CHAPTER 9

Arka got up from her seat and approached Mona, staring intently at the girl. It made Mona's guts that wanted to say more shrink. Pulling her sister-in-law's chin and gripping it to return her gaze

"Take a look in the mirror before you say that, Mona! It's okay if you don't do the obligations thrown at you. But replace the money your damn brother brought," Arka scolded and made Mona fall to the floor.

"You don't know yourself!" Arka snapped and pulled Mona's hand to follow her.

"Stay here! Think about what you want, whether or not it's appropriate for you to ask me," Arka said, pushing Mona into the shed and the man locked it.

"Brother-in-law, open it! Don't lock it Mona is scared," Mona shouted banging on the door, she started sobbing in fear.

Arka walked away from the warehouse, annoyed at Mona's request. The man preferred to go to his room to rest his body. He was very tired, letting his sister-in-law sleep in the warehouse for the night.

"Brother-in-law, please open it! Mona is scared, Mona promises not to negotiate anymore let alone argue," Mona squealed, the girl was very afraid of the dark.

Mona sagged to the floor, hugging her knees shakily. Her eyes glanced at every corner, this warehouse was very dusty. She was terrified of cockroaches, the fear of meeting them was overwhelming.

"Mona is scared ...," Mona whispered shakily, her body slightly shaken from crying.

Mona squealed in surprise when she felt something crawling on her hand, the girl immediately shook her arm when she realized it was a cockroach. She ran to find something to repel the insect, when she found a broom Mona quickly got rid of the cockroach. Breathing a sigh of relief, she immediately swept the place where she was sitting while holding an object for dusting. It would be her weapon while she was here.

"This place is so creepy, why did Brother Arka have the heart to punish me here. I'd rather work a full day," Mona whispered, her eyes wary of the cecukes approaching her again.

"This is all because of Sister Dinda, if she hadn't run away and betrayed Brother-in-law my life would have been fine," Mona said clenching her hands, remembering Dinda's departure.

"What should I do, I can't return the money that Sister Dinda took away," Mona mumbled, sounding weak and desperate.

"Why did Sister Dinda sacrifice me as a substitute for her," Mona said, wiping away the tears that had begun to fall.

"My only choice was to obey Arka's brother, replacing Dinda's sister's role as his wife," Mona said again, as she continued to talk to herself lamenting her fate of having to serve Arka in bed as well.

"My life was ruined in an instant because of Brother Dinda. Is it because I was complacent with the pampering that Arka's brother gave me, that God is reprimanding me in this way?" Mona's mind had wandered elsewhere, before she knew it the clock had struck three and the girl had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

Arka had woken up when the clock struck half past six, he got up to go to the dining table and found no breakfast. His just wanted to punish Mona, so with wide strides Arka went to the storeroom. Upon opening the door, his eyes were immediately presented with a depressing sight.

Arka let out a harsh breath. "Don't sympathize, Arka! This girl is that damn woman's sister," Arka's mind warned, as she rushed over and carried Mona into the girl's room.

"Aishhhh, what a pain." Arka left as soon as she put Mona on the bed, stepping into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee, opting to buy some food for breakfast.