[5]

"Should I say welcome back?" the person sitting next to Helena asked.

The car that had picked them up continued to drive towards a point; Helena's residence, located on the outskirts of the city. It was cozy, peaceful and not too disturbed by the nauseating noise of the city.

Helena cast a quick glance at the woman who worked under her control. The beautiful woman whose face was often featured in business magazines and important interviews about the Edison family business.

"I have a lot to tell you, but... is this the right time?"

"What do you have to ask?" asked Helena as she straightened her seat. "You're just my saber-rattler, Wilna."

The woman, Wilna Djaya, laughed. She had to wipe the suddenly wet corners of her eyes. "I'm actually quite worried about what's happening to you right now. But I've warned you many times that your husband, whom you always defend, is not a good man."

Helena was silent.

"And now this is the real face of your husband, isn't it?"

"Ex," Helena corrected immediately. "And don't bother me until I get home. I'm tired."

Wilna made a gesture of closing her mouth, as if she was pulling a retseleting. Then she continued with her work, which was indeed a lot. She was surprised to get a message on her mobile an hour ago. Just at the moment Helena wanted to be picked up. All this time Helena had never wanted anyone from her real life to visit. It was enough for Helena to visit her family, even then only occasionally, as Helena couldn't leave the house for too long.

Wilna had often warned her, but perhaps Helena's love for her husband was too great, so whatever Wilna said about Arslan, it didn't have much effect. And how her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, Yori, demonized Helena. Helena forgave and tolerated them all too often. As a result, she often acts arbitrarily and without thinking, even though Helena is a human being with a heart.

Should Wilna be grateful or sad for what has happened to Helena now?

"I don't want to disturb you, but Nakia's stock is at its highest. Mr. Thomas continues to expand the business overseas and he seems to be quite successful in attracting potential foreign investors".

Helena made only a casual reply.

"Intel Corp, where your ex-husband works, has offered to cooperate in the field of transportation. They have the best offer, and it's been proven that the promotion we want will really hit the mark if it's handled by them".

"At what percentage of the scale does it really hit the mark?"

Wilna grimaced in embarrassment. "I mean... qualified enough to cover our promotion area, Mrs CEO."

Helena rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Next time I'll talk to you based on data. I don't like guesswork. Double check the proposal, if you really see it as an opportunity, don't hesitate to cooperate."

"Even with that bastard in charge of this project?" Wilna adjusted her glasses slightly. "If Nakia's side makes a deal with Intel Corp, they'll make quite a profit this year. I'm sure the Tan family will get a big head," Wilna scolded in a displeased tone.

"So what?" Helena rested her chin on the seat. Her eyes scanned the road, which was rather deserted. Perhaps it was because of the route the driver had chosen to get them to their destination as quickly as possible that the journey had gone so quickly that Helena hadn't noticed that they had entered the residential area where her family lived.

No, no, no.

Not just a residential area, but the mansions where her father and brother lived. The Edison family. A family that played a major role in the world of telecommunications and whose father was one of the most respected officials in the country. Let's just say that Helena was foolish to get rid of everything she had in order to pursue Arslan's love.

At first, she believed that Arslan was different. That is why Helena hid her identity. After all, not many people knew the youngest daughter of the Edison family. Many of her business partners and colleagues only knew that Helena was abroad. Unfortunately, it was all just a rumour that Helena's older brother Thomas was trying to stir up in order to protect Helena's private life.

For the past three years, Helena has supported Arslan, starting with something as trivial as Arslan's promotion. The economy will improve from Arslan's side because Helena is unlikely to tell the truth in the near future. I don't know why Helena still has the slightest doubt. Her intention was that when Arslan's position was better, Helena would tell the truth. After all, her father and brother never questioned what Arslan really was.

"Dad has never doubted your choice, Helena. But Papi insists that if the man you marry behaves badly, Papi will not hesitate to destroy him without a trace. Daddy raised you with an abundance of love and everything, not to be wasted on a single man".

This was her father's warning before Helena married. Because Helena's love for Arslan was so great, Helena persuaded Hanry Edison to give his blessing. Hanry's affection for his youngest daughter was so great that he gave his blessing and allowed Helena to choose her own path in life. Without the trappings and fame of the Edison family, Helena was at first convinced that Arslan was a man who loved her with all his heart.

Unfortunately, it all came at such a high price; a massive betrayal.

"We're here, Miss Edison," Wilna said as she tidied up her work board.

Her words caused Helena to turn her head reluctantly. "I'm not used to you calling me that, Wilna."

"But you are Miss Edison now, aren't you?" Wilna chuckled. "Come on, I've prepared your favorite snack. Who knows, it might improve your broken mood."

Helena smiled sadly. "It... hurts like hell, Wilna."

"It's okay." Wilna tried to comfort Helena. Although they were about the same age, Wilna, whom Helena trusted to work under her orders, respected her boss. She could not bear to see Helena so gloomy. In fact, in Wilna's mind, she was already planning an act of revenge to silence the Tan family. Wilna could do that easily, especially since she had the full trust to manage some of Helena's assets. And those assets had enough influence to block the steps of the company Arslan led.

"Spend your sadness today. Tomorrow you will use the time well to show your fangs, Helena. You have them. And you can make those who play with you submit with just one action."

***

Arslan seemed to have no appetite for his dinner. Even though what was served in front of him was his favorites dish. One that he had rarely been able to enjoy in the past because his finances had not yet qualified. But now he could easily get what he wanted. However...

"What's bothering you?" asked Tiara, looking at Arslan with surprise. "Does this food not suit you? If so, I'll ask Rani to change it."

Arslan smiled slightly. "Nothing."

"You don't seem to be in a good mood." Tiara rubbed Arslan's arm gently. Her gaze, too, was nowhere but on the man who would become hers. "You should have spent this day with joy. Do you have any regrets?"

"Regret what?" Arslan decided to focus on Tiara. Tiara was different in every way. The definition of seductive beauty and breaking a man's loyalty was perfectly possessed by the woman sitting next to him.

"Divorcing Helena, maybe," Tiara said as she looked away. Frowning, she shifted her seat slightly to get some distance from Arslan. The memory of Helena gave Tiara a headache.

Arslan chuckled. "I never regretted divorcing that woman."

"Really?" asked Tiara, although she didn't want to look at Arslan. Although Arslan teased her several times, showing intimacy in front of her future mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Also Yori's lover, who came to dinner with them.

Ah ... Tiara is happy now.

"I couldn't have lied to you, darling." Arslan was not lacking in ingenuity. When a woman sulks, you must get her on her knees.

"Tomorrow you will meet my father. You must be confident and don't take it too personally if my father gets angry. You know, the news of my pregnancy has made him ignore me several times."

Arslan patted the tip of Tiara's nose. "Don't worry. I will convince your father of my seriousness, dear. Take it easy."

"I'm glad to hear that." Tiara beamed. "Ah, I think I need to use the loo. I'll be right back." She hurried to the area off the dining room corridor. She left her future husband's family behind, who were still enjoying their meal.

"I'm still annoyed by Helena's behaviors," Mirna said, putting down her fork rather rudely. "I should teach her a lesson."

"Never mind, Mum. She's gone anyway, right?" Arslan downed the rest of his drink, which was not far from him.

"Picked up by a luxury SUV?" said Mirna emotionally. "How could Helena do that? Don't you suspect anything, Arslan?"

Arslan was silent.

"Luxury car? Helena was picked up by a luxury car?" Yori said with a shocked laugh. "Is it really like that, Mum?"

Mirna clucked in displeasure, which Yori assumed was the reality of what had happened.

"Wow... I can't believe it. I need to check the CCTV."

"So what if Helena was picked up by a luxury car?" asked Michael, who had decided to listen and watch this family. If it weren't for the interests, he was pursuing to secure his position, Michael wouldn't have wanted to linger with this family.

Unfortunately, Arslan's position was important enough to back him up.

"Are you kidding me, darling?" Yori laughed. "Helena is just a woman from a poor family. It's impossible for her to own a luxury car. Maybe if it was a normal family car, I'd believe it. But..." Yori couldn't help herself. She laughed again at her strange thought.

"It could be that Helena just hired a taxi. You know, don't taxis have special options now? A fleet with luxury equipment?"

Arslan gave Michael a searching look. He wondered how Helena could have been picked up by a luxury car. But when he heard Michael's words, he calmed down a bit.

"You're right, Michael," Arslan said. "There's no way this woman and her family could afford a limited-edition Range Rover."

But still... for Arslan this was beyond reason. Should he find out? But for what?