The situation at Hans' home became increasingly uncontrollable, and Maria felt that her husband was changing. Hans started coming home late, contrary to his usual routine of bringing Maria home around 6 in the evening.

This bothered Maria a lot, and she finally poured her heart out to her mother-in-law.

That day, she and Hans' mother were sitting in the family room, accompanied by a cup of tea and Hans' mother's favorite TV series.

"Ahem, Mother... There's something I want to talk to you about," Maria said, breaking her mother-in-law's concentration.

"Oh? What is it?" Hans' mother asked without looking at Maria.

"Um, what if, hypothetically, Hans... ummm..." Maria spoke nervously, causing Hans' mother to finally turn her attention towards her.

"What do you want to say? Why are you so nervous?" Hans' mother asked.

"Um, Mother, what if Hans is suddenly having an affair? Uh... this is just my speculation; I just want to know your opinion," Maria said with a worried expression.

"What are you afraid of? Haven't you been his mistress before?" Hans' mother turned the question back to her.

"You, as his former mistress, should understand how your husband is! I am amazed that you two even got married; that's all because my daughter-in-law Jessie died. If not for that, you would never have been together," Hans' mother continued, speaking harshly.

"Mother, why are you being so harsh to me? I'm feeling hurt by your son's actions," Maria protested to her mother-in-law, feeling hurt by her mother-in-law's response.

"Maria, you should know that I kept silent when I found out about your affair not because I approved or even liked you. Clearly, Jessie was better than you in every way. But Hans kept begging me not to tell Jessie about your relationship. Don't feel proud when you're in Jessie's position now!" Hans' mother said, leaving Maria silent in the family room.

Hans' mother entered her room and slammed the door harshly.

"I regret letting their affair continue, huh! I'm so angry. Moreover, what's the problem if Hans cheats again? It's the consequence he has to face for stealing someone else's husband. Oh God! Why did you take my daughter-in-law so soon, Jessie, be at peace wherever you are, dear," Hans' mother felt regretful as she played a part in Hans and Maria's secret relationship back then.

(Flashback to the early days of Hans and Maria's affair)

On that day, Hans' mother was preparing to visit her son at his new office. Hans had recently been transferred there by Jessie's father, who planned to make it his own soon.

"Jessie, don't you want to come with me?" Hans' mother asked gently.

"Oh, no, Mom. I have some work to finish. You go ahead with the driver. I'll join later," Jessie replied while cooking.

"Hmm, you. I've told you to hire a housekeeper to take care of our meals. So you don't have to bother cooking for us," Jessie's mother-in-law scolded her, showing great concern for her.

"He he, it's okay, Mom. Since we got married, I haven't had any meaningful activities. So I started learning to cook, and Hans likes it. That's why I decided not to use a chef's services so that Hans only eats what I cook," Jessie replied with a happy smile.

"Oh, look at the bride who has been married for just a few months. I used to be like that with Hans' father, but as we got older, we drifted apart. Especially now that he's in heaven, the distance between us has only grown, ha ha ha," Jessie's mother-in-law teased her while joking.

"Oh, Mom," Jessie blushed, her cheeks turning as red as ripe peaches.

"Well then, I'll go now. See you later!" Hans' mother left her blushing daughter-in-law.

After a few minutes of traveling, Hans' mother finally arrived at her son's office.

She saw many employees passing by in the lobby. She felt proud of her son. Although Hans couldn't continue his father's business, he had his own company now through hard work and, of course, his marriage to Jessie.

Intentionally, Hans' mother didn't inform her son about her visit. She brought a small potted plant with a white pot as a gift. It was believed that giving a potted plant as a gift when someone starts a new business would make their luck grow like the plant.

With pride, Hans' mother entered her son's office.

"Surprise!" she shouted, opening the door. However, she was shocked to see her son undressing one of his employees.

Hans hurriedly told his employee to button up his shirt.

"Hans! What is this?" his mother shouted with a trembling body, seeing her son engaged in improper behavior.

"Mom, Mom, listen to me. I can explain," Hans approached his mother.

"Don't touch me! Hey, you lowly woman! Who do you think you are to seduce my son? Shameless woman!" Hans' mother scolded Maria, who was Hans' secretary.

"Mom, calm down, please. Don't speak harshly to her!" Hans urged his mother.

"What? Are you forbidding me to scold her? Are you crazy? You're a married man! It's not appropriate for you to do this with anyone other than your wife Jessie!" Hans' mother continued to berate her son.

"Leave from here, you wretched woman!" Hans' mother drove Maria out of Hans' office.

Maria left, trembling with fear. On the other side, Hans tried to convince his mother.

"Mom, don't shout at her like that, Mom. She cares and pays attention to me. Please understand, Mom. And please don't tell Jessie about this issue. You know, Mom, this company is not officially owned by me or Jessie yet, so please, Mom, just this once," Hans pleaded with his mother, even holding her legs.

"Remember, I saved your father's company from bankruptcy because of his debts. With that, your father's company has risen again as a subsidiary of the Julliant family," Hans continued to try to melt his mother's heart.

"For this time, I will stay silent. Tell her I want to meet that promiscuous woman alone," Hans' mother said, finally softened by hearing her husband's name.

Shortly after, Hans' mother met Maria at a cafeteria near Hans' office.

Maria looked very nervous facing Hans' mother, not only because she was caught in an intimate act with her son but also because she was not from a family equal to theirs.

"You must know me; call me Mrs. Cowell," Hans' mother said without even looking at Maria.

"I-I am Maria, Mrs.," Maria introduced herself.

"I'm letting you two off this time. I don't want this to happen again in the future. You should know your place as a woman!" Hans' mother said sarcastically.

"All right, Mrs. Thank you," Maria looked very nervous at that time; she didn't even dare to look into Mrs. Cowell's eyes.

"One thing you should remember! You will never be able to replace my daughter-in-law's position, neither in my heart