Edward and Nicholas had just stepped out of the car and entered the Ritz Carlton hotel. Tonight, there was a dinner reception with all the executive businessmen from various industries in Asia, including construction, automotive, telecommunications, shipping, and oil. Upon entering the ballroom, they saw many guests bustling about. Nicholas recognized almost everyone in the room, and he and Edward greeted anyone they met. Edward suddenly locked eyes with someone he seemed to know well. To make sure he wasn't mistaken, he moved closer, trying to get a better look. It turned out to be Kimberly. He wondered why Kimberly would attend an event like this. Not wanting to miss the opportunity, Edward approached Nicholas, who had been engrossed in conversation. Without asking for permission, he forcefully pulled his friend's arm, making him follow. "What's the matter? Why are you pulling me like this, Ed? You startled me!" "Hush, keep quiet!" Edward replied. "Don't talk too much. I want t
A few hours earlier,"Are you sure about your decision to manage the company?" After a lengthy conversation with Arthur, Mario and Kimberly were now sitting together on the back porch. He had to convince Kimberly once again about her decision to take over the company.Mario knew for sure that Kimberly had never been interested in anything related to Rayder Corp. That's why he didn't want her to feel burdened. Managing so many companies was no easy task, especially since Kimberly had no experience at all.Kimberly took a deep breath. Her facial expression was calm."I'm very sure. Even though I wasn't interested before, the situation is different now. Grandpa really needs my help."Mario smiled. The woman was truly unpredictable. Who knows what other surprises Kimberly would reveal in the future."Whatever you need, I will help you, Kimmy. Anything at all. I also believe that you'll become a respected leader among colleagues or rivals." Mario spoke with confidence.Kimberly smiled fai
Instead of feeling sad, Edward, who had been in Nicholas's office since earlier, wore a smirk. He had been smiling non-stop. He wanted to laugh, but he knew better than to do it openly."Stop making fun of me, Ed. I hope one day you'll feel what I'm feeling right now."Edward couldn't hold back his laughter anymore. He burst into laughter, making Nicholas even more irritated."This is the first time I've seen someone so foolish, Nick. You're truly pathetic."Nicholas grumbled in frustration. "You've gone too far, Ed. Aren't you sympathetic to what's happening to me? Even last night, when that guy attacked me, you didn't help at all!" Nicholas protested."Why should I help?" Edward teased. "You needed a wake-up call. I might have punched you myself if that guy hadn't punched you in the face last night. Instead of apologizing, you called Kimberly cheap. What a moron! Where did you leave your brain, Mr. Alistair?" Edward sneered, venting all his frustration on Nicholas.As they continued
"So, how did you know that Kimberly is the granddaughter of someone named Arthur Rayder?" Nicholas asked, curious.This evening, after returning from work, Nicholas and Kenzi decided to stop by a coffee shop for a chat. Oh, and let's not forget Edward. As the life of the party and the 'hype man,' he was also present. There was no way he would miss a moment like this.Kenzi had her own agenda for coming to Indonesia. There was an important meeting she had to attend. In fact, the day after tomorrow, once the event was over, she had to rush back to London. There was no one to fill her shoes there.Kenzi took a sip of her coffee, which she had been holding, and then answered, "Actually, when I found out you were getting close to your secretary, I asked Hans to investigate Kimberly's background. The woman you thought was ordinary turned out to be the granddaughter of a Singaporean conglomerate. However, in recent years, after being left by his son and wife, Arthur chose to live in Indonesi
Saturday morning, Nicholas finally mustered the courage to go to Kimberly's actual home. Armed with the address provided by Kenzi, he drove straight to an elite and private area in the middle of Jakarta.After twenty minutes of driving, Nicholas finally arrived at a luxurious house surrounded by many security personnel. He hesitated to get out of the car, but he quickly realized it was unnecessary. He thought, "What's the point of bringing Edward if he's not reliable?"Nicholas intentionally brought Edward along, for some reason, he was very sure that Edward's presence was needed this time. For example, just like now. Edward reluctantly stepped out of the car to approach the group of security personnel stationed in front of Arthur Rayder's house.Edward grumbled irritably. "You only consider me a friend when it comes to dirty work like this. What a cheek!" A moment later, Edward confidently got out of the car and approached the security checkpoint."Excuse me," Edward greeted one of t
Nicholas sat in Kimberly's room in his apartment, lost in thought. Since the woman had left, Nicholas had often spent his time here, reminiscing while looking at photos of her. It wasn't uncommon for him to fall asleep here. Even after holding back for so long, today, Nicholas couldn't hold back his tears any longer.Tears had fallen many times, wetting his cheeks. In reality, the pain he felt now was sharper than when he had found out Claire had cheated on him.Nicholas remembered the first time he had asked Kimberly to be his fake girlfriend. He recalled how stubborn she had been initially, but without any clear reason, she had suddenly agreed.Nicholas had initially thought of Kimberly as an annoying woman. He had even openly stated that she wasn't his type. But as time went on, he couldn't pinpoint exactly when, Nicholas felt that Kimberly's presence brought a unique color to his life.Living next door to Kimberly didn't immediately make him declare his love. How foolish he had be
"How's it going, Nick? Any news about Kimberly?" Edward asked as he and Nicholas sat in a restaurant this afternoon. After a meeting with one of their clients outside the office, they decided to grab lunch together first.Nicholas, who had just finished ordering his food, leaned back against the chair. He took a deep breath and then shook his head slightly as a response to Edward's question."I'm having trouble locating Kimberly. I don't know if she went to a hard-to-reach place on her own or if Mario has tightened security," Nicholas replied. His frustration was evident from his facial expression."You know, Ed, I've never been this hopeless. I feel like I just want to die," Nicholas said, taking a quick sip of the coffee in front of him."Oh, come on, you idiot!" Edward exclaimed in frustration. "If you die, who's going to fight for Kimberly? Your ghost in hell, is that it?" Edward grumbled. "Are you willing to just let the woman you love marry someone else? Is that what you want?"
Arthur sat on a sofa in one corner of the VIP room at the hospital. He continued to wait patiently for Kimberly, who had yet to regain consciousness after her surgery. While waiting, he noticed a man walking slowly but confidently toward him from a distance. In a short while, the man sat right next to Arthur, looking somewhat perplexed.Arthur gave the man a cold smile."Are you Nicholas Alistair?" Arthur scanned Nicholas's appearance from head to toe, trying to assess his character.Nicholas nodded nervously. "Yes, I'm Nicholas Alistair. Who are you, and what's the reason for bringing me here?"Nicholas was naturally bewildered. He had just returned home and was suddenly ambushed by unknown individuals. They forced him onto a private jet and flew to an unfamiliar location. Only after disembarking from the plane did he realize he was in Singapore.But what puzzled him even more was why he had been brought to a hospital and was now meeting an elderly man he had never seen before.This
The next two months."Nick, I think you should come home soon. Your face looks really pale now," Edward suggested. They had just returned from a meeting outside the office.Nicholas sighed deeply while continuing to massage his temples. For some reason, since yesterday, he had been feeling unwell. Now, it even felt worse than before."I can't, Ed. I need to finish my tasks soon. I have only a week left before I really move from Alpha Beta and take care of Rayder Corp," Nicholas replied, still holding his forehead.Edward shook his head vigorously. He was very certain that his friend's condition was not okay at the moment. He was just afraid that something bad might happen to Nicholas."In that case, I'll get you some hot tea." Edward then got up and walked quickly to the pantry. He grabbed a cup of tea and brought it immediately to Nicholas's room, handing it over."Drink it quickly. After this, I'll help you finish all your tasks so you can go home early."Nicholas nodded and reached
After returning from London, Kimberly and Nicholas were busy with various wedding preparations. From fitting wedding attire to pre-wedding photos, everything had to be done quickly due to their limited time. Cassandra and Arthur didn't hold back; they even chose BVLGARI RESORT BALI as the venue for the celebration.BVLGARI is a luxurious five-star resort perched on a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean. Its location is not far from Pura Luhur Uluwatu and the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park.Embracing a beachfront wedding theme, all preparations had reached 95%. Nicholas and Kimberly couldn't believe how meticulously and perfectly Cassandra had arranged everything. She even hired a top-tier wedding organizer like 'Belvedere' to handle Nicholas and Kimberly's wedding."Mama is truly amazing," Nicholas said proudly. He was amazed by what his mother had done.Cassandra clasped her hands to her chest, a smile on her lips as she heard her son's praise."I'll do anything for you, my dear.
All the invited guests never ceased to congratulate Nicholas and Kimberly. Everyone seemed lost in the euphoria of this luxurious engagement party.While all the guests were busy enjoying their meals, Nicholas, who was watching Cassandra relaxing, went straight to her and pulled her to the garden's edge."Mom owes me an explanation," Nicholas whispered.Cassandra chuckled softly, keeping her composure. "Oh, come on, dear. Just enjoy your party for now. I promise to explain everything once everything's over."Nicholas shook his head in disbelief, observing his mother's behavior. Meanwhile, in a different location, Kimberly also looked puzzled. She chose to remain silent but kept her facial expression looking joyful. Yes, even though she was genuinely surprised and, of course, happy. However, amidst all this, she hadn't even exchanged a word with Nicholas. The two of them mostly just stared at each other without speaking.After the guests left one by one, Cassandra kept her promise. She
Since morning, Kimberly has been busy packing her belongings to put them in her suitcase. After hearing Arthur Rayder's explanation about Nicholas last night, she decided to join the man in London as soon as possible.Enjoying the packing process, Kimberly suddenly remembered that she didn't remember Nicholas's address or his parents' addresses. After thinking for a while, she realized who had helped her gather the information.Quickly, Kimberly grabbed her cellphone, searched for someone's number in her contacts list, and dialed it promptly. After three rings, the call was finally answered."Hello," a voice on the other side replied."Hello, Mr. Edward. It's me, Kimberly. Can I ask for your help?" Kimberly inquired."Oh my goodness, Kimberly," Edward exclaimed in surprise. "What's the reason for calling me so early in the morning?""Can I... Can I ask about Nicholas's address in London?" Kimberly hesitantly asked."Of course, you can. But, I'm sorry in advance, why are you asking for
Arthur remembered well that Veronica, his wife, had been very active in charity work. Then, at some point, she accidentally met Cassandra, a young woman who had dedicated half of her life to helping street children and orphans. They both worked together to provide assistance until the time when Cassandra, by chance, met Robert Alistair, who was working in Singapore at that time. He also became the largest donor for the charity event organized by Veronica.Somehow, at some point, Cassandra developed a relationship with Robert Alistair and decided to get married. After becoming husband and wife, Robert brought Cassandra with him to England. Since then, Veronica and Arthur rarely met Cassandra. It was only occasionally when she was traveling to Singapore.Arthur reached for the teacup already placed on his table. He took a sip and continued speaking. "So, what brings you all the way here to meet me?"Cassandra took her own drink, sipped it slowly, and then placed her cup back on the tabl
Mario never seemed tired of smiling at all the guests who attended. His face was radiant after formally getting engaged just a few hours ago.Arthur was also delighted. The old man was even busy socializing with the business colleagues who were present at the party.Among the many happy people, only Kimberly seemed ordinary. She even appeared distant from the crowd, choosing to sit alone in one corner of the event room while continuously gazing at Mario from a distance.She should have felt relieved because she wasn't the one accompanying Mario tonight. Yes, a few days ago, Kimberly almost couldn't breathe when he suddenly brought up the topic of engagement. She thought that her grandfather, Arthur, was really going to arrange a match between them. However, Mario revealed that he would be engaged to another woman."So, is Grandpa really going to arrange a match between us?" Mario didn't immediately answer. He remained silent for quite a while, which only made Kimberly's thoughts wande
For the translated text in American English with correct grammar, please see below:"For the past two days, Arthur had been observing Kimberly, who seemed so gloomy. The woman went to work listlessly and returned home in silence. Usually, Kimberly always had something to share with him, whether it was work-related issues or just casual conversations about her daily life.Curious, that evening, Arthur finally asked Mario when the two of them had just returned from the office. He was convinced that Mario knew what was happening with his granddaughter lately."Is there something you want to talk to me about?" Mario asked while they were in Arthur's office.Arthur, who was engrossed in reading a book, paused. He first took off his glasses and then placed the book he had been holding aside."Have a seat," Arthur instructed. "There's something I want to ask you."Mario complied with Arthur's request, taking a seat right next to the elderly man."What does grandpa want to ask about?""About
"I choose Alpha Beta," Arthur Rayder stared at Nicholas with an expression that was difficult to interpret after hearing what the man had chosen. He remained silent for quite some time before finally smiling and asking, "Are you sure you chose Alpha Beta over my granddaughter?"Nicholas nodded. "I'm sure. Very sure. Congratulations, in this game, you're the winner."Arthur squinted at Nicholas. There were many things he wanted to ask the man."As I suspected. You never really loved my granddaughter. It was quite evident when you chose money over—""You shouldn't jump to conclusions," Nicholas interrupted. Arthur glared at him. He didn't appreciate it when someone deliberately cut him off mid-sentence.Arthur sighed in his position. "Then what's your reason for not choosing Kimberly?"Nicholas took a slow breath. It wasn't easy making a decision like this."I love Kimberly. There's no other woman I love besides your granddaughter. However, I can't be selfish. I thought that if I cancel
Arthur was sitting casually in his office, looking at the neatly arranged photos of Kimberly in an album. Mario was there, accompanying the old man. He had been asked to come early in the morning, even though it was a holiday. Arthur wondered what he wanted to talk to Mario about.Arthur smiled as he commented, "Kimberly is such a cheerful girl. Look, in almost all these neatly arranged photos, she's always laughing or smiling." Arthur showed a specific photo to Mario.Mario looked at each photo that Arthur displayed. Kimberly appeared in various poses in the pictures. Mario nodded in agreement."In all the time I've known her, I've only seen Kimberly cry twice. First, when she found out her mother had passed away. Second, when she decided to leave Nicholas Alistair's apartment."Arthur leaned back in his chair. Hearing Mario's last sentence made his blood boil."That brat had the audacity to make my granddaughter cry. Who is he, daring to do such a thing?""They just had a misunderst