Trial Marriage Husband : I Am CEO's Plaything

Widiatri approached Kumala and looked into the eyes of the middle-aged woman closely as she said, "Kumala, we understand that Lisa is your daughter. It is only natural for you to defend your own child. We also understand that you also keep your family\'s secrets. But your daughter had done something embarrassing… And it\'s the truth! The three of us are just talking about reality, so you shouldn\'t be angry and hate us like this,"

Hearing Widiatri\'s words made Kumala\'s emotions even more fiery. Luckily, she was able to contain her anger.

"Linda, Widiatri, Mevira, let me tell you all. My eldest daughter Lisa is not what you guys are talking about! She has a husband, my son-in-law is a rich president in a big company and he can buy you all a house if he wants!" Kumala said in a booming voice and steady tone without the slightest hesitation.

"Huh, your child is married? Come on, don\'t lie to us. Oh, is this how you cope with reality since you\'re afraid the three of us will spread rumors about your family? Kumala, we are not in elementary school anymore, do you think you can trick us!?" Linda said condescendingly.

"That\'s true. We know that Lisa is not married but pregnant with a child. She is also not a child anymore, it is time for her to look for a future husband so that her life is not miserable as a single mother. It\'s better to plan from now on before it\'s too late. Otherwise, her suffering will only get worse!" Mevira added.

Kumala could not bear to hear their words. She took out an egg and threw it right in Mevira\'s face. "You jerk! Stop saying like you know Lisa! Your own family is a mess too! Instead of fixing other people\'s families, fix your messy family first! Talk less and do more. Lisa already has a husband! Or should I show her marriage certificate on your face so you can believe me?!"

The cracked eggs on Mevira\'s face smeared her whole face with yolk that smelled fishy.

"Kumala, we are old neighbors! Why do you have the heart to do this to me?" Mevira exclaimed, looking irritated with what Kumala just did.

Satisfied with throwing an egg at the face of the gossiper, Kumala turned around and returned home in a very bad mood.

The three women still gathered at their usual place, staring at Kumala who was gradually leaving with accelerated steps and clenched fists.

"Tch, what\'s so good about Lisa that Kumala defended her to death? Shit, she threw eggs on face! What a bastard!" Mevira grunted irritably.

"Mev, you don\'t need to be really angry. You know Kumala just wanted to look fierce so she came and confronted us. But in her heart, I know Kumala was very disappointed with her daughter. Never mind, it\'s a widow stuff! Let\'s just go home before that crazy widow comes back again!" Linda replied, comforting Mevira.

The three gradually dispersed and returned to their respective homes. Lisa watched the incident to its end. What she just witnessed made the bitter and unpleasant taste in Lisa\'s heart grow stronger and eat up her heart from within.

It\'s all because of her. This is all because she didn\'t tell her mother the truth from the start. If it weren\'t for her, her mother wouldn\'t be the laughing stock of the neighbors.

It hurts Lisa to see her mother insulted by the neighbors, but she is unable to defend Kumala.

Actually, it\'s not that Lisa doesn\'t want to move to a boarding house and live alone with the child she is carrying. She also doesn\'t want to burden her mother and tell her everything after the child is born. But her financial circumstances are very difficult, which made her unable to pay the rent. She\'s not allowed to overwork long as the child in her womb has not been born. So she is forced to stay at home until her child is born.

Lisa doesn\'t even think she wants to go back to work this time. She has returned to her hometown, she has returned to live with her mother so she can save money and save to prepare a future for her future son. At least, as long as Lisa lives at her mother\'s house, she must be very economical in using only water, electricity, and shopping as needed to meet her food and drink needs. 

No hedonistic lifestyle though.

***

That night after eating, Kumala cleaned the dining table then returned to her room. The middle-aged woman did not tell Lisa about the unpleasant event with the gossipers.

Throughout the night, Kumala was unable to sleep well. Her mind continued to dwell on the unpleasant memory of this afternoon. The gossipers\' condescending words echoed loudly in her mind.

That afternoon, Kumala tried to convince the gossippers that Lisa was married. 

Seeing her mother tormented by the unpleasant talk from the crazy rumours made Lisa even more afraid that her mother would not be strong enough to face her old life. Even more frightening, Lisa is very afraid that her mother would take her own life at any time.

The woman felt so guilty. She wants to make her mother happy but she doesn\'t give her happiness. Instead of making her mother happy. Instead, Lisa ensnares her mother in a misery hole that she made herself. Lisa has failed to be a good daughter. 

Alas, she\'s just a human. 

She surely has some flaws..

***

As the day passed by, like water flowing from upstream to downstream, Kumala began to treat Lisa better than the last few months. Every now and then, the middle-aged woman said a word or two to Lisa, but she was very positive that her mother still gave her a chance to correct her mistakes.

Today, Lisa has just returned from the shopping center. Around her house, a group of gossipers are seen performing their ritual— gossip. Lisa hesitated between greeting them or walking straight away ignoring their presence.

When Lisa stepped her foot and began to approach the crows, Lisa lowered her head with a smile as a sign of respect and greeting. But all Lisa received was an insult.

"She must be embarrassed! How come she\'s not married but pregnant!"

"I think she married the boss?"

"Duh, Kumala lied to us this time. It\'s impossible if she\'s already married, why have I never seen her husband come to the house until now?"

"Ugh... embarrassed... just plain embarrassed!!"

Lisa felt all eyes on her. Her whole body felt chills and discomfort. Without realizing it, she accelerated his steps so that she would immediately arrive at the gate of the house and step inside.

The majority of the gossipers are women and men aged 50 years and over and most likely— jobless. Most of them are unemployed retirees, while the rest are housewives who have no work other than gossiping.

She thought she was mentally strong even though the neighbors would insult her like that. Apparently, her heart was as fragile as a glass and it had fallen from the dressing table. 

Shattered in pieces.

The world is so cold and cruel to her…

No one treats Lisa well.