The clinking sound of a spoon hitting a plate filled the dining room as Damian and his family sat down for breakfast together.

Regita then looked at her second son, who seemed focused on his food. "Have you bought the engagement items?"

The man, already dressed in a suit with a tie, looked up at Regita. "Not yet. I haven’t had the chance."

A sigh escaped from the woman in an off-shoulder top as she set her spoon on her plate. "You need to make time. Your wedding is soon, and there’s a lot to prepare. You can’t leave things until the last minute."

"Come on, Mom. If Bang Damian doesn’t have time, he can just ask his assistant. Bang Damian isn’t exactly a guy with lots of free time," explained Satya, Damian’s 24-year-old younger brother.

"Easy for you to say. If that’s the case, maybe his assistant should be the one getting married, not your brother," scoffed Regita, giving her youngest son a stern look.

Meanwhile, Syahreza just shook his head at the family debate. "Mom, since when do you care about Damian’s event? Didn’t you not really approve of Hyuna?"

"What can I do? My son and husband are so fond of Hyuna. What am I supposed to do about it? Besides, Damian’s the one getting married, not me," answered Regita casually.

Despite Hyuna being a bit spoiled and childish, Regita actually liked the pretty and kind girl. Her cheerful demeanor made her easily blend in with anyone.

But her naivety made Regita worry that her future daughter-in-law might be vulnerable to infidelity. After all, Hyuna was so obedient and easily trusted others.

That was one reason why Regita initially opposed Hyuna as her daughter-in-law. She was afraid that Hyuna’s innocence would be taken advantage of by irresponsible people.

"Hyuna isn’t that bad, Mom. As long as she’s given guidance, she’ll follow it. So, you don’t need to worry that she’ll go against you because as long as it’s good, she’ll follow everything you say," Damian explained at length.

"Ooh, defending the sister-in-law, I see," teased Satya, only to be met with a sharp look from his brother.

Damian drank his water to the last drop. "Alright, I’m heading off now. I have important work today."

"What about the engagement items?" asked Regita as she saw Damian stand up.

"I’ll find time later." After saying that, he shook his parents' hands and walked out of the house.

Damian didn’t like being chauffeured by others. No matter the distance, he preferred driving himself. Even now, when he was stuck in traffic, he remained patient.

As his car inched forward, he saw a girl surrounded by several people. What frustrated him was that instead of helping her, they were recording the incident.

From where he was, Damian could already see blood pooling on the asphalt. He quickly pulled over, got out of his car, and approached the scene.

"Excuse me," said Damian, gently pushing through some of the people.

He saw a girl in a broken white dress with floral patterns lying unconscious. Worse, Damian recognized her, and his anger flared.

His fists clenched as he turned around, glaring at the people who were merely recording or taking photos of the incident. "Could you all put your phones down and help this person?"

For a moment, silence fell. A few people lowered their phones. Damian spoke again, "You see there’s an accident here, and instead of helping, you’re recording? Hurry up, someone call an ambulance."

As if hypnotized, they nodded. One person called for an ambulance. Meanwhile, Damian looked down at Riana’s body with pity. Yes, Riana, his ex-girlfriend, who had been forced to separate from him, now lay helpless on the ground.

Not knowing much about first aid, Damian could only remove his tie and press it to her head to stop the bleeding.

A few minutes later, the ambulance arrived. Riana was lifted inside, with Damian following in his car. His mind was completely distracted. He quickly pulled out his phone to make a call.

"Gista, please reschedule the morning meeting. I can’t make it due to an urgent matter."

***

"Mom, let me help with the dishes," Hyuna said as she stood behind Natalia, who was washing dishes in the sink.

"No need. Go to your room, watch something. If you help, the dishes will just end up broken," replied the woman, who still had a slim figure despite her age.

"That’s why you should teach me. How else will I know what to do at Damian’s house? I’ll be embarrassed in front of Aunt Regita," Hyuna explained.

"Damian’s wealthy enough to hire help. Don’t worry, your life will be better with him. Besides, you two won’t live with Regita."

"Then where will we live?"

Finishing the dishes, Natalia wiped her hands on her navy house dress. She turned to face her youngest daughter. "At Damian’s house, of course. It’ll be your house too. Hasn’t Damian told you?"

"Seems like you know more about Uncle Damian than I do. Who’s supposed to be his wife here, me or you?" asked Hyuna, pouting.

Seeing Hyuna’s expression made Natalia chuckle. "Are you jealous of me? Oh, my baby girl’s all grown up, feeling jealous now."

"I’m serious, Mom!"

"Alright, alright. Go bother your brother instead," Natalia teased. Despite being in her forties, she often joked around with her two children.

Hearing her mother’s suggestion made Hyuna’s eyes light up. "I can go bother Bang Regan, Mom?"

Natalia nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, go on upstairs!"

With renewed energy, the girl climbed to the second floor. Arriving at Regan’s room, she opened the door without hesitation.

Finding Regan lying on his stomach watching a movie on his laptop, Hyuna crept over and lay beside him.

Regan jerked up, quickly closed his laptop, and sat up. Oh, don’t ask what kind of movie he was watching.

"Why are you barging into my room like that? That’s so rude," scolded Regan angrily, fearing his secret might’ve been exposed if she’d come in a moment later.

"I knocked. You just didn’t hear it."

"Don’t lie."

Hyuna rolled her eyes. "Anyway, what were you watching? Why did you jump like that? And why are you sweating?"

Regan cursed having a little sister. The problem with Hyuna was that she was too naive. She even sometimes visited his room wrapped only in a towel.

Though he was her brother, Regan was still a normal guy. Didn’t she know they were both adults now?

"I was watching a horror movie. You wouldn’t like it," Regan replied offhandedly.

Hyuna’s innocence had its perks for him. He could use it to fool her like he was doing now. Oddly, she believed him and nodded.

She flipped over to lie on her back, grabbed a pillow, and hugged it. "Bang, why don’t you want to get married?"

"I still want to go to grad school, and I don’t have a steady job," answered Regan, now more composed, but still keeping his laptop hidden just in case.

"But you’re already a photographer. Isn’t that a job? You even give me money sometimes."

"Hyuna, those are two different things. Giving you money is just me being nice. But as a husband, providing for your wife is an obligation. I don’t have gigs every day. Without a steady job, how could I support a wife?"

The girl fell silent, seemingly deep in thought. "Is marriage fun, Bang?"

"Why ask me? I’m not married."

"Then go get married!"

"Kid, why are you so eager to marry?"

Hyuna stuck her tongue out teasingly. Just then, Natalia’s voice echoed through the house.

"BANG! DID YOU GET SOMEONE PREGNANT?!"