Come back

One week later, they returned to their country.

Arthur had bought a new house and as soon as they arrived he took Livy away to the new house. The house that have just been purchased from a certain company were now starting to be filled with goods one by one. The room that was empty and cold before, was now full of scattered boxes of goods, the heating machine also turned on at one point with a soft puffing sound.

A tall and slender man, sat casually on the sofa while keeping his eyes on his little wife who was bustling around. He didn't look bored. Occasionally he would also see the big TV on which was broadcasting the news.

"Wait until Dave's men come to help. Why the rush?"

The little wife replied, "I have to separate my personal important things. Otherwise, I won't be able to find them later."

"Then I'll help," said the man, getting up.

Hearing this sentence from her handsome husband's lips, the little wife stopped. "Fine. Let's just wait for Dave to come."

The handsome husband, Arthur, smiled with satisfaction because his goal was achieved. He sat back hugging the waist of his little wife who was walking over. "Right now I'm much healthier than you. Aren't you tired of taking care of this and that on the way? Why are you still busying yourself as soon as we land?"

Livy reached out and massaged Arthur's legs and hands alternately. This was something that had become her habit for the past five months.

"You've only recovered recently. To be safe, you should rest a little longer," she said.

"Look at yourself, your belly is already this big, you're the one who shouldn't tire yourself, right?"

Arthur stroked his little wife's belly, making the little wife amused and chuckled.

"Five months is long enough." Then he held her hand and kissed it. "Five months also we do not do intimate things."

She looked away and blushed. "Don't talk nonsense! The doctor said you shouldn't do strenuous activities for another four months. Don't think about it."

"I'm the one who talk nonsense or you?" He teased. "Intimacy I mean just hugging and kissing, what are you thinking in this little brain of yours, hm?"

Shit! Livy was predictable!

She did immediately think that he might be bringing up 'that' and she couldn't help blushing. The last time they did it was before his surgery, and since she was pregnant, they haven't done it again. The doctor said they could do it, but she was afraid that Arthur would accidentally push the baby later!

She cleared her throat. "Do you want to eat something? You must be hungry, right? I'm hungry."

Arthur frowned at how his wife changed the subject quickly, so he didn't tease anymore, "I want hotpot."

"You can't eat spicy, so just warm savory hotpot."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Livg pinched Arthur's waist at the tone, then got up to grab her phone on the counter and order food online.

They just landed two hours ago from Germany. In the end they agreed to move into a new house, which was smaller than their previous residence; without bodyguards, maids, buggers, and hidden cameras anywhere. She initially resisted at this idea, as she was fine with being watched by him anywhere, but he didn't seem to want her to feel uncomfortable anymore.

Until the agreement to buy this house.

Six months has passed since Arthur went to Germany to undergo neurosurgery and eye surgery. The surgery is said to have a success rate of around 40 percent. However, Arthur apparently is a tough guy. After a successful surgery without significant obstacles, now he can see again. Even though he had to undergo many months of recovery and therapy in the hospital after the surgery, he managed all the procedures well. Even after being declared recovered, he still had to leave a lot of strenuous activities.

Arthur felt that the process was very long, but with Livy by his side, it wasn't boring at all. He is passionate about getting better.

Meanwhile, Livy, who took six months off from college, only focused on her husband's recovery. Now that she saw Arthur's beautiful eyes without any distracting streaks, she still felt very moved sometimes and wanted to cry.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Come here. Come closer." Arthur patted the empty space next to him. She obediently sat down.

He pulled her head to his chest, stroking her hair. He grabbed her finger with his free hand and put it to his heart.

"Hear this, my heart. Isn't it still beating?"

Livy nodded weakly.

"That proves I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

"B-But you ..."

"Shh. Calm down. Don't cry anymore. It's okay. It's okay."

Livy sank her head deeper into Arthur's arms, feeling his heartbeat with her own ears. It is strong and steady, like a normal, healthy human heartbeat. Arthur is here—her husband is here—he's alive.

Indeed, Livy couldn't get rid of the guilt that hangs in her chest for what happened six months ago. If she remembered that, she would curse herself and cry endlessly.

The days after they arrived in Germany were never easy for her. After the surgery, Arthur didn't actually regain consciousness right away, he was in a coma for almost a full month, it almost drove her crazy.

How do you feel when your guilt goes unpaid because you can't say you're sorry?

That's how she felt while Arthur was in a long coma.

After he finally woke up, she didn't know how many times she said sorry. But even so there was something in her heart that still didn't feel relieved, because the image of Arthur's weak and lifeless body still played in her head. Moreover, one of the reasons is herself.

"Maybe you've been too tired lately from taking care of me. Go out and play," Arthur offered.

Livy pulled her head from Arthur's embrace. "Play?"

"Since you're here, don't you want to meet Sarah and Amara?"

Ah, right.

Their return this time was very unplanned and she didn't tell her two best friends at all. She still remembered how angry Sarah was, when she arrived in Germany and didn't reply to Sarah's messages at all, didn't even contact her for months because Livy was busy taking care of Arthur.

She chuckled.

"Then I'll give them a surprise," she said happily. "But what about you? Are you okay here alone?"

"Isn't Dave coming?"

"..." That's right.

"Don't worry and go. Get some fresh air to calm your mind. Take a driver with you." Arthur smiled gently.

What Livy likes lately besides Arthur's recovery is when her husband has changed from a cold and mysterious man, to a sweet and often smiling. She really liked his handsome smile.

"All right. I'll go after Dave comes."

***

"Livy!!!"

Livy smiled broadly at the noise she had missed for months. As soon as the owner of the voice arrived, she was immediately hugged tightly until she was short of breath, her shoulders were patted hard.

"You're finally back!!!"

"Hey, let go of me. I'm short of breath!" Livy complained.

"Idiot! I will hug you to death! This is your payback for arbitrarily with your own best friend, ok!" Sarah barked.

Livy finally hugged back, no matter how strange they were stared at by the university residents passing by the park. Luckily Sarah was quite calculating as Livy was pregnant at the moment, otherwise she would have hugged Livy in circles until she was dizzy.

Finally Sarah let go of her hug. "Look at you. Your belly is already this bloated. God, my niece is coming out soon, right?"

"Of course, in two months I will give birth you know! I'm going to be a mother!"

Sarah was very happy to hear that.

"So, how's Germany? Have you met a handsome German guy, and want to cheat on Arthur?"

Livy flicked her forehead. "Darn you."

Seeing Sarah chuckle innocently, Livy's eyes filled with tears, she pulled Sarah again in a softer hug.

"I missed you so much," she said crying.

"You're not crying because you miss me! Tell me the truth!" Sarah grunted, but she returned the hug anyway.

This time Livy chuckled. "I went through a lot of hardships and there was no one by my side. When I messaged you, you gave me a scolding instead."

"Hmph! Who told you to be gone too long!"

"Now, now. I'm already here and you want to nag too?" Livy let go of the hug, wiping her wet eyes. "Let me give you a sweet kiss."

Sarah couldn't avoid it as Livy kissed her right and left cheek many times.

"Stop it! Hey! Stop it! You're disgusting! Your saliva is all over my cheek!"

Livy laughed.

They finally decided to go to a nearby cafe. Because the exam was in progress, Sarah actually only came to check grades before the holidays.

"By the way, how's Arthur?" asked Sarah while sipping her coffee latte.

"He is so handsome."

"That's not it, you idiot!" Sarah nearly choked.

Livy stirred her coffee slowly. "His eyes are recovering, his body is too. Even though he feels fine, he still has to give up strenuous activities."

"Glad to hear that. You've taken care of him to the extent that you have to take time off from college. Why not just continue studying in Germany? You can study while looking after him."

"He also suggested that, but I think if I go to college, I won't be able to take care of him as well. So it's better to take some time off."

"Doesn't he need to go to Germany for treatment again, so you're back here?"

"Uhum. I told you he's fully recovered."

That sentence really touched Sarah, she knew how Livy had struggled for months. She gently took Livy's hand and squeezed it. "I'm happy for you, Livy. I'm glad you made it through. I'm glad that Arthur is recovering."

Livy almost cried again. "It was thanks to your support too. And ... forgive me for my mistake months ago."

Sarah let go of Livy's hand roughly. "I will not forgive you!"

"Sarah ..." Livy pursed her lips.

The two then glanced at each other and laughed. After laughing for a while, both fell silent in their own thoughts. Livy drank her coffee and and remembering this was the place where she had fought with Arthur the first time.

Luckily all their misunderstandings have ended.

"Hey, Livy."

Livy's thoughts were shattered when she heard a familiar soft and graceful voice. Then she saw Amara come in with several paper bags in her hands. Livy stood up and hugged her.

"Amara, I miss you."

"There, there, I can't hug you back. My hands are full of stuff," Amara said.

Livy let go of her arms and looked at the bags.

"What did you bring anyway? What took you so long? My coffee is almost finished waiting for you." Sarah grumbled.

Amara giggled. "My brother said Livy forgot her stuff, so asked me to get it first. Sarah, here's a souvenir from Germany for us."

Annoyed Sarah got excited at the word 'souvenir', she grabbed the bags. "That's right, a souvenir. Why didn't I think of it? Why didn't you give this to me, Livy? You forgot to bring it on purpose, huh?"

Livy who was still in a daze, ignoring Sarah, asked Amara instead, "So you knew that I was back?"

Didn't Livy want to give Amara a surprise too?

"How could I not know? My brother told me everything." She smiled.

"No matter what, come on, open these gifts. I want to see if Livy will pick out some tacky souvenirs for us or not." Sarah rummaged through the bag, pulling out several packets of chocolate in yellow, brown and blue colors. "Wow, real German chocolate. Look at this, what does this mean? And this too? It's perfume! It smells so good."

Livy sighed.

"Eh, I think I've seen this perfume in Amara's room. Right, Amara?"

Amara saw the perfume. "Yep, I bought it when I went to Germany with my brother."

"You rich people, it's so easy to go abroad! I want to go too!" Sarah cradled the bags alone, not wanting to share. "Since you've been to Germany, all these souvenirs are mine. Don't take them, okay?"

The two other people apart from Sarah chuckled.

***

"Boss! I miss you, Boss!!!" Dave shouted before he had completely gone through the door.

Arthur who was inside was chatting with Evander in a tense atmosphere, fell silent immediately. He turned down the volume on the television and waited for Dave to enter.

Evander quipped. "Did you miss this trouble maker?"

Arthur didn't answer.

"Sorry for not coming to pick you up at the airport. I was busy with my men in Eternuz," Dave shouted again. "Sister-in-law, where are you? I miss you, Sister-in-law!!!"

"She's not here," Arthur said coldly.

Dave stopped when he saw Arthur and Evander sitting alone amidst the scattered objects. Still not aware of the unusual atmosphere between them. "Fvck! Where is my sister-in-law? Why the fvck are there only two perverted uncles here?"

Evander sighed.

Meanwhile, Arthur folded his legs. He really wanted to punish Dave a long time ago, especially after he found out what trouble the doctor made when he was abroad. It had been three months since he had seen Dave, but it looked like Dave had a new tattoo added. Arthur looked at him coldly.

"Now that you're here, do you have anything you need to explain to me?"

... to be continued ...