Those words were the last thing Lara remembered when she opened her eyes, feeling pain coursing through her body.Darkness. That's all Lara could see. In truth, she couldn't see anything. Her head hurt badly, and strangely... so did her stomach!"W-what's this?" Lara checked the pain in her abdomen. The pain felt very strange. Lara truly missed something. "Stitches?" she murmured.Very strange, why were there stitches on her stomach?Lara only realized one thing... "My child! Where is my child?"The stitches seemed to be the way out for the little baby who disappeared. Lara truly didn't remember anything. The last thing Lara remembered was that she was in the hospital and about to divorce her husband. After that... Lara just fell asleep and... dreamed!Lara dreamed of being moved to a strange, dark room with the smell of disinfectant and the sound of machines buzzing in her ears. Some medical staff accompanied her in that dream... and... the sound of a baby crying was heard."Dammit!"
"Lara! Yes! It's me!"Mahya immediately ran towards Lara and tried to release her from behind the bars with all his might. "Damn!" he muttered when the iron door turned out to be tightly locked."Wait, Lara!"Mahya ran back to his original place. He headed to the car, unpacking the toolbox in his trunk. The sound of clinking metal tools began to be heard. Mahya returned to Lara carrying a crowbar to break the padlock that locked the door hinges."Hiyah!"With all his might, Mahya finally managed to open the bars that were imprisoning Lara."Lara!" Mahya immediately hugged his friend who was lying weakly on the floor. He cried and regretted this kidnapping incident. Why did such a good girl like Lara have to experience it?"Mahya, where am I?" Lara asked with a trembling voice. She was truly scared. Lara had almost lost her life due to dehydration and bleeding.The smell of blood mixed with sweat drenched her. Lara felt like a slaughtered cow.Mahya took a deep breath before giving an
The next day, Lara woke up feeling calmer. The chirping of birds outside made her day feel lighter. The aroma of coffee greeted Lara's sense of smell. It seemed like Mahya's routine was still the same as usual."Coffee?" Mahya offered to Lara, who had just opened her eyes."Okay," Lara replied, smiling at her friend.Mahya chuckled and then went back to the kitchen to brew Lara a cup of coffee like hers.Mahya's attention made Lara feel loved. She remembered Melati. She wondered how the child was doing now."Mahya, do you think I should go back home?" Lara asked innocently. She didn't even think about the possible risks she might face if she dared to do so."NO!" Mahya refused firmly. "Do you think why someone would let his wife be tied up right after giving birth? You're dead, Lara. You have to remember that!" Mahya concluded. Lara just swallowed her words. Mahya's words were not wrong at all."So, what should I do?" Lara started to feel anxious. She wanted to know her child's fate a
Miriam's steps halted in front of the door. She decided not to return to her apartment unit."Excuse me, I just want to introduce myself," she said politely. However, there was no response."Excuse me...." As if she had nothing else to do, she persisted in entering her neighbor's apartment unit. Her intuition told her something was wrong. She wanted to confirm her suspicions."Oh, Hello!" Suddenly, someone's voice startled her. She turned around and found her acquaintance standing there."Miss journalist, how are you?" he greeted warmly."I'm fine. What are you doing in front of my house?" Mahya asked in surprise. Undeniably, her heart was also beating fast. She was worried that Miriam would meet Lara, whose status was still concealed."Oh, I just wanted to say hello to you! It turns out... there's no one there. I heard something break earlier. I thought... someone was there," said Miriam while fixing her hair."Ah. Maybe it's my cat. He's naughty!" Mahya tried to sound annoyed. Actua
Seno stared blankly at the ceiling of the room. The image of Lara's face suddenly appeared. At the moment, he shuddered in horror and began to reassure himself that everything would be fine."How did it go? Is the woman dead?" Seno asked when the henchman he ordered to eliminate Lara had just shown himself."I ... I--" He couldn't continue his sentence."Tell me, Fucking Bastard?! How did it go?" Seno yelled angrily. He couldn't afford any traces of his crime left on Lara. His wife, correction, his ex-wife, had to disappear from this world along with her identity, which had been thoroughly wiped clean without a trace."Someone saved her, Boss!" he reported with a strengthened tone. He had to appear firm if he didn't want to end up as a corpse at the hands of the employer."YOU BASTARD! How could this happen?!" Seno rose from his seat. He had just enjoyed success with the discovery of a remedy drug that had always failed before.Thanks to Lara, Seno's dream became easy. The child she b
Lara bit her lip. Tears streamed down her face again. "Ho–how could …" She couldn't even continue her sentence."Lara. Just hold on. These are just do–""But still! Seno's been playing me from the start, Mahya!" Lara cut in quickly. Mahya just sighed deeply. That's exactly what she had been thinking. "He's always been like that. Right from the beginning, Lara," Mahya added, making Lara's sobs even louder."Hang on … hang in there, Lara," Mahya patted Lara's shoulder, then hugged her. She understood how Lara felt. Hurt, betrayed, and ... almost losing her life at the hands of her own husband, it was really tough to go through. No one in this world could bear such a burden alone."I have to go back to Grandma's house, Mahya! Seno's Grandma will surely acknowledge me. She's a very kind person. Take me there, Mahya. Please ...," Lara pleaded. Mahya shook her head weakly. It was too risky to make contact with the Seno family."We don't know what Seno's Grandma is hiding, Lara. I refuse," M
"I can only give you this, Ma'am." Melati said as she handed a letter to Lara. "We're moving to Singapore," she added. Even in disguise, Melati could recognize her employer well. Unlike Lara's family, who didn't even bother to worry about her."Mel ..." Lara whispered softly. Tears welled up in her eyes again."Please be patient, Ma'am. Everything I know is written in that letter. I could only give it to you today. Trust me, Ma'am. I didn't participate in Mr. Seno's criminal scheme. But ..." Melati cut off her words. Some big men started to become wary and suspiciously eyed her back."But what, Mel?" Lara was curious about her assistant's continuation."I have to go! Ma'am! Stay away from here, okay!""Melati!" Lara screamed as the girl walked away. However, Lara quickly silenced herself when she caught sight of the guards gripping Melati tightly."What's happening here?" Lara was truly puzzled by the drastic changes in the Seno family. Everything felt so odd.***Lara immediately sne
Mahya's black car sped away at an average speed, distancing itself from Seno's office and all the potential dangers that might lurk there.As their vehicle moved away from the S-Group headquarters, Lara felt a weight lifted off her shoulders little by little. There were no words to express how grateful Lara was that Mahya could return safely. Moreover, the girl also brought along data to uncover Seno's fraud in establishing the company."I can't believe we're at this point, Mahya," Lara said emotionally. Mahya smiled brightly at her friend. "Yes, you can always count on me," she joked while staying focused on the increasingly crowded streets.The streets of Jakarta were getting congested again, although not yet considered heavy traffic. The rush hour was still far away, but it seemed that today, many vehicles needed to be on the road."Ah, yes, it's Wednesday," Mahya muttered."Why Wednesday?" Lara asked curiously."Wednesday is the day people have meetings outside. Hehe. If Monday is
Shanon still lay weakly, Mia and Tomi were already in the waiting room. The doctor still couldn't allow them to visit because they weren't family members."How's the director?" Mia asked as Darren finally emerged from the inpatient room. "She's recovering, although she's still unconscious," he said softly. His eyes looked weary, very different from when they met before this tragic incident occurred."Mia, tell me anything I might have missed," Darren asked for clues. He would soon get Ian and Miriam arrested, but Darren wanted to uncover the truth that had been hidden all this time."Ian and Miriam have been playing both of you. We only found out after catching Alice," Mia said, with Tomi nodding in agreement."Their internal lackeys are being interrogated by investigators. We've reported Ian and Miriam, but it seems they've already fled, Sir," Tomi sighed. It seemed their actions were too late. Somehow, Ian and Miriam had managed to escape so quickly."So, what did they take?""For n
"Darling!" Darren shot forward, embracing Shanon whom sprawled on the carpet. Ian and Miriam watched from behind the door. The threat wasn't over."Hand over your car keys!" Ian barked. Darren didn't even hear the thin man's shout. He was busy checking Shanon's pulse and breathing. Every vital area he could ensure to make sure Shanon was still alive."Call an ambulance!" Darren yelled while carrying Shanon in his arms."We're not your maids. Can't you see? We're the villains here." Ian scoffed, making Darren's anger reach its boiling point."What have you done to her?!""We were just playing around with her a bit. Not our fault if she struggled and ended up like that."Darren's eyes reddened. He immediately dashed towards the door to take Shanon to the nearest hospital, but Ian stopped him."Hey! You can't go anywhere!" Ian grabbed Darren's collar and pulled him back."I need to get to the hospital! Shanon is dying!""Hey, where do you think you're going? Aren't you leaving her behind
Shanon collapsed with a bloody leg. Miriam immediately grabbed her hair and dragged her out of the warehouse to get to a brighter light. Shanon's blood smelled metallic and scattered along the floor as Miriam changed the location of her torture."Let me go!!" Shanon screamed in pain. The stinging sensation and anger piled up inside her. How could she be tortured in her own home?"I already told you, didn't I? Stop acting up! It will only hurt you even more," Miriam scolded. Ian staggered behind them. After successfully removing the bloody pen, he quickly wrapped the wound with a scarf he took from the warehouse."Bastard!" he cursed, groaning in pain as the burning sensation pierced his skin. Shanon's stab wounds were deep, but he didn't have time to treat it. They needed to get that signature quickly."Get it done real quick! Sign that fucking document and we will call an ambulance to take care of you! We don't want your life. What's so hard about it?!" Ian shouted, and Shanon now tr
Shanon narrowed her eyes; she clearly recognized him. The man was ...."Ian?" Shanon's voice caught, as there was someone else standing beside Ian. The woman was very familiar to Shanon. "Miriam? So ... it's all your doing?" Shanon screamed. Angry. But Ian quickly darted towards her and hit the back of her neck.Shanon passed out.In the darkness. She could still imagine her lover's face. Darren. Oh, if only the figure welcoming her behind the darkness was her husband. Miriam would be very happy.Sadly, it's not him.Darren would never be there. Not anymore.***"Urgh...." Shanon groaned. She was awake now. It seemed she had been unconscious for several hours. Her hands couldn't move, nor could her feet. Even the sound that came out was just a whimper. She couldn't speak. Black tape bound her perfectly."You're awake, it seems," Miriam exclaimed from behind the door, which now gave Shanon some clues about her whereabouts. She was in the back warehouse, near the stairs. Why were they k
Tomi was stunned, unable to believe what he had just heard. His eyes shifted from Shanon's devastated face to Mia, who was trying to hide her anxiety."I'm sorry, Mrs. Shanon, I don't know what to say," Tomi said, his voice trembling. He had known Shanon and Darren for quite some time. Their relationship seemed strong, solid, and full of love. Even Tomi, who only interacted minimally with the couple, could feel the positive vibes of their bond."What do you think, Tomi?" Mia asked, her voice sounding fragile. She was also shocked by the news, but she didn't want to exacerbate the situation. Mia wanted to hear the legal solutions regarding this divorce lawsuit from the expert.Shanon simply bowed her head, trying to hold back the tears that kept flowing. Her heart was shattered into pieces. Shanon felt like she was in the middle of an endless storm. Problems upon problems hit her without permission. No matter how hard she tried to hold on, she wouldn't be able to push away her feelings
Shanon ended the board meeting with determined steps, albeit somewhat forced. She couldn't afford to be careless. If even one more unintentional mistake surfaced, her position would truly be in jeopardy!"Great job, Ma'am! We can call it a day." Mia said, patting her boss on the shoulder. The work hours were over, and now their relationship transcended mere colleagues; they were more like friends fighting hard to navigate the crisis in the company."Thank you, Mia. I'm really tired," Shanon replied, her face pale. Mia felt concerned, especially since she knew that Shanon's conflict wasn't just about this video issue, but also about her separation from her beloved husband."I'm sure you'll become stronger and more resilient facing all these challenges, Ma'am. Trust me, God will provide a way," Mia reassured, embracing Shanon tightly. She could feel her friend's heartache. Shanon wasn't expressive enough, and that only made Mia feel more sorry for her. If only she could cry like most wo
The scheduled press conference finally occurred. Though not in her prime state, Shanon came with her usual aura: resolute, menacing, and also captivating. Her long hair was left loose but styled with transparent pomade, giving off a sleek impression. Shanon was ready to conquer her enemies behind the mask of her firmness."Mrs. Shanon, is it true that the circulating scandalous video involves you with a male friend?" A journalist's question pierced Shanon's heart. Despite preparing herself, experiencing the sting of accusations was indeed painful."That's not true," Shanon quickly replied. She didn't appear nervous or trembling. Tomi had warned her to appear normal. This lie had to be an eternal secret for their team."What about your husband's reaction? Is he not bothered?" Another question slipped, successfully almost crumbling Shanon's attempted defense.The blonde woman fell silent for a moment. Shanon tried to gather strength, but... her tears fell unexpectedly."Ah... I'm sorry.
Shanon and Mia walked side by side to the legal office on the 10th floor. The hospital, with its 12 floors, was quite efficient, and the management offices were located on the top two floors."Mrs. Shanon! We've been waiting for your arrival," Legal Manager, Tomi Winarta, extended his hand for a handshake. Shannon accepted it gracefully, though she can no hide her vulnerability. Shannon suffered from a severe shock. She couldn't deny it."What's the situation?" the blonde-haired woman asked with a worried expression. Tomi just nodded and gestured to his assistant. Unfortunately, the assistant only shook his head, saying, "It's bad, Ma'am. Several articles related to this scandal have been released, and we've received numerous complaints from the PR team."Shanon's heart felt torn apart. She never imagined that her problems wouldn't end with the argument with Darren but would involve her ex-lover as well."I should have sensed something suspicious from Ian! Damn it!" Shannon growled an
Shanon was completely asleep and hadn't had a chance to move to the bed. The golden-haired woman could only crawl to the sofa and curl up there until the next morning.“What the–” Shanon exclaimed as a barrage of messages flooded her phone screen. All from… Ian! “What is this?” Shanon trembled after receiving an unwanted video… a video of their kiss!‘Honey, I could easily release this video to the public and ruin your reputation, but I won't do it. Last night a nasty rat has captured our intimate moment, and I've beaten him to a pulp. You know what you should do.’“Fuck!” Shanon immediately called Ian amidst the pounding headache. How could she stay calm? And… what should she do? “Ian?”“Shanon ... darling! How are you?” Ian answered with a smooth voice. Instead of feeling pressured after such an unpleasant incident, Ian seemed to be on cloud nine.“What should I do, Ian? This video must not leak anywhere!” Shanon insisted. She didn't want Darren to hate her even more, especially his