! It must be Julian; he's barren!" Felicity accused Julian with no real evidence and only prejudice. "Julian, look at me! What are you? You're not good-looking, you don't have money, and you only work as a waiter in my family business. Now, you are also barren? Oh God, Julian, please make Aurora and us proud for once!"

Julian, who could only swallow all the ridicule, Julian knew exactly what Felicity was saying, and it was all fact, except for his infertility. Julian felt he had just been thrown into the deepest trough without being able to defend himself. 

"Ma, stop it already!" Sebastian tried to interrupt as he looked at Julian with pity.

"Don't interfere, pa! I want to make Julian realize that he could have been more useful in this  family.” Felicity continued without stopping.

"I'm sorry, ma." Julian bowed his head in shame.

"Don't call me mama; I don't want to!" Felicity pretended to spit in front of everyone. "I've disagreed with you from the beginning because you're just an orphan who was given life by my husband." 

Felicity could no longer be stopped. Her face was already flushed, and she didn't even touch her food in the slightest.

Felicity got up from her chair and said, "Now, I demand that you divorce my daughter and get out of here! I don't want to see a useless person like you! GET OUT!"

Everyone was stunned and unable to do anything, including Aurora. Julian, who heard his mother-in-law's words, could only get up from his chair and say goodbye.

"Mr. Kingsley, thank you for everything you have given me." Julian gave Sebastian a glance and a little bow before looking at his wife.

Julian kissed his wife's forehead and said goodbye, "I love you, Aurora. Always."

Without waiting for a response from Aurora, Julian walked out of the house, embarrassed. Julian was expelled by the family, which had accepted him as a child and raised him. Julian knew it was all his fault; he was neither a good adopted son nor a good son-in-law.

"Julian, wait!" After realizing this, Aurora got up and ran after her husband.

"Aurora, come back here!" Felicity shouted at her daughter from the direction of the dining table.