1. Embarrassing Night

"Bella, stop all this!" said Danial, shielding Bella's body from attacks from the people around them.

"It's too late. I can't stop now." Bella looked at Danial with a sharp gaze. "I'm sorry, Danial. I love you."

Bles

Danial was frozen in place as Arabella thrust the dagger right into his left chest. 

Danial's eyes were red with pain and shock. His gaze remained fixed on the woman's clear eyes in front of him. Who was already crying?

Why?

That's what kept ringing in Danial's mind. Until his body began to sway.

"Danial!" Marcel shouted.

"Asshole! Kill that woman!" This time, it was Devan who gave the order.

"Go!" Danial said with all his might that he would endure the pain. Until the end, Danial was still protecting that woman. 

Arabella couldn't stay there. She stepped back and ran away from Danial, who was now on her knees. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Byur!

Danial saw Arabella jump off the cliff into the ocean.

"Danial!" 

All of her friends swarmed around Danial's unconscious body, which had collapsed to the ground.

Huft...

Danial woke up with his body full of sweat. He looked around to see where he was in his room. He exhaled roughly while angrily rubbing his face. Five years had passed, and the dream continued to haunt him. For five years, Danial never slept well; pain, anger, anxiety, and deep longing always haunted him. He can fall asleep with the help of sleeping pills; at least he won't become a zombie like five years ago, when for one month he didn't sleep at all.

Danial looked at the digital clock on his nightstand; it was already seven in the morning. He immediately got up from his bed and went to the bathroom to clean himself up. 

Danial took off all his clothes and looked at his reflection in the mirror. The stab wound was still clearly imprinted on his left chest. The tragic event nearly claimed his life. Danial closed his eyes and let his burly body be splashed with cold shower water that pierced his skin.

*** 

In a room, a beautiful woman was seen wearing a formal suit with long pants covering her slender legs. She was seen asking questions of a woman sitting on the witness stand. The room was a courtroom, and many people were guests: the judge and his minions, the public prosecutor, the suspect, and the witnesses. 

"I'm done asking questions, Your Honor," the beautiful woman said as she returned to her seat next to the suspect.

"You may return, Ms. Amelia," the judge said to the witness. The woman got up from her seat and walked away. 

"We will confer to make a decision," the judge said. 

---- 

"After we have deliberated,. Looking at all the evidence and witnesses, we find that Mr. Peter is innocent in this case. Therefore, the court decides that Mr. Peter should be acquitted of all charges." 

The gavel sound was heard, indicating that the decision had been made. Peter's family, who had come to watch, cheered with joy. Now they all stood up from their seats as the judge and his guards left the courtroom. They all rose from their seats.

"Thank you very much, Ms. Kimberly. Thanks to you, I was cleared of these charges," Peter exclaimed.

"You're welcome, Mr. Peter. It is my duty to help the innocent," Kimberly replied.

*** 

Kimberly's name is being discussed again because she is the youngest lawyer who has won many cases at the age of 27. 

"You're getting famous, Kim," exclaimed her best friend, Sherryl, who is also the managing director of the law firm where Kimberly works.

Kimberly just shrugs her shoulders as she takes a sip of her beer. 

"I've won a lot of cases, but somehow I still feel empty, huh?" Kimberly muttered.

"So, find a lover. Don't keep working!" Sherryl exclaimed.

"What do you mean you're giving me a vacation voucher and a sabbatical?" Kimberly asked.

"Where are you going on vacation?" Sherryl asked.

"I don't know." Kimberly fell silent again and took a sip of her drink. They chatted for a while in a nightclub. Sherryl looked at her phone screen.

"Kim, I have to leave now because I have something to do. You're okay here alone, right?" Sherryl asked.

"Yeah, you go. I'll go home by myself later; I can also ask Evan to pick me up," Kimberly replied.

"Alright. Then I'll go now." Sherryl left, leaving Kimberly there alone.

An hour later, Kimberly started to feel dizzy from the alcohol. She got up from her seat and went to get her bag. 

Kimberly reached into her bag, pulled out her car keys, and pressed them until the alarm went off. 

"Ah, it sounded from here. Is my car really here? That feeling is still there," she muttered, walking a little unsteadily towards the car, where a man had just opened the door. With a quick movement, Kimberly grabbed the man by the collar and pushed him against the car.

"How dare you steal someone's car?" Kimberly accused.

"What do you mean, Missy? It's my car," the man named Danial replied.

"Oh, really?" Kimberly brought her face closer to the man in front of her, pressing their bodies together. Kimberly observed, "You know, thieves nowadays are so handsome, even their clothes are expensive. It's really deceiving," Kimberly said.

"You're drunk, ma'am. Please let me go," pleaded Danial, still with his flat expression.

"Um, your body smells so good," said Kimberly while sniffing the neck of the man in front of her.

"Tsk, that hurts!" Danial muttered and immediately reversed their position. The man opened the passenger car door, causing Kimberly's body to fall onto her back. Danial then confined Kimberly's body to his own.

"Is this a new way to flirt with men, hm?" "Is this a new way to flirt with men, hm?" Danial inquired, focusing on the woman's recognizable face, particularly her eyes, which evoked memories of women from her past.

Suddenly, Kimberly pressed Danial's nape and kissed her lips. I don't know where the impulse came from, but Danial herself had no intention of letting go and instead deepened their kiss.

*** 

Danial was in a meeting with his personal secretary, Dimitri, and his friends.

"By the way, I've found the right lawyer to replace Mr. Teddy," said Dimitri.

"I also have a recommendation," exclaims Marcello.

"Who?" asked Danial.

"Here you go." Dimitri handed over a photo of a beautiful woman with long, wavy hair. 

"Her name is Kimberly Elmer Zian. She is a new lawyer who has managed to unseat the previous best lawyer, and she has emerged as one of the top performers this year. So far, she has always won her cases and beaten senior lawyers," explains Marcello.

"Could there be such a thing?" asked Devan.

"Just look at his bio and the news about him. His name is well known in England," said Marcello.

"I think he could be your personal lawyer, Dan. Dimitri said, "He will help you with your case."

Danial was silent; he was still looking at the face in the portrait. Her face was beautiful, but her eyes were the center of Danial's attention at that moment. Her eyes were very familiar; could it be that they had met before?

"She's beautiful, Dan. But don't stare at her for too long; the photo will burn," Marcell joked.

"Arrange a meeting with her first," Danial said.

"Ready."

*** 

As planned, Dimitri had arranged everything. And today, Danial will meet a beautiful lawyer. They made an appointment at a fancy western restaurant. Kimberly arrived first, and she was shown into a private room by the waiter.

"Would you like to order something first?" the waiter asked.

"Green tea; I'd like a low-sugar green tea," Kimberly said.

"Okay. Just a moment," said the waiter as he left the room. 

Kimberly looked around the spacious and luxurious room. Bored, she got up from her seat and walked to the window. She looked out the window, which showed a busy street with vehicles passing by.

Click

The door to the room opened, indicating that someone had entered. Kimberly stayed where she was because she thought she was the maid.

"Mrs. Kimberly, I am Dimitri, Mr. Danial's personal secretary. Mr. Danial is already in the room." The voice made Kimberly realize that it wasn't a waiter. She turned around and saw two men standing not far from her.

"You?" Kimberly spontaneously closed her mouth in shock at the sight of the man in front of her.

Kimberly locked eyes with the sharp, ash-colored gaze. They stared at each other for a long time, neither of them wanting to look away.

The crystal-clear black eyes in front of Danial mesmerized him. He recognized the familiar gaze, which accelerated his heartbeat.

"Excuse me." A knock on the door brought them both out of their trance. They both turned their heads toward the waiter who had entered the room.

"Green tea with low sugar, Miss."

"Thank you," Kimberly replied, trying to stabilize her racing heart. She had to pretend she didn't know Danial. While drunk, she kissed a stranger. Unlike Danial, who was intent on the drink Kimberly desired, someone in Kimberly's past favored a unique drink.

"Introducing: My name is Kimberly Elmer Zian of Walt Law Firm."

"I'm Dimitri, and this is Mr. Danial Christiano Wiratama, head of the Gonemanus family," Dimitri said, making Kimberly look back at Danial, who had been silent.

***