"It seems so hard to even find, let alone meet you after you married Keenan." Liam, a man who is an old friend of Catherine Chandra, raised his glass, inviting the woman's glass to clink with his.
Catherine smiled, her eyes winking to the side. "I love Keenan, and I have to be a good wife to him by not seeing other men like you."
The two old friends laughed heartily. Tonight, Liam met Catherine because he wanted to invite her to rejoin their company.
"You're beautiful and talented, Cath, but I admire that you're willing to give everything up for your husband. Ah, you're even more beautiful now that you're married." Liam teased as he folded the black folder that had been open all this time.
"I just don't want to be a disobedient wife." Catherine chuckled softly. "You also know, it was very difficult for me to find a well-established man like Keenan."
Catherine's phone rang softly, and an alarm for tonight's schedule prompted her to grab her clutch and stand up. "I have to go tonight."
"Meeting Keenan?" Liam asked.
"Of course. He's my only man every night."
Liam patted the woman's arm lightly. "Alright, your old habit hasn't changed. In that case, let's part ways. I hope we can meet again someday."
"Of course, Liam. I'm sure this won't be our last meeting," said Catherine.
They hugged briefly, then parted ways. Catherine went to her car in the parking lot. However, before she started the engine, a text message startled her.
***
The sound of moans filled the 5x5-meter room in a five-star hotel. A brown-haired woman led the way, making the man beneath her enjoy the moment.
"You're amazing, Arsila...."
CRASH!
The man and woman, amid their heated encounter, turned in shock, halting what they were doing and quickly covering their bodies with the blanket.
"LET ME IN!" Catherine shouted angrily as two officers blocked her entry into the hotel and allowed her inside.
Catherine's rage peaked as she stormed to the bed, yanking the blanket off Arsila.
SLAP!
A slap landed on Arsila's cheek, causing her face to turn aside. "ARE YOU STEALING MY HUSBAND?! HUH?!"
Arsila didn't respond; her head lowered as if feeling no guilt.
"ANSWER ME, ARSILA—"
"Watch your tone, Catherine!" Standing at 180 centimeters, the man pulled his wife away from Arsila.
"Show respect to Arsila and stop this cheap drama!" Keenan yelled.
"Cheap? What do you mean? I'm your wife, Keenan. This cheap woman is the one who stole you from me!" Catherine shouted back.
Keenan stood up, put on his pants, and pulled Catherine away from the bed. "Do you realize what you've done?!"
"Do you realize what you've done, Keenan? Why are you sleeping with another woman when I invited you for dinner?!" Catherine's voice quivered violently.
Keenan was about to respond to his wife when Biana—Keenan's mother—suddenly entered the room. Her arrival stopped their argument. Catherine felt a sense of safety, thinking Biana would defend her since Keenan had crossed the line.
"Mother, please remove this woman from my room. She's disturbing Arsila and even hit her," Keenan said.
Biana approached her fingers, smoothing Catherine's slightly messy hair and wiping away the tears on her daughter-in-law's cheek.
"My dear, end this drama. Haven't you realized that the business world is never without infidelity?" Biana said softly, her words sending shockwaves through Catherine.
"What do you mean, Mother? Why aren't you stopping Keenan?"
"Stop? Don't you see the chaos you've caused tonight? You made us lose everything. Can't you think, can't you be aware of the condition of this family?!" Biana's voice began to rise.
"Ah, I had my suspicions. At first, I ignored the rumors about you often hanging out with male friends outside... you never cared about your husband because you could leave whenever you wanted if this family fell apart!"
"Mother, what are you saying—"
"Enough, Catherine! Stop pretending and leave your husband with Arsila!" Biana snapped.
"MOTHER, I NEVER MET WITH MALE FRIENDS, LET ALONE HAD AN AFFAIR!" Catherine screamed in anger, but Biana just smiled at her.
"No garbage is stored without a stench spreading. That's what you've been like all this time," Biana said.
Catherine's body trembled violently, her eyes glaring at Arsila, who still wrapped herself in the blanket. The woman smiled maliciously at Catherine, feeling victorious because she was fiercely defended.
"If you were aware of your husband's condition, at least you would stop using our family's wealth to go out partying. Stop using our family's money and be a useful wife by allowing your husband to sleep with a woman much more useful than you," Biana said.
"Mother, I can do anything for Keenan. I'm sorry I didn't understand what was happening, I—"
A condescending smile appeared on Biana's lips as she stroked Catherine's head, then turned the gentle touch into a painful squeeze.
"Stop your nonsense and leave this place right now!" Biana growled, her eyes glaring at her daughter-in-law, her hand slapping Catherine's head harshly.
Catherine turned to Keenan, tears uncontrollably flowing, lamenting her misfortune tonight. "Honey...." Catherine called softly. "You still believe in me, right?"
Keenan took a deep breath. "Everything is clear. Stop pretending when you know my current condition. I'm the victim of your selfishness all this time."
"But that woman... she's stealing you from me," Catherine said.
"She didn't steal me; I need her more than anything." Keenan approached Catherine and whispered. "You need to understand why I need to do all this, and you just need to sit quietly and give in...."
"The company is facing a downturn; I need someone who supports me, and Arsila is the right person."
Catherine trembled violently, her stomach churning painfully. "Stop all this, Keenan. Let me do it for you—"
Keenan jerked Catherine's hand, holding his arm, as she knelt. "Aren't you ashamed, Catherine? You're talking as if you have everything in front of Arsila. You should protect your husband's reputation and give in. Arsila is much better than you!"
Keenan took a white folder he had prepared in case something like this happened tonight.
"Take this and go home... we'll continue our business at home. Don't interfere with what I'm doing with Arsila."
Catherine opened the folder, and immediately, her body froze as two burly men forcibly pulled her arms.
The Divorce Papers. Catherine sat with a vacant look at a deserted bus stop. It was 11 p.m., and there weren't many people on the streets—just a faint breeze and flashes of lightning indicating that rain would soon follow.The white folder Keenan had given her was still in her hand. Catherine didn't know whether she should go home tonight or not.What she experienced from her husband's behavior was truly heartbreaking. She felt she had no more chances, and even Biana, who had been like a mother to her, had joined in mocking her."You're still here." A woman suddenly stood before Catherine, crossing her arms over her chest.Arsila, the woman who had enjoyed the warmth of the bed with Keenan just a few hours ago, stood confidently, with a malicious smile, watching Catherine's misfortune."Admit your defeat and end this cheap drama you've created. You should bow your head before me, so Keenan doesn't have to divorce you," said Arsila.Catherine gave a faint smile, her body drained of en
Keenan opened his desk drawer, searching for a file he had left behind that he needed to bring to the office. But he accidentally stumbled upon a thick white envelope among the documents."What's this?" he muttered as he opened the envelope.Keenan was shocked to find a pregnancy test with two red lines and a doctor's report in Catherine Chandra's name.Keenan froze, reading the contents and recalling Catherine's words from their last meeting."What are you looking at?"Keenan turned, unable to hide the envelope in time, as Arsila had already snatched it."You kept it?" Arsila asked curtly."I just found it; I don't know how long it's been there," Keenan replied."Do you regret leaving Catherine?"Keenan shook his head. He touched Arsila's cheek and kissed her gently on her thin lips. "You're my life, Arsila. I never regret leaving anyone for you. You've helped me a lot, you're my breath and soul."Arsila blushed; just a few words from Keenan were enough to calm her down."I'm afraid
The elevator door sounded as a man in a dark blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves stepped out. His confident and long strides carried him to the trainee training room.His face lit up with admiration as he saw a woman he missed dearly elegantly moving into the room."You're healthy, and I hope you're always happy, Catherine," Svarga said as he opened the door to the room.A trainer, noticing the company's boss arriving, asked Catherine to stop. She greeted him while Catherine stood frozen as Svarga walked toward her."Can we have the room to ourselves for a moment?" Svarga asked the female trainer.It was just the two of them now, only Catherine and Svarga."You—" Catherine found herself at a loss for words, her tongue-tied."Thank you for coming back. I'm happy to see you," Svarga said softly.Tears streamed down Catherine's cheeks; seeing Svarga was like a refreshing breeze entering her body, which had felt hollow for so long."Svarga...."The man hugged Catherine, rubbing the back of
CRASH! Papers were scattered all over the floor, and Arsila screamed angrily, her hands pulling at her messy hair. Her encounter with Catherine at the charity event a few hours ago had shattered her composure.Catherine had entrapped Arsila by handing her a photo of the affair between herself and Keenan from a year ago.Arsila laughed sardonically. "No, I can just tell everyone that the photo was doctored by someone untrustworthy!"The woman grabbed her phone and called her assistant. "Sam, invite Catherine and her agency for dinner next week. Tell them that the company's stock is gradually rising thanks to Catherine's influence."After that, Arsila tidied up and left her office. She picked up her car keys, but before she could go, Biana approached her."Catherine Chandra is the talk of the town," Biana said, stopping Arsila in her tracks. "You were very reckless in hiring that woman as the company's model."Arsila took a deep breath, then turned to her mother-in-law. "I've calculated
"Marry me, Cath."That was the message Svarga sent to Catherine. A velvet box containing two gold rings set with diamonds added to the atmosphere, making Catherine's heart race."Marry Svarga, dear," said Noel.Catherine closed her eyes and exhaled slowly, then her small lips said, "Papa, this is too soon.""So, are you rejecting him?""N-no, it's not like that. You and Mama surely know why I'm not ready for marriage. My wounds haven't healed, and I've just met the main person responsible for inflicting such deep wounds on me."Noel and Keira exchanged glances, regret in their eyes as they looked at their daughter's pale and sorrowful face. Indirectly, they also played a part in Catherine's mental setback."I need time, maybe not now, or whenever… I must reconcile and discuss things with my heart and mind.""Mr. and Mrs. Chandra, sorry to interrupt your conversation. It seems Catherine needs to rest now since tomorrow is
Svarga was seen intimately wrapping his arm around Arsila's waist, with Keenan following behind them carrying several shopping bags. They seemed close, their carefree faces only intensifying the turmoil in Catherine's chest."Let's go, Dhira," Catherine urged."Aren't you curious?"Catherine turned away, not wanting to let her thoughts tangle, and her heart was unsettled just to see two people who had hurt her. She was now laughing happily with someone she trusted."Svarga seems very close with Arsila," Dhira commented."They're business partners," Catherine replied.Dhira felt awkward and sped up the car without saying another word.The pounding in Catherine's heart slowly subsided, but her eyes were still teary after seeing Keenan and all the memories they had shared.They had once adored each other, professing love and expressing affection every day. Keenan, who rarely showed warmth, had been very attentive to her. He had ma