"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
Lara's face flushed, not out of embarrassment... but because the effect of alcohol had gone to her head."Too close..." Andre tried to turn his face away. He knew Lara wasn't fully aware."Hm? What did you say?" Lara's voice sounded teasing, with her hands and feet starting to tease Andre completely. Lara's hair strands made Andre's blood rush to his head. How could they not? Lara's hair was so tempting with the scent of flowers emanating and arousing suppressed passion, coupled with Lara's moans, everything was so perfect.The perfection that tortured Andre so much because it held back his raging desires!"Lara...." The man looked awkward and embarrassed as if feeling attacked first. Andre was the type to be the aggressor, if so... he felt overpowered and confused about what to do."Andre...." Lara's voice was teasing again, instead of releasing her grip, the woman dared to get closer. This time, her lips brushed against her lover's chin with a plan to keep rising until they could lo
After the trial, Seno returned to prison with a heavy heart. He didn't expect Lara to show up there."How about those incompetent fools? Why did they fail to make her withdraw as a witness?" Seno asked angrily to his lawyer. They were in a special consultation room. Seno's lawyer asked for a little time before his client returned to the cell to wait for the next trial."Sir, please don't speak so loudly," his lawyer advised with an anxious look. His eyes scanned the room, trying to check if anyone else was overhearing their conversation."ARGH! If Lara shows up, all our plans could fall apart! That woman talks too much!" Seno was frustrated and tugged at his hair fiercely. He was truly angry because he felt he had failed to thwart Lara's steps. His ex-wife should have been scared after the severed dog's head incident, but for some reason, the expected effect didn't show. Lara even seemed calmer and bolder than before."They didn't seem to succeed...." the lawyer said in a despondent t
"What?" Andre froze when the driver signaled through his eyes. "What's happening?" he asked, turning to look behind, followed by the lawyer and Lara. They clearly saw two black cars seemingly tailing them."It seems we're being followed, Mr. Andre. I'll try to evade them.""Check it first! Are we really being followed?"The driver nodded. He then tried to accelerate the vehicle and turned the signal to the right as if changing lanes. Sure enough, the two cars behind them also moved to the right, instead of overtaking them."Damn it!" The driver then turned on the left signal and slowly steered towards the left lane. He would drive the vehicle as fast as possible to avoid the radar of those two suspicious cars.The two cars took the left lane again as before. They were truly following the movements of Andre and Lara's vehicle in front of them."Ndre... I'm scared," Lara gripped Andre's arm tightly. She was reminded of the accident she had with Mahya some time ago."Calm down, Lara. We'
SCREECH! The sound of a harsh collision made their car shake. Andre, Lara, the lawyer, and the driver were startled by the sudden event."What's happening?!" Andre exclaimed, trying to understand the situation."We've been hit, Sir!" the driver replied, gasping for breath. Instead of stopping and confronting the driver behind, the driver accelerated the vehicle again.However, unfortunately, his efforts were in vain. The car behind them deliberately crashed into them again... SCREECH!"Argh!" All the passengers were almost thrown out if they hadn't been wearing seat belts."Hold on!" The driver yelled as Andre's car almost tipped over due to the intense impact!Swiftly, the driver managed to take control of the situation. He immediately stabilized the vehicle and accelerated it again at high speed."Watch out!" The lawyer, who was sitting beside the driver, shouted with a pounding heart as there was a road barrier ahead of them."Shit!" The driver skillfully turned the steering wheel
The muzzle of the gun was pointed towards Andre's head, instantly the doctor tried to remain calm because... Lara was right behind him!"Whoa... calm down, buddy!" Andre shouted, trying to suppress the fear that was starting to creep through his body. His life was hanging by a thread, with just one pull of the trigger, a small hole in his head would end his life instantly."Hurry up!" The man didn't want to talk anymore. He really wanted to end this cat-and-mouse chase quickly. He put his glasses back on. And now he moved closer to Andre and Lara."Andre! Just give it, Andre!" Lara pleaded, tears streaming down her face. She didn't want the life of someone she cared about so much to be in danger.Who could guarantee that the man was not just bluffing? The deserted road conditions were also very unfavorable for them. The day had already darkened. It was impossible for anyone to witness this terrible incident, let alone report it to the authorities.Andre glanced at the lawyer out of th
"Andre! Nooo!" Lara screamed as the gunshot echoed along the road.The sound of the pistol shot tore through the stillness of the night, blending with the pounding of their hearts beating faster. The atmosphere became chaotic as the shots started to ring out. The foul smell of gunpowder smoke immediately filled their noses with the scent of death. Andre watched in horror as one of the men in suits fell with a gunshot wound to his chest."I'm fine, Ra! Th-they're the ones dead!" Andre said, making sure that not only one man fell before them, but all four of them.Lara, silent as she held her breath. She didn't know how to react. Tears started to well up in her eyes as she saw the men lose their lives."What happened?" Lara wondered as their enemies were killed without warning. A voice suddenly startled them."Oh, my unfortunate Lara...""W-who is it?" Lara turned towards the source of the voice. There, a woman in a black robe with a burning cigarette was walking towards them. The glar
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