The Alluring Disabled Man

2. Slowly

“Ouch!”

“Bariel. Are you sick again?”

Aliendra quickly turned on her bedside lamp and saw Bariel grimacing in pain. He was clutching his side and shivering.

“Here. Take this medicine. Your pain will go away soon.” Bariel grabbed a bottle of pills and swallowed a few.

Once the pain subsided, he felt a chill run through his body. His heart ached, and his emotions were in turmoil. Aliendra approached him and tried to rub his back. But Bariel roughly pushed her away.

“Go away for now. I want to be alone.” That blatant rejection and dismissal left Aliendra unable to hide her disappointment.

The girl then left his private room. A few seconds later, she heard what sounded like something falling and shattering. Chaos and noise.

“Argghhhh! Screw it all. Turns out this medicine is useless!”

And this had become a familiar occurrence. Aliendra sighed. Trying to calm the pounding in her chest that was thudding violently.

“You’ll have to get used to it, Ma’am.” The girl turned, exhaled a long breath, and finally nodded upon hearing Leo’s words.

“He’s been feeling this way for nearly years now. His mental state must be fragile, and that despair is what led him to decide on euthanasia.”

“You’re right, ma’am. The young master doesn’t want to suffer anymore. Especially since the people around him are always witnessing his pain. He doesn’t want to be looked at with pity. That’s why he wants to die.”

Ugh!

Once again, Aliendra let out a sigh. She couldn’t give up. She had to find a way to give Bariel a little hope for the next two years.

“Don’t worry, Leo. I’ll do my best to get through this.” Leo furrowed his brow.

“Get through it? What do you mean, ma’am?” Aliendra looked up. She turned to Leo, the personal assistant who had faithfully accompanied Bariel on his life’s journey.

“At least for the next two years, he needs to be able to enjoy his life before that day finally comes. Bariel must not suffer alone. He won’t have to endure that pain by himself. I’ll be by his side every step of the way.”

Hearing that, Leo tried to stay calm. For some reason, his heart was racing. For the first time, there was a beautiful young woman who willingly chose to walk alongside and accompany her young master, who had lost all hope. It wasn’t just for money or material gain that Aliendra was by Bariel’s side. It was clear that the young woman was truly sincere.

“Leo.”

“Uh, y-yes, Ma’am.”

“What brings you here? Are you looking for the Young Master?”

“Yes, Ma’am. I wanted to discuss company matters. But let’s wait until the Young Master is feeling better.”

“You can discuss this with me, Leo. Perhaps I can offer a solution.”

Leo was taken aback for a moment. The man’s eyes fixed on Aliendra with a sharp intensity, as if demanding an explanation.

“I’m nobody, Leo. Especially when it comes to company matters, I’d feel clueless and out of my depth. But if it’s just about offering a solution, I’ll try my best to help for a little while so things can calm down. I know the company is in turmoil over the mining business in the northern region. That’s my family’s company. The Adhitama family. That mining company has been in trouble for a long time. Dad hasn’t been able to handle it and even handed it over to me. That’s why he agreed when Grandma sent an invitation for me to marry Bariel. But believe me, I married Bariel not because of that company or out of pity for him. But because I like that man.”

Hah!

Once again, Leo was stunned. He hadn’t expected a girl as young as Aliendra to think so deeply and wisely. After all, Aliendra had always been known for her extreme spoiled nature. She was always causing trouble and bringing problems to her family. That’s why her parents entrusted her to the Adhiyaksa family to be married—not to the second young prince of that large, renowned district. But to the first young master of the Adhiyaksa family, the wealthiest family in the southern region. The first young master, who has a leg disability and will never recover for the rest of his life due to an accident several years ago in the other half of the world.

“Madam. Actually, the company in the northern city should have been taken over by the Young Master because it’s in such trouble. If you hand the company over to the Young Master, perhaps he’ll carry out an acquisition, and the shares and the business will recover.”

Aliendra fell silent. The girl was stunned, as if deep in thought, then nodded.

“Leo. Give me just a little more time, okay?”

***

“Dad. We can’t keep the company anymore. I’m willing to let it go. After all, it’s Bariel who’s taking it over, not someone else.”

“But, Aliendra. That’s the company Dad left to you. If the Adhiyaksa family takes it over, you won’t have any assets left.”

“It’s okay, Dad. I’m married now. As for financial support, I’m sure Bariel won’t neglect me. He’ll certainly provide for me as a husband should for his wife. As for two years from now when we divorce and he makes that decision, I’ll be independent, Dad. I’ll find a job to support myself.”

Aliendra’s final words sounded sad. Even though she knew her father still owned two other companies managed by her older sister, Alicia Tuna Adhitama. Aliendra’s older sister, who is currently on a business trip abroad and has been there for nearly two years without returning to the country. Alicia is settled in Canada.

“Forgive me, dear.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me, Dad. Things are different now. I’m married now. That means I have to be mature and handle any issues in my household and marriage wisely, Dad.”

The atmosphere grew somber once more. Aliendra had no idea that behind the wall of his bedroom, someone had been listening to his entire conversation with his father.

Bariel pushed his wheelchair toward the elevator at the far end of the top floor. He pressed the button, stepped inside, and descended to the ground floor.

“Leo. Come here.” The man was already in his office.

“Sir. You called for me.”

“How is the situation at Northern Company? Has it improved?”

“No, Sir. Many investors and clients are demanding compensation. None of them want to suffer losses because the mining capital involved is quite substantial. It seems the losses were caused by an insider involved in a major scheme—money laundering.”

“Find the mastermind behind this money laundering. Within 24 hours, you must find them and submit a report to me.”

“Yes, sir!”

This time, Bariel really had to take matters into his own hands. He didn’t want his household or his marriage to face problems. Spending the past day with Aliendra had made his life very comfortable. Even during the toughest moments, the girl had stayed by his side—even though the night before he’d rudely chased her away when the pain returned to attack both his legs.

Click!

“Bariel. Dinner’s ready. Do you want to eat now?”

A head peeked through the door of Bariel’s study. He looked up and saw his wife’s face there.

“Did you cook this?” he asked, rolling his wheelchair closer to Aliendra.

“Hmm. I was going to ask you for help again. But you disappeared. So I cooked it myself.”

“But Auntie is here. Let Auntie do the cooking,” said Bariel, gazing at Aliendra’s beautiful, spoiled face.

Bariel was startled when the girl suddenly sat on his lap in a very spoiled manner.

“Are you hurt?” Bariel shook his head, trying to steady his heart, which was pounding wildly as Aliendra’s face was so close to his.

The sweet scent wafting from the girl’s body was deeply unsettling to the grown man.

“As long as I’m your wife, I’m the one who has to do the cooking, Bariel. You’ll only be with me for two years, and then you’ll return to God’s house. I’m sure I’ll miss you terribly.”

Bariel was stunned to hear that. He felt a pang of pain in his chest. Yet that beautiful face, with its intoxicating fragrance, left him unable to control himself.