"Doctor Ricky?" Andre was surprised to see his colleague coming to the safe house where Lara was staying."Doctor Andre!" The doctor was equally surprised.The sun had started to rise. The glare of light dazzled from the front window. An ambulance was parked there, along with the arrival of Doctor Ricky and his entourage.They entered the safe house orderly, lining up one by one, while carrying quite complete medical equipment. Nurses immediately took out infusion fluids, tubes, and also moved the support stand near Lara's bed. The treatment process would begin shortly.However, something strange happened. Doctor Ricky's face looked pale, as if there was something he wanted to convey."Why do you look like that, Bro? Is there a problem?" Andre asked curiously."Oh, nothing. I'll tell you later. Hello, Mrs. Lara. I'm Doctor Ricky. I'm here to take care of you for the next few days," the doctor greeted warmly.Lara nodded. "Nice to meet you, Doctor Ricky. I'm Lara.""I know."Lara and A
The atmosphere at the hospital seemed normal. However, there was a police patrol car parked in the front courtyard. Usually, if there were no criminal cases, the car wouldn't be there. Now, perhaps as part of an investigation, the car was still moving around there.Andre hurriedly walked towards the President Director's office on the top floor, near the VVIP area which was the most expensive room in Andromeda Hospital. Occasionally, he glanced at his watch; it was still not too late, only 11 o'clock."Is the President Director still in his office?" Andre asked the secretary in front. This was just a simple formality, although Andre had the right to enter, considering he was the prospective son-in-law and part owner of this hospital."He is, Doctor. But...""But?""You're not allowed to see him. That's what he said.""What? That doesn't make sny sense!""I-I'm sorry, Doctor. But we're prohibited from letting you in."Andre ruffled his hair roughly, then walked into the President Direct
"What? Who has the authority to fire you?""The President Director.""How dare he!""Sister! Calm down. He owns the hospital.""Even so! How dare he fire my cute little brother! This can't be allowed! I'll report this to my husband! Ndre! Be strong! Sister will come soon!""Sister... that's not what I meant. Sister, please tell—"Click... Click... Click...The call got disconnected. Andre was furious and even more annoyed. He shouldn't have contacted his sister and asked for help. "I just wanted her to tell grandma! Why did it become so complicated?" Andre regretted his actions.***Dusk was creeping in, Andre drove his sedan at a moderate speed towards the safe house in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta. The streets were quite congested, and Andre had to be patient."Why has CCTV become a problem lately?" He muttered while looking tiredly at the road, leaving only a hand's width of space between one car and another. Andre sighed deeply. He wanted to know why Seno could smoothly plan each of
"Please, Doctor. Tell me, what can I help you with?" Mrs. Putri was so happy to assist her rescuer's needs. Andre smiled and then finally said what he had been looking for all this time."Is this restaurant open on September 1st?" Andre asked after checking the records on his phone. That was the day Lara was taken to the hospital."September 1st?" Mrs. Putri tried to remember. She also checked the records on her phone. "That day was just before I went back to my hometown. There was a severe accident in front of the restaurant. I was so scared. But, there was nothing I could do except call the police. I was really in a hurry."Andre seemed to raise his smile. "So, you still had time to witness the accident?""Yes, Sir! How could I not? The sound was so loud. Even though the restaurant was closed at that time, I could still hear the loud crash of something hard. A big truck hit the car so hard it got dented! Such a pity," she reminisced while taking a deep breath."So, it's true, it was
Lara slept like a baby in Andre's embrace. The mix of anger, disappointment, and sadness merged into one, causing her body to weaken. She had no more strength."Eum…" Lara even mumbled in her sleep. Sometimes, cold sweats accompanied by screams that startled Andre.The man slept on the sofa, not far from Lara's bed. Andre really wanted to accompany Lara to sleep, but… he didn't want to be seen as a scumbag who took advantage without his lover's consent."Ndre…." Lara finally called his name."I'm here," Andre replied softly as he rose from his previous position. He rubbed his eyes to adjust, then walked over to Lara's bed. "What's wrong, Ra? Do you need something?"Lara reached for the bedside lamp button and turned it on slowly. She could see Andre's face more clearly. "No," she replied with a soft shake of her head. "Sleep on the bed. Your body will hurt otherwise," she said, patting the empty side of the bed next to her.Andre smiled. His white teeth, accompanied by his charming di
Andre laughed until his white teeth were visible. His charming smile made Lara's heart race. However, the woman quickly turned her face away. "Put on your clothes first!" she ordered for the umpteenth time."Okay, okay. Just wait a moment," Andre stopped teasing Lara and went to the changing room. A few pieces of clothing were always available in his car. Andre didn't need to worry if there were sudden errands because that's the life of a doctor."At least, back then… even though now I'm unemployed," Andre muttered as he combed through his collection of T-shirts and shorts to relax on this bright morning with Lara.***"Turns out, you're good at cooking too. The fried rice is delicious," Andre praised after scooping the available dish in front of him."Thank you. Maybe it's just a coincidence. Usually, my maid done all the house-chores including cooking. I just cook occasionally," Lara replied."A good future wife, huh," Andre joked, throwing a glance at Lara sitting in front of him.
"LARA!""ANDRE!"Lara's voice choked when she heard the sound of something breaking, followed by something suddenly entering her room through the window. A strong and foul smell immediately filled the air. Lara was truly terrified because she couldn't see anything in the darkness."Are you okay?" Andre seemed to be embracing Lara, after reaching out his hand towards the bed. The lights went out. They couldn't see anything, but… Andre could guess Lara's presence through her voice."I'm fine, but… something came in through the window!""Wait here, I'll check it out!""Y-yes...."Lara was still trying to calm herself down as Andre walked slowly towards the window."Ah!" Andre was startled as his foot stepped on a liquid that almost made him fall. He quickly grabbed onto anything that could balance his body. Andre then opened the window wide."Shit!"Andre exclaimed in surprise when the moonlight provided a little light to examine something that made them curious."What's wrong, Ndre?" La
Andre's car slowly entered the area of the luxurious apartment. The tall building was so different from Mahya's apartment. Lara knew that Andre's income level was far above hers, but she didn't expect that Andre could also afford to buy an expensive apartment unit in this Jakarta area."Nice, Ndre, the apartment," Lara exclaimed in admiration as their car began to enter the parking area."Yeah. I'm glad you like it," Andre drove his car slowly because the underground parking area was already full. He headed towards the winding streets that connected the bottom floor to the floors above.Lara could estimate the price of the apartment they were heading to. Seno - although not a reliable husband - often taught her to estimate the price of an item.In a life filled with abundant wealth, there would surely be many people trying to deceive them. Lara learned how to assess an item as something valuable or just junk. This skill was quite useful; Lara was not easily deceived."Now, please ge
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