Love Redux: Fated to the Handsome Doctor

Lara never expected that marriage would only bring pain to her heart.

After she and her driver broke into the director's office-claiming to be in a crucial meeting-they were immediately greeted by the disgusting sight of her half-naked husband.

Her husband was there, with his secretary, Olivia.

"S-Seno. How could you!"

Lara's eyes welled with tears. Her fists clenched, and her face flushed with anger.

Lara had been suspicious from the start when they were forbidden from entering Seno's room. She had to see her husband. Lara insisted on breaking down the door if necessary.

Sure enough, the door was locked.

Lara immediately instructed the large man who was her driver to break it down and... her suspicions were confirmed.

Seno was there. Naked. With his secretary.

Lara had long felt a bad premonition since her husband opened a new business that improved their economic situation.

Seno, who used to be just an employee, had now become a big boss. Everything indeed improved, but not his behavior.

Seno came home less often and was frequently angry when Lara asked where he had been and why he hadn't come home. He said there was a lot of work. Isn't this what you wanted? he said. No. Lara never wanted to be rich but unloved by her husband.

Lara knew that feeling very well. Since childhood, she felt that way. Wealth would only ruin her household. Seeing them making out there, Lara understood what her husband had been doing all this time.

"Hiks..."

Lara cried unconsciously, after seeing Seno and Olivia-who arrogantly-grinned at her.

"La-Lara, I can explain," Seno said nervously, trying to calm Lara, while Olivia looked at her with a happy expression.

A cynical smile was plastered on Olivia's face, a smile that Lara knew very well. Olivia was like that. She was very happy when she saw Lara upset and felt victorious if she could take what should be Lara's, since their college days.

Lara's marriage to her husband couldn't be called a dream marriage for most young couples. They married out of necessity.

Lara got pregnant before the sacred bond tied them together. Seno-her boyfriend who had planted the seed of love-had to marry her after she asked for his responsibility.

Although initially opposed by the parents, their marriage continued until now.

At first, Seno was a romantic man who melted the heart of a cold-hearted girl like Lara.

Their initial meeting could be said to be special. Just a few months before the wedding, Seno defended Lara when a fight broke out in the student cafeteria.

At that time, Lara was hit by nasty rumors... and Lara became the target of other students there.

Only Seno defended her. Practically, Lara melted at his kindness.

But now, Lara regretted it.

That baseless judgment now tore apart her pride, her happiness, because Seno was not as good as she thought.

"Lara...." Seno called softly to his wife while pushing Olivia away. However, Lara didn't move. Her head was bowed, it seemed she was crying.

"H-how could you...." Lara whispered amidst her sobs. She was already pregnant. Unfortunately, Lara had to swallow the bitter pill of being betrayed by her own husband.

Pain mixed with sadness enveloped her heart. Lara almost fainted when she saw their affair. Her heart pounded erratically. Her stomach felt like it was being squeezed. But Lara tried to stay strong, though it was extremely difficult.

"Lara!" Seno raised his voice when his lawful wife finally turned and left them. The loud sound of the door slamming and the murmurs of other employees only added to Seno's shame.

He never thought Lara would be suspicious, even daring to break down his office door.

"Damn it!" Seno clicked his tongue while tidying his clothes. He was very angry! Seno was angry at Olivia, angry at the security guard who couldn't keep his wife away! Angry at... himself.

How could Seno be so reckless?

"Argh!"

"Darling...." Olivia tried to reach Seno's tense arm. The veins in his face hardened and Seno's angry growl could be felt by Olivia.

'This is very dangerous.'

Olivia couldn't calm Seno. And it was disgusting. Did Seno really love Lara?

***

Lara's suspicions were completely confirmed.

Olivia.

That woman.

Lara's long-time rival.

How dare she create a scandal at her husband's office?

Olivia was having an affair with Seno? Since when? Since the business opened?

"Bastard!" Lara growled as she thought about how cruel those two people were to hurt her.

Immoral.

Very evil!

Seno, after reaching the top of the company, seemed to lose his moral compass and started playing around with women. Yet, he had promised that they would reach their dreams together, dreams that they couldn't achieve when finances were still limited.

"Faithful when struggling, but like this now? He... cheated? Haha." Lara laughed bitterly as she got into the car.

The driver had driven the car back home, as per her request. Lara's heart was left behind, she no longer wanted to think about anything.

Including trusting.

Lara could no longer trust Seno. No.

So, from today onwards, their relationship would be very different.

And, that was Lara's promise. Even though in the end, it would be very difficult for her to do.

***

Night began to fall but Seno did not seem to be coming home. Lara no longer waited. She stayed in her room. Her heart shattered, her mood a mess. Lara wanted to sleep, but clearly, she couldn't.

The contractions in her stomach prevented Lara from relaxing, let alone sleeping. Lara couldn't get rid of the bad thoughts and her heartache.

Suddenly, the maid called her.

"Ma'am, there is a guest."

Lara blinked and then glanced at the wall clock in her room. Nine o'clock at night? Who was visiting at this hour?

Lara nodded and then headed to the living room downstairs. The nauseating scent of perfume immediately reignited her anger.

Olivia.

"How dare you come here, huh?" Lara snapped. But Olivia just smiled while waving her hand.

"Are you going to divorce him? Let your husband be mine," Olivia said arrogantly, stepping closer to Lara. Olivia managed to get into Lara's luxurious house under the pretense of delivering an important letter for her boss.

Of course, it was just a ploy.

"Bastard!"

Lara almost slapped her, but she had to hold back to avoid shock and danger to her unborn baby.

"I will never divorce him. Never! Even if you both roll into hell together. I will still maintain this marriage!"

"Stubborn!"

"Get out of my house!"

Lara slammed the door hard, pushing Olivia out and then slamming it shut again. Tears began to flow and Lara's heart shattered even more.

Bi Yani-her personal maid-pretended not to hear anything. Lara greatly appreciated her attitude.

Bi Yani reacted simply, then offered a drink to calm the very shaken Lara.

With the remaining strength, despite still feeling her heart pounding and unresolved anger, Lara cursed both of them.

"Seno. Olivia. Just wait. I will make you both pay!"

Olivia's sudden appearance after the confrontation was the greatest humiliation for her.

"That woman! How dare she!" Lara collapsed, feeling her world shake after the series of events she had just experienced. Suddenly, her stomach hurt, her muscles tensed again. Lara had just promised the doctor to take good care of her almost 6-month pregnancy after nearly having a miscarriage previously.

Seno hadn't come home for several days, continuously claiming to be working late. Now Lara knew why some properties were secretly in Seno's name. Did Seno buy an apartment or a house for Olivia? Just thinking about it made her head hurt. How dare they play with fire behind her back!

"Mrs. Lara!" called Bi Yani, Lara could hear her voice faintly. But she was still struggling to breathe.

Seno's drastic increase in wealth prevented her from interrogating him like she did at the beginning of their marriage. That man had changed.

Seno, who used to be sweet and caring, had now become an irritable man. Now, Lara could only weave their household together with a mediocre sense of togetherness. She couldn't even feel disappointed because she had been experiencing this for a long time.

Somehow, she managed to endure.

Was it due to naivety, foolishness, or the principles she had unconsciously upheld?

Lara grew up in an incomplete family, and she didn't want her child to feel the abandonment she had experienced.

"Bi... Bi..."

Finally, Lara called Bi Yani. She felt she couldn't hold on any longer.

Thud!

"Mrs. Lara! Oh God!" Bi Yani screamed, even dropping the tray of fresh fruits she had brought for Lara. Bi Yani quickly ran towards her employer before danger could befall her.

"Mrs. Lara!" she called again, panicking, as she saw that Lara's feet seemed to be bleeding.

"Bi-Bi..."

"I-I'm going to call the doctor! Madam! Please hang in there!"

Lara was about to faint, but fortunately, she could still adjust and position her body well. Bi Yani helped her sit on the nearest sofa, and Lara was laid down there temporarily.

"Oh no... what should I do?" Bi Yani looked confused because she had never experienced such a shocking incident before.

She was panting as she tried to find the doctor's or hospital's contact information that Lara usually visited in her handbag.

"Where... where's the doctor's business card? Oh God!"

Bi Yani kept searching for the doctor's or hospital's contact number that Lara usually visited. But she couldn't find it.

The maid then emptied all the contents of Lara's bag while praying that the business card of the obstetrician or midwife they usually visited would soon be found.

"I'll call Mr. Seno!"

"No... don't."

"But, Madam!"

Lara just shook her head slightly and began to lie down. She felt sleepy but the pain started to spread throughout her body.

"Oh no!" Bi Yani panicked. She looked confused and rummaged through things to find something. A moment later, Bi Yani took the phone and called someone.

"Hello? Andromeda Hospital? Please send an ambulance now! My mistress is bleeding!" Bi Yani began talking to the operator on the other end of the line. Her voice sounded panicked and she could be heard crying.

Lara was still grimacing in pain, but the drowsiness seemed not to go away.

Bi Yani was a new maid. A maid chosen by Lara. She had fired all the maids hired by Seno. This was because no maids responded when she asked about Seno. They even conspired to hide her husband's affair with various excuses.

Lara had only found out and had evidence from her bad feeling from someone she didn't know. The anonymous message sent showed shocking pictures of her husband with a naked woman.

Her heart broke when she saw the message. Without hesitation, she immediately went to her husband's office and discovered the bitter truth she had been unaware of all this time.

***

"Hello?!"

"Yes? This is Andromeda Hospital, how can we help you?"

"Please! Ambulance! My mistress is bleeding! Please, Miss!"

"What? Madam! Calm down! Give us your address."

"Block GG No. 7, West Avenue Road, Menteng. Please! Hurry!"

"Alright! Please wait and make sure the patient remains conscious!"

***

While Bi Yani continued to communicate with the hospital in a panic, Lara struggled to stay conscious. The pain was unbearable, and every second that passed felt like forever. Her mind was filled with thoughts of Seno and Olivia, about betrayal and deceit.

Suddenly, in the midst of the chaos, Lara felt a sharp pang of fear. What if Seno arrived home before the ambulance? What if he found out about this situation? Would he care? The uncertainty gnawed at her, adding to the physical pain she was experiencing.

Bi Yani's voice trembled as she relayed their address to the hospital, her hands shaking as she held the phone. Lara could hear the approaching sirens, a glimmer of hope in the midst of the overwhelming darkness.

But just as relief began to wash over her, there was a sound. Was it Seno? Oh God!

Lara couldn't check; she was on the brink of losing consciousness. The world around her blurred, the sounds merging into a cacophony of chaos. Bi Yani's panicked voice faded into the background as darkness closed in on her vision.

In the midst of the haze, she felt a hand grasp hers-a familiar touch in the midst of the turmoil.

"Hold on, Madam!" Bi Yani's voice cut through the haze of Lara's fading consciousness, anchoring her to the present moment.

Lara tried to muster the strength to respond, to reassure that she was still there, still fighting. But the pain enveloped her like a suffocating fog, rendering her speechless and powerless.

Bi Yani's grip tightened around Lara's hand, her desperation palpable as she pleaded for her to hold on. Tears welled in her eyes, reflecting the chaos raging within Lara. But even as she teetered on the edge of oblivion, a surge of determination coursed through her veins.

Lara couldn't give up-not now, not when her child's life hung in the balance.

With a monumental effort, Lara forced her eyes open, struggling to remain conscious despite the overwhelming pain. Bi Yani's face came into focus, etched with worry and fear.

"Madam, please, you have to stay awake," Bi Yani implored, her voice trembling with concern.

Lara nodded weakly, a silent promise to fight until the end. Together, they clung to hope amidst the chaos, awaiting the arrival of the ambulance that would bring them to safety and salvation.

As the sound of sirens grew louder, Lara closed her eyes and steeled herself for the journey ahead. Whatever lay on the other side, she would face it with courage and resolve-for her child, and for the remnants of her shattered heart.

***

"That's the ambulance!"

The ambulance arrived swiftly, its siren roaring like a lion's roar. Bi Yani panicked as she opened the door and pointed to the sofa where her mistress lay.

"Move the patient!" one of the paramedics shouted to his colleague. Bi Yani cried and felt anxious, worried that Lara might have a miscarriage.

"Ma'am, come with us, okay?" one of the paramedics coaxed, and she nodded. They quickly headed to the hospital, which was not far from Lara's residence. There, Lara was already awaited by the on-duty doctors.

***

"Where's the operating room?"

"At the end of the second corridor, follow me!"

A nurse quickly led the medical team to the operating room. Their footsteps echoed alternately, creating a tense atmosphere in the hallway.

"Careful!" The hospital nurse and the medical team on duty pushed the stretcher at a controlled speed. They looked calm despite their heavy steps. The paramedics moved with precision like cavalry on the battlefield.

The nurse and the medical team hurriedly crossed the quiet hospital corridors. Bi Yani, following behind, struggled to keep up but did not give up. She ran to follow the people in front of her, panting.

"Turn here," They then entered the operating room. After that, the doctors took over everything.

"Oh, God. Please save Mrs. Lara," whispered Bi Yani, raising her hands in prayer, pleading for protection. She hoped God would hear her prayer.

"Please wait in the waiting room," said a nurse, pointing to a row of seats not far from the operating room.

"Alright," Bi Yani sat there as instructed and once again prayed for Lara's safety, both for herself and her unborn child.

She hadn't expected that the arrival of the stranger at Lara's house could bring such danger. Who exactly was that woman?

Bi Yani did not anticipate that the married life of rich people could be so complicated and unhappy. After all, the married life of poor people like herself was often the same. The difference was, Seno never hit Lara. Unlike her husband who often beat her.

So, what was the problem?

"Is he having an affair?" Bi Yani began to speculate, thinking that the presence of the stranger was like a TV drama when dealing with the legitimate wife of her lover.

But she admired Lara. Instead of crying and asking for an explanation, she just kicked the homewrecker out and slammed the door. After that, Lara cried, but the homewrecker did not know that her mistress's heart could also be hurt.

"Thank goodness, she's not like those wives in soap operas," thought Bi Yani, perhaps because Lara was more beautiful than the homewrecker who wore heavy makeup and cheap clothes.

Lara was very graceful and mesmerizing. Bi Yani didn't understand why Mr. Seno was attracted to a cheap woman like that girl. Her style was like the love sellers commonly found at traffic intersections. Her level was indeed different from Lara!

"Hhh... what am I thinking?" Bi Yani hit her head, feeling too bold to meddle in other people's marriages. One thing she didn't understand about Lara's principle was that she didn't want a divorce.

When she asked why, Lara said that divorce would only ruin her child's mental health. So, what about her own mental health? Was she happy?

Talking about others was more enjoyable than talking about oneself. Until now, Bi Yani had also not divorced her husband. Even though he was old, unemployed, and a wife-beater! They also had no children. What made her stay?

Bi Yani did not know either.

"Unpleasant rumors, maybe?" Bi Yani suddenly considered divorce. A man like her husband, shouldn't he be rotting in prison? Who knows.

Bi Yani was neither rich nor powerful. She was also old, 50 years old. Unlike Lara, who was still young and beautiful. She was nothing. If that was the case, shouldn't Lara be able to pursue more happiness by letting go of Seno?

"Should I call Mr. Seno?"

Bi Yani began to wonder about the next step. Shouldn't her husband know about Lara's condition? But, they were fighting. Should she stay silent?

Ah. If only she could think faster, she wouldn't be fired.

***

"You dare! How dare you not call me! You wretched maid!"

Mr. Seno's voice echoed in the hospital corridor, cutting through the tense atmosphere like a sharp knife. Bi Yani was startled to hear the venom in Seno's words, his anger weighing down on her like a physical force.

"Mr. Seno, please calm down," she pleaded, her voice trembling with fear. "I did what I thought was best for Mrs. Lara-"

"Best for her?" Seno's laughter was bitter, devoid of humor. "You have no right to make decisions for my wife! She is my responsibility, not yours!"

His words hit Bi Yani like a slap in the face, igniting a spark of defiance within her. "Your wife needed help, and I acted quickly to get her the help she needed," she retorted, her voice shaking with anger. "If you were here instead of gallivanting with your mistress, none of this would have happened!"

Mr. Seno's face turned red, his fists clenching at his sides. "How dare you speak to me like that, you insolent maid!" Seno spat, his words dripping with contempt. "You are just a maid, and you should respect me as I deserve!"

But Bi Yani refused to back down, driven by a newfound sense of determination. "Respect must be earned, Mr. Seno, and you have done nothing to deserve it," she shot back, her voice firm with defiance. "Mrs. Lara deserves a husband who doesn't cheat and neglect her, and if you can't see that, then you are blinder than I thought!"

For a moment, silence enveloped them, thick and charged with tension. Seno's chest heaved with anger, his gaze boring into Bi Yani with searing intensity.

Then, without warning, Seno lunged forward, his hand raised in a threatening gesture. Instinctively, Bi Yani stepped back, her heart racing as she braced herself for the blow.