A womb for Mr. Mayor (Married At The Request Of His Lawful Wife)

The campaign activity organized by Liam Sandega was successfully held with great fanfare in Tsurayya City Park. Thousands of people attended. Dania, who was pregnant, came with Liam to support her husband.

"Thank you all for coming tonight. I am truly honored to be expected by thousands of people." Liam immediately walked up to the podium and took the attention of everyone in the room with a microphone in his hand.

"I assure you that all of you who have accepted my invitation tonight will not regret it because I have a gift for all of you. You can get my gift for FREE!" Liam said with a broad smile. His words struck an immediate chord with the congregation.

"I know that as a leader I have to improve the welfare of the people! As a leader, I must put the affairs of the people above all else! So if there is anyone my wife should be jealous of, the answer is the PEOPLE!"

The crowd roared with laughter. Immediately they chanted the same phrase in support of Liam Sandega.

"LIAM SANDEGA MAYOR 2024!!!"

"Liam!" In the midst of the crowd chanting in support of Liam, a woman's voice suddenly appeared. Worse, the source of the voice walked over and joined Liam at the podium.

She was a thin woman with dull, unkempt skin, dressed very shabbily. In her arms was a sleeping baby covered in a long batik cloth. "Liam, I gave birth to your child!"

Of course, the woman's words instantly silenced the roar of the crowd. Everyone who witnessed it felt very surprised and confused. Didn't Liam already have a wife, Dania Basman? Even his wife was pregnant.

"Why don't you come back to the village? How could you leave me alone until I give birth?"

Dania felt an immediate cramp in her stomach as she heard the stranger's confession. Dania was both shocked and angry. She struggled to her feet and approached the woman. "Who are you?" She snapped.

The young pregnant woman ignored the pain in her stomach from the contractions of her shock. The only thing that mattered to her right now was the strange woman. Who was she, where did she come from to suddenly appear in front of her and the entire community and claim to be her husband's wife?!

"I am Liam Sandega's wife!" The stranger replied very boldly.

Of course, her answer made Dania's chest feel tight, as if an invisible object was squeezing her heart. "W-what did you say?"

"Yes, I'm the woman Liam left for almost a year! Liam left me while I was pregnant." Suddenly the woman's voice trembled. She showed Dania her baby who was fast asleep in her arms, "But until our child was born, Liam had not returned to me."

Suddenly, Dania's mouth closed as she was shocked by the woman's words. Dania immediately turned to her husband. Right next to her, Dania found Liam standing silently, looking at the strange woman and her baby with a look that was hard to interpret.

"You can't make that up!" Dania immediately denied the strange woman's revelation because it was too painful to accept. "Liam can't have another woman! I am Liam's only woman!"

"Wh-what?" Now it was the stranger's turn to be shocked as she covered her own mouth. Her eyes dropped to Dania's bulging belly. "No... no way! No way!" She screamed in a heartbreaking voice.

"Let's settle this right now." Dania challenged. "If you really are Liam's wife, show me and everyone here the proof of your marriage. Where is your marriage license?"

Dania's demands seemed to be a devastating bombardment for the woman. It was obvious from her face, which instantly turned pale and her originally sad expression changed to a nervous one.

Seeing this, Dania felt a sense of relief in her heart. She almost believed the evil woman's evil words instead of her husband's.

"Liam...." The shabbily dressed woman called softly. "You left me just to remarry this woman? Will you have children?" She asked in a bitter voice, as if she couldn't believe her husband had betrayed her.

Suddenly, journalists swarmed the stage where Liam was giving his speech. They scrambled to report the news about the mayoral candidate's household. Although this is a private matter, because it has already been shown to all the people during the campaign, it becomes interesting to discuss in a news broadcast to the public.

As a matter of fact, not only journalists but also ordinary people are now scrambling to get on stage to record the argument between Dania Basman and a shabbily dressed woman claiming to be Liam Sandega's wife with their cell phones. The atmosphere of the campaign immediately became very unfavorable. The guards Liam had prepared to protect him were overwhelmed by the press and the public.

"Let the reporters cover. Get this woman and her child out of here. Take them far away so the media can't cover her face," Liam ordered his guards, realizing there was no way they could hold back the large number of reporters.

"Please don't throw me out!" The foreign woman cried as she struggled with Liam's men. "I just want justice for me and my baby! Why should I be evicted?"

But her struggle was futile. Her strength as a thin, malnourished woman would never match that of the strong men Liam had paid. Eventually, the woman's cries of injustice could not be stopped. The baby in her arms suddenly cried loudly, as if it felt its mother's grief.

Meanwhile, journalists swarmed Liam and Dania for interviews. "What exactly happened, Mr. Liam? Why did this woman suddenly come? Who was that woman?"

"Is Mrs. Dania sure that Mr. Liam doesn't have a wife other than Mrs. Dania? Then who was that woman?"

Questions continued to be asked of Liam and Dania. Liam sighed heavily as he hugged his wife's waist. "I don't know what just happened. But my guess is that woman is an agent of my political opponent. Her sudden appearance in public while I was on the campaign trail proves it, I think."

It's been a month since the campaign night incident in the town park, and Dania's life has returned to normal. So far, there has been no further interference from the strange woman claiming to be her husband's wife. Liam has also returned to work as the manager of the real estate company he inherited from Dania's father. Meanwhile, news of the campaign night riots was fading.

Around 8 a.m. Dania decided to take a walk in her backyard, as her doctor had advised. Dania's vision was spoiled by a beautiful flower garden. There were all kinds of rare and expensive flowers.

Dania was intentionally exercising for the good of herself and the fetus she was carrying. However, she suddenly heard a commotion at the main gate of her house, which was about 20 meters away from where she was now standing.

"Please let us in! We want to see Mr. Liam!"

"Mr. Liam isn't home! So please go away!"

Hearing this, Dania walked quickly, without thinking, to the main gate that was the source of the voice. Once there, Dania was immediately surprised by the appearance of the shabby woman carrying a baby that she had met in the city park during her husband's campaign activities.

This time, however, the woman was carrying not only a baby, but also a middle-aged man dressed as a religious leader. What more could she want? Just a moment ago, Dania felt that her life was at peace because she had never seen this woman again, but now she had the audacity to appear before Dania again!

"What right do you have to come to my house and make a scene?" snapped Dania angrily.

"Mrs. Dania, please don't kick me out again. I came here today to bring you the proof of my marriage to Mr. Liam, as you requested the other night. Please listen to me, Mrs. Dania." The strange woman looked at Dania expectantly as she gripped the iron bars of the large gate.

"What is your proof?" Dania asked matter-of-factly. She didn't even offer to let the two uninvited guests into the house.

This made Sarifa smile broadly, for she felt that there was a glimmer of hope for her to get justice. Praising God, the woman said, "I am Sarifa and this baby is Al Fatih, my biological son and Liam.

The woman was silent for a moment because she was sad. What mother would not be sad when her nine-month-old child is not recognized by his own father?

Still, she smiled gently. "The person I brought is Mr. Asy'ari. He is a religious leader who married Liam and me. I no longer have parents."

Noticing the incredulous look on Dania's face, Sarifa quickly added, "If you don't believe me, please come to Durian Village. This was Mr. Liam's village before he migrated to Tsurayya City. Ask all the residents of Durian Village who the religious leaders are there. I dare to say this because I know very well that there are no religious leaders in my village except Mr. Asy'ari.

"Where is your marriage book?" asked Dania, still dissatisfied.

The woman swallowed hard. She looked at Dania doubtfully, then said, "Please believe me, Mrs. Dania. Although my words may sound like a fabrication, I swear to God I'm telling the truth. I am married to Liam, but our marriage was not registered with the state at my mother-in-law's request, so we don't have a marriage certificate. However, our marriage is valid in the eyes of God.

Dania looked deeply into Sarifa's eyes, trying to find a lie, but she couldn't find one. Now Dania was torn. Should she believe what this strange woman said? What if Sarifa's words were true?

"By God Almighty, Sarifa's words are the truth, Mrs. Dania. I am the one who married Sarifa and Liam." Mr. Asy'ari said, making Dania's trust in her husband even more shaky.

Suddenly, the voice of Dania's mother-in-law startled her. "Do not believe what this false religious leader says, Dania!"

Ika, Dania's mother-in-law, appeared with her daughter Puan, Liam's younger sister. They both looked sarcastically at Sarifa and Asy'ari.

"Come, you two, confess! You are the messengers of my son's political opponents, are you not? Your only goal is to destroy Liam's career as mayor!" Ika criticized.

"Please ask God for forgiveness, ma'am!" Sarifa rebuked her mother-in-law. "How could you slander us like that when you saw for yourself when Mr. Asy'ari married me and Liam. Don't you miss your grandson?" said Sarifa, showing Al-Fatih's beautiful face. The baby was so smart that he didn't cry or make any other mess when his mother was in trouble.

"Shut up!" snapped Ika angrily. "I never had a grandchild from you!"

Ika's words hurt Sarifa deeply. She did her best to hold back the tears that wanted to fall. "You and Puan had the heart to leave me in the village when I was pregnant. I didn't get any money and no one helped me during labor. I felt really alone and had no one."

The woman's story touched Dania's heart. But Dania was still torn between believing the woman and believing her husband's family. But if the woman was lying, why was she acting like she was right?

"I'm not asking for anything strange, ma'am. I just want justice for me and my son. Am I not Liam's wife? Isn't Al Fatih Liam's son? But why don't we get our rights?"

"As a mother, you should advise your son. It's a great sin for a man to neglect his children and his wife." Mr. Asy'ari warned very sternly.

Sarifa and Asy'ari really couldn't be helped!

Allowing them to continue talking was tantamount to allowing them to influence Dania's mind. That was why Ika wanted to send them away.

"What are you waiting for?" Ika snapped at the guards of the Basman house. "Get her out of here!"

Sarifa quickly shook her head because she didn't want to be chased away. "Oh my God, I just want justice! Why am I being kicked out?" Her cries were unstoppable as the guards forcefully pulled her hands away.

"Let me go!" She cried, trying to fight back, but all she got was defeat. Her only hope now was Dania. It was only fitting that Sarifa looked at her husband's second wife with a pleading look. "Mrs. Dania, please consider my request! You will find out that Al Fatih is indeed Liam's biological son after we do the DNA test!"

No matter how hard Ika tried to thwart the DNA test between her son and Al Fatih, Dania's mind was made up. She had to accept Sarifa's challenge to prove everything. Even now, Liam was on his way to Bayangkara Hospital after Dania informed him of the plan to conduct the DNA test.

"You really don't want to hear what your mother-in-law says, Dania? How could you believe what that strange woman said instead of your own mother-in-law?" Ika continued to pepper Dania with questions. She hoped that Dania would feel guilty and cancel her plans.

But with a clever smile, Dania replied, "Of course I trust you more than that woman. I deliberately agreed to her challenge so that when she saw the results of the DNA test, she would be ashamed that her baby wasn't Liam's."

Hearing Dania's confession, Ika forced a smile. Her forehead was furrowed, as if she was thinking hard to find a way out.

Meanwhile, Dania was struggling more and more with her own thoughts. The strange behavior of her mother-in-law, who looked very worried when Dania agreed to take a DNA test, made her even more certain that there was something wrong that her mother-in-law was hiding.

"How are you, dear?" Upon arriving at Bayangkara Hospital, Liam rushed into the lab where Dania was waiting for him. The handsome, burly man immediately approached his wife, who was being crushed by Arkam and Hani, the parents of the late Ulya Basman - Dania's mother.

"I'm scared," Dania said softly. "This is the hospital where my father was pronounced dead. Coming to this hospital will only make me think of him." Dania said.

Liam patted his wife's head and smiled. "I'm going to the lab first to drop off the samples. You wait here for a while." The man turned to Sarifa, who also looked at him with a look as if she was holding back a wound.

Liam motioned for the woman to take her son to the lab. "You trust me, right? I promise you the results of this DNA test won't disappoint you, honey." Liam told Dania before walking away with Sarifa in tow.

"If the DNA test results prove that Al Fatih is not Liam's son, you must promise to stay away from my family!" Dania snapped as Sarifa walked past her.

The dull, black-faced woman turned her head toward Dania as her ears heard the beautiful woman's clear words addressed to her. "I promise, Mrs. Dania." She said solemnly. "However, if the results of the DNA test prove that Al Fatih is indeed Liam's son, then I ask you to stop preventing me from obtaining my rights as a wife."

Dania nodded briefly in agreement. It was a nightmare she had never imagined, that in this pregnant state Dania would be visited by a strange woman claiming to be her husband's wife.

Without anyone's knowledge, Dania had secretly taken hair samples from Liam and Al Fatih and stored them in a bag. Dania was determined to take her own DNA test at another hospital without anyone knowing! Dania felt very uneasy in her heart and this was the only way to calm her down.

***

It's been two weeks since Liam and Al Fatih had their DNA tests done. Today they were all back at Bayangkara Hospital to see the results of the test, as the hospital had announced that the results would be released today.

However, unlike their first arrival, which was attended only by close family members, their second arrival at Bayangkara Hospital was filled with journalists who wanted to cover the story. Don't know where they got the information about Liam's domestic affairs as one of Tsurayya's mayoral candidates.

The hospital was overwhelmed to block them. As a result, the journalists were allowed to enter on the condition that they not make a scene. After all, they had to respect the sick patients.

"How are the test results, Mr. Liam?" A reporter asked politely.

"Our honorable family never speaks without evidence! So please take a look at the results yourself and share them with the public!" Liam said as he handed the paper with Liam and Al Fatih's DNA test results to a journalist standing in front of him.

Suddenly, the reporters scrambled to take pictures of the paper. "The result is no match!" One of the reporters said as he read the paper with the test results.

"Yes, it's not a match!" said another.

Ika and Liam smiled with satisfaction, but Sarifa and Asy'ari were shocked when they heard the reporters' confessions after reading Liam and Al Fatih's DNA test results.

"No way!" Sarifa denied as she shook her head several times in disbelief. She turned to Asy'ari with a pained expression. "By God, Mr. Asy'ari, I never committed adultery. I only had a sex with Liam. Liam is my husband. You performed our marriage yourself."

"How can you swear like that when the DNA test results are 99% accurate!" A journalist interrupted her. Now Sarifa's face was not spared by the camera.

As if sensing his mother's sadness, Al Fatih, who had been sleeping, immediately woke up and cried loudly. Seeing this, Sarifa felt even worse. She knew her baby was hungry, but she couldn't give him milk because his milk wasn't coming out normally. Sarifa often went hungry because she didn't have money to buy food, so her breasts couldn't produce milk properly.

"Liam." Sarifa called softly, wanting to complain to the man she called her husband. "Why do you have the heart to slander me like this? Your child is starving, needs milk, but my milk won't come out. Don't you feel sorry for us?"

Sarifa's words made Ika very angry. "You despicable beggar! You'll see, Sarifa! I'll sue you for slander and spreading false news!" Ika lashed out mercilessly, even though she knew that the little boy Sarifa was carrying still desperately needed his mother.

***

"Excuse me." Dania greeted one of the nurses sitting on the administrative bench at Husada Hospital.

"Mrs. Dania?" The nurse was immediately surprised to see the daughter of the famous Basman family standing before her. "Would you like to take the results?" She asked in a soft voice.

It was not for nothing that she acted that way. It was because Dania had told all the nurses involved in this test to keep it a secret from everyone.

Dania nodded her head with a smile. "Yes." She said. Then the nurse reached into her own bag and took out a piece of paper from inside the batik-patterned bag.

"Here, Mrs. Dania." She said, politely handing the paper to Dania. "This test result is 99.99% accurate!"

Dania thanked her. Then she hurried to sit down in one of the chairs, while Arkam, Hani and Nailah, her late father's younger sibling, followed Dania. Dania touched her own breast, very worried about the results. Was it the same as the test results from Bayangkara Hospital, or was it different?

"In the name of God." Dania said as she slowly exhaled to calm herself. Instantly, Dania's body jerked, her tiny lips parted, and her eyes bulged. Completely silent after reading the contents. "The results match!" She said in a choked voice, so shocked by the new facts she saw.