Chapter 2 Two Chapters

"I'm serious mom," Linda replied, "that's why I came here. I want to ask you to help me persuade Zayn to accept my friend's offer."

Darmi thought, she wondered how much of the 500 million Linda had mentioned earlier. Wealth was in sight, when else would her son-in-law bring her luck if not now.

Although she couldn't figure out who the woman was who would spend so much money just to get Zayn, Darmi didn't want to bother with it all.

"But, how do you get Zayn to agree? That husband of yours will definitely refuse outright if he finds out about this."

"That's what I'm thinking right now mom."

The mother and daughter were both thinking. Surely their thoughts were the same, not wanting to waste the 500 million that awaited them.

"But, what about you Linda? Don't you love Zayn very much? Then how could you possibly give your husband to another woman?" Despite the evil mouth, Darmi still thought about her daughter's feelings.

"To be honest, I really love Zayn mom. But, I'm also not strong enough to live in poverty together with Zayn. I feel sorry for the children too mom, I want them to live happily and not lack like now. It hurts me to see my children always being underestimated by their friends because they can't have what their friends have."

What mother's heart doesn't hurt when she sees her children being ostracized and looked down upon by other children.

Linda's two children could only wait for their father's promise to buy what they wanted. Maybe the children were bored too, just like she was bored of waiting for an uncertain promise.

"Your choice is correct Lin. Don't think about feelings and love. If you already have a lot of money, you can have fun with your kids and forget about your love for Zayn. Nowadays, love is not enough to be happy. Money is the main source of happiness, you can buy your own happiness with the money you have later."

"Mom is right, I have to think about my children's future too."

Linda's decision to accept her old friend's offer was solidified. After talking with Darmi she became convinced of the decision she would make.

Let's lose a husband she loves, it's useless to be together but life is full of suffering. After having a lot of money, Linda is sure that she can slowly forget Zayn and start her new life with 500 million money that she has never seen in her life.

*****

After work, Zayn didn't find Linda at home. Only her two children had not seen their mother since noon.

Linda left the children without any food at home. Upset, of course, was in Zayn's mind. If she was angry and upset with him, he shouldn't take it out on their children.

"Dad, is the food cooked?" asked Zayn's son who came into the kitchen after his father.

Zayn turned around, looking at his son's face. "It will be soon," he replied with a smile.

"My brother and I are hungry, Dad," complained the little boy, indeed since returning from school earlier they had not eaten anything.

"Yes, I know, you guys are patient."

Zayn gently rubbed the top of his son's head, he smiled slightly. It hurt his heart to see his son starving like now.

"Dad, it sounds like someone is knocking on the door," Daren said, telling his father.

"That's probably your mom coming home."

Zayn turned off the stove and went to open the door. Linda happened to be home, so he was going to ask his wife for an explanation about her outrageous behavior.

From annoyance and anger, it turned into surprise and curiosity. Zayn looked at the man in front of him, the delivery boy. But, since when did he order food? Maybe Linda did it, so where did his wife get the money?

"Sir, please sign here," the delivery boy said, startling Zayn out of his reverie.

"I-yes," Zayn stammered. At first he refused to accept the food, he didn't want to accept something he didn't know the origin of.

"My job is only to deliver sir. According to the address of the house, this is indeed meant for you and your family." It was that sentence that made Zayn, finally melt and accept the food from the hands of the food delivery courier.

After saying thank you, Zayn brought in the food that the courier handed over to him. Although hesitant, Zayn still brought in the food and placed it on the table.

There was no intention to touch the food at all. It could have been poisoned to harm the family. It was better to be careful, than to have something untoward happen later.

"What's dad?" Daren came up to Zayn followed by Desy who was Zayn's eldest child.

"Wow, Daddy ordered food for us," said the two children happily.

"But this is ...." Zayn had nothing more to say as his two children opened the food and ate with gusto.

Daren and Desy ate the food in front of them with gusto. There were fried chicken thighs, with chili sauce dipped, then eaten with warm rice. Both of them had only dreamed of enjoying food like that. But now their dreams were coming true. Finally the two of them could eat the KFC chicken that their friends often told them about.

"Dad, if there's any more money for me and my sister to buy food like this again," Desy said between bites.

Zayn only smiled bitterly in response to what his children said. It was that simple to see his children happy. However, he has not been able to give his children the happiness they want.

"Yes Desy. You guys continue eating, don't talk while eating." Zayn admonished, he gently wiped the corners of his eyes that were wet, without his two children realizing that the father was crying silently.

After the two children finished eating, Zayn cleaned up the leftover food on the table. Although he intended not to touch the food, but seeing his children eat so well Zayn undid his intention.

Maybe the food was also his children's sustenance. Someone kindly gave it to them, and he shouldn't refuse, right?

Zayn glanced at the clock on the wall, it was already 8pm and Linda hadn't returned home yet. He took a deep breath, it was always the case that when she didn't get her way Linda would sulk and leave the house without a care for the children who needed their mother.

"Daddy," little Daren called weakly.

"Daren, what's wrong with you?" Zayn walked over to his pale son.

"I have a headache, I'm going to throw up." Daren held his head.

"Come on Daren, I'll apply some balm."

Without thinking, Zayn grabbed his son in his arms and laid him down on the wooden sofa in the living room.

"Daddy!" Called Desy's eldest, the girl approached her father looking as pale as her sister.

"Oh my, what's wrong with you two?"

Zayn panicked at the state of his two children.

"Daren, Desy, what's wrong with you two? Don't make me worry." Zayn panicked, especially when he saw foam coming out of his sons' mouths.

"Daren, Desy!"

The two children suddenly had a seizure, and Zayn panicked even more. As a father, he didn't know what to do.

"Zayn, what are you doing to them? You want to kill Desy and Daren!" someone shouted from the doorway, staring angrily at Zayn who looked panicked in front of his two children.