Trial Marriage Husband : I Am CEO's Plaything

Several hours had passed since Kumala landed a hard slap on Lisa's cheek and poured out all of her anger on her. The pregnant woman was still sitting cross-legged at the door, mustering up her courage and strength to stand up and apologize to her mother.

Her knees felt stiff and sore after kneeling at the door for too long. Her stomach also started to feel uncomfortable from sitting in a position that pregnant women were not supposed to do.

Like it or not, Lisa has to stay at her mother's house after not coming home for a long time because she works in another city. This is a risk that she must bear since she has no other option. Even though Rangga offers her a comfortable place to live with the best quality of life, she is not a shameless person. Lisa prefers to return to her mother's house, at least for a while, until she finally runs out of options.

***

Lisa stayed at her mother's house for a whole month, but it was impossible for her mother to talk to her. 

Every day, Kumala always got up early to prepare breakfast but she never called Lisa to come out of the room to eat. However, whenever Lisa got up and went to the kitchen to make breakfast, Kumala always left some for her.

In her mind, Lisa knew that her mother still cared for her, and that their bond couldn't have been broken. She blamed herself for not telling Kumala since the beginning of her pregnancy.

Only Lisa and Kumala live in the rented house. Bella hasn't been home for a long time since she worked in the office. She rented a boarding house near her workplace so she wouldn't get tired or be late for work.

The atmosphere that enveloped them became cold and awkward, as if the house was uninhabited. Kumala deliberately ignored and avoided Lisa. When Lisa came out of her room, Kumala returned to her room again. Even when the two of them ate together at the same table, Kumala didn't say anything to Lisa.

Today, Lisa is drying her laundry in front of the house. Without realizing it, she heard the whispers of the neighbors from behind the lines of plants.

"Eh, do you know that Kumala's eldest daughter is pregnant again? It's been a month since she hasn't come back and suddenly, she came home with a child in her belly!" One of the neighbors commented in a flirtatious tone.

"Yes, I saw it myself yesterday that Kumala's daughter had a swelling belly. I think the last time I saw her, her stomach was still so flat!" Another person joined in.

"But don't you feel sorry for this Kumala? I heard her daughter is a good girl but she kept coming home pregnant. Could it be that she's a victim of rape? I'm sure Kumala will educate her daughters well," The other neighbor also chirped in.

"Ugh, what do you know about Kumala's daughter? She didn't come home with her husband, right? Could it be that Kumala's daughter is really an immoral girl?" The person from before commented.

"That's right! Could it be that she deliberately sold her body for money? Haha, what's the difference with those prostitutes in nightclubs then?"

Among the gossipers, one of them was named Linda, who was the leader of a housewife group that understands all the latest gossip and news happening around the housing complex. Linda's ability to seek out and spread gossip cannot be denied.

Once something went wrong around the neighborhood, Linda was the first to find out about it and spread it. This time, Lisa is unlucky to be the hottest topic in the complex.

It's true that she's not married and got pregnant, but the baby in her womb is the child of her ex-husband. Lisa only found out that she was pregnant when she divorced from Oscar. Trials always came to her repeatedly. Despite being the topic of conversation, Lisa still has to be strong to raise the child in her womb.

Without knowing it, her mother was outside the house with a grocery basket full of vegetables. Kumala went to the gang of gossipers and gave Linda a sharp gaze.

She walked over to Linda and pinched her stomach until the woman screamed. 

"Ah! It hurts, you know! What the hell is your problem!?" Linda asked, seemingly shocked by the pain.

"You don't have to get involved in other people's business! You better go back to your respective houses and keep cleaning!" Kumala exclaimed, annoyed to hear the three gossipers talk about Lisa behind her back.

"Wait a minute, we're not talking about anything, Kumala. How come you are so bitchy to us?" Linda asked, trying to excuse her behavior.

Kumala stood up confidently with her hands on her hips. The expression on her face showed a boiling anger. "Let me say it once again, never spread crazy rumors about my daughter! Or else, I'll tear your mouths with crowbars!"

Lisa still peeked at her mother who was fighting with the three women from behind the row of plants. Seeing that scene, her heart suddenly started beating very fast, afraid that her mother's illness would recur.

Today is the first time Lisa has seen her mother act so tough on her neighbors who dare to be insolent with her. 

Lisa blamed herself when she saw her mother defend her against people's discordant voices. This is all her fault, she can't help her mother now. If Lisa came out and helped Kumala, the neighbors would have mocked her and her family even more because of her bulging stomach.

But seeing her mother being a laughing stock made Lisa's heart feel like it was pierced by hundreds of needles, so painful that it couldn't be described in words.

"Kumala, your daughter has clearly committed a scandal! Why are we not allowed to talk about her though?" Widiatri, one of the three gossipers, added.

Hearing the sentence Widiatri had just said made Kumala even more furious and agitated. "How do you know that Lisa has a scandal!? Don't carelessly accuse others if you have zero evidence!"

"Huh, do you think we are stupid? Kumala, we've been neighbors for a long time. I don't really know all the circumstances and problems of your family. But I see Lisa coming to your house without her husband, so I thought that something must be wrong! You must be covering up your family's disgrace from us right?" Linda asked suspiciously. Her two eyes stared at Kumala with a look full of curiosity.

"Do you want to hide it from us? Don't' even dream about it!"