A worthy wife is the crown of her husband. — Proverbs 12:4.

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Her

The enclosed walls envelop her with silence. Among them, only the sound of her sobs reached her ears. Unfortunately, too, she is not mindful of them. The only thing that is running through her mind is the guy she loves deeply. So deeply that now the news of his union with someone else is an arrow stabbed into her heart.

An arrow that she is afraid to shove out and breathe peacefully.

Hugging her legs while her forehead touches her knees, she doesn't want even the air of her room to witness her pathetic state.

Darkness is her closest friend for now. Pain is the only thing that embraces her. The intensity of the same pain is like thorns bruising her skin and she is too helpless to speak.

A soft knock jerks her back and then the call of her mother as she hears her asking in concern, "Lena baby, can I come in?"

Her heart slams against her ribcage. With big eyes, she stares at the locked door of her room through the darkness, debating whether she should let her mother come in or not.

It is not that she is afraid to cry before her mother. This has happened countless times. Nor is she afraid to tell her why she is crying.

But a corner of her heart isn't ready to let her mother come in. She wipes away her tears, saying, "I'm going to sleep, Mama."

Her mother doesn't answer her back. She waits for a moment while tears still escape her eyes. The pain in her chest is too much to bear, after all.

Minutes pass and then again, her mother says, "Let me come in, baby. I need to talk to you."

She sighs. The way her mother requests, she is too vulnerable to deny that lady. She loves her mother too much. She can't refuse her for anything. And by anything, she means it from the core of her very being.

Losing a battle inside herself, she nods to herself. She leaves her bed, arranging her skirt to cover her thighs. She wears her bunny slippers and walks to open the door.

Unlatching the metal lock, she pulls it just to witness her mother. Her soft jade green eyes and that sweet smile comfort her in a moment but as soon as the lady finds the almost devastating condition of her daughter, she gasps in raw concern.

"Lena, what happened? Why have you been crying?" She enters her room and pushes the door close behind her.

Her palms cradle her daughter's face as she looks into her eyes, searching for an answer. Those wine-red eyes only make her heart beat in worry more than she has ever received.

"You know, Mama. You do better than anyone!" She sighs, tilting her head. Her chin wobbles as more tears spill out. "He's getting married," she whispers, "Adam is getting married."

Her mother has lost words to console her daughter. She stares at her daughter for a while. Those tears leaving her eyes are nothing but daggers shoved deep into her chest. Her heart bleeds when her daughter cries. She has raised her daughter with utmost care. She's more dear to her than gemstones. Her daughter is the apple of her eye. She's the answer to her prayers. How can she see her crying?

"Lena..." She swallows, "That's wrong." She wipes those fat tears. Evalena peers at her, a frown on her face. Her mother repeats, "So wrong. He's someone else's."

And like any typical child, Evalena frees her face and walks over to her bed, her steps exhausted.

"I know! I know I have no right! But I love him!" She announces, plopping down on her bed. "I'm in love with him, Mama. Like crazy. Oh, Mama, I want him."

Her mother follows her, putting her hand on her shoulder. "And this craziness will take you to nowhere, Lena. Rather, it'll ruin you."

Evalena frowns, glaring down at her pink nails, and soon, her free trembling hands turn into fists. She grips her skirt in a lethal grip, her knuckles turning white.

Her mother sits beside her, watching her daughter's anguish and rage get mixed.

"What have I taught you, Lena? That stay from the things that aren't yours. But that applies to people as well. Such desires are only to ruin oneself. Their destiny is destruction."

"You're telling me to give up on him?" Evalena mumbles in agony of her heart, "Though I have nothing in my hands, Mama, I can't put a full stop to my feelings." Teardrops tumble upon her hands as her head bows down just by imagining her giving up on Adam.

Her mother falls prey to her tears, forgetting words to console her.

Evalena hurriedly holds her mother's hands as she leaves her white linen skirt, saying, "I never knew that I'd fall for him, Mama. We were best friends; true friends! I never realized when I started seeing him as more than just a friend. He's such a nice guy, Mama. Please, please, will you talk to him? His parents?"

"Lena, what you're thinking isn't good at all. Leave this idea!"

"Mama, please! You've said yes to me every time. This is the last time I want your yes, Mama! I'll be a good girl, I promise!"

"Lena, you're not thinking straight." Her mother cups her face, her thumbs are getting wet because of the tears that are sliding down her chin.

The angel of her daughter is such a naive creature. She is too innocent and doesn't even know what she is asking for. That's only a flow of raw and tender emotions yet so heavy and difficult to look upon.

And for whom? The guy next door? She had no idea her daughter would fall for his charms but surely who could deny such a masterpiece of heaven?

His sweet smile, warm eyes, decent gestures, and soft touches. Who could deny that all?

She considers her daughter a fool here for she's such an obsessed lover of beauty and has fallen in love with a forbidden man.

Can't say it's wrong for she was ignorant of how fate has forbidden her from him but after she knows he doesn't belong to her, walking in the same direction will cost her everything.

Her mother can't let her daughter go astray.

"You have to let go of it. Let go of Adam—"

"I can't! You can't ask me that!" She frees her face with a jerk, and leaves the place, getting up. "I love Adam! I love him and I want him and I will get him!"

"Stop this nonsense, Lena! You're out of your mind!" Her mother's fists tighten as her shoulders tremble. She glares down at her daughter but the teen has no guilt or fear of it.

"Yes, I am! And you can't take me away from this insanity."

Her mother sucks a deep breath, trying to calm herself but the change in her daughter is like a bomb on her head. Her daughter has never been this disobedient to her to date. She seems like someone else to her. Not her daughter, Evalena Hayes.

"Lena, don't covet. Fate will destroy you. You'll be left with nothing with you. Not even the one you love!"

Evalena trembles in dread. Her body shivers visibly as she cries harder.

"So what else should I do? Let him get married to Nora?" She moves her hands in the air, uttering, "But I love him more!"

Her knees give up as she sags to the floor, crying bitterly. "I love him more! I can't see him with someone else! He should be with me. I love him more than anyone!"

"God's love surpasses every kind of love, Lena. Yours, too. And if it's about Nora, it's their will."

"You're not my Mama," she screams. Her nails dig into her knees and her toes curl as rage overtakes her. And that assertion hurts her mother.

"You can say anything you like but I want your good only."

"How's it good for me? I can't live without him!"

"My decision will keep you from dying, too, Lena. And here, you need to learn to live first. You matter to me more than anything or anyone. I can't let you ruin yourself!"

"By keeping me from the one I love? Do you doubt me?" She peers at her mother innocently, hugging her knees. Like an angel, a very naive girl who has no understanding of the world. She mumbles, "You think because I'm a kid, I can't love him like an adult, Mama? Like you love Dad?"

Her mother's heart melts and she is unable to glare at her daughter anymore. She crouches beside her with a sigh.

"I never said that, my love. Rather, with an innocent heart, love shall come only pure. But try to understand me, Lena baby, I can't let you covet Adam."

Evalena groans, tired of hearing the same thing over and over again. Weary at heart, she mewls, hiding her face and whimpering, "Please, leave! You're not helping me. It hurts so bad. Please, leave me alone."

Instead of the quietness that she expected, a warm embrace welcomes her. She whimpers, trying to get away, and succeeds but this all hurts her mother.

"Please, go away. You d-don't understand me," she requests, "I thought you're the best Mama and will always support me."

"I can't support you when you stand for wrong, Lena. I'm your mother and I check whether something is good for you or not."

"Adam is good for me."

"You need to rest, Lena. We can discuss it later."

"No!" She yells, not hiding her face anymore. "Tonight or tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, I'll be remaining the same! I want him, I want him, I want him! Adam is mine and I'll get him, either by hook or crook then no matter what price I have to pay! I'll die for him!"

"Lena!" Unable to hear her daughter uttering absurdity anymore, she slaps her, losing all the cool she had maintained till now. But then as gradually senses meet back, she regrets it, retreating her hand and covering her mouth.

She has never raised her hand on her daughter.

But what else could she do?

Evalena breathes shakily, unable to accept her mother has just raised her hand on her for her obstinacy.

Her hand shadows over her cheek but is unable to touch because of the stinging pain it bears. And more tears spill out when she crawls back, sobbing and shivering.

"Lena, I-I'm sorry, baby. I had no intention—" Her mother moves to hold her daughter but she crawls back, shaking her head, and shivering badly.

"Stay a-away," she cries softly, "Please, leave me."

"I'm sorry, Lena."

"You're not my Mama." She shakes her head, her cries getting muffled as she repeats the same thing over and over again, wounding her mother.

Losing before her daughter, she leaves her room in tears only to meet her husband downstairs. He looks at her in concern.

"Ella, what's wrong? I heard you arguing with Lena," he says, holding her hand to keep her from touching her face. He brings out his handkerchief to wipe away her tears.

"She's not ready to understand, Abel. I've tried it. Before tonight, I have done it multiple times but she's not..." She burst into tears, covering her face.

Abel, her husband, sighs, hugging her closer and hearing her as she confesses, "I slapped her. I shouldn't have done it, Abel. I'm... I'm not a good mother!"

"Ella, you're the best." He kisses the crown of her head.

"And Lena? How can I make her understand?" She asks quickly, recalling her daughter crying upstairs.

"Should I talk to her?"

"She's nervous around you, Abel."

"Then I have no other way than to send her abroad, Ella."

Gabriella, her wife gapes at him. "She won't agree to it, Abel. Besides, I can't live without her. She's my only daughter."

"She'll be back after some time, Ella. Also, we'll be meeting her from time to time."

She shakes her head, not agreeing. "Not this way, Abel."

"We can't risk her future either, Ella." He frowns. "She needs to be disciplined."

With such determination, Gabriella was then unable to oppose her husband. She couldn't let her daughter ruin herself in this obsession of wanting someone who was forbidden to her.

So the next day, at the breakfast table, they told Evalena that they were sending her to the UK for further studies.

Studies were just an excuse, Evalena knew that very well.

That morning, the teen couldn't help but hold grudges against her parents, precisely her mother who loved her the most. And that was the onset of her miseries, being away from her parents who could comfort her after this heartbreak but they chose a harsh way to discipline their child.

Evalena, all broken and full of anguish, was sent away.

The Dawoods had invited the Hayes as they were their relatives, too but Evalena's absence hurt Adam somewhere. However, he was told that the reason was her studies. And Adam now had someone to look for comfort in. His wife, Nora. She comforted him every time and was a perfect woman for him.

Meanwhile, Evalena was too exhausted to step out of the lines of madness so she accepted her fate and separated herself, pursuing her career. Her zeal for her dream advanced in that isolation and she was like a rising star in a foreign land.

She began disregarding the calls of her parents and ended up getting depressed for she had no one to share her pain and a shoulder to cry on. From her stance, she was betrayed.

However, no amount of depression could make her live a lifestyle that wasn't decent. Her co-workers, of course, suggested parties, alcohol, and cigarettes but Evalena stayed away from them, harboring memories like lethal thorns in one's embrace.

Staying away from Adam should've burned all her craziness for him, rather, it resulted in refined love. She fell more and more, being away from him. Maturity made her realize the true form of love and now, even when she was away from him, she held dear to him in her heart like a hopeless lover.

Finally, she accepted that indeed Adam wasn't for her. He belonged to Nora and so they were together and she was away. But loving him in disguise won't harm her in any way, right?

So she continued loving him.

That way, her love became selfless, too. Unconditional it was always. Refined it became after going through flames. But, just a touch of divinity was all it lacked. She needed to pursue that divinity now even though she was ignorant of it.

❥⁠˙⁠๑

Him

Adam enters his haven with a straight intention of entering the prayer room. He smiles upon seeing his son sleeping soundly in the middle of the bed, covered in a soft comforter.

Away from him, on a couch, he finds his wife. She too has fallen asleep.

He twists his bottom lip, wondering why she would sleep alone when she knows that this is the time when they pray together. He doesn't think she forgot.

He walks towards her after he turns off the lamp. In her lap, he finds the Holy Book that is opened. He peeks at the opened pages, reading a verse that catches his attention right there because she has highlighted it.

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." — 2 Corinthians 9:8.

He looks upon his wife, holding the Bible and closing it. He collects the pink highlighter and puts them aside just to sit in front of her and behold her for a moment. And he doesn't even realize when he spent half an hour doing it, along with deeply thinking about the verse that speaks so much.

Especially the first line.

He doesn't know that when she read the first line and believed in her heart that indeed God can bless her abundantly, she received that blessing that very moment.

And what else does she want except for him?

Later, it speaks of God's grace that He will give abundantly to the ones who are to give freely to others. As God says, give generously, without grumbling behind backs. So the way, He promises to give you abundantly so you can give generously to others, too. Of course, He won't ask you what you are unable to give Him!

God appreciates a cheerful giver and the person who gives freely surely makes Him smile from above. Be that one.

Adam holds her hand, assuring himself that at least he taught her to seek comfort in God if he isn't around. At least he gave her a habit of reading the Word and edifying herself even if he wasn't around. And that's enough for him.

Not wishing to disturb her, he decides to carry her to the bed.

He holds her closer, smiling to himself because she wasn't disturbed at all. He wondered how deeply she sleeps! Well, she didn't wake up but snuggled closer when came into his arms.

He walks to their bed and lays her down carefully. She hugs Barak, letting go of Adam's collar. He goes to pray and comes back to pray for his wife and son, too, like he always did. And then, he goes to sleep.

The next morning, he gets up before her and enters the gym room where he meets Nicole.

She comes after half an hour with a bottle of banana shake and an energy drink for herself.

"Good morning!" She chirps, putting down the bottle beside Adam, on a stool.

While stretching his shoulders, he answers, "Good morning." He catches the sight of the bottle and smiles at her, adding, "Thanks for it."

She waves off. "Oh, come on, I can do it." She goes to the treadmill and starts walking at a mild speed. After a minute of silence, Nicole brings out, "Well, I expected your wife to bring you this. I mean, she can do it, right?"

"She prepares the protein shake daily," he answers, without looking at her. His attention is the opposite.

"Oh," she answers faintly, "Not today. Was she waiting for me to do it?"

He chuckles. "Of course not. I think she was too exhausted last night. I let her sleep."

"Too exhausted last night. Where do you point out, Adam?" Her voice is sharp as she holds double meanings. However, Adam decides to take it lightly.

"Nicole," he warns, making her giggle.

"Okay, okay. Let's not go there." She falls silent for a minute while Adam exhales softly.

He felt his face burning in foreign embarrassment when Nicole said that. He never looked at Evalena that way unless she was too close to him that evening on a swing. For the first time, he stared at her lips with an intention not so pure.

"Well, how's everything between you two? I got to know Barak liked her at their first meeting."

"You heard right. Barak loves her a lot and so does Eva. She's a good mother to him. My son has gotten the best."

"And you?"

He frowns, not knowing what she meant by that. He leaves the instrument and takes deep breaths, asking, "You mean what?"

"It seems like you married Evalena only because of your son. Where's your wish?"

"My son's happiness is my wish." He gets up to hold the dumbbells while Nicole removes her jacket, now jogging over the treadmill.

"For this, you could've hired a nanny then."

"She wouldn't have loved him like a mother then." He shrugs, deeply affected by what Nicole said.

Doesn't she want Barak to have a mother? But not this way, it affects him. He realizes that, of course, if Barak was the only reason for their union, he could've hired a nanny. After all, he had been treating her either like a nanny or a friend, but not a wife. And he's guilty of it.

He surely respects her and her selfless nature but in all this, he forgot she's his wife, not a friend anymore. You can respect a nanny and a friend, too, but Nicole simply meant to point out that there's nothing like husband and wife between Adam and Evalena. She just mocked their relationship openly.

"What made you think Evalena would love your son selflessly? She isn't even your relative."

Adam frowns. "Nicole, your questions are getting sharper, no?" He puts the dumbbell down and goes to grab the bottle. Calming his breaths, he takes a few sips while Nicole leaves the treadmill, sitting on a stool.

"I was just wondering, Adam..."

"What?"

"That you married the woman who broke your trust, yet you're trusting her again with your son. Risky, right? When she couldn't be a good friend to you, what qualifies her as a right mother to your child?" She shrugs, pointing out well like a lawyer.

Adam continues taking sips, listening to her as she continues, "You're honoring her like a wife when she deserves not even a bit of it."

"What do you think of me, Nicole?" He asks, putting aside the bottle and licking the remnant off his bottom lip. He runs a hand through his wet hair with a sigh.

Nicole wets her bottom lip, averting her gaze from his serious narrowed eyes. Adam has caught her obviousness but doesn't point it out. Yet nothing stops her from speaking.

"You're the man Apostle Paul and Peter talk about."

"I'm humbled," he hums and walks away to get the towel, saying, "In this way, expect me to cherish my wife dearly and honor her the way I'm commanded to. She's to me like a church to my Lord. And you know that I am to lay my life for her."

Nicole listens to him silently, watching him patting the towel on his face and neck.

He is so fine with everything, she can't take her eyes off him even for a second. He's the man any woman would want to be with but does any woman deserve him?

"Is she even worthy of a man like you?" The question escapes her mouth before she even realizes but she doesn't regret it. Not even a bit. From the bitterness of her being, she wanted to ask him anyway.

"Well, she is. That's why I'm given to her and she to me."

Nicole sets her jaw, humming. She turns around to continue her workout. Adam continues himself for another half an hour. Nicole doesn't remain silent and asks him random questions but not regarding Evalena anymore because she has gotten her answer.

Adam honors Evalena.

Even after she broke his trust, he has forgiven her like she never did. Nicole can't take hold of other reasons.

She is afraid of falling into his eyes if her tongue slips and she spits out something very nasty about Evalena out of hate. And hate? Well, that's very obvious in her eyes and Evalena somehow knows about it.

Time passes and finally, as they come out, they find Evalena in the corridor, coming to them.

Still in her night clothes and her hair set in a messy bun, she is holding a bottle in her hand. Adam takes no time to realize what is in the bottle and that's for him only.

"Hey, morning, Evalena!" Nicole smiles at her, tapping the towel on her neck.

Without looking at Nicole, Evalena mumbles, "Morning," with no interest.

Her eyes fall upon Nicole's hand that is holding Adam's forearm lightly and something inside Evalena ticks. She clearly doesn't like it and Nicole can see it. She smirks to herself, now letting the hold become firm.

"Adam said you were tired last night. I thought you weren't going to wake up before an hour or two." Nicole wiggles her eyebrows but Evalena is in no mood to joke around.

"Well, I have a son to take care of," Evalena shrugs, looking straight at Adam. "And I see I'm no longer needed here," she mutters before walking away. Adam has caught the meaning but doesn't stop her while Nicole scoffs, walking away, too.

Adam sighs, running a hand through his hair. He knew she was pissed off. He needs to do something to lighten her mood or she will start ignoring him. 

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I couldn't stretch it longer bc it's 4k+ words long.
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