While monitoring Michelle's activities from Ellena from the screen, Lucas racked his brain trying to find a way to keep the two away. It is not impossible that his ex-lover approached his wife with a certain purpose.

Decided to call a subordinate to keep an eye on Michelle's movements. Make sure if his thinking about the woman is not true.

"Report her wherever she goes and whatever she does every day. Remember! Everyone, without exception!" The man ordered to his interlocutor on the phone.

Lucas rocked the device in his hand as he leaned back in his oversized chair. His face looked very serious when he saw the interaction between the two women.

Ah, that man is always very wary when it comes to his beloved wife. He had promised himself to always look after and protect Ellena. Won't let anyone hurt him. In fact, himself.

However, Lucas still chose to keep watching from the cellphone screen. Only his confidants followed the woman. Don't want to meet and make Ellena misunderstood. Yes, he must maintain his attitude because now he has a heart to protect.

Meanwhile at the cafe, Ellena and Michelle are still engaged in a chat that looks so exciting. Laughter and laughter interspersed their conversation. It seems the two women are very easy to familiarize themselves with each other.

"Oh, yes, Miss Ellena. May I ask you something?" Michelle asked after taking another sip of the lemon tea in front of her.

silence. The woman did not immediately answer. 'Is she finally going to ask about my relationship with Lucas?' Ellena thought was was in her heart.

"But you have to promise you won't be mad at me." Michelle said holding up her pinky.

Ellena looked at Michelle's hand, then hesitantly hooked her little finger there. Try to smile as friendly as possible.

'Of course I wouldn't be mad if Miss Michelle didn't ask me something weird. Or I will be very confused to answer later' replied Ellena. However, only in her heart, because she would not be able to say that to the woman who was smiling at her.

"Where did you learn to bake and what's the secret that all the cakes you make are so delicious like this?" She asked with a cheerful face. Ah, it seems that Ellena had been worrying about such a pointless thing earlier. Though her heart was racing and her breath hitched at the thought of the question she would ask.

Ellena thought that Michelle wanted to know the secret of her relationship with Lucas. However, in fact the woman was only questioning the secret of her cooking. She started to breathe a sigh of relief, then put on a style as if she was thinking.

"I learned from my mother, Miss. She is the best chef in the world," said Ellena, "but are you sure you want to know my secret?" She added later.

Michelle seemed to nod slowly. Then, Ellena gestured with a hand gesture for the woman to bring her face closer.

"I made it with love." She whispered into her ear. "Hopefully that conveys to every one of my customers."

"Ah, I was fooled, Miss. I thought you would actually share your secret recipe with me." Michelle chimed in with a face that didn't show any disappointment at all. In fact, her hue was filled with joy.

"I'm sorry, Miss. I don't have the secrets you mean. If I did, I'd tell you of course." Ellena answered with a smile. Michelle also seemed to return the smile. Then, she glanced at the watch that was wrapped around her hand.

"Sorry, I have to go, Miss Ellena. Talking to you makes time go by quickly. I didn't even realize we'd been talking all this time."

"Ah, sorry for keeping you here, Miss," said Ellena with a face full of regret.

"Don't apologize, I'm the one taking up your time, Miss. All right, I'll go now. I hope we can meet and talk again later." Michelle gave Ellena a warm hug.

The woman then stepped towards the exit while waving her hands in the air. However, she only took a few steps back to Ellena. Making her look at her in surprise.

"Can I have your number, Miss? Michelle asked, handing Ellena her cell phone.

Lucas who saw this became furious. Will not let the woman get his wife's cell phone number. Immediately he called Ellena to prevent it.

Just as Ellena was about to take Michelle's cell phone, it rang. Seeing the name on it, then glanced at the woman for a moment.

"Sorry, can I answer this call first." She asked, "I'll be right back." She added quietly as she closed the phone with one hand. Then, walk away from the woman.

"Hello, Ellena? Can you hear my voice?" Lucas asked from the other side.

"Yes, of course."

"Can we talk now?"

"Hmm, I'm not sure." Ellena glanced at Michelle then flashed a smile.

"Are you busy?"

"It's not like that, Lucas. I'm just talking to my new friend."

"Ah, so now, your friend is even more important than your own husband?" Lucas asked trying to buy as much time as possible.

"Oh come on. You know that's not what I meant, Lucas."

Lucas was still watching Michelle's movements through the screen. The woman seemed to be in a hurry and was about to leave.

Sure enough, he stepped closer to Ellena. He patted his wife's shoulder and signaled that he had to leave now.

Ellena just lowered her head with a smile. As a sign that he agreed.

"I'm sorry, Miss. This call is very important and I can't put it off." He told Michelle. The woman seemed to smile understandingly. Then, walk away from Elena.

Ellena stared at the woman's shadow, until it disappeared from sight.

"Okay, now you can say what you mean by calling me, Lucas. Speak, I'm listening to you." The woman said again focusing on her cellphone.

"Ehm ... okay Mrs. Lucas. Listen carefully to what I have to say."

Ellena's face reddened at Lucas' words. Only this time the man called her Mrs Lucas

"I love you so much and really miss you right now." Lucas said, causing the woman to cover her mouth in embarrassment. The man seemed to be holding back a laugh. So enjoy the behavior of women on the phone screen.

***

"Elle, what really happened?" Briana asked as soon as Ellena came home from work, just as Lucas had entered the room first.

"W-what do you mean, Ma'am?" Ellena looks very nervous and awkward. not without reason. Of course she knew where her mother was talking. However, she pretended not to understand that.

"Can you explain what your in-laws discussed last night?" Briana asked with a serious look and a firm tone. "Why is he suddenly discussing business, when we have no business at all." She added curiously.

Ellena looked bewildered. "I-I mean the cake shop business, Ma'am. Yes, that's right. Didn't I open a cake shop and soon I will open branches in several places. I will leave the branch shop to Ma'am and Martin." She explained with a proud smile. Luckily her brain thought quickly to come up with an excuse.

"Is that so?" Briana asked squinting. It seemed she couldn't believe what her daughter was saying.

"Yes, Ma'am. The second branch store is not a new building. It took some time to renovate. That's why I said last night that I would have a re-opening. I'm not lying, Ma'am."

"Don't you even want to be honest with your mother?" Her mother asked sadly.

"Wh-what do you mean, Ma'am?"

Briana held her son's hands. "Honestly, Dear. I don't want you to bear it alone."

Ellena wasn't sure that her mother had known what she was going through. However, she is so sure that a mother's hunch really can't be fooled. She grabbed the arm of the woman who had given birth to her and led her to a single gray sofa. Her defenses crumbled and she ended up telling everything about her and Lucas.

"Why weren't you honest from the start? If you tell me, we can find a solution together. Without having to sacrifice your life by marrying a man you don't love." Briana seemed to wipe the tears that escaped down her cheeks.

"I don't want to burden you, Ma'am." Ellena hissed.

Briana took her in her arms. She hugged her tightly, then patted her back. "Thanks for sticking around this far. You're a strong my daughter."

Never thought that her daughter had to go through such a hard life. If only she had abundant wealth, of course it would not happen to her daughter. Ah, now she starts blaming her poverty.

Ellena's tears fell when she was treated like that from her mother. All this time she had been holding on and trying to act as if everything was fine. However, deep in her heart there is a wound that also needs comfort.

"I'm going to beg Lucas to release and divorce you. We can pay off the debt little by little. I'm sure he'll accept it. He's a nice person, isn't he?"

Briana spoke with tears in her eyes. Moved from her seat to meet her son-in-law. Just as the woman turned around, Lucas was standing in front of her. Ellena who saw her husband's presence also stood up.

Yes, Lucas did hear the mother-daughter conversation from behind the wall. Don't want to spoil the atmosphere with his presence. However, he would not be able to accept if anyone wanted to separate him from Ellena. Except for her mother-in-law.

"What do you mean, Ma'am?" Lucas asked, trying to convince himself he had heard right.

Briana positioned herself to kowtow to her daughter-in-law. However, Lucas swiftly prevented it.

"I beg you to spare my daughter. It was my fault for being poor."

"Calm down, Ma'am. I swear there will be no divorce between me and Ellena. Now we love each other. There is no longer a contract between us. I love her sincerely and with all my heart." Lucas said firmly. There was no lie hidden in his eyes.

"If anyone has to beg, it's me. Please don't separate me and Ellena, Ma'am."

"Is that true, Lucas? Are you really not lying?" Briana asked still trying to confirm what her son-in-law said.

"Sure, Ma'am. I love Ellena so much. Please don't separate us, even by an inch!" Lucas pleaded.

"Then what about my daughter?"

"I love Lucas too, Ma'am. You don't have to worry anymore.. I won't be sad just because I married someone I don't love, because now I really love him."

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