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22. The Partner
Last Updated:
2024-07-31 19:41:59
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Between Love and Scandal 23. The Searching Action
"Lucas told Daddy. The branch office will have to close soon. He said he didn't want to know anymore because the total loss is fantastic."Mark's words made Aileen feel like she had been struck in the solar plexus. This office, this workplace that had become part of her life—oh my!"Do something, please. You promised you wouldn't let us get fired en masse, Mark!"A single tear slid down her face, falling unbearably from her eyes.No, Aileen was no crybaby. But this shocking news was hard to hear at a time when her hopes had soared thanks to the promise of the man before her.Mark looked at Aileen with tears in her eyes. He would have grabbed her and pulled her into a comforting embrace if it hadn't been for the cafeteria."You don't have to worry. Potential people like you will be empowered at the headquarter office even if it closes. Would you work in the NYC office?Mark had a solution. It was still a secret. But how could he make Aileen, who already had a place in his heart, look sa
Last Updated : 2024-08-04Between Love and Scandal 24. Chatch One
"Mercy!""Mercy, Mr. Mark!"Several times, the muffled cry from the mouth of the old hulking man begged Mark, holding Bobby's back, to stay prone on the road.Aileen had already arrived, standing next to Mark, clutching her chest as her breathing raced.It had been a long time since she had run as fast as she had just done. Oh my! Her heart and lungs felt like they were going to burst with nervousness and exertion."Where are you going, Mr. Bobby?" asked Mark, who then grabbed both of the man's hands with a single jerk and pulled them behind him to give the impression that he could not move.Several people who had been watching the running scene looked over curiously. What was going on? Had a chicken thief been caught? Several guesses surfaced, forcing them to crowd around Aileen and Mark, who seemed to be holding a helpless man.Aileen immediately called the police and asked for help in catching the criminal."Mr. Bobby, just admit what you did. The law will take care of everything.
Last Updated : 2024-08-04Between Love and Scandal 25. Traitor
"What?""Are you serious?"Lucas was shocked by the report he had just heard from Mark."I'll talk to Dad later. Don't tell him. You're too heartless to care about Dad's heart condition!" Mark warned Lucas.He reported his latest progress to Lucas."And I'm asking for a little more time to catch them all. Once all four are arrested. You won't have any reason to close the branch office, will you?"Mark said what he was told, and Aileen waited anxiously beside him. She listened to every word they said because, this time, Mark was deliberately speaking into the loudspeaker.Occasionally, Mark squeezed Aileen's fingers in front of him. The look on Aileen's face really touched him. Maybe it was the same as when he was so afraid that the orphanage he grew up in would be evicted.Yes, at that time, he had also been adopted by Mr. Alex Howard. However, he was still reluctant because the place was still the most comfortable home for most of his siblings in the orphanage. It was a reluctant fee
Last Updated : 2024-08-04Between Love and Scandal 26. Permission To Search
"We need to search William's private residence. There must be records of his cash flow. I'm sure we'll find that the destination of the money flow is Mr. Leigner's account." Mark said as the two of them walked quickly back to the parking lot."The police are taking too long. In the name of procedure, evidence can disappear before it can be found. Damn it!" Mark chirped again.Aileen followed Mark's long strides. She still did not feel well. But her stomach was already screaming for food. Mark was completely insensitive. The man forgot to eat and drink while working on something."Is that the sound of your stomach?"Mark stopped spontaneously and looked closely into Aileen's eyes.Aileen just scowled."I haven't eaten yet, I've been running around after that, using up all my energy. I'm hungry!""Cih! Let's eat outside later!" Mark walked all the way to where his bike was parked.But he turned into a restaurant a short time into the ride."Eat a lot. We have a lot of work to do!" Mark
Last Updated : 2024-08-05Between Love and Scandal 27. The Search For Laura
Meanwhile, Laura, who was also on the run, struggled with the search team led by Mr. Ben.A black car appeared on the street and tried to break through the traffic jam. Inside, a ponytailed Laura, dressed in a bright black blouse, was terrified. Her heart was pounding as a train passed in front of her.She couldn't wait to get away from this place. This place had become a scourge for her, not only because of being chased by several people but also because of an incident that dragged her name as a suspect.The girl's eyes occasionally glanced at the rearview mirror, hoping that a car that looked like a fairly large van was not following her. She was relieved when she didn't see the car in the mirror.But when the train passed, the girl named Laura didn't want to waste any time. She stepped on the accelerator as hard as possible and drove through the streets leading to the port.She ignored the street children cleaning her car with their duster, the vendors offering unique toys, the beg
Last Updated : 2024-08-05Between Love and Scandal 28. Hiding
Just as they had expected. The black car pulled into the harbor. As they had planned, as soon as Laura was on the deck, Evan and David ran to the car and knocked on Laura's window.Laura didn't move. She took a breath and let it out roughly. Her plan to escape failed as she was caught by the men of her company. But Laura needed ideas.Her eyes scanned the area again. Laura was deliberately buying time so that she could run free without being caught. Then she smiled mischievously. Suddenly, she had an idea of how to escape. She opened the window."Hey, you! Excuse me, can I open my door? I hope you can walk a little behind or in front of me. Can you?"David complied. He immediately stepped forward and let her open the door. Once the door was open, Laura quickly ran past the cars that were starting to park in the lot. Meanwhile, David picked up his HT and reported that the target was about to escape.The men immediately gathered. They split up when they saw Laura already in the middle o
Last Updated : 2024-08-05Between Love and Scandal 29. Bully Each Other, But ....
Meanwhile, Mark and Aileen returned to Mark's apartment. They plopped down on the long sofa in the front room where no one but Aileen had ever sat."Oh my! This is so hard to handle! If I were Mrs. Liana--""No way! You can't say that without actually being her." Mark cut off Aileen's naive words."Laura always thinks that way. She's so sure that if she does this, she'll do that. Ish, but it's not necessarily the case that if she experienced it herself, she would be able to behave the way she talks about!"Aileen, feeling cornered, made a face."Geez, why don't you just listen to me? You're just blaming me for being human! Ish!""What the hell? Am I wrong? That's the truth!""Yes, but there's no need to clarify it either. I didn't mean what I said either," Aileen said defensively."Well, admit it, right! If you didn't mean it, why did you say it? You're forcing me to listen anyway! It's better if what you hear are facts. This is just a baseless characterization!" Mark continued to acc
Last Updated : 2024-08-06Between Love and Scandal 30. Sneaking
The night was falling. The sky was reddened with darkness, and the clouds were hanging as if they were about to rain down on the earth. The fan sounded even louder in a room that was just a little smaller. But that didn't stop Laura from falling asleep in her dreams.Her body felt so tired after a long day of avoiding the pursuit of big men. Her eyes were so sleepy that she could not keep them open.During her exhaustion, she dreamed that the men had captured her and taken her to a dark torture chamber. There, she was tied to a chair with a rope, and the men began to surround and abuse her.Laura screamed that night, broke out in a cold sweat, and was very frightened. Soon, Laura woke up. Her mother, who had helped her, was hugging her."Did you have a nightmare, child?""Yes, Mom.""Be patient, child."The kind, fairy-like mother took a glass and filled it with water. A moment later, she handed it to Laura."Drink first, child. Tell me about your dream and what you're afraid of."Lau
Last Updated : 2024-08-22
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Between Love and Scandal 102. ENDING
The family was filled with happiness when Aileen finally gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Deborah Fredina Bagaskara. The smart and chatty little girl became a source of pride for her parents, as well as for her grandparents. The house immediately came alive with the arrival of the first grandchild in the Bagaskara family, which had been rather quiet in terms of descendants.Deborah’s birth story was quite an adventure. Aileen had cravings as her due date approached, and her parents had warned her to stay home. However, Aileen insisted on going to Monas (National Monument) to see the tower up close. “My goodness, darling. What a ridiculous request is that?” Mark was frustrated because he was in a dilemma: everyone had forbidden him to fulfill his wife’s wish, but as her husband, he couldn’t bear to deny her. During her pregnancy, Aileen had rarely asked for anything unusual.He felt terribly guilty if he didn’t fulfill her request. So, that afternoon, he decided to take Aile
Between Love and Scandal 101. Pregnant
Two months after their wedding, Aileen discovered she was pregnant because her period was late by more than a month. So, the menstruation she had on their wedding night was the last one she experienced after marriage. After that, she didn’t have any until a pregnancy test confirmed two lines. "Is it true, darling? Are you pregnant?" asked Mark, looking very enthusiastic. Aileen was so moved that she couldn't speak. She had, of course, hoped to get pregnant right away after marriage, but she never expected it to happen so soon. "Thank you, darling. I’m so touched. I'm going to be a dad!" said Mark, jumping around with joy. He immediately ran downstairs to share the good news with his parents. "What? Aileen is pregnant? Alhamdulillah!" Mrs. Anna exclaimed. She was so happy because she had requested from Aileen and Mark that they wouldn’t delay having children with contraception. Mr. George was just as happy and cheered when he heard the news. "Finally, Pa. Next time, we wo
Between Love and Scandal 100. Unforgettable Moments
And finally, the long-awaited day arrived. The Bagaskara family's house had been lavishly decorated for the important once-in-a-lifetime moment between Mark and Aileen. Aileen’s extended family from Mataram had arrived the day before and stayed at her apartment to ensure they wouldn't be late for the marriage ceremony and reception. The invitations, which numbered no less than a hundred people, came in waves, filling the yard which had been set up for a garden party, much like Lisa's party from before. The only difference was that the theme here was Mediterranean, whereas Lisa’s party had been modern and contemporary. The akad nikah ceremony took place at the large mosque near the Bagaskara home, attended by close family and a few necessary witnesses. Naturally, there were also a few showbiz reporters covering the wedding of such a prominent figure in the city. Mark successfully recited his vows in one smooth breath, and everyone cheered "SAH" when the imam asked the formal ques
Between Love and Scandal 99. Found
In the morning, even before Mark could head to the police station, he was shocked by a message from an unknown number on his phone's messaging app. When he opened it, the message contained a photo of Mr. George after an accident, lying by a river in an unknown area. Mark nearly screamed when he saw the worrying condition of his father in the photo. There were bloodstains on his father’s shirt inside his suit, which had torn in several places. Without thinking, he immediately called the number that sent the message, but there was no response. He sent several threatening messages and questions, but there was no sign of them being read or replied to. "Mr. Edo, please come to the house. I need help tracking a mysterious number. Someone sent me a picture of Dad injured somewhere unknown," Mark said while forwarding the image to Mr. Edo’s number.Mr. Edo acted quickly. He also noted down the sender’s number to have their IT team check it. While waiting, they speculated about where the pho
Between Love and Scandal 98. Disappear
That night, Mr. George came home late after attending an important invitation for a project planning. He didn't invite Mark, thinking his son must be busy preparing for their upcoming wedding.As usual, whenever he traveled without Mark, Mrs. Anna insisted that he use a driver. He had rarely been allowed to drive himself lately because of concerns over exhaustion. His advancing age made it necessary for him to be more compromising and dependent on others.On the way home, unexpectedly, one of his tires went flat. He had to get out of the car and let the driver search for a repair shop. Deciding to take a taxi, he provided his address and focused on his phone. He had been reviewing some documents that his secretary had just sent, trying to match the data with the recent meeting results to decide if the project would be profitable for his company.So absorbed in his phone, Mr. George didn't notice the driver taking a different route, not the usual one leading him home. Suddenly, he real
Between Love and Scandal 97. Lisa's Wedding
"Forgive Lisa, okay? Really, it wasn’t me who pressured her to rush you," Lucas said as they had dropped everyone off at their homes, with his being the last stop. Lisa had already gone inside due to being so tired. He took this opportunity to speak privately with Emma.Emma was just about to start her car to drive home alone when she heard Lucas’s words."Oh, no problem. Maybe if I were your sister, I’d rush you too, because she wants to get married, right? Maybe she just feels bad about going ahead of you, Ed." Emma responded wisely. Despite being an only child, the girl had such a mature and understanding attitude. She could always see the good in others. Even when discussing Courtney, she defended her, explaining that Courtney was simply devoted to her mother and that deserved some appreciation. Oh my!"Thank goodness you’re not offended. What if the more I pushed, the more you’d pull back? What would happen to me?" Lucas continued.Emma smiled, holding back a laugh. "I already
Between Love and Scandal 96. At The Peak of The Hill
Lucas, feeling sorry for Emma’s life being too heavily criticized by Lisa and Aileen, tried to change the subject. He asked about possible beginner-friendly hiking destinations that weren’t too far from Jakarta. “Are you really interested?” Emma asked, seemingly unsure of Lucas’s question. “Of course!” Lucas replied, shrugging his shoulders. “Whatever you like, I’ll like it too,” he added, which caused a burst of laughter around the campfire. Immediately, everyone began teasing the couple, who were clearly smitten with each other. “Come on, just get together already. Why drag it out?” Lisa scoffed, pouting her lips. “Yee... why are you so impatient? Want me to have a brother-in-law like Lucas?” Emma teased, stepping aside to the tent to grab something from inside. A few moments later, she returned holding a plastic bag filled with snacks. “Here! Share it equally, okay? Don’t fight over it!” she said, handing it to Lisa, who then distributed it to the others. “Wee, nice
Between Love and Scandal 95. Hiking
The day Mrs. Anna came back from the hospital after the poisoning incident, Mr. Alex, Lucas, Lisa, and Gio came together to visit and check on her condition. During their friendly conversation, Lucas once again suggested going hiking together once everyone was feeling better.Mark remembered this and quickly contacted Lucas to confirm that he and Aileen were available for hiking next weekend if their schedules allowed. Of course, Lucas was thrilled. He immediately started organizing the schedule with Emma, Lisa, and Gio.Mr. George and Mrs. Anna were a bit worried, but then they remembered that Mrs. Rebecca and Courtney, who had motives to harm their family, were still abroad for an extended period. So, they eventually gave their blessing."Really? Your friends are coming?" Emma sounded so excited on the other end of the line as she told the girl she was close with."Yes! Lisa and Gio are coming too. How fun is that? So, can you make it next weekend?" Lucas asked to make sure. He woul
Between Love and Scandal 94. Leave
"Shut your mouth, Al!" Mrs. Rebecca shouted loudly while holding her chest. Courtney, worried about her mom, immediately approached and hugged her. "Mom, are you okay? Hang in there, Mom, just stay calm. I won’t be easily tricked by them. Let’s go home, okay? You don’t look too well," Courtney urged, very concerned as she saw her mom's face turn pale and her chest rise and fall, struggling with her emotions. She feared her mom might suffer a heart attack, which could be dangerous, she thought to herself. "Listen! I’m leaving Dad for now! If anything happens to him, you’ll know how cruel I can be!" Courtney threatened as she pointed toward Mark and Mr. George. She then turned back toward her car, guiding her mom. Mrs. Rebecca reluctantly complied because she wasn’t ready to face the arguments from Mr. George and Mark. For a moment, she was terrified that Courtney would realize the truth and turn away from her to side with them. Thankfully, Courtney still loved and trusted her
