Chapter 9 9

"I've been standing outside your mansion's gate for a while, but you didn't show up, so I came inside your house."

"It's okay. Just for you."

Tom was confused when Alex handed him a lunchbox filled with sandwiches.

"Alex, what's going on with you? Why are you giving me this lunch?"

"I'm asking for permission. You can leave my house now and tell them I asked for permission today."

"Permission? Are you sick?"

Alex remained silent, walked into his room, and closed the door behind him.

With the help of her neighbor, Irsya managed to get her mother to the hospital in an ambulance. Irsya remembered, before leaving her house, that there were many discarded condoms scattered on the floor.

"Damn it! Is love so insane? Why do adults never think with their brains?" Irsya yelled in frustration, crying uncontrollably.

This girl was deeply hurt, and the trauma within her was like a sequence of scars and wounds that had been piling up all day. The frustrated girl felt the gentle, warm touch of Alex's hand.

"Alex, how did you know I was here?"

"I saw you get into the ambulance."

Irsya immediately hugged Alex tightly, once again wetting his clothes with her tears. Her head was pounding.

"Alex, I can't keep all of this to myself anymore, I'm so tired."

Irsya tilted her head up, looking into Alex's eyes with a pleading gaze.

"Alex, can you be my shoulder to lean on today?"

"Irsya Ananza."

Irsya was surprised when someone called her name. She turned around and saw a man with her father.

"Angelio," Irsya replied.

Alex released his grip on Irsya's waist, making her look at him in confusion. However, Irsya still held onto Alex's hand tightly and gazed into his eyes with a pleading look. But Alex pulled his hand away and even distanced himself from her.

"Irsya, who is he?"

"Angelio, this is Alex," Irsya replied.

Angelio held Irsya's hand, gazing at her with a pleading look, and immediately hugged her tightly, which startled Irsya.

"Angelio?" Irsya exclaimed.

Irsya turned to look at Alex, seemingly seeking his help because someone was hugging her, but Alex didn't offer any assistance at all.

"You scoundrel, Alex," Irsya muttered under her breath.

Angelio gazed into Irsya's eyes and spoke privately with her.

"Irsya, I will arrange our wedding. My father wants us to get married, and my family will cover the hospital expenses for your mother," Angelio explained.

Irsya was deeply shocked. She wanted to refuse, but she thought about the likely high hospital bills and her current lack of funds. Irsya felt cornered.

"Don't worry, none of our schoolmates will know. We'll get married and live in the same house, but I promise I won't ask you to fulfill your duties until you finish school," Angelio reassured, trying to persuade Irsya.

"I can't. I already have a boyfriend. I can't leave him," Irsya gently declined.

Angelio glanced at Alex and asked Irsya, clearly irritated, "Is he your boyfriend? You must understand that I'm marrying you to help your mother, who is dying right now, and to find your mother's lover who hurt her."

Alex remained silent, appearing indifferent, but he was actually considering the best course of action. He weighed the benefits Irsya would gain from marrying Angelio and assessed Angelio's character.

"You must understand, all of this is for the sake of your boyfriend's mother," Angelio added.

"I can't. I can't let my boyfriend marry you," Alex firmly stated.

Irsya smiled, grateful that Alex was helping her avoid Angelio.

"I can earn money on my own, I don't need your help, Angelio. Thank you," Irsya said.

A handsome man with a perfectly fit body ran towards Irsya, holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Irsya."

Irsya jumped, her heart seemingly stopping when her first love approached her.

"A-Aldo, how can you be here? W-who told you?" Irsya asked, utterly confused.

Alex observed Irsya's expression change to one of pure happiness. She looked so happy, and her eyes sparkled differently.

"Aldo, I'm so grateful you came. Thank you so much," Irsya said, brimming with happiness.

The two of them embraced tightly, leaving Alex standing there in silence, while Angelio was stunned as he watched Irsya tightly embrace Aldo.

"Irsya, who is he?" Angelio asked.

Aldo kissed Irsya's forehead and lovingly caressed her head.

"He's Aldo, my ex-boyfriend," Irsya explained.

"You have an ex-boyfriend?" Angelio was surprised.

Irsya smiled, thrilled that Aldo had come because she believed he would help ease her heavy heart.

"Irsya, don't worry. I'll find the person who was your mother's lover, and I'll cover all your mother's expenses," Aldo kindly assured her.

Aldo was a private detective with a two-digit salary and a five-year age difference from Irsya.

"Irsya, let's go inside."

Aldo held Irsya's hand tightly, and she even forgot about Alex, who had been observing her.

"Don't you, as her boyfriend, feel disturbed seeing your girlfriend being taken by another man?" Angelio asked.

Alex remained silent, expressionless, even though his heart was in turmoil. He couldn't show it. Alex decided to go buy a drink, and Angelio followed him.

"Angelio, where are you going? She rejected you, don't be foolish!" his father scolded.

"I want to find out why Irsya rejected me, I won't give up so easily," Angelio said.

"You naughty child. In that case, I'll go see a friend."