FIVE

In the middle of the dark night, the woman kept running and running to avoid the pursuit of the men in black suits who just moments ago managed to find her whereabouts because she was too difficult to run with the heavy dress that wrapped her thin body. In addition, the pain of the soles of the feet that had hit her also weakened Eden's running speed, so she decided to give up with her irregular breathing.

"Hosh hoshh hosshh... That man quickly realized I was gone hoshh hoshh... I couldn't run anymore."

Eden limped along among several pedestrians who were currently staring at her strangely. A bus stop chair that looks so attractive immediately becomes Eden's target to rest her legs for a while because now both of her feet are really blistered from constantly rubbing against the asphalt.

"Are you okay?"

An old woman who was waiting for the bus looked very concerned to see Eden's sad condition. The kind-hearted woman then gave Eden a place beside her while stroking Eden's back which was still up and down irregularly due to running for too long.

"Too bad I didn't bring a drink," murmured the old woman regretfully.

Eden forced a faint smile on the woman while waving her hand a few times because she felt fine even without a drink.

"It's okay, I'm fine. Just a little tired because I just escaped from the clutches of the bad guys.”

“Bad guys? How many bad guys are after you, what exactly are you doing?”

"Long story."

Eden paused for a moment to catch her breath while thinking about the essence of the problem that befell her because she couldn't possibly tell her all her misfortunes until she had to end up gasping for air at a bus stop like this.

“I was raped by my own adoptive father. Years ago my biological father entrusted me to that man so that I would be raised and educated to be a respectable woman, but that evil man actually ruined my life. And now I want to go find freedom so that I can live the way I want.”

"I'm so sorry for your fate dear, may God provide a way out for your complicated problem. Then where are you going?” asked the old woman curiously.

Eden was stunned for a moment while shaking her head in sad face at the old woman. She even just woke up from her coma and she herself also doesn't know where she should go now because now she is alone. But suddenly she thought of Tranz, Zyan, and Anthony, they would definitely want to help her get out of Aciel's shackles. But unfortunately now she doesn't know where they are, she only remembers Zyan and Anthony's cell phone numbers which she memorized by heart.

“Ma’am, may I borrow your cell phone? I want to call my friend.”

Suddenly she got the idea to contact Zyan and Anthony. Although she wasn't really sure if Zyan and Anthony were still using the same cell phone number after four years, but at least she had to try it first.

"Of course you can borrow it."

The woman gave her black cell phone to Eden and waited patiently as Eden began to put the square object to her ear while anxiously waiting for someone she was calling.

First, Eden contacted Zyan first because he had always been kind to her and she was sure that Zyan would immediately help her when she was in a moment of urgency like this. But until she tried three times, Zyan's cell phone number was no longer active and only the voice of the operator always answered her calls. She then tried to contact Anthony with a thumping heart and the sentence she kept on chanting to God for Anthony to answer her calls, because that man was the only hope she had.

"Hello!"

Eden almost jumped with joy when someone on the other end of the line picked up the phone. At least with the answer of the call she still has a little hope if the one who answered the call was her boyfriend, Anthony.

"Anthony? Is this really Anthony?”

"Yes it's me, is there anything I can help you with?"

“Anthony!! Do you still remember me, I am Eden, your lover.” Eden said happily while pounding her hand on her thigh.

The woman sitting next to her seemed relieved when the poor woman next to her had found a friend who might be able to help her because she herself felt unable to help the poor woman other than helping to lend her cell phone.

"Anthony, where are you? Aciel's men are after me, they want to catch me again. Can you pick me up now? I was at the bus stop around Boulevard.”

There was a moment of silence that made Eden a little panicked. She was afraid that her boyfriend wouldn't want to pick her up because maybe now her boyfriend already had another woman after four years had passed. But then the bright smile reappeared on her face when Anthony agreed to her request and promised to pick her up at the bus stop that Eden had mentioned earlier.

"Thanks Anthony, I'll be waiting for you." Eden said with relief and immediately returned the cellphone to the owner.

It wasn't long before the bus that the old woman was waiting for arrived, and with a heavy heart the woman said goodbye to Eden to go first.

"My bus has arrived, I hope you find a solution to your problem soon."

"Thank you, I will never forget your kindness."

After saying goodbye, the old woman immediately got into the bus while waving to Eden who was also waving at her. On the bus the old woman chose to sit in a seat in the front row, near the exit so she wouldn't have to walk too far before getting off at the next bus stop. While waiting for the bus that brought her to arrive at the next stop, the old woman listened to the news broadcast by one of the television stations announcing the news of the loss.

“Good evening viewers, we just received news that the wife of one of the most influential businessmen in Las Vegas has disappeared. Therefore, if viewers see this woman around you, we hope that you immediately contact the following number to report the woman's whereabouts. That's all we can tell you, good night."

The woman couldn't believe what she had just seen because on the television she could see the face of the woman she had just met smiling sweetly while holding a cute little girl next to her.

“Huh, it must be a family matter. Rich people do like to seek thrills.” The bus driver commented casually. But the woman chose not to say anything while wondering in her head what really happened to the poor woman she had just met a moment ago.

-00-

Eden was still waiting faithfully at the quiet bus stop, rubbing her hands on her open arms. The very cold Vegas air made her shiver a few times as she continued to pray that her lover would soon appear to pick her up because she was no longer strong with the cold that was starting to pierce her bones fiercely.

Tiinn

The sound of a car horn suddenly blaring in front of her made Eden both surprised and alert. Calmly, Eden began to observe the car to make sure that the owner of the car was not Aciel or one of his men. And after watching the car for a long time, Eden could breathe a sigh of relief because the car clearly didn't belong to Aciel because it looked like an ordinary car that a super rich man like Aciel couldn't possibly own. Although she had never seen how Aciel's car looked like since she woke up from a coma, she was sure that the man must have a very high taste for his car criteria.

"Eden..."

Eden immediately got up and hugged Anthony tightly when the man got out of the car looking at her with concern. The man then returned the hug awkwardly and then scanned her body from head to toe.

"What's the matter with you, Ed?"

"Anthony, it's a good thing you came, I was chased by the bastard's men. Aciel is after me and wants to lock me up again in that damn luxurious house.”

Anthony looks quite confused by the explanation given by Eden. But he chose to take Eden into his car first because the weather was getting colder around them.

"Come in, we'll talk on the way."

They both then immediately left the bus stop area which looked very quiet. On the other hand, they were also worried about the appearance of Aciel's men who might appear suddenly there to arrest Eden, so they chose a safe way by immediately leaving the bus stop without arousing the suspicions of the few pedestrians passing by.

"Did you miss me?"

The first words finally escaped Eden's lips from the moment she stepped foot in Anthony's car. The woman looked so happy when she said that to Anthony while holding Anthony's free right hand.

Unlike Eden, who looked so happy when she met him, Anthony actually felt strange about Eden's situation because the last time they met, Eden seemed to really hate him. Even the woman had never looked completely this friendly to him. He still clearly remembers how arrogant Eden was when they were together. Even though Eden sometimes acts sweet, he knows that sometimes she is not sincere when she is with him.

“Me too, are you okay?”

Anthony still couldn't believe the sudden change in Eden's attitude towards him. He then thought all kinds of bad thoughts in his head about Eden. Maybe this is a trap. Eden couldn't have changed so quickly and looked fine after what he did to her. Or maybe it was the accident that made Eden like this?

"I'm not fine Anthony. I woke up confused and I felt like I had lost the people who had always cared about me. Do you know how Zyan and Tranz are doing now?”

Eden looked lethargic while staring blankly at the dark street outside the window. Honestly, right now she was confused. She was confused by what had happened all this time and she didn't know who to trust. But because Anthony is her lover, she chooses to ask all the terrible facts she just got from Aciel, because she is sure that her lover will not deceive her.

"Zyan? Why are you suddenly asking Zyan? And did Aciel hurt you?” asked Anthony confusedly while still concentrating on the fairly empty road in front of him.

At first glance, he felt strange about Eden, and it seemed that the accident had really changed Eden into a very different person from the Eden he had known so far. Even Eden innocently asked about Zyan who had clearly died years ago.

"I don't know, but I'm confused. A few moments ago I woke up in that damn man's house with shocking facts that I just found out. Anthony, is it true that I am married to Aciel and have two children named Ciara and Louise?” asked Eden looking frustrated.

Anthony seemed to think long enough to digest every word that Eden uttered. He is currently studying Eden's actual condition in order to manipulate the woman.

“Yes, you two were married a year ago. But you were pregnant with Ciara since four years ago, before you were officially married," answered Anthony flatly.

Eden immediately let out a disappointed sigh while ruffling her hair in frustration. Finally what she feared happened. She married her worst enemy and had a daughter and son with that jerk. It never crossed her mind that she would marry a man who had ruined her future and caused her to have a miscarriage and nearly died because she felt that she really couldn't stand living with such a big disgrace. It seemed that she would rather die than have to accept that terrible fact.

“How can I marry that bastard? I must have been on drugs when I did it because I don't remember anything about what happened a year ago. My mind feels like it's empty and only filled with memories of us."

“I'm sorry Eden, I couldn't help you from that man's grip. He has ruined my life. That bastard ruined my career and made me a pathetic poor man. Then he took you from me and married you by force. Then after you got married, my life was completely ruined. But I'm trying to get up by working as a model with a not too big salary because the big companies that will use me as the star of their product will be manipulated by Aciel. I'm trying to muster up what remains of my pride to avenge that bastard, Ed."

Eden covered her mouth in disbelief at all the emotional stories that Anthony had told her. How this man had been suffering because of her, and maybe as long as he was suffering, she was actually rejoicing with the man who had ruined the life of her lover.

"Anthony I'm sorry." Eden said quietly with teary eyes and tears that almost fell freely from her eyes.

But Anthony immediately calmed her down by gripping her palm tightly, squeezing it gently to say that everything was fine because he got through it well.

"It's okay Eden, it's okay. I'm fine, the most important thing now that you're back to me."

“Thank you for sticking up for me. But, may I ask about my life so far? Am I living happily with Aciel? Then Tranz and Zyan, are they okay now? I'm afraid Aciel also ruined their lives because of me.”

“Eden I'm sorry, but Zyan died four years ago. Aciel sabotaged his car until he had an accident on his way to work.”

Anthony smoothly boasted stories in front of Eden with a convincing face that managed to make Eden believe all the stories completely. Anthony even showed his guilty look in front of the woman because in the past he was unable to do anything to save the lives of Eden's poor friends due to Aciel's cunning act. Even to save his own life he was barely able to because the man had really taken everything, his wealth, position, and love. If he wasn't a man with an unyielding nature, he might have committed suicide right then and there. But he chose not to. He chose to fight again so that one day he could take what had been taken by Aciel, especially Eden.

But before the accident happened to Eden, that woman had completely changed. Eden slowly began to forget him and turned to her husband. She chose to accept Aciel and raise their child with him. The Eden he met before didn't look like the Eden he knew before. But now God seemed to be on his side. As a result of the accident, Eden seems to have lost her memory, so she can't remember all her happy memories with her little family. And that will be used by Anthony to take revenge on Aciel. He will use Eden to destroy that man until he can no longer rise again for good.

"Anthony please tell me what has happened so far," asked Eden with a pleading face that looked so devastated next to him.

Anthony also decided to stop the car for a while so that he could strengthen the half of Eden's heart that was torn apart by some of the stories he wrote.

“Eden, I will definitely tell you all the things you have been missing during these four years. And from now on we must fight together if we want to destroy Aciel. Right now you're all I have Ed, please don't leave again."

Hearing Anthony's request, which sounded serious and implied in pain, made Eden unable to hold back her tears in front of her lover. Then Anthony immediately took her into his arms with a sly smile of triumph.

This time you will die in Aciel's hands!