《Love Redux: Fated to the Handsome Doctor》


 Part 01 # My Cheating Husband

    Crash!


    ¡°How could you, Seno!¡±


    Lara never expected that marriage would only bring pain to her heart.


    After she and her driver broke into the director¡¯s room-which was said to be having an important meeting-they were immediately presented with the disgusting sight of her half-naked husband. He was there, cheating, with his secretary, Olivia.


    Initially, they were forbidden to enter. However, Lara insisted, and ordered her driver to follow her.


    Sure enough, her husband¡¯s room was locked. Lara instructed the big man to break it down and ¡­ her suspicion was confirmed. She had long had a bad feeling ever since her husband opened a new business that boosted their economic situation.


    Seno, who used to be just an employee, had now be a big boss. Everything changed for the better, but not his behavior.


    Seno came home less frequently and often got angry when Lara asked where he had been and why he didn¡¯te home. He said there was a lot of work. Isn¡¯t this what you wanted? he said. No. Lara never wanted to be rich but unloved by her husband.


    She knew that feeling very well. Since childhood, she had felt that way. Wealth would only ruin her household. Seeing them both being intimate there, Lara understood what her husband had actually been doing all this time.


    ¡°Hiks ¡­¡±


    She cried unconsciously, after seeing Seno and Olivia, who were unclothed, sneering at her.


    They were expecting their child. Yes, Lara was pregnant.


    ¡°La-Lara, I can exin,¡± Seno stammered, trying to calm her down while Olivia, beside him, just stared at her with a happy expression.


    A cynical smile was painted on Olivia¡¯s face, one Lara knew very well. Olivia was like that. She was very happy when she saw Lara upset and felt victorious if she had taken what should have been Lara¡¯s, since they were in college.


    Lara¡¯s marriage to her husband could not be called a dream marriage of most young couples. They married out of necessity. Lara got pregnant before the sacred bond tied them together. Seno-her boyfriend who had nted the seed of love-was forced to marry her after she asked for his responsibility.


    Despite initial objections from their parents, their marriage continued until now. Seno was a romantic man who made a high-ego girl like Lara soften towards him.


    Their initial meeting could be considered special. Just a few months before the wedding, Seno had defended Lara during a fight in a student cafeteria.


    At that time, Lara was hit by unsavory rumors ¡­.


    ¡°Lara Selene is not a good girl!¡±


    That unpleasantbel started to stick when she was elected ¡®Campus Queen¡¯ and became the target of many men. Lara-who rejected most of their love confessions-became the subject of nder and gossip, so no one wanted to be in a rtionship with her anymore.


    The men seemed disgusted and avoided Lara as much as they could. Of course, she was heartbroken. She felt unfairly ostracized from campus social life. To her misfortune, her beauty seemed like a curse.


    Lara was shunned by other women. Most of them were envious of the perfect looks she possessed. It was said that she was so beautiful that she deserved the title of Campus Queen.


    They said Lara looked like a foreigner. They weren¡¯t wrong. Her father was a Caucasian man from Canada. Her mother was Indonesian. It could be said that Lara was of mixed race.


    They said she looked like a Greek goddess with captivating looks that attracted many eyes. Unfortunately, her introverted and seemingly cold personality made her the target of nder by the men whose love she rejected.


    Until one day, Seno came to her defense, and the seeds of romance began to grow between them. Despite being warned, she was unmoved. She still chose Seno as her partner. Her friend once doubted Seno¡¯s odd behavior. However, she brushed off that suspicion with eptance.


    Seno Adhijaya. The slick-haired and very sweet engineering student managed to win her heart. Until she was willing to give everything, including her virginity. That hot nightsted only a few hours, but her suffering after that incident was very long.


    Now, she had to swallow the bitter pill of being betrayed by her own husband while she was pregnant. The pain mixed with sadness engulfed her heart. She nearly fainted upon seeing their affair. Her heart pounded erratically.


    Her suspicions were correct. Olivia. That woman. Her rival since long ago, was her husband¡¯s mistress, something she had never known. Those two were so cruel to hurt her by doing such a disgraceful act.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Seno, upon reaching the top of thepany, lost his moralpass and started fooling around. Even though he had promised her that they would achieve their dreams together, dreams they hadn¡¯t been able to reach due to financial constraints.


    When they were struggling, she faithfully apanied him; when they seeded, she was discarded just like that. Seno, such a vile husband!


    ***


    ¡°Lara. I-I can exin.¡± Seno still insisted he was not at fault.


    Even though the situation was already so disgusting. He wasn¡¯t even wearing clothes, and beside him was a half-naked woman smiling mockingly.


    Olivia¡¯s gaze exuded satisfaction upon seeing Lara suffering and in pain.


    ¡°How-could you ¡­.¡±


    Lara couldn¡¯t believe that her loyalty was only repaid with betrayal. All this time, her trust and denial of bad omens were in vain. Her husband did indeed have an affair with the secretary whose presence she had rejected in their business.


    If only at that time, she had firmly refused her husband¡¯s request, would the situation be different?


    ***


    ¡°Are you going to divorce him? Let your husband be mine,¡± Olivia said arrogantly, stepping into Lara¡¯s luxurious home under the pretext of delivering an important letter for her boss.


    ¡°Bastard!¡±


    Lara almost pped her, but she had to restrain herself to avoid shocking and endangering her unborn baby.


    ¡°I will never divorce him. Never! Even if you two roll into hell together. I will still keep this marriage!¡±


    Lara mmed the door hard with tears streaming and unimaginable shock.


    Bi Yani-her personal maid-pretended not to hear anything. Lara very much appreciated her discretion. She merely reacted modestly, then offered a drink to calm the deeply shaken Lara.


    With the remaining strength, despite still feeling the pounding of her heart and unresolved anger, Lara cursed them both.


    ¡°Seno. Olivia. Just wait. I will make you pay!¡±

 Part 02 # Thorn of Roses

    The yellowing dusk bestowed a natural beauty that should have been enjoyed, but not by Lara. Olivia¡¯s sudden appearance, after the confrontation she had, was the biggest insult to her.


    ¡°That woman! How dare she!¡± Lara slumped weakly after the series of events she experienced felt like shaking her world. Suddenly, her stomach felt painful, her muscles tensed again. Yet, she had just promised the doctor to take care of this nearly 6-month-old pregnancy well, after almost experiencing a miscarriage before.


    Seno hadn¡¯te home for several days, iming overtime, over and over again. Now she knew why there were some properties held in his name, secretly. Did Seno buy Olivia an apartment or a house? Imagining that, her head started to ache. How dare they y with fire behind her back!


    ¡°Madam!¡± Bi Yani called out, Lara could hear her voice faintly. But, she was still struggling to breathe.


    Seno¡¯s drastic increase in wealth prevented her from interrogating him like at the beginning of their marriage. The man had changed.


    Seno, who used to be sweet and caring, now became an angry man. Now, Lara could only knit their marital home together with a mediocrepanionship. She couldn¡¯t even feel disappointed because she had experienced this for a long time.


    Somehow, she managed to endure.


    Whether it¡¯s because of innocence, foolishness, or because of the life principles she had enforced subconsciously.


    She grew up in an iplete family, and she didn¡¯t want her child to experience the feeling of being abandoned like she did.


    ¡°Bi¡­ Bi¡­¡±


    Lara finally called Bi Yani. It felt like she couldn¡¯t bear it anymore.


    Crash!


    ¡°Madam! Oh my God!¡± Bi Yani screamed, even mming the tray containing freshly cut fruits, to quickly run towards Lara.


    ¡°Madam!¡± she called again, with unparalleled panic, when she saw Lara seemingly bleeding, starting to seep between her legs.


    ¡°Bi-Bi¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll call the doctor! Madam! Please hold on!¡±


    Lara almost fainted, luckily she could still adjust and position her body properly. Bi Yani helped her to the nearby sofa from where she stood earlier, and she was gentlyid there temporarily.


    Bi Yani looked confused because she had never experienced such a shocking event before.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Her breath was rushing as she tried to find the contact of the doctor or hospital that Lara usually visited in her handbag.


    ¡°Where¡­ where is the doctor¡¯s business card? Oh my God!¡±


    Bi Yani continued to search for the contact number of the doctor or the hospital that Lara usually visited. But, she couldn¡¯t find it.


    The maid then spilled everything from Lara¡¯s bag while praying that the business card of the obstetrician or midwife she usually visited would be found soon.


    ¡°I will call Mr. Seno!¡±


    ¡°No ¡­ don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°But, Madam!¡±


    Lara just shook her head slowly and started to lie down. She felt drowsy but the pain also started to spread through her body.


    ¡°Oh no!¡± Bi Yani panicked. She looked confused and ransacked the items to find something. Momentster, Bi Yani picked up the phone and called someone.


    ¡°Hello? Andromeda Hospital? Please send an ambnce now! My madam is bleeding!¡± Bi Yani started talking to the operator on the other end. Her voice sounded panicked and cries could be heard.


    Lara was still whimpering in pain, but this drowsiness didn¡¯t seem to disappear.


    Bi Yani was a new maid. A servant chosen by Lara. She had fired all the servants employed by Seno. This was because none of the servants answered when she asked about Seno. They even conspired to hide the traces of her husband¡¯s affair for various reasons.


    Lara only found out and had evidence of her bad feelings from an unknown person. An anonymous message sent shocking pictures showing her husband with a naked woman.


    Her heart broke when she saw that message. Without hesitation, she immediately headed to her husband¡¯s office and found the bitter truth that she had been unaware of.


    ***


    ¡°Hello?!¡±


    ¡°Yes? Andromeda Hospital speaking, how can I assist you?¡±


    ¡°Help! Ambnce! My employer is bleeding! Please, Miss!¡±


    ¡°What? Ma¡¯am! Calm down! Give me your address.¡±


    ¡°West Avenue resident block GG no. 7, Menteng. Please! Hurry!¡±


    ¡°All right! Please wait and make sure the patient is conscious!¡±


    ***


    As Bi Yani continued to franticallymunicate with the hospital, Lara struggled to stay conscious. The pain was unbearable, and each passing moment felt like an eternity. Her mind raced with thoughts of Seno and Olivia, of betrayal and deception.


    Suddenly, amidst the chaos, Lara felt a sharp pang of fear. What if Seno arrived home before the ambnce? What if he found out about the situation? Would he even care? The uncertainty gnawed at her, adding to the agony of the physical pain.


    Bi Yani¡¯s voice wavered as she ryed their address to the hospital, her hands trembling as she clutched the phone. Lara could hear distant sirens approaching, a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that threatened to consume her.


    But just as relief began to wash over her, there was a sound. Was it Seno? Gosh!


    Lara couldn¡¯t check; she was about to lose consciousness. The world around her blurred, sounds melding into a cacophony of chaos. Bi Yani¡¯s panicked voice faded into the background as darkness encroached on her vision.


    Through the haze, she felt a hand grasp hers-a familiar touch amidst the turmoil.


    ¡°Stay with me, Ma¡¯am!¡± Bi Yani pleaded. ¡°Stay with me, Ma¡¯am!¡± Bi Yani¡¯s voice cut through the fog of Lara¡¯s fading consciousness, grounding her in the present moment.


    Lara tried to muster the strength to respond, to reassure her that she was still there, still fighting. But the pain engulfed her like a suffocating nket, rendering her speechless and powerless.


    Bi Yani¡¯s grip tightened around Lara¡¯s hand, her desperation palpable as she pleaded with her to hold on. Tears welled in her eyes, mirroring the turmoil raging within Lara. But even as she teetered on the brink of oblivion, a surge of determination coursed through her veins. She couldn¡¯t give up-not now, not when her child¡¯s life hung in the bnce.


    With a herculean effort, Lara forced her eyes open, willing herself to remain conscious despite the overwhelming agony. Bi Yani¡¯s face swam into focus, etched with concern and fear.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, please, you have to stay awake,¡± Bi Yani implored, her voice trembling with emotion.


    Lara nodded weakly, a silent promise to fight until the very end. Together, they clung to hope amidst the chaos, awaiting the arrival of the ambnce that would carry them to safety and salvation.


    As the distant wail of sirens grew louder, Lara closed her eyes and braced herself for the journey ahead. Whatevery on the other side, she would face it with courage and determination-for the sake of her child, and for the shattered remnants of her fractured heart.


    ***


    ¡°That¡¯s the ambnce!¡±

 Part 03 # Consideration

    The ambnce arrived promptly with its sirens ring. Bi Yani panicked as she opened the door and showed them the sofa where Ms. Lara was lying.


    ¡°Move the patient!¡± one of the paramedics shouted to his colleague. Bi Yani cried and felt anxious, fearing that Ms. Lara might miscarry.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am,e with us, okay?¡± one of the paramedics said, and she nodded. They immediately headed to the hospital, which was not far from Ms. Lara¡¯s residence. There, Ms. Lara was already awaited by the attending doctors.


    ***


    ¡°Where¡¯s the operating room?¡±


    ¡°Down the second hallway, follow me!¡±


    A nurse quickly led the medical team to the operating room. Their footsteps echoed alternately, creating a tense atmosphere in the hallway.


    ¡°Be careful!¡± The hospital nurse and the medical team on duty pushed the stretcher at a controlled speed. They looked calm even though their steps were heavy, moving with the precision of cavalry on a battlefield.


    The nurse and medical team made their way through the quiet hospital corridors in a hurry. Bi Yani, apanying them from behind, struggled to keep up but didn¡¯t give up. She ran to follow the people in front of her, panting.


    ¡°Turn here,¡± They then entered the operating room. After that, the doctors took over everything.


    ¡°Oh, God. Please, save Mrs. Lara,¡± Bi Yani whispered, raising her hands in prayer, seeking protection. She hoped God would hear her prayers.


    ¡°Please wait in the waiting room,¡± a nurse said, pointing to a row of chairs not far from the operating room.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Bi Yani sat there as instructed and once again prayed for Ms. Lara¡¯s safety, both her and her unborn child.


    She didn¡¯t expect that the arrival of that strange woman at Mrs. Lara¡¯s house could bring such danger. Who was she, really?


    Bi Yani hadn¡¯t anticipated that the married life of the wealthy could be soplicated and unhappy. Then again, even the married life of the poor like her was often the same. The difference was, Mr. Seno never hit Mrs. Lara. Unlike her husband, who often beat her.


    So, what was the problem?


    ¡°Could it be, he¡¯s cheating?¡± Bi Yani started to specte, thinking that the presence of the strange woman was simr to a television drama when confronting the legitimate wife of her lover.


    But she admired Mrs. Lara. Instead of crying and asking for an exnation, she simply drove away the home-wrecker and mmed the door shut. After that, Mrs. Lara cried, but the home-wrecker didn¡¯t know that Mrs. Lara¡¯s heart could also be hurt.


    ¡°Thank goodness, she¡¯s not like the wives in those soap operas,¡± Bi Yani thought, maybe because Ms. Lara was more beautiful than the home-wrecker who wore thick makeup and cheap clothes.


    Mrs. Lara was graceful and very charming. Bi Yani couldn¡¯t understand why Mr. Seno would be attracted to a cheap woman like that girl. Her style was like a love peddlermonly found at red-light intersections. Her level was indeed different from Mrs. Lara¡¯s!


    ¡°Hhh¡­ What am I thinking?¡± Bi Yani hit her head, feeling she was too bold to meddle in other people¡¯s marriages. One thing she didn¡¯t understand about Ms. Lara¡¯s principles was that she didn¡¯t want to divorce.


    When she asked her the reason, Mrs. Lara said divorce would only damage her child¡¯s mental health. Then, what about Mrs. Lara¡¯s mental health? Was she happy?


    Talking about others was more enjoyable than talking about oneself. Until now, Bi Yani hadn¡¯t divorced her husband either. Even though he was old, unemployed, and a wife-beater! They also didn¡¯t have children. What made her hold on? She didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°Unpleasant rumors, maybe?¡± Bi Yani began to consider divorce. A man like her husband, shouldn¡¯t he be rotting in jail? She didn¡¯t know. She wasn¡¯t someone with wealth or power. She was also old, 50 years old. Unlike Mrs. Lara. Mrs. Lara should be able to pursue her happiness more.


    ¡°Should I call Mr. Seno?¡±


    Bi Yani started to wonder about her next move. Shouldn¡¯t her husband know about Ms. Lara¡¯s condition? But, they were fighting. Should she just keep quiet?


    Ah. If only she could think faster, she wouldn¡¯t have been fired.


    ***


    ¡°You audacious! How dare you not call me! Damn servant!¡±


    Mr. Seno¡¯s voice thundered through the hospital corridor, slicing through the tense atmosphere like a sharp de. Bi Yani flinched at the venom in his words, the weight of his anger pressing down on her like a physical force.


    ¡°Mr. Seno, please calm down,¡± she pleaded, her voice trembling with fear. ¡°I did what I thought was best for Mrs. Lara-¡±


    ¡°Best for her?¡± Seno¡¯sughter was bitter, devoid of any trace of humor. ¡°You have no right to make decisions for my wife! She¡¯s my responsibility, not yours!¡±


    His words struck Bi Yani like a p to the face, igniting a spark of defiance within her. ¡°Your wife needed help, and I acted quickly to get her the assistance she needed,¡± she retorted, her voice trembling with anger. ¡°If you had been here instead of gallivanting around with your mistress, none of this would have happened!¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Mr. Seno¡¯s face contorted with rage, his fists clenching at his sides. ¡°How dare you speak to me like that, you insolent wench!¡± he spat, his words dripping with contempt. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a servant, and you will address me with the respect I deserve!¡±


    But Bi Yani refused to back down, fueled by a newfound sense of determination. She must have lost her mind. ¡°Respect is earned, Mr. Seno, and you¡¯ve done nothing to deserve it,¡± she shot back, her voice ringing with defiance. ¡°Mrs. Lara deserves better than a husband who cheats and neglects her, and if you can¡¯t see that, then you¡¯re even more blind than I thought!¡±


    For a moment, silence descended upon them, thick and heavy with tension. Seno¡¯s chest heaved with fury, his gaze boring into hers with a searing intensity.


    Then, without warning, he lunged forward, his hand raised in a threatening gesture. Instinctively, Bi Yani recoiled, her heart hammering in her chest as she braced herself for the blow.

 Part 04 # Emergency

    Andre never imagined that the patient on the operating table was Lara.


    ¡°Doctor, I ho-hope¡­ my baby survives,¡± she said with a trembling voice.


    Andre was stunned. What had happened to her? And the baby¡­ Lara was already married?


    ¡°Doctor!¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    For a moment, Andre froze, unable to act. Childhood memories of Lara Selene, his long-lost friend, flooded his mind. How had they ended up meeting again in such a tragic situation?


    ¡°Surgery, begin.¡±


    He quickly returned to his main task. The skilled medical team assisted him in starting the critical rescue procedure. They began the surgery, which couldst for hours, with tension palpable in the room.


    The operating room was filled with the sounds of medical equipment, blinding surgical lights, and the fast movements of the surgical team. Lara¡¯s life and that of her unborn child were at stake. Andre struggled to grasp the reality that Lara was pregnant.


    ¡°Now, we need to stop this bleeding. Suction, please,¡± hemanded the surgical assistant beside him.


    The surgical assistant promptly handed him the suction device. Carefully, Andre tried to remove the umted blood from Lara¡¯s uterus.


    Lara looked very pale, grimacing in pain despite being not fully conscious. On the cold operating table, she struggled to save her baby¡¯s life with a determination to persevere.


    A monitor continuously tracked the fetal heartbeats inside Lara¡¯s womb. Every second felt incredibly precious. They prayed that the fetus could be saved, as mandated by its mother.


    ¡°Apply pressure dressing!¡± Andremanded while staying focused on Lara¡¯s body.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Pressure dressing was quickly ced in areas emitting fresh blood. Carefully, the bandage was tightened to stop the life-threatening bleeding. The assistants followed every step diligently, ready to assist.


    ¡°Monitor?¡±


    ¡°Stable.¡±


    The surgical team and nurses worked synergistically, ready to support and respond to Andre¡¯s needs during the procedure. Meanwhile, amidst the surgery, Lara suddenly murmured, albeit unclearly, as she was under local anesthesia. She tried to stay conscious while reciting prayers.


    ¡°Stop the uterus oxygenation, I need to check for further bleeding,¡± Andre said to the nurse beside him.


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    The nurse quickly turned off the uterus oxygenation flow so Andre could examine areas still bleeding. This operation tested all his knowledge and skills. The ambition to help Lara influenced all his actions.


    ¡°Nurse, give me sutures, quickly!¡± hemanded.


    The nurse promptly provided the sutures. Andre began sewing Lara¡¯s wounds carefully, trying to stop the bleeding inside her uterus. Every stitch was a step towards safety.


    ¡°Hold on, Lara. Please ¡­¡± Andre murmured while continuing his task diligently.


    Lara¡¯s safety depended on the skilled hands in the operating room and her determination. He heard Lara constantly praying, igniting the me of spirit within her to not give up and to keep fighting for the unborn child.


    ¡°Doctor!¡±


    A nurse yelled because the fetal heart monitor suddenly showed weakening beats.


    Tension began to dominate the surgical team. The silent atmosphere filled with panic and pressure.


    ¡°Give extra oxygen to the patient, we must maintain the fetal heartbeats!¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    The nurse administered additional oxygen to Lara, while the surgical assistant continued to operate the suction. They worked quickly, while Andre continued to sew carefully.


    ¡°The fetal heart rate is starting to stabilize,¡± the surgical assistant said with relief.


    ¡°Good!¡±


    Andre continued the surgery with strong determination, stopping the bleeding and ensuring that the fetus in Lara¡¯s womb received enough oxygen. Lara was fighting for two lives-hers and her unborn child.


    ¡°Finally¡­¡±


    After an extraordinary effort from the surgical team, the surgery ended. Andre sighed in relief, but their struggle was not over.


    ¡°We have sessfully stopped the bleeding. Now, we must keep the patient stable and monitor the fetus¡¯s development,¡± he said, wiping sweat from his forehead.


    ¡°Okay, doctor!¡±


    Lara remained unconscious on the operating table, but the fetal heart monitor showed stronger beats. It was a huge relief.


    The atmosphere in the operating room was still tense, but there was a deep sense of relief. They had weathered the storm and now had to monitor the long recovery process.


    ¡°We still have a lot of work to do,¡± Andre said, smiling at each team member. ¡°But we have given them a chance to survive. We must keep them strong.¡±


    The medical team nodded in agreement, understanding that their work was not yet done. They would continue to monitor Lara¡¯s progress and provide necessary care during the recovery period.


    ¡°Update the guardian, Sus.¡±


    ¡°Okay, doctor!¡±


    After the surgery, one of the medical team members left the operating room to inform the patient¡¯s family about the surgery results and her condition.


    But before Andre could hear news that the guardian had been informed, amotion began to be heard from outside.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?!¡±

 Part 05 # The Real Suspect

    ¡°Excuse me¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, nurse! How did it go?¡± Bi Yani asked anxiously as a nurse emerged from the operating room. The emergency lights had dimmed, signaling the end of the surgery.


    ¡°Thank goodness. The patient and her baby are safe, ma¡¯am. Don¡¯t worry. The patient is recovering,¡± the nurse exined with a reassuring smile.


    ¡°Thank goodness. Thank you, Nurse!¡± Bi Yani replied with immense relief. Her prayers seemed to have been answered.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡±


    The nurse, after inquiring about her rtionship with Mrs. Lara, assumed Bi Yani was the patient¡¯s mother. Bi Yani simply replied that she was Lara¡¯s assistant, though the nurse remarked on her familial concern.


    ¡°We are indeed family,¡± Bi Yani said.


    The nurse smiled and waved before leaving.


    Bi Yani returned to the waiting chair, tears of joy streaming down her face. ¡°Mrs. Lara, thank goodness¡­¡± she whispered, kissing the hospital floor in gratitude.


    Her employer¡¯s safety had been her top priority. She couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Mrs. Lara suffering alone.


    Just then, a familiar voice echoed down the hallway.


    ¡°Lara! My wife! Where is she?!¡±


    Bi Yani froze. It was Mr. Seno. She hesitated, knowing she might face his wrath for not informing him earlier. He quickly approached the nurse station, and their eyes met. Bi Yani¡¯s heart pounded with fear.


    ¡°Mr¡­¡± she stammered, her knees trembling.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You audacious wretch! How dare you not contact me! Worthless servant!¡±


    *p!*


    Seno¡¯s hand struck her cheek, and Bi Yani fell near his feet. With trembling hands, she reached for his polished shoe, begging for forgiveness.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, sir¡­¡± she said, bowing her head. She saw him almost lift his shoe to step on her head, but a shout from the direction of the operating room stopped him.


    ¡°What is this?!¡± A doctor in dark blue scrubs emerged from the room, ring at Seno.


    Seno cleared his throat and stepped back, refraining from further violence. Bi Yani was lucky; she had been saved by the doctor.


    ¡°Doctor, how is my wife?¡± Seno asked, approaching the doctor. Bi Yani slumped back, trying to avoid further confrontation.


    The tall doctor seemed displeased with Seno¡¯s presence. His sour expression was evident.


    ¡°Calm down, sir. Your wife is in recovery. The critical situation has been ovee. You don¡¯t need to worry,¡± the doctor exined.


    ¡°I¡¯m very worried! That wretched maid didn¡¯t contact me. My assistant called and said my wife was critical. I was almost driven insane!¡± Seno¡¯s concern seemed disingenuous, a smirk ying at the corners of his mouth.


    ¡°Are you her husband?¡± the doctor asked incredulously.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Lara¡¯s husband. Do you know my wife?¡± Seno replied sarcastically.


    ¡°Why were you not aware of your wife¡¯s condition? Are you¡­ never at home? The patient is experiencing acute stress, and it¡¯s an umtive condition, not just today,¡± the doctor continued to interrogate Seno.


    Bi Yani felt a sense of relief. The doctor seemed to channel all of Mrs. Lara¡¯s frustrations toward Seno. If she could cheer, she would, but she remained silent, knowing her job was at stake.


    ¡°Ah. I have been on a business trip abroad for some time. So, I haven¡¯t returned yet. Wait. Why should I exin this to you?¡± Seno retorted, starting to refuse the doctor¡¯s questions.


    ¡°You seem to be interrogating me,¡± Seno protested again, and the doctor sighed, removing his medical mask.


    ¡°I¡¯m Doctor Andre. I¡¯m responsible for your wife. Nice to meet you.¡± The doctor extended his hand.


    ¡°Seno,¡± Seno replied, shaking the doctor¡¯s hand like a business partner. They seemed to be engaged in a silent power struggle.


    ¡°Hey, you!¡±


    Bi Yani flinched when Seno called her.


    ¡°Yes, sir?¡± she said fearfully, bowing her head.


    ¡°Tomorrow, you must quit your job! I suspected it. You must be ipetent! Lara always chooses the wrong people!¡±


    ¡°Sir¡­ please,¡± she pleaded, hoping for his understanding.


    ¡°Sorry if I seem to interfere, but¡­ this woman has been with the patient since earlier. I¡¯m not sure firing her would be wise. Will Mrs. Lara ept it, Seno?¡± Doctor Andre interjected, staring directly at Seno.


    Seno seemed to ponder the doctor¡¯s words. Bi Yani felt a glimmer of hope.


    ¡°Uh¡­ um, sir. Mrs. Lara forbade me from contacting you earlier. After that, a youngdy came to your residence,¡± Bi Yani finally revealed.


    ¡°W-what?¡±


    Seno¡¯s face turned pale. He had not expected his affair to nearly cause Lara to miscarry.


    ¡°Tell me! What does the girl look like?¡± Seno demanded.


    ¡°T-the youngdy is slender with heavy makeup. She has shoulder-length blonde hair and wears ck sunsses. She wore a tight, bright red outfit. Mrs. Lara was furious when the girl arrived,¡± Bi Yani replied, trembling.


    ¡°Damn.¡±


    Doctor Andre looked puzzled but remained silent.


    ¡°Olivia!¡± Seno muttered the name. Was that the girl¡¯s name?


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back!¡± he said abruptly, and Bi Yani nodded, lowering her gaze. She heard Seno¡¯s shoes retreating and his voice as he called someone on his phone, presumably Olivia.

 Part 06 # Somebody from the Past

    In the aftermath of a lengthy surgery, the boundary between reality and fantasy blurred for Lara. Encountering Olivia again reignited a deep-seated hatred, prompting a journey back to her college days.


    Nearly a dozen years prior, Lara¡¯s relocation to Triguna Campus in Jakarta marked a significant shift after living with her aunt in Surabaya. Orphaned at a young age, Lara struggled to adapt, her unique appearance drawing both praise and bullying.


    Despite beingbeled beautiful, Lara saw herself as average, her mixed heritage making her an outsider. The bullying intensified, leading to a traumatic incident that resulted in her uncle transferring her to a new school.


    ***


    ¡°Lara, please join the Campus Queen contest, will you?¡± the ss representative invited Lara at that time.


    ¡°Campus Queen?¡± Lara asked, her curiosity piqued.


    ¡°Yes, beautiful girls like you will bepeting to be the most beautiful student on campus,¡± the representative exined.


    ¡°Um, no thanks. I¡¯m not interested,¡± Lara politely declined.


    ¡°Come on, you¡¯re the most beautiful student here. Our department has to win. This is part of the sess program of the Language and Literature Student Union, please!¡± the representative persisted.


    Lara felt conflicted. Should she agree or continue to refuse? Her past experiences, nearly bing a victim of rape, made her hesitant. To her, beauty was just a superficial aspect, and she saw nothing special about herself.


    ¡°Hey! Yesterday you said I should join, why are you changing your mind now?¡± a woman in a yellow shirt and a denim mini skirt suddenly interrupted their conversation.


    ¡°Oh! Olivia!¡± eximed the ss representative awkwardly, realizing the interruption.


    ¡°You¡¯re so disloyal! I already registered earlier!¡± Olivia used.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s okay, isn¡¯t it? Whoever wins from among you will bring honor to the entire department!¡± the representative tried to mediate.


    ¡°Sorry, I just won¡¯t participate,¡± Lara decided, but the ss representative insisted.


    ¡°I promise to help you with the Indonesian literature assignment, really! You know, that subject is difficult? Especially for you, who was born and raised in Canada. You sure you don¡¯t need it?¡± the representative offered.


    Lara hesitated, acknowledging the difficulty of the subject. She wanted help but hadn¡¯t found anyone to turn to yet.


    ¡°You promise?¡±


    ¡°I promise!¡±


    ¡°Okay. Fine.¡±


    Reluctantly, Lara agreed to the invitation, marking the beginning of her tumultuous rtionship with Olivia.


    ***


    After being chosen as Campus Queen, Lara¡¯s rtionship with Olivia became more like hills and valleys. ording to rumors, Lara stole her position as the winner of the ¡®Campus Queen¡¯. She was also used of winning the hearts of the coolest guys Olivia was interested in.


    Of course, that guy wasn¡¯t Seno. That guy was a senior Lara rejected. She didn¡¯t like dating during college. Of course, before Seno came into her life, that is.


    ¡°Hey, look¡­ your rival!¡±


    Their enmity became a legend in the 2008 literature department. Since Lara became the winner of Campus Queen, Olivia became obsessed withpeting with her in everything, especially in appearance. Olivia wasn¡¯t as smart as


    Lara. Her GPA was always just 2. 5. But Olivia was good at making friends and influencing them. Lara, on the other hand, was ostracized.


    ***


    ¡°Lara¡­¡±


    She began to open her eyes after being unconscious for some time. Slowly, she heard someone calling her.


    That voice. Her husband¡¯s voice. Lara just blinked, ignoring Seno¡¯s call. She really wanted to avoid him.


    ¡°Lara¡­ forgive me,¡± Seno said, kissing the back of her hand. Lara could feel his lips touching her, and she felt disgusted.


    ¡°Lara¡­¡± He called her again. She heard his voice trembling. Could it be that he finally regretted his actions?


    ¡°Uh¡­¡±


    She just grumbled. It felt like her voice was hard toe out. Seno then smiled and moved closer to her face.


    ¡°Darling,¡± he called again, this time his voice sounding close to her ear. She shivered.


    ¡°You must be in shock, huh? I¡¯ll make sure Olivia neveres to our house again, okay?¡± Seno kept babbling and bringing up the name of the woman Lara didn¡¯t want to hear about.


    ¡°Olivia is-¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Stop.¡±


    Finally, Lara could speak. ¡°Don¡¯t talk about her anymore. I¡¯m disgusted!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    Seno began to stroke her head again, although Lara didn¡¯t want to. But she couldn¡¯t resist because she was still too weak.


    Tubes and cables were still connected to her body. The sound of monitors and the special care from the doctor¡¯s team apanied her healing process. She felt like a prisoner who couldn¡¯t go anywhere.


    ¡°What day is it?¡± Lara asked, trying to count how long she had been unconscious.


    ¡°It¡¯s Friday, darling. Why?¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Bi Yani?¡±


    ¡°Bi Yani¡­ Uh¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you fired her!¡±


    Lara tried to sit up with the anger she held back. If only Seno dared to fire her favorite maid. Then, she would make calctions with him.


    ¡°Bi Yani is resting. She¡¯s at home. Don¡¯t worry. Okay?¡± he said.


    ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡±


    ¡°I swear! I¡¯m not lying. Be patient¡­ we can check when we get home, okay?¡±


    Lara tried to read Seno¡¯s expression, which seemed unchanged or nervous. It seemed he was speaking the truth.


    ¡°Fine¡­¡± She trusted him. She also didn¡¯t want to waste energy arguing with her husband.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, darling. I made a mistake. This won¡¯t happen again,¡± Seno said, referring to his cheating incident.


    Of course, this apology was the umpteenth time, but this time it was different. Lara no longer suspected. She saw with her own eyes that he had an intimate rtionship with his mistress. What wife wouldn¡¯t be hurt by that?


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Seno. I don¡¯t care.¡±


    She turned away. She even felt disgusted when she saw her husband¡¯s face. She could remember how Seno and Olivia looked when they were in the peak of pleasure together, without caring about their location.


    The boss and his promiscuous secretary didn¡¯t care at all about rumors or possible eyewitnesses who might see their intercourse.


    Seno and Olivia weren¡¯t even shy about showing affection in the workce, which should be full of formality and professionalism, not just lust.


    Lara really couldn¡¯t understand. But, she didn¡¯t want to bother anymore. For her, Seno was just like a thorn, so tiny but hurt.

 Part 07 # That Doctor!

    Seno-Lara¡¯s husband-smiled as he weed her threat. What was wrong with him?


    ¡°Of course, Dear. Don¡¯t divorce me. I don¡¯t want to separate from you either,¡± Seno said, caressing Lara¡¯s face gently. His reaction seemed strange.


    Lara just stared nkly at the hospital ceiling above her. The dazzling light momentarily dispelled the disgusting shadows of her husband¡¯s affair with his secretary.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be conceited. I¡¯m not begging for your love. I just don¡¯t want our child to grow up without both parents, like me!¡± Lara¡¯s voice sounded sharp, and Seno was quite surprised by her change. He seemed wide-eyed.


    Yes. Lara had never been this angry with him before. She was used to being silent and indifferent. But, this time was different. She had to speak up loudly and let him know that she was no longer the foolish woman craving for love.


    ¡°You¡¯re so cruel, Dear.¡±


    Cruel?N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Wasn¡¯t Seno the one who had been cruel to her?


    All this time, Lara had just resigned herself to epting this bitter marriage, with all the consequences she had to bear.


    She would never forget that there was another life waiting inside her: their baby.


    She would endure.


    She must endure.


    For their child¡¯s sake.


    ¡°Do you want something to eat?¡± Seno asked, ncing at his watch. He also seemed to check his phone, but a momentter, the t object was put back into his pants pocket.


    There¡¯s someone¡¯s name that had been bothering Lara since earlier. Olivia. His mistress.


    Could it be that, at this moment, that woman was contacting him?


    Ah, forget it. She didn¡¯t care.


    If she could guess, Olivia must be making excuses to report work to her husband. But of course, that¡¯s just an excuse she made up.


    Olivia always looked for opportunities to get closer to Seno¡¯s life, and if possible, she would immediately rece Lara¡¯s position as hiswful wife.


    Lara could understand her cunning thoughts.


    But, that wouldn¡¯t happen.


    She wouldn¡¯t let it happen!


    ***


    ¡°Darling?¡±


    Seno¡¯s second call interrupted Lara¡¯s reverie.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat anything. The nurse will bring my meal.¡±


    Seno looked at her with a mncholy look. He probably didn¡¯t expect her to be so cold to him. This was a fair retaliation because he had wasted her kindness all this time.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been patient with you, Lara. Please, don¡¯t test my patience any further,¡± Seno half-threatened. His face reddened as he looked sharp to his wife. Seno felt intrigued by Lara¡¯s demeanor.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Lara blinked. Was he now saying that his dignity as a man was at stake?


    ¡°Please. My patience is wearing thin, Lara.¡±


    Did he think she couldn¡¯t possibly defeat his ego? Was she whining like a baby? No. She really didn¡¯t want to talk to him anymore.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been setting aside my ego bit by bit. But you keep being curt with me! Let¡¯s cut it off, okay? Forgive me.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying?¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t be like this, Lara! I¡¯m your husband! Respect me like a wise wife!¡± Seno yelled with a flushed face.


    It seemed his patience had indeed run out. Seno might feel embarrassed by her cold attitude, as if she were treating him like trash.


    Wasn¡¯t he trash anyway?


    ¡°Do you have a mirror, huh?¡±


    Lara yelled back. She wasn¡¯t the foolish woman who passively epted her husband¡¯s infidelity without feeling disappointed.


    Her pure love had been betrayed, and now, Seno was talking about being a wise wife? Was he joking?


    ¡°Lara Selene Smith!¡±


    Thud.


    Her heart felt like it was being stabbed by a sharp knife. Seno¡¯s behavior when he was angry, like her father¡¯s, wasn¡¯t he just another type of scumbag-like her husband?


    ¡°Y¨Cyou!¡± Lara started to cry. Her heart felt sore just from hearing Seno¡¯s shouts. Although her husband didn¡¯t curse, somehow, her soul felt wounded.


    She-a child abandoned by her father-hated hearing her full name shouted like that. It reminded her of her hated father¡¯s anger pattern.


    ¡°La-Lara¡­¡±


    Perhaps, Seno felt guilty for making her, who was angry just now, suddenly burst into tears.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Seno said, kneeling beside her bed. He then stood up and hugged her, who was still shedding tears.


    Seno really didn¡¯t expect that his words would hurt her. Yes. She was very hurt.


    ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    A nurse broke the tension between them. She seemed to enter the room carrying several infusion bottles and notes.


    Her firm and fast steps echoed around, creating a constant bustling rhythm.


    ¡°Yes, Nurse?¡±


    Seno nced at the nurse briefly as he stood up from his seat. He then gently wiped away Lara¡¯s tears that had been wetting her face.


    ¡°We will examine the patient, can you wait outside?¡±


    ¡°No! I¡¯m her husband. I¡¯ll wait here.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Sir. As long as you can maintain order,¡± the nurse replied, forcing a smile.


    Some time ago, Lara heard there was amotion caused by Seno, so the nurses felt annoyed. They tried to avoid confrontation as much as possible and maintain a conducive situation for the resting patients.


    Seno sometimes couldn¡¯t control himself. She didn¡¯t know why.


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    She saw Seno carefully move to the sofa in the corner of the room to give enough space for the medical team who would conduct the examination.


    For a moment, Lara felt relieved that he didn¡¯t create another disturbance that would surely embarrass her.


    She didn¡¯t know why he wanted to be around her. After all, he was usually busy with his work at this time of the morning.


    Was he trying to make sure that the medical team could work properly in taking care of her? Ah, that¡¯s impossible. Why was Seno suddenly so attentive to her? Wasn¡¯t that unusual?


    ¡°Good.¡±


    She heard the nurse mutter after checking the infusion and writing something down in her notes.


    ¡°You¡¯re improving, Ma¡¯am. Thank goodness,¡± she said with a smile. She said her condition seemed to be improving after yesterday¡¯s surgical procedure.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Lara said humbly. She was also grateful that her condition had improved.


    ¡°Doctor.¡±


    A few momentster, a surgeon came to check on her condition.


    At first, Lara didn¡¯t pay much attention to who the doctor who had treated her was. Until, a voice brought back memories from the past.


    ¡°How are you feeling, Mrs. Lara?¡±


    She turned to the familiar voice.


    That voice.


    The voice of one of the men she didn¡¯t want to meet.


    ¡°Oh, God!¡±

 Part 08 # The Two Lions

    Lara stared sharply at the doctor who was in front of her at the moment.


    A tall, handsome doctor with typical brownish eyes of mixed-race men in general. His ck wavy hair was neatlybed like the appearance of a white coat wrapping his body.


    Andre.


    Lara¡¯s childhood friend who has now be my enemy. ¡°You!¡± Her anger suddenly red up-as if she could tear apart the doctor¡¯s body right then and there.


    Memories of the rtionship between Doctor Andre and Lara in the past suddenly resurfaced and now they hurt her.


    Andre and Lara weren¡¯t enemies initially, but a terrible incident left a mark on her mind. That incidentter made them archenemies, up until now. Lara  even tried to cut off contact, although Andre and his sister often tried to find her, he said. Lara never confirmed that.


    Lara indeed a girl full of scars from the past. She hasn¡¯t even feltpletely happy, until one day, a fetus suddenly emerged from within her womb. That fetus, Lara¡¯s unborn child, is her only strength. She will fight to heal from the mental pain she endure. She must be strong, for her child.


    ***


    ¡°Mrs. Lara. I will conduct an examination of your condition,¡± Andre said, trying to be professional, perhaps? Lara still suspicious about him.  She knew that now was not the right moment to discuss their conflicts in the past. She would also try to act normal, as an ordinary patient.


    ¡°Yes, please,¡± Lara replied indifferently.


    In a routine visit, Doctor Andre seemed to examine her carefully while ensuring there were no furtherplications from the medical procedures he had performed.


    In the treatment room, the doctor began to review Lara¡¯s overall health, assisted by assistants and nurses who recorded every change in her condition.


    The light from the room¡¯smp illuminated Lara¡¯s bed so brightly with a warm temperature indicating the rising sun. It¡¯s already nine in the morning. The sunlight began to seep through the curtains, bringing a warm atmosphere tempered by the artificial breeze from the room cooler, so that those inside always felt fresh.


    Lara¡¯s recovery process was going as expected by the doctor. He did not find any specific side effects to be wary of from her post-surgery healing pattern. This brought good news that Lara was recovering well and withoutplications.


    ¡°Everything looks good,¡± Dr. Andre said with a smile. But Lara didn¡¯t respond.


    Doctor Andre checked Lara¡¯s medical records and thetest test results, ensuring that her recovery was progressing as he had hoped.


    A nurse seemed to check Lara¡¯s blood pressure and pulse, then recorded it on a special sheet to monitor thetest developments in her health.


    ¡°How are you feeling today, Ma¡¯am.?¡± the doctor asked gently, trying to break the silence that tortured him.


    Lara only weakly answered, half forced. ¡°I feel tired, but thankfully, my baby is safe. Thank you, Doctor. I owe my life to you.¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Doctor Andre just smiled wryly while nodding. He tried not to show excessive emotion about ourplicated rtionship. I also tried the same but it felt very difficult.


    He then examined the surgical incision-the operation scar-he had done yesterday during the rescue procedure.


    Lara just realized that there was a scar on her body when the doctor examined it.


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    Lara winced in pain as his hand touched the scar. The doctor seemed surprised but then he smiled because there was nothing to worry about.


    The wound was healing more and everything was clean and sterile. There was nothing to worry about.


    ¡°Everything looks good,¡± the doctor said with a smile. ¡°You are on a good recovery journey, Ma¡¯am. We will continue to monitor your condition and the fetus carefully.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Doctor,¡± Lara said gratefully. Especially when hearing news about her unborn child.


    Lara, who was initially frowning, now smiled when hearing about her child¡¯s condition. She truly hoped he was okay. Lara felt guilty for putting him in danger.


    ¡°Thank you, Doctor.¡±


    Seno seemed to approach the two of them. Doctor Andre¡¯s face, which was originally in, suddenly tensed up. Lara could feel the change in his attitude.


    An intimidating aura emanated strongly from him, as if Andre was protecting his territorial area like a lion.


    Seno certainly didn¡¯t realize it, but Lara did. Andre has been like that since forever. He will be cautious towards someone he doesn¡¯t know. She don¡¯t know why, but Lara feel a strange piercing aura from the doctor as if he is disturbed by Seno¡¯s presence.


    ¡°Is he your husband?¡± Doctor Andre asked, trying to confirm the identity of the man who imed to be Lara¡¯s partner. Doesn¡¯t he know what her husband looks like?


    ¡°Yes. He is. What¡¯s the matter, doctor?¡±


    ¡°Ah, nothing.¡±


    Doctor Andre seemed to dodge. The atmosphere in this room felt oppressive. Why do these two men in front of Lara seem to bepeting?


    Doctor Andre¡¯s jaw seemed to stiffen, his facial muscles protruding. He shouldn¡¯t behave like that. Although their past rtionship was not good, he shouldn¡¯t hate Lara¡¯s husband too.


    Shouldn¡¯t he just hate Lara?


    ¡°Make sure to provide moral support for the patient¡¯s optimal recovery, Sir. Don¡¯t make her sad or hurt!¡± Doctor Andre advised-but for some reason it felt like he¡¯s threatening Seno.


    ¡°A-Alright, Doctor.¡±


    Seno seemed a bit surprised by the doctor¡¯s strange tone of voice. He didn¡¯t feel that the man in front of him was behaving like a medical team assisting Lara¡¯s recovery.


    Lara was also surprised by Doctor Andre¡¯s response. It¡¯s really strange.


    Seno raised his eyebrows, seeming not to understand the doctor¡¯s odd behavior. However, he didn¡¯t feel the need to know more. Seno wasn¡¯t interested in other people¡¯s affairs that didn¡¯t benefit him.


    ***


    ¡°Lara, I apologize to you¡­¡±


    Seno¡¯s unexpected apology hung in the air, its sincerity wavering like a flickering me. Lara gazed at him, searching his face for any hint of deception, but all she found was a glimmer of remorse in his eyes.

 Part 09 # Strange Girl

    For a few days, Lara had to be in the hospital. Her recovery process needed to be undisturbed, requiringplete rest both physically and mentally.


    Seno, her husband, was always around. Andre didn¡¯t like seeing him. It seemed like Seno was portraying himself as the ideal husband,ing back and forth to check on Lara amidst his busy schedule. Whether he was genuinely worried or just pretending, Andre couldn¡¯t tell.


    ording to the servant, Lara had been bleeding because of a young woman¡¯s actions. Andre was certain it was rted to Seno¡¯s affair.


    ***


    As Andre passed by the nurse station after finishing his shift, he took the opportunity to ask about Lara¡¯s condition.


    ¡°Lara¡¯s patient, how is she?¡± he asked.


    The nurse, eager for some gossip, replied, ¡°She¡¯s getting better, Doc. Is there something?¡±


    Andre was aware of the nurses¡¯ gossip, especially if there was a hint of scandal. One of his trusted nurses had once shown him their Whatsapp group when rumors about his engagement spread in the hospital. It disturbed him, but he couldn¡¯t do anything about it.


    ¡°Ah, nothing. That¡¯s good then,¡± he said with a smile.


    ¡°Oh, doctor, don¡¯t smile too often, I might melt,¡± the nurse joked lightly. Another nurse chimed in, ¡°Yeah. The doctor¡¯s dimples make us swoon, haha,¡± yfully hitting her colleague¡¯s shoulder.


    Andre swallowed hard, unsure how to respond to their jokes.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired of working? Get fired by the Doctor fiance, then you¡¯ll know how it feels!¡± a senior nurse suddenly appeared, carrying a stack of files. The two junior nurses coughed awkwardly and pretended to be busy.


    ¡°Sorry, Doc. Please don¡¯t take it serious,¡± the senior nurse said shyly.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Their intentions aren¡¯t bad,¡± Andre said, smiling again before hurriedly walking away. He didn¡¯t want to be the subject of mockery or an object easily teased by the single nurses.


    ***


    Sshing water on his face from the rushing tap, Andre looked at himself in the mirror. ¡°Handsome?¡± he wondered. His handsome face felt useless if it didn¡¯t win the heart of the woman he admired.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Lara. She had already walked down the aisle, and all opportunities evaporated. Irretrievable time had shattered his hopes of being with her.


    He truly emerged as a loser.


    ***


    For some time, Andre had been trying to find an opportunity to talk to Lara alone. However, the moment he longed for never came.


    Seno, Lara¡¯s husband, was always by her side when Andre was on duty. From morning till night, Seno appeared faithfully. Several times, Andre saw a man in a suit and a sexy-looking woman apany him into Lara¡¯s room. Before long, the employees would leave, leaving Seno to continue working while staying with his wife.


    Lara¡¯s rtionship with her husband turned out to be more harmonious than Andre had thought. He believed Seno was the type of man prone to cheating, often seen in big bosses like him.


    ***


    ¡°Hah¡­ there really is no chance,¡± Andre sighed disappointedly. He couldn¡¯t speak privately with Lara.


    The sky that night was studded with stars. Andre looked at its beauty with the glow of a slowly burning cigarette. The smoke that blurred his vision made him realize that real hope would nevere.


    Did he really have to let go of all assumptions about Lara and never bring exnations?


    ¡°Lighter, please,¡± a girl with thick makeup, who looked sweet, asked. She was walking towards him, requesting a light from the lighter he was holding.


    ¡°Here,¡± Andre handed her a ck lighter with a typical batik pattern, engraved with his name: Andre Setiawan Ramsey. The lighter was a gift from his beloved sister, even though they were now separated by distance and position. She remained in his heart.


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡±


    ¡°Do you work here? Hmm, I think I¡¯ve seen you,¡± the girl narrowed her eyes. Andre just shrugged.


    Judging by her appearance, the girl might be an employee, but her clothes and shoes were too revealing. Andre felt embarrassed to keep looking at her. If it wasn¡¯t against the rules, he would have wanted to put his doctor¡¯s coat on her.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± the girl asked, but hadn¡¯t even answered his previous question.


    ¡°Andre Setiawan,¡± he replied briefly. He didn¡¯t want to ask her name back; coincidentally, his sister had sent a message. He¡¯d rather reply to his sister¡¯s message than get involved with her. He felt ufortable.


    ¡°Nice,¡± the girl murmured as she examined him physically, her eyes scanning his body from head to toe. Was she turning into an airport security officer?


    Her gaze suggested that she was judging him. Was he just an object?


    ¡°Are you done observing?¡± Andre felt offended. From the beginning, their meeting had been just¡­


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know my name, Doc? Maybe we can get to know each other?¡± the girl asked shamelessly. His sarcastic question hadn¡¯t been answered. She didn¡¯t even pretend to be shy or awkward. What kind of woman was she?


    ¡°No.¡±


    Andre was still busy scrolling through his message app. Let her name be known to the civil records, her colleagues, and family. He wasn¡¯t interested.


    ¡°Hm, but you look handsome.¡±


    Andre was dumbfounded. He was surprised by her remark about his appearance. In the 21st century, do women really have the ability to conquer men?


    ¡°Sorry. Aren¡¯t you too straightforward?¡± he tried to stay calm, though he wanted to fight back. He felt this girl was just seeking attention. It wouldn¡¯t be polite to scold her.


    ¡°I am indeed straightforward. Aren¡¯t men like brave women?¡±


    Andre shook his head vigorously. Suddenly, Lara¡¯s face came to mind. If only Lara acted aggressively like that, his heart would be incredibly joyful. But he still didn¡¯t like women who took the lead. His dignity as a man was at stake.


    ¡°Look, Doc, please ask what my name is.¡±


    ¡°Fine. What¡¯s your name?¡± he asked casually. He didn¡¯t really want to know her identity. He needed to get out of this death trap that seemed to be lurking around him.


    The girlughed lightly. With forced sways of her hips, she walked towards him. Leaning forward, she whispered sensually from her thick lips.


    ¡°My name is Olivia Wilona.¡±

 Part 10 # A Prey

    Andre nced briefly at Olivia¡¯s thick lips, feeling a fleeting temptation to kiss them, but he held back. In his opinion, Olivia wasn¡¯t that beautiful. He had met women who were far more attractive, especially his sister.


    Andre¡¯s sister was a stunning woman who had inherited the best genes from their Caucasian father. Her blonde hair was natural, unlike Olivia¡¯s fake blonde. No matter how much he scanned Olivia¡¯s appearance, nothing about her caught his interest. Olivia really wasn¡¯t his type.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Please step back a bit,¡± he snapped, starting to feel ufortable. Olivia¡¯s overpowering perfume made his head feel dizzy.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Olivia stepped back, her demeanor suddenly awkward. This awkwardness wasn¡¯t apparent when they first met.


    ¡°Have you been working here for long, Doc?¡± she asked, ying with the ends of her hair blown by the night breeze. Her voice sounded a bit odd, too contrived for his taste.


    ¡°Quite long enough,¡± Andre replied, still enjoying his cigarette. He quickened his pace, wanting to leave. He wasn¡¯tfortable with chatty people like Olivia.


    ¡°Oh, I work for a pharmaceuticalpany. We also supply drugs to this hospital. Don¡¯t you know?¡± Olivia asked, trying to prolong the conversation.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know. Do I need to know?¡±


    ¡°Eh? No-no. Just¡­ ourpany is quite famous. Wait¡­¡± Olivia rummaged through her bag. ¡°Here, my business card,¡± she said, handing him a red card with an elegant white background.


    Andre wasn¡¯t interested in taking it, but social norms dictated a response. He took the card to end the conversation. ¡°Alright, thank you.¡±


    The atmosphere on the hospital roof warmed up as tension built between him and Olivia, created unterally by her. Cigarette smoke surrounded them, with the dim moonlight apanying them.


    ¡°And ¡­ are you single, Doc?¡± she interrupted his reverie. He almost choked.


    ¡°Y-yes? Do I have to answer that?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so cold. This is just a normal question.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m single, but not interested in dating.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not gay, are you?¡±


    ¡°W-what?!¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness if you¡¯re not!¡± Her face suddenly lit up, looking so happy.


    Andre felt uneasy with Olivia¡¯s constant attempts to date. Although she hadn¡¯t said it outright, he could assess the modus operandi of women like her.


    ¡°Enjoy your time,¡± he said shortly, then extinguished the cigarette stub that hadn¡¯t yet turned into ashes. He was sick of it.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Olivia looked surprised and asked again. He just walked away, but she seemed to keep following.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Olivia¡¯s voice continued to be heard even as he descended the stairs connecting the roof to the top floor of the hospital. He quickened his pace, wanting to return to his room and lock it from the inside. His intuition told him Olivia wasn¡¯t an ordinary woman.


    ¡°Sorry if I got too close earlier, Doc. I just wanted to get to know you better,¡± Olivia said, still shouting. Somehow, she was now right behind him. He really didn¡¯t know what to do.


    ¡°I¡¯m not too interested in new acquaintances, especially in a ce like this. Please don¡¯t follow me.¡±


    ¡°Ah. I-I¡¯m not following you. I was going to visit someone here.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? Alright then. Just don¡¯t be too loud.¡±


    Andre finally reached the hallway near his private room. With hurried steps, he tried to distance himself from Olivia who kept following. Was she lying and really following him? He didn¡¯t know. He had to get inside and lock the door immediately.


    The hospital was quite calm; the day was alreadyte. Olivia¡¯s footsteps still followed him, pretending to be on a visit. He turned toward his room. As he tried to open the door, Olivia quickly entered after him.


    ¡°Oops!¡± she eximed shamelessly. Her eyes sparkled, pleased with the deception she had just performed.


    ¡°Oh my! What are you doing?!¡± Andre was surprised by her behavior. Olivia really had no shame.


    ¡°I just wanted to take a look around. Isn¡¯t the hospital quiet at night?¡±


    ¡°No! Please leave now, or I¡¯ll call security!¡±


    Andre was truly puzzled by Olivia¡¯s actions. After all, he had intentionally entered the room to get away from someone who seemed unstoppable. Why did she enter first?


    ¡°Ah¡­ so, you¡¯re a surgeon,¡± Olivia said with her strange smile. He recognized that asymmetric smile well. She was like a true stalker.


    He felt pressured but tried to keep calm. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a surgeon. Are you satisfied with that knowledge now?¡±


    Olivia didn¡¯t stop. She kept bombarding him with questions until her curiosity was satisfied.


    ¡°Interesting. I didn¡¯t know you were a surgeon. Does that mean you often perform surgeries?¡±


    Andre felt annoyed, but he had contacted security, and they were on their way.


    ¡°I perform surgery when needed. Now, are you really going to stay here and be escorted by security? Or leave on your own?¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright¡­ I¡¯ll leave on my own,¡± Olivia said, winking.


    ¡°I really want to know more about you. Can I have your phone number?¡±


    ¡°Nope!¡±


    Oliviaughed but then left as a few uniformed men arrived.


    ¡°I¡¯ll catch you, Andre!¡±


    ***


    Andre sighed deeply after Olivia left. His initial intention to seek peace had turned into a disaster. Olivia¡¯s presence had disturbed his alone time. For a moment, he remembered Lara, but he couldn¡¯t do anything because her husband was always around her.


    ¡°Will she talk to me?¡± he murmured in despair. He knew very well that Lara might not forgive him easily.


    Andre¡¯s mind drifted back to Lara, remembering the first time they had met. They were kids, back then, now, things were different. Lara was married to Seno, a man who seemed to be the perfect husband. Andre couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of jealousy every time he saw Seno by Lara¡¯s side, attentively caring for her. He wondered if Seno¡¯s concern was genuine or just a facade.


    He remembered the rumors he had heard from the hospital staff. ording to the servant, Lara had been bleeding because of a young woman¡¯s actions. Andre couldn¡¯t shake off the suspicion that this young woman was Seno¡¯s affair. The thought of it made him even more determined to talk to Lara, to find out the truth.


    But Seno was always there, making it impossible for Andre to get a moment alone with Lara. From morning till night, Seno was faithfully by her side. Andre had seen Seno bring in a man in a suit and a sexy-looking woman when visiting Lara¡¯s room. The employees would leave soon after, leaving the boss to continue working while apanying his wife.


    Andre sighed in disappointment. ¡°Hah¡­ there really is no chance,¡± he muttered. He couldn¡¯t speak privately with Lara, and it frustrated him to no end.

 Part 11 # Mad Obsession

    Someone suddenly knocked on the door. It was Olivia.


    ¡°Madam, may Ie in?¡± she asked with a suspicious smile, brandishing a lewd photo of Seno with a woman-Olivia herself.


    ¡°Come in!¡± Lara ordered, gasping for breath. Seno had juste home after spending the whole day with her, even though he hadn¡¯t been asked to.


    The next day-early in the morning-Seno had to go out of town to continue the payment process to acquire a partnerpany. Lara didn¡¯t pay much attention to the details because she didn¡¯t care about Seno¡¯s activities.


    ¡°What do you mean?!¡± she raised her voice, forcefully grabbing the indecent portrait from Olivia¡¯s hand and tearing it apart until it was unrecognizable.


    Olivia chuckled cunningly. ¡°I have a thousand nude photos of Seno that are more shocking than the one you just destroyed.¡±


    ¡°Divorce him.¡±


    ¡°Y-you!¡± Lara was truly angry and indignant, but Olivia just kept making her furious.


    The darkening sky made the atmosphere in her room even more stifling. The increasingly cold air made her hair stand on end.


    What kind of dream was this? Why was Olivia-that slut-now in front of her? Lara had never expected this.


    Olivia¡¯s presence was like a ghost she desperately wanted to avoid. Her embodiment resembled a ghostly creature that should nevere close to her.


    The pain in Lara¡¯s heart had notpletely disappeared. Even though Seno had tried to redeem himself, her anger hadn¡¯t faded. She still needed time to forgive him, if she could.


    ¡°W-what are you doing!¡± Lara eximed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you see? I¡¯m threatening you. Divorce him!¡± Olivia shed a sly smile that didn¡¯t even look at Lara sympathetically. She was still in the hospital and injured.


    The aura of amorality and cruelty seemed perfectly attached to Olivia. There was no trace of mercy in her heart. She was born with various cruelties ingrained in her to the core.


    Olivia never knew what love and affection were, only obsession and vengeance. Those two things shaped her into such a cruel woman, one who justified everything to achieve her goals.


    ¡°What¡¯s in it for you?! Hasn¡¯t Seno already given you a luxurious apartment? What else do you want?!¡± Lara fumed, remembering that Olivia should have felt content with everything she had received.


    She didn¡¯t demand much. She just wanted Seno to stay by her side and be a good father to their future child.


    ¡°Oh! That apartment is nothing. Haha¡­¡± Olivia chuckled, mocking Lara¡¯s overly simplistic thoughts. ¡°That¡¯s why, being wealthy requires a little bit of intelligence. Calling an apartment expensive, haha¡­¡±


    ¡°Y-you!¡±


    Lara blinked in disbelief. She was so hurt to beughed at by Olivia. How could she not appreciate such an expensive gift? What did Olivia really want?


    ¡°Do you still want to outdo me? Dream on!¡± Lara retorted, mocking Olivia¡¯s baseless obsession that had gued her for so long.


    She initially didn¡¯t realize Olivia¡¯s insane obsession, but slowly, she began to dig for her own clues that had long pointed to the unnoticedpetition.


    Back in college, after winning a beauty contest, Olivia had seemed to distance herself from Lara. Olivia didn¡¯t realize it, but she was jealous of Lara¡¯s achievements.


    The invisiblepetition always seemed to manifest when Olivia sessfully snatched away Lara¡¯s possessions. For example, a project from a lecturer that should have been Lara¡¯s suddenly got taken by Olivia.


    Another research project that seemed trivial, assigned to Lara, suddenly had a new supervisor and became Olivia¡¯s task.


    Lara thought it was all just a coincidence. It wasn¡¯t until now that she realized Seno had also fallen into Olivia¡¯s trap fueled by her crazy obsession.


    She had been so naive and foolish, thinking everything was unrted.


    ¡°You just realized?¡± Olivia didn¡¯t seem offended. She seemed to admit that seizing everything belonging to Lara was a victory trophy for her. But, of course, that wasn¡¯t her ultimate goal.


    ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± Lara refused.


    Seno and Olivia¡¯s affair, which Lara had discovered, had truly shattered and tormented her. The fact that Seno pampered his mistress with so much wealth made her heart as a wife ache deeply.


    However, Olivia¡¯s insane obsession only made her angrier. She never thought that Seno had fallen into that evil woman¡¯s trap.


    Her view of the affair incident became different. She didn¡¯t feel that Seno was entirely to me.


    ¡°Enough! Don¡¯t think too much! Quickly! Divorce your husband! Or¡­¡±


    ¡°Or what?!¡± Lara challenged. She didn¡¯t want to be manipted by the vile woman in front of her any further.


    She now knew all of Olivia¡¯s tricks to constantly outdo her. Even by snatching Seno away from both of her hands.


    ¡°The photos you destroyed will be spread. I still have many copies. Haha¡­¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±


    As much as Lara hated Seno, she certainly didn¡¯t want him to suffer from such embarrassing things.


    Moreover, Seno¡¯s grandmother-the only woman Lara loved-would surely be very ashamed of the scandal that would happen.


    She didn¡¯t want to destroy the Adhijaya family. It was all for Grandma and also her future son-inw.


    ¡°How dare you threaten me!¡±


    ¡°Calm down, MADAM LARA! That won¡¯t happen if you divorce Seno. I¡¯m still being kind, you know, calling you ¡®Madam¡¯ because I don¡¯t want to speak harshly.¡±


    Olivia tossed her shoulder-length hair arrogantly. Her eyes were watching Lara¡¯s every move to inflict more pain.


    Seeing Lara¡¯s reaction silenced without saying a word, it seemed that Olivia¡¯s intimidation was yielding the results she hoped for.


    Was Olivia really serious about spreading nude photos of Seno and creating a scandal? If he went bankrupt and theirpany¡¯s products were affected as a result, wouldn¡¯t Olivia also suffer? Lara started to hesitate.


    ¡°Why are you silent?¡±


    ¡°I-I¡­¡± Lara was confused about what to answer.


    Was she really supposed to divorce Seno just because Olivia threatened her?


    Suddenly, a loud crash interrupted their tense standoff. The sound of shattering ss echoed through the room as the windowpane splintered. Both women turned towards the source, eyes wide with shock. A bricky amidst the shards of ss, wrapped in a piece of paper. Lara¡¯s hands trembled as she unfolded the note, revealing a scrawled message: ¡°Leave him, or else.¡±


    Her heart pounded in her chest, the weight of the threat crushing her resolve. Olivia¡¯s smug expression only intensified Lara¡¯s fear. The room seemed to close in on her, the walls pressing in with an oppressive force.


    Lara took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. ¡°This is insane,¡± she whispered, more to herself than to Olivia.


    ¡°What¡¯s insane is thinking you can keep Seno,¡± Olivia retorted, her voice dripping with venom. ¡°Make the smart choice, Lara. Before things get worse.¡±


    Lara¡¯s mind raced. The threats were escting, and Olivia¡¯s determination was unwavering. She knew she couldn¡¯t let this woman ruin her life, but she also couldn¡¯t put her family in danger.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Summoning every ounce of strength, Lara straightened her shoulders and met Olivia¡¯s gaze head-on. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± she said evenly, masking the turmoil within. ¡°But don¡¯t underestimate me, Olivia. You won¡¯t win easily.¡±


    Olivia¡¯s smirk faltered slightly, but she quickly regained herposure. ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± she replied, turning on her heel and striding out of the room.


    As the door closed behind her, Lara sank onto the bed, the weight of the situation crashing down on her. She clutched the note in her hand, the words burning into her memory. She had to find a way to protect her family and outsmart Olivia, no matter what it took.

 Part 12 # Exile

    Lara contemted the impact of Olivia¡¯s threat. Yet, typical of Olivia, who couldn¡¯t think too deeply and maturely, the threat was just an empty one she could carry out.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Throughout her observation, Olivia would see Lara¡¯s trapped response and couldn¡¯t do anything else butply with her wishes.


    ¡°Lowly slut¡­¡± Lara whispered, her voice already worn out. She couldn¡¯t shout anymore, overwhelmed by the shock. She truly didn¡¯t know how to handle this situation. Her head felt sore, her heart ached, and her body felt powerless, even just to support these fragile bones.


    Did she really have to divorce Seno?


    ¡°No!¡± she vehemently rejected the idea. She even raised her head, holding back the tears starting to well up in her eyes.


    She didn¡¯t want to appear weak and helpless. She would be a stronger woman, ready to face the consequences of the choices at hand: she wouldn¡¯t divorce, no matter the reason.


    ¡°How about it? Do you agree?¡± Olivia asked, nowing closer to her.


    The noisy sound of her footsteps disrupted the tranquility in the room. The ticking of the clock added to the tense atmosphere, as the night grew too old to endure. It was 11 PM. Lara still had to deal with an unwee guest.


    ¡°I-I¡­¡± Before she could answer, a baritone voice of a man startled both of them.


    ¡°What¡¯s all themotion here?¡±


    Doctor Andre seemed to interrupt their dispute. With firm steps, he entered the room and looked at Olivia with a sharp gaze that couldn¡¯t be described.


    ¡°Doc-doctor?¡± Olivia was surprised, and pretended to be sweet. What¡¯s wrong with her?


    ¡°Why are you in the patient¡¯s room in the early hours like this?¡± Andre asked.


    ¡°I-I¡­¡± Olivia stuttered in response. Lara was puzzled by her. Where was her cruelty and shamelessness?


    ¡°She¡¯s just visiting me! What are you doing here?¡± Lara finally responded curtly because she was more unwilling to have her presence than that of Olivia.


    ¡°I-I¡­¡±


    This time, Andre stuttered. But apparently, he was trying to appear calm.


    Lara lowered her tone again and cleared her throat to break the awkwardness. She didn¡¯t want Olivia to suspect their rtionship, let alone dig into her past and season it for defamation against Seno.


    ¡°Do you two know each other?¡± Olivia asked curiously.


    Shit! Lara really slipped up!


    Andre and Lara flinched for a moment, with Olivia¡¯s suspicious gaze.


    It seemed that Andre also didn¡¯t want their painful past to leak and be known by uninvolved parties.


    ¡°No!¡± They both responded almost simultaneously.


    Andre and Lara looked at each other in a rather awkward state. They even stuttered because they didn¡¯t expect to say that answer at the same time.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Olivia finally sighed. Whatever she was thinking.


    As far as Lara knew, Olivia wasn¡¯t the type of girl who could track things down or investigate suspicious things like a detective. She was busy enough with her own agenda: bing rich in the blink of an eye.


    One thing she could do was seduce men with her body and looks. Like she did when she snatched Seno away from both of Lara¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Can you leave now? It¡¯ste at night. Patients need rest,¡± Andre requested, causing Olivia to furrow her brow.


    ¡°So, I¡¯m being kicked out?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Huh!¡± Olivia seemed to pout. With a stomp of her foot, she left just like that. After all, it waste enough, and she had to get up early to go to the office the next day.


    ***


    After Olivia left, Andre suddenly approached Lara. Shey down and pulled the nket, pretending to sleep. But apparently, the trick didn¡¯t work.


    ¡°Lara, can we talk?¡± Andre asked with a mncholic tone. She didn¡¯t want to talk to him. Should she just kick him out?


    ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡± She asked indifferently. She didn¡¯t seem to care too much about Andre¡¯s expression, which she couldn¡¯t see. She hid under the nket.


    ¡°Lara. I want to apologize for everything that happened in the past¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah? And what is that?¡±


    She tried to test Andre about his mistakes and his family¡¯s. Did he remember? She didn¡¯t even forget the slightest bit of those painful scenes. How could Andre shamelessly appear in front of her like this?


    ¡°Your mother¡­ was hit by our stolen car,¡± Andre replied with deep emphasis.


    ¡°You still deny it? Bastard!¡± Lara cursed uncontrobly.


    ¡°Lara! Please. Listen to me. The car was truly stolen! We no longer own it!¡± Andre raised his voice. The same reason as thest time they met, at the police station in Canada.


    ¡°How can I trust murderers like you? Hah!¡± She smiled cynically with a voice no less loud. She would never forgive Andre¡¯s family, even though he kept convincing her that the ident that killed Mother was not caused by any of their family members.


    Bastards! No thief confesses to being a thief, right? Their family¡¯s sins are too numerous. She couldn¡¯t even tolerate anything rted to that family anymore. Let alone the incident of Mother¡¯s ident. Even her father was stolen by their mother! Hah! How could she endure a family of mistresses like that?


    ¡°Go away. I¡¯m sick of seeing you. Don¡¯t look for me again. I¡¯m sick of it!¡±


    ¡°Lara¡­¡±


    Andre began to reach for her hand, she waved it away instantly.


    ¡°These are the proofs that our car was stolen. For years I¡¯ve been looking for you to show you evidence that our car was really stolen on the night of your mother¡¯s ident. And somehow, the car suddenly appeared on the side of the road, damaged and hitting someone¡­.¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Lara snapped, cutting off Andre¡¯s exnation.


    Her memory shed back to the time when her mother was hit by Andre¡¯s family car,ing home from work.


    The incident urred during their time living in Canada. Lara¡¯s family settled there, residing next door to the Andre family, who initially seemed kind and friendly. But as events unfolded, Lara realized that their friendliness masked a deadly truth.


    Her father was drawn to Andre¡¯s mother¡¯s charm-a widow-who appeared gentle and understanding. In contrast, Lara¡¯s mother was always ambitious and firm in everything she did.


    The exact details of the illicit rtionship remained murky to Lara. What she knew for certain was that her father began frequenting the Andre household, spending more and more time there.

 Part 13 # Fainted

    Lara cried again, the hatred and pain not easily vanquished. Slowly, her body began to feel weak. Even her eyes started to dim, and strangely, her head felt dizzy.


    She tried to hold onto the IV pole beside her as the fetal monitor cables still entwined her body. Since a while ago, the hatred and pain filling her being felt suffocating, leaving no peace at all for her. She grew weaker and more powerless.


    The peace she had just felt was iparable to the umtion of pain that had been buried for so long. She was once again gnawed by negative energy, sucking strongly, as if unwilling to let her go so easily.


    ¡°Ha¡­¡±


    Her breath began to weaken. ck spots started to blur her vision. Her head spun instantly, like a whirlpool sucking all thoughts and feelings.


    The pain pounding in her head grew more intense, creeping through the bones of her neck, then engulfing waves in her brain that increasingly gripped her consciousness.


    She tried her best to endure the pain, but its strength was so great, forcing her to surrender.


    Her once strong body now felt weak and fragile. The pulse in her neck now beat faster than usual, her breath became ragged. Cold sweat began to drip from her forehead and fingers.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    She could feel her heart pounding hard, making it difficult to breathe.


    All the sounds around her began to fade.


    ¡°Lara!¡±


    Even Andre¡¯s shouts in front of her were barely audible.


    Thud!


    She staggered, almost falling to the ground. But luckily, her body didn¡¯t seem to hit anything; someone had caught her.


    Though somewhat blurry, she could see that the person who caught her was Andre, who then hugged her tightly with a tense and half-shouting face.


    ¡°Nurse!¡±


    Andre¡¯s shout, though heard, couldn¡¯t fully awaken her. She was now in a subconscious state and no longer aware of what was happening.


    ***


    ¡°Lara! Lara!¡±


    Andre gently tapped the girl¡¯s face, trying to elicit a response, but to no avail. Lara didn¡¯t respond to his calls.


    Her weak body was now in Andre¡¯s embrace.


    ¡°Nurse! Nurse!¡± Andre shouted, calling for a nurse as heid Lara on the bed. Andre immediately checked her vital signs, nothing seemed to be of concern.


    He then checked her dted pupils, indicating she was indeed unconscious.


    Anxiety began to creep in. Andre became increasingly worried about Lara¡¯s condition.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°Doctor? What¡¯s happening?¡±


    A nurse promptly entered the hospital room after Andre called for assistance.


    ¡°Patient Lara fainted! Check her blood pressure!¡± ordered the doctor Andre while continuing to monitor her condition.


    The nurse immediately felt her pulse and measured her blood pressure. ¡°Her blood pressure is normal, doctor,¡± the nurse said, jotting down notes on her clipboard. ¡°But her pulse is weak and irregr.¡±


    Andre immediately began CPR-cardiopulmonary resuscitation-hoping Lara would soon breathe normally.


    He ced his palm on her chest and performed chestpressions at a rate of 100-120pressions per minute.


    He also opened her airway and gave rescue breaths every 30pressions. He continued CPR in hopes that Lara would regain consciousness.


    After a few minutes of CPR, Lara finally began to move her body and slowly opened her eyes.


    Though appearing weak and confused, she began to move her fingers and open her mouth, though without speaking.


    ¡°Lara? Lara?¡± Andre called out anxiously. The nurse on the doctor¡¯s left immediately calmed him down and provided oxygen mask so Lara could fully recover.


    Lara took deep breaths through the provided mask. A few momentster, her eyes widened again.


    She began to observe her surroundings and hear the voices in her room.


    She seemed more stable and fully conscious. Although unable to speak yet, she looked at Andre and the nurse in front of her with a grateful look for sessfully bringing her back to consciousness.


    Shortly after, her eyes closedpletely. She now slept soundly in the cradle of dreams.


    ***


    Andre and the nurse remained by Lara¡¯s side to monitor her condition.


    They ensured that her blood pressure, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels remained within normal limits.


    They also monitored any developments in her condition and took appropriate medical actions if necessary.


    Andre never stopped praying and hoping for her full recovery. He continued to provide support and encouragement to his patient, speaking calmly and gently beside her bed.


    Unnoticed, the dark night had turned into morning, and Andre still apanied her by her bedside.


    Her condition gradually improved. She began to speak and move more smoothly.


    When she opened her eyes, she was very surprised to see Andre sleeping beside her, holding her hand tightly.


    A haze of confusion mingled with a sense of security and protection as she saw his faithful presence guarding her during sleep.


    Feelings of anger and hatred mixed with strange emotions swept over her.


    She indeed felt relieved to have survived the traumatic event. However, it couldn¡¯t be denied that her body¡¯s response was also due to his presence rejected by her subconscious.


    She seemed to want to escape from the shackles of the past when he returned like a ghost. She wanted to leave and abandon all the bitter memories she had experienced.


    He should disappear from her sight immediately.


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re awake?¡± He opened his eyes after she forcibly pulled her hand away.


    He didn¡¯t actually intend to hold her hand; he just wanted to make sure her body temperature didn¡¯t suddenly drop.


    Unconsciously, he didn¡¯t let go of her hand and continued to hold her warm hand.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°You fainted,¡± he replied awkwardly, beginning to move away from her side. He didn¡¯t want her to faint again from pumping too much blood to her heart and brain. Her tendency to get angry made him worried about her health.


    However, she was not a girl who enjoyed getting angry. She tended to be cold and silent rather than expressing her emotions.


    Somehow, when with him, it was different. She couldn¡¯t contain her emotions. And he deserved to be scolded, because of the heartache she suffered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have other work, Doctor?¡± She retorted, now smiling sarcastically.


    He seemed to take a deep breath, as if choosing to surrender to the situation. He had to stop chasing her because there would be no results he hoped for from this conflict.


    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll leave. You¡­ make sure to control your emotions. You¡¯re very hot-headed!¡± He eximed, starting to feel impatient. He felt he had no hope other than to give up.


    The day had dawned, bird chirps apanying the sunlight streaming into her room.


    His disheveled face contrasted with the appearance that was so charming yesterday. He had only slept for a few hours after taking care of her. Somehow, he chose not to go home and stayed with her until she was fully conscious.


    He felt like a fool hoping for something he couldn¡¯t achieve. He would give up. But only for now.


    He began to rise from his chair, his steps faltering as he began to walk away from the girl who had once stayed and ruled his heart for almost twelve years.


    Perhaps, that saying was not true.


    Supposedly, time heals wounds.


    However, that didn¡¯t apply to the rtionship between them, which only worsened when they met.

 Part 14 # Suspicion

    ¡°What the hell?!¡±


    The baritone voice of a man startled Andre. Suddenly, he turned around and found Lara¡¯s husband standing in front of him.


    The man in a ck suit with a formal appearance surprised Andre. His slick ck hair shimmered under the overhead light.


    In contrast to Seno, Andre¡¯s appearance seemed disheveled.


    The doctor, who usually looked formal, now appeared unkempt and sleep-deprived. Seno wondered what business the doctor had in Lara¡¯s room. Moreover, the regr visiting schedule hadn¡¯t even started yet. This added to his suspicion.


    ¡°Be careful with Doctor Andre. I saw him with your wifest night,¡± Olivia¡¯s message warned him. Seno postponed his business trip out of town and decided to visit Lara first.


    His business schedule could be dyed, but his curiosity and suspicion needed confirmation first. If the man iming to be a doctor was flirting with Lara, Seno would surely make him regret it immensely.


    ¡°I-I,¡± Andre, still not fully awake and half sleepy, suddenly stammered. Not like himself.


    Seno¡¯s gaze still sharp towards him. Seeing the awkward doctor Andre, Seno became even more incredulous.


    ¡°What are you doing in my wife¡¯s room?¡± Seno shouted without lowering his voice.


    Andre startled and immediately regained consciousness. ¡°I was just checking on the patient, is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°Why do you look like this?¡± Seno scanned Andre¡¯s unkempt appearance.


    The doctor¡¯s hair looked messy, with some strands standing on their own. There was no trace ofbing. His eyes also looked gloomy. The dark circles under his eyes indicated ack of sleep in the past few days.


    Andre¡¯s skin also looked pale. His face, which usually looked radiant, now appeared disheveled and tired.


    Andre¡¯s attire was also not usual. Normally, the doctor always looked neat in a clean white coat and cored shirt. But now, his coat looked wrinkled and creased, with some stains here and there. The white shirt underneath looked worn and neglected.


    How could Seno not be suspicious? Meanwhile, Andre¡¯s voice also sounded hoarse, typical of someone who couldn¡¯t sleep properly.


    In his heart, the suspicion grew stronger that there was something wrong with the doctor. Especially since Olivia had warned him. Seno had to be careful with him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you bathe and dress neatly to check on patients, Doctor?¡± Seno questioned, still doubtful of the doctor¡¯s fabricated answers. He needed to make sure that the doctor wasn¡¯t cheating on his wife, or Seno would be very angry.


    ¡°Seno! What are you doing?¡± Lara¡¯s voice came from behind the door of her room. She could clearly hear every word Seno said and his groundless usations. Lara was offended by Seno¡¯s assumption that she had slept with the doctor who was supposed to take care of her.


    Lara opened the door to her room with a face full of disappointment. ¡°Why do you think so badly of me, Seno? What makes you suspicious?¡±


    Seno paused for a moment when he saw his wife¡¯s devastated face. He never meant to hurt Lara, but his suspicion was so great that he couldn¡¯t help but act.


    ¡°Lara, forgive me. I just wanted to protect you. I didn¡¯t want you to get hurt,¡± Seno said softly.


    Lara-struggling to get up and walk out of her room-looked displeased with Seno¡¯s behavior. After what she had done, how could he use her of cheating behind his back?


    ¡°I¡¯m not as dirty as you think, Seno! I never intended to cheat on you behind your back!¡±


    ¡°Lara!¡± Seno shouted, as Andre¡¯s eyes widened upon hearing Lara¡¯s confession.


    Was his suspicion true that Lara had been living in an unhealthy marriage with her husband?


    ¡°Get in!¡± Senomanded, forcefully pulling Lara to follow him into the room.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Andre interrupted them and separated Lara¡¯s arm, which was being pulled by her husband. ¡°Violence is not allowed, Sir! Besides, your wife is our patient!¡± Andre firmly blocked Seno¡¯s ess to touch Lara.


    At the moment, Lara was scared behind Andre¡¯s broad back. Andre could feel Lara¡¯s warm breath on his coat.


    Seno felt guilty and regretted his actions. He realized that he had crossed the line and hurt Lara even more.


    Seno couldn¡¯t let another man be Lara¡¯s guardian angel and avoid him. He only intended to exin his suspicion to Lara, but Lara used him of the affair scandal.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Yet, Seno only had sex with Olivia a few times. Most of it was when he was drunk. Seno didn¡¯t really love Olivia.


    ¡°Lara, forgive me,¡± Seno said softly, pushing the doctor¡¯s body aside. But Lara seemed to hold onto the doctor¡¯s coat tightly, unwilling to let go.


    ¡°Go!¡± Lara yelled hoarsely. ¡°Enough. I want to rest.¡±


    ¡°Lara¡­¡±


    Both Seno and Andre looked helpless with Lara¡¯s stubbornness. She was like a thorny rose that kept anyone from approaching her. But now? Why did Lara choose to take shelter behind Andre instead of her husband?


    For a moment, Andre felt very happy. He didn¡¯t expect this moment toe, although he knew that Lara was just reflexively using it as a human shield so that her husband would also leave her.


    As she had always done to him.


    ¡°Sorry, Sir. The patient needs to rest,¡± said one of the female doctors who suddenly came from behind.


    Since earlier, she had been observing the argument that was taking ce. Andre¡¯s known figure made her get involved in the three-person dispute.


    She had to do it before the hospital security guards came and expelled one of them.


    ¡°Miriam?¡±


    ¡°Good morning, Doctor Andre.¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Seno asked.


    Lara also seemed to be looking at the face of the beautiful doctor, with her graceful figure and authoritative facial features. Her ck hair flowed beautifully, emphasized by light makeup that gave a bright impression. Who was that new doctor assigned to take care of her?


    ¡°I am Doctor Miriam Ayunda Rajapatni. I will be examining Patient Lara this morning. Doctor Andre, please return to your station. Thank you for covering for me in taking care of the patient who fainted yesterday,¡± said the doctor with a melodious voice that was pleasant to hear.


    ¡°W-what? My wife fainted?¡± Seno widened his eyes, feeling very shocked by the news he just heard. No one contacted him, Seno felt like he didn¡¯t know anything.


    ¡°Yes, Sir. So, please take care of this pregnant woman¡¯s mental health so she doesn¡¯t faint again. Come on, Ma¡¯am, I will examine you.¡±


    Lara nodded and followed the doctor who walked in front of her. Her steps were graceful and orderly, like a model walking on a catwalk. Lara was quite impressed by her elegance, although she didn¡¯t know who the new doctor was assigned to care for her.


    Andre sighed deeply and left the hospital room. He also seemed to no longer care about Seno¡¯s assumptions or usations. Andre didn¡¯t have to exin anything anymore.


    Unlike Andre, Seno seemed lost in thought. For a moment, he stood still and stared nkly at Lara¡¯s retreating figure.


    Lara-usually gentle and caring towards him-now seemed very cold and unfamiliar to Seno. The drastic change, could it be because of the adultery incident? Or¡­ was Lara also ying with other men behind Seno¡¯s back?


    ¡°Tsk!¡±


    Seno¡¯s ns could be ruined if Lara slipped from his grasp. Seno couldn¡¯t let that happen.


    ¡°Lara! Wait!¡±

 Part 15 # Andre’s Fiancee

    Lara didn¡¯t even nce back; instead, she hastened her steps.


    ¡°Sorry, could you wait outside?¡± Dr. Miriam said with a smile. If it had been Dr. Andre making that statement, Seno wouldn¡¯t haveplied. But Dr. Miriam was different. She had an elegant dominant aura, capable of hypnotizing men with her voice unconsciously.


    ¡°But, Doc¡­¡±


    ¡°To ensure the patient¡¯sfort, Sir,¡± the doctor continued, escorting Seno out of the treatment room.


    Seno swallowed his pride, not wanting to argue further or distance himself more from Lara. Heplied reluctantly. The sound of Seno¡¯s footsteps faded away, leaving him outside Lara¡¯s room.


    Dr. Miriam returned to Lara¡¯s bedside, once again throwing a smile, and carefully examined her condition morefortably.


    ¡°Next time, please inform the nurse if you want to remove these monitor cables. We have trouble identifying the graphs, okay?¡± Dr. Miriam said with furrowed brows. Lara often unplugged those cables without the nurses¡¯ knowledge, wandering around. This disrupted the monitor¡¯s tracking, making it unable to urately measure the baby¡¯s health.


    ¡°Okay, Doctor,¡± Lara said, looking ashamed. She wasn¡¯tfortable with the cables wrapping around her body, but the doctor¡¯s words made sense.


    It was crucial for the nurses to know the graph sequence on the monitor, and the cables connected to Lara¡¯s abdomen should not be unplugged without notification. They needed to remain properly connected to monitor Lara and her baby¡¯s condition. If the cables were frequently unplugged without notice, the monitor¡¯s tracking graph wouldn¡¯t provide urate information, leading to difficulties in evaluating the baby¡¯s health.


    By informing the nurse, they could adjust the graph pattern and ensure the monitor functioned properly. The fetal heartbeat data collected would also remain urate as it was gathered in the right rhythm.


    Lara knew this because she had been hospitalized during a miscarriage at four months pregnant. Her condition was indeed delicate, but for some reason, she couldn¡¯t control her emotions and actions. If Lara wasn¡¯t brought to the hospital quickly, she would undoubtedly suffer from losing her baby.


    ¡°How are you feeling today?¡± Dr. Miriam asked after checking Lara¡¯s body temperature, blood pressure, and everything else that needed monitoring for the day. No specific conditions were found to be endangering, and everything seemed normal.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I feel better. When can I go home?¡± Lara seemed impatient to be back in her own home. She wanted to see Bi Yani, her personal servant, and sleep in her own bed without encountering Andre again.


    Lara had made the decision to cut ties with her painful past, including meeting Andre. That much was certain.


    ¡°I¡¯ll monitor your progress for the next 48 hours. If there are no serious issues, you¡¯ll be allowed to go home.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Doctor,¡± Lara said gratefully. Finally, she could go home soon. Lara felt relieved.


    Dr. Miriam smiled before returning to her office. Suddenly, she asked about Lara¡¯s personal matters, just small talk.


    ¡°Been married long, Ma¡¯am?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yeah, quite a while now, almost a year, Doctor,¡± Lara replied firmly. She didn¡¯t seem to hide anything, as she was a straightforward woman. It would be different if the doctor asked about her rtionship with Andre; Lara would be confused. However, that too became a sudden topic of conversation.


    ¡°Do you know Dr. Andre?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes?¡± Lara was a bit nervous when Dr. Miriam asked about Dr. Andre. She paused for a moment before choosing her words carefully.


    ¡°I do, Doctor. He¡¯s the doctor who operated on me yesterday,¡± Lara said, biting her lower lip. It seemed Lara was a bit confused in answering that question. But what was Dr. Miriam¡¯s intention in asking?


    Dr. Miriam¡¯s previously friendly expression tensed. Veins appeared bluish between her snow-white cheeks.


    ¡°Dr. Miriam, is there something you need to say?¡± Lara asked, noticing the tense expression on the doctor¡¯s face.


    Dr. Miriam paused for a moment, trying to act normal. She didn¡¯t realize she had been unprofessional.


    Dr. Miriam yed with the beautiful gold ring on her left ring finger, indicating she had a significant other, and perhaps they would marry soon. However, Dr. Miriam didn¡¯t pursue the question-more like an interrogation-although her heart screamed to know more about Lara.


    ¡°Doctor ¡­.¡±


    A nurse nced at Dr. Miriam with a hesitant look, knowing that Dr. Miriam had the right to satisfy her curiosity. But this wasn¡¯t the right moment.


    ¡°Ah, never mind. I apologize for being intrusive. I¡¯ll take my leave, ma¡¯am,¡± the doctor said before quickly leaving Lara¡¯s room, followed by two other nurses and an assistant who had finished recording all the patient¡¯s information.


    Lara was surprised by the doctor¡¯s response, but she chose not to dwell on things outside her control, especially in her currentplicated situation.


    Shortly after, Seno entered Lara¡¯s room. With a troubled expression, he looked disheveled and not in a good mood. Closing the door slowly, he avoided startling his wife, whoy with her back to the door.


    ¡°Lara ¡­.¡± he called, but Lara didn¡¯t turn. She remained motionless, like a stone statue on the bed. Seno approached and gently pulled Lara¡¯s arm to make her look at him.


    ¡°Darling, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Seno said softly, his face full of remorse. He had sacrificed his valuable time for his wife, hoping for her forgiveness.


    ¡°Sorry for what?¡± Lara asked rhetorically. She would never forget all the wrongs Seno had done behind her back. She stared into Seno¡¯s eyes, noticing the tremble, questioning his sincerity.


    Seno¡¯s voice choked. ustomed to arrogance, he now knelt for Lara¡¯s forgiveness, squeezing her hand to convey his efforts, but she pulled away, expressing her pain.


    As Seno reached for her hand again, Lara felt torn. His words tugged at her emotions, but she remembered his past actions.


    ¡°I realize I¡¯ve been very bad to you, and I know you must be very hurt. But please, forgive me, for the sake of our child,¡± Seno continued, pleading for forgiveness.


    Despite her pain, Lara saw a hint of sincerity in Seno¡¯s eyes this time. But thoughts of Olivia, cunning and threatening, lingered, raising doubts.


    ¡°Do you promise to repent and not see that woman again?¡± Lara asked hoarsely.


    Seno nodded, vowing to avoid Olivia, except for work-rted matters. Lara¡¯s anger red at the thought of Olivia¡¯s presence in Seno¡¯spany, but Seno exined the legal constraints.


    Struggling to trust his change, Lara observed Seno closely. Her heart ached, but she found a glimmer of hope, granting him onest chance, albeit with a warning.


    Seno epted the weight of responsibility, determined to prove his transformation. With a secret agenda in mind, he vowed to work hard, hoping Lara would trust him once more.


    In Dr. Andre¡¯s office, Dr. Miriam¡¯s face betrayed worry as she mentioned Lara Selene, perhaps Seno¡¯s first love, stirring questions and concerns.


    ¡°So, her? Lara Selene? Your first love, huh?¡±

 Part 16 # Hot Bed

    The tense atmosphere in the quiet room suddenly became tense, with Miriam¡¯s sarcastic remarks. Andre, who had been dozing off, now widened his eyes and stared intently at Miriam. The shoulder-length haired woman only pursed her lips in annoyance, or perhaps¡­ jealousy?


    ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Andre repliedzily. He didn¡¯t feel the need to exin everything, especially to his unrecognized fiancee.


    ¡°I-I¡­¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°Enough, get back to work, doctor. We need to separate professional and personal matters. This is not the right time to discuss it,¡± Andre retorted coldly, turning his back on Miriam, who was still staring at him intently.


    Andre¡¯s chest thundered when Miriam brought up Lara. He had even been kicked out, and now? The topic about that girl seemed forcibly dug out of curiosity by Miriam, who knew nothing.


    ¡°I¡¯m your fiancee, Andre! I should know about your past,¡± Miriam said softly. She seemed unable to grasp Andre¡¯s love, even a little. Andre never opened his heart to her.


    ¡°Fiancee? Are you now bringing up that fake status? You¡¯re a FORCED FIANCEE from your family to tie me down, right?¡± Andre red. This time, he even rose from his chair.


    With his breath growing faster, Andre drove Miriam out of his room. ¡°Go!¡±


    ¡°Forced? You¡¯re the one who has no choice, right? You need investors and we need a groom, isn¡¯t it mutually beneficial?¡±


    ¡°Shut up! And I¡¯m sick of how you treat people like trash!¡±


    ¡°Andre!¡±


    SLAP!


    A pnded on Andre¡¯s face, with tears streaming from Miriam, who had done such a rough thing.


    ¡°At least, I love you,¡± she concluded before leaving Andre, who was seething with anger.


    ¡°You have to be able to differentiate between love and obsession, Miriam. You have to!¡± Andre shouted, then mmed the door to his room after Miriam left.


    Some passing nurses seemed powerless and pretended not to hear anything. The feud between the two tigers often happened.


    Dr. Miriam was the daughter of the president director of this hospital, while Dr. Andre was the fiance-who used to be the owner of this hospital before it was acquired by Dr. Miriam¡¯s family.


    This ownership and leadership battle had been going on for a long time with the solution to merge the two owners under one g: marriage.


    That was how this nearly bankrupt hospital returned to glory thanks to the injection of funds from the M group, a major yer in the healthcare business.


    Of course, initially, Andre opposed the idea, but seeing his grandmother and sister in despair, he reluctantly gave up his freedom.


    However, Andre was the only man in the Ramsey family. After his father¡¯s death, Andre had to be the head of the family. Moreover, his mother ran away with Lara¡¯s father and left a pile of unfinished work. Andre truly had no choice.


    ¡°Ah¡­ Miriam¡­ If you only knew how to love without having to possess,¡± Andre murmured, staring nkly at the ceiling of his room.


    The white light from the hangingmp dazzled his eyes. But Andre didn¡¯t seem to be bothered at all. He began to recall his encounters with Miriam, seven years ago.


    Miriam-that girl-was quite aggressive and always wanted to get closer to Andre, after identally meeting at a nightclub in Jakarta. She even changed her college major fromw to medicine without any difficulty, of course because of her brain¡¯s sophistication and also the unlimited financial support from her father.


    Miriam finally got to study in the same department, and became a doctor in the same year as Andre.


    Her perseverance paid off when she identally heard news that Andre¡¯s family was heavily in debt. Who would have thought? The hospital where they interned belonged to Andre¡¯s family.


    Without much consideration, Miriam offered to help, and this was of course approved by her father.


    Initially, Miriam wanted to approach Andre slowly, but family pressure forced her to be a little forceful. The engagement eventually became one of the conditions for the hospital¡¯s acquisition, with the bonus that Andre could still have some shares.


    Feeling like he had no choice, Andre agreed, although his brother and grandmother initially rejected the unreasonable condition. However, they wanted Andre to choose his own path in life, but of course, he had to be someone who sacrificed for the family.


    Thinking about it, Andre sighed deeply. He remembered the memories with Lara, along with a hint of love that once visited his heart.


    Andre loved Lara in the context of his soulmate. He didn¡¯t even intend to pursue the love of a woman who already had a husband. However, if Lara wanted a divorce and chose him, Andre would not waste that opportunity.


    ¡°If only¡­,¡± Andreughed at himself sinking into hallucinations. Andre had to suppress the turmoil in his chest when thinking about his love story. No one could refuse fate. No one could engineer the decree of the Almighty.


    ¡°I just hope Lara is happy.¡±


    Meanwhile, in Lara¡¯s room, the awkwardness between her and her husband had eased a bit. Lara didn¡¯t even refuse when Seno fed her.


    ¡°Tasty?¡± Seno asked with concern.


    Lara nodded with a faint smile. Although her mood had improved slightly, she still couldn¡¯t express too much happiness with her husband. Lara needed time to recover.


    ¡°Stay healthy, Papa¡¯s baby,¡± Seno said, caressing Lara¡¯s abdomen, which was still connected by heart rate monitor cables to the baby.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to go somewhere?¡± Lara asked curiously. If she remembered correctly, Seno had told her yesterday that there would be an important agenda he had to attend to today. Somehow, Seno was still by Lara¡¯s side until this evening.


    ¡°Oh, that¡­ the meeting was postponed,¡± Seno said with a smile. He couldn¡¯t disclose the details of the acquisition process delegated to Olivia with the assistance of theirwyer.


    Only by doing so could Seno prevent his mistress from bothering him. Seno had to y his role well.


    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Lara fell silent, not knowing what else to talk about. Lara didn¡¯t really like to talk, unlike Seno, who preferred to talk.


    ¡°When we get home from here, where do you want to go, my wife?¡±


    ¡°Um, I don¡¯t know. I haven¡¯t thought about it.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, is that so? How about we stay at a resort in Bogor? There¡¯s a new resort that¡¯s suitable for pregnant women,¡± Seno¡¯s face lit up when he proposed his offer.


    For a moment, Lara seemed enchanted by the warmth and extraordinary expression of Seno. Lara even always had difficulty expressing her feelings. She often learned and observed Seno¡¯s actions, although of course she couldn¡¯t be as cheerful as her husband.


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll look forward to it,¡± Lara replied with a beautiful smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful, Honey. Keep smiling, you¡¯re so charming.¡±


    Seno leaned forward until his nose touched Lara¡¯s. Their breaths exchanged in harmony. A momentter, Seno nted his kiss on his wife¡¯s lips.


    The kiss was so gentle and intense. Seno¡¯s tongue y sessfully seduced Lara to sink into the pleasure of her husband¡¯s passion, which she had recently rejected.


    Had Lara¡¯s heart finally been melted by her husband¡¯s persuasion?


    ¡°Mmm¡­,¡± Lara moaned unconsciously, heightening Seno¡¯s excitement. Lara¡¯s slender neck became the next target of pleasure, with red marks as witnesses to the satisfaction of this unleashed passion.


    Seno¡¯s hands began to roam under Lara¡¯s gown, letting some blouse buttonse loose irreversibly.


    ¡°Ah¡­,¡± Seno groaned as he began to feel the peak of pleasure within him.


    ¡°Darling¡­,¡± Seno called out, trying to fulfill their love¡¯s passion.


    Lara nodded, indicating that he could do what he was supposed to.


    Seno seemed to check the situation, and after feeling safe, he undressed Lara and wanted to satisfy his desires with his wife, even though she was currently a patient who should be resting.


    Lara had no choice. She felt the same and wanted to satisfy this burning desire with herwful husband.


    Lara closed her eyes, trying to enjoy every sensation of pleasure created by her husband.


    ¡°Ah¡­,¡± Lara groaned with passion, and Seno did the same. The bed¡¯s creaking further heated up their activities. Seno knew they mustn¡¯t make suspicious noises. If not, the nurses woulde, and they could be sued for indecent behavior for having a husband-wife rtionship in a public ce like this.


    ¡°Ssh¡­,¡± Seno pressed his finger to Lara¡¯s lips, while his lower part continued to pump with unmatched pleasure. After a while, they finallypleted their hot scene and copsed weakly on their respective sides.


    ¡°I love you, Honey,¡± Seno said, caressing Lara¡¯s sweaty face.


    Lara still had to stabilize her breath, which was panting from her husband¡¯s virility attack. A smile bloomed on her lips. She also felt satisfied and even more affectionate towards her husband, who had promised to return faithfully without cheating behind her back.


    ¡°I love you too, my husband.¡±


    But who could guarantee that Seno would change so quickly?

 Part 17 # Three Wounded Hearts

    Lara never imagined that Seno-her supposedly changed husband-was ying with fire behind her back. She remained in the hospital as Seno bid farewell to return to work.


    Watching Seno leave, Lara smiled, reminiscing about the hot afternoon they had spent together.


    She patiently awaited the day she could return home, pending the final observation from the doctor.


    ***


    ¡°Good morning, Ma¡¯am. How are you feeling?¡± Dr. Miriam asked during the morning check-up. Apanied by an assistant and two nurses, they entered Lara¡¯s room promptly at 9 a. m.


    Lara smiled brightly. She felt multiple times better than before-no pain, overall, she felt healthy.


    ¡°I¡¯m feeling fine, Doctor,¡± Lara replied quickly.


    The morning sun streamed in, casting a warm glow through the window beside her. Lara squinted momentarily before a nurse intervened, drawing the curtains to restorefort with the air conditioner.


    ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that. Let¡¯s check your condition once again before you¡¯re allowed to go home,¡± Dr. Miriam began examining Lara¡¯s vital signs with the help of her assistant.


    Lara allowed Dr. Miriam to examine her. A nurse appeared to record the results of the examination-pulse rate, blood pressure, and so on. After the examination waspleted, Dr. Miriam nodded satisfactorily.


    ¡°You¡¯re in good condition now, Ma¡¯am. Your body has recovered well. But I¡¯d like to give you some advice to ensure your recovery goes smoothly.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Doctor,¡± Lara listened attentively as Dr. Miriam provided guidance on a healthy diet, light exercise, and other recovery routines.


    However, Lara also noticed that Dr. Miriam seemed different. There was a strange feeling that swept over her-she was sensitive to such nuances.


    ¡°Thank you, Doctor. I¡¯ll follow all your advice carefully,¡± Lara said sincerely. ¡°Um, doctor, are you okay?¡± she askedter. Dr. Miriam, who usually seemed friendly, now smiled stiffly at her. Lara wondered what was wrong with the doctor¡¯s demeanor.


    ¡°Uh, no. I¡¯m fine. Is there anything you¡¯re worried about?¡±


    ¡°Oh, no. Doctor, you seem a little tense. Alright then,¡± Lara smiled while looking into the doctor¡¯s eyes, which seemed to turn away.


    There was a hint of anxiety visible between her gaze. However, Lara decided to stop asking because Dr. Miriam didn¡¯t seem to want to discuss it with her.


    ¡°Alright, then see you again. You can go home this evening,¡± said the doctor, who then quickened her pace, as if she wanted to leave Lara¡¯s room immediately.


    Why was that? Lara didn¡¯t understand.


    ***


    Later that afternoon, Lara was getting ready to go home. She felt relieved and grateful to be able to return to her own home.


    She called Seno to pick her up and prepare for her return this afternoon. There were some administrative matters to take care of and payments to be made.


    However, no matter how many times she called her husband, Seno¡¯s phone seemed to have a poor connection. The phone just kept ringing. Was Seno really that busy?


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Lara was confused. She couldn¡¯t reach her husband. An unreasonable worry emerged. She had to find out the reason behind this unsettling feeling.


    ¡°Huh¡­¡±


    She decided to go for a walk. Thankfully, this time, she was no longer tangled up in cables or IV tubes hanging. Her condition had fully recovered; she just wanted to walk around for a bit to relieve fatigue.


    The hospital corridor looked deserted. In thete afternoon like this, there should have been many people passing by.


    The hospital felt empty and quiet, very different from the noise and bustle of activities in the morning and afternoon.


    At this moment, she could only hear the sound of light footsteps and whispers from the nurses on duty. Some rooms appeared empty without upants, and there were only a few families sitting in the waiting room with tired and worried faces.


    She continued to walk slowly through each corridor connecting the buildings of the hospitalplex. She felt empty because no one apanied her. Her only attendant, wherever she was, Lara would find out her whereabouts after returning home from the hospital.


    Although Seno had said that the attendant was just resting, Lara felt something was amiss in Seno¡¯s words. She would find out the truth when she was at home. Whether Seno¡¯s words were true or he was just evading. She wouldn¡¯t forgive him if Seno indeed fired the attendant.


    ¡°Ah, what¡¯s this?¡±


    She sighed softly as she passed by the empty operating room. She couldn¡¯t imagine how many medical procedures had been performed there, maybe even small surgeries ensuring someone¡¯s recovery.


    For a moment, she could still feel the pain in her body after undergoing the surgical procedure. It sent shivers down her spine. She was actually afraid of needles and anything rted to medical equipment, but as a mother, she was willing to undergo various medical procedures for her safety and that of the fetus.


    In every corner of the roomplex, she could see treatment rooms that had spent various stories and family happiness that had passed.


    She continued walking to the hospital courtyard surrounded by several beautiful small gardens. She could begin to smell the scent of flowers and feel the refreshing evening air soothing her soul.


    There were several benches against the wall and climbing nts adorning the fence. She sat on one of the benches and felt a sense of relief and tranquility that she had never felt before.


    While enjoying the beauty of the sunset and the hustle and bustle in the distance, she promised herself that she would take care of herself and not let anyone take away her peace, whoever they were.


    But before she could make up her mind, she heard a very familiar voice.


    ¡°Lara¡­,¡± the Man called out.


    She turned, her jaw instantly tensing as she saw Andre trying to approach her, fully dressed as a doctor on duty.


    ¡°What else, Doctor? Do you have any business with me?¡± she snapped. She didn¡¯t like Andre¡¯s presence. She couldn¡¯t deny that she had sought protection from Andre when Seno wanted to be violent with her earlier, but it was truly unintentional.


    She couldn¡¯t recall any fond memories, except for the painful memories of losing her mother.


    ¡°Lara, I just want to know how you¡¯re doing. How are you feeling?¡± Andre, who was now standing in front of her, asked.


    The scent of musk began to waft in the air, mixing with the natural aroma of the flowers. The warm glow of the sunset, emitting a beautiful silhouette along with the handsome figure in front of her.


    She admitted Andre was handsome.


    If only there were no cruel fate entangling the two of them, perhaps, Andre and she could have been happily together and be a perfectly matched couple.


    Ah, what was she saying?


    One thing was for sure, she would never approach Andre, even if she became a widow. Andre, that man, was very dangerous.


    ¡°I¡¯m packing my things. I¡¯m going home today,¡± she replied.


    She intentionally didn¡¯t answer Andre¡¯s earlier question and only informed him of her departure.


    Andre sighed deeply. His eyes emitted an indescribable sadness.


    Finally, Andre decided to leave her because that¡¯s what she really wanted.


    Andre knew that no matter how long, he would never be forgiven.


    She stared at Andre¡¯s retreating back. She felt satisfied to have sessfully driven Andre away after several failures. Lara wondered what was on Andre¡¯s mind, why he always wanted to approach her. Lara was truly disgusted! Unbeknownst to her, in that awkward parting moment, there were a pair of eyes staring intently in their direction.


    Lara could suddenly feel her hair standing on end.


    ¡°Ah, what¡¯s going on here?¡±


    ***N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    In front of her, two figures she knew very well were having a meeting or a farewell? Who knows.


    Miriam. The beautiful doctor looked like she was wringing the edge of her coat with an incredibly deep sadness.


    Miriam could feel how desperate Andre was in reaching for that forbidden love.


    Why hadn¡¯t he let go of Lara¡¯s position for her? Even though that woman was already married.


    Lara. That woman. How could she be the only woman who was always in Andre¡¯s heart? Even his entire family knew it.


    ¡°Andre¡­ what¡¯s missing from me?¡± Miriam murmured painfully. Tears immediately wet her fair face. Miriam cried silently, amidst the beauty of the sunset stretched out right in front of her.


    Miriam¡¯s question was, of course, a question left hanging without an answer.


    Who could answer it?

 Part 18 # Empty Threat

    The sky was getting darker, yet Seno was nowhere to be seen to pick Lara up. How could he evene? Even her calls were rejected by his voicemail, inviting her to leave a message.


    She didn¡¯t know who else to contact.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    Lara sighed deeply. She was truly confused.


    The orange hues added to the anxiety in her chest. She didn¡¯t know what to do. She gazed nkly at the fountain in the garden. For a moment, she suddenly remembered her mother.


    Back when she was a child, Lara was also in a dilemma like this. After school, her mother never came to pick her up.


    She kept calling her, but she couldn¡¯t be reached. Fortunately, Lara still had her father-before he ran away with another woman.


    She then called her father, and that brave man promptly picked her up. Who else could be relied upon in tough times like that, if not your parents? She felt very fortunate at that time.


    Her school-when she was still in elementary school in Canada-was located in the city center, quite far from home. She attended the school of her mother¡¯s choice, who wanted her child to mingle with more children from diverse backgrounds.


    She was known to be very quiet. Her mother just wanted to help her be more sociable and have many friends from various backgrounds, especially friends from Indonesia.


    At that school, Lara indeed had many friends from various backgrounds, as her mother hoped.


    Unfortunately, only ssmates. She wasn¡¯t interested in making them her friends. She preferred being alone. She found it difficult to socialize.


    That¡¯s why she often went to the library. Besides catching up on lessons for the uing weeks, she also deliberately went there to avoid her friends. They were very noisy.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Who would have thought? Lara met Andre and his sister for the first time there. It turned out they were neighbors.


    For a child who didn¡¯t like to leave the house like her, being neighbors didn¡¯t make her and her friend be close. She felt ufortable always having to be nice to everyone.


    Contrary to her thoughts, Andre and his sister were very polite. They also didn¡¯t want to know about other people¡¯s business.


    Gradually, Andre, Lara, and his sister became close friends. They often yed together. Of course, before the terrible incident that tore apart the family¡¯s unity happened.


    Lara regretted that.


    It was very difficult to find someone like Andre and his sister, who were polite, handsome, and kind-hearted. But, for some reason, all of that turned out to be mere pretense.


    This time, Lara really didn¡¯t want to form friendships with anyone, after her heart was shattered by the betrayal of those closest to her.


    She finally gave up waiting for Seno. She decided to go back to the room.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    Again, she could only sigh deeply. Her thoughts were tangled. Her heart was in turmoil. She really wanted to go home. However, her husband still didn¡¯t pick up her calls. She was truly desperate.


    ¡°Darling, how do you feel?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m feeling better.¡±


    Gradually, Lara heard the voice of a married couple who seemed to have been married for a very long time.


    They looked old and wrinkled. The skin¡¯s sticity seemed to have been consumed by age. However, their eyes were very tender and symbolized a love that seemed never to be worn out by time.


    The elderly couple in front of her now looked romantic. Even, she reconsidered returning to her room immediately when she heard their sweet voices.


    The pair had just arrived at the hospital garden. They also seemed to be enjoying the sunset like her.


    The warm atmosphere from the orange hues of the sun, illuminated the two people who were falling in love beautifully.


    In her little heart, she felt jealous for a moment. If, when she¡¯s old, will Seno be like that to her?


    She really looked forward to something that shouldn¡¯t have been. Let alone being old. At her age, which hasn¡¯t even reached 30 years old yet, Seno has cheated on her.


    How could she pursue his loyalty when they are both old? She might be content with an unbroken marriage status, for the sake of their child. Moreover, Seno has promised to change his ways. She hoped Seno would keep his promise.


    ¡°Beautiful, aren¡¯t they?¡± said a woman¡¯s voice that suddenly surprised her.


    She reflexively turned to the source of the sound and was surprised by the presence of Doctor Miriam who was already beside her.


    ¡°Doctor,¡± Lara greeted with a smile. She didn¡¯t expect to meet Doctor Miriam in the garden like this.


    ¡°Hello, Mrs. Lara,¡± Doctor Miriam responded kindly. There was a dimple that suddenly appeared between her cheeks, although faintly. Lara just noticed the dimple that looked beautiful this evening, she hadn¡¯t paid attention to the doctor¡¯s face in such detail before.


    ¡°Do you know them, Doctor?¡± Lara asked curiously. Doctor Miriam seemed very familiar with the elderly couple who warmed their hearts.


    ¡°Yes. They are one of my patients. It¡¯s beautiful to see them like that¡­¡±


    The doctor seemed to be daydreaming while deciding whether to continue her story or not.


    But, of course, she had to continue. Lara was too curious to know many things. Doctor Miriam managed to pique her curiosity. She wanted to know more about the story behind the very harmonious couple.


    ¡°Tell me. What¡¯s their love story, Doctor?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ actually, the wife has just recovered from surgery due to ingesting insecticide,¡± said the doctor, trying to force a smile so that her story wouldn¡¯t be too frightening for her.


    Lara wasn¡¯t scared at all. Just¡­


    ¡°W-what? How is that possible?¡± She widened her eyes, as if not believing her words. But Doctor Miriam didn¡¯t seem to be joking.


    Doctor Miriam took a deep breath before continuing the story of the couple.


    ¡°Her husband was caught cheating on their 49th wedding anniversary. The wife was very shocked. Even though she didn¡¯t see it with her own eyes, the wife couldn¡¯t hold back. She drank insecticide and almost died.¡±


    ¡°Oh my!¡± Lara covered her mouth with both hands. She didn¡¯t expect such a tragic incident before the beautiful panorama in front of them was created.


    ¡°An-and then?¡±


    ¡°Well, her husband rushed her to the hospital. After a long operation, she finally regained consciousness. The husband was truly remorseful, and he promised not to do it again behind his wife¡¯s back,¡± continued Doctor Miriam with a deep look.


    Lara was actually imagining a simr situation that she experienced herself. It¡¯s tragic indeed, knowing that your husband is not faithful. She had experienced it.


    Unconsciously, she shed tears. Doctor Miriam seemed surprised, but she immediately wiped them away and forced a smile so she wouldn¡¯t worry.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just painful, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°True. I also can¡¯t imagine if that happened to me. My fiance also has someone he loves very much, and unfortunately, it¡¯s not me.¡±


    ¡°Really? How is that possible?¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s how it is. He¡¯s trapped in the past. I also want to know, what kind of girl has captivated his heart for so long.¡±


    ¡°Have you found out?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m¡­ investigating,¡± Doctor Miriam said softly. Lara even had trouble hearing her words.


    ¡°Um¡­ just show your sincere love. Don¡¯t be influenced by unclear rivals, Doctor,¡± Lara gave her encouragement.


    She could see Doctor Miriam¡¯s face turning slightly red.


    ¡°Thank you for your support,¡± she said politely.


    Doctor Miriam was very beautiful and sincere. Her fiance would be foolish if he wasted such a good woman.


    ¡°I-I,¡± Doctor Miriam seemed to want to speak again.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Um. I¡­ actually¡­¡±


    Before the doctor could finish her sentence, the shrill voice of someone disturbed their tranquility.


    ¡°Lara! Where have you been! Mom has been looking for you everywhere, and here you are hiding!¡±


    Lara was astonished and didn¡¯t expect her mother-inw toe to this hospital.


    ¡°Mom?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Come here! Quickly! You said you wanted to go home?¡±


    Lara nodded and quickly said goodbye to Doctor Miriam next to her.


    ¡°Doctor, sorry, I have to go. Let¡¯s talk again sometime. See you,¡± she said politely and then hurried to her mother-inw.


    She was afraid she would be furious if she didn¡¯t get there soon.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Doctor Miriam replied somewhat stiffly.


    Lara could hear her coughing, as if trying to expel something that was haunting her. Was that true? What¡¯s wrong with that doctor?


    But, she didn¡¯t have much time. She had to hurry to her mother-inw. She¡¯s a transformed demon. Just a little misunderstanding, and her peaceful days would be ruined by endless scolding.


    ¡°Ugh! Why are you like this! Always getting sick! Like a cat!¡±

 Part 19 # The Newly Rich

    Lara stared in disbelief at her mother-inw¡¯s words. She¡¯s always been like this, but Lara dislikes arguing with her. Their quarrels will benefit no one. She has to be patient, for the sake of the baby in her womb.


    ¡°Once you know you¡¯re pregnant, take care of yourself. Don¡¯t be reckless! Oh God! How can you just cause trouble for others?¡± her mother-inw continued to scold without even looking at her. She only nced briefly, then resumed tidying up her makeup with the littlepact powder she always carried everywhere.


    Currently, they were in the car heading home. Lara¡¯s home, perhaps? Or her mother-inw¡¯s house? She hadn¡¯t asked yet.


    ¡°Ma, whose house are we going to?¡± Lara asked, curious.


    ¡°Oh Good Lord! When I asked you before, you say nothing! Yet, once you speak, you question everything!¡±


    Lara fell silent. It¡¯s really difficult to talk to her mother-inw. She feels conflicted.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to the main house. Is there anyone taking care of you at your house? There aren¡¯t even any servants, your husband is always on duty.¡±


    ¡°But, Ma-¡±


    ¡°Enough! Don¡¯t be stubborn! If it weren¡¯t for Grandma asking me, I wouldn¡¯t even bother picking you up! Mama¡¯s busy, you know?¡±


    Lara pursed her lips and nodded softly. There¡¯s no point in arguing with her mother-inw. Actually, she¡¯s not too bad considering someone even murdered her mother.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    But there¡¯s one strange thing bothering Lara. How is it possible that there are no servants at her house? Isn¡¯t Bi Yani there?


    ¡°Is Bi Yani still on leave, Ma?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know! Why don¡¯t you ask her yourself?¡±


    Lara fell silent again. She¡¯s used to her mother-inw¡¯s sharp words. It¡¯s nothing. She¡¯s not affected at all. Well¡­ though, it does sting a bit to hear all her remarks always putting her in a bad light.


    ¡°Was everything settled earlier, Ma?¡± Lara asked about the hospital bills. Her discharge process was very smooth; she didn¡¯t even see Andre or Dr. Miriam around.


    It¡¯s like she¡¯s entered a whole new world entirely. But both are equally unpleasantpared to being in her own home back in Menteng.


    ¡°Yeah, if it wasn¡¯t settled, could you evene back?¡±


    ¡°Um¡­ yes.¡±


    ¡°Why are you asking like that?¡± her mother-inw snapped, then leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes. ¡°Alright, stop talking! Mama wants to rest for a bit.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ma.¡±


    Laraplied with hermand. Actually, she asked about the payment to make sure she didn¡¯t owe anything to her mother-inw. But it seems she misunderstood her intention. Oh well. It¡¯s normal.


    The day was getting darker. Perhaps it¡¯s almost night. Lara didn¡¯t check the time or her phone; suddenly, she felt sleepy too.


    Their car smoothly cruised along the capital city roads towards Depok, West Java. Even though it¡¯s a different province, it¡¯s not too far from her home in Jakarta.


    Depok is the right city for people who can¡¯t afford homes in Jakarta. It¡¯s easily essible by train or bus. Many employees in Jakarta travel using public transportation to reach their workces in the capital. Back then, Seno used tomute between Depok and Jakarta when he was still an employee at a privatepany.


    However, in recent months, Seno suddenly received arge capital for his business, like a pharmaceutical production factory or something, Lara wasn¡¯t too sure.


    The health business he¡¯s running is booming, and their economic situation suddenly improved, like a jet ne or a sky rocket! Lara really can¡¯t imagine where Seno got so much money from.


    Whenever she asks, Seno always dodges the question and talks as if she knows nothing about business. Yet, her family also ran a business before her father abandoned it. Her mother couldn¡¯t even manage it after her father¡¯s death. Eventually, the business failed and disappeared just like that.


    ¡°We¡¯ve arrived, Ma¡¯am,¡± said the new driver of Lara¡¯s mother-inw¡¯s, who seemed to be new to the job. Usually, Seno¡¯s family driver looks much older, with fine wrinkles on his face and neck. This time, the driver looked much younger. Was there a change in personnel at the main house?


    ¡°Ma¡¯am! Ma¡¯am! Call me Madame! How could you forget?¡± Lara¡¯s mother-inw scolded grumpily. She had opened her eyes and her first response upon waking up was to scold the new driver.


    ¡°Oh, yes, sorry, Madame.¡±


    The new driver bowed his head while straightening his shirt. Maybe he felt ufortable with Lara¡¯s mother-inw¡¯s scolding. Lara¡¯s already used to it.


    ¡°Ma-¡±


    ¡°Next time, if you make the same mistake, I¡¯ll fire you!¡±


    ¡°Alright, Madame.¡±


    Lara couldn¡¯t win over her mother-inw. The middle-aged woman continued tounch verbal attacks. Lara felt a bit sorry for the driver who seemed to be in his prime, in his thirties.


    Their eyes met for a moment, and Lara nodded quietly. She didn¡¯t dare to oppose her mother-inw¡¯s anger. They both had no choice but to listen to all her scolding.


    ¡°Huh, you brat! This is what happens when you have a handsome face but bad behavior,¡± Lara¡¯s mother-inw grumbled as they walked into the house.


    ¡°Who even employed him, Ma? Wasn¡¯t it Mama?¡± Lara asked, trying to start a pleasant conversation. But apparently, she was wrong.


    ¡°Why are you still asking? It¡¯s your sister! Selly! She¡¯s always into handsome guys. Mama can¡¯t even refuse!¡±


    Lara swallowed hard, feeling like she misspoke again. She should¡¯ve just stayed quiet.


    Selly, her sister-inw, is a teenage girl still in high school. Maybe she insisted Seno pick a handsome driver so she could show off.


    Seno lost his father when he was still in school. After college, he reced Lara¡¯s mother-inw as the family¡¯s main breadwinner. Until now, Seno has had to support their small family and his extended family.


    Seno lives with his mother, grandmother, and sister. After they got married, Lara lived with them too. But only for a few months when they were newlyweds.


    A few monthster, they moved to a luxurious house in Menteng. Isn¡¯t that strange? Lara wondered if Seno was undergoing some kind of ritual to gain wealth. But, he¡¯s afraid even at the mention of ghosts. It¡¯s not possible.


    She didn¡¯t ask any more questions because it¡¯s not her concern. She¡¯s used to living in a wealthy family. Such changes are normal to her. She doesn¡¯t know why, but Seno admires his newfound wealth so much. She just goes along with it. He doesn¡¯t know her family background.


    ¡°Ma, I¡¯m home,¡± Lara¡¯s mother-inw said as she stepped into the house. Lara saw her grandmother weing them warmly.


    ¡°Wee! Ami, Lara! Oh, Lisa, get them some drinks,¡± she instructed a servant girl.


    The young girl beside Grandma nodded and quickly went to the kitchen to get them drinks as ordered.


    Since Seno¡¯s wealth increased, the atmosphere in this house has changed so much.


    Did you see? How Lara¡¯s mother-inw treats her driver? But when Seno was still an employee, her mother-inw only used public transport to reach her destinations.


    This time, her mother-inw even threatened to change the driver if he didn¡¯t follow her orders. She¡¯s really good at maximizing her role as the mistress who craves attention.


    Before, they didn¡¯t even have a car, let alone a driver. But when Seno became rich, her mother-inw and the whole family suddenly changed drastically.


    They¡¯re very good at adapting to being wealthy. They immediately changed cars, jewelry, luxury bags, and hired various assistants at home to appear upscale and in a different economic status.


    Lara¡¯s mother-inw also often attends socialite events. Lara noticed her sister-inw also frequently flexes-shows off her wealth-on her social media. They do everything to gain recognition. She¡¯s just a spectator watching all their behavior without being able toment. She¡¯s afraid of being med.


    Strangely, with all the extravagance they do, Seno still doesn¡¯t run out of money.


    Seno even has enough funds to buy an apartment for his mistress. Lara can¡¯t believe all this foreign wealth. How does he actually make money?

 Part 20 # The Mattress’ Disaster

    Grandma inw, seated beside Lara, inquired, ¡°How are you, Lara?¡± interrupting her wild thoughts.


    Lara replied, ¡°Ah, I¡¯m fine, Grandma. How are you?¡±


    ¡°Thank God. I¡¯m fine too. Take care of your health, dear,¡± she said, gently caressing Lara¡¯s belly. ¡°There are some types of women who easily get tired. I almost miscarried before. That¡¯s why your mother-inw is like that,¡± she said jokingly.


    Lara wanted tough, but her mother-inw¡¯s gaze made her hold it back. She couldn¡¯t even breathe properly.


    ¡°Just kidding!¡± her mother-inw teased. My mother-inw immediately pouted, hearing her grandmother¡¯s joke. She might be offended. Lara felt guilty.


    ¡°Haha! The sulky one!¡± her grandmother retorted, deliberately teasing her, maybe? That¡¯s just how they are. ¡°For the time being, stay here. Grandma will take care of you,¡± she continued softly, looking straight at Lara.


    Lara nodded, smiling, following her grandmother¡¯s words. But suddenly, her mother-inw spoke up.


    ¡°Hah, howe?¡± she asked skeptically.


    ¡°Who¡¯s been taking care of you all this time, huh?¡± Grandma teased, not wanting to lose.


    ¡°The maid.¡±


    Lara forced a smile, seeing the two women arguing. Grandma and her mother-inw often quarrel but only to that extent. She even felt their interaction was warm, typical of family.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother me!¡± her mother-inw concluded, not wanting to argue further.


    ¡°Yes, Ma.¡±


    Lara saw her mother-inw rushing to her room this time. She just watched her back while sipping the guava juice provided in front of her.


    She didn¡¯t even touch her juice. She hurried into her room, probably because she didn¡¯t want to be near Lara for too long.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Your mother inw is just like that, Lara. Now, rest.¡±


    Lara nodded, following her grandmother¡¯s words. ¡°Thank you, Grandma. I¡¯ll rest now.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you shouldn¡¯t tire yourself too much.¡±


    Only Grandma was so kind to Lara in this house. If it weren¡¯t for her, she didn¡¯t know how she¡¯d survive in her inws¡¯ house, where they didn¡¯t like her.


    The cold weather was biting because in this house, every room had air conditioning installed. Again, the characteristic of a wealthy home. Senopletely renovated his father¡¯s house.


    This two-story house is located on the outskirts of Depok and has a spacious backyard. With this beautiful garden, Seno¡¯s family often holds outdoor parties. There¡¯s arge barbecue grill and several gazebos avable there. The atmosphere is cool and refreshing, unlike the typical atmosphere of a house in Jakarta.


    The living room on the ground floor is luxuriously decorated with golden furnishings andfortable sofas. This living room is also equipped with arge sma screen, where Seno and his family often watch movies or their favorite TV shows.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, please.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Miss.¡±


    Lara continued to walk up the stairs slowly. With her growing belly, walking became quite difficult. Fortunately, Lisa, the maid, helped and brought her things.


    ¡°Why not just use the downstairs room, Ma¡¯am?¡± she asked curiously.


    ¡°Um, well, my room was on the upper floor before, Lisa. It¡¯s Mr. Seno¡¯s room,¡± Lara replied awkwardly and unsure. She should have been able to use the guest room downstairs.


    She didn¡¯t know why, but her mother-inw gave ess to Seno¡¯s room. She wasn¡¯t wrong, actually. But Lara wasn¡¯t sure if she did it naturally or deliberately just to inconvenience her.


    ¡°Please,¡± the maid said, opening the door to Lara¡¯s room.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Lara replied before stepping inside.


    But to her surprise, when she entered, everything was so different. She couldn¡¯t even speak.


    ¡°W-what is this?¡±


    Mother-inw suddenly put her in a bad mood. She was standing with her hands on her hips, ncing towards Lara¡¯s room with a questioning look.


    Her body already felt sore, now her heart was aching too.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°How does it feel to be a boarding house tenant again? Enjoying it?¡± she asked, as if mocking Lara. Her smile was crooked, and Lara could hear the sarcasm in her voice.


    ¡°Mama, why would you say that?¡± Lara dared to ask, although she felt reluctant to do so. Her mother-inw¡¯s aura was like that of a hyena. She wasn¡¯t particrly scary, but dealing with her could be quite a hassle.


    ¡°Well, I purposely removed the bed yesterday. Just to wee my beautiful daughter-inw, haha!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Lara was taken aback by her words.


    ¡°Exciting, right? Sleeping on the floor like that? Did you think this was a hotel?¡± she taunted Lara, a smirk forming on her wrinkled face.


    ¡°How heartless, Mama¡­¡± Lara nearly cried at the thought of how cruel her mother-inw was being towards her, especially considering she was pregnant. She had been malicious from the start. Lara thought it was just an unintentional mistake.


    Her chest tightened, and her muscles tensed up. She was on the verge of losing control due to the disappointment and anger towards her mother-inw, who seemed to take pleasure in mocking her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so dramatic! The important thing is, you didn¡¯t get rained on!¡± she retorted with a loudugh.


    Her heart ached hearing her mockery and the satisfaction visible on her face. Suddenly, a surprising shout echoed, startling both of them.


    ¡°Mama!¡±


    Lara widened her eyes. It wasn¡¯t her who shouted. It was that voice.


    ¡°Seno! Why are you shouting at your mother, huh?¡±


    ¡°What is going on?!¡±


    Seno suddenly rushed towards Lara. He checked on her, like a police officer searching a suspect. His examination wasn¡¯t gentle or soft; it was more like a physical check-up by an officer, formal and thorough.


    ¡°Lara, are you okay?¡± Seno held her face. He even checked her eyes and lips. ¡°They¡¯re not blue. You¡¯re okay, right?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes, I¡¯m okay. Just a little back pain.¡±


    Seno then nced towards the floor mattress behind him. He hade in from outside and went straight to Lara, not realizing the presence of the thin, small mattress.


    ¡°Mama! Exin this!¡± he demanded, raising his voice.


    Was he defending Lara now?


    ¡°Uh¡­ Seno. It was just a joke.¡±


    ¡°A joke?!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, like, a weing ceremony for our beautiful daughter-inw, hehe¡­¡±


    Suddenly, her mother-inw¡¯s demeanor changed. What was going on with her?


    ¡°Mama, this is outrageous! Lara is pregnant, Ma! What if something happens to my child?!¡± Seno yelled, pointing at his mother¡¯s face.


    Lara was shocked, and so was her mother-inw. She could see tears welling up in her eyes. The servants, who were previously just milling about, now seemed to be gathering around. The heated exchange between Seno and his mother was drawing their curiosity.


    ¡°Seno! Why are you shouting at your mother, huh?¡±


    This time, even Grandma chimed in. She had just joined them on the second floor. Grandma¡¯s room was on the first floor for easy ess, without the risk of falling.


    ¡°Grandma, look at that!¡± Seno pointed towards the small mattress that had be the center of the morningmotion. Lara even felt guilty for causing such a stir in the family this early in the morning.


    ¡°Oh my! Lara. Did you sleep therest night?¡± Grandma asked with a worried expression, approaching Lara just like Seno did.


    Lara nodded slowly.


    Grandma then grabbed her daughter¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Ouch! Ma! That hurts!¡±


    ¡°You disrespectful child!¡±


    Seno and Lara exchanged nces, never expecting such an event to unfold. Lara¡¯s mother-inw groaned in pain. Grandma quickly dragged her away from Lara. She was still stunned, unable to believe what she was seeing.


    ¡°Hey! Move Lara¡¯s room downstairs!¡± Seno ordered the head servant.


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±


    Seno then put his arm around Lara¡¯s waist and gently held her hand as they walked downstairs. There, a luxurious room was ready and waiting for Lara, without the pain and difort like before.


    ¡°Thank you, Seno,¡± Lara said sincerely.


    Seno just smiled faintly. He then gently stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head. Lara could feel her husband returning to his former self. Had Seno truly repented?


    ***


    ¡°Grandma, please take care of Mama. That woman could ruin our ns!¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. Leave it to Grandma.¡±

 Part 21 # Not Poisonous Yet

    That morning, Lara woke up feeling much better. Seno had moved her to the guest room on the ground floor. She no longer struggled to go to the room, and the atmosphere downstairs was quitefortable.


    The furniture and mattress in this room looked normal, even luxurious. Everything was adorned with golden hues, sometimes dazzling her eyes with the reflections of light.


    ¡°Good morning, Darling,¡± Seno greeted her with a smile.


    ¡°Morning, Darling.¡±


    Lara returned his smile. Seno then got up from the bed and helped her stand up. Although she could stand on her own now as her back and waist were no longer in pain.


    ¡°Shall I bathe you?¡±


    ¡°E-eh? No need,¡± she refused shyly. Why should her husband bathe her? She could shower by herself.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Seno persisted. This time, he even removed the bathrobe she was wearing.


    Her sleeveless inner garment suddenly became visible. She reflexively covered it with both hands.


    ¡°Come on, we¡¯re husband and wife,¡± Seno said, trailing his hand from her arm to her neck with gentle kisses.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Lara¡¯s hair stood on end instantly. There was an electric shock sensation as Seno pressed his lips to enjoy that area of her skin.


    ¡°Ah, Darling ¡­¡±


    She shivered. An odd sensation overwhelmed her again.


    ¡°Oops!¡±


    Seno immediatelyid her body back on the bed. ¡°Y-You said you¡¯d bathe me? Why did you make me lie down?¡± she blushed.


    Seno grinned, even stripping off all her clothes now. She felt extremely embarrassed. Her body wasn¡¯t in good shape. She was pregnant, and suddenly all parts of her body became swollen. Shecked confidence.


    ¡°Beautiful,¡± Seno praised her, which deeply touched her.


    ¡°Really?¡± she asked doubtfully. She was no longer a young girl. She was a mother. It couldn¡¯t be that she was still that beautiful.


    ¡°You¡¯re still enchanting, Darling.¡±


    Seno then caressed her entire body without pause. They engaged in passionate struggles before Seno went to work.


    He really bathed her, after thoroughly enjoying that hot morning activity together.


    They rubbed each other¡¯s backs and cleaned the crevices of their bodies that were unreachable by their own hands. This shared bathing experience suddenly became enjoyable to go through.


    ***


    ¡°There, all done. Very beautiful,¡± he said again afterbing her semi-wet hair.


    Lara smiled and looked at him with love and affection. Her Seno had returned. He became a caring man just like when they first met.


    ¡°Darling. I have to go to work. Are you okay with me leaving?¡±


    She pondered. She remembered her rtionship with her mother-inw, which was not harmonious. ¡°Um, Mama, what about her? I¡¯m afraid.¡±


    She lowered her head. She didn¡¯t know how to deal with parents like her mother-inw. If she fought back, she was afraid of being seen as a disobedient daughter-inw. She didn¡¯t want to create unnecessary trouble.


    However, she didn¡¯t want her child to grow up in an environment full of hatred. At least she had topromise if her mother-inw didn¡¯t want to lose.


    ¡°There¡¯s Grandma, don¡¯t worry,¡± Seno said, hugging her from behind. She could feel his warm breath on her neck.


    ¡°Yes. Okay.¡±


    Seno held both her cheeks and kissed her lips gently. She closed her eyes and felt the love he gave her through that kiss. It felt very sweet.


    ¡°I¡¯ll see you this evening, okay? Love you.¡±


    ¡°Love you, too.¡±


    Seno smiled and then walked out of the room. They hadn¡¯t even had breakfast together. He said he had toe early in the morning to take care of something.


    Lara just stared at Seno¡¯s receding back. She examined herself in front of the mirror and then changed her clothes to leave the room. It was time for breakfast. The dining room should be filled with food by now.


    ***


    ¡°Just woke up?¡± asked her mother-inw, who had just seen her enter the family dining room.


    ¡°Yes, Ma. Good morning.¡±


    Her mother-inw didn¡¯t answer. But at least, she didn¡¯t ridicule her as usual. Lara continued her steps to sit in the chair on the left, facing her mother-inw.


    She looked fresh and sipped on the fresh orange juice. Lara suddenly wanted some orange juice.


    ¡°Gia, I want the same orange juice as Mom¡¯s,¡± Lara asked the servant who had just arranged the tes and cutlery.


    The servant nodded and immediately brought the orange juice. The striking orange color seemed very suitable to quench the thirst in weather like this.


    It was not yet noon, but the atmosphere was quite hot. In Depok, it should be quite cool, she didn¡¯t know why it was so hot today.


    ¡°Nice, isn¡¯t it, being served like a bigdy?¡± her mother-inw¡¯s question almost made her choke.


    Lara stayed silent. She didn¡¯t want to argue. She saw the servant quickly serve breakfast in front of them: fried rice with fried egg. It was simple. But she didn¡¯t mind.


    A smallugh suddenly sounded. Lara could feel that something unusual was happening here.


    She tried to dismiss the bad thought and continued her meal. When she finally scooped up the rice and slid it into her mouth, how surprised she was¡­


    ¡°SALTY!¡±


    ¡°HAHAHA!¡±


    She reflexively spat out the fried rice. Strangely, her mother-inwughed satisfactorily at her surprise.


    Themotion in the dining room made Grandma confused. The old woman had just arrived from her morning jog. Grandma always exercised before breakfast. She also didn¡¯t want to be waited on because it would be quite inconvenient. Grandma always told them to eat first.


    ¡°Lara? What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    Grandma walked towards her. Her face looked worried. She checked Lara¡¯s body and shook her shoulders to make sure she wasn¡¯t poisoned.


    ¡°The f-fried rice, it¡¯s too salty.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±


    Grandma tried to take a pinch of the rice and taste it herself.


    ¡°Ugh!¡± Grandma spat out her bite. She looked angry and felt deceived by the presence of this salty fried rice.


    ¡°Who cooked this salty fried rice?¡± she shouted at the servants in the kitchen.


    ¡°W-We¡­ we didn¡¯t do it, Ma¡¯am,¡± the cook said timidly.


    ¡°Tell me! Who cooked it?¡±


    The servants in line looked at each other. The cook-a man-looked at the new servant named Lisa.


    Meanwhile, Lisa looked at the head of the household-Bi Narti.


    Bi Narti looked at their employer who was busy eating, of course, Lara¡¯s mother-inw.


    Their gazes held such different meanings. Grandma immediately took a long, deep breath.


    ¡°Ami¡­¡± she called out to her mother-inw. The middle-aged woman didn¡¯t seem to pay attention to her mother¡¯s voice. She continued her breakfast as if nothing had happened.


    ¡°Ami!¡±


    This time, Grandma¡¯s voice rose. Lara¡¯s mother-inw was quite surprised and choked. ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± She patted her chest, apparently partially obstructed by the food.


    Her mother-inw then greedily gulped down the orange juice within her reach. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Ma?!¡±


    ¡°Tell me, did you put salt in Lara¡¯s fried rice?¡± Grandma¡¯s eyes started to widen. Lara felt ufortable. Once again, they were arguing because of her.


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Liar!¡±


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±


    Her mother-inw then got up from her chair and shot Lara a sharp look. Lara could see bluish veins bulging from her forehead and cheeks. It seemed like she was holding back her anger.


    ¡°Just a little salty, and you make such a fuss. She hasn¡¯t even been poisoned yet!¡±

 Part 22 # Cunning Plan

    Lara, who had never felt nauseous in the morning, suddenly felt like vomiting because of her mother-inw¡¯s rant. It wasn¡¯t even because of the overly salty fried rice.


    She wanted to empty her stomach because her mother-inw was talking about poison. Was it nothing, she said? Was her food not poisoned? Then was she intending to poison her if given the chance?


    ¡°HOEK!¡±


    Sess. All the liquid contents of her stomach were emptied out.


    ¡°HOEK!¡±


    She couldn¡¯t hold back. Lara saw Grandma and her mother-inw stunned, covering their mouths and noses. Meanwhile, she was still bent over, continuing to empty her stomach. She was truly disgusted with all her mother-inw¡¯s words that were never kind to her.


    ¡°Oh My God! Sister!¡±


    After vomiting to her satisfaction and having no more strength to do so, she nced towards the voice calling her. A woman¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Selly?¡± Lara muttered weakly.


    Selly-her sister-inw-who was in high school, looked beautiful in her school uniform: a white shirt with a too-short gray skirt.


    Selly was 17 years old, her body quite plump. Lara wondered why her mother-inw allowed the girl to dress like a nightclub hostess when going to school.


    She also questioned her homeroom teacher¡¯s indifferent attitude, was it because Selly was from a wealthy family?


    Selly didn¡¯t even transfer to a prestigious private school and chose to stay in her old public school. Lara wasn¡¯t sure if Selly was humble. Her guess was that Selly just didn¡¯t want to lose her sweetheart who might be in the same school.


    ¡°Ew!¡±


    Selly looked disgusted as she looked at Lara. But she quickly ordered her mother to move away. At least she did the right thing. Lara¡¯s nausea could worsen if her mother-inw were still there.


    ¡°Ma,e in, Ma!¡± she shouted frantically.


    Her mother-inw quickly walked towards Selly and they left the dining room immediately.


    ¡°Clean this ce up, quickly!¡± Grandma ordered the servants.


    They immediately grabbed cleaning supplies and led Lara back to her room. Grandma approached her and handed her a wet cloth to clean herself. ¡°Just eat in your room,¡± she said.


    Lara nodded and went to the room, sipping the warm tea that had been prepared by the servants.


    ***


    That night, Lara confided in Seno, as soon as he came home from the office.


    ¡°Darling, it seems like Mama doesn¡¯t like me here. I want to go back to Menteng,¡± she said with a hint of sulking.


    Seno, who had just arrived, was naturally surprised by her request.


    He had just finished showering. Right now, Seno smelled good and was still half-wet. Lara could smell the sharp scent of rosesing from his body.


    Hearing herint, Seno raised an eyebrow. He seemed pensive for a moment before responding to herint.


    Seno then hung the towel he had used to dry his body and head, then approached her.


    ¡°Seriously? What did Mama say?¡± he asked.


    Lara fell silent at his question. She just sighed deeply because her mother-inw¡¯s words were not worthy to be repeated.


    ¡°Anyway, I want to go back to Menteng,¡± she insisted without further negotiation.


    Seno sighed along with her. She could see his expression change. ¡°Um, our house is still under renovation, dear,¡± he said after being silent for a while.


    ¡°Renovation? Which part?¡± Lara asked. As far as she could remember, there was no part of their house that needed such renovation. She was quite suspicious of his statement.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you know? Our house has a leaking roof?¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    Seno then hugged her and kissed her belly. It calmed her emotions.


    ¡°Be patient, okay? We¡¯ll go home soon.¡±


    That night, Lara slept without thinking about her whining to go back to Menteng. She would wait until the house in Menteng was renovated. Seno helped calm her troubled heart.


    ***


    When Lara was already asleep, Seno seemed to leave their room. He walked slowly towards his grandma¡¯s room.


    The main corridor of the house was quite dark. There was no lighting except for themp on the outside. Seno and his family didn¡¯t like overly bright environments, even outside their rooms.


    The dim lighting from the window was enough to illuminate Seno¡¯s steps so he wouldn¡¯t stumble. The man intentionally didn¡¯t turn on the light even though he could, so as not to wake Lara up.


    Lara was quite sensitive, Seno knew that very well.


    Not too long after, Seno knocked on his grandma¡¯s door. There was no answer to the first knock. He repeated it, although not too loudly. Seno didn¡¯t want to cause amotion.


    ¡°Yes, yes! Wait a moment,¡± replied Grandma, who seemed to have woken up from her sleep.


    The old woman then turned the doorknob and opened the door in front of her.


    ¡°Seno?¡± she asked, then stretched her head outwards. After she finished checking, Grandma instructed Seno to enter her room.


    ¡°What brings you here?¡± she asked, looking surprised. Seno took a deep breath. He wanted to know what had just happened between his wife and his mother.


    ¡°W-what?¡± Seno widened his eyes. He didn¡¯t expect his mother to say that to Lara. ¡°Lara must be upset,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°It seems so,¡± Grandma agreed. They then nced at each other and sank into their own thoughts.


    ¡°Lara can¡¯t stand being here, Grandma. If Lara goes to Menteng, I can¡¯t watch over her,¡± Seno said sharply.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. Your son¡¯s birthday is still far off.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any ideas, Grandma?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Their rtionship is really messed up. Ami doesn¡¯t listen to me anymore. She even rebels like a teenager. Your mother!¡± Grandma growled, pursing her lips.


    ¡°Hhh¡­ only you can control Mama. I can¡¯t either. But if Lara escapes from me, my n will be ruined! Grandma, you have to help me,¡± Seno said with a cunning look that didn¡¯t even consider Lara as his wife.


    For Seno, Lara was just amodity that had to be taken care of to be exchanged for something valuable. He wouldn¡¯t reveal anything until his n was perfectly realized.


    ¡°Keep an eye on the servant. Let her go home, Seno. Grandma can¡¯t guarantee that Lara will stay.¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    The night wind knocked on the window, as if someone was trying to enter their conversation. Its rhythm was eerie, simr to Seno¡¯s deep dilemma.


    His busy schedule as a growing businessman required him to be busying and going. Seno couldn¡¯t watch over Lara every moment, which made him anxious.


    However, if Seno allowed Lara to stay in this house any longer, he was worried that Lara would be frustrated and endanger the life of their future child. Seno was truly tested with a difficult choice.


    ¡°You have toply with Lara¡¯s wishes if you want to keep her. Grandma can see, your wife is very stubborn.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, Grandma. I can hardly stand her either,¡± Seno replied, agreeing with Grandma¡¯s words. He even looked for young girls to distract himself momentarily from his mission in taking care of Lara.


    There was a secret that required Seno to be with Lara until the end of the agreement. After that, he was free to divorce or throw Lara away on the streets. Seno didn¡¯t care much about it.


    ¡°Okay, tomorrow I¡¯ll go back to Menteng, Grandma.¡±

 Part 23 # Laying a Bait

    As Lara opened her eyes the next morning, she was surprised to see Seno had already packed their belongings into the suitcase. ¡°Are we leaving?¡± she guessed. Hopefully, her guess was correct.


    The chirping of birds apanied this bright morning. Seno was just wearing a green polo shirt, not his suit or work shirt. It seemed like he was off duty.


    ¡°Yes, we¡¯re leaving today,¡± he said, smiling at her.


    She was so happy. Finally, she could leave this house. It¡¯s such a relief! She couldn¡¯t barely breath in here.


    Seno was seen pulling their suitcase to the door. The room wasn¡¯t too spacious because it was actually just a guest room. Well, good news is, they didn¡¯t have to bother looking for their scattered stuff. The room is really small and tiny.


    ¡°Ready to go?¡± Selly suddenly asked as Seno opened the door to their room. This time, she was wearing a tight purple t-shirt with matching training pants. It seemed like Selly would have a sports ss in the first schedule.


    ¡°Yes, Lara wants to go home,¡± he said, ncing at her as she just got up from bed.


    Lara was looking for a hair tie that she couldn¡¯t find. She felt very exhausted. Ever since she got pregnant, her body temperature often felt hot, even though the weather wasn¡¯t too warm. Whether it was because of the baby or the weather bing extremely hot. She¡¯d seen it in the news that not only was there global warming phenomenon but also global heating.


    ¡°Here,¡± Selly handed her a hair tie as she was lifting her hair up high. It seemed like she understood her intention to look for the missing hair tie.


    ¡°Why are you leaving?¡± Selly asked again, raising her eyebrows. Selly, with her round face, looked very cute. She was quite pretty because she didn¡¯t have any pimples. Maybe, only one or two red pimples would appear when she was menstruating.


    Otherwise, Selly¡¯s face was always smooth like a Korean actress. Seno funded all her facial treatments with his mother-inw, of course.


    ¡°I misses my home,¡± Lara replied with a smile. There was no reason to hate Selly. She could be childish sometimes, like showing off her wealth often, but in this house, Selly was the one who often talked to her when grandma wasn¡¯t around.


    Actually, Lara quite liked her.


    ¡°Oh, okay ¡­ take care,¡± Selly said before leaving them.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Selly¡¯s straight back moved away with the cheerful footsteps typical of young people. Selly was listening to pink headphones that were always on her head. She said the headphones were noise-canceling, but she often hummed. It seemed like there was music in her headphones too. It would be fun to have headphones like hers.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to say goodbye to ma and grandma?¡± Lara looked around, searching for grandma and mother-inw. That day, the main house was very quiet. Where did everyone go?


    ¡°No need, mama and grandma went jogging then did some exercises. They said they¡¯d be back in the afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. I¡¯ll take a shower first, okay?¡±


    ¡°No need, Lara. Just shower at home, okay?¡±


    Lara blinked in disbelief. Why did Seno seem so rushed?


    ¡°I have a meeting soon. I¡¯ll drop you off first, okay?¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay.¡±


    Lara followed Seno¡¯s steps as he walked out of this house. They passed through a small corridor connecting the house to the garage on the ground floor. The atmosphere there was quite dark, even though it was morning.


    There were some dim neon lights, actually, the atmosphere here was quite romantic. Unfortunately, Seno and she weren¡¯t in the mood for romance. They remained focused on walking towards the car. Seno didn¡¯t contact their private driver.


    ¡°You¡¯re driving yourself?¡± she asked when she saw no driver waiting for them in the passenger seat.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m busy. Waiting for the driver takes too long.¡±


    ¡°Oh ¡­.¡±


    Seno quickly put the suitcase in and opened the door for her. He then sat in the driver¡¯s seat and started the car carefully. A momentter, their car glided onto the highway, passing by some swaying Palm trees in the cool morning breeze.


    From her side view, Seno looked handsome. A slightly t nose-typical of Asians-but with tanned skin and sharp facial features, made him look charming. His wavy hair looked sweet. His asymmetrical smile and way of speaking made her like him even more.


    Compared to Andre, ah, why was Laraparing them? Andre was the past and why was she suddenly thinking of him? It wasn¡¯t funny at all.


    ¡°Aw!¡± Lara was startled when Seno suddenly mmed on the brakes. There was a car that stopped abruptly in front of them. That¡¯s what made Seno reflexively step on the brakes.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked, looking worried about their unborn child.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m fine,¡± Lara said nervously. Her heart was racing. She was very surprised. Her stomach suddenly felt painful due to the tension she felt.


    Not long after, a woman was seen getting out of the car. The woman didn¡¯t seem unfamiliar with her ponytail that perfected her professional appearance. A cored shirt with tight jeans wrapped her body. The tall woman was slender, like a model, with a firm and beautiful face, more masculine.


    ¡°Sorry. Did I startle you earlier? There was a cat crossing. I stopped the car to save it,¡± she said as Seno opened the car window on the right side.


    ¡°Yes! You almost caused my wife to miscarry!¡± Seno retorted sharply. He even seemed very angry and didn¡¯t look at the woman properly.


    ¡°Here¡¯s my business card. You can contact that number if you need insurance for health check-ups or maybe your car got scratched? I¡¯ll take responsibility. Okay?¡± the woman said kindly.


    Seno reached for the business card and read it slowly. ¡°Mahya Grace? Are you a reporter?¡± Seno asked.


    Hearing the name Mahya Grace, Lara froze.


    Was she that ¡®Mahya¡¯? Lara immediately nced at her. Mahya¡¯s face was really different, but her behavior was simr. Mahya was like that. She even willingly rescued a cat stuck in a tree when they were walking together before.


    ¡°Mahya?¡± Lara murmured. She hesitated to call her. Suddenly, she felt embarrassed for cutting off contact with her when she was pregnant. Mahya and Lara used to be quite close friends. Until one day, Lara experienced this sudden pregnancy. She was embarrassed, so she cut off contact with all her friends when she was in college.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m a reporter. May I have your business card?¡±


    ¡°Here. I¡¯ll ask forpensation soon.¡±


    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll wait for your call,¡± Mahya said with a suspicious smile. Lara recognized that smile. Did Mahya deliberately y Seno and involve him in this small ident?


    ¡°Be careful next time! You¡¯re a really bad driver!¡± Seno scolded angrily.


    Lara was still throwing nces. She saw Mahya didn¡¯t even recognize her. Indeed, they hadn¡¯t met for several years; maybe Mahya forgot her face. Sometimes, humans were like that.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Madam. Goodbye,¡± Mahya bid farewell with a smile.


    Right, she didn¡¯t recognize her. Even when their eyes met, Mahya seemed to ignore her.


    ***


    ¡°Gotcha!¡±

 Part 24 # Mahya, The Reporter

    The cigarette smoke curled and spiraled as Mahya gazed out over the rooftop of the Channel Insight office  the newsroom where she worked. She was waiting for the editor to arrive for a discussion before taking action.


    Mahya was preparing herself for a promotion, after three years as a junior investigative reporter without any advancement.


    ¡°You¡¯re here already?¡± she greeted the ck-haired woman who had just emerged from the emergency exit.


    ¡°Yeah. So, any ideas for coverage?¡± she inquired, probing. Her brown eyes widened as if demanding a satisfactory answer from her conversational partner.


    Mahya smirked. The two women in theirte twenties exchanged nces in silence. Mahya certainly had something to offer the editor. But before that, she wanted to pique the editor¡¯s curiosity even further.


    ¡°Do you remember the medical businessman featured in SOWA magazine? I¡¯ve sniffed out something fishy about him.¡±


    ¡°SOWA? Which edition, geez!¡±


    ¡°Last month. Huh, can¡¯t even remember!¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    The editor then tried to recall for a moment. Momentster, she pulled out a t object from her jeans pocket. Her fingers surfed the inte with the keywords mentioned by Mahya.


    A name, Seno Adhijaya, then appeared at the top of the search,plete with the business he was involved in.


    ¡°What¡¯s the issue? People selling drugs get rich quick anyway,¡± the editor remarked, half in disbelief.


    Mahya chuckled, mocking the older editor¡¯s indifferent attitude.


    ¡°Is all his business legal? I¡¯m not sure. Just so you know, I know him,¡± Mahya said arrogantly, exhaling thick white smoke to her left.


    The rtively shady atmosphere of the rooftop  as the day was approaching dusk  added to the intensity of this discussion. The editor¡¯s eyes widened, feeling intrigued by the bait from the junior reporter.


    ¡°You want to y with this?¡± she inquired further.


    Mahya nodded. The ponytailed girl snapped her fingers, indicating that it was something she could handle. A wide smile immediately appeared on her square-shaped face, with sses perched on top of her head.


    She took a deep drag of the half-smoked cigarette, leaving behind fragile ash that flew freely when the strong wind blew.


    Her editor nodded, agreeing with Mahya¡¯s idea. For a moment, theyughed. It was already 5 o¡¯clock. It was time for them to pack up and get ready to go home  or not?


    ¡°Do you think we¡¯re just ordinary office workers? What madness!¡±


    Mahyaughed. She knew very well that being a reporter meant dedicating her entire life to her job. Let alone going home on time, even on holidays, they sometimes still worked to meet deadlines.


    There was no personal life while being an investigative reporter.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll start putting together the investigation proposal,¡± Mahya said as she walked away.


    ¡°Keep sniffing like a hunting dog, Mahya. You know, you¡¯re better than that.¡±


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯m definitely getting promoted!¡± she eximed confidently.


    Mahya¡¯s eyes showed no hint of fear. Seno? That man was initially poor. Why did he suddenly be rich? That was highly unusual.


    Mahya¡¯s personal motive for investigating Seno was because of¡­ Lara.


    Mahya¡¯s proud demeanor turned mncholic when she remembered that girl. Her friend. Lara.


    Some time ago, by chance, Mahya found a photo of Seno on the cover of a famous business magazine, SOWA.


    At first, Mahya didn¡¯t recognize the man, but Seno¡¯s strange smile always lingered in her mind.


    That odd smile was what made Lara fall in love. ording to Mahya, they were truly unbelievable! Such a silly couple. Somehow, Lara chased after Seno¡¯s love, even though Mahya¡¯s intuition always felt bad when talking about that engineering student.


    A few months after Lara and Seno started dating, Lara disappeared. Mahya tried to find Lara, but the girl seemed to have vanished into thin air. Mahya couldn¡¯t trace her whereabouts anywhere.


    Days passed, months passed. Years passed. Mahya gave up. She decided to pursue her dream of bing a reporter. That dream was even postponed before she could find Lara.


    Mahya loved her friend so much. Lara had no one else. Mahya was so obsessed with finding her, even though the result was nil.


    Who would have thought, fate unexpectedly reunited them in an unexpected situation.


    Mahya was challenged by her office editor to make a phenomenal report. She agreed, even though she didn¡¯t know what she would write about.


    Mahya  an ambitious girl  wouldn¡¯t give up easily.


    She conducted in-depth research on controversial figures and began digging deeper into their information. But no particr figure captivated her.


    Until one day, after Mahya had exhausted her search, a magazine brought by her cousin caught her interest.


    ¡°Seno?¡± she murmured when she saw the portrait of the up-anding young entrepreneur.


    Mahya immediately grabbed the magazine and read the articles one by one. Lara. One of the names listed in the family directory. It turned out Lara was truly married to Seno.


    Tears of emotion welled up behind her eagle eyes.


    Mahya rarely cried. People called her a stone-hearted girl. But this time, Mahya couldn¡¯t resist the urge of teardrops that wanted to pour out  after being held back without being able to flow freely for so long.


    ¡°Lara¡­¡± she murmured softly, then wiped away the embarrassing tears. ording to Mahya, there was no reason to cry if no one had died.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Lara was the name she wanted to call out, again and again. Mahya missed Lara so much.


    For the first time, news of the missing girl was found. Mahya wouldn¡¯t miss the chance to meet her again.


    That morning, the long-awaited day, Mahya followed Seno¡¯s car seen on the Depok-Jakarta road.


    Who would have thought? Seno¡¯s house was still the same. Mahya had been to that house before. But there was a striking change.


    The narrow house, which was only a few blocks, now looked magnificent like a pce. It seemed that Seno had bought the surrounding area of his house to make it look like the residence of a newly wealthy person featured in the media.


    ¡°Lara!¡± Mahya screamed in her heart, when she saw the figure of a girl with long brown hair from behind the window of a ck BMW sedan.


    Mahya turned the corner, trying to judge where the road would end. True to Mahya¡¯s prediction, they would go to Jakarta.


    With her innocent face trained in recent times, Mahya pretended to suddenly brake to make a strong impression on their first meeting. She even lied about saving a cat so that Lara could remember their moment together.


    But Mahya¡¯s hope faded. Lara didn¡¯t want to see her.


    Finally, Mahya would only do her professional job  investigating Seno¡¯s business.


    With the intention of killing two birds with one stone, Mahya only got Seno¡¯s attention. Lara didn¡¯t even want to talk to her.


    Mahya was very disappointed. She didn¡¯t want to create an awkward situation by pretending to know Lara  or Seno.


    Mahya intentionally kept her distance so that her tricks wouldn¡¯t be read by the target to be preyed upon.


    That target, finally, came willingly.


    ***


    ¡°Hello? I want thepensation from you!¡±

 Part 25 # Sugar Daddy

    ¡°Compensation?¡± Mahya frowned. She didn¡¯t understand what the caller meant. What did she do wrong?


    ¡°Hello?!¡± The voice kept calling, this time with a slightly higher tone. Mahya, whose patience was as thin as tissue paper, was certainly angry.


    ¡°Wrong number!¡± she snapped, then unterally hung up the phone.


    The Channel Insight office was already quite empty, the time showing nine in the evening. Mahya ¨C who happened to have no overtime duties ¨C would certainly be preparing to go home, before another phone call, once again, disturbed her.


    ¡°Hello?!¡± This time, Mahya¡¯s voice rose. She didn¡¯t want to lose in this second battle.


    ¡°It¡¯s me, Seno Adhijaya. You said earlier that you wouldpensate me!¡±


    ¡°Se-Seno?¡±


    Mahya reflexively covered her mouth. ¡°Oh my!¡± she muttered immediately. Mahyapletely forgot that she had nned such a scenario. Her brain was too busy with the investigation proposal. She forgot something very important: the informant.


    ¡°Mr. Seno! Um, sorry, I thought you were an insurance agent,¡± Mahya exined. She didn¡¯t want to appear cunning and as if she were waiting for an opportunity to talk to Seno ording to her calctions.


    ¡°Ah, yes. Alright.¡± Seno¡¯s voice lowered. Mahya could feel that the man was not offended by her statement.


    ¡°How can Ipensate you?¡± Mahya said, trying to challenge the high ego of this new director.


    ¡°Um, can we meet? I want to discuss it in person, not over the phone.¡±


    ¡°Meet?¡± Mahya repeated the conversation. It was easier than she thought.


    ¡°Yes, can youe to Top Resto in Senayan? Now?¡± Seno asked unabashedly. His voice sounded firm and without hesitation. Mahya smiled slyly.


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll be there. NOW,¡± she replied with emphasis on thest word. Today was the day Mahya had been waiting for. A Seno Adhijaya, was surrendering himself to be scrutinized by her. It was truly delightful.


    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll wait here.¡±


    Seno hung up, leaving Mahya shouting with joy. ¡°HAHA! THIS IS TOO EASY!¡±


    ***


    Mahya arrived at Top Resto in Senayan, Central Jakarta. ¡°Wow, this is nice!¡± She praised the restaurant concept and the luxury it has offered.


    Top Resto in Senayan was located on the top floor of a luxurious building with modern architecture. From the outside, the restaurant looked majestic with spotlights illuminating its roof, creating a very exclusive atmosphere.


    As Mahya entered the entrance, the elegant andfortable atmosphere weed her immediately. She could see that it wasn¡¯t easy to get a seat in this ce.


    ¡°Seno is really a cool newly rich dude,¡± she muttered sarcastically.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    The first sight she got was an interior designed beautifully, romantic, and luxurious, with a formal atmosphere surrounding it.


    Large ss walls provided stunning views of the surrounding Senayan area, emitting the sparkling city lights. Crystal chandeliers on the ceiling added mour and a taste of upper-ss sophistication.


    ¡°Do you have a reservation, Miss?¡± a waiter greeted Mahya.


    The ponytailed girl ¨C this time in a charming maroon evening gown ¨C nodded confidently. ¡°Seno Adhijaya.¡± She uttered the name as if it were a mantra to get her out of the restaurant¡¯s surveince, which was ready to expel anyone who entered without prior booking.


    The waiter checked the guest¡¯s name mentioned on his screen. Momentster, he nodded respectfully and directed Mahya to her partner¡¯s location who was already there. ¡°Over here, Miss.¡±


    They walked past several other tables neatly arranged along the restaurant¡¯s area,plete with white linens and sparkling cutlery.


    The professionally dressed and friendly waiters seemed busy serving the guests with warm smiles. Mahya was greeted by a senior waiter to guide her to the table located in the corner.


    There, Mahya could see Seno observing her from head to toe. Despite feeling awkward, Mahya still smiled and maintained courtesy as best as she could.


    ¡°Darn,¡± she muttered, unheard by anyone.


    ¡°Please.¡±


    A waiter pulled out a chair for Mahya to sit.


    ¡°Wee,¡± Seno stood up, shaking hands with Mahya before she positioned herself in her seat.


    ¡°What would you like to order?¡±


    After sitting down, Mahya was immediately presented with a variety of food menus. Western-style dishes adorned the menu pages with enticing photos.


    The menu portraits ranged from delicious appetizers to mouth-watering main courses, all presented with impableyout, ording to Mahya.


    ¡°Caprese Sd, please,¡± Mahya said, pointing to the photo of the ssic Italian dish with slices of fresh tomatoes, mozzare, and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. It seemed that the menu was enough to whet Mahya¡¯s appetite to endure until thest course.


    ¡°Your order will being soon, Miss,¡± the waiter said before excusing himself.


    Seno smiled at Mahya, making the girl quite embarrassed with the intent of his attention.


    ¡°Thepensation, how much?¡± Mahya asked after taking a long breath. Mahya couldn¡¯t resist eating as nned by Seno. Although, her initial goal was not like that.


    The pleasant restaurant atmosphere mesmerized Mahya and created a sudden hunger that was difficult to refuse. Was this because of the effect of witchcraft? Really?


    ¡°Compensation, huh? Hm¡­¡± Seno seemed to think for a moment. Was he considering the cost of damage? Or was there something else?


    Mahya¡¯s gaze swept the other area of the restaurant: the rooftop. Many couples were enjoying a romantic dinner under the open sky.


    The atmosphere mixed between moonlight and small lights that lit up around the restaurant created a calming atmosphere. Soft jazz music wafted from the speakers apanying the guests¡¯ conversations, adding a romantic impression that was so intoxicating.


    ¡°Compensation with your time, can it?¡± Seno asked a momentter.


    ¡°W-what?¡± Mahya stammered, she almost choked when drinking the mineral water that had just quenched her thirst. ¡°My time, how?¡±


    ¡°I want to get to know you better, can¡¯t I?¡± Seno asked shamelessly.


    Mahya fell silent. There was suddenly a surge of anger in her chest. Instantly, Mahya¡¯s face turned red. She wasn¡¯t drunk yet. She hadn¡¯t even touched the wine served in front of her.


    ¡°Gulp!¡±


    Mahya gulped down a ss of wine in front of her. She was very annoyed by Seno¡¯s unexpected response.


    ¡°Why do you want to get to know me?¡± Mahya asked with a flushed face. Her breath was getting faster. Mahya was very annoyed and even forgot the intrigue n she had created from the beginning.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite sweet. Don¡¯t you want someone to support you?¡±


    ¡°WHAT? Support in what terms?¡±


    ¡°FInancially, of course!¡±


    Mahya¡¯s eyes rolled in disbelief. How could a somebody¡¯s husband ask her to be his ¡­ what do you called? Sugar baby?


    ¡°Why are you so surprised like that? Isn¡¯t itmon nowadays? Girls these days have sugar daddies? Let¡¯s get straight to the point, shall we? I can be your sugar daddy,¡± Seno offered himself without any hesitation.


    Seno even didn¡¯t remember who Mahya was and what her connection with Lara, his wife. Why was this man so shameless?


    ¡°Don¡¯t you already have a wife, Sir?¡± Mahya scoffed. She wanted to p Seno¡¯s face right then and there, but Mahya held herself back.


    ¡°HAHA! Wife? Nowadays, a wife is just like a mistress.¡±

 Part 26 # New Prey

    ¡°Why do you speak like that, Sir?¡± Mahya asked, trying to be patient. She couldn¡¯t stand it if Lara was belittled by her own husband.


    ¡°What am I talking about?¡±


    ¡°Wife equals mistress.¡±


    ¡°Well. Aren¡¯t they hidden? The wives of conglomerates are not disyed to avoid scandal.¡±


    ¡°W-what?¡±


    Mahya shot Seno¡¯s words sharply with pent-up anger. But it seemed she couldn¡¯t contain herself any longer.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know, do you?¡±


    ¡°Ar-are you really thinking like that?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the reality.¡±


    Mahya gaped, instead of being angry, she now felt sorry for the new businessman¡¯s mentality. It couldn¡¯t be left unchecked.


    Mahya immediately grabbed a bottle of mineral water untouched by its owner-Seno-and suddenly poured it on the owner, without much thought.


    ¡°It seems like your brain needs cooling down!¡± Mahya eximed roughly.


    ¡°YOU!¡± Seno of course was furious. He never expected the woman he was trying to flirt with to end up embarrassing him like this.


    Seno¡¯s clothes were wet from the sudden downpour.


    ¡°Sir!¡± The servant eximed in confusion. Security personnel came immediately, but unfortunately, before they could do much, Mahya had disappeared from sight.


    As a former sprinter, Mahya was very skilled at evading, especially when it came to escaping from dangerous situations.


    ¡°YOU BETTER WATCH OUT!¡±


    ¡ª


    The next day, the Channel Insight office-more precisely its roof-officially turned into an unexpectededy stage.


    ¡°HAHA!¡±


    Carol¡¯sughter echoed through the sky.


    White smoke still lingered between them. Carol and Mahya both enjoyed their leisure time before the office¡¯s fingerprint machine started recording their attendance.


    ¡°You poured it on him?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Literally, poured with water?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°HAHA!¡±


    Carol couldn¡¯t stopughing, imagining a spotted-nosed man rejected by a feisty woman like Mahya.


    Mahya was quite charming with her characteristics as a native Betawi person who had undergone modernization, meaning she no longer used the Betawi dialect in her daily speech.


    Mahya was ustomed to speaking Indonesian fluently and correctly-typical of young people-so that expatriate colleagues who sometimes interacted with her could understand Mahya¡¯s conversations with the trantor devices on one side of their ears.


    ¡°The investigation failed?¡±


    Carol remarked with a regretful expression. However, the failure of a subordinate meant the failure of their leader. Carol also hoped for Mahya¡¯s sess in climbing the ranks, with this coverage as her stepping stone.


    ¡°Ugh!¡±


    Mahya spat out nicotine smoke roughly. One hand scratched her non-itchy hair. ¡°I have to try the hard way. Huv¡­.¡±


    ¡°What way?¡±


    ¡°Well, starting from scratch. I don¡¯t know how. I haven¡¯t thought about it.¡±


    ¡°Rx, Mahya. I know you can find a way out of this situation,¡± said Carol enthusiastically. ¡°Remember that rejection and failure are just part of the process toward sess.¡±


    Mahya sighed and nodded. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. I shouldn¡¯t give up so easily.¡±


    They both returned to the office and began nning their next steps. Mahya decided to take a more subtle approach in continuing her investigation into the suspicious business practices behind the conglomerate.


    ¡ª


    A 2¡Á1 meter boardy in front of Mahya, with Seno¡¯s photo in the center.


    The girl immediately drew lines connecting Seno to the dark funds from an unknown source. Mahya simply attached a photo with a question mark in the upper corner of the board.


    She drew a red thread towards the pin on the photo, with Seno as the center of the mystery she was investigating.


    In her detective mode, as a skilled investigative reporter, Mahya tried to find as many clues as possible from the images disyed on the board.


    Mahya carefully observed every detail in Seno¡¯s photo. She examined the background of the picture, trying to identify where it was taken, and analyzed if there were any interesting or suspicious objects around it.


    Moreover, Mahya also closely examined Seno¡¯s facial expressions in the photo. She tried to identify any signs that could reveal the feelings or situations in which the photo was taken. Perhaps there were clues in Seno¡¯s face that could help Mahya solve the puzzle she was facing.


    Mahya also tried to connect Seno¡¯s photo with the story or investigative report she was working on.


    In the process, Mahya noted down all hypotheses and questions that arose, as well as any potential leads she could follow.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Mahya didn¡¯t overlook any details, no matter how small. She realized that sometimes small and unclear clues could lead to important discoveries. Therefore, Mahya diligently continued her analysis, trying to solve the mystery in front of her as much as possible.


    ¡°Any other clues?¡± Carol suddenly came to Mahya¡¯s desk.


    Mahya looked up and smiled at Carol. ¡°Yes, I found some additional clues,¡± Mahya replied, showing some scattered files on her desk.


    ¡°It seems there¡¯s a connection between several events that have urred in the past few months. I¡¯m trying to link all of this together to get a clearer picture.¡±


    Carol nodded and looked at the files with enthusiasm. ¡°I believe you can find the answer, Mahya. You¡¯re always thorough and never overlook anything. Right?¡±


    ¡°Is that praise or burden?¡±


    ¡°Praise and¡­ a little burden.¡± Carolughed while patting Mahya¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°There are some patterns emerging when I connect all of this. There are some small incidents that seem unrted at first, but if we look at them in a broader context, there¡¯s amon thread connecting them.¡±


    Carol listened attentively, asking questions from time to time to get a better understanding. She appreciated Mahya¡¯s efforts to connect these puzzles.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯re approaching something important,¡± Mahya said. ¡°I¡¯m trying to gather more evidence and conduct deeper analysis. Hopefully, we can find the answer soon.¡±


    Carol smiled and encouraged Mahya. ¡°Keep up the good work, Mahya. I believe in your abilities. If there¡¯s anything I can help with, just let me know.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Carol waved to her subordinate then immediately went to her private room.


    Meanwhile, Mahya looked serious as she processed all the findings she was working on. Until a phone call surprised her.


    ¡°A reunion?¡±


    Mahya widened her eyes as the campus administration officer called her to invite her to a ss reunion that would be held in a few months.


    Mahya was still hesitant if she could attend the faculty reunion, but there was a glimmer of happiness when she heard the name ¡®Lara¡¯ mentioned.


    Right. Lara. That woman would surelye to the faculty reunion.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try, Bu Netty,¡± Mahya finally said.


    Mahya always received special treatment from the faculty secretary because she was the key to the whole ss. Mahya had served as one of the managers of the Faculty of Literature¡¯s Student Executive Board, which of course had manyworks and also had quite a strong influence on her peers.


    Bu Netty-the faculty secretary-even called her personally to invite her, whereas other friends only received electronic links to confirm their attendance.


    Mahya smiled broadly, knowing that there would be a new n she was thinking about using Lara.


    This time, she wouldn¡¯t just stay silent.


    ¡°You have to help me, Lara. You have to!¡± Mahya muttered with a sharp gaze as if she was chasing prey on her radar.

 Part 27 # Loneliness

    Lara was surprised. There was no one in thisrge house. Seno had warned her not to look for anyone and briefly apanied her into the house to put their things away. True to his word, he had to leave for an important meeting. She didn¡¯t know what meeting it was.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Bi Yani?¡± Lara asked, just before Seno stepped out of their house.


    The sound of his shoe taps fell silent, indicating that the man was pondering something. She saw his face furrow, as if he was thinking of giving her an answer she awaited.


    ¡°Bi Yani is still on vacation. She¡¯ll be back tomorrow,¡± he said, smiling at her.


    Lara was slightly suspicious but had no reason to scold him. After all, ording to him, Bi Yani might indeed be resting at her own residence. Tomorrow she would find out the truth.


    ***


    The night gradually descended, darkness had taken over this residence. Seno hadn¡¯t shown any sign of returning at this hour. Lara tried calling his husband¡¯s cell phone several times, but all she got was a busy tone.


    At that moment, anxiety began to creep into Lara¡¯s heart. Seno should have returned from the meeting. Worry began to grip her mind. Lara decided to check around the house, even though Seno had warned her not to look for anyone here. Lara¡¯s steps were heavy, as if burdened by an anxious weight with every footfall. She crossed the corridors of thisrge house, trying to find out what was really happening. The silent and dark atmosphere only heightened the tension in her heart.


    ¡°Why are there no servants?¡± she pondered silently. ¡°Did Seno fire everyone?¡± She still didn¡¯t understand.


    7 p. m.


    Lara started to feel hungry. But there was no one to cook for her. She continued on to the kitchen to look for instant noodles. Although supposedly pregnant women shouldn¡¯t eat instant noodles, at least in emergencies like this, any food should be fine.


    Lara could have ordered takeout from a restaurant, but for some reason, she hesitated. It seemed like instant noodles with soup would be delicious to eat in this cold weather. She continued her steps to the living room. There, something caught her attention. A lettery on the wooden table in the middle of the room. Carefully, she picked up the letter and read it.


    The letter was handwritten, familiar handwriting, Seno¡¯s. Its contents pierced her heart.


    ¡°A dismissal letter?¡±


    Lara read it carefully, spelling out every word. Yani Nuili. Bi Yani had been fired by him.


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡± Lara growled feeling deceived.


    Anger and disappointment filled her heart as she realized that the letter contained Bi Yani¡¯s dismissal. It was a decision that was so deep and she felt shocked and disappointed because she hadn¡¯t been informed about it earlier. Her mind was in turmoil, trying to understand the reasons behind this decision.


    Lara had warned Seno not to fire Bi Yani. Their disputes over domestic workers always ended with his unteral decision. All the servants in this house were Seno¡¯s personal choices, manipted in such a way that he could have an affair anytime she wasn¡¯t at the residence. She fired them all, feeling deceived.


    Until finally, Lara met Bi Yani at a market not far from this house.


    At that time, she was shopping, in her pregnancy, about three weeks old, feeling suddenly tired and lethargic, even though before she was fine.


    Unintentionally, she fainted on the edge of an alley in the narrow streets of the market.


    Shortly after fainting, she felt like she was floating between consciousness and unconsciousness. The noisy sounds of the market and the footsteps of people passing by around her seemed to fade away. Then, as if emerging from darkness, she felt a gentle touch on her body like the touch of herte mother, with a soft voice apanying it.


    After that, she didn¡¯t remember much. She woke up in a hospital with an IV drip in her hand. When she regained consciousness, a nurse informed her that there was a middle-aged woman who helped her.


    ¡°Helped?¡± she repeated. ¡°What happened to me?¡±


    The nurse then told her that she had fainted on the edge of the market and a woman had helped her and brought her to the hospital at the right time. She could have had a miscarriage orplications if not immediately helped, given her very weak condition.


    ¡°Who was the woman?¡± she asked, trying to confirm.


    ¡°Her name is Bu Yani Nuili. She¡¯s in the waiting room.¡±


    Since then, she swore to employ Bi Yani, if that middle-aged woman didn¡¯t have a job. Her house was empty, there were no servants. Almost the same situation as now.


    She fired all the servants, and Seno no longer had the right to interfere in household affairs. Unfortunately, she was caught off guard. Bi Yani, in the end, had to experience a simr incident when she was not around.


    Empty. T


    hat word filled every corner of her house, seeping into the walls that seemed to also cry out in silence. She swore to employ Bi Yani after the incident at the market, but that desire was halted by the reality that she herself was in a simr situation now.


    Lara seemed to have no control over her own life. Everything was arranged by Seno, without bothering to talk about it. She felt empty. The man couldn¡¯t even be contacted to rify everything. So, how should she endure in a household with minimalmunication like this?


    Knock¡­ Knock¡­


    A knock interrupted her reverie. By now, Lara had reached the kitchen and was preparing to cook the instant noodles she had been craving. However, the knocking sound made her startle.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± Lara wondered as the knocking continued incessantly from outside. Was it Seno? It couldn¡¯t be. Seno should be able to enter on his own without having to knock on the door. She walked slowly to the front door, trying to control her emotions swaying between emptiness and uncertainty.


    With hesitation, Lara opened the door. How surprised she was to see a young woman standing in front of her with a friendly smile on her face.


    ¡°Excuse me, Ma¡¯am. I¡¯m Mti. I¡¯m the new maid here,¡± she said kindly. Her face was round, her age might be around thete teens, her skin was fair, her height might be only around 150 cm.


    ¡°A new maid?¡± she looked at her in confusion, wondering who this young woman was and what her purpose was foring to her house. Mti seemed modest with the maid uniform she wore, but she still doubted her identity and the strange introduction. Why didn¡¯t Seno tell her?


    ¡°Mti, is it?¡± she said with questions in her eyes.


    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am. Mr. Seno just hired me this morning. I¡¯m sorry I arrived at night like this.¡±


    Lara was still trying to digest all of this. How could Seno hire another maid without her knowledge? Who was this girl really? Although her heart was still filled with disappointment and emptiness due to the situation with Seno, seeing Mti¡¯s enthusiasm, she felt a little touched and had no intention of driving her away.


    ¡°All right. Come in.¡± she invited her in to start her work. Her business with Seno could wait. She couldn¡¯t let a young girl like her wander around in the dark night like this.


    ¡°Excuse me, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    Mti began to prepare for work. She washed her hands first and then took cleaning tools to tidy up the room. She postponed cooking instant noodles because Mti was already here.


    Mti seemed skillful in carrying out her tasks. She cleaned every corner of the room meticulously, arranged things neatly, and seemed to bring back the lost cheerfulness as time passed. While Mti worked, she sat in the living room, digesting all the events that had happened.


    In the midst of the quiet night, Mti was still busy working, this time in the kitchen, cooking dinner for her: warm vegetable soup with fried chicken that whetted her appetite. She ate eagerly, and so did she, after she finished her cooking.


    After a while, Mti approached with a bright smile on her face. ¡°It¡¯s done, Ma¡¯am. Is there anything else I can help with?¡±


    She smiled, then shook her head. ¡°Thank you, Mti. You¡¯ve been helpful enough. You can rest now.¡±


    Mti nodded politely and left the room to rest for a while. She went back to contemting, trapped in swirling thoughts. Why did Seno do all this without telling her? Was there something he was hiding?


    The sound of Mti¡¯s soft footsteps broke her reverie. She returned, carrying a ss of warm water and offering it to her. ¡°This might make Bu Lara feel better,¡± she said gently.


    She epted the ss of warm water while smiling at her. Mti was attentive and her demeanor was so sweet. Maybe she wanted to have a daughter like her. Truly adorable.


    The time showed 10 p. m. Seno hadn¡¯t returned or even notified her of his whereabouts. Where could that man be?This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Disappointment and worry enveloped her heart once again.


    Lara picked up her phone and tried calling Seno again. But as before, the call went unanswered. Frustration began to creep in, and unanswered questions filled her mind. She stood up, caressing her growing belly. The feeling of anxiety began to haunt her, imagining the worst that could happen to Seno. She missed him, she was also angry with him. She wanted-at least-to talk to him about this. She felt lonely.


    In the midst of her thoughts and waiting, suddenly the screen of her phone, which was initially dark, lit up. A message notification appeared, which she couldn¡¯t read clearly.


    ¡°A reunion?¡±


    She received an invitation to a faculty reunion through an alumni¡¯s Facebook group that she rarely opened and paid attention to.

 Part 28 # A Revenge Formula

    The reason behind Seno¡¯s absence at his home is because he is currently with Olivia.


    Intimate kisses, warm embraces, and moans of pleasure filled the air between them. There was no piece of cloth separating them. And now, both Seno and Olivia were lying limp, powerless.


    ¡°Damn it,¡± cursed Olivia, after she removed the condom filled with Seno¡¯s essence from his manhood. Why were they using a condom? Even though Olivia herself could never conceive-at least, Seno should be careful. He didn¡¯t want any illegitimate children to be born out of this rtionship.


    Olivia sighed as she looked at Seno, who was sound asleep in the embrace of dreams, with a few percent of alcohol still dominating his body.


    The girl had no intention of spending the night with Lara¡¯s husband. It¡¯s just that, the bartender at the club they usually visited together suddenly contacted her.


    ¡°Your man is heavily drunk, Miss,¡± the bartender said when he called Olivia. The man even knew Seno as Olivia¡¯s boyfriend, not Lara¡¯s husband. No one knew that Seno was already married because he always wore his wedding ring on his ne, not on his finger as he should.


    ¡°What¡¯s he been up to? Why is he so wasted?¡± Olivia murmured, knowing it was pointless to ask a question to a man who was unconscious. Seno¡¯s instincts only moved with an animal-like radar-mate. He didn¡¯t even bother scanning who he was attacking. Though, his hands were skillful at putting on protection in the genital area because he was used to it.


    Olivia let Seno sleep in her apartment, which of course was bought by Seno as a reward for being his mistress. Seno¡¯s phone was connected to Olivia¡¯s ghost phone, fooling Lara if the mistress ever became curious about where her husband went. Olivia had been doing this for a long time, creating Seno¡¯s image as a busy businessman with various calls in the air.


    ¡°Annoying.¡±


    Olivia put on her evening gown and opened the window wide. She lit a cigarette and enjoyed it amidst the biting night air. If only Seno were her husband, she would never feel lonely.


    But no matter how hard Olivia tried, Seno would never divorce Lara. Frustration and self-doubt engulfed her again. Olivia couldn¡¯t bury the disappointment that-once again-she lost to Lara.


    ¡°What good is that bitch? Damn it!¡±


    This time, she poured herself a ss of wine and sipped it slowly. Its unique aroma made Olivia feel a bit better. Her eyes stared nkly at the night view filled with the flickering lights of buildings and streetmps. There was no romantic glittering of stars to greet her, just like her love story: empty.


    Olivia couldn¡¯t even remember when was thest time she fell in love. She was only driven by a desire to dominate someone who caught her attention. She didn¡¯t understand love.


    ¡°Love is crap!¡±


    Olivia was content with her life like this, even though itcked romantic seasoning. For her, the most important thing was to fulfill her financial needs and her passions. Olivia was even willing to be the mistress of a married man like Seno, even though there were still many single men out there.


    But of course, Seno¡¯s case was different.


    Olivia wasn¡¯t just after Seno¡¯s looks and wealth, but, the revenge form. Lara was like a thorn in Olivia¡¯s side. That woman had to be eliminated before she turned into a cancerous cell gnawing at her body, or ¡­ already?


    Olivia came to Seno to destroy Lara. That¡¯s how it should be. But, all her efforts were not sessful. The couple was so difficult to conquer.


    ¡°They¡¯re both stubborn.¡±


    Olivia felt defeated. But, it¡¯s not Olivia¡¯s name if she didn¡¯t have a way. The cunning woman would find a crack in the couple¡¯s rtionship, no matter what.


    ¡°I won¡¯t give up.¡±


    A smile far from graceful appeared on her pale face. Olivia didn¡¯t look like herself without makeup. Her dark lips,bined with e scars here and there, made the beauty that usually adhered to her like a myth.


    Olivia wasn¡¯t as beautiful as Lara because the long-held grudge had be a disease and was eating away at her health. She couldn¡¯t remember when she first harbored a grudge against Lara until she became obsessed with destroying the girl¡¯s life as much as possible.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Olivia would continue to try until her efforts seeded greatly and caused Lara to suffer, just like her name: sorrow.


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    Olivia¡¯s eyes squinted as a sudden message notification appeared on her phone. In the darkness of the room, the glow of the gadget¡¯s screen stood out, making Olivia wonder if there were additional tasks or just random messages entering her phone.


    ¡°Reunion?¡±


    Olivia¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as she read the message in the Facebook group she rarely opened. The Facebook group of campus alumni, she said, would have a reunion for the 2003 cohort.


    ¡°Wow! Interesting!¡± Olivia smiled meaningfully. She immediately typed a reply message confirming her attendance to the mentioned invitation. Olivia would certainly execute her cunning n and prepare to trample on Lara.


    ¡°Great! This reunion could be a good opportunity,¡± Olivia murmured while grabbing another bottle of wine from the shelf and refilling her ss. She danced with joy at the thought of impending sess.


    Olivia had just thought of a new n to demonstrate her dominance. The reunion stage would certainly be a big backdrop and would make her vicious scheme a sess.


    ¡°Haha ¡­ cunning bitch! You don¡¯t know, right? Your husband even chose to stay here instead of being with you. What an ugly woman!¡± Olivia scoffed after sipping her wine, she smiled cunningly, imagining how sweet the victory would be toe.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to y the role,¡± Olivia whispered to herself. She knew that appearance was everything and the faculty reunion was a golden opportunity to showcase her superiority.


    ¡°Reunion! Oh-ho! Let¡¯s see how the former Campus Queen will be an ugly duckling because of her pregnancy hormones! Luckily, I¡¯ve never been pregnant. I won¡¯t be afraid to look ugly!¡± She chuckled at the thought of her friendsparing the two of them.


    Of course, Olivia and Lara were very different, especially in terms of their body sexiness. ¡°Lara is like a fat pig, very ugly!¡± she jeered as she kicked the wall in front of her excitedly. Olivia was already quite drunk, apparently.


    ¡°They think they can be happy without disturbance? They¡¯re dead wrong,¡± she murmured with satisfaction. Her grudge against Lara was intensifying. She wouldn¡¯t let this moment pass just like that.


    That night, while enjoying every sip of her wine, Olivia smiled proudly at herself. She knew that this reunion would be the beginning of her revenge show. In the darkness of the room filled with the light of streetmps, Olivia had imagined how Lara would react when she saw her cunning trap unfold at the reunion.

 Part 29 # Lara Disappears!

    The sun began to rise, and Seno¡¯s head throbbed. He squinted as the bright light hit his face. ¡°Where am I?¡± Seno muttered. He couldn¡¯t remember anything. Last night, he was very drunk. Mahya¡¯s rejection wounded his pride. Somehow, Seno ended up venting his disappointment through alcohol, and this was the result.


    ¡°Good morning, Darling,¡± Olivia greeted with her mischievous smile. Her fingers pulled the nket covering Seno¡¯s body halfway, creating an enticing silhouette for her.


    ¡°Olivia?¡± Seno blinked. How did he end up in Olivia¡¯s apartment? ¡°Tell me, what happened?¡± Seno began to get up from the bed and tried to put on his clothes, while Olivia seemed to enjoy seeing the reaction of her secret lover.


    ¡°Why are you so surprised, Darling? Aren¡¯t you used to be here?¡± Olivia taunted. She didn¡¯t even intend to answer Seno¡¯s question and wanted to y with Lara¡¯s husband.


    ¡°Damn!¡± Seno growled. He quickly put on his pants and shirt, then checked his phone. ¡°Damn it!¡± Seno cursed after seeing dozens of unanswered calls from his wife. He needed to go home.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we have breakfast first, Hm?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving!¡±


    ¡°HAHA!¡±


    Olivia chuckled at Seno¡¯s regretful behavior for spending the night with her. He should be grateful for being able to satisfy his carnal desires with a beautiful girl like her. Seno was indeed rude!


    ***


    Seno drove his car towards home. He had truly made a mistake. That bartender shouldn¡¯t have contacted Olivia. ¡°Damn!¡± Seno kept cursing throughout the journey.


    He needed to get home before Lara started to suspect and¡­ look for Bi Yani, whom he shouldn¡¯t have met anymore.


    ¡°I hope Grandma¡¯s maid has arrived,¡± Seno muttered while still controlling the steering wheel. He navigated the streets with his luxurious SUV. It was daytime now, and Jakarta¡¯s roads were not too crowded, unlike during rush hours. Traffic jams in Jakarta would kill him.


    ***


    Seno drove his car through the city toll road, which was starting to look busy. His heart seemed to beat faster as the distance to home got closer. Various possible consequences of his actions besieged his mind.


    How could Seno exin his situation to Lara? When Seno had promised not to meet Olivia again.


    ¡°Please!¡± Seno kept muttering as he pressed on the gas pedal on the way back home. The crowded streets now blocked his path, as if trying to warn him that his defense would end in vain.


    In his mind, Seno tried to find a reasonable excuse. He knew that whatever reason he gave, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to cover up his foolishness fromst night. In silence, Seno wondered if his decision to drink excessively and spend the night with Olivia was due to his dissatisfaction in marriage or just disappointment with¡­ Mahya? Seno¡¯s pride was hurt!


    As his car entered the residential area, Seno felt increasingly restless. He continued to drive until his car reached the front gate. Before parking the car in the driveway, Seno took a deep breath. He was so nervous because various burdens surrounded his mind.


    He no longer loved Lara, but he had to maintain this marriage. Their child was a ticket to sess that needed to be born soon. Seno had no choice but to pretend to be a ve to fake love, or¡­ all his cunning tricks would be in vain.


    ¡°Phew!¡±


    Unexpectedly, Olivia sent a message. She talked about a meeting with subcontractors and the difficulty of negotiations they faced. Olivia had created a perfect alibi for Seno and with concrete evidence from her ghost phone recordings.


    ¡°Oh! Mi amor! You¡¯re unusually clever!¡± Seno praised Olivia, though the girl didn¡¯t know it. He immediately deleted the message and entered his house gate with a relieved heart.


    Lara¡¯s car was still parked in the garage, which made Seno feel relieved. At least his wife hadn¡¯t left the house. He could freely create the lies designed by his affair. Olivia was quite smart, in his opinion.


    The car stopped in the corner of Seno¡¯s house. After making sure that the vehicle¡¯s engine was off, he got out lightly. Seno no longer thought about his reasons for noting home all night.


    When Seno opened the door of the house, a quiet atmosphere greeted him. He searched for Lara¡¯s whereabouts, but she was nowhere to be found.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Seno asked a pretty young girl.


    ¡°Wee, Sir. I¡¯m Mti, the new maid in this house,¡± Mti said politely.


    ¡°A new maid?¡± Seno frowned. ¡°Were you sent by my grandmother?¡± he continued.


    ¡°Yes, Sir. But, I said yesterday that I was sent by you,¡± Mti said, bowing her head. She was afraid of being scolded for lying.


    ¡°Good. Good job!¡± Seno smiled. His wild eyes began to observe Mti from head to toe. ¡°Beautiful,¡± he muttered. Mti didn¡¯t hear anything.


    ¡°Where did my wife go?¡± Seno asked after thoroughly examining the beautiful new maid.


    ¡°Mother went to the market, she said, Sir.¡±


    ¡°The market?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she said she wanted to take a walk,¡± the fair-skinned girl continued.


    ¡°Why is her car still here?¡±


    ¡°Mother took an online taxi.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Seno was surprised once again. Why did Lara have to take an online taxi? He started to suspect where she had gone. Did Lara know that there was a tracking device in her car?


    ¡°At what time did she leave?¡± Seno inquired. He had to make sure that Lara wasn¡¯t ying with fire behind his back. Seno wouldn¡¯t stay silent if Lara ran away or cheated on him.


    ¡°An hour ago, Sir. Around 9 o¡¯clock,¡± Mti answered softly. She felt pressured by her employer¡¯s aura. It seemed that Seno was a temperamental person.


    ¡°Hhh¡­ Okay, you can go,¡± Seno said, dismissing Mti. The girl sighed in relief and could finally continue her work.


    ***


    Seno quickly walked to his private office. There, he began to contemte the increasinglyplicated situation. The lies and intrigues he created seemed to be more confusing than solving the problem. Lara leaving with an online taxi made him even more worried about the possibility of discovering the tracking device in the car.


    As Seno tried to contact Lara, his phone calls went unanswered. He felt anxious and restless. Seno couldn¡¯t deny the worry and suspicion that engulfed him.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he muttered to himself. Seno had to find out where Lara was.


    Without waiting any longer, Seno decided to call Olivia. Hopefully, his secretary had a solution to his confusion.


    ¡°Olivia, I have a big problem. Lara disappeared!¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±


    ¡°Yes. My wife went with an online taxi. Where do you think she went?¡±


    Olivia, on the other end of the phone, sounded calm. ¡°Seno, rx. She won¡¯t go anywhere. Is there another purpose? Isn¡¯t she an orphan?¡±


    Seno swallowed his saliva; Olivia¡¯s words were true. ¡°Y-yes, you¡¯re right. Does she have any friends she could visit? I have a bad feeling.¡± Seno felt more trapped in the web of lies, he couldn¡¯t even be honest with


    Olivia-or Lara, for that matter, and everything.


    ¡°No, she¡¯s quiet and¡­ snobbish! Who wants to be friends with her?¡±


    ¡°Hhh¡­ Alright. I¡¯ll look for her somewhere else.¡±


    Seno ended the call. His heart became even more uncertain. Where could Lara have gone? Why wasn¡¯t he informed?

 Part 30 # Bi Yani in Danger

    ¡°Oh no¡­.¡± Once again, Lara slipped. The gravel in this alley was indeed quite sharp. She¡¯d been walking around the market all day, but still couldn¡¯t find Bi Yani¡¯s house. ¡°Where is it, her house?¡± she guessed, but to no avail.


    She went over the address she saw on Bi Yani¡¯s job application form when she applied to be her maid. It should be here, in the Duku vige. Somehow, the house listed didn¡¯t exist. ¡°Is Bi Yani a ghost or something?¡± she muttered. The house number 40 written on the form was an empty house.


    The house was even overgrown with weeds, and its walls seemed rotten, covered in moss and fungus.


    The sun slowly rose, and the atmosphere became quite hot. Her shadow was almost non-existent, meaning it might be close to noon now. ¡°Hhhh¡­.¡± she sighed. Feeling desperate.


    She didn¡¯t tell anyone that she was looking for Bi Yani¡¯s house, so Seno wouldn¡¯t suspect. That man didn¡¯t evene home yesterday. She could even guess where her husband was. The pain surged through her heart again, but she had to stayposed. She couldn¡¯t be swayed by her negative thoughts.


    ¡°Maybe Seno is just working overtime, right?¡±


    Sheforted herself. Anyway, her heart had to feel at ease, or else, she was worried this fetus would also be shaken.


    ¡°Where could it be?¡± she looked left and right, trying to find additional clues. The residents might be resting. This vige was close to the traditional market area, but the atmosphere was very different.


    No residents seemed to be passing by except when near the market. Otherwise, it was empty. The vige seemed uninhabited.


    ¡°Huh¡­.¡± The narrow alley where she stood was now beginning to reflect the hot air. The streetlights hanging above, of course, hadn¡¯t emitted their light yet. But everything was making her body burn even more.


    Suddenly, there was the sound of footsteps, as she was still staring nkly at the job application form again. The footsteps got closer, she couldn¡¯t ignore them.


    ¡°Who are you looking for, Ma¡¯am?¡± she asked kindly, as she was still trying to find additional clues or any possible mistakes.


    ¡°Oh, hello, Ma¡¯am. I¡¯m looking for Bi Yani¡¯s house.¡±


    ¡°Bi Yani?¡±


    ¡°Yes, her name is¡­ Yani Nuili,¡± she said after reading Bi Yani¡¯s full name on the form. She didn¡¯t even remember her full name.


    ¡°Yani Nuili?¡± The middle-aged woman tried to remember for a moment. Did she know Bi Yani?


    ¡°What are her characteristics?¡± she asked again. Maybe, she didn¡¯t really know Bi Yani either.


    ¡°She¡¯s about 50 years old. Round face, a little gray hair in the front, shoulder-length ck hair, slightly hunched walk. There¡¯s a mole on her lower lip, Ma¡¯am. Her voice is quite loud. She¡¯s also polite,¡± she said enthusiastically. She really wanted to find that woman soon.


    ¡°Is she married?¡±


    ¡°Looks like it,¡± she read her form again. It was written there that Bi Yani was indeed married. But, she had never met her husband or heard about his story.


    ¡°Ah! Maybe that¡¯s Bu Farhan. Bu Farhan¡¯s address should be here, but that was about 5 years ago when ¡­.¡±


    ¡°When what, Ma¡¯am?¡± she was curious about the continuation of her sentence. It seemed there was something she didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°When her husband still had a job, Miss. Now, well¡­ um, it¡¯s not nice of me to say,¡± she said again. She became suspicious. What¡¯s going on here?


    ¡°Why, Ma¡¯am? Bi Yani works with me. May I know the reason for her relocation?¡± she pressed. She became more curious about Bi Yani¡¯s story.


    ¡°Hhh¡­.¡± The woman sighed heavily before continuing her conversation. ¡°This is between us, Miss. Her husband is unemployed and has a lot of debt. The house was seized by the bank. Now, they¡¯re renting in the next alley,¡± she said.


    She was stunned. She didn¡¯t expect that Bi Yani actually had such problems. ¡°Then, their children?¡±


    ¡°Bu Farhan doesn¡¯t have any children.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Now she understood why Bi Yani never talked about her family.


    ¡°I happen to have some free time. Let me take you,¡± she said, smiling at her. Her chubby body with the hair rollers still attached to her bangs. Her appearance was like andy in old movies who loved curling her hair without knowing the time. She was slightly amused seeing her. A very unique and funny woman.


    ¡°Thank you, sorry to bother.¡±


    ¡°Ah, no problem. I¡¯m actually exercising. Burning fat,¡± she joked.


    Sheughed. They continued their journey to the Durian vige not far from there. ¡°Walk?¡± she asked. She nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s close!¡±


    She followed her steps towards the narrow alleys that connected one vige to another. She thought their journey would be tiring, but it wasn¡¯t. Bi Yani¡¯s residence was indeed close.


    ¡°That¡¯s her house painted green,¡± she said, waving her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Ma¡¯am,¡± she said, returning her wave. Finally, she could meet Bi Yani and ask about the truth of her dismissal.


    However, before she could start asking, a scream andmotion startled her unimaginably.


    ¡°You, Bitch?!¡±


    ¡°Argh!¡±


    She froze when she heard the shouts and curses. Suddenly, her body trembled violently, and she sat down unconsciously.


    ¡°Mas! Wake up! We¡¯re old! Please, repent!¡± shouted Bi Yani. She was sure it was her voice.


    What¡¯s happening there? How should she help her?


    She heard the sound of breaking ss being mmed harshly there. ¡°Oh, no!¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    She wanted to run and intervene, but her legs suddenly felt weak. She remembered her father¡¯s harsh curses even though he never hit her. It made her scared and didn¡¯t want to go to that battlefield.


    But, if she don¡¯t go there. What if Bi Yani is in danger?


    ¡°I have to go there¡­.¡±


    Her breath was ragged, but she tried to be strong. She fought against the fear within her with positive suggestion. This is for Bi Yani. She¡¯s going there.


    Finally, she managed to step towards the green-painted house. The sound of broken ss became louder, this time with cries of pain. Bi Yani! Bi Yani must be badly injured now! Oh no! She can¡¯t run away!


    ¡°Bi Yani!¡± she shouted, trying to divert her husband¡¯s attention.


    She immediately ran, panting heavily, her legs hurt. She had to reach the doorstep and pull Bi Yani out of the hell of her marriage. The middle-aged woman had to run and save herself. She had to help her.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Lara¡¯s foot slipped, she almost fell. Fortunately, there was a small fence she could reach to bnce her body. She stood up again and tried to walk quickly towards Bi Yani¡¯s house.


    But before she could get there. Someone¡¯s voice that she knew very well suddenly surprised her at just the right time.


    ¡°Lara! What are you doing here?¡±


    She couldn¡¯t hold back her tears. Immediately, she went to him and asked for help.


    ¡°Call the police!¡±

 Part 31 # Arrested by the Police

    ¡°What did you say? Speak slowly,¡± Andre said, unaware of the trouble Lara was in.


    The woman appeared to be panting while holding her increasinglyrge stomach. No one could say how worried Andre was about Lara¡¯s condition. First, he lifted Lara¡¯s body and then gently pushed her to the sidewalk to avoid being hit by passing cars.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Phone, police,¡± Lara said breathlessly. ¡°To ¡­ call.¡±


    Andre held both of Lara¡¯s shoulders and began to gaze deeply into her eyes. Andre¡¯s eyes radiated concern and curiosity. What exactly was happening to this woman?


    ¡°Why should I call the police?¡± Andre asked carefully. He watched Lara¡¯s every move, which seemed unstable, then reluctantly grabbed Lara¡¯s hand to help her calm down a bit. ¡°Lara ¡­ tell me, why should I call the police?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a fight over there, Andre! Please! My maid is in danger! I have to go there ¡­¡± Lara pointed to a row house with green paint across from them. Indeed, there were shouts and cursesing from that direction, but Andre didn¡¯t want to get involved in a domestic dispute.


    ¡°Lara, don¡¯t endanger yourself for someone else. It might just be a regr argument,¡± Andre tried to reassure Lara. But the woman remained adamant. She insisted on crossing the street and saving Bi Yani before it was toote!


    ¡°Wait!¡± Andre grabbed Lara¡¯s hand until she bumped into his broad chest because she couldn¡¯t avoid therge man¡¯s body.


    ¡°Let go! I¡¯ll go alone if you don¡¯t want to help!¡± she yelled angrily. Andre pulled Lara closer and this time, he couldn¡¯t resist hugging the other man¡¯s wife. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean it. Calm down, okay? I¡¯ll help you.¡±


    ¡°Let go of me, Andre. You have no right to hug me!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean¨C¡±


    Andre immediately let go of her and refocused on fulfilling Lara¡¯s request. Following her request, Andre immediately called the police to make a report. After that, he went straight to the green-painted house and started recording as evidence.


    CRASH!


    Without much dy, Andre burst into the house and began his rescue mission for Lara¡¯s acquaintance. ¡°Stop!¡± Andre yelled as Bi Yani¡¯s husband seemed about to throw a flower vase at his already bruised wife¡¯s face.


    ¡°Scoundrel!¡± Andre cursed as he ran forward towards the husband who seemed about tounch another attack.


    ¡°UGH!¡±


    Bi Yani¡¯s husband, who initially appeared brave and invincible, nowy on the floor with blood streaming from his lips. Some of his teeth were missing, and he began to struggle to bnce his body.


    ¡°Mas!¡± Bi Yani shouted, trying to break up the fight. She didn¡¯t know who the stranger was or why he was attacking her husband recklessly. ¡°Stop!¡± yelled Bi Yani, feeling sorry for her injured husband.


    Despite having just suffered the same injuries, for some reason, her heart didn¡¯t want to see a stranger attacking her husband without knowing the root of the problem.


    ¡°Bi Yani!¡± Lara shouted from the doorway. The middle-aged woman looked up while still attending to her helpless husband.


    ¡°Mrs. Lara?¡±


    ¡°Bi Yani! Oh my God!¡± Lara approached and gently stroked the woman¡¯s face with love and affection. ¡°Thank goodness, I¡¯m not toote,¡± Lara said sincerely. She looked at Andre, who seemed out of breath after just exerting his strength to beat up Bi Yani¡¯s disrespectful husband.


    How could a man be so heartless as to beat a woman? Moreover, that woman was his own wife? If he wasn¡¯t a spawn of Satan, then what was he? ¡°Tsk!¡± Andre clicked his tongue as he began to straighten his shirt.


    His doctor¡¯s coat was left at the vige hall; Andre was only wearing a regr shirt. No one would have guessed that the man was actually a doctor conducting social service in Kampung Durian.


    Initially, Andre was just going to smoke for a while, so he looked for a safe corner to rx after examining and treating hundreds of patients who were registered as participants in the hospital¡¯s free medical treatment.


    Andromeda Hospital routinely held social services every three months for underprivileged viges listed in their ledger.


    ¡°Mrs. Lara ¡­ Huhu ¡­.¡± Bi Yani finally cried. She now recognized the man who had brazenly entered her house. Doctor Andre. Bi Yani only recognized the doctor when she saw him again. He was indeed the doctor who had treated Bu Lara-her employer.


    ¡°What happened, Bi? How could all this happen?¡± Lara wondered with a heavy heart as she looked at the wounds suffered by her servant. Bi Yani could only cry silently, unable to say anything. She was still shocked and afraid of everything that had happened. Bi Yani felt that her unlucky fate was indeed part of the destiny she had to endure.


    ¡°Bi Yani. You¡¯re a great woman, you¡¯re very strong. But that¡¯s enough, okay? Hand him over to the authorities!¡±


    Bi Yani continued to cry while shaking her head slowly. ¡°No, Ma¡¯am. Don¡¯t take my husband away!¡±


    Who would have thought? It turns out that the woman was unwilling to see her husband sent to prison.


    ¡°No ¡­ don¡¯t take my husband away!¡±

 Part 32 # Tragic Accident

    Lara was shocked by Bi Yani¡¯s words. How could she think like that!


    ¡°Bi Yani, what are you saying?¡± Lara shook her shoulders. Tears welled up in Bi Yani¡¯s wrinkled face as she wept for her husband, who was being dragged to the police station.


    ¡°No! Don¡¯t take my husband!¡± Bi Yani screamed, chasing after the officers on duty.


    Bi Yani¡¯s husband grinned while pleading to be released. He promised not to repeat his actions and to treat his wife well.


    ¡°Sir, please let me go! My wife is crying over there!¡± Bi Yani¡¯s husband shouted as he squirmed. His frail body writhed, pleading to be released so he could hug his wife, who was experiencing psychological trauma.


    ¡°You¡¯re insane! Not possible!¡± The officer firmly refused to release Bi Yani¡¯s husband just like that.


    Amotion began. Neighbors flocked to Bi Yani¡¯s house, surrounded by police patrol cars. Lara could hear the shouts of curious residents ming Bi Yani¡¯s husband, who often caused trouble.


    ¡°Just arrest him, Officer! A man who likes to beat his wife!¡± shouted one resident wearing a sleeveless shirt and rolled-up sarong. Apparently, Bi Yani¡¯s neighbors knew that such violence often urred.


    ¡°Move!¡± The police officer pushed Bi Yani¡¯s husband¡¯s body, which continued to resist and refused to go to the police station. He kept shouting that what he did was just a mistake and he wouldn¡¯t do it again. However, the officer remained unmoved and still arrested him for questioning.


    ¡°No! Husband!¡± Bi Yani screamed. Lara hugged her and made her realize that her husband was evil. ¡°He must be imprisoned, Bi Yani! It can¡¯t be allowed!¡± Lara shouted just as loudly. However, Bi Yani kept resisting. She even pushed Lara, but Andre caught her.


    ¡°Ugh¡­.¡± There was pain in Lara¡¯s stomach as she almost fell.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Andre asked with a worried expression. Lara could see it clearly from his eyes and his trembling hands.


    ¡°Please, go after Bi Yani! I¡¯m fine,¡± Lara said, trying to stand up. However, Andre told her to sit down and rest. ¡°Let me handle everything. You just need to stay here, understand?¡±


    Lara nodded.


    She didn¡¯t know why, but she obeyed him so much. But if it weren¡¯t for Andre, Bi Yani¡¯s husband would never have received the appropriate punishment for his actions.


    Andre ran outside, chasing after Bi Yani, who was seen pulling her husband to free him from the grip of the officers. The atmosphere became more heated and the cheers of the residents erupted!


    ¡°A man like that should be arrested!¡±


    ¡°Just throw him in jail so he learns his lesson!¡±


    The atmosphere grew hotter outside Bi Yani¡¯s house. The shouts of justice-demanding residents filled the air, and the jeers condemning Bi Yani¡¯s husband made the situation even more uncontroble. Meanwhile, Lara was still sitting there, feeling the pain in her stomach from the push earlier.


    ¡°Will Bi Yani be able to ept this reality?¡± Lara muttered to herself, trying to calm her anxious feelings. She still couldn¡¯t understand how a wife could be so strong in defending her husband who clearly had been violent towards her.


    Meanwhile, Andre struggled to catch Bi Yani, who was desperately trying to free her husband from the police¡¯s grip. Bi Yani¡¯s screams mixed with the cheers and curses from the surrounding residents. That¡¯s when Bi Yani¡¯s mother emerged from the crowd.


    With unsteady steps and a face full of worry, Bi Yani¡¯s mother approached themotion in front of her house. Seeing her daughter crawling and sobbing, her mother¡¯s expression immediately turned sad and angry.


    ¡°My-my daughter ¡­.¡± Bi Yani¡¯s mother whispered, holding her daughter¡¯s bruised face. ¡°How did this happen?¡± she asked, unable to hold back her tears.


    ¡°M-mother ¡­.¡± Bi Yani couldn¡¯t speak. Perhaps, she didn¡¯t expect her mother, who was in the vige, to be in front of her house at this moment.


    Bi Yani had once mentioned that her mother was in a vige far from Jakarta. And she couldn¡¯te to Jakarta without anyone¡¯s help. But what is this? Why is this family reunion so ¡­ tragic?


    ¡°My daughter ¡­ Astaghfiruh! My daughter¡­.¡±


    Upon hearing her mother¡¯sment, Bi Yani could only sob uncontrobly. She now let go of her husband¡¯s shirt and prostrated herself at the wrinkled feet of her mother. ¡°Forgive me, Mom. I¡¯m sorry¡­.¡±


    The moment of meeting between the elderly mother and daughter was so touching. So much so that the residents, who were initially enraged, now fell silent. They let Bi Yani and her mother enjoy their togetherness amidst this painful episode.


    Bi Yani immediately hugged her mother after the old woman lifted her body covered in gravel and dirt.


    ¡°My daughter. You should be happy, dear,¡± her mother murmured while stroking her child¡¯s head. No matter how old, a child is still a child, and a mother¡­ doesn¡¯t care about any phase to pray for her child¡¯s happiness.


    Bi Yani seemed to realize that her happiness did not depend on her husband who often hurt her. She still had a mother who loved her unconditionally. Bi Yani was ashamed for being indifferent to herself, causing the elderly woman in her arms to cry endlessly.


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    Meanwhile, Bi Yani¡¯s husband still tried to revolt amidst the crowd. identally, the lock from the officer loosened. The man immediately ran towards the crowd.


    ¡°Hey! Stop!¡±


    The atmosphere became more tense as Bi Yani¡¯s husband managed to break free from the officer¡¯s grip. He ran quickly towards the crowd of residents still gathered around the house. Andre, who immediately realized what was happening, left Bi Yani and her mother to chase after the man.


    ¡°Stop!¡± Andre shouted, trying to chase Bi Yani¡¯s husband who was getting farther away. The residents who witnessed this began to shout and run, avoiding the angry and confused man.


    Bi Yani¡¯s husband jumped over the neighbor¡¯s fence, connecting the residence to the road. He tried to slip through the small alleys that divided the settlement to escape out of town.


    The residents avoided him, no one wanted to get involved. They didn¡¯t want to be a target of stray bullets if the officers finally carried out the criminal suppression procedure.


    Andre continued to chase him, along with other police officers.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Unexpectedly, a car suddenly sped down the narrow street. Bi Yani¡¯s husband, unaware of its direction, walked right in the middle of the road. The car tried to swerve, but it was toote. Bi Yani¡¯s husband was hit hard, thrown several meters and fell helpless.


    The honking of the car and the shouts of the residents filled the air. Everyone, including Andre, ran towards the scene. Bi Yani¡¯s husbandy motionless, while the driver of the car got out with a frightened face.


    ¡°Da-damn it! Why did he run towards my car?¡± the driver shouted, trying to save himself.


    Andre approached Bi Yani¡¯s seriously injured husband. ¡°Call an ambnce immediately!¡± he shouted to a resident holding a phone. Andre tried to provide first aid, but it was difficult. Bi Yani¡¯s husband¡¯s skull was cracked.


    Meanwhile, Bi Yani, who suddenly emerged from the crowd, witnessed the tragic ident involving her husband. Her face, previously full of sadness, now turned pale.


    ¡°Hu-husband!¡± she screamed with deep sorrow. ¡°Husband!¡± Bi Yani¡¯s cries of grief matched the tragic death that befell her abusive husband.


    Bi Yani¡¯s husband was pronounced dead on the spot, after paramedics arrived and checked his absent pulse.


    The punishment awaiting Bi Yani¡¯s husband is the punishment of the hereafter. He was freed from the worldly punishment that threatened him. Lara didn¡¯t know why, but her heart felt pain and refused to ept it. But this is the reality. At least, Bi Yani¡¯s life can be a little easier now.


    Who knows?

 Part 33 # Love-Hate Relationship

    ¡°Husband! Huhu!¡±


    Lara was startled to hear Bi Yani¡¯s mournful cry echoing through the air. People crowded around, and she struggled to find out what was actually happening.


    ¡°Excuse me ¡­.¡± Lara tried to push through the crowd, pretending to be a family member of the person being surrounded. What was actually happening?


    ¡°Oh my God!¡±


    Lara was stunned, unbelieving, to find Bi Yani¡¯s husband lying helpless with blood pooling around him.


    ¡°His skull is fractured!¡±


    Someone shouted from the other side. The sound of cries and screams only added to the tense atmosphere.


    ¡°AAndre, what happened?¡± Lara walked over to Andre, who looked flustered. He seemed desperate after doing something. ¡°Did you just try to help him?¡±


    Andre nodded weakly. ¡°He ¡­ he¡¯s dead.¡±


    Lara¡¯s heart seemed to stop beating. Now she understood why Bi Yani was so frustrated. ¡°Then?¡±


    ¡°An ambnce is on its way here. He suddenly ran towards the moving car because he was afraid of being arrested by the police.¡±


    Lara nodded, listening to all of his exnations. ¡°Poor thing,¡± she whispered. However, he was just a regr human being after all. Surely, there was a hint of humanity directed towards the lost soul.


    Lara shifted towards Bi Yani, who was attempting to embrace her husband¡¯s body but was being held back by the police officers on duty. She wasn¡¯t allowed to approach the scene. Lara tried to reach out to her and hug her, but she kept resisting.


    ¡°Husband! Husband!¡± Bi Yani called out incessantly. It seemed like Bi Yani still couldn¡¯t believe that her husband had died just like that, without warning.


    ¡°Bi!¡± Lara called out, half-shouting. She quickly pulled her arm, which was still trying to push away the officers who were restraining her.


    ¡°Bi! Be patient. Don¡¯t make everything moreplicated,¡± Lara said slowly, while stroking her back. Finally, she managed to pull her closer andnded a hug to calm her down.


    The atmosphere was so tense. Soon after, the sound of ambnce sirens wailed, approaching the scene. The officers carried Bi Yani¡¯s husband¡¯s body on a stretcher, his entire body and face tightly covered by a white cloth extending from the head to the toe.


    Around the scene, there were yellow police lines and white tapes indicating the investigation area. The situation of the fatal ident seemed clear, although questions about what actually happened still hung in the air.


    ¡°Husband! Don¡¯t leave me, Husband! Huhu ¡­.¡± Bi Yani continued to wail as the stretcher carrying her husband¡¯s body finally entered the ambnce and closedpletely. Shortly after, the ambnce drove away with permission from the duty police chief.


    ¡°He was the one who hit him?¡± Lara asked Andre.


    ¡°Yes. But he¡¯s not guilty. The man suddenly hit his car.¡±


    Lara nodded. It was indeed difficult to remain calm in such a situation. Although technically he was not guilty, the effect of his car¡¯s speed had taken another person¡¯s life. Of course, if not careful, he could end up in prison.


    Lara could see the forensic team and police investigators immediately starting the investigation procedures at the crime scene. They designated specific zones, put up police lines encircling the ident area, and began documenting every detail that could provide further clues.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Of course, this was their official procedure. Everyone knew that this was all because of Bi Yani¡¯s husband who fled when the police caught him!


    The forensic officers moved carefully, collecting important samples such as car fragments, blood traces, and personal belongings that might be scattered around the scene. The forensic photographer meticulously captured every angle, noted the initial position of the body, and took detailed pictures that could serve as evidence.


    ¡°Did you see himing beforehand?¡±


    Lara overheard a detective asking the car driver who caused the fatal ident. They were having a serious conversation. She couldn¡¯t catch the conversation clearly.


    Several witnesses at the scene were also being interviewed by other detectives. Perhaps they were collecting data for the office reportter.


    The detectives approached people who witnessed the incident or might have information to assist in the investigation. Sharp questions were asked to detail the chronology of events and get as clear a picture as possible.


    Lara was also curious about what actually happened. How could Bi Yani¡¯s husband die just like that?


    ¡°Are you the doctor who helped the victim earlier?¡± a forensic officer asked Andre, while Lara was still apanying Bi Yani, who was quite shocked and unable to say much.


    ¡°Yes. I am a doctor. Fortunately, I was at the crime scene, so I just did my usual duties as a doctor.¡±


    The forensic officer and Andre seemed to be engaged in detailed discussions about the victim¡¯s condition before being dered dead. Andre appeared to respond firmly and straightforwardly. Lara could understand that Andre probably didn¡¯t want toplicate the situation further.


    Andre had the same testimony as the car driver who refused to be med. He clearly saw Bi Yani¡¯s husband suddenly running into the middle of the road and hitting the car. Apparently, the action was impulsive and sudden. The car driver, of course, couldn¡¯t anticipate this beforehand.


    ¡°Are there any CCTV cameras around here?¡± the officer asked Andre.


    Andre shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure there are surveince cameras around here. It¡¯s just a small vige area.¡±


    The forensic officer noted the information andmunicated with the criminal technology team to further check the CCTV recordings around the ident area. Although it was a small vige, the criminal technology department might have ess to several CCTV recordings from the surrounding area. In a short time, the team could provide information on whether there were surveince cameras recording the incident.


    Meanwhile, Lara began to look towards Bi Yani, who had stopped crying. Finally, the middle-aged woman seemed to be a little calmer.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am. I want to go to the hospital. I want to apany my husband to his final resting ce peacefully¡­¡± she said with sobs.


    Lara nodded, understanding her feelings as a wife who had spent many days with her husband. Despite the many hardships, their marriage had provided plenty of memories in Bi Yani¡¯s life.


    ¡°I can take you. Wait here,¡± Andre said, apparently overhearing their conversation.


    Lara smiled, feeling a bit embarrassed but not refusing his help.


    Andre¡¯s back receded, with sweat soaking almost most of his shirt. In her heart, Lara¡¯s hatred for him gradually faded. She couldn¡¯t even believe herself. How could she depend on her past enemy?


    But, of course, she didn¡¯t have a choice.


    ***


    ¡°I¡¯m d I could finally be useful to you, my Lara.¡±

 Part 34 # The Meaning of Your Presence

    The process of Bi Yani¡¯s separation from her husband was veryplex and also quite lengthy, especially since her husband was a suspect in a domestic violence case that was supposed to be under investigation.


    ¡°Do we have to do an autopsy?¡± Bi Yani trembled upon hearing the word ¡®autopsy¡¯ uttered by the medical officer responsible for her husband¡¯s body.


    ¡°It is very important to uncover the cause of the ident and fulfill legal requirements, Ma¡¯am,¡± the officer exined firmly.


    Bi Yani nced at Lara briefly, considering her approval. She nodded. Bi Yani finally allowed her husband¡¯s body to undergo an autopsy to obtainprehensive information about the cause of his death and the extent of his injuries.


    After obtaining Bi Yani¡¯s consent, the medical officer carefully prepared the body for the autopsy. Bi Yani sat in the waiting room, her face pale and full of pressure. Lara sat beside her, trying to provide support even though words were difficult to utter.


    Lara didn¡¯t expect there to be an autopsy like this.


    ¡°How was it?¡± Andre had just arrived from the ground floor. He bought them cold drinks to refresh the atmosphere. Lara grabbed two cans of cold orange juice. She handed one to Bi Yani to uplift her spirits. After sipping the orange juice, Lara saw Bi Yani¡¯s face brighten up.


    ¡°It has to be done,¡± she replied tly.


    Andre looked at her with deep sympathy. Lara could feel that he was also surprised by the decision of the medical team to ept Bi Yani¡¯s husband¡¯s body. They could only remain silent and try to strengthen the wife who was engulfed in deep sorrow.


    After some time, the autopsy process finally finished. The forensic pathologist noted important findings that would be exined in the official report. Bi Yani¡¯s husband¡¯s body was then returned to the coffin, and Bi Yani was informed that they would soon provide the autopsy report once further analysis waspleted.


    Lara hugged her hand, trying to provide warmth in this difficult moment. Momentster, the medical officer called Bi Yani to give her initial exnations about the autopsy results.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am Yani, we found injuries on your husband¡¯s head, but please remember that this is just the beginning of the investigation. The full report will be provided after all analyses arepleted,¡± exined a forensic pathologist who had examined the husband¡¯s body.


    Bi Yani cried. Mixed feelings of sadness, anger, and confusion emerged simultaneously. However, the truth revealed by the autopsy process brought a heavy emotional burden for her. Lara could feel that she must be imagining how painful it would be to die so suddenly like that.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Then?¡±


    ¡°We will send the written report soon.¡±


    Bi Yani nodded. Andre seemed to be conversing with the officer to ensure something. Shortly after, police officers ¨C one man and one woman ¨C came to inquire about the victim¡¯s condition. Of course, they meant Bi Yani.


    Overall, she had improved enough. Bi Yani no longer felt bruises on her face. However, the female police officer still asked for statements and contact information to monitor Bi Yani¡¯s progress from time to time.


    ¡°Thank you, Ma¡¯am,¡± Lara said to the officer.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. We¡¯re just doing our duty.¡±


    Soon, the officers said goodbye and continued their investigation at the office, escorted by Andre to the exit. Andre served as a coordinator in providing the necessary information and statements to the authorities.


    Meanwhile, Lara continued to apany Bi Yani, who was still in shock and confusion.


    The autopsy process and meeting with the police officers were just part of the events that Bi Yani had to face. After all the procedures at the hospital werepleted, they returned to Bi Yani¡¯s house, which now felt empty without the presence of her husband, who had always been a source of trouble.


    At home, a quiet and mournful atmosphere still prevailed. Bi Yani sat on the couch, staring nkly out the window. Lara tried to provide warmth by approaching and sitting beside her. Although words couldn¡¯t rece the loss she felt, Lara wanted her to feel at least not alone in facing all of this.


    ¡°Bi Yani, maybe you need to rest. This must all be very heavy,¡± Lara said gently.


    Bi Yani looked at her, her eyes still radiating deep sadness. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do, Ma¡¯am. This all feels like a nightmare.¡±


    Lara held her hand, trying to support her every move. ¡°We will face this together, Bi. I am here for you.¡±


    ¡°My daughter¡­¡±


    A calm voice from Bi Yani¡¯s mother suddenly surprised them both. Lara even forgot that there was someone else in the house, waiting for Bi Yani¡¯s return.


    ¡°Mom¡­¡±


    Bi Yani¡¯s tears burst again, remembering how she had been passive when she was tortured by herte husband, who was now in the afterlife. Although her husband wasn¡¯t a good person, Bi Yani still felt a loss.


    Lara began to remember her own marital situation, which was not much different from Bi Yani¡¯s story. Although she didn¡¯t experience physical violence, Seno¡¯s actions still hurt. Wasn¡¯t mental violence equally torturous? Ah. She shouldn¡¯t be thinking about that man.


    ¡°Why have you been silent all this time? Can¡¯t your mother be a shoulder to lean on? I can¡¯t bear to see you like this, dear,¡± Bi Yani¡¯s mother said tearfully, gently caressing her face.


    Bi Yani stopped crying and hugged her mother tightly, trying to speak. Lara could understand how she felt. Just like her, Bi Yani must be confused and didn¡¯t know where to start.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mom. Yani has been keeping everything to herself all this time. Yani didn¡¯t want Mom to be sad and hurt because of¡­ her husband¡¯s treatment.¡±


    ¡°Astagfirulloh, dear¡­ you shouldn¡¯t be like that. Although it¡¯s bitter, the truth must be conveyed. Seeing you like this, without ever knowing the real problem before, breaks Mother¡¯s heart. It hurts so much.¡±


    They both cried while embracing each other.


    Since then, Lara¡¯s heart also felt the pain. Her eyes watered, and she immediately wiped them with the tissue given by¡­ Andre!


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, bowing in embarrassment. She had involved him enough in Bi Yani¡¯s affairs. ¡°Is your social service over?¡± she asked curiously. She just remembered the free medical clinic that Andre had left behind to help her.


    ¡°Haha. Of course, they have all gone home.¡±


    Andre just smiled gently while looking deeply into her eyes. Somehow, she turned away. Her heart pounded fast seeing his dimples. Since then, until now, the beauty of his smile remained the same. She didn¡¯t even feel disgusted anymore. What¡¯s wrong with her?


    Andre nced at her, Lara could feel it because she had also nced at him.


    They stared at each other for a moment before someone¡¯s voice suddenly startled them both.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am! Mrs. Lara is around Pasar Induk. We found traces of her online taxi booking there!¡±

 Part 35 # Seno’s Arrival

    Lara disappeared overnight, and Seno couldn¡¯t find any trace of her anywhere! The man was furious and swore to teach his naughty wife a lesson!


    ¡°How dare she run away! I¡¯ll teach her a lesson!¡± Seno growled as he squeezed his phone, which had been unsessful in contacting his wife. He received no feedback. Lara¡¯s phone was inactive.


    Seno finally hired a private detective to locate his wife. He intentionally avoided contacting the police because he didn¡¯t want to deal withplicated procedural matters. Seno tried to avoid police involvement in every matter as much as possible.


    His consideration was not without reason because¡­ Seno himself was actually¡­ a criminal!


    ¡°How is it? Have you found her? Where is my wife now?¡± Seno pressed when contacting the detective he had hired. He had been waiting for five hours, and Seno couldn¡¯t bear to continue this disappointing investigation.


    He could fire the detective and not pay a penny if his wife wasn¡¯t found soon.


    ¡°Sir! Mrs. Lara is around the Central Market. We found the traces of her online taxi booking there!¡±


    Seno heard the news with a puzzled expression. Anger and disappointment clung tightly to his heart. Without further ado, he immediately headed towards the Central Market. His car sped at high speed, reflecting the tension and uncertainty that gued his heart and mind.


    Arriving at the Central Market, Seno felt the anger dominating his heart, his heart pounding, the veins in his neck suddenly tense. The private detective he had hired was waiting there, in the market parking area. The man quickly provided a brief report on the traces of the online taxi booking found.


    ¡°Seno, we found out that the taxi Mrs. Lara took was heading east from here. We followed that route and found the location where her phone wasst detected,¡± the detective exined firmly and straightforwardly.


    ¡°And then? Where is she now?¡± Seno urged with fiery red eyes.


    ¡°She is in a boarding house not far from here. But we advise you to stay calm and be cautious. There may be certain reasons why Mrs. Lara chose to go there,¡± the detective advised wisely.


    ¡°No need to advise me!¡± Seno yelled.


    ¡°V-very well, Sir.¡±


    The detective fell silent. He turned off his motorcycle engine and then quickly got into Seno¡¯s car after receiving instructions to search for Lara together and not cause a scene.


    Without waiting any longer, Seno immediately headed in the direction rmended by the detective. The boarding house in question was not far from the Central Market. The tension in the air became more palpable, and Seno¡¯s mind was filled with various bad scenarios that might ur.


    ¡°Madness! At this time of night, she¡¯s in a boarding house? Whose boarding house?!¡± Seno muttered as he continued to drive his car through the cold night.


    The street shown by the detective was narrow enough for a four-wheeled vehicle to pass. Seno had to find a way to prevent his car from colliding with the tightly packed walls.


    In the darkness of the night, Seno¡¯s car sped quickly along the narrow road towards the boarding house indicated as Lara¡¯s whereabouts. The private detective sitting next to him continued to give instructions and guide them through the small streets.


    The distance between the car and the indicated location was getting closer. Seno felt his heart beating faster, adrenaline peaked, and curiosity mixed with worry dominated his mind. In his mind, various possibilities about why Lara was there quickly emerged.


    ¡°Is Lara having an affair to get back at me?¡±


    Seno continued to think badly about his wife. He was afraid that Lara would run away with their only child. It would be a loss for Seno. He didn¡¯t care much about Lara. Seno only worried about the sole child in her womb.


    ¡°In front of you, turn left, Sir.¡±


    As the car approached the deserted boarding house, the private detective told Seno to stop a few meters before so as not to attract attention. After all, they were still assuming. Lara might not necessarily be there.


    However, how could they confirm it without seeing with their own eyes? That¡¯s why they immediately went to the location suspected to be Lara¡¯s hiding ce.


    ¡°That green-painted house?¡± Seno asked, trying to confirm.


    The detective nodded.


    Seno immediately pulled over his car on the side of the road, not far from the green-painted boarding house. The two of them got out of the car cautiously, trying to minimize noise so as not to wake the surrounding residents.


    ¡°We need to act cautiously. Don¡¯t let the situation escte, Sir,¡± the detective said in a low voice.


    Seno only nodded with eyes full of tension. They approached the door of the boarding house. The detective knocked gently, but there was no answer. Seno felt his heart pounding in his throat. He couldn¡¯t wait any longer to catch his wild wife red-handed.


    ¡°Excuse me ¡­.¡±


    The detective knocked on the door again. However, the desired response was still not obtained.


    ¡°Mrs. Lara, if you are here, please let us know. We just want to talk,¡± the detective said again softly, trying to prate the closed door without posing a threat.


    Unfortunately, there was still no response from inside the house. The detective nodded at Seno and promptly tried to open the unlocked door. They entered the house cautiously, trying not to make too much noise.


    The house felt empty, dim, and the tense atmosphere filled the air. They checked every room, searching for Lara¡¯s whereabouts.


    ¡°OWW!¡±


    Seno screamed as he stumbled over something. Who would have thought that¡­ it was the body of a man!


    ¡°Hey! Who are you guys!¡±


    The big man got up with a hoarse voice typical of someone who had just woken up. He immediately turned on the light and put on his sses.


    ¡°D-doctor?¡± Seno recognized the face. Dr. Andre. The doctor who had treated his wife before.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Mr. Seno?¡± Andre also recognized him. They both stared at each other for a long time.


    In the already bright situation, Seno began to pay attention to his surroundings. He just realized that¡­ Lara was sleeping in front of him. On the thin and shabby mattress on the floor.


    ¡°LARA!¡± Seno shouted spontaneously. He couldn¡¯t contain his anger.


    Lara startled. She opened her eyes a littleter¡­ surprised by Seno¡¯s sudden arrival as if catching her off guard.


    ¡°Seno?¡±


    ¡°Lara! What are you doing here!¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Lara¡¯s head throbbed as if responding to this sudden surprise. She suddenly felt dizzy and leaned against the slightly peeled walls of Bi Yani¡¯s house.


    Seno immediately pulled her closer and prepared to leave this poor man¡¯s boarding house. ¡°You! How could you be here?¡± Seno angrily reprimanded.


    Lara was still dizzy. She only answered casually. ¡°I¡¯m looking for Bi Yani. You fired her.¡±


    ¡°L-Lara!¡± Seno didn¡¯t ept it because it seemed as if he was med for Lara¡¯s departure, making today hellish. Seno really couldn¡¯t ept his wife¡¯s indifferent exnation.


    ¡°Why are you here, doctor? And what are you doing in this boarding house?¡± Seno demanded in a high tone.


    Andre looked at Seno with an exnatory gaze. ¡°I know this may be hard to understand, Mr. Seno, but let me exin.¡±


    Seno interrupted him, ¡°Don¡¯t y games!¡±


    Dr. Andre seemed to have difficulty starting the exnation. ¡°I¡¯m here to provide assistance to Bi Yani. There are some problems that need immediate attention.¡±


    ¡°Problems? Why in this boarding house? What¡¯s the problem, anyway?¡±


    Andre tried to exin, ¡°Bi Yani ¡­ just experienced a tragedy. Her husband died in an ident.¡±


    Seno became even angrier. ¡°So, what does all this have to do with you and my wife? You¡­ are you having an affair behind my back?!¡±


    ¡°Seno! Watch your mouth!¡± Lara also shouted. This time, she wouldn¡¯t stay silent.


    ¡°Mr. Seno, I know this sounds like an excuse, but the situation isplicated. Bi Yani needs special protection and attention now. I¡¯m just doing this as an officer.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense!¡±


    ¡°Seno!¡±


    Lara pped Seno reflexively. This time, Andre pushed him away and kicked him out. ¡°Outrageous! What kind of man hits a woman! You¡¯re truly a coward!¡±


    Andre almostnded a punch on Seno¡¯s cheek, but Lara stopped him. She didn¡¯t want any fighting here, and the situation was bing more uncontroble.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Lara pleaded with Andre not to prolong this issue. She then turned around and spoke loudly to her unreasonable husband.


    ¡°Go back, if you don¡¯t want me to report to the police now.¡±


    ¡°Report to the police? I¡¯ll report you for cheating on me!¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah? Did you say that? Sure? This cheek is still red and¡­ your nude photos with Olivia are still stored in my phone gallery. Do you want to bet, Mr. CEO?¡±


    Seno gritted his teeth. How could Lara threaten him like that. ¡°Damn it!¡± He growled in anger. Without much ado, Seno left and left Lara ording to her wishes.


    After Seno left, Lara began to cry.


    ¡°Lara ¡­.¡± Andre called out pitifully. He didn¡¯t expect to witness violence like this in front of his eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t forgive that bastard!¡±

 Part 36 # Confession

    The tension that had urred earlier subsided as Seno and an unknown man eventually left Bi Yani¡¯s rented house.


    Lara still felt the heat of her husband¡¯s pnding on her left cheek, along with the pain in her heart and the shame that permeated her dignity. Lara felt like a weak woman who surrendered to her husband¡¯s oppression. Was that what people around her thought?


    ¡°Mrs. Lara¡­.¡± Bi Yani, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, apanied by the faint whispers of her mother, who was still in shock from all themotion.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Lara wiped her tear-stained face. Meanwhile, Andre dragged her out of that cramped room and began to talk to her.


    ¡°What kind of treatment has your husband given you all this time, Lara? Answer me!¡± Andre¡¯s eyes gleamed with anger. His jaw tightened as if holding back something that couldn¡¯t be expressed. Andre was so upset with everything that had happened, but¡­ what right did he have?


    ¡°No, Ndre. He only pped me this time.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°Usually, well¡­ he just rarelyes home.¡±


    ¡°Do you know what he does when he doesn¡¯te home?¡±


    Lara nodded weakly.


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    Andre knew the implicit meaning of Lara¡¯s nod. Unconsciously, his fist began to bleed, after identally punching the hard, textured wall behind his back.


    For some reason, Andre suddenly cried. It was clearly not the cry of pain from his fist that spilled fresh blood¡­ his tears sounded like ament that¡­ ah. It¡¯s hard to exin.


    ¡°Andre¡­.¡± Lara also cried. Her heart felt pain. This was the first time she had found someone crying with her. Lara had never felt like she had anyone to lean on.


    Her rtionship with Andre was reallyplicated.


    Part of her didn¡¯t want to ept Andre¡¯s sincerity, but another part of her was deeply touched and moved by everything the doctor had done.


    ¡°I can¡¯t ept it, Ra! Divorce him! You¨Cyou¡­ you¡­ can¡­.¡±


    ¡°Ssst! Be quiet, Andre! It¡¯s not as easy as you say!¡± Lara cut him off. She felt unprepared to hear the offer Andre was about to make out of pity.


    Lara knew very well that, as a bachelor, he probably had many admirers. Lara didn¡¯t want to y the role of an owl longing for the moon. This was not just a television drama that could be easily conquered.


    ¡°But, Ra¡­.¡±


    ¡°Enough. I¡¯m very grateful for your concern andpanionship. It¡¯s enough, Ndre. Tomorrow, we have to return to our own worlds.¡±


    Lara¡¯s words were even more painful than the wound gaping in Andre¡¯s fist. Remembering the wound, Lara immediately went to the kitchen, borrowed a basin, filled it with warm water from the thermos, and began to clean Andre¡¯s wound.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± Andre hissed as the wet cloth touched his injured skin. Lara smiled, apparently the doctor could also feel pain, like any other patient.


    ¡°Next time, if you want to have a boxing match, use boxing gloves, okay¡­?¡± Lara said lightly. After piercing Andre¡¯s heart so cruelly, she still managed to smile.


    ¡°Can¡¯t I rece him, Ra?¡± Andre asked, extending his hand that had been clenched before. His fingertips were left to touch the palm of the nurse who was trying hard to sterilize the wound. But unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t that wound that he should be treating.


    Lara looked at Andre with a faint smile, as if unwilling to give a more painful answer. She tried to keep her tongue from hurting her old friend even more, who might be looking at her with sympathy that was misinterpreted.


    Sympathy is not love.


    Andre should know that.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s done.¡±


    After applying the wound medicine, Lara moved away, leaving Andre still sitting on the front porch. A stiff and awkward feeling enveloped them both, after thepanionship that had so softened the atmosphere.


    This, of course, was because of Andre¡¯s words, which were like a beacon in Lara¡¯s dark life. There was no answer as beautiful as silence. They both knew that the situation was not in their favor.


    Bi Yani, who observed the two of them, now understood why her employer didn¡¯t want to be examined at the Andromeda Hospital. There was a strange bond between them that couldn¡¯t be expressed in words.


    However, Bi Yani was sure that if Lara wasn¡¯t married, they would definitely be the sweetest couple she had ever met. Lara should find her own happiness and break free from the clutches of her rough husband.


    ¡°Bu, I hope what I¡¯m experiencing won¡¯t happen to you,¡± Bi Yani said when she met Lara in the kitchen.


    At the moment, Lara was washing the basin as if it had just been used to y in the mud by the neighbor¡¯s children, dirty and crusty. In fact, the basin was already clean. Lara only needed to rinse it with soap and water. Somehow, Lara deliberately avoided other people and wanted to linger in this quiet kitchen.


    ¡°Bi Yani, don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Bi Yani sighed deeply. She felt like she was seeing her reflection in arge mirror in a different position. The difference was, Lara was a rich person. At least, she could ess any help, anytime.


    One thing Bi Yani didn¡¯t realize was that, whether rich or poor, victims of domestic violence experience the same syndrome. They¡¯re afraid, frustrated, and have low self-esteem, feeling worthless.


    For the first time, Lara felt like she had someone supporting her. Usually, she just surrendered and epted Seno¡¯s treatment without any resistance.


    Lara now began to wonder, what was her motivation for continuing to live with such a despicable husband?


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to sleep.¡±


    Bi Yani led Lara into the room with arge bed. At first, they slept together in the living room, to apany Bi Yani, who was troubled. This time, Bi Yani invited Lara to sleep in the main bedroom with a bed big enough for three people.


    ¡°May you have sweet dreams.¡±


    Lara smiled and agreed with the prayer from her servant. For several nights now, she couldn¡¯t sleep soundly. Hopefully, tonight, her deep sleep would erase all the worries in her heart.


    For some reason, before drifting off to sleep, Andre¡¯s angry face still lingered in her memory. Actually, why was that man so caring? Lara really didn¡¯t understand.


    The next day, the sun rose with bright rays. The morning atmosphere felt calmer and more peaceful. Bi Yani and Lara-who slept in the same bed-woke up feeling relieved and grateful that their night had passed peacefully.


    ¡°Mrs. Lara, please wake up, I¡¯ll cook fried rice for breakfast.¡±


    Bi Yani prepared breakfast in the kitchen. With whatever ingredients she had, she began to cook an easy dish that could satisfy their hungry stomachs. After a while, Bi Yani called everyone to gather at the dining table. The morning meal prepared by Bi Yani was immediately served with warm smoke characteristic of freshly cooked food.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°Wow, it looks delicious,¡± Lara said happily.


    Bi Yani smiled at her. ¡°Please enjoy it.¡±


    The four of them started eating eagerly. Andre finished his fried rice first. Bi Yani¡¯s mother followed, then Bi Yani, and finally, Lara


    ¡°Thank you, Bi Yani. The breakfast is delicious,¡± Lara said with a small smile.


    ¡°True. This is the most delicious fried rice I¡¯ve ever tasted,¡± Andre agreed.


    Everyone looked happy. Cheerful colors radiated from their eyes. This morning felt different, warmer, and more familiar. They all felt like a family.


    While working at Seno¡¯s residence, Bi Yani had never seen Laraugh so freely like this. The mistress¡¯s inner suffering was so great. It seemed that happiness was a luxury she had to sacrifice for the sake of marital status.


    ¡°I hope we can continue to be happy like this,¡± Bi Yani suddenly felt warmth emanating from the togetherness with these beloved people.


    The other three nodded. Since her husband¡¯s passing, Bi Yani nned to invite her mother to live with her in this house. Bi Yani would visit her once a week when she got a break from her employer.


    Unfortunately, their happiness didn¡¯tst long. Suddenly, there was a knock on the front door. The scent of jasmine mixed with wood could be smelled distinctly, it seemed¡­ the guest who came was a woman.


    ¡°Excuse me! I¡¯m looking for someone here! Please, open the door!¡±

 Part 37 # Confronted by the Fiancée

    Lara was startled by the voice. It seemed familiar, but who was it?


    ¡°I¡¯ll open the door,¡± Andre said, walking swiftly towards the living room and opening it immediately.


    Lara hid behind the partition wall, trying to avoid being seen by the mysterious woman.


    She didn¡¯t even get a chance to see her face. Or rather, she didn¡¯t dare. Somehow, she suddenly felt afraid. The events ofst night were still vivid in her memory. She didn¡¯t want Seno toe back here with another henchman.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Andre asked curtly to the woman in front of him. It seemed like he knew her.


    ¡°Andre! Where have you been?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your business with him?¡±


    Lara heard them arguing. It seemed like she wasn¡¯t one of Seno¡¯s henchmen. She was someone Andre knew. Lara became curious ¡­ who was that woman?


    ¡°Dr. Miriam?¡± Lara widened her eyes. She didn¡¯t expect that person to be someone she knew. Suddenly, she emerged and approached her to intervene in the situation.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been looking everywhere for you, Ndre! After the charity event yesterday, you suddenly disappeared! I was worried¡­ luckily, the forensic doctor at the police station told me that he saw my fiance at Cipto Hospital. What actually happened?¡±


    Ouch!


    Lara¡¯s heart felt stabbed when she heard the word ¡®fiance¡¯. So, all this time¡­ Andre was engaged to Dr. Miriam? Somehow, that fact felt so painful. What did it have to do with her?


    ¡°Shut up, Miriam!¡±


    ¡°Andre ¡­.¡±


    Dr. Miriam seemed to shed tears and quickly wiped them away when she saw Lara suddenlying from the direction of the room. Lara felt uneasy. She intended to testify that ¡­ Andre didn¡¯t shirk his duties without reason. He was trying to help her. But would her testimony help?


    ¡°Sorry, Dr. Miriam. Dr. Andre helped me and my friend yesterday,¡± Lara said softly. ¡°There was an urgent matter that needed immediate attention and¡­ the process was lengthy!¡±


    Dr. Miriam stared sharply at Lara. She could feel the difference in Miriam¡¯s reactionpared to when they first met. Lara thought she couldn¡¯t make such an expression. She ¡­ shivered!


    ¡°So, because of her? I¡¯ve been looking for you like crazy, Andre!¡± Dr. Miriam pointed her finger at Lara. Lara swallowed hard. Couldn¡¯t this issue be resolved with just words?


    ¡°Miriam! Lower your finger!¡±


    ¡°You always scold me but defend her? Hah! It¡¯s too obvious, Andre! Remember! She¡¯s someone¡¯s wife!¡±


    This time, Lara felt that something was off. How could she jump to such a conclusion? As if Andre and she were having an affair? ¡°Sorry, doctor. You¡¯re out of line.¡±


    ¡°What? You¡¯re the one out of line, Mrs. Lara! How dare you seduce someone else¡¯s fiance! Isn¡¯t your husband satisfying enough?¡± Dr. Miriam shouted in front of Lara. She clenched her fists, annoyed. How could she think that they were having an affair?


    Suddenly, Andre forcefully pulled Miriam to leave Bi Yani¡¯s house. ¡°Leave or I¡¯ll report you to the police for trespassing!¡±


    ¡°But! Andre! You can¡¯t just kick me out like this!¡±


    ¡°Go!¡±


    Andre¡¯s shout seemed to make Miriam realize that her behavior waspletely unreasonable. Lara understood her feelings as a woman who might have prejudices. But with her blind usations without presenting facts¡­ it only embarrassed her dignity.


    ¡°Fine, if that¡¯s what you want. But, I assure you¡­ you¡¯ll regret it, Andre!¡±


    Dr. Miriam finally left Bi Yani¡¯s house with a face full of anger and disappointment. Andre closed the door tightly, ending the unwanted incident. Lara felt a little relieved, but also sad to be involved in someone else¡¯s love drama.


    ¡°Andre, forgive me. I didn¡¯t mean to cause trouble,¡± Lara said softly, trying to calm the situation.


    Andre shook his head, ¡°You¡¯re not at fault, Lara. I should apologize. She shouldn¡¯t have used you like that.¡±


    Bi Yani, who witnessed everything, alsomented, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about what she said, Mrs. Lara. We all know what really happened.¡±


    Lara smiled at her, appreciating her support. Then, Andre looked at Lara with a serious expression, as if wanting to say something.


    ¡°Lara, forgive me if this makes you ufortable, but we need to talk,¡± Andre said cautiously.


    Lara nodded, giving him permission to continue the conversation. The two of them decided to sit in the living room, leaving Bi Yani busy in the kitchen.


    ¡°Lara, I should have told you from the beginning. Miriam is my fiancee,¡± Andre revealed, unraveling the puzzle that had made Lara¡¯s heart beat faster.


    Lara looked at him in surprise. ¡°Your fiancee? Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡±


    Andre sighed, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to hide it from you. My rtionship with Miriam is not a normal one. She knows that we were friends when we were in Canada, and it made her very jealous. I wanted to exin everything to you, but the situation became veryplicated.¡±


    Lara tried to understand, although she still felt disappointed by thisck of rity. ¡°But why is she so sure that we have a rtionship more than just ¡­ friends?¡±


    Andre shook his head with a deep sigh, ¡°She¡¯s too emotional. Miriam might have misunderstood.¡±


    Unfortunately, Andre¡¯s exnation seemed to hang. Lara could see a glint in his eyes signaling that he was hiding something.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to meddle in your personal affairs, Andre. I just need your help as a doctor.¡±


    Andre looked at her with regretful eyes, ¡°I understand, Lara. And I promise, I will resolve this issue with Miriam. There¡¯s no romantic rtionship between us, just professional cooperation.¡±


    Lara nodded, trying to ept his exnation. There was still disappointment in her heart, but she knew this situation wasplicated, and she shouldn¡¯t be an additional burden to Andre.


    ¡°Forgive me, Lara. I don¡¯t want to add to your troubles.¡±


    Lara smiled gently, ¡°No, Andre. We all have our own problems. I hope you both can resolve yours. I also apologize for everything.¡±


    After Andre left, Lara could finally enter the house peacefully. There was no trace of Seno there, only Mti who was cleaning the yard.


    Lara went inside and rested for a while on the front sofa, trying to digest all the events that had just happened. Life is indeed full of surprises and obstacles. She promised herself that she would remain strong and face whateveres next.


    ¡°Lara! You can do it!¡±

 Part 38 # Reunion Preparations

    The day had turned into evening. Unconsciously, Lara fell asleep on the sofa. It seemed like she was very tired. Mti approached her cautiously, probably so as not to wake her up from her deep sleep.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, M?¡± Lara asked softly as she quickly sat up and straightened her back, although it felt a bit stiff.


    Mti approached her slowly, looking concerned about Lara¡¯s condition just waking up from a nap on the sofa.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, how are you feeling?¡± she asked gently.


    Lara smiled at her, feeling grateful to have Mti as a caring servant. ¡°I¡¯m fine, M. Is there something you want to say?¡±


    ¡°Um ¡­ it¡¯s about Mr. Seno, ma¡¯am.¡±


    Lara frowned, feeling that something was wrong with his behavior. ¡°What about Mr. Seno?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Seno hasn¡¯te home as long as you¡¯re not here. I don¡¯t know if he¡¯lle home tonight or not,¡± Mti said fearfully. Maybe she felt sorry for Lara. But strangely ¡­ Lara was used to it.


    ¡°Just let him be, M. Maybe there¡¯s unfinished business at the office. Mr. Seno might be working overtime.¡±


    Lara brushed off Mti¡¯s unnecessary curiosity. ¡°Alright, M. Then, I¡¯ll tidy up again. Please drink your herbal tea,¡± Mti handed her a ss of warm tea, and Lara felt happy.


    ¡°Thank you, M. You may go.¡±


    The girl shuffled towards the kitchen to continue her activities while Lara felt hot, wanting to freshen up. It was futile to wait for Seno toe. He seemed unwilling toe home again today.


    ***


    The next day, Lara just realized that the reunion event would start soon. Only one more week left. Should shee? Is it good for her? ¡°Hhh ¡­.¡± she just sighed deeply, feeling futile and uninterested in attending.


    She checked her phone, maybe there was one motivation that could catch her attention to attend the reunion.


    ¡°Mahya?¡±


    She squinted, looking at the picture of the girl with a ponytail that became the banner on the alumni Facebook group page. Mahya would be speaking and sharing tips about her work as an investigative reporter on one of the international news channels. ¡°Interesting. Mahya is indeed great,¡± she whispered with a hint of jealousy.


    In the past, they were close friends. Unfortunately, Lara ended up being a housewife like this, without any achievements like hers. Deep down, she was a little envious of the achievements of her friends who became career women and had outstanding achievements.


    But, there was also a part of her heart that felt lucky because she could soon be a mother ¨C having a baby from her own womb. Imagining a cute little creature that looked like her was very enjoyable.


    Suddenly, her phone rang, reminding her that there was a message. She opened the message and found a pre-event invitation to the reunion. Her heart fluttered a little, and she decided to read the message.


    ¡°Mrs. Lara, we sincerely hope to meet you again at the alumni reunion event. Many are eager to know yourtest news. Pleasee to share experiences and memories together. Warm regards, reunionmittee.¡±


    Lara looked at the message with mixed feelings. On one hand, the curiosity and longing to meet old friends were so strong. But on the other hand, difort and anxiety crept into her mind. What if she¡¯s asked about her current life?


    Mti entered the room carrying delicious afternoon snacks: freshly baked pastries. ¡°Mrs. Lara, please enjoy.¡±


    She smiled at her, taking a piece of warm bread and immediately devouring it. It tasted so delicious, filled with chocte. ¡°Thank you, M. The pastry is delicious.¡±


    M bowed, epting her praise. Before leaving, it seemed like she was observing Lara a little.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, M?¡± she asked, not wanting her to leave without asking if she was curious about something.


    ¡°Um ¡­ what makes you worried? Since this afternoon, you seem gloomy.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t believe it, Mti was indeed sensitive. She didn¡¯t want to make her worry more. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, M. I¡¯m just pondering a bit. The alumni reunion will be held soon, but I¡¯m still unsure whether toe or not.¡±


    Mti then asked for permission to sit next to her. She ced the tray and started chatting with her like a friend. ¡°Why are you hesitating, Mrs. Lara? Surely many of your friends want to know about you. Some time ago, I also went to a high school reunion event. It was so much fun, Mrs.!¡±


    She chuckled at her funny expression. Her round eyes sparkled, indicating the deepest joy in her heart, ording to her age, which was still in thete teens. Somehow, since they first met, Mti¡¯s attitude towards her had been a bit cautious. Even though their ages were not far apart.


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. Mrs. Lara shoulde! I¡¯m sure your friends will be surprised by Mrs. Lara¡¯s increasing beauty,¡± she said without hesitation.


    Sheughed again, feeling entertained by her small praises. ¡°But my face looks a bit dull, there¡¯s a pimple growing under my chin.¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Lara is pregnant, it¡¯s normal. My neighbor who is pregnant, far from having a radiant face, instead looks untidy. Pregnancy hormones are like that, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Has Mti ever been pregnant?¡± she teased.


    ¡°U-um. No. But, my grandma has a lot of children. My grandma is the same as my neighbor. When she¡¯s pregnant, her face looks more untidy,¡± Mti stuttered, as if she wanted to dig up her mistakes, even though she was just kidding.


    ¡°Sorry, M. I was just kidding. Your grandma is your mom, right? No need to hold any secrecy here,¡± Lara chuckled.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. I mean, my mom. I have 12 siblings, ma¡¯am. A lot, right?¡±


    ¡°Wow? That¡¯s a lot!¡±


    They continued talking about Mti¡¯s family in her hometown in Sukabumi. Lara understood why Mti¡¯s behavior was not like most young women. It turned out she came from a vige. She liked her more and more.


    ¡°So, Mti originally worked here, and Mr. Seno asked you directly, right?¡±


    ¡°Um ¡­ that ¡­,¡± Mti looked confused this time. What happened?


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°So, that ¡­ my grandma took care of it, ma¡¯am. I don¡¯t know anything. I was just told to work in Jakarta, that¡¯s it.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    She nodded, understanding her confusion. ¡°So, should I juste to the reunion event?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am. Juste.¡±


    ¡°But, M, what if they ask about Seno or my current job as a housewife? I feel like I don¡¯t have any achievements to be proud of.¡±


    Mti smiled gently. ¡°Forgive me if my words are too bold, ma¡¯am. But in my opinion, being a housewife is a great achievement. You y an extraordinary role in guiding the family. It¡¯s hard nowadays to find women who want to be servants to their husbands, ma¡¯am.¡±


    She looked up and met Mti¡¯s gaze. There was warmth in her eyes that made her heart feel lighter. ¡°Thank you, M. Sometimes I need someone like you to remind me. Right. I do want to dedicate myself to my little family. I don¡¯t want to work outside the home.¡±


    Mti held her hand gently. ¡°That¡¯s right, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    They exchanged smiles. Shortly after, Mti said goodbye to continue her activities in the kitchen: cooking dinner. It seemed like she was very busy. If only Bi Yani was here, her work would be much easier.


    ***


    The conversation with Mti gave warmth to the corner of Lara¡¯s heart. She became more confident about attending the reunion invitation.


    Once again, she surfed on her phone screen. Unintentionally, Mahya¡¯s image still lingered in her mind. She decided to find out more about her. Maybe learning about Mahya¡¯s inspirational activities could provide additional motivation for her to attend the reunion event.


    She searched for Mahya¡¯s profile on social media and found various articles and investigative reports she had made. Her sess amazed her. The girl always seemed to be at the forefront of uncovering suspicious things, and strangely enough, she always seeded!


    ¡°I¡¯m proud of you, Mahya.¡±


    The jealousy in her heart was reced by pride in Mahya¡¯s sess, who used to be her closest friend. This world indeed needed the touch of psychopathic hands who were never afraid of anything.


    She became curious about who else she would tear apart and serve to her viewers.


    She really didn¡¯t know about it ¡­ until a big event finally made her realize her mistake all this time.

 Part 39 # Dolalopa

    Night fell as silently as the dark corridors of the abandoned building located on the border of Jakarta and Bekasi. No one would have suspected that within its wallsy aboratory operating with sophisticated facilities.


    Footsteps echoed along with the swing of a shlight beam from the building¡¯s guard. A bespectacled man in a neatly tailored suit walked alongside the guard toward a secret door on the third floor.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°New cologne, sir?¡± the guard casually remarked, knowing today was payday. If only his boss wasn¡¯t in a bad mood, his sry might not be dyed. The stout man in his early fifties didn¡¯t want his family to suffer hunger like African children.


    Nevertheless, his sry had to be paid today.


    ¡°Hmm. Can you smell it?¡± replied the boss, starting to remove his sunsses. The area was sufficiently dark, and the eyes of uninvited guests were unlikely to prate the double security of this mysterious building.


    The man reverted to his true identity and discarded his disguise.


    ¡°The scent is pleasant, sir. Seems like an expensive perfume, isn¡¯t it?¡± the guard asked with a suspicious smile. But, of course, the boss understood his subordinate¡¯s intent.


    ¡°Check your ount. Amber has transferred it,¡± he said, avoiding small talk. He was very busy.


    ¡°Wow! Mr. Seno is so generous!¡± eximed the guard with joy. He was thrilled that his sry, along with the sweet-mouthed bonus, was valued at several million by the boss who had a secret job below. Whatever it was, he didn¡¯t want to know anything except that his sry was paid on time.


    ***


    Seno arrived at the third floor. Security became tighter there. A lift with a retina scanner greeted him before he could step into the 3¡Á2-meter room.


    As the green sensor blinked and the retina scan verified that Seno was the one attempting to enter the lift, the door opened automatically. Seno immediately pressed the B button, and in an instant, the control lever sank downwards, lowering the lift to the basement.


    Seno could feel a gentle vibration as the lift began to descend. The atmosphere inside the lift was cold and silent, with only the faint sound of the lift mechanism escorting Seno into his secretive world.


    ¡°They should have developed the antidote by now! Damn it!¡± Seno grumbled.


    Lately, all his ns had been disrupted because of his bad mood. Seno couldn¡¯t control his emotions to finish the secret project of testing the illegal drug he was working on.


    Actually, many scientists could work on autopilot, but Seno¡¯s will was also an important consideration they had to fulfill for the sess of this drug.


    ¡°Damn! Useless women!¡±


    Seno cursed all the women he had encountered in his life, especially¡­ Mahya! He was so curious and wanted to taste Mahya¡¯s scent, at least once in his lifetime. Seno was very intrigued by her.


    When the lift door opened on the basement level, Seno was faced with a long corridor with concrete walls on both sides. Neon lights on the ceiling provided sufficient illumination. Seno stepped out of the lift and walked along the seemingly endless corridor.


    After a few steps, Seno arrived at a thick metal door that seemed to have no conventional handle or key. Next to the door was an electronic control panel with a touch screen emitting a soft blue light.


    Seno nced around before pressing several codebinations on the touch screen. The metal door slowly opened, revealing the sophisticatedboratory inside.


    ¡°Phew¡­¡±


    Seno sighed deeply after sessfully entering the security code with various follow-up questions known only to him. Shortly after, the door opened with bright light emanating from the clean white room inside.


    The atmosphere of theboratory immediately became apparent, with its distinctive aroma and serene, entrancing ambiance. LED lights gave a futuristic and cold vibe, as if Seno had entered a different world from the old dim building before.


    ¡°Wee, Boss!¡± A bald man in a white suit rushed to shake Seno¡¯s hand as he entered theb. He had juste out of the administrative room, not far from the research room.


    The cold atmosphere and the sound of monitors and machine whispers were audible. Seno¡¯s mood was somewhatforted by the orderliness there.


    ¡°How¡¯s the progress?¡± he asked after receiving a spray of disinfectant over his body. The hazmat suit and essories made Seno and theb environment protected, including the bald man.


    ¡°It¡¯s still in development, Boss,¡± the bald man replied, trembling. For three weeks now, those were the only words he could utter. Seno was obviously furious.


    ¡°When will it be done?¡± he impatiently snapped. However, the bald man seemed unable to provide certainty. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ still in progress.¡±


    ¡°Silence!¡±


    Seno was tired of the irresponsible statements. ¡°Where is the head responsible?¡± Seno asked, scanning the researchers working there. They fell silent as Seno seemed about to erupt like a volcano toward them.


    ¡°Doctor Hanung is in the cultivation area, Boss,¡± the bald man pointed to another room across the ss room they were upying.


    ¡°Huh! Watch out!¡±


    Seno growled before heading to the cultivation room. The bald man once again only followed as before, and they finally entered the cultivation room as Seno nned.


    Dr. Hanung, in his whiteboratory uniform, was already waiting in his room filled with sophisticated equipment and monitor screens disyingplex data. He weed Seno with a warm smile.


    ¡°Wee, Boss. Is there anything I can assist you with?¡± Dr. Hanung asked, offering a seat. He had just finished checking the nts and was currently writing a report for the next sample testing phase.


    Some time ago, the extraction sample of the herbal nt poison had failed. Hopefully, this time their research could yield the expected results.


    ¡°Assist me with what! How¡¯s the progress? I can¡¯t wait any longer!¡± Seno yelled, refusing to sit in the designated chair.


    Dr. Hanung smiled bitterly, feeling unable to meet the deadline given by his employer. ¡°It¡¯s quite difficult,¡± he sighed. But, of course, he wouldn¡¯t give up easily.


    ¡°When will it seed? Hhhh! So useless!¡±


    Seno cursed angrily, imagining all theplications and failures that had urred in this secret project. Dr. Hanung tried to exin some technical details, but Seno refused to listen to any exnations.


    ¡°However it takes! This research must seed!¡± he shouted without wanting to hear any further exnation from the doctor.


    Dr. Hanung sighed deeply. Indeed, these repeated failures were frustrating. But¡­ he could only wait for a miracle.


    ¡°Give me one more chance, Boss¡­.¡±


    Suddenly, the monitor screen in the room flickered, catching Seno and Dr. Hanung¡¯s attention immediately. Both of them stared at the screen in amazement as the data disyed something extraordinary.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Seno asked, his eyes widening as he saw graphs and figures showing a significant change in the development of this secret project.


    Dr. Hanung quickly checked the data. His smile immediately widened. The awaited moment had arrived.


    ¡°This is amazing, Boss! It seems there¡¯s a major breakthrough in chemical reactions and nt processing. We might¡­¡±


    Seno didn¡¯t listen further. His eyes gleamed with enthusiasm. He felt a new hope for this project. Without a word, Seno left the room and headed to the ss room overlooking the cultivation area.


    There, the exotic


    nts being tested were growing healthily. The UV exposure gave a special shine to their colorful leaves. This sess looked very promising.


    ¡°I will soon conquer the world¡­ with your help, Dlopa!¡±

 Part 40 # Madam X

    Delighted to see promising results, Seno observed with passion the exotic nts flourishing in the cultivation area.


    ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful¡­.¡±


    The ultraviolet rays gave a magical touch to the vibrant leaves. Joy and hope bloomed in Seno¡¯s heart. This was the turning point he had been waiting for in his project.


    ¡°You will prove it to the world, Dlopa!¡± Seno eximed with enthusiasm, calling out the secret name of his project. He hoped to change the world with this discovery.


    While Seno celebrated his sess, in the futuristicboratory, Dr. Hanung tried to catch up with Seno, who was walking so fast. ¡°Boss, wait! We need to detail the data further. There are some things we need to make sure of¡­¡±


    However, Seno¡¯s determination was unshakeable. He was truly satisfied with this promising progress. ¡°We can discuss itter. Right now, I want to take a closer look at our hard work.¡±


    They stepped out of the ss room into theboratory. Seno¡¯s shouts of joy had spread to all the staff, creating a wave of euphoria among the researchers who had previously been burdened with uncertainty.


    ¡°Thank goodness! For months we¡¯ve been confined here, and it turns out not to be in vain¡­.¡± whispered one of the guards. He took off his goggles for a moment and smiled meaningfully at his colleague.


    ¡°You¡¯re right!¡±


    Cheers and apuse apanied the happy news. It was as if a child had been born into the world. Everyone was pleased with the development of this project, especially after their beta project failed testing and imed lives. Although¡­ that was still kept secret.


    ¡°We will shine in the future. I¡¯m very confident. S Group stocks will experience a significant increase! HAHA!¡± Seno continued to fantasize and eagerly await the sess of the illegal drug he was developing.


    How else could he get that valuable information if not from¡­ Madam X.


    ¡°Incredible,¡± whispered a woman who had just arrived. Like Seno, the middle-aged woman gracefully walked into the assembly hall in the all-white room,plete with hazmat suits and other safety gear to avoid contamination from hazardous substances.


    ¡°Ma-Madam?¡± Seno turned and swallowed hard. How¡­ could she be here?


    ¡°You haven¡¯t forgotten our promise, have you?¡± Madam asked with a sly smile ying on her lips.


    Seno tried to remember. ¡°What date is it?¡± he asked the bald-headed assistant on his left side. The assistant quickly checked the watch worn on his left wrist.


    ¡°I-It¡¯s April 15th. Boss,¡± he said.


    They just realized that today was supposed to be the monthly meeting between the S Group and Madam X as the co-founder of this secretboratory. Yet Seno had just wanted to keep this progress secret for longer. He was looking for ways to measure efficiency and reduce production costs so that profits for his side could flow optimally.


    It was toote.


    ¡°Pleasee in, Madam¡­.¡± Seno invited the honored guest into the director¡¯s room on the left wing of the building. With a sour expression, Seno personally led her.


    Their rtionship was¡­ superior and subordinate, not equal partners. Madam X was the founder of this project along with a massive injection of funds that had made Seno a new wealthy figure in the healthcare industry even without the support of a famous tycoon.


    ¡°Result?¡±


    ¡°Okay! Madam! This drug will be ready forunch in a few months,¡± Seno confidently replied.


    He handed over thetest research document containing all the data and findings rted to the illegal drug project. Madam X epted the document, then began to read it carefully. Her sharp eyes scrutinized every detail recorded.


    ¡°Seno, this is truly remarkable. You¡¯ve ovee all obstacles and challenges. I¡¯m really proud of you,¡± praised Madam X, still focusing on the document she held.


    Seno smiled proudly at the praise. ¡°Thank you, Madam. This is all thanks to your support and trust.¡±


    Although pretending, Seno had to give the impression that he would obediently submit to every decision of the main supporter. In his heart, Seno continued to try to find a way to escape from the grip of Madam, who had long nurtured him.


    ¡°You know that this sess carries great risk, don¡¯t you? Are you sure you can control it?¡± Madam¡¯s eyes suddenly turned serious. Behind her goggles, Madam stared sharply at Seno, who seemed to be thinking about something else. Who knows what.


    ¡°I¡¯ve prepared everything. We have a goodunch strategy and the security of thisboratory is guaranteed.¡±


    Madam X nodded satisfactorily. ¡°Alright. I trust you, Seno. But remember, every action has consequences. We must always be prepared to face them.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Madam. We will take full responsibility. You don¡¯t need to worry,¡± Seno said confidently.


    The meeting continued with discussions about marketing ns, distribution, and the confidentiality of this project. Madam X provided valuable insights and suggestions, given her extensive experience in the hidden business world.


    Seno listened carefully, although his mind was still busy trying to find a way to cheat Madam¡¯s share of the profit, which was so pressing on every determination and dignity.


    The naive and clueless Seno was no more. This time, Seno was a mature man who had to be independent. That meant he also had to break free from Madam¡¯s grip and her¡­ unreasonable conditions!


    ¡°How¡¯s Lara? Is she okay?¡± Madam asked after evaluating every piece of data she


    received.


    ¡°Lara is fine. Our child will be born in about 4 months,¡± Seno lied. How could Lara be fine, when they had argued just recently? Of course, Seno was just making up stories.


    ¡°You¡­ must take care of her.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Madam.¡±


    ¡°Good. Did you bring her photo?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes? A photo? Here it is¡­.¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Seno handed over a printed photo to Madam. A photo of Lara in a pose as she drank tea from her favorite cup.


    Madam stroked the photo paper with a wistful look, as if¡­ she had found a precious treasure.


    For a moment, everyone in the room fell silent as if time had stopped. Seno observed Madam¡¯s reaction carefully, but at the same time, he tried to hide his difort.


    Their rtionship was not just professional, but involvedyers ofplicated and often unspoken rtionships.


    ¡°Lara¡­,¡± murmured Madam X with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re lucky to have someone like her by your side.¡±


    Seno smiled thinly, feeling relieved that his lie about his rtionship with Lara didn¡¯t seem suspicious. ¡°Yes, I know. She is my inspiration. Lara is an amazing life partner.¡±


    Madam X nodded understandingly. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get back to business. I have some additional ideas for our product marketing. We can leverage the usefulness of this drug and build a strong image in the market. After that, you know, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Madam. You don¡¯t have to worry. We will definitely seed.¡±


    As the business discussion continued, Seno tried to distract himself from this meeting. He knew that Madam X had a secret that he didn¡¯t know about, and it involved her rtionship with Lara. Nevertheless, Seno needed Madam X¡¯s support to achieve greater sess.


    Seno didn¡¯t want to cross the line and make Madam¡¯s anger the cause of the destruction of their secret project.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    Madam walked away, leaving theboratory. Seno nodded understandingly and escorted her to the exit.


    After Madam left, the atmosphere changed. The staff returned to their cheerful selves, after previously¡­ having to keep theirposure so as not to disturb their bosses¡¯ concentration.


    ¡°Phew¡­.¡±


    Seno breathed a sigh of relief because this meeting had brought good impact on the development of their project. However, his relief only went so far. A sudden shout startled Seno and the bald-headed man next to him.


    ¡°Boss! Trouble! There¡¯s a virus in ourputer system!¡±


    ¡°W-what?!¡±

 Part 41 # Enemy Within

    Seno and the bald-headed man exchanged looks, shocked to hear the news. The joy after the meeting with Madam X instantly disappeared, reced by tension.


    ¡°How could this happen?¡± Seno asked anxiously. He looked at the control screen, which was suddenly filled with warnings and unfamiliar codes.


    ¡°It seems to be a cyber attack, Boss. They managed to breach our securityyers,¡± exined the bald-headed man, trying to identify the source of the problem.


    Seno immediately took action. ¡°Shut down all systems, iste theboratory. We can¡¯t take any risks!¡±


    Technicians and security experts quickly followed Seno¡¯s instructions. The room was filled with busyness and tension. This situation posed a serious threat to the secret project they were developing.


    ¡°They¡¯ve stolen too much information. What should we do, Boss?¡± the bald-headed man asked with concern.


    Seno pondered for a moment. ¡°We need a reliable IT security expert to handle this situation. Contact the security team and ask for external assistance. We can¡¯t waste any time.¡±


    Within minutes, the IT security team from outside theboratory was deployed. They began to conduct a thorough analysis and examine every system connected to theboratory.


    ¡°This attack is serious,¡± murmured one technician as he tried to manipte security codes to block the attack.


    The IT security team worked tirelessly, evaluating the digital traces left by the attackers. The control room was filled with tension, with shouts and rms filling the air.


    Seno looked at the screen, furrowing his brow, trying to understand the scale of the attack they were facing.


    ¡°Block all iing and outgoing channels from the system! We need to prevent further spread,¡± ordered the leader of the security team, a cryptography expert named Alex.


    ¡°W-what¡¯s going on?!¡± Seno asked with a sense of anxiety.


    ¡°This attack is quite serious, Sir! But, you don¡¯t need to worry. We¡¯ll do our best.¡±


    ¡°Do it quickly! I can¡¯t stop worrying until everything is perfectly fine!¡±


    ¡°Understood, Sir!¡±


    Seno hoped for a quick solution to stop this attack. Every second felt like time was moving too slowly.


    Alex worked quickly, his fingers dancing on the keyboard at an impressive speed. Theboratory staff watching their diligence looked impressed, but¡­ that wasn¡¯t the most important thing right now.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost regaining control, Boss. But these attackers are clever, they¡¯re exploiting very subtle security loopholes,¡± Alex said without taking his eyes off the screen.


    Meanwhile, the bald-headed man who had been working in theboratory since the beginning, looked at Seno with a worried expression.


    ¡°B-Boss, what if they¡¯ve already stolen our valuable information?¡±


    Seno sighed. He felt frustrated too. His brain suddenly stopped thinking.


    ¡°This situation is getting moreplicated. Our focus now is to stop the attack and ensure no further losses.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Boss!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll recheck the data securityter. I hope there hasn¡¯t been any significant theft. Argh!¡± Seno ran his hands through his hair anxiously. This project was very valuable and¡­ secret! It must not be exposed anywhere!


    ***


    Several minutester, Alex finally gave a positive update. ¡°We¡¯ve managed to block the attacker¡¯s ess and secure the system. But we need to conduct a thorough examination to ensure there are no malware or other dangerous software left.¡±


    ¡°Conduct a thorough inspection! Make sure all systems are safe!¡±


    ¡°Alright, Boss!¡±


    Alex resumed his task. Some assistants also helped him prepare the necessary tools for the cryptograph.


    Seno felt a little relieved, but the pressure he felt had notpletely disappeared. He walked towards the main control screen and saw the message disyed by the attacker.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think this is the end, Seno. I¡¯m just baiting you. The real game is just beginning.¡±


    Seno realized that they were not only facing an ordinary cyber attack. This attacker had a bigger motive and deep knowledge of their secret project.


    ¡°Prepare a digital forensic team to examine the origin of this attack. We need to know who¡¯s behind this,¡± Seno ordered Alex.


    ¡°Alright, Boss!¡±


    The technicians moved quickly, trying to trace the IP addresses and other digital traces. Meanwhile, the atmosphere in theboratory became increasingly tense. Everyone realized that their big project was threatened by the presence of this mysterious attacker.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Is that an enemy?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. What¡¯s their business with this project?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll know once the culprit is revealed!¡±


    ¡°Sssh! Keep quiet!¡±


    Two staff members who had been chatting became silent again. The bald-headedb head warned them not to talk too much. The atmosphere in theboratory was so intense and daunting.


    ¡°How is it going? Any results?¡± Seno asked Alex, who was trying to track the attacker¡¯s IP.


    ¡°B-Boss¡­.¡±


    Suddenly, therge screen in theboratory disyed the face of an unknown man. The man smiled with satisfaction, as if enjoying the show he had created.


    ¡°Seno, Seno, Seno¡­ You didn¡¯t think you could hide this big secret forever, did you? I¡¯m just giving you a warning. Look, the world will know the truth behind this sinful project!¡±


    ¡°W-who is that person?¡±


    Seno looked at the man¡¯s face with apprehension. He didn¡¯t know how the man could have ess to their system and know the secret of his project.


    This battle was not only about technology but also about self-defense and uncovering the mystery behind this attack.


    ¡°Do you know him, Boss?¡±


    ¡°No! Damn it!¡±


    In this tense atmosphere, Seno pondered, trying to find out more about the n to fight the enemy they were facing.


    The sess of the project and even his own survival now depended on his ability to respond to this threat wisely.


    ¡°Who is that bastard?!¡± Seno wondered anxiously, realizing that the big project he had initiated was in danger.


    Suddenly, therge screen on theboratory wall disyed a message from the attacker. ¡°Good luck, Seno. Do you think you can y behind the scenes without consequences? This is just the beginning of everything.¡±


    Seno stared at the message with anger and fear. Someone seemed to have ess to all the data of his project. However, Seno had no intention of giving up so easily.


    ¡°We can¡¯t let the attacker know that we¡¯re afraid. Maintain istion, do whatever it takes to track and stop this attack,¡± Seno ordered the security team.


    ¡°Alright, Boss!¡±


    Various efforts were made to ovee this cyber attack. The IT security team worked tirelessly, trying to build new defense walls to protect their valuable information.


    Seno felt tremendous pressure, but his determination to protect his project never wavered.


    Meanwhile, in a hidden room, Madam X watched with a smile. Her n was going smoothly.


    She didn¡¯t fully trust Seno. Madam had to have other reins to keep matching Seno¡¯s nose so that he wouldn¡¯t y with her. This was the best way to maintain control over her secret project.


    ¡°Seno, you will never know who is really ying behind the screen,¡± Madam X whispered coldly, enjoying the unraveling sess of her secret.

 Part 42 # Olivia’s Intrigue

    Days passed quickly without Seno¡¯s presence. The house felt so empty. Lara didn¡¯t even leave the house because Mti was always taking care of her needs.


    For two days now, Lara had just been inside the house without wanting to go anywhere. This progressing pregnancy also limited her movements.


    ¡°Are you ready to take a bath, Ma¡¯am?¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Suddenly, Mti interrupted Lara¡¯s reverie. Lara was watering the flowers in the pots. She didn¡¯t know why, but she felt like doing it. Usually, she waszy to take care of these nts.


    ¡°What time is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s 8 in the morning, Ma¡¯am. Let¡¯s have breakfast.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡±


    Lara was surprised. She thought it was still 7 in the morning.


    ¡°Okay,¡± she agreed. Lara quickly cleaned up the gardening tools and started washing her hands.


    Mti opened the bathroom door, Lara entered, and began to clean herself. After that, a delicious aroma wafted as soon as Lara stepped out of the bathroom.


    ¡°What¡¯s cooking?¡±


    ¡°Beef soup, Ma¡¯am, and potato patties,¡± Mti replied with a smile.


    ¡°That sounds delicious,¡± Lara praised. Suddenly, her stomach grumbled. ¡°I¡¯ll change my clothes first.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    After changing clothes, Lara immediately headed to the dining room. As she suspected, Mti¡¯s cooking was delicious!


    ¡°Delicious, M. You¡¯re good at cooking.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    Mti blushed, then she quickly left so Lara could eat in peace.


    After finishing breakfast, Mti helped clean the table.


    Lara sat in the living room, trying to digest her food while watching TV.


    Mahya¡¯s face suddenly appeared there.


    ¡°Mahya!¡± Lara eximed happily. She was so d to see her face. She just found out that Mahya works at Channel Insight.


    The channel is an international news channel that is said to be very prestigious. Lara was proud that Mahya could work there. ¡°You¡¯re really cool, Mahya.¡±


    In her report, Mahya was interviewing a doctor at a hospital about a virus currently guing the country.


    Although not a contagious virus like covid-19, but the virus is dangerous because it attacks ¡­ men¡¯s vitality!


    ¡°Really? Is there such a virus?¡± Lara smiled, not expecting that such a disease really existed.


    ¡°What are you watching, Mom?¡± asked Mti, who had just finished cleaning the kitchen. She immediately took the vacuum cleaner and approached Lara.


    Lara smiled at her. ¡°Oh, this, Mti. My friend is doing a report on TV.¡±


    ¡°Wow, your friend is a reporter, huh?¡±


    ¡°Yes. She was my friend from college, back then.¡±


    Mti nodded understandingly. ¡°Sounds exciting.¡±


    Aftermenting, Mti quickly excused herself to do her cleaning tasks. The girl was very diligent and seemed never to rest.


    ¡°Later, when Bi Yani is here, your job will surely be easier, M,¡± Lara suddenly said, feeling sorry for her.


    Mti turned when she was about to turn on the vacuum cleaner power button. She smiled and thanked Lara for thinking of her. ¡°I like working,¡± she said, then returned to her cleaning activities.


    Lara stared out the window, looking at the blue sky. Undeniably, she wondered where Seno had gone because he hadn¡¯t been at home for two days.


    ¡°Where could he be?¡± Lara murmured but of course¡­ it was just words carried away by the wind without an answer.


    The day was quite hot. Lara sighed deeply and started to walk back inside the house.


    The backyard of this residence was quite lush and secluded, not visible from the outside. So, Lara could freely walk around without feeling embarrassed about being seen by the neighbors.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, is it time for lunch?¡± Mti asked when she saw Larae back into the house.


    ¡°No. You rest.¡±


    ¡°Is everything okay?¡± she asked, her face already looking quite tired.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m fine. If you want to eat, I¡¯ll call you, M ¡­¡±


    ¡°Okay, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    Mti then bid farewell and began to go back to her room at the back of the first floor of the house.


    Lara continued walking towards her room, but the sound of the doorbell halted her intentions.


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    She tried to check the unknown visitor through the inte. After confirming their identity, Lara opened the door with¡­ annoyance!


    ¡°Olivia!¡± Lara yelled angrily. ¡°What business do you have here?!¡±


    ¡°Wow, wow¡­ our madam is really angry,¡± she mocked with a thin smile that disgusted Lara. She felt nauseous.


    ¡°Go away! I don¡¯t want to see you!¡±


    Lara pushed the door shut, but Olivia held it back.


    ¡°Listen, I just wanted to say that, Boss Seno is on a business trip out of town.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know?¡±


    Lara pursed her lips. She didn¡¯t want to admit that she was curious.


    ¡°My visit was just to tell you that, MADAM.¡±


    She swallowed, feeling that Olivia was only mocking her and seemed to know everything about her husband¡¯s activities.


    ¡°Leave!¡±


    Lara closed the door. But she could hear herughing and mocking her. ¡°Typical housewife!¡±


    She held back tears when the scent of her husband¡¯s cologne lingered in Olivia¡¯s hair. Had that woman actually been lying?


    ¡°Seno¡­ you¡¯re so heartless,¡± she whimpered silently. She didn¡¯t want Olivia to hear and get even more conceited.


    With a tumultuous heart, she locked the door and walked to the living room. Her heart felt heavy when confronted with the reality of her husband¡¯s affair with Olivia-a foe who had long been trying to bring her down.


    The once blue sky now felt gloomy within her.


    Mti came out of her room, perhaps she heard themotion at the door. ¡°Is there a visitor, Ma¡¯am?¡± she asked.


    ¡°What? Oh, no, just an uninvited friend of Seno¡¯s,¡± Lara answered, trying to smile.


    Mti nodded in understanding, although her gaze was full of concern. ¡°Can I prepare something for you?¡±


    ¡°No need. I just want to rest a bit, Mti. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After Mti went back to her room, Lara headed to the bedroom. Her thoughts were in chaos and her heart felt heavy. She sat on the edge of the bed, looking at their wedding photo on the bedside table not far from her.


    ¡°Why, Seno? Why are you so cruel to me?¡± Lara murmured softly. Disappointment and heartache enveloped her. She tried to calm herself, but unanswered questions continued to haunt her.


    Suddenly, she heard footsteps in the hallway. She quickly wiped away the tears, trying to hide her weakness in front of her.


    Mti appeared at the bedroom door. ¡°Mrs. Lara, there¡¯s an envelope for you. It was left by ¡­ that guest.¡±


    Lara received the letter Mti was holding. With hesitation, she opened it. Its contents made her heart race even faster.


    ¡°Another photo?¡±


    Her hands trembled as she looked at the picture of them both lying naked. How did that woman manage to bring such disgusting scenes back?


    Her head suddenly throbbed.


    She sat on the bed, trying to forget the indecent photo that pierced her heart.

 Part 43 # New Job

    Lara shook her head, not wanting Mti to know about her husband¡¯s depravity.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Ma¡¯am. You can go,¡± Lara said.


    Mti nodded and then left.


    Lara resumed her halted crying. Then, she scrolled through her phone screen to find ¡®Seno¡¯s¡¯ name there.


    At first nce, she couldn¡¯t see clearly. These teardrops blurred her vision. She was still sobbing while trying to press the ¡®call¡¯ button but failed. The wet screen was the cause. Lara quickly wiped the screen and tried again. This time, she found a busy tone.


    ¡°Seno, damn it! Where has that man gone? Why hasn¡¯t he even once informed me?¡±


    She pressed the ¡®call¡¯ button again and tried to contact Seno¡¯s phone, which was still busy with another call.


    Suddenly, the call was cut off. She felt even more despondent. Why didn¡¯t Seno answer her call? What was really happening out there? Those questions kept spinning in her mind without clear answers.


    Lara tried to gather courage and call Seno¡¯s number again. The busy tone sounded, intensifying the tension within her. She felt like time was passing so slowly. She even held her breath every second.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    Finally, he picked up her call. Seno¡¯s voice sounded, but it wasn¡¯t as usual. There was something different, something that made her even more anxious.


    ¡°Lara?¡± he called again, his voice sounding hesitant.


    ¡°Seno, what¡¯s going on? Why haven¡¯t you been at home for two consecutive days?¡± she shouted, trying to control her raging emotions.


    For a moment, there was amotion behind Seno. It seemed like he was in a busy ce. ¡°Inform? For what?¡± he asked mockingly. She could clearly tell that he was scoffing at her concern.


    ¡°For what?¡± she repeated his question. ¡°I¡¯m your wife!¡± she yelled with a high pitch.


    Senoughed. Aughter that belittled.


    ¡°Wife? Whose wife can spend the night with another man, Lara?¡± Seno asked sharply. Laughter could be heard in the background. Whoseughter?


    ¡°Seno!¡±


    ¡°Enough. I¡¯m busy.¡±


    Seno was about to end the call but paused momentarily when Lara mentioned ¡®Olivia¡¯s¡¯ name.


    ¡°Are you¡­ spending the night with Olivia?¡± she asked insistently. Of course, she was suspicious. His words could be rted to that vile woman.


    ¡°O¡­ Olivia?¡± Seno sounded flustered.


    Lara could conclude that Seno had indeed spent the night at that home-wrecking woman¡¯s apartment. The photos Olivia had thrown at her turned out to be new photos.


    ¡°You¡­ haven¡¯t changed, Seno.¡±


    This time, she ended the call with tears resurfacing. Her heart hurt. Apparently, Seno was still the same.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me? What are my shorings? Why is he so heartless to cheat on me with another woman?¡±


    Who could answer that question? No one, except Seno. Lara was sure¡­ even he didn¡¯t want to say anything.


    Days passed, once again without Seno¡¯s presence. Lara got used to it. Although Seno eventually sent her a message saying he was on an important business trip out of town, she remained unmoved.


    That trip must have been just an excuse.


    At that moment, Lara chose toment her situation alone. The days passed slowly, and the silence in the house deepened her loneliness. Every time she looked at their empty bed, feelings of annoyance and disappointment resurfaced.


    Mti, who always faithfully apanied her, tried to give support. But she was still too wounded to ept warmth from others. Her tears became her faithfulpanion, and the pain froze within her.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am. It¡¯s time to eat.¡±


    Mti¡¯s voice interrupted her reverie. Lara tried to go through days without Seno. Doing routines without his presence. Her heart felt empty.


    ¡°Yeah, M. I¡¯ll be there,¡± Lara replied from inside the room. She didn¡¯t want to make Mti worried.


    After her phone conversation with Senost night, she didn¡¯t leave the room until this morning. She tried not to dwell too much on Seno¡¯s struggle with Olivia, but their shadows continued to haunt her.


    She couldn¡¯t go out of the room looking sad. Her eyes were swollen. Tears wet her face and clothes. A feeling of suffocation enveloped her. Strangely, she didn¡¯t feel nauseous. Her progressing pregnancy seemed to support her emotionally unstable condition.


    Her unborn child understood its mother well.


    ¡°What¡¯s cooking?¡± Lara asked when she arrived at the dining table. Beforeing here, she made sure there were no traces of swelling left on her face. Her sadness also began to fade thanks to her arriving hunger. She did need breakfast.


    ¡°Fried rice, Ma¡¯am. Do you like it?¡± Mti asked, as if¡­ if she didn¡¯t like it, she would cook another dish for her.


    ¡°I like it,¡± Lara replied with a smile. The sweet girl warmed her heart. How could she say ¡®no¡¯ to her?


    ¡°Thank goodness¡­¡± Mti smiled too.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    At that moment, Lara decided to live even without Seno¡¯s presence. Although she did still maintain their rtionship¡­ but, she started to reconsider.


    Was it right for her to continue suffering like this?


    She buried all her thoughts and anxieties in a spoonful of rice and devoured it. She hoped all these worries would pass as her stomach filled.


    ¡°How does it taste, Ma¡¯am?¡± Mti, who was sitting not far from her, asked.


    ¡°Delicious. Thanks, M,¡± Lara replied, giving her a thumbs up.


    Mti¡¯s smile warmed Lara¡¯s heart. She began to realize that happiness must be pursued. For some time now, she would try to reflect and introspect. If, indeed, these things beyond her control continued to happen¡­ then, she could find another path simr to other people¡¯s choices: separating from her husband.


    ***


    In the following days, Lara tried to create a more stable life without Seno¡¯s presence. Although feelings of disappointment and sadness still lingered, she tried not to get too lost in emotions. Mti remained her pir, providing unconditional support to her.


    Time kept moving forward, and Lara decided to focus on work and pregnancy. Although her heart was still full of wounds, she couldn¡¯t sacrifice her health and that of her unborn child. She started attending childbirth preparation sses and preparing all the necessities to wee the baby.


    Mti, with her kindness, also helped in preparing the baby¡¯s needs. She happily assisted in choosing baby supplies and arranging the baby¡¯s room that Lara had prepared months ago. Their togetherness created a new bond, like a newly formed sisterly rtionship.


    Seno¡¯s shadow still lingered in her life. Short messages from Seno asionally appeared, giving news that he was still alive, even though there were no apologies or exnations for his behavior. She chose not to pay too much attention to those messages; she focused on her new life instead.


    ***


    ¡°Working?¡±


    ¡°Yes, this is my job now,¡± Lara said, showing her journal.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, writing? What are you writing?¡± Mti asked curiously.


    ¡°Hm¡­ for now, I¡¯m writing daily activities. Who knows, maybe I can write a novelter?¡±


    ¡°Wow! That¡¯s great!¡±


    Lara smiled when Mti praised her.


    Every second and time that had passed, she recorded neatly in her journal. She named it a new job so that she could be disciplined and focused on that activity. A job? Does anyone sell journals?


    ¡°Always be happy, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    Mti¡¯s words encouraged her. She even forgot that Seno was a husband and also one of the upants of this house.


    He had not returned home for almost five consecutive days. Lara¡¯s feelings became numb. She no longer felt lonely or hurt from being ignored.


    Her growing belly indicated that the delivery time was approaching. Although the presence of the baby brought its own happiness, the shadow of an iplete family always haunted her. How could she provide a good life for her child if this family continued to be gued by such conflicts?


    ¡°What¡­ should I do?¡±

 Part 44 # Reconcile

    Lara¡¯s head felt dizzy. It seemed like she needed to rest.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, do you want to take a nap?¡± Mti asked while hanging clothes.


    ¡°Yes, Mti. My head hurts,¡± Lara replied, frowning.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, do you want some warm tea? Shall I make it for you?¡±


    ¡°No need. I just want to sleep.¡±


    Mti nodded and then returned to her work. Lara headed towards the bedroom, wanting to rest immediately. However, suddenly the front door opened.


    ¡°Seno?¡± she said.


    ¡°Hm.¡±


    Seno only took off his shoes and then walked in as usual. Lara didn¡¯t want to cause a scene, especially with Mti behind her.


    ¡°Wee home, Sir,¡± Mti said, hurriedly putting down herundry basket. She then quickly walked towards Seno and took his work bag.


    ¡°Usually, it¡¯s the wife who wees her husband like this, not the maid,¡± he quipped, then nced sarcastically at Lara.


    ¡°What?¡± Lara was even surprised by his unusually brusque attitude. What was wrong with him?


    ¡°Never mind, tired.¡±


    Seno then messed up his hair and walked away to the second floor. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep upstairs,¡± he said. Lara got even more annoyed. What was he thinking? Why did it seem like she was the one at fault? This couldn¡¯t be allowed.


    ***


    ¡°Seno. I need to talk.¡±


    After letting him shower and clean up, Lara went upstairs and wanted to address all her concerns. Her headache suddenly disappeared, reced by a pain in her heart. She had to find out why Seno was behaving like this.


    ¡°Close the door!¡± he snapped, pointing towards her.


    Sheplied, not because she was afraid, but because she didn¡¯t want Mti to hear their argument. She felt embarrassed.


    ¡°Why are you like this, Seno? Where have you been these past five days? Why does it seem like I¡¯m the one at fault? Have you no self-awareness?¡± she snapped without backing down.


    Seno only smirked sarcastically and nced at her briefly. ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡±


    The same response as when she called him, repeated. She wouldn¡¯t give domestic excuses because she was his wife. ¡°At least, a civilized person has manners.¡±


    ¡°Manners? Look at yourself!¡±


    ¡°Is this still about Andre? We were just sorting out Bi Yani¡¯s problem. Why do you think I¡¯m having an affair?¡±


    ¡°Then what do you call a married woman spending the night with another man if not cheating? You embarrass and anger me, Lara!¡±


    ¡°Seno! Are you not¡­ with Olivia? Acting so sanctimonious!¡± She tried to hold back her almost emerging tears. She must not appear weak.


    ¡°Olivia? Hah! No! I¡¯m working, Lara! Do you think¡­ I¡¯ve been having an affair for these five days?¡± Seno stared at her sharply. She fell silent.


    ¡°Then, what are these photos?¡± Lara threw the naked photos of them both. Seno picked up the tworge-sized photos from the floor, his face turning red. For a moment, he didn¡¯t say anything, just sighed heavily.


    Secondster, Seno sat at the edge of the bed, massaging his temples.


    ¡°T-this¡­ these are old photos.¡±


    Lara turned away, wiping the tears that couldn¡¯t be held back. Seno started to lower his voice and began speaking normally. ¡°Sorry,¡± he said.


    Lara fell silent. But, she finally started to look at him properly. ¡°So, what have you been doing out there? Sleeping with Olivia?¡± she asked sarcastically. She knew Seno was trying to hide something from her.


    ¡°I was on a business trip out of town. There¡¯s a new research project. So¡­ I had to be in theb all the time,¡± he said, starting to approach her. This time, she could feel his hand around her waist, and his head leaning against her neck.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, okay? I didn¡¯t sleep with Olivia,¡± he continued, turning her body to face him.


    His heavy breath blew in front of her. It grew warmer, and then, his slightly moist lips began to explore hers. She wanted to resist, but he kept pulling her closer.


    ¡°Mmhh ¡­.¡±


    Seno kissed her lips quickly. It was hard for her to breathe. Secondster, he started pulling her towards the bed andid her down slowly. One by one, her clothes were taken off, and¡­ the man began to assert his rights as a husband who had just returned from a business trip.


    ¡°My wife is so beautiful.¡±


    After that, she was swept away by Seno¡¯s advances that she couldn¡¯t resist. She enjoyed every touch of his masculinity inside her, although¡­ she felt something strange with the level of aggression that usually urred within her.


    ¡°Are you¡­ tired?¡± she asked when Seno continued to try to prate her.


    ¡°Hm¡­ yeah, seems so,¡± he said softly, holding back embarrassment.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t it getting hard?¡± she asked again, but Seno just shook his head in response.


    ¡°Sorry, maybe we can continue tomorrow.¡±


    She nodded then put her clothes back on. She felt ufortable and embarrassed. Why wasn¡¯t Seno reacting to her?


    ¡°I want to sleep. Please turn off the lights.¡±


    She moved away from Seno¡¯s bed and did as asked. When she turned off the lights, she heard a familiar sobbing. His voice was very soft.


    ¡°Seno is crying?¡±


    ***


    After the failed struggle with Seno just now, the pain in Lara¡¯s head suddenly disappeared, and the pain in her heart was the same. It seemed that married people were indeed blessed with the ability to alleviate pain and fatigue by being with their partners.


    That evening, Lara chose to take care of her garden and flowers as usual, while asking Mti to make her some warm tea.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am likes flowers, huh?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Flowers are very beautiful. I admire them. As a distraction, Mti,¡± she replied with a smile.


    ¡°It seems Ma¡¯am¡¯s mood is getting better. Thank goodness,¡± Mti said, looking meaningfully at her. Lara understood, she might be worried about Seno¡¯s treatment towards her earlier.


    ¡°Yes. Seno and I just had a slight argument. Just¡­ husband and wife,¡± Lara said, not wanting Mti to know more about her marital problems. She didn¡¯t like others interfering in her affairs.


    ¡°Is that so, husband and wife¡­.¡±


    Lara turned to Mti. Was she asking or confirming? ¡°Does Mti already have a husband?¡± she asked, curious. From her behavior, it seemed like Mti wanted to confirm something. Could it be¡­ a repeat of what happened with Bi Yani?


    ¡°E-eh? No, Ma¡¯am. I¡¯m not married yet,¡± she replied nervously, waving her hands as if rejecting a sudden idea.


    Laraughed. She was so cute.


    ¡°Is Mti in love?¡± Lara guessed, pretending to know everything. She just wanted to tease her.


    Mti bowed her head, not answering. It seemed like Lara¡¯s guess hit the mark. ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°E-eh? No, Ma¡¯am. There¡¯s no one,¡± she insisted on keeping it a secret. Lara became more convinced that there was someone she liked.


    ¡°Is he handsome?¡± Lara teased again with sessive attacks. Mti sighed. This time, it seemed she couldn¡¯t deny it anymore.


    ¡°He¡¯s slightly handsome, Ma¡¯am. But ¡­.¡±


    ¡°But?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s still in college. It seems like marriage isn¡¯t on his mind yet,¡± she said hesitantly.


    Lara fell silent. It turned out, Mti did have a strong desire to get married. ¡°How do you feel about him? Are you strong enough to wait?¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s it, Ma¡¯am. It seems like I¡¯m the only one confused about my fate. My parents forbid me to marry early, my boyfriend doesn¡¯t like the idea either. But¡­ I feel like I want to start a family soon and have cute children.¡±


    Her previously bright face suddenly turned gloomy. Lara could understand the young woman¡¯s instincts within Mti. But what could be done? The woman in front of her might be one of the backbones of the family. Marriage would only hinder her pursuit of livelihood.


    ¡°Follow your heart, M. You surely know¡­ what¡¯s best for you.¡±


    Mti looked at Lara with a tearful gaze. A few drops of tears began to fall from her cheeks. Lara had never seen her cry like this before.


    ¡°Thank you, Ma¡¯am. Hopefully¡­ you can advise yourself like that too,¡± she said without intending to criticize. Mti¡¯s words, tone, and manner of speaking were very innocent, as if there were no hidden intentions.


    Lara wasn¡¯t offended at all by her words. Instead of being offended, she began to reconsider¡­ if the path she chose was indeed the right one?

 Part 45 # Mahya Grace

    BAM!


    Piles of files mmed onto Mahya¡¯s desk. The girl¡¯s eyes widened, her mouth trembling as she struggled to speak. ¡°Wha-what are you doing, Sir?¡± she asked after taking a deep breath.


    ¡°ARE YOU CRAZY?!¡± her boss eximed, restraining his rising anger.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean. Exin, what¡¯s happening here?¡± Mahya asked, rising from her seat. Even the coffee on the table almost spilled, threatening to ruin all the scattered work analyses on the desk. Her cramped space became noisy with her boss¡¯s shouts, as if he wanted to forcefully dismantle her room.


    ¡°You! How dare you investigate Seno Adhijaya? I¡¯m returning your files!¡± he yelled persistently.


    ¡°Oh! So, this is about my investigation proposal? What¡¯s the problem, Sir? I don¡¯t feel like I¡¯ve done anything wrong!¡± Mahya retorted, equally fierce. In journalistic work, structural positions were just diagrams on boards, not unresisting zones in the field.


    Mahya wasn¡¯t afraid of being fired.


    As long as she knew why her work was being canceled.


    ¡°You! How could you make enemies from such circles! You didn¡¯t even check the status of the credit card that was your responsibility! Our credit card was deducted $1000 because you damaged Seno Adhijaya¡¯s car, right? All those payments will be deducted from your sry and bonus this year!¡±


    Her boss ranted incessantly, almost making Mahya¡¯s jaw drop to the ground. What was this? Why did Seno even know the office credit card number she carried? Was ¡­ everything she did a form of revenge from the rejection a few nights ago? When Mahya refused to be his sugar baby?


    ¡°Sir ¡­ I can exin,¡± Mahya finally softened her voice. She understood that all of this was a tangled thread where Seno was the root. However, Seno¡¯s offense had nothing to do with her investigation proposal. Seno¡¯s position shouldn¡¯t have been an issue in the investigation process.


    Why did this office seem to protect Seno and not want to scrutinize suspicious targets like the open principles of the press should?


    ¡°NO! I will stop this investigation process. In return, you have harmed thepany, your position in the investigative section will be shifted to the feature section! Understand? Now, pack up!¡± the boss ordered arbitrarily.


    Mahya was furious. ¡°I won¡¯t!¡±


    Suddenly, amidst their argument, Carol- the editor-appeared as a mediator.


    ¡°Boss! What are you doing to Mahya? Do you have to demote her? This can be discussed calmly,¡± she defended her friend.


    ¡°I can¡¯t! My decision is final. Remove that namete and move to the feature desk next door!¡± he refused firmly. ¡°And, don¡¯t call me ¡®boss¡¯ at the workce,¡± he added before walking away.


    Carol looked at Mahya with pity. This year, Mahya was supposed to get a promotion. But just because Mahya bumped into someone who might be close to her brother, she ended up being demoted. Instead of a promotion, Mahya¡¯s level was even lowered by one level below what it should have been.


    ¡°I won¡¯t ept this!¡± Mahya shouted passionately, but Carol quickly approached her. ¡°Calm down, remember, your house installment still has 3 years left,¡± she whispered, hoping to soothe her friend¡¯s anger.


    Mahya growled like a lion ready to pounce on its prey. She was truly angry at being treated unfairly like this.


    Her boss didn¡¯t care. He didn¡¯t care. He just walked away after giving Mahya unteral orders. The girl was so angry and hurt. She was truly heartbroken.


    ¡°Carol ¡­ how am I supposed to ept all of this?¡± she whimpered as she picked up the files discarded by the cruel boss.


    Almost there, Mahya could conclude how Seno could get such arge injection of funds. She had tried to dig up information, investor data, and production patterns of drugs that seemed to have special characteristics and were different from other drugs in its ss. Seno¡¯s business truly aroused Mahya¡¯s suspicion.


    ¡°Mahya, calm down. Just follow the flow. I¡¯ll help you as much as I can, okay? You must not get lost in emotions. It¡¯s very difficult to get a job in this field,¡± Carol tried tofort Mahya. Once out of the newsroom, a reporter¡¯s reputation would be questioned by other offices.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Carol didn¡¯t want Mahya to struggle and be unemployed even though there was a lot of potential in her. She would help Mahya speak to her brother when her emotions were stable enough.


    ¡°As far as I know, they were friends in college. Although different campuses. Aren¡¯t you in the same university as Seno?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You¡¯re right. But there are so many students. It¡¯s impossible for us to know each other if we don¡¯t have any interests.¡±


    Carol nodded, trying to understand. She, who graduated abroad, also understood that the poption of students was quite high, especially in public universities. Her brother didn¡¯t want to study abroad because his girlfriend was here. Clearly, Carol didn¡¯t even know her brother¡¯s friends.


    ¡°I¡¯ll help you tidy up your things,¡± Carol said, then got up from her seat. She helped move Mahya¡¯sptop and files to the next room, in the ¡®feature and lifestyle¡¯ editorial office.


    That section wasn¡¯t a particrly influential section, but it wasn¡¯t quiet either because the support from advertisements and advertorials was quite high. As feature reporters, they could even increase their ie by lobbying new businessmen who wanted to advertise themselves with thetest news from the cold hands of the reporter.


    ¡°What¡¯s the topic this week?¡± Mahya asked after moving herst items there. Carol also held that section, for efficiency. There were two other reporters working there. Plus Mahya, there were three reporters filling articles in the ¡®feature and lifestyle¡¯ section.


    ¡°Health. It seems there¡¯s a handsome young doctor who¡¯s gaining poprity, Mahya. You have to interview him,¡± Carol said, while searching for conversation links about the doctor on social media.


    Mahya began to get acquainted with the other reporters in the room. They were both very quiet, unlike her. Only awkward smiles could they exchange together. Mahya then approached Carol again and checked her search engine.


    ¡°Who?¡± Mahya asked when she saw a photo of a handsome brown-haired man in a white suit on Carol¡¯s phone.


    ¡°This is Dr. Andre. A surgeon who¡¯s currently popr in X. You have to get his contact! Our news will be viral!¡± Carol eximed with high enthusiasm that soared to the sky. The doctor¡¯s handsomeness mesmerized anyone who saw his portrait. Who knows what the fate of the viewers¡¯ hearts would be if they even met the doctor in personter on.


    ¡°A surgeon?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Very interesting, right? Now! Find that doctor¡¯s contact! Quickly!¡±


    Mahya sighed heavily. She could only nod andply with her boss¡¯s request, even though this section wasn¡¯t as serious and challenging as the section she used to lead.


    ¡°Dr. Andre, huh? Hm ¡­ alright.¡±

 Part 46 # News Sources

    ording to her promise to Carol, Mahya began searching for the contact of the rising star doctor. She went to the hospital where the doctor practiced and asked the receptionist to escort her to the handsome doctor.


    ¡°Sorry, Dr. Andre is very busy. You can contact the PR team for an interview,¡± said the female receptionist who received Mahya¡¯s request.


    ¡°No, I must meet Dr. Andre in person,¡± Mahya firmly refused. She forgot how to sweet-talk to win over her sources. Mahya was used to acting on her own, especially because she was used to dealing with data and ¡­ criminals!


    ¡°Sorry, Miss! Not possible!¡±


    In line with Mahya¡¯s firmness, the receptionist also did the same. Their auras even radiated red, as if silentlyunching an attack on each other. Mahya was relentless.


    ¡°At least, give me his phone number!¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°Dr. Andre¡¯s phone number is confidential!¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±


    A verbal duel then ensued, neither of them willing to back down. Themotion caught the attention of Dr. Miriam who happened to pass by.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here? What happened?¡± she asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Uh ¡­ doctor,¡± the receptionist nodded.


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Mahya Grace from Channel Insight. I want to get an interview with Dr. Andre. Is that possible?¡± Mahya asked directly.


    Dr. Miriam smiled. A reporter¡¯s visit to the hospital was actually a rare opportunity. Moreover, the reporter¡¯s visit was not to corner the institution but as a form of appreciation.


    ¡°Can youe to my office?¡± Dr. Miriam asked with her gentle smile.


    Mahya nodded, casting a cynical look at the receptionist. This emotional battle ended with Mahya¡¯s victory. The girl shed her arrogant smile.


    ¡°This way,¡± Dr. Miriam guided Mahya to prevent her from getting lost as they walked to her office.


    Shortly after, they arrived at the doctor¡¯s office on the second floor of the hospital.


    Dr. Miriam opened the door to her room and invited Mahya in. The room felt peaceful with soft colors and a pleasant fragrance. Mahya immediately sat in the chair provided by the doctor, while the doctor herself sat in the opposite chair.


    ¡°So, what brings you here, Mahya Grace?¡± Dr. Miriam asked, looking at Mahya attentively.


    Mahya began to exin her good intentions to write an article about Dr. Andre and his achievements in the medical field. She emphasized that her goal was to appreciate the rising doctor. Dr. Miriam listened with a friendly smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m d to see your interest in the medical world, Mahya. Dr. Andre is an extraordinary professional, and I believe this interview can be an inspiration to many people,¡± Dr. Miriam said.


    ¡°One more thing, is ¡­ Dr. Andre already married?¡± Mahya asked without hesitation.


    Dr. Miriam swallowed, unsure how to answer.


    ¡°Excuse me, may I know why you¡¯re asking?¡± she asked again.


    Mahyaughed. ¡°Many women are crazy about him. Of course, information like this is very important to them,¡± she joked with a wide smile.


    Dr. Miriam looked ufortable. ¡°Dr. Andre is already engaged,¡± she replied. She could see that Mahya¡¯s expression turned serious in an instant.


    ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± she replied afterwards. Mahya didn¡¯t really care about her source¡¯s marital status, but ¡­ for some reason, she was very interested in Dr. Andre. Undeniably, the doctor¡¯s beauty and mysterious aura invited everything that everyone wanted to know. Including Mahya.


    ¡°So, when do you want to do the interview?¡± Dr. Miriam asked. She felt a sudden awkwardness creeping into their conversation.


    Mahya cleared her throat before answering. ¡°Ah, maybe, in two days, how about that? I know if the doctor¡¯s schedule is very busy. However, this section is a weekly section that needs to be aired soon.¡±


    ¡°Hm, two dayster, huh? Alright. I¡¯ll try my best. I¡¯ll contact you once I have Dr. Andre¡¯s schedule,¡± Dr. Miriam said with a smile.


    Mahya nodded. But there was one thing bothering her. How did Dr. Miriam seem to know everything about Dr. Andre?


    ¡°Excuse me, doctor. Could you be ¡­ the hospital¡¯s PR manager?¡± Mahya asked, albeitte. She should have asked for this position since their first conversation. Strangely, Mahya got carried away and chatted so deeply without knowing the origin of the informant.


    ¡°Oh, no ¡­,¡± Dr. Miriam answered, blushing.


    ¡°Ah, then ¡­ how do you know about Dr. Andre¡¯s schedule and make decisions? Isn¡¯t that supposed to be decided structurally? For example, by the doctor¡¯s superior?¡± Mahya investigated.


    Mahya worried that her meeting today would not yield anything. She didn¡¯t even know if Dr. Miriam was just a colleague or a doctor who didn¡¯t personally know Dr. Andre.


    Dr. Miriam replied, ¡°Oh, coincidentally, I am the owner¡¯s daughter of this hospital.¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡± Mahya finally nodded happily. ¡°Thank you for your time and assistance, daughter of the owner!¡± Mahya eximed, extending her hand.


    ¡°Ah, and ¡­ I am Dr. Andre¡¯s fiancee, Miriam Copper.¡±


    At that moment, Mahya¡¯s eyes widened. She epted the handshake from the beautiful doctor in front of her with a heart full of question marks. How could Dr. Andre be surrounded by so much mystery and luck? Even, he was engaged to the hospital owner¡¯s daughter, where he worked.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, huh! Ready. Please help.¡±


    Since Mahya¡¯s departure to Andromeda Hospital, Carol had been anxiously looking for her friend who hadn¡¯t returned yet. She was very curious about Mahya¡¯s findings. Personally, Carol also had a special interest in their target who would be their source.


    After waiting for some time, Mahya¡¯s car finally arrived from the highway. Carol could see it from the office roof, which was without barriers, allowing her to peek down below.


    Knowing that Mahya¡¯s car had entered the parking lot, Carol quickly threw away her cigarette butt. With agility, she ran to the parking lot floor and weed Mahya with joy.


    ¡°Hey, how was it, Mahya? How was your meeting with Dr. Andre?¡± she asked enthusiastically.


    Mahya got out of the car with a gloomy face. A heavy breath apanied the whispered answer she gave. ¡°Not sessful.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± Carol was puzzled.


    ¡°I just talked to someone who schedules interviews,¡± Mahya said, looking straight at her friend and editor.


    ¡°Then?¡±


    ¡°Then ¡­ well, we¡¯ll meet in two days. Whether it can happen or not. I still don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Ah! So that¡¯s it ¡­.¡±


    ¡°And the most important news is ¡­.¡±


    ¡°Yes?!¡± Carol couldn¡¯t wait to hear the continuation of Mahya¡¯s sentence.


    ¡°Dr. Andre is already engaged.¡±


    ¡°What!¡±


    The faces of the two single women looked sad. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s sad, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Ugh! Very!¡±


    ¡°And even more surprising, his fiancee is Dr. Miriam Copper, the daughter of the hospital owner where Dr. Andre works,¡± Mahya revealed, feeling even more gloomy.


    Carol widened her eyes. ¡°Seriously? There¡¯s no hope ¡­.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. There¡¯s no hope ¡­.¡±


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s just smoke, friend. Maybe, our soulmates haven¡¯te yet,¡± Carol offered a pack of cigarettes to Mahya. The girl epted it with slightly faded enthusiasm, unlike usual. Another handsome and charming single man had been taken. Perhaps, Carol¡¯s words were true.


    ¡°Oh, God! Please give a soulmate to me and my friend!¡±

 Part 47 # Tantrum

    Mahya patiently waited for Dr. Miriam¡¯s update. All day long, she anxiously awaited the important call from the authority figure that mighte.


    ¡°Bring this week¡¯s coverage draft to my desk. I want to see it,¡± the baritone voice suddenly said. Mahya looked up at the owner of the voice. Her annoying boss was looming over her. ¡°Huh?¡± Mahya was puzzled. What business did that jerk haveing here?


    ¡°Did you suddenly go deaf?¡± he asked sarcastically.


    Mahya rolled her eyes, then quickly got up from her seat. She felt like she was hallucinating, but she wasn¡¯t.


    ¡°Shit!¡± she cursed in frustration. She had been hoping for a call from Dr. Miriam since she entered the office.


    Why did the anxiety she had been feeling suddenly turn into tension? It was all because of the unwee guest! Mahya was absolutely furious.


    ¡°The draft is already in the editor¡¯s email, Sir,¡± Mahya repliedzily. She didn¡¯t want to upset the other two reporters who might have a heart attack if Mahya exploded and cursed their boss to his face.


    ¡°I said¡­ to my desk! Do you understand?¡± Mahya¡¯s boss continued tomand sharply. Mahya immediately looked away, unwilling to respond to his provocations. ¡°Fine,¡± she replied after a moment.


    Her boss looked surprised. His eyebrows furrowed suddenly. Why wasn¡¯t Mahya throwing a fit like she usually did?


    ¡°Wwell, okay then. I said¡­ now! Got it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ yeah¡­¡±


    Mahya quickly opened herptop and checked the documents in one of her special folders. She transferred the draft files to a sh drive, making sure everything was neatly and thoroughly sent.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯lle to your desk now,¡± Mahya responded without lifting her face. She didn¡¯t want to see the satisfied expression on her boss¡¯s face, and more importantly, Mahya didn¡¯t want to show the lingering anxiety in her heart.


    Of course, Mahya was worried about contacting Dr. Andre, not about her boss¡¯s behavior. Mahya¡¯s heart had frozen. She no longer cared about her boss¡¯s arbitrary actions. The only thing that mattered to Mahya was¡­ getting her sry on time. That alone was enough to strengthen her in navigating the twists and turns of her job.


    ¡°I want to borrow your printer,¡± Mahya said, looking at her boss who followed behind. The mixed-race man suddenly seemed dazed and as if he longed for the scent of the opposite sex in front of him. What¡¯s going on? Was he going crazy?


    ¡°Cough!¡± He cleared his throat loudly, trying to snap out of it. This must be the acute single and broken heart syndrome. How could he be attracted to Mahya? A woman like her with no feminine features whatsoever. It was impossible! How could he justify these emotions to his conscience? ¡°You¡¯re crazy, James!¡± he scolded himself.


    Meanwhile, Mahya strolled carefree, ignoring the annoying boss who had been observing her movements all this time. Mahya was used to being oppressed by him. If only James weren¡¯t Carol¡¯s brother, Mahya would surely confront him. At the very least, he would cry blood because his expensive car suddenly had a scratch. Of course, Mahya wouldn¡¯t leave any traces toplicate matterster.


    ¡°James is such an idiot!¡± she grumbled, then returned to her boss¡¯s room to print the requested files.


    ***


    It didn¡¯t take long for all the files to be printed perfectly. Mahya then looked at her boss, who had been busy with other work at his own desk. Mahya was on the couch, waiting for all the files she had been printing to bepleted.


    ¡°Well, all done,¡± Mahya said, stretching her arm muscles. James nced from behind hisptop, still watching Mahya.


    Red lips, round eyes, tanned skin with¡­ harsh facial features devoid of any femininity. How could a woman like that catch his attention?


    ¡°I must have been influenced by Carol¡¯s novel,¡± he muttered, hitting his head.


    As James was busy snapping out of his hallucination, Mahya suddenly emerged from behind herputer screen. ¡°OH MY GOD!¡± he eximed in shock. Mahya was startled too. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Boss?¡± she blurted out, also surprised. Her heart almost fell to the floor. Her boss¡¯s behavior was really unusual.


    ¡°Whwhat? What¡¯s wrong? Why did you suddenly appear like that?!¡± he asked in confusion.


    ¡°You said you wanted the coverage draft, right? Here!¡± Mahya mmed the draft she had printed onto his desk. Themotion was not because of the thickness of the draft she had, but because of Mahya¡¯s hands, which were eager to throw punches at her boss.


    ¡°Oh, alright. Just go!¡± James dismissed her bluntly, hiding his face behind hisputer screen.


    Mahya clenched her fists tightly. It felt like now was the perfect time to execute her boss.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°And change your perfume! I¡¯m sick of smelling it!¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±


    ***


    Mahya¡¯s emotions had reached a boiling point. If James pushed her any further, police units and crime section journalists would soon arrive in this room.


    ¡°Mahya!¡±


    In these critical moments, Carol¡¯s voice managed to calm the boiling rage within Mahya. ¡°Carol?¡± Mahya¡¯s facial expression changed, no longer angry.


    ¡°Dr. Miriam called me, she said¡­ it¡¯s really hard to reach you. What¡¯s wrong with your phone?¡± Carol asked curiously.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Mahya rummaged through her pocket, searching for the phone her friend was referring to. ¡°Oh no! The battery¡¯s dead!¡± she eximed in despair. ¡°What am I going to do?¡± Mahya looked at Carol with an indescribable sadness in her expression.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got Dr. Andre¡¯s number. You can call him directly,¡± Carol smiled, ncing at Mahya.


    Mahya¡¯s face instantly brightened. A wide smile spread across her face. ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll call him right away!¡±


    She immediately left James¡¯s office, leaving her boss wondering about the strange behavior of his two excited subordinates in front of him.


    ¡°Carol. What were you two talking about?¡± James was curious. But Carol justughed without wanting to answer her brother¡¯s question.


    ¡°Since when did you be interested in our conversations? All you can do is get angry!¡± Carol pouted.


    James snorted, pinching his sister¡¯s cheek. ¡°Nonsense!¡±


    ¡°Ew! That hurts!¡± Carol ran out of her brother¡¯s room, ignoring all his fuss and unclear curiosity. Since breaking up one month ago, James had changed. He often got angry and was very sensitive about trivial matters. Carol was fed up.


    ***


    ¡°Ah! Dr. Andre? Nice to meet you!¡±

 Part 48 # The Interview

    The day awaited by Mahya finally arrived. She managed to meet face to face with the legendary Dr. Andre. Of course, that title was exaggerated because Dr. Andre¡¯s poprity was still far behind Jaka Tarub, who became the partner of fairies in ancient times.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Legendary? Well, not quite.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Dr. Andre,¡± Mahya said with a cheerful face.


    ¡°Nice to meet you too, Mahya Grace,¡± Andre replied calmly. He seemed difficult to express emotions, very different from Mahya who was explosive like easilybustible material.


    ¡°All right. I¡¯m very lucky to be able to meet you here. My visit is certainly to interview you,¡± Mahya started the conversation.


    Andre nodded and cleared his throat, ready to answer every question from the reporter. The girl¡¯s appearance was quite entric with a leather jacket snug on her body. Andre even thought she was a musician, not a reporter as introduced.


    ¡°Can you tell me a little about yourself?¡± Mahya asked for the initial question.


    ¡°Well, what do you want to know?¡± Andre replied. He didn¡¯t feel he could talk about himself without some prompting that might make his story easier.


    ¡°Ah, well¡­ like, your name, upation, then¡­ a shback about your journey in the past until you could be a doctor like this.¡±


    ¡°Ah, like that. Well then. Ahem¡­ I¡¯ll start with my name first,¡± Andre replied with a smile.


    ¡°Please,¡± Mahya said, preparing her recorder.


    ¡°All right. My name is Andre Setiawan Ramsey. This strange name is because my mother is Indonesian and my father is from Canada. I am 30 years old. My job, as you can see, is a surgeon,¡± Andre began introducing himself.


    ¡°Interesting. Please continue.¡±


    ¡°Since I was a child, I lived in Canada, studied there, and then¡­ suddenly, I had to move to Indonesia, to my mother¡¯s home country because of an incident that happened in the family. Sorry, I can¡¯t talk about it. It¡¯s a family secret,¡± he said.


    ¡°Okay. No problem. Then, how was your journey to bing a surgeon like this?¡± Mahya asked next.


    Andre smiled, recalling the bitter incident of the past that hadpletely changed his life. ¡°Well, I was interested in learning about the human body, and¡­ because of the incident that happened in my past. And also, my father is actually the owner of this Andromeda hospital. However, it almost copsed due to sloppy management¡­¡±


    Mahya widened her eyes. This fact was so interesting to her. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not Dr. Miriam¡¯s family who owns it then?¡± Mahya finally asked.


    Andre nodded immediately. ¡°Yes, I am grateful to meet Dr. Miriam¡¯s family. M Group is the one that saved this hospital from the brink of destruction,¡± he continued.


    ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s the story,¡± Mahya nodded. She could now draw amon thread between them. ¡°So¡­ this engagement can be called an alliance, right? Haha!¡± Mahya was only joking when she made that statement.


    But who would have thought? Andre¡¯s face turned tense, not expecting that¡­ Mahya actually knew the fact he was hiding. ¡°Y-You, know about the engagement alliance? Did¡­ Dr. Miriam tell you?¡± Andre asked seriously.


    Mahya¡¯s face changed. She was no longerughing and smiling. ¡°Eh?¡± The girl was just as surprised. She didn¡¯t expect her random guess to actually¡­ be true? ¡°Is that true?¡±


    This time, it was Andre who was at a loss for words. He didn¡¯t know that the reporter was just making empty talk unrted to Miriam. ¡°Ah! HAHAHA! Joking¡­ just joking¡­ HAHA!¡±


    The interview continued awkwardly. Dr. Andre also became strange, unlike his usual demeanor. What¡¯s going on here? Mahya smelled something suspicious about their rtionship.


    ¡°HAHA! The doctor really likes jokes, huh! Haha!¡± Mahya tried to respond to the unfunny joke as expected by her source, although¡­ Mahya knew that the doctor was just trying to cover up the corpse of his secrets.


    ¡°Well, then¡­ what about your family? Do you have siblings, brothers or anyone?¡±


    ¡°I have an older sister. She lives in Canada with her husband. My grandmother is also in Canada. I¡¯m here by myself,¡± he replied calmly.


    ¡°Ah, I see¡­.¡± Mahya suspiciously observed the doctor¡¯s behavior. How could he talk like that? Alone? Wasn¡¯t his fiancee with him?


    ¡°Then, what about your fiancee?¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°Dr. Miriam.¡±


    ¡°Ah. She¡­.¡±


    Andre fell silent for a moment. He thought about the words that might satisfy the curiosity of the reporter who was asking him. ¡°My fiancee, right? She is beautiful, smart, and independent. Very suitable as a busy person¡¯s partner like me,¡± he replied afterwards.


    Mahya nodded understandingly. From the doctor¡¯s face, there was no aura of love radiating there. Perhaps¡­ the engagement alliance was indeed true! Mahya needed to find out more details about it.


    The interview continued, Mahya tried to dig deeper into Andre¡¯s life journey and thoughts. However, the deeper Mahya dug, the moreplex and mysterious Dr. Andre¡¯s life unfolded before her. The past full of twists and mysteries made Mahya even more curious.


    As the interview was almost over, Mahya tried to tease Andre with more personal questions. ¡°So, Dr. Andre, between the two of us, who do you find more interesting, Dr. Miriam or Mahya Grace?¡±


    Andre smiled thinly. Dimples adorned his handsome face. ¡°In my opinion, Mahya Grace is clearly more interesting.¡±


    Mahya chuckled satisfactorily. At least, even though she couldn¡¯t have him, she was still free to daydream.


    ¡°Ah, of course! I think the same way too.¡±


    They bothughed.


    The interview ended in a rxed atmosphere. Mahya was satisfied with the result of her interview, although the mysteries surrounding Dr. Andre were not fully solved yet. She left the room with a sense of satisfaction and growing curiosity.


    ¡°I¡¯ll definitely be back!¡± she muttered, clenching her fist.


    Mahya stepped out of the doctor¡¯s room, heading towards the hospital¡¯s main entrance. Yes. Mahya conducted the interview in this building because Dr. Andre¡¯s schedule was very tight. Mahya didn¡¯t mind having to go to his office rather than risking her exclusive news to fail.


    Outside the hospital building, Mahya was about to g down a taxi to return to the office. However, a ck sedan suddenly approached her. The car stopped right next to Mahya. The passenger window rolled down.


    ¡°Are you done?¡± the man driving the car asked Mahya.


    ¡°James, what are you doing here?¡± Mahya asked, surprised.


    James smiled broadly, ¡°I was just taking a stroll. Luckily, I saw your ugly hair shining, so¡­ I thought¡­ that must be Mahya, the wild horse.¡±


    ¡°W-what?!¡± Mahya growled. How dare he mock the ponytail she was so proud of.


    Jamesughed, ¡°Get in!¡±


    Mahya frowned. Although she still felt that James was hiding something. However, Mahya chose to follow him rather than wait for a taxi that had not yet appeared around her.


    ¡°Thank you, Boss. I appreciate it,¡± Mahya said as she got into the car.


    James drove slowly, leaving the hospital building behind. ¡°No problem. I¡¯m always happy to help,¡± said James with a smile. He then looked straight ahead, asionally stealing nces at the passenger seat.


    Mahya apparently fell asleep unknowingly.


    James sighed and chuckled at the behavior of the young woman with him. Really! What was she really thinking?

 Part 49 # Lara?

    Actually, Mahya had only fallen asleep briefly, and when she woke up, they had just left the hospitalplex area. She didn¡¯t know that James had been stealing nces at her since earlier. Mahya didn¡¯t care.


    As the car was almost leaving the main gate, Mahya¡¯s eyes suddenly caught sight of someone she knew: Lara. Her friend seemed to be entering the parking building with a worried expression. Mahya was curious, but¡­ she shouldn¡¯t just show up.


    Mahya was still considering keeping her distance from Lara regarding her case. She didn¡¯t want any bias that could interfere with her investigation process.


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Mahya sighed, conflicted. On one hand, Mahya really missed Lara. On the other hand, she shouldn¡¯t act rashly. It wouldn¡¯t benefit her at all.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why the sulky face?¡± James asked after ncing at Mahya, who had already opened her eyes.


    ¡°Ah, nothing. It¡¯s just that I saw a familiar face entering the parking area earlier,¡± she repliedzily. Mahya then took out her phone. She contacted Carol and sent her the interview recording. Of course,plete with a portrait of the handsome Dr. Andre for her friend¡¯s encouragement.


    ¡°Want to go back?¡± James offered.


    Mahya raised her eyebrows. ¡°Ha?¡± she asked incredulously. Why did James seem so talkative all of a sudden, unlike usual?


    ¡°I said, want to go back? To meet your acquaintance?¡±


    ¡°Eh! No need,¡± Mahya awkwardly refused. James chuckled softly. He then refocused on his driving. The streets today seemed busy yet smooth. Fortunately, there were no traffic jams that could slow down the vehicle.


    Mahya looked out the window, enjoying the moving objects across. The magnificent buildings seemed to be running, along with the spinning wheels of the car. Mahya tried to recall the moments with her friend, Lara, and the fun of their youth.


    It turns out, memories are not easy to forget. Although, a person¡¯s physical appearance and social status can change significantly. Mahya never imagined that Lara would actually marry Seno, the suspicious man. Mahya didn¡¯t like him from the start.


    ¡°How was the interview?¡± James asked, interrupting Mahya¡¯s reverie.


    ¡°Ah, yes, the result was good. I can make a popr article in the end.¡± Mahya smiled. Somehow, her face looked different. James didn¡¯t even blink at her.


    ¡°W-Why are you smiling!¡± James snapped, trying to maintain hisposure.


    Mahya widened her eyes. ¡°Why?¡± she asked back. What¡¯s wrong with a smile? Besides, they were talking about a handsome figure: Dr. Andre. It was obvious Mahya would smile willingly.


    ¡°Your smile is ugly!¡± grumbled James nervously.


    Mahya was furious again. She didn¡¯t speak. Her choice to go home with James turned out to be a disaster!


    ***


    ¡°How was it? Exciting? Handsome? Fragrant, isn¡¯t he?¡± Carol bombarded Mahya with questions as soon as she arrived at their office.


    Mahya just snorted irritably, remembering the incident in the car with her boss, also Carol¡¯s brother, which made her annoyed.


    ¡°Mahya!¡± Carol grabbed Mahya¡¯s hand. She was very curious.


    ¡°Exciting. Handsome. Fragrant!¡± Mahya replied casually. She still wore a sullen and tired face. Carol sighed deeply.


    ¡°Here!¡± She handed a box of cigarettes to her friend. Mahya finally smiled. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s smoke first.¡±


    They then walked to the top room of the building, enjoying the serene evening. Mahya then told everything to Carol. Her editor listened to everything with enthusiasm and full of emotion.


    ¡°Finally, Mahya can be normal,¡± she whispered while hugging her friend.


    ¡°What do you mean?!¡±


    ¡°Well, all this time, you looked old with investigative coverage. Now, you¡¯re really like a young woman in general, my friend!¡±


    ¡°Son of a B***!¡±


    ¡°HAHA!¡±


    They bothughed in the orange glow of the sky. It turns out, on a tough day at work, there are also rxing moments like this. Mahya was grateful to work here. Carol was the one who made her feel lucky.


    ¡°Come on! Let¡¯s work again!¡±


    ***


    Meanwhile, at the hospital, Lara looked panicked. Her husband suddenly lost consciousness and foam appeared at his mouth!C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Doctor! Doctor! Help my husband!¡±


    When Lara panicked, the doctor finally calmed her down. They immediately took Seno to the emergency room and provided emergency treatment there.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, Mr. Seno will be fine, right?¡± Mti asked. Lara just shook her head weakly. ¡°I don¡¯t know, M,¡± she said, tears streaming down her face.


    Lara¡¯s heartbeat raced so fast. She was worried and didn¡¯t expect that Seno would have a seizure after they had intercourse a few moments ago. Almost, more precisely. Seno couldn¡¯t even get an erection and couldn¡¯t serve Lara.


    ¡°What should I do?¡± Lara muttered weakly.


    Mti tightly held her employer¡¯s hand. ¡°Mr. Seno will surely be fine, Ma¡¯am. Let¡¯s leave it to the doctor, okay?¡± she said.


    Lara nodded, wiping her wet face. She was worried, but there was nothing more she could do. Lara could only wait for a miracle. Surely, good fortune woulde.


    ¡°Lara?¡±


    Amidst the chaos, Andre¡¯s voice seemed to be a source of encouragement. Somehow, Lara missed his voice, his figure, and¡­ his attention.


    ¡°Andre?¡± she said, looking at Andre with a sad look.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Andre came closer and now he squatted in front of Lara, who was sitting in the waiting room of the emergency room. His face was pale, his hands were cold, and Andre immediately calmed her down.


    ¡°Andre¡­.¡± Lara called out sadly, without realizing it, she hugged him. Lara was so sad and didn¡¯t know what to do. Her husband suddenly lost consciousness inside.


    ¡°Calm down, Lara. Tell me, what happened?¡± Andre gently patted Lara¡¯s back. The same pat as when they were in elementary school in Canada.


    Back then, Lara was very sad because her favorite cat was killed by a car. With tears streaming down her face, Lara approached Andre. Suddenly, her friend and neighbor hugged Lara and calmed her tears.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay. Now, tell me, what happened to you?¡± Andre repeated the question. Lara was still sobbing, and with difficulty, she told him about her sorrow.


    ¡°Seno¡­.¡± she said.


    Andre frowned. So, all of this was because of that bastard? Suddenly, Andre felt disgusted. ¡°Yes? What¡¯s wrong with Seno? What happened to him?¡±


    ¡°Seno, he had seizures earlier, Andre. I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with him,¡± Lara said, tears streaming down her face.


    Andre nodded in understanding, he immediately wiped Lara¡¯s face with the tissue in his jacket pocket. Andre¡¯s action like that caused a misunderstanding, especially for¡­ Miriam, who had been watching them from the end of the building corridor.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Lara said, epting the tissue from Andre. She didn¡¯t mean to trouble her friend. Lara really didn¡¯t have anyone else to share her sadness with. She felt truly anxious and worried about her husband¡¯s unusual condition.


    ¡°Has he ever had seizures before?¡± Andre wanted to make sure. Actually, Seno was currently under treatment.


    ¡°As far as I know, no¡­ and, his mouth was foaming, Ndre,¡± Lara said, crying again. She felt guilty. She felt like something was being hidden by her husband.


    ¡°Calm down, Lara. He¡¯ll be fine,¡± Andre said tofort Lara. However, he actually knew that¡­ Seno¡¯s condition was not normal and needed attention.


    ***


    ¡°W-What? What happened to my husband?¡±

 Part 50 # What Happened to Seno?

    That afternoon, Lara tried to continue her work as usual when Seno was not around. However, she felt something unusual.


    ¡°Mti, could you please wake up my husband?¡± she asked Mti, who was near the stairs. Lara wanted to go upstairs, but suddenly her legs hurt.


    ¡°Oh, yes, Ma¡¯am,¡± Mti said as she walked away to the upper floor.


    Mti seemed to knock on the door, but Seno didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°Sir, excuse me,¡± Mti called out.


    Silence.


    It seemed as if no one was inside the room.


    ¡°Sir¡­.¡± Mti continued knocking on Seno¡¯s door, but it was still quiet, with no response from behind the door as usual.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to open it, Sir.¡±


    Mti then entered Seno¡¯s room. She was shocked to find Seno lying there with foam at his mouth.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am! Ma¡¯am Lara! Mr. Seno!¡±


    Lara was shocked to hear Mti¡¯s shout. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, M?¡± she asked as she rushed to the second floor.


    ¡°Sir, Ma¡¯am!¡± Mti repeated, pointing to Seno lying on his bed.


    ¡°Oh, my goodness!¡± Lara screamed and was confused about what to do. In all her life, she had never seen Seno lying like that. ¡°Call an ambnce, M!¡± she ordered quickly.


    Lara immediately went to Seno and checked his pulse. He was still breathing.


    ¡°The ambnce will arrive soon, Ma¡¯am!¡± M said. Lara nodded. But then, Seno¡¯s body began to shake. He seemed to be dying and waiting for death!


    ¡°Oh, no!¡± Lara quickly grabbed a pillowcase to put it in his mouth, hoping Seno wouldn¡¯t bite his tongue.


    ¡°Mti! Help me!¡± she panicked. Mti seemed about to cry but tried to continue helping. Lara felt the same way, but she couldn¡¯t be weak. Seno¡¯s safety depended on her. She had to be strong and try to help him as much as she could.


    ***


    Shortly afterward, the ambnce arrived. The medical team immediately took Seno to their vehicle.


    ¡°Hurry! Hurry!¡± shouted one of the officers.


    ¡°Please, Sir. Save my husband,¡± Lara pleaded.


    ¡°Calm down, Ma¡¯am. We will try our best,¡± replied one of the officers, trying to calm her down.


    Lara nodded as she wiped her tears. Mti apanied her to see Seno until he disappeared from view.


    ¡°Mti, let¡¯s follow them.¡±


    Lara immediately took her car and followed the ambnce. She didn¡¯t want Seno to have difficulty with more passengers in that cramped car.


    ¡°Mti,e on!¡± she urged.


    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am!¡±


    Finally, Mti followed Lara. They followed behind the ambnce to the nearest hospital: Andromeda Hospital.


    Throughout the journey, Lara hoped Seno would receive the right treatment. Although her heart was very anxious and wondered, what actually happened to him?


    ¡°Seno¡­.¡± she muttered as she continued driving at a moderate speed. She couldn¡¯t be weak. She had to be strong.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, why is Mr. Seno like that, Ma¡¯am?¡± Mti was also worried. Lara didn¡¯t have the answer either.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Mel. Let¡¯s pray that he¡¯ll be okay,¡± Lara said, trying to calm both Mti¡¯s and her own heart.


    After a while, they finally arrived at Andromeda Hospital. Lara immediately parked her car and went to the emergency room to find Seno and take care of the necessary administrative matters.


    ¡°How is my husband, Doctor?¡± she asked when a doctor passed by the room.


    ¡°Sorry, Ma¡¯am. Please ask the patient at the reception,¡± he said before walking away. He seemed busy, so he had to run. Lara was still looking for Seno¡¯s whereabouts in the room.


    ¡°Miss, the patient named Seno. He just arrived, he¡¯s the patient with foam at his mouth,¡± she exined the name and condition. Perhaps the staff didn¡¯t know Seno or the medical team hadn¡¯t officially registered him there yet.


    ¡°The patient with foam at the mouth? This way, Ma¡¯am,¡± the officer then led her to a room at the end of the south side of the room. All the rooms had partitions, so Lara couldn¡¯t disturb and barge into any room.


    ¡°Thank you, Miss.¡±


    Lara was grateful that Seno¡¯s location was finally found. But the atmosphere there didn¡¯t seem supportive.


    ¡°Please wait in the waiting room, Ma¡¯am! You cannot be here!¡± a doctor with sses scolded her.


    ¡°But, Doctor. I want to see my husband!¡± she insisted, though also half afraid.


    ¡°You¡¯re disturbing our work. Please obey the hospital rules!¡± he said, pushing her away, though not rudely or to the point of making her fall.


    ¡°For a moment, she could see the doctors who were treating Seno. Apparently, they were really busy and also in an extremely tense atmosphere.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Without wanting to make everything moreplicated, Lara finally left. She waited for news about Seno in the waiting room as rmended. There, Mti was already sitting in the waiting chair.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, how is it?¡± Mti asked when she saw Lara stepping away from the door.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know yet, M. They¡¯re still doing their best,¡± Lara said listlessly.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Mti also bowed her head in sadness, like Lara. They were truly immersed in bad thoughts without rity. Good news had not yete.


    ¡°What do you think, Ma¡¯am, about Mr. Seno? Is it usually like this?¡± Mti continued trying to chat with Lara, although she didn¡¯t have the answer Mti wanted.


    ¡°M, I¡¯ve never seen Seno sick like this before. I¡¯m also very panicked. I don¡¯t know how¡­ suddenly he¡¯s like that.¡±


    Mti nodded in understanding.


    Lara stared into space.


    Suddenly, she remembered thest activity they did: almost having intercourse. Was that the problem? Impossible! Seno had often done it before, and he was fine. What¡¯s wrong with him?


    Unconsciously, tears began to wet Lara¡¯s cheeks. Apparently, all her thoughts copsed with those tears.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am¡­.¡± Mti held Lara¡¯s hand. Lara was even surprised by her body¡¯s response.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay, M. *Sob*¡­.¡±


    These tears continued to flood Lara¡¯s face. She was so embarrassed.


    ¡°Be patient, Ma¡¯am,¡± Mti encouraged her. Lara nodded while still crying. She didn¡¯t know why, but these tears kept bothering her. The fear of losing loved ones overwhelmed her again. She remembered thest day she was with her mother.


    Her mother.


    The hospital was thest ce she met her mother. At that time, her mother¡¯s lifeless body was so heartbreaking. Lara was so scared that event would happen again in front of her eyes. Her stomach became very painful, and she was stressed thinking about it!


    ¡°Ow¡­.¡± The pain in her stomach attacked her.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am!¡± Mti was surprised and tried to calm Lara down. ¡°Ma¡¯am, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Ow, I don¡¯t know. My stomach suddenly hurts,¡± Lara whispered as she held her growing belly. ¡°Wait a moment, Ma¡¯am! I¡¯ll get you some warm tea, okay?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes¡­.¡±


    Soon, Mti¡¯s back looked away. Lara still grimaced, enduring the pain that hit her stomach. ¡°You¡¯re smart, dear,¡± she whispered to her unborn child. She didn¡¯t want him to also be fussy when his father was dying in there.


    ***


    ¡°Lara?¡±

 Part 51 # Bad Intuition

    That¡¯s how Lara finally met Andre. At this moment, only Andre could soothe the turmoil in her heart.


    For hours, Lara waited in the ER. Yet, there was no word from the doctor. Andre faithfully stood by Lara¡¯s side; fortunately, his shift had just ended perfectly.


    ¡°How long do patients usually stay in the ER, Ndre?¡± Lara inquired, eager to know why she hadn¡¯t received any news about Seno, her husband¡¯s, condition.


    Andre replied gently, attempting to provide somefort to Lara¡¯s restless demeanor. ¡°The time in the ER varies, Lara. It all depends on the patient¡¯s condition and the evaluation process conducted by the medical team. Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯ll inform us as soon as there¡¯s any progress.¡±


    Lara took a deep breath, trying to rx her tense muscles. Her eyes stared nkly at the ceiling, attempting to quell the anxiety gripping her heart. Andre remained by her side, offering a calming presence.


    Momentster, Mti appeared, puzzled by the presence of another man beside her employer.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am¡­¡± Mti called softly.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lara responded, her voice equally weak.


    ¡°Here¡¯s your tea,¡± she said then. Lara epted the ss, her hand trembling slightly. With great effort, she sipped the warm tea to calm her nerves. ¡°Thank you, M.¡±


    Mti nodded, still eyeing the man beside Lara with questioning nces.


    ¡°Ah, this is Doctor Andre, my friend,¡± Lara said, sensitive to Mti¡¯s reaction.


    ¡°Oh, nice to meet you, Doctor,¡± Mti greeted, bowing her head.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yes, nice to meet you, Miss,¡± the doctor responded with a faint smile.


    Unexpectedly, a nurse emerged from the ER. Lara and Andre immediately approached, hoping for good news about Seno¡¯s condition.


    ¡°Mrs. Lara?¡± the nurse asked amiably.


    Lara nodded anxiously. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here, Nurse. How¡¯s my husband¡¯s condition?¡±


    The nurse smiled, cautiously providing information. ¡°Firstly, I want to inform you that your husband is currently in intensive care. The doctors are conducting further evaluations to better understand his condition.¡±


    Lara felt her heart pounding. ¡°What happened to him?¡±


    The nurse then exined, ¡°When he arrived at the ER, your husband was unconscious. The medical team is working to understand the cause and provide appropriate treatment. We¡¯ll inform you if there¡¯s any significant progress.¡±


    Andre tried to reassure Lara by patting her shoulder. Lara nodded and waited for news with a lighter heart, for the sake of her husband.


    ¡°You must stay calm, Lara. The best medical team is taking care of him. The most important thing now is to give them time to do their best.¡±


    Lara tried to calm herself, though her worries still ran deep. ¡°Thank you, Andre. I don¡¯t know what I would do without you.¡±


    Andre smiled softly. ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate to ask for help if you need anything. I¡¯m here for you.¡±


    Lara smiled at Andre¡¯s sincerity, but not Miriam, who was still eavesdropping on their conversation. With a flushed face, containing her anger, Miriam left without a word.


    Questions, statements, taunts, demands-none could she utter. Miriam just shed tears as she walked away to her room. Her unrequited love for Lara¡¯s husband was truly painful, she felt. Miriam truly despised Lara.


    ***


    That night, Lara decided to return home. The hospital promised to inform her if anything happened to the patient undergoing treatment.


    When Lara was gone, a group of men in ck suits crowded the ER corridor with firm steps. Their demeanor resembled henchmen of an important figure escorting their leader.


    ¡°He¡¯s here, Madam!¡± said one burly man boldly.


    ¡°Take him away!¡± ordered the woman called ¡®Madam¡¯ with a cold expression, as cold as the ice block that never melts in the North Pole.


    ¡°Roger!¡± The burly man then entered the ER and took care of everything. Without violence, without a trace, and without fierce resistance, he sessfully took Seno out of the room to be treated in their special facility.


    It seemed that Seno hadplications from the drug he was developing himself. Madam X had to act swiftly if she didn¡¯t want to expose the corruption of their organization.


    ***


    ¡°Have you taken care of everything?¡± asked Madam X coldly, while in her car. Seno was in another vehicle, like an ambnce, withplete equipment and medical personnel monitoring his progress.


    ¡°The CCTV recordings have been erased. I¡¯ve sent the transfer report to higher facilities. The hospital owner is our associate, Madam. Everything is safe,¡± replied the big man with a brief report after checking the documents on his tablet.


    ¡°Good. Let¡¯s go to headquarters now!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Madam!¡±


    The group of men in ck suits and Seno, who was unconscious, disappeared into the darkness of the night. Lara would never know that her husband had been transferred to a secret facility. She wouldn¡¯t be able to find any trace of Seno anywhere.


    Its location was perfectly hidden.


    ***


    Upon arriving home, Lara felt an unfamiliar sense of unease disturbing her peace. What¡¯s happening? Was itmon for women in thete trimester of pregnancy to hallucinate?


    ¡°Ma¡¯am¡­¡± Mti called from the kitchen. The girl was preparing dinner for her employer. However, Lara¡¯s face suddenly turned pale. It seemed she was not feeling well.


    Lara tried to ignore the strange feeling enveloping her mind. She treated it as a result of the anxiety and fatigue she had been experiencingtely. Nevertheless, as Lara approached the kitchen, the unpleasant feeling grew stronger, as if something serious was happening without her knowledge.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Mti asked with concern as Lara entered the kitchen.


    Lara touched her swollen belly. It must be the effect of pregnancy hormones. Lara felt a heaviness in her heart. Dark thoughts were clouding her peace. ¡°I don¡¯t know, M. I feel strange, like something¡¯s not right.¡±


    Mti looked at Lara with concern. ¡°Perhaps you need to rest for a while. Dinner is almost ready; I¡¯ll bring it to your roomter, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    Lara agreed. She felt that her body indeed needed rest. Lara walked to her room, trying to push away the worries that continued to haunt her. Mti followed behind, ensuring that Lara reached her room safely.


    After seeing Lara rest, Mti returned to the kitchen to finish preparing dinner. In her heart, Mti also felt uneasy. However, it was not something to be exaggerated. What was the connection between intuition and reality? Mti wasn¡¯t even part of this family. She was just an outsider employed here.


    Mti shouldn¡¯t add to her employer¡¯s worries.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, dinner is ready,¡± Mti said, knocking on the door. However, Lara didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am?¡±

 Part 52 # The Pawn and Leading Player

    Mti hurriedly entered Lara¡¯s room, hoping that her worries wouldn¡¯te true. Mti was traumatized by her employer¡¯s case, Seno, who suddenly copsed with foaming mouth. She didn¡¯t want her mistress to experience the same.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am!¡± Mti searched for her mistress, only to find her in the bathroom, concentrating on shaving her legs.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am! I apologize for intruding. I thought you had fainted,¡± Mti said, trying to steady her erratic breaths. Her heart was pounding too fast; the girl was overwhelmed.


    ¡°Ah, M? Sorry, I didn¡¯t hear you calling. I¡¯m concentrating on shaving my legs,¡± Lara said with a smile. She didn¡¯t mind Mti barging into her room because they both knew that something shocking had just happened to them.


    ¡°Alright, Ma¡¯am. I just wanted to say that dinner is ready,¡± Mti continued before excusing herself.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be there soon,¡± Lara said quickly. She would continue her shower and then enjoy the dinner prepared by her assistant.


    ***


    After finishing dinner, Lara fell asleep immediately. She only woke up the next day with a pale face after receiving news on her phone.


    ¡°Mti! We need to go to the hospital now!¡± she suddenly eximed.


    ¡°W-What? Why, Ma¡¯am?¡±


    ¡°Juste! I¡¯ll exinter! Come on, you have toe with me!¡±


    Mti quickly grabbed her jacket and tied up her hair. ¡°Be careful, Ma¡¯am!¡± she shouted as she saw Lara almost slipping as she descended to the garage.


    Both of them rushed to the hospital at a considerable speed. Mti remained silent. So did Lara. Only the engine¡¯s roar filled the silence between them.


    ¡°Oh, God!¡± Lara muttered, asionally biting her lower lip. The turn signals blinked, indicating they were about to reach the hospital gates. Lara immediately slowed down the car while scanning the surroundings. Secondster, she turned into the gate and headed to the parking lot to park her car.


    ¡°Hurry!¡± Lara eximed after parking. Fortunately, the parking lot wasn¡¯t as crowded as usual. Lara quickly locked the car door and ran towards the main lobby.


    Mti still wondered but kept up with her pace. Eventually, they reached Seno¡¯s hospital room.


    Empty.


    No one was there.


    ¡°Where¡¯s my husband?¡± Lara asked with teary eyes.


    ¡°Uh oh, Ma¡¯am ¡­ Your husband has been transferred to a special facility,¡± the nurse, acting as the spokesperson, said in tremble.


    ¡°Don¡¯t joke with me! With whose permission?!¡± Lara raised her voice.


    ¡°With the permission of his guardian, his personal doctor who usually treats your husband, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    The nurse¡¯s words cut through Lara¡¯s anger. A woman¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Doctor Miriam?¡± Lara squinted. ¡°It can¡¯t be! Legally, I¡¯m his guardian! All his treatments should go through my approval!¡± Lara insisted.


    ¡°Unfortunately, that¡¯s not the case, Mrs. Lara. This is a power of attorney from herwyer. Your husband indeed gave consent for treatment to his private doctor.¡±


    The heated debate faded with Seno¡¯s signature on the unknown document handed to Lara.


    What was happening here?


    ¡°I-It¡¯s impossible,¡± Lara trembled. Her vision suddenly blurred, and her heart sank. How could Seno block her ess as the legal guardian? He was her husband.


    ¡°I apologize for the inconvenience, Mrs. Lara. We have to get back to work,¡± Doctor Miriam said, nodding towards the security at the entrance to the ER.


    The man in the ck uniform approached Lara and guided her to leave the ER area immediately.


    ¡°Please, Ma¡¯am,¡± he said coldly. Lara nced back disapprovingly. ¡°I can leave by myself,¡± she snapped while squeezing the power of attorney handed to her.


    Lara¡¯s heart was shattered.


    Seno had truly destroyed his dignity as the only family member who should have been trusted.


    ***


    ¡°Ma¡¯am,¡± Mti called out pitifully. Sometimes, she tightly held Lara¡¯s hand, which still emitted a subtle vibration as she drove beside her.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Lara muttered. She was truly angry, hurt, and unwilling. How could her husband disappear like this? What was he hiding?


    ¡°Something¡¯s wrong,¡± Lara kept wondering. But who could give her the answers?


    ¡°Ma¡¯am,¡± Mti called out again.


    This time, Lara turned to look at her assistant, without the usual smile on her usually serene face. Lara was confused. Lara felt empty. She didn¡¯t know what to do.


    ¡°What is it, M?¡± Lara finally asked. Mti handed her a piece of paper she had taken from Seno¡¯s bedside table, unnoticed.


    ¡°Here, maybe you recognize this?¡± Mti asked curiously.


    ¡°Who? I can¡¯t see, Mel,¡± Lara asked, still focusing on her driving.


    ¡°Doctor Rambey. Is he Mr. Seno¡¯s personal doctor, Ma¡¯am? Maybe you could ask him at this number,¡± Mti said innocently yet sensibly.


    ¡°Give it to me!¡± Lara ordered, pulling over her car.


    She then read the business card handed to her by Mti. ¡°Doctor Rambey?¡± Lara murmured. She then noted down the doctor¡¯s phone number and tried calling him.


    But there was no waiting tone or normal ringing tone on the call.


    The number was fake!


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    ***


    Meanwhile, Seno remained unconscious in a small room with special facilities to monitor all his developments. He had been asleep all day, and apparently, there were no signs of him waking up.


    ¡°Argh¡­.¡± a momentter, Seno¡¯s groans began to be heard. He frowned upon seeing the sharp lights around him. His vision was still blurry, and his consciousness had not fully recovered.


    Seno groped around, where was he?


    ¡°Awake already?¡± someone asked sharply, a voice he recognized.


    Seno tried to open his eyes wide. Lara¡¯s voice couldn¡¯t be that harsh. ¡°Wh-who are you?¡± Seno asked, curious.


    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±


    ¡°Who?!¡±


    ¡°Xenia! You idiot!¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Ma-Madam?¡± Seno immediately tried to sit up, but his muscles were still weak. He fell back unable to get up properly. ¡°Aww!¡± A momentter, Seno felt a pain in his vital area. What exactly had happened to him?


    ¡°Don¡¯t move too much. There seems to be a contraindication from the trial drug injected into you,¡± Madam X exined with her cold tone.


    ¡°W-What?!¡± Seno yelled! He was shocked and couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°How dare you test drugs on a CEO like me! When did you do that?¡±


    ¡°Quiet, Seno! It¡¯s all in the initial agreement since you agreed to share with me. Is your brain not functioning properly? You should have read the agreement use carefully, Fool!¡±


    Seno swallowed. He felt powerless. His whole body seemed paralyzed and couldn¡¯t move as usual. ¡°Ba-Bastard!¡± Seno cursed in anger.


    ¡°At least your mouth is still functioning.¡±


    ¡°Arghhh?! How dare you hurt me like this! Wasn¡¯t the trial in theboratory enough?¡±


    ¡°Lab tests and human trials are different, Seno. Trust me. This effect won¡¯tst long. Just lie downfortably there,¡± Madam said with her arrogant smile.


    Seno could only growl but couldn¡¯t do anything. This was all purely his fault. Seno was tempted by the huge investment funds, although he didn¡¯t quite understand the price to be paid.


    Seno, nothing more and nothing less, was just a pawn of Madam to enter the Indonesian market without getting his hands dirty.


    ¡°Stupid rat!¡±

 Part 53 # Surprise Guest

    It¡¯s been more than two weeks since Seno disappeared without a trace. Lara became increasingly numb. Her daily life with Mti became routine. And her pregnancy was progressing.


    ¡°Ouch¡­.¡± Lara hissed as she climbed the stairs to retrieve her belongings on the second floor. But her feet were already sore. Swollen. Currently, Lara¡¯s pregnancy was at 28 weeks.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, are you okay?¡± Mti supported Lara¡¯s weak body. The woman was leaning on the iron railing.


    ¡°Oh, yes. I just feel pain in my feet area. I was going to get the hair dryer in Seno¡¯s room, M. Can you get it for me?¡± Lara requested. This time, she tried to go back downstairs.


    ¡°Are you nning to go out?¡± Mti asked, nodding. Before going to the second floor, she would demand Lara to rest on the living room sofa to be safe.


    ¡°I want to see the clothes I ordered while buying some items. My school reunion ising soon.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right. Let me get it for you, Ma¡¯am,¡± Mti offered.


    Lara seemed to think for a moment. But she shook her head gently. ¡°Let me do it. M. I feel suffocated being at home all day,¡± Lara said with a smile.


    ¡°In that case, wait here! I¡¯ll get the hair dryer for you. Then we¡¯ll go together. Let¡¯s just use a ride-hailing taxi, Ma¡¯am. No need to drive yourself,¡± Mti suggested. Lara chuckled. Since she fired all of Seno¡¯s employees and the driver, they haven¡¯t been around their residence, Lara got used to being alone. She enjoyed that privacy. Lara seemed to iste herself from others who weren¡¯t involved in her life.


    The number of spies since she got married to Seno made Lara feel traumatized. She didn¡¯t quite like the presence of others around her. After Seno¡¯s departure, Lara became even more closed off and preferred to face all difficulties alone.


    ¡°Thank you, M. You¡¯re very attentive,¡± Lara said, looking softly at Mti.


    Mti immediately went to get the hair dryer. While waiting, Lara looked out the window. The blue sky stretched without a cloud, but her heart remained cloudy. Seno¡¯s mysterious disappearance filled her mind with unanswered questions.


    Lara didn¡¯t know how to face everything alone. But, this was the reality. However much Lara avoided it, the fact of her loneliness couldn¡¯t be denied.


    Her husband had truly disappeared as if swallowed by the grave.


    ¡°Here you go ¡­.¡±


    Shortly after, Mti returned with the hair dryer. She handed it to Lara, who was sitting on the sofa.


    ¡°Thank you, M,¡± Lara said, epting the hair dryer, but she couldn¡¯t use it alone. Mti smiled, knowing what her employer needed.


    ¡°Let me help, Ma¡¯am,¡± she said, taking the hair dryer back from Lara¡¯s hand. Skillfully, Mti dried Lara¡¯s long hair section by section carefully, until everything dried perfectly.


    ¡°I feel like I¡¯m in a salon,¡± Lara praised when she realized that Mti not only dried Lara¡¯s hair but also applied vitamins to each strand.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°This is your cosmetic, Ma¡¯am. I just use it for the right moment,¡± Mti said whilebing the hair for thest time. ¡°Finished.¡±


    Lara smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror across the sofa. ¡°I look beautiful and fresh,¡± she quipped, ncing at her assistant.


    ¡°Indeed, Ma¡¯am. Should we go now?¡± Mti asked while packing up.


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go!¡± Lara immediately pressed the ¡®order¡¯ button on the ride-hailing taxi she had searched for earlier.


    Lara nned to go to za Senayan. After picking up the ordered clothes, she would continue shopping at several stands to choose new essories and shoes since the previous shoes had be too small.


    Lara¡¯s feet were swollen during pregnancy. High-heeled shoes also felt ufortable. Lara chose to shop for t shoes or some kind of wedges that were quite t but had different height levels.


    ¡°The taxi¡¯s here!¡±


    ***


    Lara and Mti got into the ride-hailing taxi and headed to the shopping center. After a while, they finally arrived at za Senayan.


    Lara stopped by to pick up the ordered clothes from her exclusive tailor. When she saw the formal dress she had ordered, Lara seemed very happy. She seemed to forget her worries for a moment.


    ¡°This is great, Ma¡¯am!¡± Mti helped choose the suitable essories for Lara. She picked a ck leather bracelet that wasn¡¯t too shy but looked elegant.


    ¡°Artis X is wearing this bracelet. It¡¯s said to be a domestic product,¡± said Mti with sparkling eyes. She read it from Lara¡¯s stack of magazines at home.


    Lara nced at the bracelet briefly. It seemed that the leather essory didn¡¯t suit her style. ¡°Let¡¯s just buy a gold bracelet, how about that?¡±


    Mtiughed. ¡°Oh, right¡­¡± She seemed to forget that her boss was wealthy. One, two, or five gold bracelets wouldn¡¯t possibly dent her shopping budget. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s go to the upper floor, Ma¡¯am. There seem to be many gold shops there.¡±


    Lara nodded. ¡°Thank you for the dress, and excuse me,¡± she bid farewell to the store attendant who had been assisting them. ¡°Send my regards to Madam Giona,¡± Lara added before walking away.


    They continued their journey to the gold shop. There, Lara picked out many essories for the dark blue dress in her shopping bag. The dress was simple in design but the material quality was luxurious and suitable for any formal asion.


    Lara probably only needed to add a bracelet or ne as an additional adornment. She didn¡¯t like overdressing.


    ¡°How about this?¡± Mti asked, showing a bangle bracelet with butterfly ents.


    Lara shook her head slowly. ¡°I like a basic ones, M. I don¡¯t like it too shy,¡± she replied.


    Mti then picked out the in bracelet Lara wanted. Of course, the in bracelet had a heavier weight because it relied solely on its weight rather than engravings that reduced its weight.


    ¡°Is this okay?¡±


    Lara nodded when Mti offered the bracelet she wanted. The bracelet weighed 12 grams, pure 24-carat gold. Lara was very pleased.


    ¡°Yay!¡± Mti was equally excited. Instead of feeling like she was with her employer, she felt like she was shopping with her older sister. Mti was truly having fun.


    They continued to walk around, browsing. Perhaps there were items Lara needed, besides shoes. As they continued walking, Lara suddenly froze when she saw a young mother walking with her husband. They were joking around with their small baby in a stroller. Lara¡¯s gaze suddenly became empty, remembering her husband who had disappeared without a trace. In a few months, she should have been able to walk around with Seno like that.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, what¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?¡± Mti asked worriedly.


    Lara snapped out of her reverie. ¡°Ah, no, M. I just remembered something. Let¡¯s continue shopping.¡±


    They resumed their journey. Lara tried to keep smiling even though her heart was hurting. After passing several stores, Mti took Lara to the shoe store. Lara browsed through the low-heeled shoes racks that would go well with her dress.


    ¡°How about these shoes?¡± Mti asked, showing dark blue shoes that matched Lara¡¯s dress.


    Lara nodded slowly. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it. I¡¯m not in the mood for shopping. Let¡¯s go home after this, okay?¡± Lara said, sitting down and trying on the offered shoes. They were currently in a luxury goods store. Lara declined the service of the attendant who came, wanting Mti to choose the shoes for her.


    However, it turned out Lara¡¯s mood wasn¡¯t really good. She felt empty and missed her husband. Lara wanted to go home and just sleep.


    ¡°Okay, Ma¡¯am,¡± Mti replied with a gloomy look. She knew her employer was confused and hurt. Actually, Mti could help find out about Seno¡¯s whereabouts to Lara¡¯s grandmother. However, Mti¡¯s task was only to stick to Lara. No more and no less. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    After shopping, they finally returned home. Lara arranged the newly bought items in the living room. Mti tidied up some shopping bags.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, I know we can try to find out more about Mr. Seno¡¯s whereabouts sometime. You don¡¯t have to worry too much, okay?¡± Mti said, trying to reassure her employer.


    Lara nodded. ¡°Yes, M. I miss Seno and I¡¯m curious. I want to know what happened to him.¡±


    They both sat on the sofa, chatting lightly to distract Lara¡¯s attention. Mti tried to give as much support as possible to Lara, who seemed more fragile every day.


    ¡°You have to believe that Mr. Seno is okay,¡± Mti whispered, hugging Lara.


    Lara cried and nodded weakly. For some reason, her mood was really at its lowest today. ¡°Thank you, M.¡±


    Amidst the somber atmosphere of thete afternoon, suddenly, the sound of knocking on the front door was heard. Lara asked Mti to open it. To their surprise, it turned out to be¡­

 Part 54 # Seno Returns

    ¡°Olivia?¡± Lara¡¯s eyes widened as she found her husband¡¯s mistress standing before her.


    ¡°Yes! It¡¯s me! Now, tell me, where is Seno?!¡± Olivia snapped with irritation. Lara was increasingly baffled.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you gone too far? After having no shame, what¡¯s this? Have you lost your mind too? How dare you search for someone else¡¯s husband in the legitimate wife¡¯s house, huh?¡± Lara was not having it. She pushed Olivia to leave her house immediately.


    Mti trembled. She was afraid of the argument that was unfolding. However, Mti tried to stand strong and positioned herself behind Lara to be on guard. Mti didn¡¯t want Lara to suddenly be pushed back and fall, risking serious injury for both her and the baby.


    ¡°You!¡± Olivia stopped mid-sentence. She just realized that intimidating Lara wasn¡¯t easy. Her credit card payment was overdue, and Seno hadn¡¯t settled his debts.


    Olivia didn¡¯t know what to do. She also didn¡¯t have that much money to pay. Olivia¡¯s sry was only around 10 million rupiahs per month. Meanwhile, her living expenses were more than 20 million. Not to mention the luxury items she had to buy every season in Europe.


    In total, Olivia¡¯s vanity costs exceeded her annual sry. All those price tags were covered by Seno during their years together. Olivia had never bothered to sell herself again to meet her luxurious lifestyle demands.


    ¡°Get out of my house!¡± Lara harshlymanded and mmed the door. Olivia was shocked to the point of trembling. She was truly angry and pounded on Lara¡¯s door until the owner was extremely annoyed.


    ¡°Stop causing a scene or I¡¯ll call the police!¡± Lara shouted from inside the house. She wouldn¡¯t open the door for Olivia, no matter how much she tried to force her way in and drag Seno out to settle her debts.


    ¡°Bring Seno to me! I must see him!¡± Olivia demanded recklessly. Lara insisted and didn¡¯t let Olivia act further.


    ¡°Mti! Call the police! Report it! There¡¯s a crazy person causing a scene in my house!¡±


    ¡°O-Okay, Ma¡¯am!¡± Mti hastily reached for the telephone on the center table and contacted the nearest police service. It didn¡¯t take long for a patrol car to rush to Lara¡¯s house. Olivia was left speechless.


    ¡°You crazy woman!¡± Olivia cursed at Lara as the sound of the police car approached Lara¡¯s house.


    Lara and Mti waited calmly. They peeked through the window as the police officers arrived and parked their car in front of the house.


    The sound of the police car sirens wailed, summoning a crowd to approach. Lara¡¯s neighbors quickly gathered around her house to find out what was happening. The peaceful afternoon suddenly turned chaotic with the presence of uniformed officers.


    Several officers promptly got out of the car, preparing themselves to handle the uncertain situation in Lara¡¯s neighborhood.


    ¡°Good afternoon, Ma¡¯am. What¡¯s going on here?¡± one of them asked Lara, who had already opened her door, while Olivia seemed frozen in ce. Before Lara could speak, Olivia tried to flee and ran through the crowded crowd in Lara¡¯s yard. Unfortunately, her escape was in vain. The residents immediately caught her.


    ¡°Why is this happening?¡± one of the residents asked.


    ¡°She must be a home-wrecker!¡± another resident joked.


    ¡°Should we stone her, huh?¡± eximed a thin man not far from Lara.


    A senior officer quickly handled Olivia, who was almost lynched by the presumptions of the crowd.


    ¡°Everyone calm down!¡± the officermanded firmly. ¡°Don¡¯t y judge before the problem is clear!¡±


    The residents eximed in disappointment, but Lara also agreed with the officer¡¯s words. She politely asked the residents to disperse. It was all just a misunderstanding.


    ¡°Sorry, please, folks, disperse, so the Police can work calmly,¡± Lara said with a smile.


    The curious neighboring vigers, who were intrigued by the arrest scene in the housingplex, of course felt disappointed. However, they remained silent when Lara asked Mti to distribute the cold drinks in their refrigerator.


    ¡°All right, Mrs. Lara. Take care!¡± eximed one of the residents after receiving the refreshing drink and returning home. He turned north, to the rice stall across the street. It seemed like the men were also buying lunch to satisfy their hunger.


    ***


    After the crowd dispersed, Lara finally gave testimony about Olivia¡¯s disturbing behavior.


    ¡°I called because Olivia, my husband¡¯s mistress, suddenly showed up at my house and tried to force me to reveal Seno¡¯s whereabouts.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡± The police officer listened seriously, noting every detail Lara provided. Mti also gave her testimony, providing a moreplete picture of the situation inside the house before the police arrived.


    ¡°Seno is my husband. I-I also don¡¯t know where my husband is,¡± Lara said, bowing her head. She had to speak the truth because she didn¡¯t want to give false testimony to the officer.


    Olivia was stunned. She didn¡¯t expect that Lara also didn¡¯t know Seno¡¯s whereabouts, just like her. ¡°Wh-why didn¡¯t you say it earlier! Damn it!¡±


    ¡°Watch yournguage, Ma¡¯am!¡± the officer scolded Olivia. ¡°We will take further statements from both of you. And we will investigate this unpleasant case,¡± the senior officer said calmly.


    Then, other officers secured Olivia, who was still trying to rebel. The sound of shouts and curses created a more tense atmosphere. However, the police remained calm and professional in handling the situation.


    ¡°Mrs. Lara, forgive us for this incident. We will try as soon as possible to help you find your husband and further investigate this case,¡± the officer said encouragingly.


    ¡°Thank you, Sir. But, it¡¯s not necessary.¡±


    ¡°What? Why?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t even report my husband¡¯s disappearance.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. You should have reported it. So, we could help better.¡±


    ¡°No need, Sir. He¡­ is already being handled by his private doctor-¡± Lara seemed to want to say more but chose to close her mouth. She knew her testimony wouldn¡¯t have any impact. Lara didn¡¯t want toplicate things further.


    ¡°Okay. I understand. I hope everything will be revealed between you and your husband. In any case, I hope Ma¡¯am Lara can endure this trial with sincerity,¡± the officer said, giving Lara encouragement.


    ¡°Thank you, Sir.¡± Lara smiled and truly appreciated the officer¡¯s attention. Meanwhile, Olivia was seen being dragged to the police patrol car, even in a less than ideal condition. She raged like a bull and refused to be taken to their office.


    Themotion in Lara¡¯s yard began to subside. The curious residents who were initially eager had scattered, leaving the housingplex in a peaceful state as usual.


    Lara sat on her porch, trying to find some fresh air. Her face looked tired and beaten. Mti sat beside her, offering warm tea that might soothe her employer¡¯s tension.


    ¡°Have a drink first, Ma¡¯am,¡± she said, trying to provide support. Lara¡¯s eyes were filled with uncertainty and concern.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am Lara, what really happened?¡± Mti asked softly, trying to understand thisplicated situation.


    Lara sighed deeply before answering, ¡°Olivia. She is Seno¡¯s mistress, M. I¡¯ve tried to turn a blind eye and deaf ear, but¡­ she appeared with these crazy demands.¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Mti nodded, trying to understand Lara¡¯s heartache about everything. ¡°I really don¡¯t know what to say, Ma¡¯am. Hopefully, everything will be revealed soon, and Mr. Seno will return safely.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, M. Let¡¯s go inside. We have to prepare ourselves for further interrogation at the police station.¡±


    They both got up and entered the house. Inside, the silence felt painful. Lara¡¯s mood was truly shaken. They waited for the police officers who would take further statements. About Olivia, or¡­ about Seno, whose whereabouts were unknown.


    But, all became futile when the man suddenly appeared calmly, as if nothing had happened.


    ¡°Lara, why are you so surprised like that?¡±

 Part 55 # The Hot Struggle

    ¡°Seno?¡± Lara stuttered. Behind Seno, she saw Olivia just getting into a taxi. Had the woman been released by her husband?


    ¡°Prepare a bath. I¡¯m very tired,¡± he said abruptly. Lara immediately signaled to Mti. The assistant promptly prepared the bath as Seno requested.


    ¡°Where have you been, Seno?¡±


    ¡°Treatment.¡±


    ¡°Is that all you have to say?¡± Lara raised her voice. She felt very annoyed at Seno¡¯s attitude, as if he were dismissing all her concerns.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be happy? Your husband is fine. Stop asking so many questions. I¡¯m very tired!¡± Seno went upstairs to his room without further ado.


    ¡°What?¡± Lara was speechless.


    Mti simply looked down, pretending not to notice anything. She maintained her professionalism to avoid being influenced by the couple¡¯s argument. ¡°The bath is ready, Sir,¡± Mti said, opening the bathroom door.


    ¡°Good. Please also bring a towel.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Seno!¡± Lara chased after Seno, demanding an exnation. But Seno ignored Lara and looked at her reluctantly. ¡°Stop causing a scene!¡±


    ***


    Lara watched Seno leave with mixed feelings. She couldn¡¯t understand what had just happened. Somehow, Seno had returned without providing adequate exnations. Lara felt abandoned in the dark,pounded by the presence of Olivia who had just passed by in front of her.


    Mti tried to reassure Lara, ¡°Ma¡¯am, I think we need to give Mr. Seno some time. There may be reasons behind all of this. In the meantime, I¡¯ll prepare dinner. You should rest.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Lara nodded, still lost in her own thoughts. She walked to her room. Her heart still fluctuated between worry and resentment. Mti cooked in the kitchen. Lara didn¡¯t want to confuse her further. She had to find peace within herself. The atmosphere in the house felt strange and unlike usual.


    ***


    A few momentster, Mti announced that dinner was ready. Lara came out of her room, while Seno appeared to have juste out of the bathroom. His face was flushed from the steam in there. Sweat dampened his body.


    ¡°I¡¯m not having dinner,¡± he said tly, then promptly returned to his room.


    Lara was taken aback. She gave up on interrogating Seno during dinner time. Her stomach growled. It seemed she had to eat first.


    ¡°Would you like me to get your meal, Ma¡¯am?¡± Mti offered.


    ¡°Yes, M. Just a little,¡± Lara said softly.


    Mti nodded and served a portion of rice along with some stir-fried vegetables and fried fish, which were good for the nutrition of the fetus. Mti had received a weekly menu n to meet Lara¡¯s and her unborn child¡¯s nutritional needs.


    ¡°Enjoy your meal, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, M.¡±


    Mti withdrew to rest in her room. She was quite tired. Lara sat alone and ate her meal. She chewed slowly, trying to calm the emotional turmoil inside her.


    After eating, Lara still wasn¡¯t calm. She decided to chase after Seno again. Lara went upstairs. There, Seno was lying down, holding his temples.


    ¡°Seno, please talk! What happened to you?¡± Lara tried to ask politely to avoid provoking Seno¡¯s anger. She needed answers. Lara had been restraining herself with understandings she shouldn¡¯t have done.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing you need to know. Leave me alone,¡± Seno replied coldly.


    Lara felt increasingly cornered. She couldn¡¯t understand this drastic change in her husband. ¡°We are husband and wife. We should share and support each other. It¡¯s not fair if you keep everything from me.¡±


    Seno just looked at Lara with indifference. ¡°Lara! Your only task is to be a wife. Sit, be quiet, and rx at home. Give birth to our child healthily. Period. You don¡¯t need to know anything, understand?!¡±


    ¡°No! I have to know what happened to you. I am your wife!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing you need to know.¡±


    ¡°Seno!¡± Lara couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Tears started flowing. ¡°Seno¡­ anyway, you are my husband. We are family. Please, tell me what really happened to you all this time¡­.¡±


    Seno responded with a sardonicugh. ¡°Family? What does family mean? You know nothing. It¡¯s better if you don¡¯t get involved!¡±


    Lara was even more confused by Seno¡¯s words. Did Seno now hide something and n to divorce her for Olivia? Was that what happened? ¡°Do¡­ you want to marry Olivia?¡± Lara guessed with a broken heart.


    Seno widened his eyes. He didn¡¯t expect that question from Lara. ¡°Huh? Olivia?¡± He asked back. ¡°What does Olivia have to do with our family, Lara?¡±


    ¡°What does she have to do? She¡¯s your mistress!¡±


    ¡°And¡­ that affair is over, Lara! Why do you keep bringing it up?¡±


    ¡°She¡­ she¡¯s been looking for you since earlier! What have you been doing behind my back?¡±


    Seno got even more confused. He didn¡¯t expect his wife to be jealous of Olivia. After all, the woman had onlye to ask for money to pay off her credit card debt. Seno was really fed up with Olivia¡¯s behavior. ¡°Lara, no. Olivia has nothing to do with this issue. I just¡­¡±


    Lara cried. Seno softened his voice. He felt some pity for her. His wife. ¡°Th-then, why did you confuse me?¡±


    ¡°Hhh¡­ I¡­ I received treatment, you know? And¡­ it has nothing to do with anyone. This treatment is confidential. Thepany is developing a new drug and¡­ I am participating in the trial,¡± Seno lied.


    Instead of being a tester, Seno was a guinea pig. Madam X had truly cunningly trapped him into a tormenting situation. Seno had no choice.


    ¡°So¡­ you don¡¯t want to divorce me?¡± Lara asked, wanting to make sure.


    ¡°No! Why would I divorce you? I¡¯m sorry¡­.¡± Seno finally softened.


    Lara nodded and epted his apology. It turned out she had just been thinking badly about her husband.


    ¡°Come here¡­¡± Seno stretched out his arms. Lara approached and hugged her husband who was lying on the bed. They enjoyed intimate moments together. Lara missed Seno¡¯s touch for a long time.


    ¡°Mmhh¡­.¡±


    The sound of sighs apanied their togetherness. Lara and Seno once again had a passionate night as a typical husband and wife. This time, Seno¡¯s virility functioned as expected.


    The hot struggle was inevitable.


    ¡°Ar¡­ e¡­ you¡­ sa¡­ tis¡­ fied?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­.¡±


    Seno smiled broadly. It turned out that the treatment he underwent yielded optimal results. A little more, and his experimental drug would have the expected breakthrough.


    ***


    Meanwhile, Olivia looked furious. She tried to contact Seno several times, but failed. After Seno appeared at the police station and freed her, Olivia ced even more hope in him.


    ¡°You cunning bastard! Where is he?¡± Olivia cursed Seno from time to time because the funds he promised hadn¡¯t been deposited into her ount as agreed.


    ¡°Damn it! If I¡¯m not paid tonight, I could end up homeless tomorrow morning!¡± Olivia panicked. She was confused about what to do. Until finally, she remembered her spare phone she usually used.


    ¡°Ah! There it is!¡±

 Part 56 # Olivia’s Threat

    Olivia immediately contacted Seno using her ghost phone. Seno forbade her from contacting him privately to deceive Lara. Olivia didn¡¯t run out of ways. The woman quickly called Seno and demanded her promise.


    ¡°What did you say?!¡± Olivia was startled. Seno had truly changed!


    ¡°This is thest time I¡¯ll take your calls, Olivia! After this, there will be no more romantic rtionship between you and me! Do you understand?!¡± Seno severed ties with his mistress.


    ¡°W-what?!¡± Olivia yelled angrily. ¡°You can¡¯t end the rtionship unterally like this, Seno!¡± she shouted.


    ¡°Why not?¡± Seno retorted. He seemed ready to face all the consequences of his actions.


    ¡°I-I will expose our affair!¡± Olivia threatened without thinking maturely.


    ¡°Oh yeah? Go ahead if you want to dig your own grave. Do you think the media will listen to the ramblings of a crazy woman?¡± Seno seemed fearless. Olivia was stunned. She was at a loss.


    ¡°You-!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough! I¡¯ve already sent US$ 50, 000. That¡¯s thest fund for you. Don¡¯t contact me again, and yes, you¡¯re fired!¡± Seno ended the call. Olivia growled in anger and smashed the phone until it was shattered.


    ¡°Seno! You jerk!¡±


    The US$ 50, 000 funds were not enough as retirement money and also separation costs. Olivia wanted more. Even if it meant being in hell with Seno Adhijaya.


    ***


    Meanwhile, Seno was with Lara. Not because of his role as a true husband that led him to end his secret rtionship with his mistress. It was all purely because Seno had to focus on the development of illegal drugs that had already seeped into his body.


    ¡°Damn!¡± he grumbled angrily. However, Seno was grateful; at least, his masculinity had improved. Recently, the drug showing contraindication symptoms could be sessfully bnced.


    Amazingly, it was all thanks to his antibodies. Madam X was not wrong in recruiting human guinea pigs like Seno. Only one step left, finding an antidote. It was Lara¡¯s task as the breeder.


    ¡°Seno, are you awake?¡± Lara rubbed her eyes. At this early hour, she often woke up unconsciously. The increasing size of her belly made it difficult for her to sleep soundly. The frequency of urination became frequent, and Lara often felt overheated.


    ¡°Ah, yes, there was a call from the office,¡± Seno lied. He didn¡¯t want to bring up Olivia¡¯s issue anymore. For him, she was already eliminated from his life.


    ¡°Oh really?¡± Lara seemed incredulous, but she chose to trust her husband. Lara had to guard her heart and feelings because soon, her delivery day would arrive.


    ¡°Do you want anything?¡± Seno tried to win Lara¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Ah, no. I just woke up,¡± Lara said with a soft smile towards her husband. ¡°Maybe just a ss of in water,¡± she addedter.


    Seno nodded. He immediately walked to the door to fetch a pitcher of water and poured it into a ss. ¡°Here,¡± he said, handing the ss to Lara. She epted it with joy. Seno had returned to his old self.


    ¡°H-how have you beentely?¡± Lara started the conversation. She knew Seno was hiding a lot of things. She didn¡¯t want to interfere too much or seem like she was investigating a criminal.


    ¡°Ah, yes¡­ I¡¯ve been improving,¡± Seno replied, biting his lower lip. He had to control himself. Seno couldn¡¯t get carried away. His rtionship with Lara was purely business, although¡­ Lara was very beautiful, both in appearance and heart.


    Seno couldn¡¯t have Larapletely. He was bound by a work contract that gave him fantastic wealth and poprity like a famous celebrity. Seno would achieve it. Soon. Of course¡­ all with Lara¡¯s help.


    ¡°Actually, what¡¯s been happening to you, Seno?¡± Lara just wanted to know the cause of her husband¡¯s pain. She looked at Seno with gentle eyes, not judgmental. But Seno refused to reveal his secrets.


    ¡°Just a littleplication. You know, age stuff, Lara. You don¡¯t need to worry,¡± Seno replied with a forced smile. Although he was lying, Seno didn¡¯t want to be harsh to Lara. He had to win his wife¡¯s heart to smooth out all his ns.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lara finally didn¡¯t discuss anything. Shey back down and tried to close her eyes. Although her heart and mind were still filled with questions, Lara kept them to herself. She didn¡¯t want to be seen as a nagging woman or a wife who didn¡¯t know the boundaries in a marriage.


    Seno sighed deeply. He turned off the deskmp andy down beside Lara. His mind wandered, imagining all the sess he would achieve. Seno didn¡¯t care too much if it hurt Lara. After all, Lara had enjoyed the wealth he had produced.


    ¡°No sess is achieved with empty hands, Lara. None. Everything has its sacrifices¡­.¡±


    ***


    The next day, Seno seemed normal, as usual. He went to the office and bid farewell to Lara. Meanwhile, Lara prepared to attend a reunion event held in the lobby of Hotel X at 11 a. m.


    ¡°Who¡¯s taking Mom?¡± Mti asked when she saw Lara was ready in the blue dress she had ordered some time ago.


    ¡°Ah, the driver will take me, M. But, I want toe back as soon as possible. Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± Lara replied while making sure her bag wasplete.


    ¡°Okay, Mom. Don¡¯t forget to take care of yourself and be careful when you¡¯re outside,¡± Mti said with concern.


    Lara smiled and nodded, ¡°Thank you, M. I¡¯ll be back soon after the event.¡± She felt happy to get out of the silence of her home for a while.


    Meanwhile, at the office, Seno was staring at the monitor screen with a serious expression. His mind was focused on the project of developing illegal drugs he was running. After the incident some time ago, Seno became moremitted topleting this project and closing it with tremendous sess.


    But who would have thought? His n was not going too smoothly thanks to the fire he had ignited himself.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Seno answered the phone on his desk. One of his secretaries asked him to answer the important call. However, Seno never answered the phone if it wasn¡¯t work-rted.


    ¡°Yes, speak.¡±


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll fall alone, Seno? You¡¯re dead wrong! I will demand revenge for your cruel treatment!¡± Olivia threatened with burning determination.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°What do you mean? Do you know who you¡¯re talking to, Olivia?!¡± Seno reprimanded, not wanting to lose.


    ¡°I-I will expose all of your secret projects!¡± Olivia insisted on not plunging into the abyss of despair without apanion.


    Seno growled angrily. ¡°What do you know?!¡± he asked a little panicked. He never discussed the secret project with Olivia. For him, Olivia was just a toy that could be thrown away anytime, not a business partner to work with.


    ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t have an ace card? You were really chatty when you were drunk! Do you know that?¡± Olivia smiled sardonically, although it wasn¡¯t visible. She felt like she was on top of the world. Olivia could hear that Seno¡¯s voice was not in good shape. The man felt a little shaken.


    ¡°Listen¡­¡± Seno finally softened his tone. ¡°Let¡¯s talk,¡± he invited in a friendly tone.


    This time, Olivia truly won. Seno was in her grip. ¡°Be my partner at the reunion this afternoon. I have a campus event. We can talk after the event,¡± Olivia said coldly. She didn¡¯t ept rejection.


    ¡°W-what do you mean? That¡¯s Lara¡¯s campus event, right? Are you insane?!¡±


    ¡°Yes! I am insane! And if you don¡¯te¡­ then be ready to see your name on the front page of the newspaper tomorrow morning!¡±


    ¡°OLIVIA!¡±

 Part 57 # Provocation

    Seno, whether he liked it or not, had to grant Olivia¡¯s request. That crazy woman really caused amotion beyond his expectations.


    ¡°Where are you?¡± Seno contacted Olivia when he arrived at the hotel lobby. The parking lot was quite crowded, and Seno had to park on the third floor because all the other lines were full.


    ¡°I¡¯m in the lobby,e quickly!¡± Olivia replied coyly. Her eyes had been searching for Seno¡¯s figure since earlier, but he had yet to show up. It turned out Seno was in the parking lot. Olivia didn¡¯t expect him toe with his own car like that.


    ¡°I¡¯m on my way!¡± Seno said hastily. He needed to meet Olivia and put an end to everything. Seno didn¡¯t want to be involved in her tricks, especially if Lara was involved.


    ***


    ¡°It¡¯s so crowded,¡± Lara murmured as she entered the hotel lobby. Her reunion event was in a special meeting room on the 10th floor. Lara had to walk through the hallway to get to the elevator at the far end of the room.


    ¡°Oh, it turns out you¡¯re here too, Mrs. Adhijaya,¡± Olivia greeted, pretending to be friendly. She hadn¡¯t found Seno yet, but this time¡­ luck seemed to be on her side. She met Lara instead! Her n to make Lara angry had seeded.


    ¡°Yes¡­.¡± Lara replied briefly. She continued to hurry her steps and didn¡¯t want to deal with a woman like Olivia. Lara didn¡¯t want her blood pressure to rise suddenly because of Olivia¡¯s antics.


    ¡°Wow¡­ it¡¯s so cold. It would be a little warmer if you came with your partner,¡± Olivia continued to babble, while Lara pretended not to hear.


    A sardonic smile spread across Olivia¡¯s face. She felt quite uneasy when Seno hadn¡¯t shown himself yet. Meanwhile, Lara seemed to enter the elevator and press the 10th button inside. Faintly, Lara saw her husband walking towards the middle.


    ¡°Seno?¡± she muttered, but the elevator door closed immediately. Lara couldn¡¯t see him more clearly. She felt uneasy. She tried to call her husband¡¯s number, but it was redirected. Seno¡¯s phone was not active.


    ***C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    The reunion event was about to begin. Lara headed to the registration table. She wrote her name and simple personal information in the guestbook. Lara then entered the event hall.


    After Lara entered the event hall, the reunion atmosphere felt so lively. The spacious room on the 10th floor of the hotel was filled with alumni who hadn¡¯t seen each other for a long time. Warm light illuminated the room, creating afortable atmosphere.


    ¡°Lara? Is it really you?¡± one of the guests with charming curly hair greeted her.


    Lara nodded and smiled happily. ¡°Sherly, right?¡± Lara asked. The woman nodded and returned Lara¡¯s smile.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to that table over there! Our batch mates from 2008 are there!¡± she invited Lara.


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Lara happily followed her. She walked with Sherly towards the table in question. Along the way, Lara saw banners disying photos of the alumni¡¯s college days.


    The photos triggered nostalgic memories andughter from the guests. Those who were now married and had families entered a time zone that presented beautiful moments from their college days.


    The tables were neatly arranged, with various food and drinks on them. The dishes could be freely enjoyed by the guests. Not to forget, the vintage ents of the presentation, like in the campus canteen, also added color to the event.


    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s been so long since west met, hasn¡¯t it! Lara looks more¡­ beautiful and fuller, right!¡± Sherly eximed while scanning Lara¡¯s body. Pregnant women indeed looked chubby. Lara¡¯s face had also aged. She wasn¡¯t as beautiful as she used to be when she was single.


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Lara looked awkward. Sherly and Lara used to be ssmates before Lara got close to Mahya. Sherly seemed to hate Mahya for seemingly taking Lara away from her.


    However, one thing Lara felt, when with Mahya, she no longer focused on her weight and appearance. It was very different from when she was with Sherly. Lara was always criticized and judged if she ate wrong or dressed wrongly.


    ¡°Well, these are our friends. Hello! This is Lara!¡± Sherly announced loudly. Everyone was stunned and couldn¡¯t believe how different Lara looked.


    ¡°Hi,¡± Lara greeted warmly. Although, she felt ufortable with the stares of her former ssmates as if they were dissecting her.


    ¡°Lara? Uh, yeah¡­ how are you?¡± one of them responded awkwardly. Another person cleared their throat, and some even suppressedughter when they saw Lara¡¯s physical condition change.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Lara replied curtly. Her intuition was correct. She wasn¡¯t considered here. Lara felt really ufortable.


    ¡°How did you get so big, Ra, your body?¡± asked a man who had been rejected by Lara before. He seemed to chuckle and openly mocked Lara. Lara just listened irritably.


    ¡°Pregnant,¡± she repliedzily. Lara then nodded and excused herself from the rude crowd. She had the right to determine her ownfort.


    After Lara left for another table, the people who had greeted her earlier nowughed heartily and seemed to have found a new show. Lara¡¯s heart hurt, but she didn¡¯t want to dwell on it too much.


    Lara intended to find another table and enjoy this event even without her ssmates. She walked around the event hall and tried a ss of mocktail served on the table.


    ¡°Ah, so refreshing,¡± Lara murmured as she continued to walk alone amidst the crowd of the reunion. She tried to ignore the unpleasant stares andments from some of her former ssmates. Lara chose to focus on this reunion moment, although there was a feeling of disappointment and difort.


    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s an empty bench,¡± Lara found a quieter corner at the side of the hall, where several empty chairs were avable. Lara sat alone, leaning against the chair, and tried to calm herself. The reunion event, which should bring back beautiful memories, had now be a bitter experience for her.


    While sipping the mocktail she held, Lara tried to soak in the reunion atmosphere. Entertainment performances on the small stage were underway, with sessful alumni giving inspirational speeches. That¡¯s when Lara saw Mahya¡¯s figure.


    Her friend from college, who had been behind the stage since earlier, was preparing to give an inspirational speech to their other colleagues. Lara smiled and felt proud of Mahya¡¯s achievements. In her heart, Lara felt jealous of her.


    ¡°You¡¯re amazing, Mahya,¡± Lara murmured, not taking her eyes off her friend.


    After the speeches were over, the stage became lively again with music performances by an alumni band. Some people danced on the stage, while others danced in the event hall. They all enjoyed this event in their own way.


    As Lara was about to leave to go back home, suddenly, Olivia¡¯s figure surprised her again. This time, not because Olivia behaved strangely or spouted nonsense, which made Lara¡¯s anger boil over.


    Olivia¡¯s gesture was very simple: clinging to¡­ Lara¡¯s husband!


    ¡°S-Seno?¡±

 Part 58 # The Savior

    ¡°Hi, everyone!¡± Olivia intentionally shouted, trying to catch the attention of the party guests.


    ¡°Uh? Olivia?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s Olivia, ss of 2008!¡±


    ¡°Wow¡­ she¡¯s really glowing!¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s that next to her?¡±


    Whispers immediately filled the hall. Olivia got the attention she was hoping for. ¡°Hey!¡± Olivia waved again to her friends in the corner of the room. The gossip group! The same group that had tarnished Lara¡¯s reputation.


    ¡°Aww¡­ is that her boyfriend?¡± Sherly asked, intrigued, looking at Seno.


    ¡°Ah¡­ Haha¡­ you know it!¡± Olivia didn¡¯t deny it. Meanwhile, Seno just swallowed hard. He had to cooperate with Olivia to keep her from spreading his secret.


    ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve seen him somewhere before,¡± Sherly tried to recall, but Olivia quickly exined the origin of her secret lover. ¡°He¡¯s Seno Adhijaya, don¡¯t you know him?¡±


    ¡°Oh! Wow! Yeah, I¡¯ve seen him in a magazine!¡±


    ¡°Right! That¡¯s Mr. Seno, isn¡¯t it? Nice to meet you!¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes, nice to meet you,¡± Seno quickly epted handshakes from Olivia¡¯s friends. He felt awkward and ufortable. Seno tried to find his wife among the guests, but¡­ she wasn¡¯t there. Where had Lara gone?


    Everyone immediately swarmed Seno to introduce themselves and look for opportunities for coboration. Someone with such sess seemed like an easy target at a reunion party for establishing profitable business rtionships.


    Meanwhile, Lara could only cry silently as she watched Olivia and Seno holding hands affectionately. She was confused about what to do. Her reputation would be ruined if she screamed like a madwoman.


    With a heavy heart, Lara chose to leave the reunion. She couldn¡¯t contain her sadness.


    ¡°Lara! Watch out!¡±


    Unaware, Lara almost fell down the stairs. Her vision blurred, unable to see clearly.


    ¡°A-Andre?¡± Lara was surprised when someone grabbed her waist as she almost fell down the stairs. Lara had deliberately chosen to take the stairs instead of the elevator to avoid causing a scene. She cried and felt ashamed, but¡­ Lara didn¡¯t pay attention to her surroundings.


    ¡°You have to be careful, Lara! You almost got hurt,¡± Andre eximed, then let go of her waist. His heart was racing uncontrobly. The scent of Lara¡¯s body stirred something within him.


    ¡°I¡¯m s-sorry,¡± Lara replied awkwardly, wiping away the tears that ruined her makeup. Andre seemed to understand why Lara was crying. He had identally seen Seno and looked at Lara. Andre immediately chased after Lara, who seemed to be hurt. Sure enough, she was almost in danger.


    ¡°What happened? Can you tell me?¡± Andre asked gently, handing her his handkerchief.


    Lara took the handkerchief and shook her head weakly. Her household affairs made her look pathetic in Andre¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°I saw your husband earlier. He was with¡­ someone. Who is she?¡±


    Lara¡¯s eyes widened. Apparently, Andre already knew about Seno and Olivia being together.


    ¡°Olivia¡­,¡± Lara replied.


    ¡°Ah, I think I¡¯ve met her before,¡± Andre recalled Olivia. The crazy woman who wanted to get to know him. Turns out, she really was unstable and liked to snatch someone who wasn¡¯t hers.


    ¡°How long are you going to put up with this bad marriage, Lara? Haven¡¯t you heard about¡­ divorce?¡± Andre asked, annoyed. He was tired of seeing Lara¡¯s tears shed in vain because of her husband¡¯s behavior. Lara should be able to respect herself.


    Andre really couldn¡¯t understand Lara¡¯s attitude.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Andre. You¡¯ve crossed the line,¡± Lara refused to answer Andre¡¯s question. She didn¡¯t feel like she had to exin her life choices to anyone. Yes, her life choices might be wrong in the eyes of some people. But for her, Lara was only thinking about her child¡¯s future.


    ¡°Lara, please,,, think about yourself. I¡­ I can¡¯t bear to see you suffer like this,¡± Andre looked straight at Lara. She only avoided Andre¡¯s gaze as much as she could.


    ¡°Thank you for your concern, but¡­ I know better what¡¯s best for me,¡± Lara said coldly, smiling at Andre. She walked away towards the elevator, after fixing her makeup in a small mirror in her bag.


    ¡°Lara¡­,¡± Andre called out again, but Lara hurried her steps. Andre could only swallow the fact that everything about Lara seemed to be beyond his control.


    ***


    ¡°Where were you?¡± Riko asked, Andre¡¯s friend who invited him to this reunion. Riko¡¯s girlfriend couldn¡¯t make it, so he brought Andre instead. Riko really didn¡¯t like going to events alone. Andre was forced to apany him.


    ¡°Oh, I had a friend. I went to say hello for a bit,¡± Andre replied casually. He immediately grabbed a soda from the nearby table and gulped it down in one go.


    ¡°Hey! That¡¯s Seno, my buddy from before. You should get to know him,¡± Riko said to Andre, but Andre just shook his head. ¡°No need, already know him.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Riko seemed incredulous. How could Andre know an important person like Seno and not tell him?


    ¡°Don¡¯t get too close to him, if you don¡¯t want to regret it!¡± Andre warned seriously.


    Riko blinked. He seemed puzzled by Andre¡¯s cold attitude.


    As they chatted, suddenly, Mahya appeared. She was so happy to meet again with the person who had inspired her life as a single woman.


    ¡°Doctor! We meet again here,¡± Mahya eximed happily. Andre smiled and shook Mahya¡¯s hand. ¡°How are you, Mahya?¡±


    ¡°Good! How about you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m good too,¡± Andre replied with his charming smile.


    Once again, Riko felt amazed. Andre was really skilled at socializing and making friends with famous people. ¡°Ndre! Introduce her!¡± Riko whispered to Andre, nudging him.


    ¡°Mahya, meet Riko¡­ my friend,¡± Andre saidzily, ncing at Riko.


    ¡°Hi! Mahya! Your speech earlier was really cool!¡± Riko praised Mahya wholeheartedly.


    ¡°Thank you, Riko. I¡¯m d to share my experiences at this event. There are still many other sessful alumni, I feel honored,¡± Mahya said modestly. Riko admired her even more.


    ¡°Turns out, you¡¯re not only beautiful but also humble! Can I have your phone number?¡± Riko tried to flirt with Mahya. Sheughed. But just before she gave him her number, someone intercepted Riko¡¯s phone and handed him a business card.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Just contact Mahya at her office. I¡¯m James, from Channel Insight. Here¡¯s my business card,¡± James, the arrogant boss, said coldly. Mahya and Riko were both surprised. Andre just held back hisughter. He knew there was a tinge of jealousy brewing there.


    ¡°Hey! What was that?¡± Mahya asked angrily.


    James just shrugged. ¡°Isn¡¯t it the same? Calling her cellphone or her office phone?¡±


    ¡°James! Stop meddling in my affairs!¡± Mahya snapped. James fell silent. He also didn¡¯t understand why he suddenly felt angry when another man was flirting with Mahya.


    Amid their heated argument, suddenly, Seno approached and greeted them. ¡°Buddy!¡± he eximed. James smiled broadly at his friend. ¡°Hey! How are you?¡±


    Only Mahya felt unhappy about their meeting, because¡­ the woman Seno was with wasn¡¯t Lara.


    ¡°Crazy bastard!¡± Mahya muttered angrily.

 Part 59 # Out of Plan

    Mahya¡¯s body trembled as she saw Seno and Olivia approaching. It wasn¡¯t a trembling of euphoria or joy at meeting these two familiar figures, but¡­ Mahya¡¯s body trembled with disgust and an inability to ept the fact that Seno was truly unting his debauchery in front of the masses.


    ¡°Y-you,¡± Seno stuttered as he saw Mahya, who was so ingrained in his memory.


    ¡°Ah! Let me introduce, this is Mahya, one of our best reporters in the office,¡± James began to approach Mahya. His instinct as a man seemed to dominate his reptilian brain, as Seno looked at Mahya with a gaze that James also understood the meaning of.


    ¡°Ah, Mahya, yes¡­¡± Seno pretended not to know her well, although James also knew that they had been involved in an ident some time ago. The ident had caused James to lose $1000 in an instant, so he was truly angry at Mahya.


    As James thought about it, he cursed himself more. How could his rational mind as a boss change in an instant as a love-thirsty man? James truly didn¡¯t understand the logical reason for his change in attitude.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Sir. Sorry, I couldn¡¯t properly introduce myself earlier,¡± Mahya said, pretending to be casual like Seno. They seemed to understand each other that the embarrassing incident at the restaurant didn¡¯t have to be known by everyone.


    Mahya also didn¡¯t want James to know that she did everything to dig up information for her friend. However, Mahya had to y it cool and perfect.


    ¡°Hello! I¡¯m Olivia. It¡¯s been a while, Mahya¡­¡± Olivia extended her hand to shake hands with James and Mahya, although¡­ James was actually her target.


    ¡°What if we sit in that corner to get to know each other better?¡± James suggested, looking back. There, an empty sofa seemed to have just been vacated by other guests. Some leftover sses and snacks were still there.


    ¡°Ah, sorry, I have urgent business after the speech,¡± Mahya said, bowing her head. James felt puzzled. Seno and Olivia exchanged nces. They also didn¡¯t feel happy spending time with James and Mahya.


    ¡°Too bad, maybe we can chat another time,¡± Olivia pretended to be disappointed. In fact, she wanted to find Lara quickly and show off her husband who had fallen into her clutches.


    ¡°Alright, see youter,¡± Mahya said, waving her hand. She hurried away from those two cunning foxes and looked for Lara. It seemed that Lara had attended this event earlier, but¡­ Mahya lost track of her.


    Meanwhile, Lara still felt heartbroken and also physically unwell as her stomach suddenly cramped. Lara groaned in pain but¡­ it was unbearable!


    ¡°Sir! Take me to the hospital,¡± Lara saidter.


    ¡°Alright, Ma¡¯am!¡± The driver immediatelyplied with Lara¡¯s request after ncing from the front mirror. His employer looked in pain and didn¡¯t stop grimacing from the pain that afflicted her. ¡°Hang in there, Ma¡¯am. We¡¯ll be there soon,¡± he said as he continued to drive the vehicle.


    Lara tried to alleviate her pain, but she couldn¡¯t. ¡°Arrgh¡­.¡± Lara groaned even louder. The driver panicked and immediately elerated the vehicle to go faster.


    Lara¡¯s mind was disturbed by the events at the reunion. How could Seno, her husband, be with a homewrecker like Olivia instead of apanying her? It truly shattered her heart and her self-worth.


    Lara didn¡¯t know anymore how to deal with her husband¡¯s infidelity. It seemed¡­ Bi Yani¡¯s words were right. Lara had to end this hellish cycle that made her life miserable.


    Wealth and riches couldn¡¯t alleviate the pain of her husband¡¯s betrayal. It truly hurt her.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am! We¡¯re almost there!¡± The driver continued to focus on driving the car, which was supposed to be Seno¡¯s private vehicle. Lara¡¯s husband transferred the vehicle to Lara so she could travel freely without having to call uncontroble ride-sharing taxis.


    Actually, not only the essibility function, but also the control function was executed by her husband. Seno wanted to know wherever Lara went and the people she met. He wanted to know every move of his wife so she wouldn¡¯t escape his radar.


    ¡°Doctor! Doctor! Help!¡± The driver immediately called the doctor on duty at the emergency room to help Lara, once they arrived at the hospital.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the patient?¡±


    ¡°Here, Doctor!¡±


    The doctor immediately instructed the medical staff to lift Lara and move her to the examination room. There, Lara was immediately treated with care.


    The doctor tried to calm down the driver and gave information to Lara, ¡°Ma¡¯am, we will soon conduct further examinations to determine the cause of the stomach cramps you are experiencing. Please remain calm.¡±


    Lara could only nod weakly, her face pale from the ongoing pain. Several nurses and doctors moved quickly, conducting various tests and examinations needed. Every second felt so long for Lara, while the driver waited outside the room with unspoken fear.


    ¡°Is¡­ is mydy going to give birth?¡± The driver anxiously asked the passing nurse.


    ¡°Sorry, we don¡¯t know yet. Please remain calm; we will inform you soon,¡± the nurse said again.


    The driver looked panicked. He trembled. ¡°I-I have to contact Sir,¡± he muttered determinedly. The driver then searched for his phone in all pockets¡­ found it. The phone was in the back pocket. He immediately pressed his employer¡¯s number and reported everything.


    Meanwhile, at the reunion event, Olivia continued to show off Seno to her friends. Everyone praised him, although they were unaware that Seno was actually a married man. His private life was rarely exposed in the media.


    ¡°You must always smile, Seno, if you want our agreement to end perfectly,¡± Olivia whispered to Seno, who seemed tired of all her tricks.


    ¡°Your time will soon be up. You better tell me what you know about that secret factory! Or¡­¡±


    ¡°Or?¡± Olivia taunted Seno and his threatening tricks. In terms of maniption, Seno was still far behind Olivia.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you live peacefully, Olivia! You know, I¡¯m a crazy dog,¡± Seno growled and forced a cold smile for a shameless woman like Olivia.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°We¡¯ll seeter.¡±


    They were still trapped in a cold war that had yet to find its end. Olivia acted indifferent and continued to show false affection to her friends, while Seno became more disgusted and wanted to leave the ce.


    ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Lara shown up since earlier?¡± Olivia muttered. Lara should have been the most hurt person today. Olivia felt like a failure when she found out that there was nomotion due to this dramatic action. What had actually happened?


    But before Olivia could investigate further, Seno suddenly turned pale.


    ¡°Seno!¡± Olivia called out, but the man didn¡¯t answer and just ran towards the gate.


    ¡°Seno!¡± Olivia called out again, this time louder. She truly didn¡¯t understand Seno¡¯s sudden change in behavior. A call he received seemed to have shaken him. Olivia had to find out the truth.

 Part 60 # Feeling Guilty

    ¡°What happened? Where¡¯s Lara? Is she going intobor?¡± Seno bombarded his driver with various questions until finally, it was only the driver¡¯s rough breath that served as the main answer.


    ¡°P-please, Sir,¡± he managed to say.


    ¡°Tell me! Where¡¯s Lara?!¡±


    ¡°Madam is in the ICU. We need to wait a little longer, Sir,¡± the driver said with a bewildered look. He could indeed be med. As a subordinate, one of his duties was to calm his employer¡¯s emotions.


    ¡°Now, exin! How did all this start?¡± Seno exploded. His breath was ragged. He truly felt blindsided. How could he overlook Lara¡¯s condition and instead apany Olivia? Seno was not thinking straight!


    ¡°Madam started feeling pain after the reunion, Sir. ording to the doctor who examined her earlier, there were signs of severe shock affecting her¡­¡±


    ¡°W-what?!¡±


    Seno clenched his mouth shut. For a moment, he tried to guess what could have caused his wife to go into such shock.


    ¡°A-and then?¡±


    ¡°Well, Madam¡¯s stomach was hurting, so I immediately took her to the hospital. I thought she was going intobor, Sir¡­¡±


    ¡°What did the doctor say?¡±


    ¡°Not certain yet, but¡­ there was bleeding in Madam¡¯s birth canal,¡± the driver exined with a frightened expression.


    ¡°Bleeding?!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±


    Seno began to worry, even panic. He never thought Olivia¡¯s scheme could bring danger to his wife to this extent. ¡°Damn!¡± Seno cursed. This time, he truly lost his sanity.


    ¡°Seno!¡± Someone called his name. Olivia. How could that witch even show up when Seno was thinking about her?


    ¡°What are you doing here! Go away!¡± he ordered. But Olivia stood her ground. She had been trying to find out what had been troubling her beloved all this time. Oh! It turned out¡­ her meticulously nned scheme resulted in tragedy. Olivia was truly delighted.


    ¡°Don¡¯t dismiss me like that. Is¡­ your wife alright?¡±


    Without needing to ask, Olivia already knew what had happened. The woman in the ICU must be Lara, the heart of Seno¡¯s life that seemed to be hanging by a thread. Although¡­ it was all just falsehood known not only to herself.


    ¡°Pft!¡± Olivia couldn¡¯t even contain the tingling sensation in her heart. She had almost given up, thinking Lara hadn¡¯t seen the performance she had prepared. Turns out, Olivia was wrong. Lara saw it! And, this was the result! She truly felt triumphant.


    ¡°Get out of my sight!¡±


    ¡°Calm down, Seno! This is a hospital,¡± Olivia tried to lower her voice. Though, Seno felt just the opposite.


    Seno felt his blood boiling seeing Olivia¡¯s presence in such a critical situation. He wanted to drive her away, but theplicated situation prevented him from focusing. His eyes kept looking at the door of the ICU, where his wife, Lara, fought for her life.


    ¡°Go away, Olivia! You¡¯ve caused enough trouble!¡± Seno hissed, his eyes burning with anger. Olivia just smirked cynically, seemingly enjoying Seno¡¯s suffering.


    ¡°Seno, perhaps now is not the time to argue. Lara needs us,¡± Olivia said condescendingly, as if feeling more entitled to be in that situation.


    Seno tried to contain his anger. He knew that the situation didn¡¯t allow for arguing. He decided to focus on Lara¡¯s condition. In his heart, Seno vowed that if his wife was okay, he would end all his rtionships with Olivia.


    No. Not because of his love for Lara, but¡­ Seno had to protect what his wife was carrying.


    ***


    After a while, a doctor emerged from the ICU. His facial expression was quite serious. His demeanor signaled that the news he was about to deliver might not be pleasant.


    ¡°How¡¯s my wife, Doctor?¡± Seno asked, his voice trembling, trying to cover his anxiety and worry.


    The doctor nodded, taking a deep breath. He finally spoke with a rather rming tone.


    ¡°Your wife¡¯s condition is quite serious. We managed to stop the bleeding, but she is still very unstable. Mrs. Lara is fighting to stay stable. We will do everything we can.¡±


    Seno felt shattered. Lara, the woman carrying his child, was now fighting for her life again. Seno felt guilty for being too caught up in the double life drama he created with Olivia.


    Olivia tried to approach Seno,forting him with the false sincerity she created. Olivia wanted to enjoy this spectacle up close. She truly couldn¡¯t miss this tragedy. ¡°We need to support each other, Seno. This is not the time to fight. I will help Lara too.¡±


    Seno stared sharply at Olivia. He knew more about Olivia¡¯s character than anyone else who was fooled by her sweet words. ¡°Don¡¯t pretend to care, Olivia. You know exactly what you¡¯ve done.¡±


    But Olivia remained unfazed. She seemed to have her own agenda behind Seno¡¯s displeasure. The woman would do anything to not be ousted. Olivia still needed Seno for the continuation of her luxurious life¡­ and to trample on Lara¡¯s dignity.


    ***


    Meanwhile, Mahya, who was already at the office, was rechecking the documents regarding her investigation into Seno. This time, she was sure James wouldn¡¯t make it difficult for her.


    ¡°Hey! Just got back?¡± Carol asked curiously. She didn¡¯t sense any happiness from Mahya. Her colleague was busy with notebooks and report files that were originally hidden in the deepest part of the box.


    ¡°Carol, help me find the location of Seno¡¯s new factory,¡± Mahya asked her friend.


    ¡°How did you know Seno has a new factory?¡± Carol was curious. She entered Mahya¡¯s room and locked the door tightly.


    ¡°You know, I¡¯m a wild horse chasing prey to the deepest hole,¡± Mahya started rambling and didn¡¯t answer Carol¡¯s questions directly.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ I know that,¡± Carolughed and started helping Mahya. ¡°So, what did you find out at the reunion?¡±


    ¡°A pair of disgusting rats!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Carol widened her eyes. She didn¡¯t expect someone to be considered a ¡®rat¡¯ by Mahya. ¡°Is that Seno?¡±


    ¡°Yes. He came with my batchmate, Olivia. And¡­ that woman is not his wife,¡± Mahya exined with a disgusted expression.


    ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t his wife also your batchmate?¡± Carol couldn¡¯t believe it. Where did the crazy idea of attending a formal event with a mistresse from? A sane person wouldn¡¯t do that.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. Turns out, only Seno is insane.¡±


    ***


    Back at the hospital, Seno sat alone in the hallway. He pondered all his mistakes and hoped that Lara would recover. Meanwhile, Olivia, who remained there, tried to approach Seno.


    ¡°We can work together, Seno. Don¡¯t let this scandal ruin both of us,¡± Olivia teased.


    Seno looked at Olivia with a cold gaze, ¡°This is not the time to talk about that, Olivia. I need to focus on Lara.¡±


    Olivia smirked cunningly, ¡°You¡¯ll need someone who understands this world to help you get through all of this, Seno. And I¡¯m here for that.¡±


    Seno ignored Olivia and closed his eyes again, praying for his wife¡¯s swift recovery. What decision Seno would make after this, only time would tell. Everything he needed to consider was¡­ the safety of the baby carried by Lara.

 Part 61 # Let’s Get A Divorce

    ¡°Mr. Seno?¡±


    A doctor came out of Lara¡¯s intensive care unit. Seno immediately approached him and nodded vigorously when the doctor confirmed his identity.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Doc? How¡¯s my wife?¡± Seno asked anxiously. He was truly worried and couldn¡¯t rest peacefully until Lara¡¯s condition was confirmed.


    ¡°Mrs. Lara has experienced quite serious bleeding. We have treated her and are now doing everything necessary to maintain her health and the health of the baby she¡¯s carrying,¡± the doctor said with a serious expression.


    Seno felt uneasy. It seemed like the doctor¡¯s words didn¡¯t stop there. ¡°Th-then. What will happen, Doc?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s important to remember that this bleeding can be a sign of a serious condition. We will continue to monitor and provide the necessary care. If this condition doesn¡¯t improve, we will consider other options, including premature delivery if absolutely necessary,¡± the doctor concluded.


    Seno swallowed hard. He didn¡¯t expect his child¡¯s birth toe so soon. ¡°Premature delivery?¡± he repeated. The doctor nodded and offered support to the seemingly shocked soon-to-be father.


    Seno never imagined that the consequences of his irresponsible actions with Olivia would result in such a bad oue for Lara. Seno truly felt guilty. ¡°Th-then, does she¡­ need surgery?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that might happen if thedy¡¯s condition bes really worrying. We have to anticipate the urrence of healthplications for the mother and the baby if the bleeding continues.¡±


    Seno ran his hand through his hair. He felt torn. But on the other hand, Seno was also quite happy with this news. The long-awaited birth of his child was finally imminent. Seno wouldn¡¯t have to endure any longer with Lara, his weak and sickly wife.


    ¡°I need to contact our personal doctor first. Can you wait?¡± Seno askedter.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    The doctor nodded.


    Seno immediately pressed the button on his phone and called the personal doctor who was in the secretboratory.


    ***


    ¡°The child is about to be born,¡± Seno said straight to the point. Dr. Hanung-the doctor responsible for research in the secretb-immediately smiled.


    ¡°That¡¯s good news, Sir,¡± said the doctor. Some of Seno¡¯s subordinates who were in theb seemed to eavesdrop on the doctor¡¯s joy as he was connected with their boss. A cheerful atmosphere was immediately created.


    The research team felt that their sess was within reach.


    ¡°This antidepressant drug will be sessful, Doc,¡± said the bald-headed assistant joyfully.


    ¡°Of course, who would have thought? Our research for months turns out to have significant results,¡± Dr. Hanung said happily. As a medical practitioner, the development of herbal medicine with his own chemicalpounds was a turning point for the doctor.


    Dr. Hanung was often referred to as an amoral doctor just because he conducted unusual drug tests on humans. His practice license was revoked, and he lived in the trap of a rtivelyrge debt.


    Seno¡¯s appearance as an employer brought a new breeze to the ambitious researcher. Armed with a manual and secret recipe from Madam X, they both started the first trial in the doctor¡¯s garage.


    When all the tools and materials were ready, Dr. Hanung and Seno began to expand the area. Thus, this secretboratory was born, with staff with simr dreams working diligently to create impossible drugs that they had never found in the market.


    ¡°I¡¯ll buy my wife that famous Gucay bag, hehe¡­.¡± The bald-headed man already imagined an endless flow of money. Once this drug isunched, they will feast and reap huge profits.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll build an even biggerboratory! Haha!¡± Dr. Hanung didn¡¯t want to be outdone. He also shared his big dreams after this project ends with the sess they hope for.


    No one felt that morality should be upheld when capital became the main goal. For Seno, the overflow of wealth was the best, different for Dr. Hanung, he just wanted to be free to work without being bound by norms.


    For him, knowledge should be free of value. Good and bad will be known after the trials are conducted and¡­ market response also determines the expected results.


    ***


    Seno entered the intensive care unit where Lara was. His heart began to calm down. Now, he knew what to do.


    ¡°Lara¡­.¡± Seno called softly.


    Lara looked lying on the all-white bed. Her face was pale, and her eyes were still closed. Although asleep, her face still reflected difort and pain. Seno sat beside her, gently holding his wife¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Lara, honey, I¡¯m here,¡± Seno whispered as softly as possible. He tried tofort his wife, although his heart was rejoicing uncontrobly.


    Lara slowly opened her eyes. She saw Seno although not very clearly. Seno. That man again, who always made her suffer like this.


    ¡°Le-leave,¡± Lara whispered weakly, brushing off Seno¡¯s hand holding hers.


    There was no joy or safety in being near her husband. Lara felt the opposite. Seno was not a reliable man. Lara was fed up with everything about him!


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, honey. The doctor will do their best for you and our baby,¡± Seno said, trying to smile kindly. He didn¡¯t hear Lara¡¯s whisper. Seno just thought, his wife must be fragile and needed someone by her side.


    Lara smirked cynically. She didn¡¯t need Seno to be by her side. Now Lara understood, Seno always ended up hurting her. She couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Lara had decided to part ways and take care of their child on her own.


    ¡°Seno¡­.¡± Lara called weakly.


    ¡°Yes, honey?¡± Seno still smiled kindly.


    ¡°Di-vorce.¡±


    ¡°What? I didn¡¯t hear you, Lara. Do you need something?¡± Seno asked. He couldn¡¯t hear Lara clearly. Seno tried to take the ss of water on the nightstand and gently offered it to his wife.


    Seno would endure. He would be a good husband for thest time.


    After their child was born, Seno would divorce Lara. He truly felt free and happy. Seno didn¡¯t have to pretend to be the ideal husband anymore, obedient and also self-restrained for the harmony of their marriage.


    ¡°Drink,¡± Seno said softly. He helped Lara lean back. Instead of epting the ss, Lara pushed it away.


    CRASH!


    The ss shattered into pieces on the bedroom floor.


    ¡°LARA!¡± Seno shouted, startled. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he demanded an exnation.


    Lara just smirked, as she had been doing since earlier. Lara was tired of Seno¡¯s behavior. Her husband never changed. Lara had endured enough and suffered enough. Now, Lara would act. She would make a decision.


    ¡°Seno Adhijaya. Let¡¯s get a divorce!¡±

 Part 62 # The Beginning of Revenge

    Those words were thest thing Lara remembered when she opened her eyes, feeling pain coursing through her body.


    Darkness. That¡¯s all Lara could see. In truth, she couldn¡¯t see anything. Her head hurt badly, and strangely¡­ so did her stomach!


    ¡°W-what¡¯s this?¡± Lara checked the pain in her abdomen. The pain felt very strange. Lara truly missed something. ¡°Stitches?¡± she murmured.


    Very strange, why were there stitches on her stomach?


    Lara only realized one thing¡­ ¡°My child! Where is my child?¡±


    The stitches seemed to be the way out for the little baby who disappeared. Lara truly didn¡¯t remember anything. Thest thing Lara remembered was that she was in the hospital and about to divorce her husband. After that¡­ Lara just fell asleep and¡­ dreamed!


    Lara dreamed of being moved to a strange, dark room with the smell of disinfectant and the sound of machines buzzing in her ears. Some medical staff apanied her in that dream¡­ and¡­ the sound of a baby crying was heard.


    ¡°Dammit!¡±


    Lara only realized something was wrong with her dream. It wasn¡¯t a dream at all. Lara had been swept away in delusion, it seems¡­ she had been given a high dose of sedatives.


    The strange events experienced by Lara then, were just waking up in this dark room. It seemed like this room was in an uninhabited paddy field. There were no human voices, only the sounds of crickets and owls making the atmosphere even more eerie.


    ¡°Ergh¡­.¡± Lara began to groan, enduring the pain that was spreading. This time, not only in her stomach but all over her body. There was no light help there, only the faint light of the moon that could provide information about how dark the atmosphere was there.


    The clinking of chains startled Lara, apparently, she was also chained!


    ¡°W-who¡¯s doing all this?¡± Lara cried and cursed whoever dragged her into this terrible incident. Indeed, no human could be cruel enough to treat their fellow human like prey.


    Lara was very thirsty and hungry. However, she couldn¡¯t reach anything. Even¡­ Lara couldn¡¯t see parts of her body.


    ng!


    The clinking of the chain continued to signal that Lara had to be satisfied with living trapped in silence. No one could help her in the horror she was experiencing.


    Lara was truly desperate.


    ¡°Help¡­.¡±


    However, Lara had to try. If she couldn¡¯t find out who was doing all this, at least¡­ she had to keep living.


    ¡°Help me! Help! Get me out!¡±


    Lara continued to scream in panic! However, there was still no help from anyone to ease her burden.


    Until finally, Lara cried out again. Her wailing voice was ear-piercing. She didn¡¯t know what was happening to her.


    ¡°Argh¡­.¡±


    Suddenly, Lara groaned in pain. Her whole body seemed to be crushed as if hit by arge boulder by several people. She couldn¡¯t feel anything but deep pain.


    ¡°My child. Where are you, my child?¡± Lara looked here and there, searching for the child who suddenly disappeared from her womb. Her tears hadn¡¯t dried yet, nor had the stitches that took away the presence of her beloved child.


    What was really happening here?


    ¡°Seno¡­ where is he?¡± Lara muttered, looking for traces of her husband. He should be around, encouraging her, protecting her, and¡­ carrying their baby. Then, where is he?


    Lara¡¯s stomach still hurt so much. Thest thing she remembered was really just a strange dream that seemed to be a real event. Then, why did they snatch her child and¡­ make Lara suffer like this?


    ¡°Oh¡­ no!¡±


    Lara stopped crying and now felt even more frightened. However, she felt powerless. This time, Lara had to surrender and await the remaining age with suchpassion.


    ¡°Lara, you¡¯re so foolish.¡±


    After trying to release the chains on her hands and feet to no avail, Lara finally gave up. She no longer fought for her life. Her hope was dashed when her child was gone. The pain in her body was notparable to the pain in her heart. As a mother, Lara couldn¡¯t continue living without her child.


    ¡°Uhuk! Uhuk!¡±


    Stuffy. Dark. Hopeless. Lara seemed resigned to the painful reality she faced. Somehow, by someone who did this to her. Lara never expected to experience it.


    Lara was chained and locked in a cage for no apparent reason. Lara didn¡¯t know why. One thing she remembered was when Lara was struggling in the operating room. That memory just shed faintly, more like a dream.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    After that, Lara lost consciousness. When she woke up, this reality was what she got: chained and apparently tortured almost to death.


    Lara truly didn¡¯t remember anything.


    But, she started to wonder. What¡¯s the connection with her husband? Is¡­ this a retaliation for Lara¡¯s words about divorce?


    ***


    The night grew older. Darkness began to dominate the horizon. The moon slowly disappeared, and the sound of Lara¡¯s breaths and moans indicated that her life was no longer valuable.


    ¡°Because I¡¯m foolish, I¡¯ll surrender my life,¡± she said, as if making a promise. Lara spoke to herself. All her efforts to escape from the iron bars failed.


    Lara was tired and no longer tried. She would ept her fate if this was how it was.


    There was nothing she could do but pray. Hopefully, the prayer would reach the sky and bring help. But, Lara couldn¡¯t even hope. Since earlier, nothing was heard except her own voice. Surely, outside this building was also deserted.


    Let alone residents, humans might not be around here. The sounds of crickets and frogs chirping indicated that this building was far from the vige.


    ¡°Am I in the middle of a paddy field?¡± Lara mumbled when she realized this phenomenon. She had never been here before. Somehow, the hospital room shest saw turned into a dark, stuffy room with bars chaining her body¡¯s movements.


    Lara was truly hurt.


    ¡°Seno. Where are you?! Seno!¡±


    Lara kept calling her husband¡¯s name. Only Seno, she thought, had the answers to all her questions. Her husband should be near Lara. If he didn¡¯t want to divorce, it should be discussed. Why did it end up like this?


    What was Lara¡¯s mistake, actually?


    ¡°Lara!¡±


    Suddenly, a voice startled her.


    The voice boomed as the wooden door in front of Lara copsed.


    ¡°Lara!¡± the person called again. Lara squinted. Who is it? What is that person doing?


    Behind the darkness that enveloped her, Lara finally saw clearly the face of a stranger who called her. That person.


    ¡°Mahya?¡±

 Part 63 # The Game Begins

    ¡°Lara! Yes! It¡¯s me!¡±


    Mahya immediately ran towards Lara and tried to release her from behind the bars with all his might. ¡°Damn!¡± he muttered when the iron door turned out to be tightly locked.


    ¡°Wait, Lara!¡±


    Mahya ran back to his original ce. He headed to the car, unpacking the toolbox in his trunk. The sound of clinking metal tools began to be heard. Mahya returned to Lara carrying a crowbar to break the padlock that locked the door hinges.


    ¡°Hiyah!¡±


    With all his might, Mahya finally managed to open the bars that were imprisoning Lara.


    ¡°Lara!¡± Mahya immediately hugged his friend who was lying weakly on the floor. He cried and regretted this kidnapping incident. Why did such a good girl like Lara have to experience it?


    ¡°Mahya, where am I?¡± Lara asked with a trembling voice. She was truly scared. Lara had almost lost her life due to dehydration and bleeding.


    The smell of blood mixed with sweat drenched her. Lara felt like a ughtered cow.


    Mahya took a deep breath before giving an exnation.


    ¡°Lara¡­ we¡¯re in a secluded building. I don¡¯t know how you ended up here, but I just realized that there¡¯s something strange in this warehouse.¡±


    Lara stared at Mahya with questioning eyes. ¡°How do you know this ce, Mahya?¡±


    Lara didn¡¯t even feel any signs of life in the surrounding area. And Mahya? Wasn¡¯t she supposed to be far away from the city? At least, that¡¯s what Lara knew from her university alumni group page.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Mahya swallowed. She didn¡¯t know what to answer.


    ¡°Tell me!¡± Lara rose from her lying position, albeit with difficulty. This time, she really wanted to know what secret was being kept from her. All this time, Lara felt like a fool who knew nothing. Lara was going to change her ways.


    ¡°Lara¡­¡± Mahya only spoke weakly. She seemed unable to speak. Mahya felt sorry for Lara. ¡°I-I was tailing your husband.¡±


    ¡°W-what? Why were you tailing my husband?¡±


    ¡°Something strange happened. And your husband is the target of my investigative report.¡±


    Lara widened her eyes. She didn¡¯t expect that Seno would bebeled as a bad person by her own friend. ¡°How dare you suspect my husband!¡± Lara was angry.


    Mahya was surprised. ¡°Lara? Why are you defending your scoundrel husband?!¡±


    ¡°W-what? How dare you call my husband like that! Watch your words, Mahya!¡±


    ¡°Lara! Your husband is the one who chained you like this! What are you doing? Why are you defending him?¡±


    ¡°W-what?¡±


    ¡°And your baby! Where is he? Nowhere, right? Your husband took him!¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Tears welled up in Lara¡¯s eyes. Mahya¡¯s words cut deep. ¡°I-Is that true?¡±


    ¡°Why would I lie, Lara?! Seno is indeed a criminal. You have to believe me!¡±


    Lara cried bitterly. She never thought that¡­ the perpetrator of all her suffering was¡­ her own husband!


    ¡°What are you going to do now?¡±


    Lara shook her head softly. She didn¡¯t know what to do. Her mncholic eyes looked towards Mahya. Her friend only responded with a simr gaze.


    ¡°Listen, Lara. We have to do something to expose your husband¡¯s crimes. Understand?¡± Mahya helped Lara sit up properly. She held Lara¡¯s arm tightly as a form of encouragement.


    ¡°How, Mahya? I don¡¯t know anything,¡± Lara said weakly. The pain in her heart and body hadn¡¯t subsided. The fact that her husband had treated her like this truly shattered her world.


    Lara had no one.


    ¡°I¡¯ll help you. You have to trust me, understand?!¡±


    Mahya¡¯s words and her gaze remained unchanged. Synchronous. The same. Mahya always had her own way of achieving her goals. One of them: ensuring that there was an ally who could help her n.


    ¡°I understand. Now, show me how, Mahya! I¡¯ll make my husband pay for his actions!¡± Lara eximed with determination. Whatever possessed Seno. How could he be so cruel to hurt her like this? His love and words of affection during their marriage were nothing but big lies to Lara!


    Truly! In her entire life, she would never forgive her husband!


    ¡°Great! Lara! This is the spirit I need!¡±


    Mahya¡¯s frequency resonated with Lara¡¯s radar. This time, Seno wouldn¡¯t escape from her grasp.


    ***


    Initially, Mahya identally stumbled upon this small warehouse alone, some time ago.


    An anonymous informant contacted her and said that Seno had a warehouse used as a secret base. If Mahya managed to find that warehouse, she would be able to find Seno¡¯s hiddenboratory far from human civilization.


    And, this was the result. When Mahya returned to the warehouse to find out Seno¡¯s secretboratory, she instead found Lara being ruthlessly held captive.


    ¡°I got demoted because of this case, but¡­ I won¡¯t give up, Lara! I believe that your husband is involved in some shady business.¡±


    Lara swallowed, her heart felt shattered, and her tears burst again. Lara never thought that Seno¡¯s wealth was unnatural and full of suspicious things. Dealing with her husband¡¯s infidelity alone had already made her tired and anxious, let alone dealing with corruption scandals? How could Lara handle it alone?


    ¡°I¡¯m always here for you, Lara. Trust me,¡± Mahya hugged Lara again.


    The two friends were now back together, even though they had previously been infected with suspicion.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for pretending not to know you. I had to keep my distance from both of you. But¡­ my calction was wrong! I was really foolish, Lara! Forgive me,¡± Mahya regretted all the consequences of her selfishness.


    If only she had approached Lara sooner, this terrible incident could have been avoided. Mahya would never let Lara suffer because of Seno¡¯s inhumane actions.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, my friend. I¡¯m the foolish one for not heeding your warnings before. Forgive me,¡± Lara hugged Mahya with a mncholic aura. They both cried together but¡­ felt relieved.


    These tough times didn¡¯t feel so exhausting when they had each other¡¯s shoulders to lean on. Lara truly didn¡¯t expect it. There was a lesson in the tragedy she was going through.


    ***


    With great difficulty, Mahya brought Lara to her area of authority. Lara received intensive care at a clinic not far from Mahya¡¯s house. After some time, Lara was finally dered cured and could resume her activities as usual.


    Mahya amodated Lara in her house. There, they began to exchange stories about Seno and all his activities.


    ¡°Do you know that Seno¡¯s wealth is unnatural?¡± Mahya asked while tidying up her books. She looked towards Lara lying on the spare bed. The woman seemed to be reminiscing about something, but she eventually shook her head softly.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°You should know that Seno has unnatural wealth, Lara. I investigated his financial reports and found something suspicious.¡±


    Lara sat up from the bed. She truly couldn¡¯t believe that Mahya could get Seno¡¯s financial reports, which should be confidential. ¡°How did you get his financial reports?¡± Lara inquired.


    Mahya just shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Lara raised her eyebrows.


    ¡°You have to be open with me so I can help you.¡±


    Mahyaughed. ¡°I hacked into their system there. It was a sess. After that, their security was tightened. I couldn¡¯t do anything.¡±


    Lara nodded. Now she understood how Mahya could be an investigative reporter. ¡°You should be arrested by the police,¡± Lara joked.


    Mahya¡¯s face turned pale. She shouldn¡¯t have told Lara the origin of the financial report. ¡°Promise me you¡¯ll keep it a secret, Lara!¡±


    Laraughed back. Apparently, Mahya could also be scared. ¡°Okay¡­ okay!¡±


    For the first time, Lara¡¯s heart felt light and she couldugh. Previously, she had suffered greatly and was traumatized. With Mahya, Lara was confident that she could find her baby and also bring Seno down to his lowest point.


    Lara just had to be patient for a little while.


    ***


    ¡°The game will begin soon, Lara. Get ready!¡±

 Part 64 # The New Neighbor

    The next day, Lara woke up feeling calmer. The chirping of birds outside made her day feel lighter. The aroma of coffee greeted Lara¡¯s sense of smell. It seemed like Mahya¡¯s routine was still the same as usual.


    ¡°Coffee?¡± Mahya offered to Lara, who had just opened her eyes.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lara replied, smiling at her friend.


    Mahya chuckled and then went back to the kitchen to brew Lara a cup of coffee like hers.


    Mahya¡¯s attention made Lara feel loved. She remembered Mti. She wondered how the child was doing now.


    ¡°Mahya, do you think I should go back home?¡± Lara asked innocently. She didn¡¯t even think about the possible risks she might face if she dared to do so.


    ¡°NO!¡± Mahya refused firmly. ¡°Do you think why someone would let his wife be tied up right after giving birth? You¡¯re dead, Lara. You have to remember that!¡± Mahya concluded. Lara just swallowed her words. Mahya¡¯s words were not wrong at all.


    ¡°So, what should I do?¡± Lara started to feel anxious. She wanted to know her child¡¯s fate as soon as possible. Is¡­ he okay?


    ¡°Calm down, Lara. I¡¯ll find a way. You have to trust me, okay?¡± Mahya held Lara¡¯s hand. The girl nodded weakly, then started crying again. Lara really missed the child she hadn¡¯t even touched yet.


    ¡°Here¡¯s your coffee. Drink it first,¡± Mahya handed the cup of coffee to Lara. Her friend now wiped the tears that wet her face. Lara remembered the moments when they lived together while they were students. Mahya was indeed like a mother to Lara. How could Lara ever forget that?


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mahya. I¡¯ve been so foolish all this time,¡± Lara muttered, feeling ashamed. She had ignored Mahya¡¯s words about Seno. Lara felt embarrassed remembering how stubborn she was back then.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. We can¡¯t turn back time. Now, we have to focus on your recovery,¡± Mahya said, hugging her friend. Lara winced because Mahya identally bumped some of her still open wounds.


    ¡°Oops! Sorry!¡±


    They thenughed together and finished the coffee together.


    ***


    Mahya bid farewell to Lara, she had to go to work. Lara didn¡¯t mind. She would stay at home peacefully.


    ¡°Remember, don¡¯t open the door for strangers, okay?¡± Mahya said, as if leaving a little child behind.


    ¡°Yes, yes¡­ I¡¯m not a toddler anymore, Mahya,¡± Lara smiled. Mahya was truly worried, she couldn¡¯t bear to leave Lara alone.


    ¡°Go on. You¡¯ll bete,¡± Lara seemed to be driving Mahya away. The girl with a ponytail nodded softly. ¡°Be careful! Food is in the fridge. You just need to warm it up,¡± Mahya concluded, waving her hand and starting to get into her car.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yes! Go!¡± Lara replied loudly and watched Mahya¡¯s back slowly disappear from view. She quickly closed the door and turned on the television inside.


    ***


    Meanwhile, at the office, Mahya was once again engrossed in her investigation documents. She nned to take these documents home so that James wouldn¡¯t find out. Mahya would pretend to enjoy her new job in the Feature section.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± James asked after knocking on Mahya¡¯s office door.


    ¡°Uh, startled!¡± Mahya was surprised. She quickly got up and sat in her chair as usual. Earlier, Mahya had been squatting down and putting files into boxes to be taken to her car after work.


    ¡°There¡¯s a cockroach!¡±


    ¡°WHAT?!¡±


    James jumped and swept his gaze towards his carpeted floor. ¡°How could there be a cockroach in my clean and sacred building!¡± James yelled. Mahya just shrugged, trying to hold back herughter.


    ¡°Even when dinosaurs went extinct, they still exist, right! Moreover, it just climbed up to this building, Mr. Boss,¡± Mahya joked casually while adjusting her sitting positionfortably. Mahya started to turn on herputer.


    ¡°You lied to me, didn¡¯t you?¡± James, more urately, used. Mahya justughed.


    ¡°Good-looking men like you are afraid of cockroaches?¡± Mahya teased. James didn¡¯t get angry. That was because¡­ Mahya called him handsome!


    ¡°So-so you think I¡¯m handsome?¡± James asked, making Mahya more confused.


    ¡°Yeah. Quite handsomepared to the taxi drivers,¡± she said coldly.


    ¡°W-what!¡± James widened his eyes.


    Mahyaughed again. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mr. CEO? Seems like you¡¯re going through puberty, huh?¡± Mahya investigated. James¡¯s conversationstely never escaped self-assessment rather than focusing on work.


    Mahya began to suspect.


    ¡°Maybe¡­ ¡± Mahya began to guess her boss¡¯s strange behavior. It seemed that James¡¯s syndrome resembled someone she knew when they were in love. ¡°Are you in love?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes?¡± James looked nervous. Cold sweat started to flow from his temples. James couldn¡¯t speak. Did¡­ Mahya start to know his attraction to her? James felt embarrassed and awkward with everything he was experiencing.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s it! Forget about that cursed engagement! Already cheated and still shameless. Find a new girl, Boss!¡± Mahya said lightly. James cleared his throat. He couldn¡¯t speak. Apparently, Mahya still didn¡¯t understand James¡¯s attraction to her.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough! Get to your work!¡±


    Mahya stuck out her tongue. ¡°You¡¯re the one who suddenly appears. Just disturb my work!¡± Mahya grumbled as she closed her door tightly. She even put up a sign ¡®Do Not Disturb¡¯ on the ss door knob after James left her room.


    Mahya had to hurry. She would inform Lara of all her findings when work hours were over.


    ***


    The day was gettingte. Lara had been inside the house all day. Mahya did forbid her from wandering around because the situation was still not safe.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ so bored,¡± Larained. Actually, she was used to being indoors. The difference was, Mahya¡¯s house was small and there was no garden or yard. Mahya¡¯s house was an apartment. Completely opposite to Lara¡¯s house, which was spacious and filled with flowers.


    Lara remembered her flowers.


    ¡°How are my nts?¡± Lara muttered again. It seemed that she was really dying of curiosity about all the sudden changes. Lara felt like she was in jail.


    ¡®Knock knock¡¯


    The sound of knocking on the door from outside was heard. Lara looked happy! Mahya hade!


    ¡°One moment¡­.¡± Lara immediately ran to the door. But, she just realized something was wrong. ¡°Eh, why is Mahya knocking on the door?¡± she thought. However, Lara had alreadye to the door. She peeked through the peep-hole. It turned out that¡­ the person knocking was someone she knew!


    ¡°Doctor Miriam?¡±


    Lara was surprised. She didn¡¯t expect the doctor toe to Mahya¡¯s house. What should Lara do?


    ¡°Excuse me¡­¡± the doctor called. She wanted to greet her new neighbor next door.


    No answer.


    Lara really didn¡¯t open the door for anyone. For the time being, Lara had to hide.


    Doctor Miriam knocked on the door again. But, once again, there was no answer. However, a whileter¡­ the sound of breaking ssware was heard.


    ¡®Crash!¡¯


    ¡°Uh, is anyone there?¡±

 Part 65 # Breaking the Boundaries

    Miriam¡¯s steps halted in front of the door. She decided not to return to her apartment unit.


    ¡°Excuse me, I just want to introduce myself,¡± she said politely. However, there was no response.


    ¡°Excuse me¡­.¡± As if she had nothing else to do, she persisted in entering her neighbor¡¯s apartment unit. Her intuition told her something was wrong. She wanted to confirm her suspicions.


    ¡°Oh, Hello!¡± Suddenly, someone¡¯s voice startled her. She turned around and found her acquaintance standing there.


    ¡°Miss journalist, how are you?¡± he greeted warmly.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. What are you doing in front of my house?¡± Mahya asked in surprise. Undeniably, her heart was also beating fast. She was worried that Miriam would meet Lara, whose status was still concealed.


    ¡°Oh, I just wanted to say hello to you! It turns out¡­ there¡¯s no one there. I heard something break earlier. I thought¡­ someone was there,¡± said Miriam while fixing her hair.


    ¡°Ah. Maybe it¡¯s my cat. He¡¯s naughty!¡± Mahya tried to sound annoyed. Actually, she sighed with relief because Miriam didn¡¯t sense Lara¡¯s presence. It seemed so.


    ¡°Oh, I see. Well then. Here, please ept this. It¡¯s a housewarming gift,¡± said Miriam, handing a box of cake to Mahya.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Mahya epted it happily.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    ¡°Please. It¡¯s nice to be your neighbor,¡± Mahya said, waving her hand.


    Their apartment units were adjacent. It was not a good sign. Mahya calmed her racing heart. Hopefully, all her worries wouldn¡¯t be proven true.


    ¡°See youter,¡± Miriam kept talking. Mahya just smiled and inwardly shouted for her to disappear immediately. Mahya wanted to enter the house and meet Lara soon. She had to make sure Miriam returned to her own apartment unit.


    ***


    ¡°Mahya! Just now¡­.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Doctor Miriam.¡±


    ¡°Do you know her?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I do. She is a hospital executive. I¡¯ve had a lot of dealings with her when interviewing that handsome young doctor,¡± exined Mahya as she arranged the documents she wanted to discuss with Lara.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that doctor is¡­ Andre.¡±


    ¡°Eh! Right! Do you know him?¡± Mahya asked in surprise. Apparently, Lara could recognize the handsome man.


    ¡°I know him. I know him well, even¡­.¡± she hesitated. Lara still felt that her rtionship with Andre was one that shouldn¡¯t be. There was a part of her that rejected Andre when she remembered herte mother. However, regardless, Andre had helped her a lot when Seno was tormenting her alone.


    ¡°How well do you know him? Why have you never told me about it, Lara!¡± Mahya eximed. She was so curious about Andre and Lara¡¯s rtionship.


    ¡°What should I tell? He¡¯s just my childhood friend.¡±


    ¡°Ah! So you did grow up together? Doctors Andre and Miriam are suspicious.¡± Mahya started to conspire. Lara justughed, not paying much attention to it.


    ¡°Suspicious? How that supposed to mean?¡±


    ¡°Their rtionship. It seems¡­ Miriam¡¯s family bought Andre. You know, arranged marriage like that of rich families!¡± Mahya kept on bbering.


    ¡°Arranged marriage?¡± Lara frowned. She never thought that their rtionship was based on such things. No wonder¡­ Miriam seemed so obsessed with Andre. Even¡­ the beautiful woman had once confronted her. Beautiful woman? Yes. ording to Lara, Doctor Miriam¡¯s appearance was really attractive.


    ¡°Doctor Andre once talked about his feelings during the interview. Well, not specifically, but I could read¡­ their rtionship isn¡¯t normal!¡±


    ¡°Mahya! Stop meddling in other people¡¯s rtionships. Come on, we need to focus on our work. So, what do you have?¡± Lara didn¡¯t want to discuss Andre and Miriam further. This conversation would only lead to prejudice and waste their time.


    ¡°Haha! Ah, it¡¯s not fun,¡± Mahyaughed. But, Lara¡¯s words were true. They needed to focus on re-reading Mahya¡¯s scattered findings in front of them.


    ¡°Do you see this? This is thepany¡¯s financial report in the first quarter. How could there be such arge fund? Who injected it?¡± Mahya began to hand over the first file to Lara.


    Although Lara had never worked formally, at least she still understood how to read data. With Mahya¡¯s help, Lara was sure she could provide insights and thoughts that could help her friend¡¯s analysis.


    ¡°Seno said there¡¯s a foreign investor offering cooperation,¡± Lara said, trying to remember her conversation with her husband about the health business.


    ¡°Who?¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Mahya fell silent. She tried to observe thepany¡¯s financial report in the first quarter. As an investigator with quite a decent auditing experience, she immediately noticed several unfamiliar things in the report.


    ¡°Do you see this?¡± Mahya pointed to one part of the report. ¡°This is thepany¡¯s financial report in the first quarter.¡±


    ¡°Yes, and then?¡±


    ¡°I noted a significant increase in the iing fund position, but there is no adequate exnation regarding its origin. This doesn¡¯t match thepany¡¯s historical trends in general.¡±


    Although Lara didn¡¯t have an auditing background, she nodded understandingly. Mahya must have her own considerations. ¡°What¡¯s the conclusion?¡±


    ¡°If I were an auditor, then I would need to ensure that all transactions and sources of ie are properly recorded and in ordance with applicable ounting standards. This could be an indicator of abnormality or even potential fraud.¡±


    ¡°So, what do we do now?¡± Lara asked, confused.


    ¡°First, we need to further investigate the origin of the fund. We have to investigate additional documentation, confirmation from rted parties, and verify the truth of these transactions.¡± Mahya began to conclude.


    ¡°How, Mahya?¡± Lara looked at her friend intently. If only Mahya were an official auditor of Seno¡¯spany, surely the mentioned data could be requested immediately.


    But, weren¡¯t their jobs even illegal and secret? How could they do it systematically and ording to the needs required?


    Mahya smiled, ¡°Well¡­ you know, what I have to do?¡±


    Lara widened her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­.¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course. I will hack their system again!¡±


    Lara swallowed her saliva. She never thought that Mahya had such skills. However, in this situation, they did need ess to deeper information.


    ¡°Can you hack their system?¡± Lara asked with a puzzled expression. She was amazed and worried about Mahya¡¯s skills. Wasn¡¯t hacking into apany¡¯s system illegal?


    ¡°Yes, I have enough skills for that. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t damage data or leave any traces that can be detected.¡± Mahya reassured her friend.


    ¡°But isn¡¯t that illegal?¡±


    ¡°And¡­ is what Seno did legal, Lara? We are white-hat hackers! This is for justice!¡±


    Lara tried to catch her breath. ¡°Alright, we do need more information to uncover the truth behind this fund surge. I trust you, Mahya.¡±


    Quickly, Mahya started working on herptop. She connected her system to thepany¡¯swork with her impressive skills. Meanwhile, Lara monitored the situation with a tense expression, afraid of being discovered by thepany.


    After several minutes that felt like hours, Mahya finally smiled satisfactorily. ¡°I managed to get into their system. Now, let¡¯s take a closer look at the financial reports.¡±


    They began delving into the data, looking for suspicious transactions, and seeing if there were any identifiable patterns. The more they investigated, the clearer it became that there was data maniption to hide the true flow of funds.


    Lara was truly surprised because they didn¡¯t find anything in those reports. ¡°It¡¯s not just about the surge of funds, Mahya. They are really hiding their original source. What¡¯s really happening in thispany?¡±


    Mahya leaned her head on her hand. It felt like her exhaustion hadn¡¯t disappeared after battling withplex codes and infiltrating, avoiding the opponent¡¯s firewalls. This time, after getting the report results, her efforts feltpletely futile.


    ¡°It seems like there¡¯s something bigger behind this. We might just be seeing the surface. I need to dig deeper.¡±


    Lara nodded weakly. She knew that Seno was indeed a dangerous person.


    ¡°How can I marry such a cunning bastard?¡± she cursed to herself. However, as hard as they tried to uncover Seno¡¯s crime, Seno tried even harder to rise to the top.


    Now, the researched drugs would finally beunched on the market!

 Part 66 # The Beginning of Conspiracy

    Seno stared nkly at the ceiling of the room. The image of Lara¡¯s face suddenly appeared. At the moment, he shuddered in horror and began to reassure himself that everything would be fine.


    ¡°How did it go? Is the woman dead?¡± Seno asked when the henchman he ordered to eliminate Lara had just shown himself.


    ¡°I ¡­ I¨C¡± He couldn¡¯t continue his sentence.


    ¡°Tell me, Fucking Bastard?! How did it go?¡± Seno yelled angrily. He couldn¡¯t afford any traces of his crime left on Lara. His wife, correction, his ex-wife, had to disappear from this world along with her identity, which had been thoroughly wiped clean without a trace.


    ¡°Someone saved her, Boss!¡± he reported with a strengthened tone. He had to appear firm if he didn¡¯t want to end up as a corpse at the hands of the employer.


    ¡°YOU BASTARD! How could this happen?!¡± Seno rose from his seat. He had just enjoyed sess with the discovery of a remedy drug that had always failed before.


    Thanks to Lara, Seno¡¯s dream became easy. The child she bore was now kept in a special incubator in the secretb. A special body cells from that child carried the healingponents for the drug Seno has developed!


    ***


    This story began when Seno was in despair and burdened with a lot of debt due to his carelessness in ying the stock market. Seno was forced to borrow money from loan sharks, unfortunately, he got entangled in even bigger interest rates.


    ¡°Do you want to be free from debt and live in luxury, Seno Adhijaya?¡± asked a middle-age woman named Madam Xenia, one day.


    Seno wouldn¡¯t ever forget the day he met his life¡¯s savior, Madam Xenia. Of course, Seno nodded. ¡°I¡¯m willing to sell my soul to the devil just to stop suffering like this, Madam,¡± he said at that time.


    Madam Xenia smiled broadly and snapped her fingers. From that moment, their work contract began. Seno had to take care of everything rted to the development of antidepressant drugs from Madam, including permits, healthcare facilities, and the required workforce.


    ¡°Illegal but legal, you know what I mean, right?¡± Madam asked with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°We just need to bribe the officials.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    From then on, Seno became Madam¡¯s puppet and amassed wealth thanks to massive injections of funds from the Bank in Canada. Madam¡¯s shellpanies became moneyundering tools, so¡­ the true source of Seno¡¯spany wealth wasn¡¯t clearly identified.


    ¡°This drug is sure to be a huge sess. I brought it from the best researchers in the world. Unfortunately, those people have died due to their own carelessness.¡±


    Seno swallowed his saliva, understanding the risks of the project he took. However, Seno kept going because nothing was scarier than living in poverty drowning in debt!


    ¡°II¡¯m just your hands and feet, right?¡± Seno began to examine the information in front of him.


    ¡°Yes. And one more thing.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°You have to marry Lara Selene Smith, your ssmate¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Sure! I would do anything!¡±


    ***Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Seno was reminded of his initial meeting with Madam X. Indeed, the unreasonable requirement to marry Lara bothered him. The girl was pretty enough, but her heart was cold, and there was no spark that could ignite a man¡¯s passion.


    ¡°What good is a pretty face if it can¡¯t seduce? Even dolls can talk,¡± Seno grumbled then when he approached Lara.


    But, who would have thought, a drunken condition and a hot night after the party gave Seno the opportunity to impregnate Lara. That was the only way Seno had. He was just an ordinary student. How could he win Lara¡¯s heart?


    ¡°You have to take responsibility!¡± Lara yelled at that time. Seno nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s what I want, Darling.¡±


    ***


    Seno couldn¡¯t say anything when he looked back at the warehouse, where he had imprisoned Lara. The woman wasn¡¯t there. She hadpletely disappeared!


    ¡°You idiot! What have you done?!¡± Seno cursed his worker who couldn¡¯t do his job properly. However, he also roughly grabbed his own hair. Seno was the one who had lost his mind for entrusting this sadistic job to an inexperienced person.


    ¡°II¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s so hard about slitting her throat, or¡­ stabbing her in the stomach to kill her instantly? Why did you have to tie her up like that? You! ARRGH!¡± Seno beat his worker with boiling anger.


    Operating on Lara alone was difficult enough for him, of course, Seno couldn¡¯t kill his ex-wife with his own hands. Lara¡¯s words about divorce ignited Seno¡¯s emotions. He couldn¡¯t wait to take what he had nned since the beginning: their child.


    Seno then sedated Lara, operated on her, and let her die without anyone knowing.


    BAM!


    The big man copsed under Seno¡¯s punch. Of course, it wasn¡¯t because of Seno¡¯s mighty strength, but because of the bitter fate that made him suffer. A subordinate like him had to be prepared to ept all the cruel treatment from his boss.


    In the pale moonlight, the shadow of the big man¡¯s bodyy on the cold warehouse floor.


    ¡°Argh!¡± His face was pressed against his boss¡¯s shoe, with all the remaining anger in his chest, Seno continued to torture the man.


    ¡°Bastard!¡± Seno cursed as he stepped on the man¡¯s back with his shiny shoes. His face was filled with rage.


    The man groaned, but his protest words were choked by the injustice that shackled him. He was a wretched man who couldn¡¯t say anything. The man just remained silent in the face.


    ¡°Bastard!¡± cursed Seno as he stepped on the man¡¯s back with his shiny shoes. His face was filled with rage.


    The man groaned, but his protest words were choked by the injustice that shackled him. He was a wretched man who couldn¡¯t say anything. The man just remained silent in the face of the cruelty of his employer.


    ¡°I need to find that bitch!¡± Seno then walked away, leaving the man lying there alone.


    ***


    Meanwhile, in Mahya¡¯s apartment, Lara was still sitting alone, lost in thought. The files brought by her friend made her heart ache. All this time, it turned out Seno had been hiding the big truth about his wealth.


    Ironically, Lara had been enjoying it too. Lara felt disgusted with herself.


    ¡°What if I also get punished, Mahya?¡± Lara suddenly said.


    Mahya-still busy looking for a loophole to steal more documents from Seno¡¯s server-looked at her in surprise. ¡°Punished?¡± he repeated.


    ¡°Yes. Aren¡¯t I his wife?¡± Lara sighed deeply.


    ¡°Lara. Let me ask you one thing.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Did you two get married officially?¡±


    ¡°Wwhat? Why are you asking that?¡±


    ¡°Lara. You have to be prepared for another bitter reality,¡± Mahya began to speak calmly, trying not to hurt Lara further.


    ¡°Wwhat is it, Mahya? Don¡¯t scare me¡­.¡±


    Lara then remembered her marriage. Indeed, there was novish wedding because Seno said they were short of money. ¡°We just had a blessing ceremony and¡­¡±. Right. Lara never received any written documents about their marriage.


    Mahya then yed his fingers on theputer keyboard. He searched for the boss¡¯s personal data that should be there. At least, family records as data that should be owned by the HR department at his workce.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lara. This news might surprise you a little.¡±


    ¡°Tell me, Mahya. What did you find there?¡± Lara was impatient. She was really curious. Lara didn¡¯t understand how the world worked. She was too innocent, naive, and¡­ foolish! Lara really believed all of Seno¡¯s sweet words, which turned out to be lies!


    ¡°Here it says, Seno¡¯s wife¡¯s name is¡­ Olivia Wilson.¡±


    ¡°WHAT?!¡±

 Part 67 # Seno’s Family Secrets (1)

    Lara bit her lip. Tears streamed down her face again. ¡°Hohow could ¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t even continue her sentence.


    ¡°Lara. Just hold on. These are just do¡±


    ¡°But still! Seno¡¯s been ying me from the start, Mahya!¡± Lara cut in quickly. Mahya just sighed deeply. That¡¯s exactly what she had been thinking. ¡°He¡¯s always been like that. Right from the beginning, Lara,¡± Mahya added, making Lara¡¯s sobs even louder.


    ¡°Hang on ¡­ hang in there, Lara,¡± Mahya patted Lara¡¯s shoulder, then hugged her. She understood how Lara felt. Hurt, betrayed, and ¡­ almost losing her life at the hands of her own husband, it was really tough to go through. No one in this world could bear such a burden alone.


    ¡°I have to go back to Grandma¡¯s house, Mahya! Seno¡¯s Grandma will surely acknowledge me. She¡¯s a very kind person. Take me there, Mahya. Please ¡­,¡± Lara pleaded. Mahya shook her head weakly. It was too risky to make contact with the Seno family.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know what Seno¡¯s Grandma is hiding, Lara. I refuse,¡± Mahya said firmly, loosening her embrace. She looked straight at Lara, reassuring her that Seno¡¯s acknowledgment of their marriage was not important.


    ¡°But ¡­ but ¡­ I just want to hear Grandma¡¯s opinion once, Mahya! My mother-inw may be wicked. But ¡­ Grandma is very kind. Believe me!¡± Lara kept convincing Mahya. Her friend rolled her eyes. She really couldn¡¯t believe anything rted to Seno Adhijaya.


    ¡°If Grandma is on Seno¡¯s side, then ¡­ I¡¯ll never show up there again. Please, Mahya.¡±


    For a moment, Mahya began to consider Lara¡¯s request. It was too early to link therger Seno family to every case involving Seno. ¡°Well, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to try,¡± Mahya said softly.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Really?¡± Lara asked incredulously.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Mahya pinched her friend¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°Thank you, Mahya!¡± Lara hugged Mahya again. This time, her embrace was tighter. She really wanted to find another reliable ally. In her opinion, Grandma Seno would be a bnced friend.


    ***


    The next day, Mahya escorted Lara to Seno¡¯s Grandma residence in Depok, West Java. The residence was actually Seno¡¯s old house, but it had been renovated extensively.


    The house was then gifted to Seno¡¯s Grandma because she had always taken care of Seno and his family since the passing of his father.


    ¡°Is this the house?¡± Mahya asked. She had passed by this luxurious housingplex before, but Mahya didn¡¯t remember the details.


    ¡°Yes, Mahya. I have to get down,¡± Lara said spontaneously after Mahya parked her car.


    ¡°Wait! Hold on!¡± Mahya eximed. She then put a cap and sunsses on Lara. Lara¡¯s clothes already made her figure look different. She appeared fuller. Now, it was time to hide her face and eye color.


    ¡°Alright, done. You have to be careful, okay? I¡¯ll be on standby here,¡± Mahya said again while opening the driver¡¯s seat door.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Lara tried to calm herself down. She opened the car door slowly. Her steps were firm. Lara was actually scared and traumatized by the recent events. What if Seno saw her again?


    ¡°Rx, Lara. This isn¡¯t a James Bond movie. Nothing¡¯s going to happen in broad daylight,¡± Lara whispered to herself, trying to calm her racing heartbeat.


    ¡°Oh ¡­ there she is!¡± Lara¡¯s gaze stopped at a figure she recognized. ¡°Mti,¡± she murmured. But Lara didn¡¯t immediately call out to her assistant. She assessed the situation first. Lara was still hiding behind Mahya¡¯s car.


    When the gate opened, Lara wanted to run across the street immediately and hug Mti, who had be like her own sister. But to Lara¡¯s surprise, Mti was being led to get into a ck van.


    ¡°Who are they?¡± Lara muttered in confusion. Mti¡¯s face looked frightened. She was scared ¡­ Mti was also being vited! Just like her!


    ¡°Mel! Why are you so scared like that! We¡¯re just moving far away! You should be happy!¡± Lara¡¯s mother-inw ¡­ correction ¡­ former mother-inw, scolded while pushing Mti¡¯s trembling body.


    Lara couldn¡¯t hear anything anymore because Mti¡¯s voice was too small, unlike her former mother-inw¡¯s booming voice.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Lara, Ma? We¡¯re moving and she¡¯s not showing up at all!¡± Ami, Lara¡¯s former mother-inw, grumbled in annoyance.


    An elderlydy appeared from behind. She was wearingfortable cotton clothes, with a hat and sunsses toplete her appearance.


    ¡°Lara divorced Seno. She wouldn¡¯te,¡± she replied loudly. Thatdy ¡­ Seno¡¯s Grandma! It seemed she didn¡¯t feel any hint of sadness or concern for her grandson¡¯s wife.


    ¡°Whawhat? Divorced?¡± Ami¡¯s eyes widened. Lara was still spying on them. This time, she moved closer behind the gate. Fortunately, her cap and sunsses prevented Lara¡¯s figure from being recognized by the people who were busy packing for the move.


    Several big men were seening and going. They were carrying suitcases, brown boxes, and furniture. Several trucks were also parked in front. Grandma¡¯s house was quite crowded with people.


    ¡°Why is Grandma talking like that?¡± Lara mumbled sadly. It turned out, Grandma Seno couldn¡¯t be an ally either. Luckily, Lara listened carefully. She sharpened her ears again. This time, Ami¡¯s voice resounded loudly.


    ¡°Married in secret, divorced in secret, Seno and Lara just do whatever they want!¡± she eximed while putting her hands on her hips.


    Seno¡¯s Grandma patted Ami¡¯s shoulder firmly. ¡°The important thing is, Seno always gives us money. That¡¯s enough, right?¡±


    Ami pouted and looked displeased. However, she was Seno¡¯s biological mother after all. The only parent left. What¡¯s so difficult about informing or pretending to ask for permission if she wants to cut ties with her disliked son-inw?


    Ami wouldn¡¯t mind.


    ¡°Be careful if he marries another useless girl!¡± Ami continued to grumble, but her mother reminded her not to meddle in her grandson¡¯s affairs. ¡°For us, the funds provided by him is always enough!¡±


    Unintentionally, when thedies were still engrossed in their conversation, Mti¡¯s eyes caught Lara¡¯s figure. They nced at each other for a moment. Mti flinched but then she looked normal. She thought hard. She want to meet Lara in secret. Both of them know that the situation is dangerous. She got out of the van and ask for permission to retrieve her belongings in the house.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, sorry, I forgot my phone,¡± she said.


    ¡°Hurry up! We¡¯ll miss the ne!¡± Ami ordered bluntly.


    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am!¡± Mti replied before going back inside the house. She signaled Lara to follow her. Lara nodded and met Mti on the secret path in the backyard of the house.


    ***


    ¡°Mti!¡± Lara called out her servant¡¯s name in fear and amusement. Finally, she got the one she could talking to.


    ¡°Mrs. Lara!¡± Mti replied and hug her employer warmly. She sobbed and then started to tell everything she know about the conspiracy ¡­ from the very beginning.  ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for what had happened to you ¡­.¡±

 Part 68 # Seno’s Family Secrets (2)

    ¡°I can only give you this, Ma¡¯am.¡± Mti said as she handed a letter to Lara. ¡°We¡¯re moving to Singapore,¡± she added. Even in disguise, Mti could recognize her employer well. Unlike Lara¡¯s family, who didn¡¯t even bother to worry about her.


    ¡°Mel ¡­¡± Lara whispered softly. Tears welled up in her eyes again.


    ¡°Please be patient, Ma¡¯am. Everything I know is written in that letter. I could only give it to you today. Trust me, Ma¡¯am. I didn¡¯t participate in Mr. Seno¡¯s criminal scheme. But ¡­¡± Mti cut off her words. Some big men started to be wary and suspiciously eyed her back.


    ¡°But what, Mel?¡± Lara was curious about her assistant¡¯s continuation.


    ¡°I have to go! Ma¡¯am! Stay away from here, okay!¡±


    ¡°Mti!¡± Lara screamed as the girl walked away. However, Lara quickly silenced herself when she caught sight of the guards gripping Mti tightly.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡± Lara was truly puzzled by the drastic changes in the Seno family. Everything felt so odd.


    ***


    Lara immediately sneaked back and returned to Mahya¡¯s car. Promptly, Mahya started her four-wheeled vehicle and left the dangerous location after Lara got into the cabin.


    ¡°How did it go?¡± Mahya asked curiously.


    Lara just showed a letter from Mti to her friend. ¡°A letter?¡± Mahya raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Yes. Mti said she wrote this letter for me. Everything I¡¯ve been asking about is in there.¡±


    ¡°Good!¡± Mahya stepped on the gas pedal cheerfully. This time, their sacrifice of time had paid off.


    ¡°Where are we going next, Mahya?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re going to Seno¡¯s office. I need to trace the serverwork up close.¡±


    ¡°W-what?!¡±


    ***


    Mahya¡¯s ck car cruised, cutting through the rtively empty streets of Jakarta. At 2 PM, there weren¡¯t many vehicles of workers passing by. The lunch hour had ended, and the main roads were not crowded with traffic.


    ¡°Being a journalist is fun,¡± Mahya mumbled as she drove into the parking lot, where Seno¡¯s business was located. She pretended to be there to interview someone important and for a special, confidential purpose.


    Mahya¡¯s arrival wasn¡¯t suspicious. Her press card made the mission of disguise and infiltration so easy for her.


    ¡°You wait here and read the letter from Mti calmly. Avoid meeting people. Pretend to be like a dead person, got it?¡± Mahya instructed.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Lara gave a thumbs-up, indicating her understanding. ¡°Why don¡¯t you hack the system from your room like you usually do?¡± Lara started asking. She didn¡¯t quite understand hacking methods. Mahyaughed.


    ¡°The security system is quite strong. I failed to breach the existing firewall. So, this is the only way.¡±


    ¡°Meaning, you ¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ll pretend to interview the head of cyber security there.¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± Lara finally found rity in Mahya¡¯s actions.


    ¡°Next, I¡¯ll directly steal the data. Hopefully, I won¡¯t get caught.¡± Mahya crossed her fingers.


    ¡°But, that¡¯s too risky, Mahya!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lara. I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯m like a Gatotkaca!¡± Mahya joked, shing her teeth as if she turned into an ancient Javanese hero, Gatotkaca, whom well-known for his iron muscles.


    Lara sighed and then started tough. ¡°Please be careful, Okay?¡± she urged her friend.


    ¡°Got it, Boss!¡± Mahya said, saluting Lara like a soldier.


    A few secondster, the girl with the ponytail disappeared from Lara¡¯s view. Lara began to open the letter from Mti. She was really curious about its contents.


    ***


    Mahya confidently walked towards the entrance of Seno¡¯s office. The S-Group building looked magnificent with its dazzling all-silver interior. Thebination of minimalist and sophisticated design was evident. ¡°Pretty nice,¡± Mahya whispered as she admired Seno¡¯s workce.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± the guard asked when Mahya wanted to enter the office unit. Of course, the building wasn¡¯t solely owned by Seno¡¯spany. There were several businesses running there, and most of them were tenants.


    ¡°I want to go to Mr. Seno¡¯s office. I¡¯m a journalist from Channel Insight,¡± Mahya said while showing her press card.


    ¡°Do you have an appointment?¡± the guard asked suspiciously.


    ¡°Yes. But, maybe my client forgot. I¡¯m here to remind them to be on-air with us in a few days,¡± Mahya tried to bluff as naturally as possible. The guard seemed to whisper to his colleague.


    A momentter, a guard seemed to be calling the intended business unit. After getting approval, they finally let Mahya enter without any hassle.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Mahya said politely.


    ¡°Good luck on your job.¡±


    ***


    In the S-Group unit, the office atmosphere felt quite deserted. Some workers were seening and going, but some of them didn¡¯t seem to be inside their work cubicles.


    ¡°Miss Mahya?¡± a receptionist greeted, who had received a phone call from the guard earlier.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m Mahya Grace, a journalist from Channel Insight.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to meet the head of cyber security?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct. There are many things I want to ask.¡±


    ¡°Follow me.¡±


    They then walked to the office of the head of cyber security, as requested by Mahya. Channel Insight¡¯s image was quite good in the eyes of S-Group thanks to reviews from their President Director, Seno Adhijaya.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± Mahya muttered as she recalled her meeting with Seno to avoid suspicion. She could easily enter without much effort or forceful sneaking, which could likelynd her straight in jail.


    ***


    ¡°Mahya Grace.¡±


    ¡°Budi Jatmiko.¡±


    In the cyber security office, Mahya shook hands with a slick-haired man who seemed busy with his work. Fortunately, Mahya was good at pretending. Although impromptu, she quickly adapted to the situation for the mission she carried out.


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯m interested in knowing more about the cybersecurity measures implemented at S-Group. Maybe we can talk openly to provide insights to Channel Insight viewers,¡± Mahya said with a wide smile.


    ¡°Sorry. Do you have permission beforehand?¡± Pak Budi asked skeptically.


    ¡°Oh. This is just a street interview, Sir. We routinely conduct impromptu interviews to make it more natural and appealing,¡± Mahya joked.


    Mr. Budi Jatmiko seemed to clear his throat for a moment. He nced at the Public Rtions Head who apanied them.


    ¡°Please, Miss. We don¡¯t mind,¡± he said with a nod. S-Group needed media exposure for their preunch product campaign. This moment was certainly a good thing to maintain.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Budi Jatmiko, the head of cyber security, seemed pleased to get attention from a well-known media. He began exining some security steps taken by hispany. In general, and some covered detailed matters that would certainly be useful for Mahya¡¯s mission.


    ¡°And then?¡± Mahya kept asking enthusiastically, so the head of security kept babbling. For quite some time, Mahya finally tried to find an opportunity.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Can I know the specifications of theputers owned by thispany?¡± she asked, fishing for the informant¡¯s response.


    ¡°Oh, yes. Please.¡±


    Mahya took this opportunity to ess Budi¡¯sputer. She pretended to be impressed by the software and hardware specifications there. Skillfully, Mahya infiltrated the system and began searching for the required data when Budi seemed to step away for a moment to answer an important phone call.


    ¡°Take your time,¡± Mahya said politely while pretending to admire everything about the world of cyber security they were discussing.


    Budi didn¡¯t notice at all the suspicious activity Mahya was conducting.


    The data theft process felt slow and full of twists. S-Group¡¯s server turned out to haveplex securityyers, and Mahya had to avoid detection that could ur with vignce. Mahya used advanced hacking techniques to deceive the system and bypass the strong firewall directly.


    Fortunately, this hacking process went undetected because it was done directly.


    ¡°Damn!¡± When Mahya was about to reach her goal, an unexpected event surprised her. Budi returned to the room. Mahya panicked and quickly stopped her actions.


    ¡°Miss ¡­¡± he called, puzzled. Why did the girl look sweaty in a cold room like this?


    ¡°Uh, yes, Sir?¡± Mahya tried to swallow her anxiety. In the blink of an eye, she hid her hacking traces. When Budi approached again, Mahya immediately disyed the default desktop on theputer screen. There was no suspicious activity there.


    ¡°Have all of your questions been answered?¡± Budi asked again, focusing.


    ¡°Ah, yes, Sir! I¡¯m very grateful to have a substantial conversation with you,¡± Mahya said firmly. She screamed internally. Her data theft seeded without being noticed.


    ¡°Thank goodness,¡± Budi smiled warmly and shook hands with Mahya, who seemed to be about to leave.


    ¡°Thank you for your time, Sir.¡±


    Mahya then left the cyber security office casually, as if there was nothing important she did other than interviewing a source. She walked out of S-Group¡¯s business unit calmly and returned to the car to tell Lara about her sess.


    ***


    ¡°Did it go well, Mahya?¡± Lara asked as Mahya returned to the car with a wide smile.


    Mahya nodded vigorously. ¡°It worked, Lara. We have the data we need. Now, it¡¯s time to uncover the truth behind this criminal scheme.¡±


    They quickly left the scene, saving themselves from a increasinglyplicated situation and carefully keeping Mahya¡¯s hacking secret.


    However, someone seemed to have been watching Lara and Mahya since earlier. A suspicious smile began to emerge in the darkness. It seemed like they knew what was happening.

 Part 69: Illusory Victory

    Mahya¡¯s ck car sped away at an average speed, distancing itself from Seno¡¯s office and all the potential dangers that might lurk there.


    As their vehicle moved away from the S-Group headquarters, Lara felt a weight lifted off her shoulders little by little. There were no words to express how grateful Lara was that Mahya could return safely. Moreover, the girl also brought along data to uncover Seno¡¯s fraud in establishing thepany.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re at this point, Mahya,¡± Lara said emotionally. Mahya smiled brightly at her friend. ¡°Yes, you can always count on me,¡± she joked while staying focused on the increasingly crowded streets.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    The streets of Jakarta were getting congested again, although not yet considered heavy traffic. The rush hour was still far away, but it seemed that today, many vehicles needed to be on the road.


    ¡°Ah, yes, it¡¯s Wednesday,¡± Mahya muttered.


    ¡°Why Wednesday?¡± Lara asked curiously.


    ¡°Wednesday is the day people have meetings outside. Hehe. If Monday is when people arezy to leave the office, Thursday and Friday are close to the weekend. That¡¯s why, on Wednesday, many people schedule meetings outside.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Lara said, learning something new.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s the theory. But who knows,¡± Mahya added with augh.


    ¡°Haha, it¡¯s such a new knowledge for me, May!¡± Lara didn¡¯t seem bothered by Mahya¡¯s theory, even though its uracy wasn¡¯t proven.


    ¡°Anyway, did you read the letter from Mti earlier? What did it say?¡± Mahya asked curiously. She squinted against the orange glow of the sun, which had reached eye level.


    ¡°I did.¡±


    ¡°What did it say?¡±


    ¡°It said¡­ Seno is only after my child. Mti was assigned to watch over me. And she had to make sure my baby is safe,¡± Lara said.


    ¡°Is that all?¡± Mahya raised her eyebrows. She thought Mti¡¯s information would be much more detailed and clear. But everything turned out to be just puzzle pieces they had to figure out themselves.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s all,¡± Lara said, bowing her head.


    ¡°Hhhh¡­¡± Mahya sighed deeply. It seemed they couldn¡¯t expect much from an assistant like Mti. She wasn¡¯t a police intelligence officer!


    ¡°Then, did Seno ever talk about your child? What¡¯s really going on? Why does he want that child and not its mother?¡± Mahya asked as if Lara knew the answer.


    ¡°If only I knew the answer, my life wouldn¡¯t be in danger like this, Mahya,¡± Lara said sadly. She also wondered about all the inhumane actions Seno had done to her.


    ¡°If Seno is indeed the child of King Charles of Ennd, maybe he¡¯s obsessed with lineage. But this? Is he from a noble lineage?¡± Mahya grumbled, tapping her car steering wheel. She was very annoyed!


    Mahya nced at Lara for a moment, then decided to focus back on the increasingly crowded road. ¡°We need to find out more about Seno¡¯s background. We need more solid information to solve this puzzle,¡± she said with growing determination.


    ¡°Yes. You¡¯re right, May. But¡­ I feel so tired,¡± Lara looked out the window, trying to calm her worries. She didn¡¯t expect her family to be destroyed like this. ¡°I just hope my child is safe.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Ra! We have to be strong for your child!¡± Mahya was still fiery.


    Lara just smiled andughed bitterly. What could an ordinary woman like her do? She didn¡¯t have anyone anymore.


    ¡°Okay, May. Thanks for your support and attention. I don¡¯t know what I would do without you.¡±


    ¡°You can always rely on me, Lara! We¡¯re friends!¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ***


    Mahya¡¯s ck car continued to drive amidst the traffic density of Jakarta. Lara, although filled with worry and uncertainty, tried to remain resilient. They would soon arrive at Mahya¡¯s apartment.


    ¡°Seno never talked about anything, did he?¡± Mahya asked again.


    ¡°No. Never. Seno didn¡¯t talk much about his past. He¡¯s too closed off about himself. Especially when he became wealthy. Seno distanced himself from me. He just spoiled me with his money,¡± Lara said.


    Mahya nodded in understanding. ¡°Maybe he does have many secrets.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Including his affair with Olivia.¡±


    ¡°Hhh¡­ yes. You¡¯re right. I only found out about that affair during the reunion. Before that, um¡­ Seno also offered me to be his sugar baby,¡± Mahya said, biting her lip.


    ¡°W-what?!¡±


    ¡°Yes. It happened right after I crashed your car. Sorry, for that time. I did it on purpose to bait Seno into investigating it.¡±


    ¡°Oh my God!¡± Lara couldn¡¯t believe her ex-husband. How could he be so despicable and y around with women?


    ¡°The rich people syndrome is like that, Ra. Don¡¯t think too much about it,¡± Mahya tried to change the subject. Lara¡¯s expression had changed drastically since their conversation about the sugar baby.


    ¡°What am Icking, May?¡± Lara started to shed tears. ¡°Why is he never satisfied?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t me yourself, Ra! He¡¯s the bad one! You¡¯re not at fault!¡± Mahya opposed Lara¡¯s thoughts, as if she was starting to me herself. Lara was the victim and Seno was the perpetrator!


    ¡°Thanks, May. I guess¡­ I have many shorings.¡±


    ¡°No! Stop it. We¡¯ll talk again after we eat.¡±


    Mahya refocused on the road ahead of her. This time, their car passed through the quiet streets that connected Jakarta to Depok through an alternative route.


    ¡°We won¡¯t stop here, Ra,¡± Mahya said cheerfully. She turned on the music yer in the car. The cheerful melody seemed to erase their turmoil.


    ¡°We¡¯ll find out more and expose your husband¡¯s crimes for sure. Don¡¯t worry, Ra! I¡¯ll always help you!¡±


    ¡°Thanks, May!¡±


    The two friends looked at each other, a satisfied smile on their faces as if celebrating their sess in gathering information. The beautiful sunset weed their small sess, but darkness was already preparing to swallow the night.


    As Mahya¡¯s car calmly drove along the left side of the road, suddenly, the roar of arge truck engine was heard in the distance. The sound grew closer and more menacing, breaking the serene twilight silence.


    ¡°Watch out!¡± Lara screamed in panic as the truck appeared from the corner of the road, moving like an unexpected shadow, hurtling towards them.


    There was no time to react. No chance to evade.


    CRASH!


    In an instant, Mahya¡¯s car was thrown and crushed, rolled over by the truck that deliberately hit them. The sound of the violent impact resonated through their bones. Shattered ss scattered, and fresh blood began to flow from the heads of the two girls.


    ¡°Ma-y¡­¡± Lara cried out, still conscious, although her vision was starting to blur. She tried to free herself from the seatbelt to help Mahya, but her strength and courage seemedpletely useless.


    Meanwhile, Mahyay motionless, her eyes tightly closed. Silence enveloped these two friends like the shadow of death that had been waiting for the right moment.


    Lara tried to gather herst strength, reaching for her phone that was thrown to the floor of the wrecked car. While crying, she dialed the emergency number. Connected! But that was it. Lara couldn¡¯t speak.


    As the sound of the truck¡¯s engine began to fade away, darkness crept in. Lara felt her life slowly fading, and in a severely injured state, she realized that this moment might be the end of her struggle.


    The two girlsy sprawled, bleeding, powerless.


    ***


    ¡°Mission aplished!¡±

 Part 70 # After the Accident

    Seno smiled broadly upon hearing the words of the hired assassin he had hired. This time, the mission didn¡¯t fail like in the beginning.


    ¡°Great!¡± He cheered happily.


    It wasn¡¯t in vain for Seno to pay a professional hitman, after being outsmarted by fate before. Since Lara disappeared and Mahya hacked into Seno¡¯s system, he realized that something was amiss.


    Seno tracked Mahya¡¯s activities and checked the surveince cam¡¯s footage at the location of Lara¡¯s abduction. Mahya¡¯s car was captured by the dashboard camera of a nearby delivery van, despite bypassing the surveince cam¡¯s footage that should have captured its tracks.


    Seno was furious! He immediately tried to find Mahya¡¯s whereabouts, but it was difficult. Mahya supposedly moved house.


    Shortly afterward, Seno¡¯s subordinates reported the hacking of their system by a hacker on their server. Seno soon realized that Mahya was a dangerous person. He then took action to eliminate both of them: Mahya and his ex-wife, Lara.


    ¡°HAHA! Finally!¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Mahya didn¡¯t realize it, but Seno wasn¡¯t foolish. He tracked Mahya¡¯s hidden inte protocol (IP) address. The IT team from S-Group took four days to uncover that Mahya¡¯s fake IP, which referred to a Russian IP, was actually in Indonesia.


    ¡°Sly and crazy b****! They¡¯re a perfect match!¡± Seno cursed while angrily squeezing his phone. But all his efforts and patience paid off with their deaths today.


    ¡°They think I didn¡¯t anticipate this? Mahya even came to the office to retrieve data? What a foolish girl! She fell into the trap!¡±


    Olivia-sitting beside Seno-raised her eyebrows. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you, Darling? Why are you rambling on endlessly by yourself?¡± she asked curiously. She then reached for a cigarette and lit it promptly.


    ¡°Hey! Open the window first!¡± Seno snapped before answering Olivia¡¯s question.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ Fine,¡± she grumbled as shezily got up from the bed and opened the window as requested. ¡°Now, spill it! What¡¯s so good? Did you find that w***?¡±


    For the past few days, Seno had seemed restless. It was the first time Olivia had seen her new husband so happy. Yes, her new husband. They had just casually registered their marriage with the civil registry.


    ¡°Not only found her, but¡­ killed her!¡± Seno grinned gleefully.


    Olivia swallowed hard. Her hands trembled from the intense shock she felt. ¡°K-killed her?¡± She repeated Seno¡¯s statement. Olivia never knew that Seno would be capable of doing such a thing to Lara.


    It¡¯s true that Olivia despised Lara. But¡­ to kill Lara, Olivia was still sane enough not to do it. Indeed, that was not what she expected frompeting with Lara! Suddenly, Olivia felt her chest tighten. She tried to take deep breaths and calm herself down.


    ¡°Yes! Killed her! And¡­ you better not stir up trouble either, if you don¡¯t want to end up like Lara,¡± he said sternly while buttoning his shirt.


    ¡°O-okay.¡± Olivia only nodded weakly and looked away. She didn¡¯t agree with the way Seno handled things with spilled blood.


    Meanwhile, at the ident scene, ambnces and police cars were quickly parked. The officers rushed toward the wrecked car, each with their own tasks ording to their unit.


    ¡°Over here!¡± shouted a police officer upon seeing Mahya¡¯s ck car, wrecked and lying by the roadside. Some of his colleagues immediately set up yellow tape and sterilized the hazardous area. Other officers seemed to assist in the evacuation process to make it quick and safe.


    Thanks to her quick thinking, Lara managed to dial the emergency number, though she didn¡¯t have time to say anything. The officers promptly traced Lara¡¯s location and sent help there.


    ¡°Make way!¡± a medic yelled at the crowd of road users swarming the scene.


    Some police officers parted the crowd and assisted the paramedics¡¯ process to quickly help the victims. Meanwhile, the paramedics moved swiftly to evacuate Lara and Mahya, who seemed to be severely injured.


    Several curious onlookers began to gather around, creating a crowd that narrowed the rescuers¡¯ movement space. Luckily, the police helped them, allowing the rescuers to reach the victims quickly.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am! Can you hear me?¡± asked a paramedic while checking the vital signs of the victim. The driver¡¯s face was severely injured, with open wounds on the forehead and chest, possibly with some bone fractures too! ss shards were stuck around her body. The victim¡¯s hair was stained with blood, clumping together like newly spun wool threads.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am!¡± the medic repeated. But there was no response. The driver hadpletely lost consciousness. ¡°Hey! Bring the stretcher over here!¡± the medic shouted after examining her patient.


    Meanwhile, other officers focused on Lara. They asked the same question, hoping this time the passenger could be somewhat conscious. ¡°Ma¡¯am! Excuse me! Can you hear me?¡±


    For a moment, there was no response as expected. But momentster, a faint voice began to be heard.


    ¡°Help¡­¡± mumbled Lara with a gasping breath. Her eyes squinted trying to focus on the paramedic trying to help her. She was grateful, it seems¡­ her call reached them too.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am! Stay awake, Ma¡¯am!¡± the officer shouted as he lifted Lara out of the wrecked car. Heid Lara on a stretcher- a stretcher bed- and then took her to the nearby ambnce.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Lara groaned softly, enduring the painful wounds all over her body. Slowly, she heard the officers reporting about this ident incident.


    ¡°The driver is severely injured, open wounds on the face and chest, there may be some bone fractures!¡±


    ¡°What about the passenger?¡±


    ¡°The passenger is still conscious. There don¡¯t seem to be any serious visible injuries. Maybe internal injuries or a concussion,¡± one of the officers answered with concern.


    Meanwhile, Lara could still hear the words of the officers.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, we¡¯re going to take you to the hospital. Try to stay calm and stay awake, okay?¡± a paramedic said while cing oxygen on Lara.


    ¡°Please help us, we¡¯re going to get you out of the car now,¡± another paramedic said to her. With a stretched smile, the officer hoped to calm Lara¡¯s heart.


    Lara just blinked. She was sure, these paramedics would surely provide the expected assistance.


    The officers worked efficiently, ensuring that the victims received treatment as quickly as possible. They also examined every wound and installed the necessary medical equipment. Lara and the severely injured driver were promptly taken to the hospital.


    The rescue process was intense and tense. Lara and Mahya didn¡¯t even realize that the ident wasn¡¯t an unintended incident, but¡­ was nned by someone who held a grudge against them.


    Meanwhile, at the ER, a passing doctor asked, ¡°Lara?! Is the ident patient named Lara?¡± His expression looked anxious when an ambnce approached. Vaguely, he saw a face he recognized. Lara.


    The woman had been missing for some time. Andre hadn¡¯t even heard any news about her. Her house was even sold. They said Lara had moved.


    What was suspicious was¡­ Seno! Lara¡¯s husband had married someone else. Truly absurd! But, the


    oddity seemed to be only felt by him. Other business colleagues didn¡¯t care about personal matters like that.


    ¡°Yes, Doctor! The patient who just came in is named Lara Selene Smith.¡±

 Part 71 # The Savior

    With hurried steps, Andre parted the crowd in the ER, following the rolling bed that carried Lara and Mahya into the bustling corridor. ¡°I¡¯ll take over this patient!¡± Andre eximed as he followed Lara¡¯s bed.


    ¡°Understood, Doctor!¡± replied the ER doctor. In his heart, he was thankful that the senior doctor was willing to take over their patients. The situation in the ER was chaotic! Many patients needed immediate attention.


    ¡°Prepare the operating room! Quickly!¡± Andremanded with authority.


    ¡°B-but, Doctor, the operating room is full!¡± replied the surgical assistant who was also running.


    Andre growled, but didn¡¯t stop there. He immediately shouted with absolute authority in the emergency situation. ¡°Use my private room!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Doctor!¡± The assistant quickly ran to Doctor Andre¡¯s private operating room, which had previously been nothing but a myth.


    As the former sole owner, Andre had a special room for his studies. His private operating room, which had always been tightly locked, was finally opened for Lara!


    Some time ago, Andre had decided never to use the room as a form of protest against the management¡¯sck of attention to the doctors¡¯ needs.


    The management of Andromeda Hospital was not only controlled by him but also by his future father-inw. Andre¡¯s authority was greatly diminished, so he didn¡¯t have full control to optimize the hospital¡¯s function as a healthcare center.


    His father-inw saw the hospital as a business unit. Therefore, any spending rted to facility upgrades but without any resale value would certainly be drastically cut.


    ¡°Lara¡­ please, hold on,¡± Andre murmured, holding back his anxiety and tears. He didn¡¯t know what had happened to Lara. But, Andre was determined to save his beloved woman.


    With hurried steps, Andre entered the dimly lit operating room. ¡°All for you, Lara,¡± he whispered.


    The doctor¡¯s heart was filled with love and decisions made for the woman he loved. Lara would surely survive!


    ***


    The operating room, which used to be a ce of study and protest, now became a battleground against time to save Lara. Although the ER was chaotic with patients needing immediate attention, Andre¡¯s focus was fully on Lara¡¯s life.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start the surgery now. Suction, please,¡± Andre instructed his surgical assistant.


    ¡°Suction, ready.¡±


    The assistant immediately assisted the surgeon in performing his tasks.


    Andre checked the monitor disying Lara¡¯s heart rate. He tried to hide his anxiety. His strong personal feelings presented a challenge to remain objective as a doctor caring for Lara.


    ¡°Help me dissect the skinyers. Scalpel and retractor, maintain this surgical area.¡±


    ¡°Scalpel and retractor, ready, Doctor!¡±


    With a heavy heart, Andre began to incise Lara¡¯s skin, trying to maintain calmness amid the thrilling situation.


    ¡°Suction, please! Clean the blood immediately! Don¡¯t let us lose visibility!¡± Andre ordered firmly.


    The surgical assistant quickly suctioned the blood, ensuring optimal visibility as the doctor examined the organs that needed assistance.


    ¡°How¡¯s the electrocautery?¡± Andre asked, referring to the electrical tissue burner. Everything had to be perfect and at normal temperature to preventplications.


    ¡°Electrocautery active, temperature normal, Doctor.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Andre continued the surgical procedure, trying his best to repair Lara¡¯s internal injuries.


    Andre focused his attention on the organs affected by the ident. Further examination revealed damage to internal organs such as the lungs and abdomen. Every step was taken carefully, ensuring that the surgical procedure proceeded ording to the patient¡¯s needs.


    ¡°Provide sutures. Let¡¯s close this wound.¡±


    ¡°Sutures ready, Doctor.¡±


    Carefully, Andre began to suture the surgical wound, giving signs of hope with each thread that reconnected Lara¡¯s once-open body.


    ¡°Hemostat! Make sure there¡¯s no bleeding left.¡±


    ¡°Hemostat ready, Doctor,¡± the surgical assistant said confidently.


    After all the efforts exerted, Andre and his team began to close the surgical wound carefully. They hoped everything would go smoothly and withoutplications.


    ¡°Do a final check. Make sure everything is clean!¡± Andre ordered afterpleting his task.


    ¡°Everything looks good, Doctor,¡± said the surgical assistant, followed by nods from the others.


    As the head doctor, Andre finally left the operating room after a long struggle. Although the surgery was over, the challenge for Lara¡¯s recovery had just begun.


    ***


    ¡°Doctor, how is that patient doing?¡± Bi Yani suddenly asked.


    ¡°Bi Yani?¡±


    ¡°Ah! Doctor Andre?¡± Bi Yani only recognized Andre after the doctor removed his mask.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me.¡±


    ¡°H-how is Mrs. Lara, Doctor? Was the surgery sessful?¡± she asked nervously. She seemed worried. Beads of cold sweat appeared on her wrinkled forehead, unbidden.


    ¡°Rx, Bi. Everything is fine,¡± Andre said with a smile.


    ¡°Thank God!¡± Bi Yani immediately kissed the ground, prostrating herself in gratitude because her employer had apparently survived that fatal ident. ¡°The news was so sensational, Doctor! I almost had a heart attack when the hospital called!¡±


    ¡°Bi Yani was called by the hospital?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Before, I used to apany Mrs. Lara here. Maybe, the data is still there,¡± she reminisced. Andre just remembered that Lara no longer had a husband. But to confirm it through Bi Yani, Andre still hesitated.


    ¡°Doctor¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes?! Can I help you with anything else?¡± Andre asked nervously. He had just thought to ask about Lara¡¯s status. Was¡­ she still someone¡¯s wife, or was she free and entitled to start a new life as a single woman?


    ¡°Mrs. Lara no longer has a husband. So, I was the one contacted by this hospital. Mr. Seno¡¯s phone is inactive. Mrs. Lara also has no family.¡± Bi Yani seemed to be able to read Andre¡¯s unspoken question. She spoke willingly.


    Of course, Andre was stunned.


    ¡°Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Doctor. I¡¯m very sad for her fate,¡± Bi Yani said, wiping her tear-streaked face.


    Andre took a deep breath, then murmured, ¡°Good.¡±


    ¡°G-good?¡± Bi Yani was surprised and tilted her head. ¡°Did I hear you wrong, Doctor?¡± she asked again.


    ¡°No, Bi. You didn¡¯t hear wrong.¡±


    ¡°Why is the doctor talking like that? Doesn¡¯t the doctor have any empathy?¡± Bi Yani didn¡¯t intend to mock Andre, but her attitude was really outrageous. How could he be pleased with someone¡¯s suffering?


    ¡°Good, Bi! Because this is a good opportunity for me to advance to take over Lara¡¯s husband¡¯s position!¡±


    **


    Meanwhile, Mahya¡¯s patient underwent a longer surgical procedure. She was handled by Doctor Miriam, Andre¡¯s fiancee and also an enemy in disguise that he was unaware of.


    ¡°So tired,¡± Miriam said when she had just finished the operation for Mahya. Unlike Lara, Mahya¡¯s condition was worrisome.


    ¡°When will the patient regain consciousness, Doctor?¡± asked the assistant as they drank coffee after the long surgery waspleted with satisfactory results.


    ¡°The patient¡¯s recovery will be very long. We also have to monitor the damage to the head.¡±


    Miriam nced at Andre, who was sitting on a bench in the cafeteria. She really wanted to greet him, but¡­ Andre seemed to be having a serious conversation with a middle-aged woman.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± Miriam didn¡¯t recognize her. She stepped closer, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. And, her ears caught a name she really disliked. Lara.


    ¡°So, the Doctor will approach Mrs. Lara, right? I support you, Doctor!¡±

 Part 72 # Bad Alliance

    The paper cup in Miriam¡¯s grip crumpled instantly. The beautiful doctor left in a ze of anger. ¡°Lara! You shouldn¡¯t have provoked me!¡± she muttered angrily as she walked away.


    ¡°D-Doc!¡± The assistant who had been with her looked confused. But, he quickly followed his apparently enraged boss. What had actually happened?


    ***


    Andre stared nkly at Lara, his patient, the woman of his dreams, now lying weak in the treatment room. Bi Yani¡¯s arrival shattered his reverie.


    ¡°Coffee, Doc?¡± she offered.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Andre epted the coffee offered by Bi Yani with a smile.


    ¡°Why is a handsome doctor like you still single?¡± Bi Yani asked somewhat personally, after theirst conversation about ns to approach Lara.


    ¡°Actually, I already have a fiancee,¡± Andre replied honestly. He had kept this secret from everyone. But, his n to approach Lara should have been a clear boundary between pretense and seriousness.


    ¡°A-and then?¡± Bi Yani widened her eyes. This issue was more serious than she had imagined. ¡°What will happen to the doctor¡¯s fianceeter?¡±


    ¡°Well. Maybe she can find someone else who loves her.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t love her?¡± Bi Yani was increasingly surprised. ¡°Then why the engagement?¡± She bombarded. This time, Bi Yani took a step forward to hear the doctor¡¯s exnation, which might contain secrets.


    ¡°Well. Hasn¡¯t you watched Korean dramas?¡± Andreughed lightly.


    Bi Yani swallowed. ¡°Are those arranged marriages are real? Seriously?¡±


    ¡°More than you can imagine,¡± Andre sighed heavily. The situation was reallyplicated. But, this time, Andre wouldn¡¯t give up so easily. He had missed the first chance. Lara had even been taken by someone else.


    Lara¡¯s single status ¨C even though somehow Seno had thrown her away ¨C was the best opportunity for Andre to seed in his postponed love story. ¡°I will dare this time, Bi.¡±


    ¡°Good luck, Doc!¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Andre smiled meaningfully. Although he might lose his position, even maybe¡­ the hospital inherited from his father-inw, but¡­ for Lara, Andre could even leave everything he had.


    ¡°Unfortunately, everything won¡¯t be easy, Ndre. I won¡¯t let you go,¡± murmured Miriam, who had been listening to their conversation since earlier. The doctor intended to visit Lara and check her chances of recovery, but¡­ she found something interesting instead.


    Miriam would also leave everything behind to¡­ prevent Andre from reuniting with Lara! ¡°All or nothing!¡±


    ***


    ¡°Check who is the guardian of the patient Lara,¡± Miriam said as she arrived at the central administration room of her hospital.


    ¡°Yes? Is there an urgent matter, Doc?¡± the officer asked before granting ess to the surgeon doctor.


    ¡°I am the daughter of the owner of this hospital. Can¡¯t you do your job just like that?¡± grumbled Miriam irritably. She had never been like this before, but Andre¡¯s treatment towards her had really hurt her pride.


    ¡°W-wait, Doc,¡± the officer could onlyply with themand, even though the information was confidential. But, what could he do? This job was more important than etiquette. He had a family to feed.


    ¡°There is none, Doc. There¡¯s only an emergency contact number.¡±


    ¡°And¡­ who is that?¡±


    ¡°Yani, Doc. It seems their rtionship is as a household assistant.¡±


    ¡°Husband? Brother? Parents?¡± Miriam grilled the officer who seemed not to provideplete data to her. But the big man just shook his head. ¡°Maybe, the patient is a single woman and an orphan, Doc. There is no data here.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Miriam suddenly thought of something. She had to find Seno. How could Lara¡¯s husband not be registered as the guardian? Miriam smelled something fishy.


    ***


    ¡°The news of her ident was sensational. You¡¯ve worked hard. They even consider it reckless driving,¡± Seno called the hitman with a cheerful heart. Finally, the two nuisances that disrupted his ns had been removed.


    ¡°Thank you, Boss.¡±


    ¡°You have to provide evidence of their deaths to im the bonus. You understand, right?¡±


    ¡°Okay, Boss!¡±


    ¡°Alright. After this, you have to leave the country. I don¡¯t want to get into trouble.¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡±


    Seno ced his phone down with a deep sigh. This time, he couldunch his drug product calmly, without any disturbance.


    Seno¡¯s office was so quiet. Seno could rx on the middle sofa which had been crowded with Madam¡¯s henchmen for the past few days. They were so impatient! Yet, Seno had to eliminate all obstacles blocking his path.


    ¡°Lara. You have to go to hell.¡±


    For a moment, Seno forgot his promise to Madam Xenia. Lara. She should have been included in the prerequisites for the tender he took. But, Seno didn¡¯t care anymore. He had contacted the undergroundwork that could be used as a backup source.


    ¡°I won¡¯t easily kneel to that woman. Never!¡± Seno clenched his fists. This sess, glory, and wealth were his.


    ¡°Excuse me. Boss, someone wants to meet you,¡± Olivia¡¯s recement secretary knocked on his door. Seno raised an eyebrow. ¡°Who?¡± he askedter. He didn¡¯t feel he had made an appointment with anyone.


    ¡°A woman.¡±


    ¡°Name?¡±


    ¡°Doctor Miriam, Boss.¡±


    ¡°Tell her toe in!¡±


    Seno immediately got up from his seat. He really didn¡¯t expect an old acquaintance toe to see him like this. What was going on?


    ¡°Please sit,¡± Seno said as Doctor Miriam entered his office with graceful and captivating steps.


    Her beautiful face radiated firmness, although an annoyed expression seemed to envelop her expression. Seno weed her with a sly smile on his lips.


    ¡°What¡¯s up, Doctor Miriam? Is there something that makes youe to see me here?¡± Seno asked, trying to maintain hisposure. A sense of nervousness ran through his heart. Could it be¡­ Miriam came to inquire about Lara?


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I came without notice. But, this is very urgent,¡± Miriam replied before starting the conversation. She crossed her legs, trying to adjust her sitting positionfortably.


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s okay! I¡¯m not as busy as you think.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your kindness. So¡­,¡± Miriam took a deep breath. She wanted to speak directly and not beat around the bush. ¡°I want to know why you are not registered as the guardian of a patient named Lara. Why is instead a household assistant listed as the emergency contact?¡±


    Seno chuckled softly. His suspicion turned out to be true. ¡°So, Lara is in Andromeda Hospital now?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know that?¡±


    ¡°Ah, sorry, Doctor. Lara and I are divorced.¡± Seno put on a regretful face. He was ying tricks to make Miriam feel sorry for him. After all, Lara couldn¡¯t possibly wake up and would soon go to hell.


    ¡°Didivorced?¡± Miriam was shocked and understood more why Andre was so eager to get back his first love.


    ¡°Yes, Doctor. Divorce is amon thing, right?¡± Seno tried to indoctrinate his interlocutor. But, Miriam could only swallow her saliva.


    ¡°N-no. Divorce is unusual for me. For 3 generations, no one in myrge family has ever divorced, Sir.¡±


    Seno stood in front of his desk with a rxed posture. He folded his arms across his chest. ¡°In this modern era, divorce ismon, Doctor. So, what¡¯s the problem?¡± Seno tried to find the hidden intentions of the beautiful doctor.


    A conversation like this should have been resolved over a phone call. Why did Doctor Miriam seem so insistent on meeting him in person? ¡°Is there something you want to say?¡± Seno continued to search for an opening from his conversational partner¡¯s silence.


    Miriam shook her head again. She was so shocked! Miriam didn¡¯t expect that her worst fear would actuallye true. ¡°Plplease don¡¯t divorce Mrs. Lara, Sir,¡± Miriam pleaded, an odd attitude for Seno.


    Of course, Senoughed. ¡°Wha?!¡± He couldn¡¯t even speak. His stomach hurt from holding back theedy show he was witnessing. ¡°Are you kidding, Doctor?¡±


    ¡°No, Sir.¡±


    ¡°W-what makes you think my marriage affects your life? Aren¡¯t you being too presumptuous?¡± Seno began to approach Miriam. He wanted to see the gaze of the beautiful doctor in front of him.


    Those eyes. Eyes full of despair and¡­ vengeance.


    ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s really going on? Who knows, I might be able to help you.¡± Seno grinned as he moved closer. He hoped Miriam could be his aplice in destroying Lara.


    ¡°She is my fiancee¡¯s first love. Please, keep her away from our lives, Sir!¡±

 Part 73 # Andre Takes Action

    Seno grinned. The doctor¡¯s response waspletely unexpected.


    ¡°You know, Doc? There are two types of people who can achieve sess in the blink of an eye,¡± he said suddenly.


    ¡°Where is this conversation going?¡± Miriam stared at Seno sharply. She wasn¡¯t looking to be reprimanded. Miriam realized that her obsession with Andre had gone beyond bounds. But, she couldn¡¯t just prevent her heart¡¯s desire.


    ¡°I can offer advice and also¡­ action. Which one do you choose?¡± Seno began to give Miriam options so she wouldn¡¯t casually join his alliance. Seno had to test her first. If Miriam passed, then, sess or whatever it was would be within her grasp.


    ¡°Acaction.¡± Miriam answered hesitantly. She didn¡¯t know what Seno would offer her.


    ¡°You¡¯re a doctor, you know! Isn¡¯t it a problem to ally with a businessman like me? And¡­ of course, not for free!¡± Seno finally began to reveal his bad intentions.


    ¡°What¡¯s the payment?¡±


    ¡°Your authority as one of the hospital owners and also¡­ Lara¡¯s love rival. How about that?¡± The man started to approach Miriam. This time, there were only two people with opposite burning obsessions within them.


    Seno with wealth and riches, while Miriam¡­ with love and also her obsession.


    ¡°I¡¯m willing.¡± Miriam didn¡¯t hesitate to answer. As she believed, all or nothing. To win Andre¡¯s love or destroy it. That¡¯s the only choice left.


    ¡°Good! We can start signing the partnership contract then,¡± Seno snapped his fingers. A scantily dressed woman immediately responded to the signal with a red folder in hand.


    ¡°Does it have to be like this?¡± Miriam widened her eyes. She didn¡¯t know that Seno was so meticulous.


    ¡°Ah, this is just a confidentiality document. I am a businessman, Doc. Of course, I always have to be cautious, right?¡± Seno exined, making Miriam nod her head instantly.


    ¡°Okay.¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    The woman quickly took the pen offered and carefully read the document she was about to sign. A confidentiality agreement. Indeed, that¡¯s it. Miriam didn¡¯t mind putting her signature on the provided nk space.


    ¡°See youter, Doctor. All further discussions will be held separately.¡±


    ¡°Alright. Thank you, Sir.¡± Miriam got up from her seat. Before she leftpletely, Seno whispered something in her ear.


    ¡°You should change your perfume if you want to win a man. Make it more sensual. No man refuses sex, Doctor.¡±


    ¡°Whwhat?¡± Miriam¡¯s hair stood on end instantly. Seno just smiled and nodded to escort Miriam out. She felt awkward and thought that her fashion sense and taste were perfectly fine. Why would Seno give such advice?


    ***


    Meanwhile, at the hospital, Mahya¡¯s room looked crowded. Two people iming to be guardians shouted and demanded an exnation as to why there were two police personnel stationed there.


    ¡°Mahya is the victim, Sir!¡± eximed the yellow-haired woman with heavy makeup iming to be Mahya¡¯s superior.


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible for Mahya to drive while drunk!¡± a big man who seemed simr to the woman chimed in.


    The two police personnel guarding Mahya¡¯s room remained silent. They refused to provide further exnation.


    ¡°The investigation process is ongoing. We are here to prevent the possibility of the suspect fleeing from charges. Please understand,¡± one of the officers exined.


    ¡°No! We don¡¯t understand!¡± rejected the woman who had been getting worked up since earlier. But, the man by her side quickly calmed his seemingly out-of-control sister.


    ¡°Calm down, Carol. Mahya will get the bestwyer. You don¡¯t have to worry.¡±


    ¡°But, Bro!¡±


    ¡°Enough. I don¡¯t want this matter to get moreplicated.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± A doctor seemed to interrupt themotion. The two who had been grumbling looked a little calmer. ¡°You¡­?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Doctor Andre. Aren¡¯t you Carol from Channel Insight?¡± Andre tried to remember. He had seen the yellow-haired woman with Mahya during an additional interview some time ago.


    ¡°Right! I¡¯m Carol Jackson, Doctor. This is my brother, James.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Doc. Seems like we met at a reunion?¡±


    ¡°Ah. Yes. The campus reunion of my friend, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It was Mahya¡¯s campus, Doc. The patient lying there,¡± James exined to Andre with a sad expression.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to my office. We can talk there,¡± Andre offered. Carol and James nced at each other, but then they nodded and followed Andre¡¯s steps away from Mahya¡¯s treatment room.


    ***


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible, Doc! Mahya never drinks alcohol!¡± Carol said, rejecting the ident-causing allegations that almost took her friend¡¯s life.


    ¡°Well¡­ Hhh¡­ It¡¯s difficult for me to say too. Someone special to me also became a victim of that ident,¡± Andre said softly.


    ¡°Lara?¡± Carol guessed. Actually, it wasn¡¯t a guess because Lara was the only passenger in that car. Mahya had told Carol a little about Lara, but Carol didn¡¯t know the details of what they experienced.


    ¡°Yes. Her.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it strange, Doc? How can a victim be dered as the perpetrator? I¡¯m so furious!¡± Carol ground her teeth. mes of anger sparked from her eyes.


    ¡°I feel the same way. The problem is, there¡¯s no CCTV in the incident area. The street was also deserted. There were no eyewitnesses to support their alibi,¡± Andre lowered his head. He also didn¡¯t think that Mahya was the perpetrator of the ident.


    ¡°There¡¯s something I need to tell you, Doctor,¡± Carol began to whisper.


    James raised his eyebrows. ¡°What¡¯s this about? You¡¯re behaving like a detective, Carol!¡±


    ¡°Brother. This is a secret. I hope¡­ you can keep it. If not, Mahya will kill me!¡± Carol narrowed her eyes. Her attitude was truly like a key witness in a high-profile case.


    ¡°Stop acting weird, Carol! It¡¯s not funny!¡± James crossed his arms over his chest. Carol sighed in frustration. ¡°I¡¯m not joking, Brother!¡± she insisted.


    ¡°Alright. Now, try to tell us what really happened, Miss Carol?¡±


    Carol began to regte her breathing, trying to calm herself before speaking.


    ¡°Actually, Mahya was investigating a corruption case in Seno Adhijaya¡¯spany. And, it¡¯s rted to his ex-wife, Lara.¡±


    ¡°How so? I also don¡¯t understand why Lara suddenly divorced from Seno?¡±


    ¡°This case is more dangerous than suspected. Mahya is indeed an investigative journalist. She managed to investigate several people with her sharp intuition and stubbornness. But, Seno. This time, he really fell, as low as he could go.¡±


    Andre rubbed his temples. James was stunned, not expecting this.


    ¡°Why are you still bothering Seno? Huh? Didn¡¯t I tell you to stop that investigation!¡± James suddenly raised his voice. He then ruffled his hair roughly. James was very upset because Carol and Mahya didn¡¯t listen to his orders.


    ¡°Brother¡­ You know Mahya. That girl is very stubborn!¡±


    ¡°Seno is dangerous! He¡¯s more cunning than you all thought! You¡¯re really asking for trouble, Carol!¡±


    ¡°Enough. That¡¯s enough. Now, it seems I understand where the source of this mess is.¡± Andre finally spoke.


    ¡°Do you understand, Doc?¡± Carol looked at Andre hopefully, remembering that her brother couldn¡¯t be relied on.


    ¡°Yes. Leave this matter to me. You two can go.¡±

 Part 74 # Important Acquaintance

    Carol and James exchanged nces. However, a nod from her brother made Carol wink her eyes.


    ¡°Alright, Doctor. We¡¯ll entrust all of this to you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, please don¡¯t cause any trouble. This needs to be resolved calmly, hm?¡± Andre said, staring straight at his two guests.


    ¡°Alright¡­.¡±


    After exchanging greetings, they left the doctor¡¯s office with light steps. There was nothing more for them to worry about. ¡°Just in case, I¡¯ll still hire ourwyer,¡± James said before they left the hospital lobby.


    ¡°Alright, Brother. Do what you think is necessary. I¡¯ll monitor from Mahya¡¯s room. I¡¯ll copy the files rted to this case.¡±


    The two Channel Insight executives were no longer seen in the hospital area. Meanwhile, Andre was calling his old friend to collect a favor he had received.


    ***


    ¡°Bro, meet me at the club tonight.¡±


    ¡°Wow! Andre inviting to the club? What¡¯s going on?¡± His friend teased with his distinctive voice. Andre just smiled wryly and reluctantly responded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll cover all the orders. Anyway, we have to meet, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay, Bro! Got it!¡±


    The phone call ended as a knock on the doctor¡¯s door startled him.


    ¡°Miriam? Is there something you need?¡± Andre asked with a puzzled expression. It wasn¡¯t usual for Miriam to visit his office in the afternoon like this.


    ¡°I want to talk, Ndre. Do you have time?¡± Miriam asked with a smile on her face.


    ¡°Please, have a seat.¡±


    ¡°Not now, tonight,¡± she said again as she entered her fiance¡¯s room.


    ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t tonight. Let¡¯s talk now,¡± Andre folded his hands on his chest. Meanwhile, Miriam looked annoyed. This was the umpteenth time Andre had refused her invitation for dinner.


    ¡°Can¡¯t we go out together like a normal couple, Ndre? I¡¯m your fiancee!¡± Miriam¡¯s voice rose.


    ¡°I¡¯m busy, Miriam. You know how the hospital has beentely!¡±


    ¡°At least for a day¡­ just one day, Ndre! If you still have a piece of heart for me, even if this engagement is out of obligation!¡± Miriam¡¯s face turned red. Andre widened his eyes. What possessed Miriam to get so angry like this?


    ¡°Sorry. I also want to talk to you, but¡­ not today. There¡¯s something I have to tell you before meeting the CEO.¡± Andre finally expressed his intention to cancel the engagement, as naturally as possible.


    He didn¡¯t want Miriam to go berserk and end up harming Lara, if she knew that Lara was the main reason for this conversation.


    ¡°Wwhat?¡± Miriam¡¯s heart pounded. She didn¡¯t expect Andre to say something like that to her. ¡°May I know what this conversation is about?¡± Miriam started to ask, although¡­ deep down in her heart, she knew the answer to her question.


    ¡°It¡¯s not appropriate to discuss it here. I¡¯ll talk about it when we can rx,¡± Andre refused to disclose the topic of conversation.


    Miriam felt even more hurt. ¡°Is this about Lara?¡± She finally spected while biting her lower lip. Miriam hoped that what she was thinking was wrong. Miriam hoped that Andre had already moved on from his first love.


    ¡°Hhhh¡­.¡± Instead of answering, Andre just sighed deeply. He didn¡¯t want to give any clues because Andre had to be cautious. Moreover, there was a dangerous element surrounding Lara and also Mahya.


    ¡°No,¡± he finally lied so that Miriam wouldn¡¯t suspect.


    ¡°Oh, okay. Well then. If it¡¯s not about that woman, I want to talk to you,¡± Miriam said with a happy smile.


    ¡°That woman?¡±


    ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know about your affair with Lara, Andre? She¡­ your first love, right?¡±


    ¡°Hhow did you know?¡±


    ¡°Come on, Ndre. Let bygones be bygones. Now, we¡¯ll wee a new day with our own story, right?¡± Miriam approached Andre. The man could smell a different, sensual scent from her than usual.


    ¡°Did you change your perfume?¡± Andre asked, walking backward away from Miriam. Suddenly, he felt nauseous and dizzy because Miriam¡¯s perfume was very strong.


    ¡°Yes. Do you like it?¡± Miriam acted shyly, ying with her hair. Andre shivered and couldn¡¯t believe what possessed the woman in front of him?


    ¡°Change your perfume, Miriam! A doctor shouldn¡¯t wear such strong-scented perfume!¡±


    ¡°Wwhat?!¡±


    ***


    After Miriam left, Andre could finally concentrate again. He was really puzzled and couldn¡¯t believe that his fiancee was so troublesome.


    ¡°Why, Her?¡± Andre was still wondering why Miriam was acting so unusually. For a woman in her early thirties. Miriam¡¯s attitude was like a teenage girl craving attention. Andre remembered his neighbor¡¯s child who was in high school. So annoying, talkative, and attention-seeking.


    ¡°I wonder what her response would be if she knew I wanted to break off the engagement. Hhh¡­.¡± Andre was still murmuring. But, the rm on his phone immediately reminded Andre that he had to go to the nightclub as scheduled.


    ¡°I have to hurry.¡±


    ***


    At Lunar Club, Andre tried to find his friend, Riko. The man was a graduate of the same university as Lara and Mahya, and even attended the reunion back then.


    Riko¡¯s family and Andre¡¯s family were friends. When they were in Canada, Andre¡¯s family helped his family a lot, and now¡­ it was Riko¡¯s family helping Andre to readjust back in their homnd.


    Remembering the camaraderie of the two families warmed Andre¡¯s heart. If only his mother hadn¡¯t betrayed them, this friendship would have continued until now.


    ¡°Hey, Bro!¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡±


    Riko had just arrived, along with two girls on his right and left sides. ¡°Long time no see?¡± he asked, and Andre just shook his head.


    ¡°Can we talk alone?¡± Andre asked.


    Riko nodded then released his embrace on the two girls who were his dates. Andre justughed, understanding his friend¡¯s unchangeable nature. Since forever, Riko had been known as adies¡¯ man.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s up? Rarely you look for me first,¡± Riko began discussing his friend¡¯s needs, apanied by a cold whiskey and a bottle of vodka. He snapped his fingers to call his exclusive waiter, and secondster, a scantily dressed woman appeared carrying snacks and various food.


    ¡°It seems I need Uncle¡¯s help,¡± Andre said with a sad face.


    ¡°Oh? Rare? Usually, you always refuse help from my Dad, Bro! What¡¯s going on?¡± Riko asked, making sure that Andre wasn¡¯t joking.


    ¡°The problem isplicated, Rik. And, this is the only thing I can rely on. Lara. Remember her?¡±


    ¡°Lara? Your first love? The geeky girl in Canada back then?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. We met before, right? Well, unfortunately, she¡¯s already married, but the good news is¡­ they¡¯re divorced now,¡± Andre provided information. Riko seemed to listen attentively to Andre¡¯s words. ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°She had an ident yesterday. She¡¯s still in aa, Rik.¡±


    ¡°Oh my God! Sorry to hear that! What can I do to help?¡±


    ¡°Mahya-Lara¡¯s friend, the girl we met at the reunion. You remember her, right?¡±


    ¡°Hm¡­.¡± Riko tried to recall the moment he met Mahya, but unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t remember because Mahya was just one of a thousand girls he met in the past month.


    ¡°Well, anyway, Mahya and Lara had an ident, and they¡¯re used of being the perpetrators! It doesn¡¯t make sense! Their car body is just dented! They must have been hit, right?¡± Andre exined, showing the evidence of Mahya¡¯s car body at the scene. He got it from Carol as assistance information.


    ¡°It was indeed hit. And then?¡±


    ¡°Well, I want Uncle to help pull Mahya¡¯s case. It¡¯s really nonsensical, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°It seems someone¡¯s ying games here. Okay, easy!¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Thank you, Bro!¡±


    ¡°Anytime, Bro!¡±

 Part 75 # By Your Side

    Spending a fun night with friends meant a lot to Andre, who was busy every day. Lara¡¯s issue would certainly be his priority. Andre even exchanged schedules with another doctor to be with Riko for Lara!


    ¡°Come on, stop pouting. Enjoy tonight and be happy, Bro!¡± Riko said, raising his ss. Andre just smiled wryly and ordered soda. ¡°I have surgery scheduled for tomorrow, Bro! Can¡¯t afford to get drunk!¡±


    ¡°Ah! No fun!¡± Riko grumbled, but he still clinked his vodka ss with his friend¡¯s. ¡°YOLO!¡±


    The atmosphere at the club was indeed lively, Andre admitted. The urge to drink alcohol was strong, but he had to be wise. Getting drunk with Riko would only cause trouble at work. Andre didn¡¯t know when he would be able to rx without worrying about his work schedule.


    ¡°Hey, how¡¯s your sister? Haven¡¯t heard from hertely?¡± Riko started a conversation. Andre just smiled, remembering her.


    ¡°She just got married. Probably still on her honeymoon,¡± he replied casually.


    ¡°Holy shit! One less goddess we can feast our eyes on!¡± Riko cursed. Andre grimaced. ¡°Don¡¯t even try it!¡±


    ¡°Haha! Sorry!¡±


    Riko couldn¡¯t control hisments about women. But Andre¡¯s sister was indeed very beautiful. The Caucasian features on her face were more dominant than Andre¡¯s. Beautiful brown hair and sapphire green eyesplemented her appearance. Any man would fall in love at the sight of her beauty.


    ¡°Where¡¯s she from, Bro?¡± Riko asked, curious. His face still showed deep regret for losing a potential future wife.


    ¡°She married a rich widower.¡±


    ¡°What! Why not me!¡±


    ¡°Does she even want you, Bro?¡±


    ¡°At least I¡¯m still single! No kids from a previous marriage or ex-mother-inw who would nag her!¡±


    Andreughed. ¡°Who knows, Bro! It¡¯s not my business! Love can¡¯t be forced, even with a widow¡­.¡± Andre¡¯s gaze wandered among the twinkling lights of the club¡¯s ceiling.


    Andre thought about Riko¡¯s response to Lara. After all, Lara was also a widow. Suddenly, Riko coughed and realized his words. ¡°Hah! Right! I mean, whether it¡¯s a widow or a widower, if it¡¯s love, what can you do, right?¡± Riko corrected himself.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s it!¡± Andre chuckled. Rikoughed along with him. It seemed like he was already drunk too. Riko felt sleepy. ¡°Hey! Let¡¯s go home!¡± Andre suggested after seeing Riko resting his head on the table.


    ¡°You go ahead,h! Still have a lot to do here,¡± Riko said, waving his hand dismissively.


    The two girls who were previously driven away returned. They then served Riko and yed with the bachelor until morning.


    Andre just shook his head. He needed to go home and rest so he could work peacefully tomorrow. However, a phone call from the hospital surprised him. ¡°Doctor! Patient Lara has regained consciousness!¡±


    ***


    Andre abandoned his intention to return home. Currently, he was back at the hospital to see Lara.


    ¡°Where¡¯s patient Lara?¡± Andre asked quickly.


    ¡°She¡¯s in her room, Doc. Where else?¡± the nurse replied with a smallugh. For a moment, Andre ran his hand through his hair. He was even too panicked to think quickly and went straight to Lara¡¯s room.


    For some reason, even considering that Lara had been moved to the main recovery room alone, he couldn¡¯t. Andre felt really embarrassed and awkward about his behavior.


    ¡°Lara?¡± Andre greeted when he opened Lara¡¯s hospital room door.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    His facial expression changed from nervous to warm upon seeing his friend who had just recovered from a lengthy surgery. Lara still looked weak, but her eyes began to narrow when she saw Andre enter.


    ¡°Hey, Andre,¡± she greeted softly, sounding like a whisper full of care. Andre smiled and sat by Lara¡¯s bedside.


    ¡°How are you feeling, Lara? Are you feeling better?¡± Andre asked, trying to provide warmth and support. Lara nodded slowly, a thin smile forming on her lips.


    ¡°Did you perform my surgery?¡± she asked curiously. Andre nodded affirmatively with a smile.


    ¡°The surgery went well although you still need to rest for recovery. Thank you for waking up, Lara,¡± Andre exined carefully about the patient¡¯s condition.


    ¡°Thank God. Thank you for helping me, Andre. I still feel dizzy,¡± Lara said, furrowing her brows. She was not fully healthy and in top condition yet. However, Lara¡¯s condition was much better than when she first entered with injuries.


    Who knows what would have happened to Lara and Mahya if the doctor¡¯s assistance hadn¡¯t arrived promptly. Perhaps by now, Lara and Mahya would have tragically perished.


    ¡°How¡¯s Mahya, Andre? Where is she?¡± Lara suddenly remembered her friend. She should have suffered more severe injuries than her. Lara was very worried about her.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been through something big, Lara. No need to worry about Mahya. She¡¯s being treated by a team of experts,¡± Andre tried to exin with confidence, but Lara still didn¡¯t believe it.


    ¡°I have to see her, Andre! I¡¯m very worried!¡±


    ¡°Calm down, Lara! Everything is being taken care of. You can¡¯t visit her. The doctors will surely forbid it!¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because¡­ it¡¯ll beplicated, Lara. There are two police officers guarding there.¡±


    ¡°Wwhat? Police?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The situation is veryplicated. Mahya is used of driving under the influence. There¡¯s no evidence to clear her of the charge. There¡¯s no CCTV footage. Blood samples are being tested. But, you know¡­ it can be tampered with. That¡¯s why I¡¯m handling it.¡±


    ¡°Really? How, Andre? Oh no! This is serious!¡± Lara looked at Andre with a worried expression.


    Andre just smiled wryly while gently stroking Lara¡¯s head. This made Lara¡¯s face blush like a pomegranate.


    ¡°Calm down, Lara. Everything will be okay. Remember Riko?¡± Andre referred to their friend back in Canada.


    Lara shook her head slowly. She didn¡¯t remember her childhood too much. Lara¡¯s brain worked hard to erase memories of her childhood, more precisely. Her heart felt pain every time she remembered that her family fell apart when she lived in Canada.


    ¡°The chubby boy with bangs you used to tease, remember!¡±


    Andre tried to jog Lara¡¯s memory. This was important so that Lara wouldn¡¯t suspect him.


    ¡°Hm¡­.¡± Lara tried to remember. She focused her mind on the moments when they yed together, when they were kids. Slowly, Lara began to remember the new neighbor with the characteristics Andre mentioned.


    ¡°Oh! That kid! I haven¡¯t seen him in ages.¡±


    ¡°Although he goes to the same campus as you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? Well, our campus is very big. I can¡¯t just know strangers like that.¡±


    Andre nodded understandingly. ¡°The point is, his father is a Police General. So, we¡¯ll handle this matter calmly. You don¡¯t need to worry, Lara. It seems like someone is ying dirty behind the scenes. We¡¯ll deal with them the same way.¡±


    Lara looked at Andre with an unbelieving look. Suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes without warning. Lara thought she was always alone in this world. Lara never expected Andre to willingly help her.


    ¡°Thank you, Ndre. You¡¯re always there for me. I feel so lucky to have a friend and a caring doctor like you.¡±


    Andre¡¯s heart felt like it was pricked by an invisible needle, seeing Lara cry. Andre really wanted to hug her and warm her body, which had be thinner over time. But Andre had to be strong. He didn¡¯t want to be seen as a scumbag taking advantage of her vulnerability.


    ¡°Here,¡± Andre handed her a tissue. Lara epted it dly.


    ¡°Can I stay by your side, Lara?¡±

 Part 76 # A Doctor and a Patient

    Lara widened her eyes at her friend¡¯s request. However, was Andre fit to be called that? When the hit-and-run case involving her mother still lingered in her mind.


    ¡°Sorry, Ndre. I want to rest,¡± Lara redirected the conversation. She didn¡¯t want to answer Andre¡¯s questions, which seemed to expect hope for rity in their rtionship. It wasn¡¯t appropriate for them to reconnect. Their families were supposed to be enemies.


    ¡°Lara¡­.¡± Andre seemed to understand Lara¡¯s defensive attitude. No matter how hard he tried, it seemed that Lara still believed that the Ramsey family was responsible for her mother¡¯s death. Yet, the autopsy results said otherwise.


    ¡°Please¡­.¡± Lara now curled up and hid under her nket. She thought, with her safety and the easing of the threat to Mahya, it should be enough evidence that Andre still valued their friendship from the past.


    Enough, that¡¯s all. Lara couldn¡¯t give Andre anything else, especially¡­ if it concerned her feelings.


    Andre sighed deeply. He knew it was still premature to do this. Andre should give Lara time to rearrange her miserable life. ¡°I¡¯ll go,¡± Andre finally excused himself to leave, though reluctantly. His heart couldn¡¯t bear the tightness from Lara¡¯s outright rejection. But Andre had to be strong.


    The door closed, apanied by Lara¡¯s head reappearing from under the nket. After making sure that Andre had left her room, Lara finally chose to just sit.


    She stared at the night sky from the window. The twinkling lights along with the stars visible from Lara¡¯s room felt beautiful. The tranquility of the night like this was a luxury Lara could feel after experiencing various life-threatening events. ¡°If only my child could be found,¡± she murmured amidst her sadness.


    Lara¡¯s main goal was, of course, to find her child. But even just to touch Seno, she couldn¡¯t. Lara really didn¡¯t know what to do.


    ***


    Meanwhile, outside Mahya¡¯s room, the two brown-uniformed guards were no longer visible. Riko¡¯s father¡¯s movement was very fast, Andre only had to wait a few hours for the two officers to disappear on their own.


    ¡°Thanks, Bro!¡± Andre said over the phone to his friend.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee, Bro! When else can we help, right? I¡¯m also really d to be useful!¡± Riko eximed amidst his midnight date. Behind him, a woman¡¯s voice calling his name could be heard. Andre justughed.


    ¡°Okay, just continue, Bro! Thanks!¡±


    ¡°Sure!¡±


    They ended the conversation. Andre could breathe a sigh of relief and inform Carol and James. The two executives from the news office couldn¡¯t wait to file awsuit.


    ¡°Rx, the situation is under control,¡± Andre said to Carol once again over the phone. The Australian descendant woman then smiled with relief.


    ¡°Thank you very much, Doctor! We really owe you a debt of gratitude.¡±


    ¡°No need for that. It¡¯s my duty as a friend,¡± said Andre, humbling himself. Carol continued to praise him as a hero without insignia. Andreughed as he heard it.


    ***


    Unnoticed, the morning hase. Andre was still at the hospital; he slept in the doctors¡¯ dorm not far from the VIP room there.


    ¡°Good morning, Lara,¡± Andre greeted upon arriving at Lara¡¯s room. The woman had just opened her eyes and was sitting leaning on the headboard with a smile.


    ¡°Good morning, Doctor,¡± Lara greeted after seeing Andree with several assistants who would examine her condition. They always exchanged terms of endearment and professionalism. Lara didn¡¯t want to sound rude if Andre came as a doctor doing rounds in her room.


    ¡°Good morning, Mrs. Lara. How are you feeling today?¡± the doctor asked politely.


    ¡°I feel a little better,¡± Lara answered with a thin smile on her face.


    The atmosphere in Lara¡¯s treatment room seemed calm. Doctor Andre, in his white suit, seemed to enter the room with firm steps. A nurse and a doctor¡¯s assistant also attended this medical visit.


    ¡°I¡¯ll check your blood pressure, Mrs. Lara,¡± said the nurse, preparing the measuring instrument and also notes to record the results to be disyed. Meanwhile, the doctor¡¯s assistant helped Andre examine the post-operative wounds and involved in other physical examinations.


    ¡°What do you think, Doctor Aulia? What is your view on the progress of this surgical wound?¡±


    The assistant doctor arranged some notes in his hands. ¡°Overall, it seems that the surgical wound is in good condition. There are no signs of infection or noticeableplications. The patient¡¯s recovery seems to be going ording to n.¡±


    Andre nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes, it seems so. However, we still need to monitor closely. Lara has gone through quite an intensive procedure, and we don¡¯t want any mistakes orplications in the future.¡±


    ¡°I agree, Doctor. I will record all the results of this examination and ensure that the treatment protocol we have made is strictly followed.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Doc. We do need to ensure that the patient receives the best care,¡± Andre said, observing other incisions that he had made during Lara¡¯s surgery.


    Meanwhile, the doctor¡¯s assistant helped Andre examine Lara¡¯s surgical wounds carefully. Lara felt a little nervous, but Andre¡¯s warm smile made her feel calmer.


    ¡°How does it feel, Mrs. Lara? Does it hurt or not?¡± the assistant asked, pressing Lara¡¯s wound to check its condition.


    Lara tried to smile although she felt ufortable. ¡°A little sore, Doctor. But not too much.¡±


    Andre nodded in understanding. ¡°That¡¯s normal, Mrs. Lara. The surgical wound is still in the healing stage. We will make sure you get the right treatment. Now, I will do some physical examinations to make sure everything is going as nned.¡±


    Carefully, Andre examined the area around the surgical wound, ensuring that there were no signs of inmmation or excessive difort. The assistant noted all the examination developments carefully and in detail. They needed adequate medical records to be evaluatedter.


    ¡°I¡¯m d to see that the healing process is going well, Mrs. Lara. You truly have extraordinary spirit,¡± Andre praised while noting some points on the patient¡¯s medical card brought by the assistant.


    Lara blushed but she was happy to feel valued and loved. ¡°Thank you, Doctor. I just want to recover soon and get back to normal life.¡±


    Andre looked at Lara with aforting gaze. For a moment, the boundary between professionalism and personal feelings blurred. Andre really wanted to hug Lara and soothe her in his arms.


    ¡°Ahem. If there¡¯s anything you want to talk about or if you feel the need for additional support, me and the medical team are here to help,¡± Andre finally said after daydreaming for a while.


    Lara nodded softly. ¡°Thank you, Doctor Andre. I¡¯m really lucky to have a medical team that cares so much like this.¡±


    After the medical visit was over, Andre bid farewell. ¡°I hope your day continues to improve, Mrs. Lara. If you have any concerns or questions, don¡¯t hesitate to inform the nurse or contact me. We¡¯re here to help you fully recover.¡±


    Lara chuckled softly and nodded in understanding. She didn¡¯t expect the doctor to be so chatty and caring. ¡°Thank you, Doc. Thank you,¡± Lara saidter.


    ¡°I have a surgery schedule. I¡¯ll take my leave,¡± Andre said as he walked away. His upright figure moved away from Lara¡¯s sight, followed by the loud sound of dress shoes ttering on the room floor.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Lara felt sad after Andre left, but she quickly dismissed her sadness. Lara didn¡¯t have time to hesitate and be confused. Her child had to be found soon!


    ***


    ¡°Sir! Our personnel were pulled out of the hospital! We lost our spies!¡±

 Part 77 # Suspicious Man

    ¡°What?!¡± Seno growled when his assistant informed him of something that made his blood boil instantly. Seno¡¯s neck felt tight, but he tried to endure it. In a few minutes, Seno would be going up on stage for theunch of his new drug that he had been working on: Escitalopram.


    The drug was nned to be distributed massively to the public at subsidized prices considering¡­ Seno was currentlyunching an action to reap unlimited profits from the side effects it would produce.


    ¡°Contact the Police Chief! I want to talk to him!¡± Seno replied gruffly before hanging up. He took a deep breath and tried to stabilize his erratic heartbeat. This time, Seno couldn¡¯t afford to lose track of Lara.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why do you look like that?¡± Olivia asked, joining him behind the stage.


    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business,¡± Seno replied quickly. Lately, Seno¡¯s tension had been rising drastically. This was due to failure after failure in getting rid of Lara and Mahya. He couldn¡¯t afford to fall into the same pit again: poverty, just because of two people with big mouths.


    ¡°Sir, it¡¯s time,¡± an event assistant signaled to Seno to go up on stage. There, Seno would give a short speech and introduce histest drug. Covered with some sweet nothings, Seno was sure his n would seed.


    ***


    Meanwhile, at the hospital, Lara still looked lonely. She didn¡¯t want Andre¡¯spany even though the doctor¡¯s professional duty was over. Lara didn¡¯t want to discuss matters of romance with her friend anymore.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ it¡¯s so stuffy in here,¡± Lara muttered. She felt like she had been cooped up in the treatment room for too long. ¡°Nurse, can I take a walk in the garden?¡± she asked when a nurse came in to change her IV fluid.


    ¡°Wait for the doctor¡¯s approval first, Ma¡¯am. Let me change your IV first,¡± she said while performing her duties as a working nurse.


    Lara nodded slowly as she looked outwards. The afternoon weather was quite bright, after several days of rain during this time. Lara wanted to breathe fresh air outside while rxing her tense body. Being a patient truly made her feel fragile and vulnerable. Lara wanted to get back to normal activities and¡­ find her missing child!


    ¡°Good afternoon, Mrs. Lara,¡± greeted a doctor who was well known to her.


    ¡°Afternoon, Doctor Andre,¡± Lara replied shortly with a forced smile. She felt ufortable.


    Andre cleared his throat. He also seemed awkward because he had rushed to express his feelings. Andre thought that was the right time, but he was wrong.


    ¡°What¡¯s bothering you?¡± Andre asked, walking closer to Lara. His broad chest was covered in a doctor¡¯s suit, making him look like a prince in a fairy tale, if it weren¡¯t for the stethoscope hanging around his neck.


    ¡°Ah, well¡­ for now, nothing, Doctor,¡± Lara said softly. ¡°I want to take a walk in the garden, is it allowed?¡± she pleaded. Even her eyes were teary, deliberately, so Andre would allow her to go out. Lara really wanted to breathe fresh air.


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Andre seemed to consider something, momentarily, he felt sorry for Lara¡¯s gaze. That gaze was the same as when she was a child. If Andre had her favorite strawberry ice cream, she would definitely ask for it, even if there was still some left.


    The end result was predictable, of course, Andre gave in. Lara¡¯s face was like a helpless kitten in need of attention. It was understandable if Andre then felt pity.


    ¡°Yes, you may, but there¡¯s a condition,¡± Andre replied, folding his arms across his chest.


    ¡°Yes? What¡¯s the condition?¡± Lara wanted to know.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Andre just smiled at Lara¡¯s question. In his heart, he wanted to immediately set the condition that she could only go out with him, but¡­ considering there was also a nurse there, Andre wouldn¡¯tpromise his dignity.


    ¡°If apanied by a guardian, yes, you may. If you n to stroll around by yourself, I¡¯m afraid I will not let you do that,¡± he continued.


    Lara widened her eyes. ¡°A guardian? Where do I find a guardian?¡± She retorted to the doctor as if he were mocking her. Andreughed again. ¡°Bi Yani, pleasee in,¡± he said. Not long after, Bi Yani came from the waiting room in front.


    ¡°Mrs. Lara,¡± she called out, tears welling up. ¡°Thank goodness you¡¯re okay,¡± she added, holding Lara¡¯s hands tightly with tears of joy.


    ¡°Bi Yani! How did you know I¡¯m here?¡± Lara¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. She hadn¡¯t known that Bi Yani was the one handling all her administrative matters while Mahya was also in aa.


    ¡°Who else if not me, Ma¡¯am?¡± Bi Yani smiled and caressed Lara¡¯s head like her own daughter. They were one generation apart. Bi Yani truly was like an aunt to Lara, recing her deceased mother.


    ¡°Are you feeling better, Ma¡¯am?¡± Bi Yani asked with concern. Lara nodded softly. She felt very happy that Bi Yani was with her now. ¡°I missed you, Auntie. Thank goodness we met again,¡± she said, shedding tears.


    Bi Yani smiled and hugged Lara, patting her employer¡¯s back gently. She also echoed the happiness felt by Lara. ¡°I missed you too.¡±


    Andre was touched by the scene before him. He bid farewell because he felt it was okay to leave Lara now. Bi Yani would now take care of Lara, recing him.


    ¡°Thank you, Ndre,¡± Lara said sincerely, waving her hand.


    ¡°Do let me know if you need anything, Lara,¡± Andre said, concluding his duties for the day.


    Lara then talked with Bi Yani andid out her ns to take a walk in the garden. Andromeda Hospital wasn¡¯t unfamiliar to her; Lara had been treated here before, often even.


    ¡°There¡¯s a beautiful garden behind this room, shall we go for a walk there?¡± Lara asked for her former assistant¡¯s approval.


    ¡°Great idea, and the weather is sunny, it¡¯ll be delightful,¡± Bi Yani replied, helping Lara to stand up. They then walked slowly through the corridors to reach the intended garden.


    The greenery and blooming flowers of various colors made the garden look beautiful. The fresh fountain water also added to the beauty of thendscape. Lara and Bi Yani chose an empty bench near the flower bed on the west side of the fountain.


    ¡°So, tell me, where has Bi Yani been all this time?¡± Lara asked curiously. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting, why didn¡¯t youe back to my house?¡± she added with a slightly mncholic tone.


    ¡°Sorry, Ma¡¯am. I was busy in the vige, taking care of my mother¡¯s paperwork. When I visited your house, I heard there was a new maid, so I decided to leave,¡± Bi Yani exined with her characteristic smile.


    ¡°Who said that?¡±


    ¡°Your new driver. I forgot his name.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s Seno¡¯s driver. How insolent!¡± Lara growled. She seemed unhappy with the driver¡¯s unteral decision that harmed her. ¡°The more assistants, the better! He¡¯s so audacious!¡±


    ¡°Enough, Ma¡¯am. Maybe that¡¯s also part of fate. If I were still working there¡­ maybe we wouldn¡¯t be able to meet like this,¡± Bi Yani tried to console Lara. However, instead of feelingforted, Lara was startled. ¡°You¡¯re right. This is better,¡±


    She imagined Bi Yani¡¯s vulnerable safety if she continued to be her assistant. A woman as strong as Mahya was struck by a truck and fell into aa, let alone an elderly woman like her? Bi Yani was Lara¡¯s person, Seno would not hesitate to finish her off.


    ¡°What really happened, Ma¡¯am? Why did everything end up like this? I really don¡¯t understand,¡± she asked worriedly. The wounds on Lara¡¯s body exined that her marriage boat brought disaster.


    ¡°It¡¯s a long story. You don¡¯t need to get too involved. It¡¯s dangerous,¡± Lara didn¡¯t want to tell the truth.


    ¡°Who knows, maybe I can help, Ma¡¯am. Mrs. Lara has helped me a lot,¡± Bi Yani insisted. Even at the age of 50, Bi Yani believed she was still useful to Lara. Bi Yani also regrly exercised, she wasn¡¯t an old woman who was vulnerable and could still be relied upon.


    ¡°Let it be, Auntie. Having Bi Yani apany me is enough. Thank you,¡± Lara said, looking straight at her. Bi Yani sighed and nodded in understanding. Perhaps Lara was right in her considerations, she shouldn¡¯t get involved in secretive matters.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back, shall we? The dark clouds areing!¡± Bi Yani eximed after looking up to check the suddenly darkening sunny weather.


    ¡°Let¡¯s,¡± Lara agreed. She felt content with this short walk. Lara and Bi Yani would return to their room.


    As before, they passed through the corridors before reaching Lara¡¯s treatment room. While they were chatting and walking back to the room, suddenly, a stranger asked for help. Bi Yani helped him find the room he was looking for. ¡°Wait here for a moment, Ma¡¯am,¡± she requested. Lara nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s difficult when you¡¯re too attentive,¡± Lara muttered,ughing. Actually, Bi Yani could have directed him to the guard or nurse at the end of the corridor, but that was Bi Yani¡¯s nature, she was a hands-on person.


    Lara waited patiently while looking around. However, what she didn¡¯t realize was that the man who had gotten lost was actually just pretending, leaving Lara unguarded.


    A man in a ck hat and looking suspicious was seen walking quickly towards Lara. Then¡­ suddenly¡­

 Part 78 # Rising from the Grave

    BUGH!


    ¡°Aww!¡± Lara groaned as a man bumped into her.


    ¡°Sorry, Miss ¡­ here! Take this!¡± he said, handing her an old model phone with a note attached to it. ¡®Answer this phone¡¯. That was what the note said.


    ¡°Hey! Mister! Wait!¡± Lara shouted at the man in the ck hat who suddenly walked away. However, he ran even faster and then disappeared into the crowd. Lara stood still. Soon after, the phone rang.


    ¡°Should I answer it?¡± Lara felt suspicious. The events that had happened to her recently made her increasingly cautious. Lara couldn¡¯t afford to be careless and endanger her life.


    The phone kept ringing. Lara ignored it. But secondster, a message caught her attention. ¡®Lynn, answer the phone¡¯


    Lara¡¯s eyes widened. Lynn was the affectionate name her parents used. Only the three of them knew about it. Lara¡¯s heart sank. This incident felt almost like a dream.


    ¡°Whwho is this?¡± She wondered, but then the phone rang again. This time, Lara answered it with trembling hands. ¡°Hehello?¡±


    ¡°Lynn! Thank goodness you¡¯re still alive!¡±


    ¡°Momom?!¡±


    Lara¡¯s head felt like it was spinning. How could her deceased mother suddenly call her! ¡°Don¡¯t joke around!¡± Lara growled. She then hung up the phone and grabbed the IV stand beside her. Lara felt like fainting!


    ¡°Miss Lara! What¡¯s going on?!¡± Bi Yani had just arrived from the end of the corridor. The middle-aged woman immediately rushed towards Lara and hugged her. It seemed that her employer was not in a good condition.


    ¡°Bibi¡­ please take me to my room,¡± Lara asked, cold sweat dripping from her hair and forehead. Her face was pale. Lara was truly shocked by the voice that was so simr to herte mother. Who was that woman?


    ***


    Meanwhile, at the S-Group building, theunch of Escitalopram went smoothly. The media reported it sensationally, thanks to the advertising funds injected by Seno¡¯spany. Within a few hours, the antidepressant drug became the talk of the town.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have an interest in mental health, Sir,¡± said Dr. Miriam when theunch session ended. She was present as an honorary guest along with the prospective distributors appointed by thepany.


    ¡°In my opinion, mental health is more important than anything else. We can¡¯t live healthily without a strong mind,¡± he said, trying to smile as naturally as possible, although that wasn¡¯t his main goal in producing Escitalopram.


    ¡°So, you want our hospital to be a pilot project?¡± Miriam asked curiously, knowing there would be another meeting scheduled with the development team, pharmacists, and S-Group¡¯s marketing head with the Andromeda executives.


    ¡°Of course. This is a great opportunity to get to know and benefit each other, right? Your hospital will receive funding from the central government,¡± Seno assured confidently.


    Miriam smiled. Seno was quite smart and ambitious, it turned out. Very different from Andre, who rarely talked about business and profit in discussions about Andromeda.


    ¡°You¡¯re really different from my fiance,¡± Miriam said suddenly.


    Seno smirked. He was used to hearing such praise. Different. Though Seno didn¡¯t quite understand whether it was a good or bad difference.


    ¡°Different how, Doctor?¡±


    ¡°Well, visionary.¡±


    ¡°A businessman must be visionary, right?¡± Seno finallyughed.


    The round table adorned with white roses in the corner of the building looked different with Seno¡¯s presence as the big boss and the elegant woman in an unfamiliar dress. Yes. Seno¡¯s new wife looked jealous and angry when she noticed their closeness.


    ¡°Oh, so the phnderer has found a new crush, huh? Just wait, Seno! I won¡¯t let it slide!¡± Olivia turned around and walked away, grumbling. She no longer recognized Seno as he used to be.


    The man had changed a lot.


    ***


    ¡°Boss, there¡¯s a phone call,¡± a guard with a gold badge on his chest approached Seno. The man nodded in understanding and intended to answer the phone in question. ¡°Excuse me for a moment,¡± he said, nodding to Miriam.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Miriam didn¡¯t seem to mind. Seno then moved away to answer what seemed to be an important call.


    ¡°Bastard! You hurt Lara! Now, you¡¯ll face the consequences!¡± someone cursed from the other end.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Mamadam?¡± Seno asked, to be sure. For a moment, he felt dizzy and almost fainted. How did Madam know he intended to get rid of Lara?


    ¡°You broke your promise, scumbag! Now, I¡¯m withdrawing all the funds I gave you!¡± she said firmly.


    ¡°Wawait! This is a mistake!¡±


    But before Seno could exin, the call ended on its own. Madam and the withdrawal of funds she mentioned were underway. Seno bit his lip but quickly pulled himself together.


    ¡°Bram! Call Robin here!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss!¡±


    Seno returned to the white table in the corner of the building, intending to say goodbye to Dr. Miriam and inform her about the urgent situation affecting his business. ¡°Doctor¡­ I need to meet the leader immediately.¡±


    ***


    The sky at the hospital had darkened. The twilight gradually faded, reced by the darkness of the approaching night. Lara curled up in her bed, trembling, asionally shaking her head in denial.


    Lara refused to believe that her mother had risen from the grave and called her earlier.


    ¡°Miss Lara. It¡¯s time to eat,¡± said Bi Yani, offering warm porridge she was holding. Lara shook her head slowly. She had no appetite.


    ¡°If you want to go home, it¡¯s okay. I can be here alone,¡± she added. Bi Yani nodded but gave her a condition. ¡°I¡¯ll go home if you eat, even just a spoonful. Please. Yes?¡± she coaxed.


    Lara looked at Bi Yani with a nk stare. She hadn¡¯t told her assistant anything yet. Bi Yani didn¡¯t know anything about the shocking incident that happened to Lara earlier this afternoon.


    ¡°Just one spoonful, okay?¡± said Lara.


    ¡°Yes. Come on, eat.¡± Bi Yani spooned the porridge to Lara. Lara opened her mouth a little and then chewed the smooth porridge reluctantly. The emotional turmoil she was experiencing made her whole body malfunction. Lara felt empty.


    ¡°Bi Yani can go home now,¡± said Lara, taking the bowl of porridge from her assistant. Bi Yani didn¡¯t really want to leave Lara alone, but she also had to apany her mother, who was afraid to sleep alone.


    ¡°I¡¯lle back here tomorrow, okay?¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s not too much trouble, please do. But don¡¯t force yourself, Bi. I might be able to go home soon,¡± Lara tried to be strong, even though she had no one. Who knows. How could her mother suddenly appear? Lara didn¡¯t want to think deeply about it.


    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble. I¡¯m actually happy to do it. See you tomorrow, okay?¡±


    ¡°See you, Bi.¡±


    Lara¡¯s room was empty again, with no one else besides her. In the darkness of the night, her bad thoughts returned to haunt her. How could her mothere back to life?


    Suddenly, Lara remembered Andre¡¯s ount of her mother¡¯s autopsy results.


    ¡°I have to ask him,¡± Lara murmured, searching for Andre¡¯s business card on her nightstand. With the new phone, Lara would call Andre and ask for a clear exnation.


    ¡°Don¡¯t joke, Mom! Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve been deceiving us all this time!¡± Lara growled, continuously dialing Andre¡¯s number printed on the light blue business card.

 Part 79 # Confirmation

    In that evening, Andre barely closed his eyes. He was in his apartment, but his heart and mind were still in Lara¡¯s hospital room.


    ¡°Sigh¡­ Lara, how else can I bring you closer like before?¡± He murmured while staring at the pale blue ceiling of his room. Lara¡¯s presence was deeply etched in his heart. Andre couldn¡¯t just let it go. He wouldn¡¯t give up, especially now that Lara was no longer someone else¡¯s wife.


    Andre¡¯s phone vibrated. An unknown number appeared on the screen. Andre furrowed his brows in confusion, but¡­ his intuition told him that he had to answer this call.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Andre greeted coldly. He didn¡¯t recognize the number disyed. Whose voice would greet him was still a mystery. Andre had to remain vignt.


    ¡°Ndre. It¡¯s me, Lara.¡±


    Instantly, Andre¡¯s heart raced faster than usual. His cold demeanor disappeared into thin air. Andre sat up straight and responded warmly to Lara¡¯s call. ¡°Lara? Whose number is this?¡± Andre asked to confirm.


    ¡°It¡¯s someone¡¯s number that I don¡¯t recognize. But, the point is¡­ I need to talk to you, Ndre,¡± Lara replied.


    ¡°Oh, right, your phone was destroyed in the ident yesterday, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct, and this phone is a gift from¡­¡± Lara¡¯s voice stopped abruptly. Her chest heaved as she suppressed the anxiety, fear, and frustration over the futile sadness all this time if her mother hadn¡¯t actually died.


    ¡°Lara?¡± Andre called out to her. Lara seemed to be taking a deep breath. The rough sound of her breath echoed clearly in the doctor¡¯s, her friend¡¯s, ears. ¡°A gift from whom?¡± Andre wanted to know the continuation of Lara¡¯s story.


    Lara was ready to answer. ¡°Mom.¡±


    ¡°W-what?!¡±


    ***


    Lara and Andre¡¯s conversation floated without direction, as they decided this discussion had to continue face to face. The next morning, Andre immediately visited Lara, and now they were face to face.


    ¡°Tell me, Ra! How did your mom contact you?¡± Andre asked, curious and concerned. Was it true that Lara¡¯s mother hadn¡¯t really died? Or¡­ was Lara actually being deceived by someone?


    ¡°So¡­ yesterday there was a strange man who gave me this phone, Ndre. Then, Mom called. I only talked briefly and then turned it off,¡± Lara recounted.


    Andre shook his head in disbelief. This truly baffled him. But, on one hand, he felt relieved because the opportunity to restore his family¡¯s name was finally open.


    ¡°So, now you understand, right, what I meant?¡± Andre said, looking straight at Lara.


    ¡°About what?¡± Lara asked again.


    ¡°Not my family, Ra, who killed your mother. No! Moreover, the ident was really just a scrape, not life-threatening,¡± Andre exined. But Lara remained unmoved. She still found it difficult to understand everything.


    ¡°Read and find out for yourself here, Ra. This is a copy of the police investigation documents, well, I got it secretly because I have to prove to you that I¡¯m not gu-¡±


    ¡°Sssh¡­ Yes, Ndre, yes. I believe,¡± Lara interrupted, cing her index finger on Andre¡¯s lips to stop him from talking too much. But instead of stopping, Andre kissed her finger tenderly, then¡­ ¡°May I kiss you, Ra?¡±


    Lara widened her eyes, but this time she didn¡¯t refuse. With a faint nod, Andre finally crossed the romantic bridge he had longed for. Lara. The woman finally opened her heart.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Mmh¡­¡± Lara sighed in pleasure from the deep kiss Andre gave her. It seemed difficult for him to stop, but¡­ a ringing phone managed to make theme back to reality.


    ¡°Who is it, Ra?¡± Andre asked irritably. He was truly annoyed by the irresponsible call.


    ¡°I-it¡¯s, Mom¡­.¡± Lara answered ambiguously. She still didn¡¯t know whether it was her mother or someone else pretending to be her mother.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Lynn! You finally picked up the phone. Meet Mom on the rooftop, now!¡±


    ¡°Mom? Are you really my Mom?¡± Lara demanded an exnation. Her eyes teared up with pent-up anger that was growing hotter. Andre immediatelynded a hug to calm his beloved woman.


    ¡°This is Mom, Lynn! Have you forgotten your mother¡¯s voice?¡±


    ¡°This is impossible!¡±


    ¡°Lynn! Go up to the rooftop and Mom will exin everything.¡±


    Lara ended the call and looked at Andre with a skeptical gaze.


    ¡°What did she say?¡± Andre asked curiously.


    ¡°Mom wants me to go to the rooftop now, Ndre.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll apany you!¡±


    Lara nodded. She had to confirm with her own eyes that her mother was indeed still alive and had been deceiving her for years.


    ***


    Meanwhile, at a Japanese restaurant, Seno, Miriam, and the President Director of Andromeda-Miriam¡¯s father, were having a secret meeting.


    ¡°An interesting offer,¡± the President Director said while stroking his long beard.


    ¡°Papa is interested in this distribution offer?¡± Miriam asked, flipping through the documents in her hands.


    ¡°This drug will be a massive sess for both of us. I have also secured cooperation with the Ministry of Health to ensure that this drug circtes widely in society,¡± Seno exined with his sweet charm.


    After Madam¡¯srge capital was withdrawn instantly, Seno¡¯spany was in trouble. Fortunately, Seno had made a backup n by secretly coborating in the ck market.


    There were several sponsors willing to rece Madam¡¯s position, of course, with equivalentpensation.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s good enough. Especially with the opportunity to open our hospital in other areas for expansion. What do you think, my Princess?¡± the President Director asked attentively. Miriam was indeed his favorite daughter. Her thoughts and arguments were truly mature considerations in every policy.


    ¡°I agree, Dad. This is the right step to start expanding the business,¡± she said, staring intensely at Seno. Miriam knew that this step was the first step to make their romantic cooperation a reality.


    Seno¡¯s sess would lead to the disappearance of Lara from his life and Andre¡¯s. Miriam would cooperate well to ensure their goals were achieved without any obstacles.


    ¡°All right, Mr. Seno. I approve this contract.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. President Director! I really appreciate it.¡±


    The business meeting was warm and friendly. In his heart, the President Director saw thepatibility of his daughter¡¯s aura with the CEO of the S-Group. ¡°Sorry, are you already married?¡± the President Director asked suddenly.


    Miriam was taken aback, as was Seno. However, their rtionship was purely business.


    ¡°I already have a wife, Sir.¡± Seno didn¡¯t want to dig his own grave by lying. In this digital era, background checks could be done in a timely manner. Olivia Wilson had been registered as his legitimate wife, recing Lara.


    With a little grease money and powerful hacking skills, all digital traces of him and his ex-wife, Lara, would be easily erased. No one would know that Lara Selene Smith had once been his partner.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s a pity, isn¡¯t it? I really like you. We should have met earlier so you could be my son-inw,¡± joked the President Director, which Miriam didn¡¯t find funny!


    ¡°Dad! That¡¯s not funny!¡±

 Part 80 # Mother’s Return

    The President Director just chuckled, as did Seno. Undeniably, Doctor Miriam was indeed beautiful, but for some reason, Seno didn¡¯t feel interested.


    ¡°I¡¯m d to do business with you, Mr. President Director,¡± Seno said firmly, apanied by a tight handshake that implied determination.


    ¡°I apologize if I joke around a lot, Sir. Please understand the effect of parents who want nothing but happiness for their only daughter,¡± the President Director exined.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s not a problem, Sir. I understandpletely. Oh yes, for the transaction, how is it?¡± Seno asked, followed by a heartyugh to disguise the fact that he needed the funds urgently.


    ¡°Ah, yes! Tonight, it can be settled by my Finance Manager. You just need to wait for the news,¡± the President Director of Andromeda exined confidently. Miriam nodded gently, while Senoughed even louder.


    ¡°Great! Great! Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. President Director.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee, Sir.¡±


    After the energy-draining business meeting, Seno didn¡¯t immediately return to his office. The allocation of sponsor funds was still far from what it should be. Seno had to find a quick way to cover the escting costs of production and marketing for his medicine.


    ¡°Where else should I look for sponsors?¡± he muttered, massaging his forehead which was starting to show fine lines. Seno was truly at a loss. The withdrawal of Madam X¡¯s capital shook his business. One million US dors was not a small amount if it disappeared overnight.


    Seno had to figure out how to cover all the cost overruns. If only there was another,rger sponsor, Seno would surely be saved!


    ¡°Robin! How¡¯s the situation with the Police Chief?¡± he asked through a phone call to check the status of the staged ident case involving Mahya.


    ¡°Negative, Boss! The Police Chief cut offmunication with us. The higher-ups have intervened!¡±


    ¡°W-what?!¡± Seno became even more enraged and mmed his phone. How could this case be brushed aside just like that? If the Police Chief¡¯s superiors had intervened, it meant¡­ the ident case could turn into a case of assault from Seno¡¯s side.


    ¡°Damn it! How could this happen?!¡± he yelled in anger. Seno was truly having a headache. ¡°Nothing¡¯s going right! Argh!¡±


    ***


    At the hospital, Lara was trying to make peace with herself before heading to the rooftop, as requested by her mother. Andre remained faithfully by her side, trying to provide the support and protection Lara needed.


    After a few minutes in the elevator heading to the top floor, Andre and Lara finally arrived at the rooftop of the hospital, which functioned as a helipad.


    ¡°Phew¡­¡± Lara took a deep breath. Her heart was pounding fast. She couldn¡¯t have imagined that her meeting with the mysterious woman iming to be her mother would be so nerve-wracking.


    ¡°Rx, Ra. I¡¯m here,¡± Andre said assuredly. Lara briefly turned to the man who had kissed her tenderly. The reassuring gaze from her friend became her strength. She would surely be able to ovee all her fears.


    Lara stood on the helipad, her gaze sweeping in all directions, searching for the presence of the woman who imed to be her mother. The gentle breeze brushed against her face. Lara was truly afraid yet¡­ excited, imagining that she would see her mother¡¯s face again!


    ¡°No one¡¯s here, Ndre. Could it be that I was deceived?¡± Lara asked, her voice trembling. Her hope of reuniting with her mother had vanished. It seemed that Lara had truly been deceived by an irresponsible person pretending to be her mother.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Andre answered calmly, ¡°Let¡¯s just wait, Ra. If she¡¯s really your mother, she¡¯ll definitely look for you.¡±


    Lara nodded slowly, although doubt still dominated her heart and mind. Lara didn¡¯t know whether she should be happy or angry at the presence of her mother who was supposed to have died years ago. She felt deceived, and¡­ if her mother was indeed still alive, Lara also didn¡¯t know how she should react.


    ¡°Ra! Over there!¡±


    Suddenly, a woman appeared from behind the entrance door facing the rooftop. The woman was wearing an elegant ck dress with long flowing ck hair. Her eyes were covered with sunsses, but Lara immediately recognized that¡­ she was indeed her mother!


    ¡°Good morning, Lynn,¡± the woman greeted with a mysterious smile on her face. Her sharp eyes directly focused on Lara. Of course, Lara was stunned. Her heart couldn¡¯t contain the shock she felt.


    ¡°M-mother?¡± Lara called hesitantly, trying to find the truth behind the appearance of the mysterious woman. In every aspect, the woman¡¯s figure resembled her mother, except for her face. Lara¡¯s mother seemed too youthful, and the contours of her cheeks and eyebrows were slightly different.


    The woman nodded, ¡°Yes, dear. I am your mother, although maybe not as you imagined. Mama had stic surgery.¡±


    Andre looked at the woman suspiciously, trying to assess whether she was truly Lara¡¯s mother or not. The woman approached them with elegant steps.


    ¡°W-why?¡± Lara asked confusedly. ¡°Why is mother alive again? How?¡±


    ¡°Lynn, I came here not to hurt you. On the contrary, Mama wants to offer help,¡± the woman said, reaching out to Lara¡¯s hand gently.


    However, Lara pushed her away. Her body trembled violently, her breath was racing. Lara really couldn¡¯t control her body¡¯s response to the resurrection of her mother from the grave.


    ¡°How dare you¡­ fake your death and¡­ use my family of being behind it!¡± Andre suddenly spoke up. The woman stared sharply at him.


    ¡°Oh, so this is the bastard Ramsey? Like mother, like son!¡± she snapped.


    ¡°Y-you!¡± Andre clenched his fists tightly. Meanwhile, Lara was still trying to breathe normally.


    ¡°Mother¡­ how could you¡­,¡± she whispered.


    ¡°Lynn¡­ forgive me,¡± the woman pleaded, trying to hug Lara. But Lara pushed hard to avoid any contact with her.


    ¡°How could you deceive us all these years, Ma? What was you thinking?¡± Tears immediately flowed down Lara¡¯s face. She truly couldn¡¯t ept being deceived since childhood until now. ¡°You don¡¯t know, right? How Lynn lived without you?¡± Lara¡¯s cry grew louder.


    The woman also shed tears. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lynn. Many things have happened, and only through that, so I could get revenge on your father and his mistress,¡± Madam said with regret.


    Andre couldn¡¯t say anything. Lara¡¯s mother¡¯s n had truly seeded without fail. The Ramsey family became the target of investigations and condemnation. Andre, his brother, and their grandmother couldn¡¯t live in peace.


    ¡°You say it so lightly. Don¡¯t you know the effect on all of us?¡± Andre growled. He also felt like a victim of this cruel charade.


    ¡°Shut up, you bastard!¡±


    ¡°Mother! Don¡¯t talk like that to Andre!¡±


    ¡°Why are you defending him, Lynn!¡±


    ¡°Mother, that¡¯s enough! I don¡¯t want to meet you. Deal with your own life. Consider our rtionship severed!¡± Lara dragged Andre away from the rooftop to return to the hospital room.


    ¡°Lynn, please, give me a chance to make amends,¡± Madam begged tearfully, kneeling behind Lara who was moving further away from her.


    But Lara remained unmoved. She ignored the desperate plea from her mother.


    ¡°I know Seno¡¯s weakness, Lynn! And¡­ the existence of your child!¡±


    Thest shout seeded in stopping Lara¡¯s steps. ¡°M-my child?¡± she repeated, turning back. ¡°Speak! Where is he?!¡±

 Part 81 # Interpol Fugitive

    Madam chuckled softly. It seemed like she knew her daughter¡¯s habits very well.


    ¡°You really want to know, Lynn?¡± she teased, moving closer to Lara.


    ¡°Come on, Mother! Spit it out!¡± Lara urged impatiently. Her face was getting redder, but Lara refused to say anything other than a quick and straightforwardmand to reveal the location of her child.


    Madam grinned, putting her sunsses back on. The strong wind blew, bringing a momentary peace for her.


    ¡°He¡¯s in-¡±


    Before Madam could continue her sentence, the roar of engines thundered from above. A helicopter flew low, shaking the situation below.


    ¡°MADAM! Interpol is here! We need to go!¡±


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Madam looked annoyed and cursed under her breath. But she quickly nced sadly at her daughter before running towards the helicopter, which now extended a sturdy rope for her.


    ¡°Lynn, remember the suitcase I left with you? There¡¯s a key and an address, just go there. Everything you want to know is there,¡± Madam said, looking straight at her daughter. ¡°Sorry, I have to go again, Darling. Your mother¡¯s quite notorious.¡±


    ¡°W-what?¡±


    After saying her farewell, Madam immediately jumped towards the extended rope in front of her. The helicopter¡¯s engine still buzzed, and its strong wind swirled around.


    ¡°STOP!¡±


    Shouts echoed from the iron door behind Lara. Shortly after, the sound of bullets pierced the air.


    ¡°MOTHER!¡± Lara screamed in fear as Madam narrowly avoided the gunfire. The bullets didn¡¯t touch her mother¡¯s body at all.


    ¡°You idiots!¡± Madam cursed as she soared upwards, to her perfectly nned escape route. Of course, the officers couldn¡¯t chase a helicopter with their own two feet.


    ¡°SHIT!¡± Two male Interpol officers ran after the helicopter as it began to move away from the building. For a moment, they felt like they could catch up, but in the end, only regret remained.


    ¡°SON OF A BITCH!¡± They finally stopped for a moment. Frustrated with their unintended oversight. In desperation, the officers could only watch Madam from below with boiling anger.


    Once again, the fugitive escaped.


    Not long after, another team followed behind them on high alert, though ultimately in vain.


    ¡°Agent Stone! How could we lose the target under our surveince?¡± the higher-ranking Officer asked, visibly annoyed. Sweat trickled between his vest and his cap.


    ¡°Someone tipped them off. Damn it! We need to dig deeper and find out who leaked that information,¡± grumbled Stone, putting his gun back into its holster.


    His eyes shifted towards Andre and Lara, who were witnesses to the raid.


    Knowing that their lives might be in danger, Andre raised both hands, standing in front of Lara to protect her.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on here, Sirs. But we really have nothing to do with your fugitive,¡± Andre exined firmly.


    Agent Stone moved closer to Andre, followed by his colleagues. ¡°Is that so?¡± he asked suspiciously. But of course, the police officers didn¡¯t trust them so easily.


    ¡°Whoa!¡± Andre stepped back as the officers began to raise their weapons.


    ¡°We can¡¯t be fooled that easily!¡± he eximed. But Andre quickly showed his identification card along with assurance that he had no intention of deceiving them.


    ¡°Andre!¡± Suddenly, a voice called out his name.


    ¡°Riko?!¡± Andre weed the call. The two ck-uniformed officers immediately lowered their weapons and saluted.


    ¡°Commander!¡± they eximed in unison. Riko nodded and returned their salute.


    ¡°Sorry, Dre! There¡¯s an emergency. An Interpol fugitive is suspected to be in this hospital. Are you guys okay?¡± Riko asked anxiously, looking at Andre and Lara alternately.


    ¡°We¡¯re fine. Which Interpol fugitive, uh?¡± Andre tried to ask, though his gaze indicated that both he and Riko understood who they were referring to.


    ¡°Madam Xenia. She¡¯s an international fugitive and hasmitted crimes everywhere. But-¡± Riko didn¡¯t continue her story, but she whispered something to Andre¡¯s ear.


    Both of the doctor¡¯s eyes widened, but he eventually nodded. ¡°Got it.¡±


    ¡°Okay, then! Please, make sure things don¡¯t escte,¡± Riko said afterwards. Andre patted his friend¡¯s shoulder firmly. He then turned to Lara. ¡°Let¡¯s go back,¡± Andre said softly.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lara responded, gripping Andre¡¯s arm tightly. The events this morning were so shocking to her. Lara didn¡¯t even know whether to be scared, happy, or¡­ miserable!C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Officer! We can return to headquarters. This joint operation will be continued another day. They¡¯re just ordinary civilians, nothing to do with the fugitive!¡± Riko said firmly. Although her lifestyle was somewhatid-back, Riko was a fair officer.


    Being the son of a General didn¡¯t make Riko act arbitrarily. Although, he couldn¡¯t control himself when it came to women. But, Riko upheld justice and civilian protection.


    With his rank as the Central Jakarta Police Chief, Riko truly became an exemry officer. The level of publicints and crime in the city had drastically decreased. Chief Riko became the talk of the town for his achievements.


    ***


    ¡°Ndre, do you think I should obey Mama¡¯s words?¡± Lara finally asked, after they arrived in Lara¡¯s hospital room.


    ¡°Ra. What suitcase is that?¡± Andre asked curiously. He had to make sure before he agreed or disagreed with Lara¡¯s actions.


    ¡°A keepsake suitcase, Dre. It contains Mama¡¯s belongings from when she ¡®died¡¯ before,¡± Lara corrected. Her eyes were now teary, recalling the wasted tears, hatred, and resentment she had kept all this time.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what that is, but it wouldn¡¯t hurt to listen to your mom, Ra. Don¡¯t you want to find your child?¡±


    Lara nodded.


    ¡°Okay. After you¡¯re discharged from the hospital, we¡¯ll open the suitcase, alright?¡±


    ¡°Okay, Dre.¡±


    Andre and Lara then smiled and hugged. Lara felt very calm with Andre by her side. She was no longer alone.


    ***


    ¡°Doc! Patient Mahya has regained consciousness!¡±

 Part 82 # The Storm of Jealousy

    Andre was shocked by the news from the nurse who had just entered Lara¡¯s hospital room.


    ¡°Ndre!¡± Lara smiled joyfully and held Andre¡¯s hand tightly and warmly. ¡°Ra! Let¡¯s go to Mahya¡¯s room!¡± Andre invited while holding Lara¡¯s hand and walking slightly hurriedly towards the intensive care unit on the top floor.


    ***


    ¡°Mahya!¡± Lara called out emotionally as she hugged her friend who was still struggling to move her body.


    ¡°Aww! Ouch,¡± Mahya groaned yfully when Lara came and immediately showered her with hugs.


    ¡°How are you? Where does it hurt?¡± Lara asked with concern. She stepped back a bit so Mahya could breathe easier, but then the ck-haired girl just smiled broadly.


    ¡°My heart hurts,¡± she joked.


    Lara pouted and lightly hit Mahya¡¯s chest. ¡°Don¡¯t joke!¡±


    ¡°Seriously, you know! My heart hurts. How could we be caught off guard like this, huh?¡± Mahya joked lightly, recalling the unfortunate events that had befallen them both.


    ¡°Come on, forget about it,¡± Lara said softly while gently stroking Mahya¡¯s face. Mahya¡¯s words were indeed true. Both she and her friend, they never thought someone would tail them and harm them like this.


    ¡°Tell me, Ra! What happened when I was in aa? You owe me all the details!¡± Mahya demanded, staring sharply at Lara.


    ¡°No need to know, May! The important thing is we¡¯re safe,¡± Lara replied reluctantly.


    Being in a full body cast certainly made Mahya unable to move freely. Lara didn¡¯t want to drag her further. Even Lara¡¯s heart ached seeing Mahya, who was usually like a wild horse, now lying helpless on the hospital bed.


    ¡°Lara¡­ you know, right? This isn¡¯t your fault,¡± Mahya whispered, as if understanding the turmoil in Lara¡¯s mind that she showed in her pleading gaze. Mahya was responsible for herself, and Lara wasn¡¯t the root of the problem.


    ¡°Mahya, calm down. I¡¯ll take over your duties,¡± Andre suddenly joked, which was immediately greeted with Mahya¡¯s happy enthusiasm. ¡°Doc!¡± she called.


    ¡°How are you?¡± Andre asked casually. Mahya grinned widely. A smallugh apanied every opening of her small mouth.


    ¡°I¡¯m feeling better, Doc. Thank you for your efforts,¡± she said. But a voice made everyone in the room startled. High-heeled shoes with a ck-ck sound seemed to join the conversation happening among them.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you the wrong person?¡± Miriam, who had just entered, asked.


    ¡°Y-yes? Dr. Miriam?¡± Mahya became awkward. Had she offended the doctor? Who was actually responsible for her?


    ¡°I am responsible for patient Mahya. Dr. Andre is responsible for patient Lara,¡± she said with a smile. Miriam didn¡¯t want to appear desperate and harsh in the eyes of her patient.


    ¡°Ah! I¡¯m sorry! Thank you very much, Dr. Miriam,¡± Mahya corrected. Now, she knew what was really going on here. Mahya¡¯s instinct was quite sharp. As a reporter, she was used to being sensitive to situations.


    ¡®Someone¡¯s jealous, apparently,¡¯ Mahya thought to herself with augh. She had felt since the beginning that Andre and Lara¡¯s rtionship was not ordinary. Although they never hinted at it, Mahya could judge for herself.


    Mahya¡¯s guesses sometimes became a double-edged sword; she was too quick to draw conclusions.


    ¡°How are you feeling today?¡± Miriam asked while signaling her assistant to check Mahya¡¯s condition. Andre and Lara stepped back a bit and gave them space. The atmosphere in the room became tense. Mahya even found it difficult to answer the doctor¡¯s question calmly.


    ¡°I¡¯m feeling better, Doc. Although I still can¡¯t move my body optimally,¡± she said softly.


    ¡°Good progress, Miss Mahya,¡± Miriam said as she checked Mahya¡¯s vital signs. The assistant recorded every word the doctor and nurse said, ready to obey the instructions given.


    The treatment room was filled with smallmotion as the nurse straightened the sheets and performed routine activities around Mahya¡¯s bed. Andre and Lara, standing in the corner of the room, looked at Mahya with smiles and gratitude for the progress that had been made.


    Shortly after, Andre¡¯s shift came. He had to go back to his room to work. ¡°Sorry, I have to go,¡± Andre whispered softly to Lara. The warmth of Andre¡¯s breath made her hairs stand on end. Lara¡¯s smile widened.


    On the other hand, Miriam was fuming. The doctor who was evaluating Mahya¡¯s condition grumbled in her heart. ¡®This can¡¯t be allowed!¡¯ Miriam¡¯s inner turmoil boiled.


    ¡°May, get well soon! Doctor, I take my leave,¡± Andre bid farewell to Mahya and his colleagues. That¡¯s Miriam¡¯s position in Andre¡¯s heart. ¡°Yes,¡± Miriam replied shortly, returning to focus on Mahya¡¯s medical records held by her assistant.


    After checking Mahya¡¯s condition, suddenly, the atmosphere in the room became silent. Miriam, who had finished writing the medical notes, raised her head and looked at Lara seriously.


    ¡°Ms. Lara, may I speak with you for a moment?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes, Doctor? What¡¯s up?¡± Lara asked nervously. She had already felt intimidated by the doctor¡¯s attitude when Andre approached her. Hadn¡¯t their engagement ended? That¡¯s all Lara knew.


    ¡°We can¡¯t talk here. Can we talk in my office?¡± Miriam asked with a smile.


    Lara nodded in understanding. She nced around for a moment then blinked at Mahya. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving now, okay?¡± she said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t take too long. I¡¯ll get bored!¡± Mahya warned.


    ¡°Okay!¡± Lara waved and followed Dr. Miriam¡¯s footsteps after bidding farewell to the patient properly. The two of them left Mahya¡¯s room to talk in the doctor¡¯s office. Andre didn¡¯t know anything about their conversation.


    ***


    ¡°Do you already know who I am, Ms. Lara?¡± Miriam asked directly to the point.


    ¡°What do you mean, Doctor?¡± Lara asked to make sure. She really didn¡¯t know the context of the knowledge Miriam was referring to.


    ¡°Can we stop pretending? Ms. Lara has taken what belongs to me.¡±


    Boom! Lara¡¯s heart seemed to explode and jump out of its ce. ¡°Wha-what do you mean, Doctor, Andre?¡± She finally spoke.


    ¡°Yes. My fiance. Your attitude towards him has exceeded the limit. I can no longer tolerate it!¡± Miriam finally raised her voice. But Lara waspletely confused and didn¡¯t understand the direction of this conversation.


    ¡°You should ask Andre, not me, Doctor. He approached me and¡­ isn¡¯t your engagement already over?¡± Lara finally replied fiercely. She really didn¡¯t want to be seen as someone who snatched someone else¡¯s fiance.


    ¡°What?! Who said such nonsense?!¡± Miriam couldn¡¯t ept it. She even mmed her desk and stared fiercely at Lara. Fortunately, there were only the two of them in the room.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Miriam had suspected that a confrontation like this would happen.


    ¡°Ask Andre, Doctor. I have nothing to do with the end of your engagement.¡±


    After saying that, Lara left and left Miriam alone. She didn¡¯t want to be intimidated


    by the doctor¡¯s jealousy and childish behavior, which seemed to use her unjustly.


    Lara certainly wouldn¡¯t let Andre approach her if his rtionship with his old fiancee hadn¡¯t ended properly. Andre had shown evidence of his conversation with President Andromeda-Lara¡¯s father, after meeting the old man some time ago.


    Miriam probably just didn¡¯t know the truth.


    ***


    ¡°Dad! Are you hiding something from me? What did Andre say?! Answer me!¡±

 Part 83 # Call Me Darling

    The CEO sighed deeply. Even though the conversation was conducted over the phone, he could feel the anger boiling from his beloved daughter¡¯s end.


    ¡°Yam¡­,¡± he called softly. A father¡¯s heart certainly hurts more when news of the breakup is suddenly revealed, without adequate exnation and in haste.


    ¡°Dad, don¡¯t hide anything from me! Tell me! What did Andre say? Why don¡¯t I know anything?¡±


    No matter how well you hide a carcass, it will eventually be discovered. That was the situation the CEO found himself in. He had unleashed anger, threats, and curses on his future son-inw, but to no avail. Andre remained unmoved. He stuck to his decision.


    ¡°You can find a better man, Yam! Andre is not worthy of you!¡± Now, it was the CEO¡¯s turn to raise his voice, apanied by his daughter¡¯s heartbreaking sobs.


    ¡°So, Andre really ended our engagement?¡± Miriam cried bitterly. Her sacrifices seemed to have been in vain. She was furious!


    ¡°Yam, listen to me¨C¡±


    ¡°Enough, Dad! I¡¯m disappointed in you! I won¡¯t let this go easily!¡±


    ¡°Yam!¡±


    Before the CEO could finish his sentence, Miriam had already hung up the phone. Her face was wet with tears. Her chest was roaring. Anger was bubbling inside her.


    ¡°Andre, Lara! I won¡¯t let you be happy!¡±


    ***


    Meanwhile, Laray on her hospital bed with a disgruntled expression. She didn¡¯t expect Miriam to treat her like a thief who stole something from her. ¡°Ugh! Annoying!¡± Lara grumbled in frustration. She wanted to close her eyes, but Miriam¡¯s words still echoed in her ears.


    ¡°Mine, she says? Ridiculous! Like Andre is an object?¡± Lara continued to mutter and sigh. She couldn¡¯t understand why such an unpleasant incident involving her had urred.


    ¡°Who belongs to whom?¡± Suddenly, a baritone voice came from Lara¡¯s door, apanied by gentle knocks that startled her.


    ¡°Andre!¡± Lara smiled to wee him.


    The man came bearing cold drinks and snacks. ¡°Bored?¡± he asked again. Lara nodded, pouting. Somehow, she felt like pouring out her frustration on the man who was now close to her.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Why is your face like that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m annoyed!¡±


    ¡°Why are you annoyed?¡± Andre interrogated while opening a cold bottled drink for Lara.


    ¡°Your ex!¡±


    ¡°My ex?¡± Andre wondered. ¡°Miriam?¡±


    Lara nodded, sighing again. Andre then lifted the gloomy girl¡¯s face and gently stroked her cheek. ¡°Why her?¡±


    ¡°She confronted me.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±


    ¡°Not physically, though. She just told me to stay away from you. But still, it¡¯s annoying!¡±


    Andre hugged Lara and rubbed her back. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! You got dragged into this. But this has nothing to do with you, Ra. I¡¯ve beenmitted to you since forever, and Miriam¡­ I only did it for this hospital.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Well, one of the conditions for the CEO to acquire this hospital is for me to marry into his family. I¡¯ve gained a lot, but my heart wasn¡¯t convinced¡­,¡± Andre¡¯s gaze started to wander, but then he curved his lips to reassure Lara not to worry.


    ¡°What about your fate after the breakup?¡± Lara asked, concerned. She was starting to worry. Andre might end up unemployed, and worse¡­ homeless because all his assets were seized by his future father-inw!


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, Ra! I¡¯m ready for everything. Even if this hospital is taken over by the CEO, I can work at another hospital,¡± Andre said confidently.


    Lara furrowed her brow. She really didn¡¯t want Andre to suffer losses. ¡°Ndre, shouldn¡¯t we just part ways? I can¡¯t give you anything, Ndre¡­ I¡¯m just a burden.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Ra! You can lean on me! I¡¯ll always protect you. I chose you not because of business rtions, Lara. I¡­ love you,¡± Andre¡¯s lips trembled as he uttered those words. Tears trickled down Lara¡¯s cheeks slowly. She felt touched and afraid of all the possible bad oues of their rtionship.


    ¡°I¡­ also¡­,¡± Lara admitted her feelings, albeit feeling embarrassed and ufortable to express them so openly.


    ¡°And?¡± Andre teased her. His deep brown eyes intentionally locked onto Lara¡¯s as he awaited the answer from his long-awaited sweetheart.


    ¡°And¡­ love¡­ you,¡± Lara finally said it! Even though her face immediately turned red. She covered her face in embarrassment. This was the first time Lara had confessed her feelings so deeply. Even when she had a husband before, the word ¡®love¡¯ was not somethingmonly discussed with her spouse.


    Lara was truly awkward.


    ¡°Haha! Come here,¡± Andre tightened the hug and buried his face into Lara¡¯s shoulder. He was very happy. ¡°Thank you foring back, Ra. Thank you. Because of you, I have a reason to fight again.¡±


    Lara nodded with streaming tears. She became even more emotional, especially since Andre always did sweet things for her. Lara had never received such loving treatment before. Andre was truly an angel sent by God to heal all the wounds in Lara¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about Miriam. I¡¯ll handle her,¡± Andre assured her, looking deeply into Lara¡¯s eyes. That face hadn¡¯t changed, Lara¡¯s beautiful face. Whether now or decades ago, that face was the one he had always dreamed of.


    ¡°Can I kiss you, Ra?¡± Andre asked before losing control that he had been holding back for so long. Lara¡¯s charm couldn¡¯t be ignored by him just like that. Her serene eyes, warm smile, and everything about Lara intoxicated him.


    ¡°Yes¡­,¡± Lara agreed, closing her eyes. Quickly, Andrended a loving kiss on his lover¡¯s lips. Their lips merged perfectly, creating a strange vibration that mesmerized them.


    The world seemed to stop spinning.


    ¡®Click!¡¯


    Andre evenid Lara down on the bed while continuing to softly kiss Lara¡¯s lips. ¡°Mmh¡­,¡± Lara sighed in pleasure, but she realized¡­ they had to stop soon.


    ¡°We can continue this at a hotel next time, hm?¡± Lara pushed Andre away a bit. They were in a hospital, after all. Such a passionate kiss would only invite trouble in the future.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, Ra,¡± Andre chuckled nervously. He rubbed his face roughly and cursed his uncontroble lust as usual.


    Laraughed softly and hugged Andre from behind. She leaned her head against Andre¡¯s back, and at that moment, Lara felt peace. Thatrge and sturdy back was what she could rely on for a long time.


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me Andre, okay?¡± he suddenly asked, grabbing Lara¡¯s hands and kissing his lover¡¯s handback tenderly.


    ¡°Hm? Call you what?¡± Lara tried to find the answer to Andre¡¯s question. She really didn¡¯t understand the context. ¡°Do you want to be called like before?¡± Lara asked ambiguously.


    ¡°Before, what?¡±


    ¡°The bald guy!¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°Then?¡±


    ¡°Call me ¡®Darling¡¯!¡±

 Part 84 # Settling the Score

    Lara widened her eyes. How could Andre tease her like that? ¡°Ndre! We¡¯re in the hospital!¡± eximed Lara, turning her face away. ¡®Hopefully Andre didn¡¯t notice my flushed face,¡¯ she thought as she cupped her face with her hands.


    ¡°Come here,¡± Andre turned Lara around, who had her back to him earlier. Now, their faces were facing each other, and of course, Andre nted a kiss!


    ¡°Aaah¡­.¡± Lara sighed, and for the umpteenth time, they kissed passionately on Lara¡¯s bed.


    The incident was nothing out of the ordinary for them, but it was for¡­ Miriam!


    The woman who Andre had proimed as his former fiancee was shocked to see the lewd scene on Andre¡¯s patient¡¯s bed. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s so inappropriate! Damn it!¡± But instead of recording and providing evidence to the disciplinarymittee, Miriam ran away crying.


    She then took out her phone and dialed Seno¡¯s number. ¡°Sir. I want to proceed with option two.¡±


    The female doctor¡¯s voice trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes again. Miriam was truly hurt, and she was going to get rid of Lara!


    ***


    ¡°Andre. Stop! It¡¯s not appropriate for a doctor like you to be intimate with a patient like me! Isn¡¯t that against the code of ethics?¡± Lara pushed Andre¡¯s chest away when she heard the nurse about to enter their room.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± the nurse said. Andre immediately stood up straight and pretended to take notes on his patient¡¯s progress.


    ¡°I¡¯ll change her IV first, okay, Doc,¡± the nurse said, smiling at the doctor. He then carried out his daily tasks and asked about Lara¡¯s condition. ¡°It seems like you can be discharged soon, right, Doc?¡± he asked after making sure Lara was far from being in danger.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll make sure of itter.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Rest well,¡± The nurse said goodbye before leaving. There was a sense of relief on Andre and Lara¡¯s faces after the door closed behind him.


    ¡°Ugh!¡± Lara pretended to sulk. Andre hadn¡¯t even exined his behavior, which was like that of a wild animal.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Sorry. I¡­ got carried away,¡± Andre approached Lara again. This time, he promised not to touch her.


    ¡°What if someone saw, Ndre? You could get fired!¡± Lara said worriedly. Andre justughed.


    ¡°Well, if I get fired, I¡¯ll just work somewhere else. Problem solved, right?¡±


    ¡°Underestimating!¡±


    ¡°What else can I do? After all¡­ you¡¯re so beautiful.¡±


    Lara blushed and felt awkward. Andre was indeed good at turning things around. ¡°Forget it. So, Doctor Andre, when can I go home?¡± Lara asked seriously. She wanted to go see her former nanny and ask about her mother¡¯s legacy.


    ¡°Maybe the day after tomorrow you can go home. Today, make sure to rest properly, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay, Doctor,¡± Lara replied, saluting like a soldier. Andre wanted to kiss her even more. ¡°Alright, go! Get to work!¡± Lara shooed him away and pretended to curl up on her bed again.


    ¡°Sure, Honey. After my shift ends, I¡¯ll be back,¡± Andre said, kissing Lara¡¯s forehead, even though she was already asleep with her back to him.


    ¡°Bu¨Cstubborn,¡± Lara murmured with a fluttering heart. Andre truly made everything sweet and surprising!


    ¡°See youter.¡±


    They parted with smiles on their faces. Even though Lara didn¡¯t show her face, Andre was sure she was just as happy.


    ¡°Ah, if only moments like this came sooner,¡± Andre muttered as he closed Lara¡¯s room door. However, he didn¡¯t know that it was theirst encounter.


    ***


    The midday sun was scorching, and the hospital was bustling, but¡­ Lara¡¯s room remained empty. She had no family.


    The blue sky stretched wide and looked beautiful from therge window in Lara¡¯s room. She stared at the expanse of white clouds merging with the blue sky while reading. Waiting for Andre to finish his shift was truly tiring. Lara suddenly felt sleepy.


    ¡°Yawn,¡± She couldn¡¯t stop yawning, but the novel ¡°Revenge on My Bastard Husband¡± was very exciting. The main character¡¯s story resembled her life. Lara felt inspired to turn her bitter experiences into a book.


    ¡°Would anyone even buy it? Hehe¡­ why bother reading other people¡¯s life stories?¡± Lara chuckled to herself. But, actually, what she experienced was truly like a story in a romance novel. The difference was, her story fell into the thriller genre, not pure romance. Sometimes, Lara also felt that the scriptwriter of her life was so troublesome.


    ¡°If only my life were written by someone¡­ I¡¯d definitely visit their house and protest! The writer is so cruel!¡± Lara grumbled irritably while flipping through the pages of the nearly finished novel.


    When her eyes were still focused on the book, a knock startled her.


    ¡°Who?¡± Lara asked silently because the nurse had alreadye to change her IV.


    ¡°Excuse me, Ms. Lara,¡± said the male nurse.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Lara replied.


    ¡°There¡¯s a vitamin injection for you, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Lara wondered because she hadn¡¯t been informed before. And that voice, she seemed to recognize it, but¡­ the nurse¡¯s entire face was covered with a mask, and he also wore sses. Lara didn¡¯t recognize his facial features very well.


    ¡°Yes. and¡­ sleep, Ms. Lara!¡± he whispered as he injected a sedative into Lara¡¯s neck.


    ¡°What¨C¡± Lara instantly fell unconscious and fell into a deep sleep. She didn¡¯t expect that the man was¡­ Seno! Her ex-husband who had been trying to kill her all this time.


    ¡°You damn slut! I have to take care of you myself! Such a nuisance!¡±


    After covering Lara¡¯s entire body with a nket, Seno then brought a wheelchair from the corner of the room. He seated Lara there and put on a mask and a head covering to avoid being recognized by anyone.


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s go home, Honey.¡±


    Seno pushed the wheelchair out of the room. Thanks to Dr. Miriam¡¯s ess, Seno could move freely. Apparently, a heart blinded by blind jealousy could act as cruelly as a lion.


    That was how Miriam, who initially rejected the n to make Lara disappear, eventually changed her mind. She only wanted to cooperate with Seno in business matters, but¡­ Miriam eventually fell into the trap as well.


    ¡°If Lara disappears, then yourpetition will disappear too, right? Andre will be entirely yours.¡±


    Seno¡¯s coaxing was initially rejected outright by the specialist doctor, but¡­ jealousy and burning vengeance strengthened what she should have avoided.


    Miriam gave in. ¡°I choose option two.¡±


    Those keywords made Seno overjoyed. Finally, the failed mission could be attempted again for sess. This time, Seno would take matters into his own hands. He was tired of various losers foiling his mission several times.


    ¡°Now, after you, I¡¯ll deal with Mahya. Don¡¯t worry, Lara, and sleep¡­ forever!¡± Seno whispered behind Lara¡¯s head, leaning over as he pushed the wheelchair.


    Seno¡¯s not-so-tall figure managed to fool everyone. He looked like an ordinary nurse pushing a patient for a stroll. His disguise was truly perfect.


    Assistance from Dr. Miriam also facilitated his actions. The CCTV recording was temporarily stopped. Seno had 30 minutes to do everything, and that was more than enough.


    ¡°Now, Lara. Let¡¯s do the unfinished business.¡±


    A dark-tinted van approached them in the lobby. Quickly, two big guards captured the woman in the wheelchair and put her in the car.


    A nod from Seno made the two men drive the car at a moderate speed and quickly leave the hospital area so as not to be caught.


    ¡°Meet me at headquarters.¡±


    Seno brieflymunicated with themunicator in his hand. A momentter, he disappeared into the crowd and changed his clothes as usual.


    ***


    ¡°Is¡­ is Lara still alive?¡±

 Part 85 # Unveiling the Truth

    Lara woke up again, her hands and feet tied. This time, she couldn¡¯t see at all.


    ¡°Mmm!¡± Lara tried to struggle, but her efforts were in vain. No one intended to free her.


    The cold air began to suffocate her. The iron chair supporting her body felt like biting ice. Lara felt paralyzed and helpless. Where was she, actually?


    The hum of the air conditioner was the only thing she could hear and feel. The draft of air back and forth in the empty room intentionally hurt Lara. Seno indeed had a specific purpose in turning on the air conditioner in freezing temperatures. At least, so Lara could feel that her life was truly meaningless.


    ¡°Ah, awake already, I see?¡±


    The very distinctive baritone voice startled her. Lara flinched and automatically turned to the source of the sound on her left side.


    ¡°Mmm!¡± she replied, stomping her feet in anger. Lara knew that her ex-husband was behind all of this.


    ¡°Calm down, my wife. Oh. Ex-wife. You¡¯ll die soon,¡± Seno said coldly as he walked closer to Lara.


    Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.


    The sound of his loafers echoed loudly in the almost empty room. There was only one chair and also one table, which, of course, was useless. The room looked like a warehouse without contents, deliberately used to imprison his ex-wife.


    ¡°Do you want to talk? Fine. We can talk before you die in my hands today, Lara!¡±


    Seno finally forcefully opened Lara¡¯s blindfold and the cloth that had been gagging her mouth all this time. Hatred immediately emanated from Lara¡¯s eyes. How could someone she once loved be so cruel, wanting to kill her?C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°What are you doing? You bastard!¡± Lara spat at Seno after her eyes and mouth returned to their original function. She truly couldn¡¯t forgive Seno. His actions endangering Lara¡¯s life would never be forgotten. Lara truly hated her ex-husband.


    ¡°What am I doing? You should ask your mother! Damn! I just found out that Madam Xenia is actually your mother, you crazy woman!¡± Seno pped Lara with extra force. All this time, he felt deceived.


    Seno just found out that Lara was the main reason for the halt in investment from Madam. Ironically, Lara was also the reason why Madam gave arge sum of money to Seno and sent him to marry Lara.


    ¡°Your mother¡¯s schemes are truly cunning! She gave me money at first, but she also almost bankrupted me because I divorced her daughter. Damn you, mother! Just like that!¡± Seno grumbled angrily as he recalled the unpleasant incidents he had experienced.


    Seno thought Madam gave the investment through an assessment of business unit profiles presented by Seno when he graduated from college. He didn¡¯t expect that all this time, he was just a puppet being controlled as she pleased.


    ¡°Thank goodness I cut ties with that damned puppeteer! If not, my life would forever be a joke!¡± Seno grabbed Lara¡¯s chin and began to kiss her forcibly. ¡°You¡¯re still sweet, my love. Your kiss still tastes good!¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Lara spat at Seno again and refused to speak further with him.


    ¡°Sooo, you¡¯ve been plotting with my mother all this time? What have you been doing?¡± Lara wanted to find out the root of the problem and the return of her mother, as well as the reason why she faked her death.


    ¡°Plotting? We were doing business, you Crazy Woman! Madam injected a $2 million investment into my business, and I made the medicine she requested!¡± Seno began to exin. Somehow, he didn¡¯t realize that Lara was interrogating him.


    ¡°Medicine?¡± Lara asked again. ¡°What medicine are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°She said the medicine was a potent drug and¡­ a kind of psychotropic. She even stole it from her ex-husband who cheated on her. As punishment, she faked her death and framed the family of the mistress! Really! Your mother¡¯s story is like a soap opera! I just found out, it turns out¡­ you¡¯re her daughter! Hahah!¡±


    Lara swallowed hard. It turned out that the truth her mother wanted to convey was revenge on her father. As a woman, Lara could understand her mother¡¯s pain. But¡­ why sacrifice her too?


    ¡°You¡­ when did you meet my mother?¡±


    ¡°Why should I answer that? You Stupid!¡±


    Lara began to think tactically. She had to know all the reasons before intending to escape and seek help. Anyway, Lara had Andre now. There¡¯s no way Andre would let her disappear!


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to kill me? Can¡¯t I know everything before I be a curious spirit?¡± Lara tried to find a loophole with a logical game. She knew very well that although Seno was a skilled businessman, he was very weak in controlling his superiority.


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re right, Ex-wife! Alright. Consider this your lucky day. The day you can freely get answers to all your questions¡­ before you die in my hands!¡±


    ¡°Alright¡­.¡± Lara took a deep breath before continuing. ¡°Now, when did you meet my mother?¡±


    ¡°I met your mother when I just graduated, before the Campus Queen event, remember?¡±


    Lara nodded. Now, she understood why Seno suddenly appeared at her faculty even though their buildings were very different. ¡°Then, what did my mother say? Why did you have to marry me?¡±


    ¡°You know, right? Blood is thicker than water. Maybe, she wanted to have a grandchild from you when she considered herself dead? Ah! Damn! Remembering that, I get angry! Why didn¡¯t I ever think that she was your mother? If I knew, I wouldn¡¯t have killed you, Lara.¡±


    ¡°W-what do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Well, everything didn¡¯t go well. That drug had side effects, and unfortunately, the active substance development was from my antibodies. That evil mother made me a guinea pig after giving millions of dors. You know? What happened to me?¡±


    ¡°N-no¡­¡±


    ¡°You must know! We couldn¡¯t do it! Remember? We couldn¡¯t have sex!¡±


    Lara swallowed her saliva again. This time, her heart beat faster. ¡°Th-then? Why was that? What happened to you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m impotent, Lara! That cursed drug did suppress depression, but its long-term effects, even my sexual nerves are dead! I have to find a way to restore them!¡±


    ¡°How¡­ how do you do it?¡± Lara¡¯s brain worked hard to find out the answer. Of course, Lara couldn¡¯t draw conclusions from Seno¡¯s problem because she wasn¡¯t an expert.


    ¡°I made an antidote. You know? What substance can make the development of that medicine sessful?¡± Seno baited Lara with all his analytical skills. If she were smart, she would surely know about all the events she experienced in this case.


    ¡°No,¡­¡± Lara refused to conclude. She didn¡¯t want to think of the unthinkable. ¡°Where is my child!¡± Lara finally struggled again and bit her lower lip in anger.


    ¡°Ah, it seems you¡¯re starting to understand, huh?¡± Seno smirked and gripped Lara¡¯s chin again. ¡°Right, my dear. That¡¯s the purpose of our child. I need the body cells from our child for that psychotropic antidote. Thank you, sincerely, because of you¡­ all my dreams are finally perfect.¡±


    ¡°NOOO! YOU BASTARD!¡±

 Part 86 # Special Forces

    The air around her suddenly grew colder, Lara was choked by the crushing reality.


    ¡°M-my child! What have you done to him?¡± Lara still couldn¡¯t ept the painful reality.


    ¡°Well, I just did a little experiment, but it turns out¡­ he wasn¡¯t that tough.¡±


    ¡°W-what?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lara. Your child died during the bone marrow extraction process. Hah. Quite suffocating. Now I have to rearrange how cell multiplication works properly.¡± Seno said it as if without burden. Lara was truly furious.


    ¡°How could you? How could you be so cruel, Seno?! ARGH!¡±


    ¡°How cruel? Sacrifices are necessary, right? What else do you want to know? Isn¡¯t that enough?¡±


    ¡°You¡­ monster!¡± Lara¡¯s tears fell along with her shattered heart. She couldn¡¯t see Seno as human. Seno was a demon incarnate blending in like any other ordinary person.


    ¡°Cry beautifully, Lara. That way, I¡¯ll be more satisfied when I take your life! Don¡¯t you want to know where your child is?¡±


    Lara¡¯s eyes widened, still teary. Her face looked desperate, as if she willingly traded her life for her beloved child. ¡°Where is he?¡±


    ¡°I preserved his body in theb as a memento.¡±


    ¡°DAMN IT! HE¡¯S YOUR CHILD TOO, YOU BASTARD!¡±


    ¡°Who knows. I never felt like that, Lara. A child¡­ Haha, a child can be made again. But, the moment to be wealthy won¡¯te twice, Lara.¡±


    ¡°Devil! Demon!¡±


    ¡°Curse me all you want, Darling. But, remember, this is the end of everything. You also have to disappear after knowing all the truth, okay? Do I have to sh you or shoot you?¡±


    Seno¡¯s sly smile adorned his face, meanwhile, Lara¡¯s body trembled violently with fear and boiling anger.


    ¡°Get me my favorite knife!¡± Senomanded one of his burly henchmen guarding outside. But, there was no response from them. Seno became angry and was about to give those guards a lesson.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Seno turned the iron door knob with thunderous anger, about to threaten a pay cut, but looking at the guards¡¯ gaze, his eyes suddenly almost popped out of their sockets.


    ¡°Y-you!¡±


    ¡°RAISE YOUR HANDS!¡±


    The special forces unit pointed their guns at Seno and his henchmen.


    ¡°RAISE YOUR HANDS!¡± the unitmandermanded for the second time with a voice that thundered like lightning. The sound of their boots immediately followed as the soldiers formed a siege circle so the criminal couldn¡¯t escape.


    ¡°Drop your weapons!¡±


    ¡°A-all right¡­.¡± Seno raised both his unarmed hands. His two henchmen holding firearms also put down their weapons one by one.


    ¡°Argh!¡± themander¡¯s subordinate managed to subdue the three criminals in one swift move. They were then handcuffed and shackled to be led to the prisoner transport vehicle.


    ¡°Let go! I-I didn¡¯t do anything!¡± Seno still denied his evil deeds. He kept struggling as the soldiers dragged him out of the building. ¡°I¡¯ll sue you all! Argh!¡± Seno writhed in pain as Andrended a raw punch to his face.


    ¡°Lara!¡± Andre then ran from behind the special forces unit towards Lara, who was tied to the metal chair.


    ¡°Ra, what happened? What¡¯s going on here?¡± Andre asked softly, embracing his woman tightly.


    ¡°Ndre¡­.¡± Lara only called his name and knelt on the floor with a face frozen by shock and fear. Andre tightened the hug, trying to calm Lara who was still trembling with overflowing emotions.


    Lara looked at Andre with eyes still filled with helplessness. ¡°Andre, Seno¡­ he¡­ killed¡­ our child¡­.¡± Lara struggled to speak, choked by the emotions flooding her.


    ¡°W-what?¡±


    ¡°My child¡­ Ndre¡­ I need to see him¡­.¡±


    ¡°Calm down, Ra. Seno is in the prisoner transport vehicle now. You¡¯re safe. We¡¯ll soon find your child,¡± Andre said, gently stroking Lara¡¯s back, trying tofort her with full reassurance.


    Lara took a deep breath, trying to gather strength and calm herself. ¡°He threatened to¡­ kill me¡­ he said our child¡­ our child is already¡­.¡± Lara choked up. She couldn¡¯t even continue her words, although Andre already knew.


    ¡°I know¡­ I know¡­ calm down, Darling.¡±


    Andre looked at Lara with sympathy. He felt some of the pain she felt. ¡°We need to get out of here. I¡¯ll take you to a safe ce.¡±


    Lara nodded, still in shock. She grabbed Andre¡¯s hand tightly, entrusting herself to the man who had been by her side through every hardship.


    The special forcesmander approached Lara with a firm yet caring attitude. ¡°We will take you to a safe ce, Madam. You will be well protected.¡±


    Lara looked at themander with eyes still full of fear, but she also felt relieved seeing the strong special forces surrounding her. She felt a little safer.


    Andre led Lara out of the room, followed by the special forces who were ready to escort them to a safe ce. They walked cautiously through the quiet corridors of the building, but remained vignt against possible threats from Seno or his henchmen.


    ¡°Where is this?¡± Lara asked softly as she continued to move forward ording to the instructions of themander of the special forces in front of them.


    ¡°This is Seno¡¯s headquarters, Ra. We got information from¡­ Olivia.¡±


    ¡°Olivia?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Who would have thought, your enemy actually helped a lot. I was scared and panicked when I saw you disappear from the room. All CCTV recordings suddenly disappeared and we¡¯re still investigating this. Suddenly, Olivia came to me and said she knew the location of Seno¡¯s headquarters.¡±


    Lara was still stunned. She didn¡¯t expect Olivia to really help her. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Ra. You can ask herter. She¡¯s at the police station now as a witness. And¡­ Seno¡¯sb and office were forcibly sealed.¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You found hisb? I need to go there, Ndre! I have to find your child¡­ even¡­ even his body,¡± Lara cried again and wiped the tears from her face.


    Andre embraced Lara¡¯s waist and drew her closer to him. He understood that the fact was very painful for her, but¡­ Andre was told that there might be illegal experimentation practices in Seno¡¯sboratory for the sake of his drugs¡¯ development.


    After going through a series of corridors and stairs, they finally reached the exit door of the building. The fresh air outside provided a little relief for Lara, who was still shaken by the recent events.


    A fleet of prisoner transport vehicles had been waiting outside, ready to take Seno and his henchmen to the detention center. The special forces guided them into the vehicles firmly, ensuring that no one could escape.


    Lara and Andre sat in another police car, closely guarded by several special forces members ced around them. They looked at each other, still stunned by what they had just experienced.


    ¡°We¡¯ll arrive at a safe ce soon, Ra,¡± Andre said softly, trying tofort the still-shaken Lara.


    Lara nodded, but her gaze remained empty, trapped in her chaotic thoughts and feelings. She wondered if all this had really ended, or if there were other dangers lurking for her in the future.


    They continued their journey in silence. Lara really wanted to meet her child soon.


    ***


    ¡°Breaking News! S-Group Director and the initiator of the booming Escitalopram drug on the market, was arrested in the early hours on suspicion of violence!¡±

 Part 87 # The Safe House

    Amongst the silhouette of dawn already revealing its light, Lara sat in the police car with tension creeping into her heart. Her eyes continued to stare nkly out the window. Lara felt the silence enveloping them, but within that silence, she felt the weight heavily burdening her chest.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Sigh¡­.¡± Every time Lara closed her eyes, the image of her child¡¯s face appeared in her mind. She tried to calm herself, but the pain and loss ran so deep it made it hard for her to breathe.


    ¡°Ra¡­.¡± Andre called softly when he saw Lara shedding tears. She immediately wiped her wet face and leaned her head on Andre¡¯s shoulder. He knew, it still needed a process to know the fate of their child for sure. Seno could have been lying, right?


    ¡°I¡¯m always here to help. Stay calm,¡± Andre whispered softly while gently caressing his lover¡¯s head. Lara nodded weakly, although Andre saidforting things to her, she still felt like she was in darkness alone.


    Andre sighed deeply. No matter how hard he tried to find the right words as constion, as much as Lara tried to draw boundaries to keep sane, Andre knew, there were no words that could erase the pain felt by the woman he loved.


    The police car continued to drive on the quiet road, heading towards the safe ce promised by the officers. However, even though they were heading to a secret location, Lara felt like she was in an uncontroble emotional storm.


    Every time she thought about what had happened to her child, anger and despair surged within her. Lara felt like she had failed as a mother, that she couldn¡¯t protect her child from the threatening dangers.


    ¡°When can we meet my child, Ndre? I don¡¯t even feel pain. I don¡¯t need treatment, I want to meet my child, Ndre,¡± Lara shook Andre¡¯s shoulders again. The doctor looked at Lara with gentle eyes and whispered softly, ¡°Be patient, Ra. We will definitely meet him.¡±


    Meanwhile, in another prisoner transport vehicle, Seno sat with still-raging anger. He continued to struggle, but the blow of the gun handle caused Seno to fall silent, no longer speaking.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± He cursed his fate inwardly. Seno felt betrayed by his own efforts. The drug that had won the hearts of the public might now be a failed product to be confiscated by the government.


    ¡°ARGH!¡± Seno felt crushed. He didn¡¯t expect this problem to take a wrong turn. ¡®That bitch really jinxed me!¡¯ Seno continued to mutter to himself. He felt desperate, but at least¡­ Seno still had enough money to hire the bestwyer in Jakarta.


    ¡°This is not over yet. No. It will never end.¡±


    His sly smile adorned his torn-red lips due to the blow of the gun handle. Seno didn¡¯t feel too much pain, he was just angry. He didn¡¯t want to lose all his money and also the chance to dominate the healthcare business in this country. It will never happen.


    The police car continued to drive through the chilly dawn that had just begun to break its light. The morning breeze was so fresh, coupled with the empty road, adding to the sense of calmness.


    The sound of sirens enveloped them, the roar of engines also bore witness to how Lara¡¯s and the criminals¡¯ fate in the car behind them intertwined.


    The car carrying Lara and the one carrying Seno dispersed at the intersection not far from the main headquarters. Lara would undergo treatment in the safe house, while Seno would be confined in the detention cell.


    ¡°Get out!¡± The officers dragged Seno and his henchmen out of the prisoner transport vehicle. They were then separated and ced in separate cells.


    ¡°Hey! You have no right to detain me like this!¡± Seno shouted again.


    ¡°Calm down, Buddy! Yourwyer will be here soon.¡± A uniformed officer who had been typing reports since earlier responded to Seno¡¯s screams. Unlike the officers who arrested him earlier, he didn¡¯t want to answer anything.


    The sound of metal shing with Seno¡¯s tantrum was a sign that the new prisoner was like a spoiled child. Some other inmates in the cell felt disturbed. One of them spat on Seno, right on the head.


    ¡°Y-you bastard.¡± Seno only muttered because the person who spat on him was a tall man with many tattoos covering his arms and neck. The head shaking from several other men seemed to signal Seno not to cause any more trouble.


    ¡°D-damn it.¡±


    While swallowing his spit, Seno finally sat slumped in the corner of the room, waiting for the promisedwyer to arrive. Previously, he had indeed handed over his attorney¡¯s business card, and hopefully, the man woulde soon.


    ¡°I will definitely cut his sry!¡±


    At the safe house, Lara was greeted by an officer with a warm smile.


    ¡°Wee, Mrs. Lara. I¡¯m Officer Ani, one of the police officers at this safe house. It¡¯s nice to meet you,¡± a police officer greeted while extending her hand towards Lara.


    ¡°Ah, yes, Officer Ani, please help me. I¡¯m Lara,¡± Lara replied while shaking Officer Ani¡¯s hand warmly.


    ¡°I¡¯m Andre, a doctor.¡±


    ¡°Wee, Dr. Andre. It¡¯s fortunate to have a doctor here. Our resources be more efficient,¡± Officer Ani joked while showing the living room so her guest could rx for a moment.


    ¡°In this house, you will receive treatment, assessment, and also protection. We are ready to provide the support you need while you are here. If there is anything I can help with, please don¡¯t hesitate to contact me.¡±


    ¡°Thank you very much.¡±


    The officer then showed Lara the entire room that would be her temporary living space.


    Lara stepped in with a little hesitation, but she tried to be brave. Her heart was still filled with anxiety and deep pain. But here, Lara was sure she would get adequate security. She was still traumatized by the abduction and captivity carried out by her ex-husband.


    ¡°The house isfortable,¡± Andre joked while patting Lara¡¯s shoulder gently. The woman nodded and agreed with her lover¡¯s words. The atmosphere there seemed calm andfortable. Lara then sat on the soft sofa to rx. The burden on her heart slowly disappeared, reced by hope that would soone.


    ¡°We will always keep you informed about this case, Ma¡¯am. Don¡¯t worry. There are several guards taking turns watching this house. You can rest peacefully and safely.¡±


    ¡°Thank you very much. Officer Ani. I am truly grateful.¡±


    ¡°No problem. This is our duty. The appointed doctor will arrive in about 30 minutes. Please wait. You will receive the necessary treatment and assessment.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Officer. Thank you very much.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. I¡¯ll take my leave now. Have a good rest.¡±


    The officer then left, and another police officer stood guard at the front post. Shortly, the doctor who would treat Lara would arrive. And, she didn¡¯t know that the doctor actually came from Andromeda Hospital.

 Part 88 # The Hidden Truth

    ¡°Doctor Ricky?¡± Andre was surprised to see his colleagueing to the safe house where Lara was staying.


    ¡°Doctor Andre!¡± The doctor was equally surprised.


    The sun had started to rise. The re of light dazzled from the front window. An ambnce 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 quiteplete 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 youter. 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 Andre exchanged nces. However, Doctor Ricky immediately cleared his throat to break the tension between them. ¡°I mean, I know you. We met briefly at the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Ah. That¡¯s it,¡± Lara brushed her hair aside. Doctor Ricky began to measure Lara¡¯s blood pressure and also checked her vital signs, assisted by some nurses who came with him.


    ¡°Now, can you tell me where you feel pain or difort?¡± Doctor Ricky asked while instructing one of the nurses to treat the open wounds on Lara¡¯s face and hands.


    ¡°I feel pain in my arms and legs. I also have bruises on my face and some scratches on my body.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I will check that. First, I will see if there are any broken bones or more serious damage. Please lie down and let me see those wounds.¡±


    The doctor then carefully examined the wounds on Lara¡¯s body. There were several bruises on her ribs and also on her arms and legs.


    With a deep sigh, Doctor Ricky finallymented, ¡°From my initial examination, it seems you have some bruises and scratches in various non-fatal parts. I will clean and treat these wounds to prevent infection and elerate healing.¡±


    Lara nodded and let the doctor and nurses do their job. ¡°Ouch!¡± Lara flinched as the cold alcohol wipe began to glide on her skin. But she tried to remain brave.


    ¡°I will also order some additional tests to ensure there are no more serious injuries, such as broken bones. Are youfortable if I proceed with the treatment now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s okay. Thank you, Doctor.¡±


    ¡°I know this can be ufortable, Mrs. Lara. But, it¡¯s important to prevent infection,¡± Doctor Ricky added with an enthusiastic smile.


    Meanwhile, Andre sat by Lara¡¯s bedside, watching with concern the treatment process being carried out by Doctor Ricky and his nurse. He felt relieved to see Lara receiving proper medical treatment after her terrifying experience.


    ¡°How do you feel, Ra?¡± Andre asked gently as Doctor Ricky and his nurse were still busy with the treatment.


    Lara sighed and tried to smile despite still feeling pain. ¡°A little relieved, although still ufortable. But, I¡¯ll be okay,¡± she replied with determination.


    ¡°You will be okay, Ra. I¡¯m here with you,¡± Andre said confidently, trying to provide support to Lara.


    After cleaning the wounds and applying the necessary medical treatment, Doctor Ricky instructed his nurse to bandage the wounds carefully. He also arranged for Lara to undergo some additional tests to ensure there were no more serious injuries.


    ¡°Alright, Mrs. Lara. You will remain under our observation for the next few days to ensure optimal recovery. If you feel any difort or there are any worrying symptoms, don¡¯t hesitate to let us know,¡± Doctor Ricky said firmly yetpassionately.


    Lara nodded in understanding. ¡°I¡¯m grateful to be treated by you, Doctor.¡±


    ¡°No problem. This is our duty. Now, please take this medicine to help relieve the pain and also so you can sleep soundly,¡± the doctor said as he handed the pills to Lara.


    ¡°Let me help,¡± a nurse approached with a ss of water and also some light snacks to be eaten before taking the medicine.


    While Lara was still being treated by the attending nurse, Doctor Ricky appeared to approach Andre. With a nod of his head, Andre followed him to move away from Lara for a while. They then talked in a corner of the room, quite far from Lara¡¯s room.


    ¡°What¡¯s up, Bro?¡± Andre asked curiously. Ricky¡¯s demeanor was not usual. It seemed like there was something important he wanted to convey.


    ¡°Bro, the hospital is in trouble! What¡¯s wrong with your phone?¡± Ricky asked curiously.


    Andre frowned. He reached for the phone in his pocket. Turns out, the phone was dead. Andre wanted to turn it on but couldn¡¯t. ¡°Looks like the battery is dead, Bro. Anyway, what¡¯s the news?¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­ there¡¯s amotion there, Bro! Miriam suddenly disappeared. It¡¯s like she vanished into thin air. No one knows where she is.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± This time, Andre was truly surprised. ¡°How is that possible? The CEO, how is he? Any news from him?¡±


    ¡°It seems Miriam¡¯s disappearance is rted to a police investigation. The hospital¡¯s CCTV suddenly stopped working and, you know, right? Who could have intentionally turned it off?¡± Ricky tried to give a hint. Andre began to think.


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible!¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Everyone thinks so. But, seeing you, Lara, and Miriam, everything is connected. So, wild rumors about your love triangle emerged, Bro! Strangely, Miriam disappeared.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know.¡± Ricky couldn¡¯t continue his sentence because he didn¡¯t know the fate of Andre¡¯s colleague and fiancee. ¡°Aren¡¯t you still engaged?¡± He dared to ask, although it wasn¡¯t something that needed exnation to the public.


    ¡°No, Bro. Our engagement is off. I love Lara.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a widow, Bro! Miriam is the daughter of thepany¡¯s owner!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the difference, Bro? It doesn¡¯t matter to me. Lara is my first love and¡­ I hope she¡¯ll be myst love,¡± Andre said seriously. Ricky just shook his head.


    ¡°Such a model human exists,¡± he murmured amidst the heart-wrenching concerns.


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know, Bro. It¡¯s about feelings. It can¡¯t be forced.¡±


    Ricky nodded in understanding. Shortly after, another piece of news surprised him. The hospital¡¯s mailing list announced that Doctor Miriam had been transferred abroad and could not return to practice in Indonesia.


    ¡°Looks like there¡¯s something going on, Bro,¡± Ricky concluded. Andre borrowed Ricky¡¯s phone for a moment and carefully read the announcement. It seemed Ricky¡¯s suspicion was correct.


    ¡°I have to see the CEO!¡±

 Part 89 # Andre Fired

    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. asionally, he nced at his watch; it was still not toote, 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-inw 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 Director¡¯s office. His secretary¡¯s shouts were ignored; he immediately pushed open the bright brown wooden door quickly.


    ¡°Hey! What a rude of you!¡± the President Director eximed, startled as he sat in his chair, almost jumping. The old man was quite surprised by Andre¡¯s unusual behavior. His prospective son-inw often behaved politely and gently, or one might say, coldly.


    The President Director had never seen Andre be angry and impulsive like this before.


    ¡°Where is Miriam?¡±


    ¡°Why do you want to know? Didn¡¯t you yourself end your rtionship?¡± The President Director¡¯s voice raised. Andre gritted his teeth.


    ¡°I know she tampered with the CCTV in Lara¡¯s room. You can stop dodging, President Director!¡±


    ¡°What? You¡¯re hallucinating!¡±


    ¡°Who else could have done it?¡±


    ¡°The CCTV is broken. Technology is just like that! It¡¯s on and off without you even realizing it! I¡¯ve given a statement to the police!¡±


    ¡°And¡­ do you think I just believe that? Why is Miriam not here? What are you nning?¡±


    CRASH!


    ¡°Enough! You¡¯ve gone too far! After unterally ending the rtionship¡­ now, you¡¯re using my daughter of things she didn¡¯t do! You¡¯re truly shameless!¡±


    SLAP!


    The President Director suddenly pped Andre¡¯s face, freezing him.


    ¡°You can p me, beat me, but I won¡¯t give up! I have to ask Miriam about this case. If she¡¯s really involved, I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ll be truly disappointed for the rest of my life!¡±


    ¡°GET OUT!¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t hide the truth forever, respected President Director!¡±


    ¡°YOU¡¯RE FIRED!¡±


    Andre growled and turned on his heel. Initially, he was about to leave right away, but the President Director¡¯s words made him change his mind. ¡°Wha-what?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re fired, Doctor Andre. I don¡¯t want to see your face here anymore!¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t just fire me like that!¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m canceling our cooperation contract because you¡¯re no longer my son-inw. Enjoy being unemployed! You¡¯ll have a hard time finding a job in Indonesia!¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Andre clenched his fists. If he didn¡¯t see the old President Director as someone the same age as histe father, Andre would have certainlynded a punch. Unfortunately, Andre could still think rationally enough not to attack him.


    What Lara feared finally happened. Andre was truly fired from Andromeda. ¡°This isn¡¯t over!¡±


    Andre turned on his heel again and took wide strides. He wanted to leave that disgusting room as soon as possible. If Andre were the President Director there, he would certainly not have carried out the expulsion.


    One thing regretted by Andre was the patients under his responsibility. Andre could sue the President Director and report him to the relevant ministry, but¡­ Andre would focus more on Lara¡¯s recovery first.


    ***


    Andre wanted to return to the safe house immediately. Lara asked him to stay and apany her there. Andre really wanted to be by Lara¡¯s side, but¡­ he had to find out some things first.


    ¡°Long time, Bro?¡± Riko finally came to the cafe near the Police Station. Andre had contacted him and asked him to spare some time. There were some things bothering his mind.


    ¡°Just arrived. How¡¯s it going?¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m good! Alright, no need for small talk. How can I help you?¡± Riko offered. He was indeed a true friend who understood all the hardships Andre experienced, even though the man hadn¡¯t opened his mouth yet.


    ¡°I just got fired. But, that¡¯s not the problem.¡±


    ¡°Fired? From your own hospital?¡±


    ¡°That hospital has been bought by Miriam¡¯s father, Bro!¡±


    ¡°Oh, right.¡±


    They both sighed deeply. Riko knew that Andre was having a hard time epting that decision. Not about being fired or having to leave that hospital. But, more about the responsibility to his Grandmother and Sister regarding their father¡¯s inheritance.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Has your sister found out?¡±


    ¡°Not yet.¡±


    ¡°Grandma?¡±


    ¡°No, she didn¡¯t. It will only adding more burdens to her mind.¡±


    ¡°Oh dear¡­¡± Riko started thinking hard. Did Andree to borrow money? ¡°If you need to borrow 10-30 million, I have it. But, if it¡¯s 300 billion, I don¡¯t have it, Bro! Do you want to buy back the hospital?¡±


    ¡°No way! Who would borrow money?¡± Andre widened his eyes. He didn¡¯t expect Riko to offer him money.


    ¡°If that¡¯s not the case ¡­ then what should it be?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s about Lara¡¯s case. How about it? Any progress regarding to the car ident?¡±


    ¡°Oh my! Love indeed makes people blind, huh? Solving one¡¯s own problems but taking care of others¡¯,¡± Riko teased with a smirk. Andre just shook his head weakly whileughing. Whatever he was thinking about, he thought Lara¡¯s affairs had to be taken care of as best as possible.


    ¡°Not yet. All the CCTV at the scene is broken. If only there was a dashboard camera in the car that could be examined, maybe it could help with this investigation.¡±


    ¡°Have you found it?¡±


    ¡°Not yet. The kids are still investigating. There was a deserted restaurant there. If there were delivery trucks passing by, that moment could have been recorded. Unfortunately, the restaurant has been closed for a long time.¡±


    ¡°The owner?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Can¡¯t be reached. They also rarelye to Jakarta.¡±


    Andre sighed deeply again. The car ident case could be used as evidence for Seno¡¯s uing trial. ¡°Seno has been arrested, Bro!¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve heard too. But, apparently, he¡¯s denying all the charges. Hiswyer is crazy. It¡¯s Hoffman Pariz, you know?¡±


    Andre nodded and ran his hand through his hair. Seno was indeed skilled. He knew this wasn¡¯t a low-profile case. Maybe, he invested heavily in thatwyer to free himself from all usations. Who knows? He might even bribe the judge and prosecutor to walk free from all charges.


    Andre had to find a way to ensure that scoundrel was punished as best as possible.


    ¡°I have to go now, Bro! There¡¯s something I need to do!¡±


    ¡°Where are you going? Let me know if you need help!¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡±


    Andre then headed towards the parking lot and got into his beloved ck sedan. His fingers tapped on the steering wheel with a feeling of doubt. Was this the right decision?


    But, Andre had no choice. He had to inform his sister. At least, Andre had a reliable sibling.


    ¡°Hello, Big Sis. I¡­ got fired.¡±

 Part 90 # A Little Help from the God

    ¡°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 wille 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 be soplicated?¡± 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 be a problemtely?¡± 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 n each of his criminal actions.


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    Andre couldn¡¯t contain his curiosity. He wanted to revisit the scene of Lara and Mahya¡¯s ident. With determination like a detective, Andre wanted to find a loophole that could be used as evidence in court.


    ¡°That scoundrel can¡¯t escape!¡± Andre felt frustrated because most of the evidence leading to Seno¡¯s charges were indirect. Awyer of Hoffman Pariz¡¯s caliber would easily be able to refute the prosecutor¡¯s arguments.


    *Honk!*


    ¡°Oh my God!¡±


    Andre suddenly mmed on the brake pedal when a little girl suddenly jumped in front of his car.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°PRINCESS!¡±


    Andre could hear the panicked screams of the girl¡¯s parents from behind. He immediately pulled over and turned on the hazard lights. He approached the ident victim with a shaken heart.


    ¡°Are you okay, dear?¡±


    ¡°PRINCESS!¡±


    Two middle-aged women began to arrive alternately, hugging the crying little girl. ¡°Sir, please forgive my daughter,¡± one of them bowed her head, understanding that it was indeed her daughter¡¯s fault.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t want to take her medicine, so she ran away,¡± exined the plump woman while carrying the little girl who was about 5 years old, with two pigtails tying her thin hair.


    ¡°No problem, let me check. I¡¯m a doctor.¡± Andre reached out to check if there were any inmmation or wounds on the girl¡¯s body. Fortunately, Andre wasn¡¯t speeding. He could easily stop his car.


    ¡°Oh, really? Thank God! Princess, let Uncle Doctor check you.¡±


    ¡°Sob¡­ sob¡­ okay¡­¡±


    The little girl nodded amidst her tears. Andre immediately checked for any wounds that might be on her hands and legs. Her head was fine. She was just startled and slightly bruised. There were open scratch wounds on her knee, elbow, and some areas of her hands.


    ¡°Wait here for a moment,¡± Andre said as he walked back to his car. He took out a bag of medicines and brought it near the little girl.


    ¡°Hold on a bit, we¡¯ll get rid of the germs,¡± he said with a smile. The girl nodded obediently and began to grimace slightly as Andre cleaned her wounds with alcohol.


    After carefully cleaning the scratch wounds, Andre treated them with antibiotics and bandages to prevent infection. He performed all the procedures gently, trying to calm the crying little girl.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, dear. Uncle has cleaned your wounds. Now, we¡¯ll treat them so they heal quickly, okay?¡± Andre said gently while patting the girl¡¯s head.


    The little girl was still crying, but she nodded slightly in agreement. Andre continued the treatment carefully, making sure that the wounds were neatly and safely bandaged.


    ¡°Alright, now the wounds are bandaged. You have to take your medicine diligently, okay? So your wounds heal quickly,¡± Andre said lovingly.


    Andre provided pain relievers that might be needed, although they didn¡¯t necessarily have to be consumed. ¡°Children usually get cranky when they¡¯re slightly hurt. But if she¡¯s strong, there¡¯s no need to give her medicine,¡± he advised the mother.


    ¡°Thank you so much, Doctor. We¡¯re really sorry for the trouble.¡±


    ¡°No problem. I was just shocked. Fortunately, everything is okay.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Doctor. This girl is a bit naughty! She had the flu for days and only given medicine, until she almost had an ident like just now,¡± the mother said with a growl, looking sharply at her daughter. The girl just looked down and dared not look at her mother.


    ¡°Pretty girl, obey your mommy, okay?¡±


    The little girl nodded again while looking at Andre with teary eyes. She felt a little relieved because there was someone who cared about her when her mother seemed about to pounce on her.


    ¡°Thank you, Uncle Doctor,¡± she said softly while looking at Andre with gratitude.


    Andre smiled and gently patted the little girl¡¯s head. ¡°You¡¯re wee, dear. Be careful, don¡¯t get hurt again,¡± he said affectionately.


    After making sure that the little girl was stable andfortable, Andre wanted to say goodbye because there were some things he needed to chase after.


    ¡°Doctor, please stop by for a moment,¡± the mother offered.


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s not dinner time yet.¡±


    ¡°Eh, it¡¯s almost night. If you drive at this hour, Doctor, you¡¯ll get stuck in traffic. Come on, just for a moment. I just reopened my restaurant. Do you like seafood?¡±


    ¡°Re-restaur¡­?¡± Andre¡¯s eyes widened. There was only one restaurant around here, and supposedly, it had been closed for a long time. ¡°What¡¯s the name of the restaurant?¡± Andre¡¯s heart raced. Was this a stroke of good luck finallying?


    ¡°Loka Bahari Restaurant. Not far from here, let¡¯s go! We¡¯ll go there,¡± she said excitedly.


    Andre¡¯s eyes lit up with joy. Yes! That was the restaurant he was looking for! ¡°Let¡¯s go there using my car.¡±


    ¡°Alright. Our house is behind here. My restaurant is at the end of that street. If it¡¯s not too much trouble, let¡¯s go there.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    They quickly got into Andre¡¯s car to go to the restaurant in question. Andre felt really relieved; at least there were local residents he could ask for help.


    ¡°If I may ask, why was the restaurant closed for so long, Ma¡¯am?¡± Andre asked casually. He didn¡¯t want to seem like a police informant conducting an investigation. Andre had to stay calm to get information.


    ¡°Oh, yes. My parents in the vige were seriously ill. So, we went to Lamongan for a long time. Our seafood cuisine is inspired by the seafood in our vige. This is my aunt, she helps me cook there,¡± said the little girl¡¯s mother, introducing the rather old woman to Andre.


    ¡°Oh, yes, hello, Ma¡¯am!¡± Andre greeted warmly. They almost forgot the woman because she was too quiet. Her sad and wrinkled face only lifted slightly at the corners of her mouth to look friendly. Andre appreciated her response by nodding his head.


    ¡°Well, we¡¯re here.¡±


    Andre clicked the turn signal button and immediately turned into the parking area on the left side. A barrier pole stopped them, before opening automatically after the button was pressed.


    ¡°There, Doctor. Let¡¯s go straight to the main porch,¡± the mother said, pointing to the neatly arranged dining area with an open-air concept.


    The quiet area on the side of the road had its charm. Visitors could enjoy the breeze with the refreshing green scenery. Andre enjoyed the atmosphere in this restaurant, but¡­ it was a pity, that wasn¡¯t his main goal.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, can I ask for a favor?¡±

 Part 91 # The Best Lie

    ¡°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 ident 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 ident?¡±


    ¡°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 hit?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Do you know the victim, Doctor?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The victim is one of my close acquaintances,¡± Andre replied, slightly concealing Lara¡¯s identity. He didn¡¯t want to appear too close to the victim. ¡°Then, are there any CCTV recordings or car cameras that can be checked for evidence?¡±


    The woman was shocked and suddenly froze. Andre could see the change in her face from being rxed to pale. She seemed to be hiding something. ¡°A-are you actually a policeman?¡± she asked fearfully.


    Andre shook his head quickly. ¡°I¡¯m a doctor, truly. I¡¯m just asking.¡±


    ¡°Well, recently I¡¯ve been interrogated by the police. I¡¯m really scared. I don¡¯t want to be dragged into a case I don¡¯t know about,¡± she made a reasonable excuse. Andre understood her intention. But, this was clearly detrimental to Lara¡¯s side.


    ¡°My colleague was in aa, Ma¡¯am. Such a pity. Can¡¯t you give her justice? She¡¯s used of driving under the influence,¡± Andre pleaded slightly. He knew he couldn¡¯t force Mrs. Putri to help him with all his might.


    Andre only asked for surveince camera footage, if avable.


    ¡°Ehem¡­.¡± Mrs. Putri began to hesitate. As a mother, she certainly had a sentimental side that could easily be touched by the guise of empathy. Andre should have seeded in persuading her. However, one more thing was needed for his n to run smoothly.


    ¡°I will guarantee your safety, Ma¡¯am. I will also provide appropriatepensation,¡± Andre said again. This time, there was no room in Mrs. Putri¡¯s heart to refuse him.


    ¡°Just a moment, Doctor.¡±


    The woman then whispered to a skinny male employee in a half-wet T-shirt who had just emerged from the kitchen. After nodding for a while, the skinny man went to another room to get something requested by his boss.


    Andre observed the two of them with his arms crossed over his chest. There was a feeling of relief welling up from within him. Andre was sure the recording would definitely turn the situation around.


    ¡°Doctor, this is all I have,¡± Mrs. Putri came back carrying a ck sh disk containing the footage of the unfortunate ident. ¡°The car¡¯s dashboard camera was on before we left town. Thank goodness.¡±


    ¡°Thank you very much, Ma¡¯am! I really appreciate your cooperation.¡±


    ¡°You promise to keep me safe if anything happens, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I promise! Here¡¯s my business card. Please call anytime if you feel necessary.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Doctor! Oh yes, please enjoy.¡±


    Shortly after, various seafood dishes were served on the dining table. The little girl also joined after bathing and cleaning up. Andre enjoyed stir-fried ms and various grilled fish.


    ¡°So delicious,¡± he praised. Andre was serious, not just making small talk. Such cuisine reminded him of his childhood on the coast. Andre and Lara used to y on the beach, while their parents grilled various fish for dinner.


    Those beautiful memories somehow felt painful when Andre remembered their parents running away together, leaving Andre and Lara with deep wounds that had yet to heal until now.


    ***


    ¡°This¡­?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am. We found a baby¡¯s body in the tube. I¡¯m sorry, the body has been buried because we couldn¡¯t wait any longer. You can see it through¡­ this photo.¡±


    Lara¡¯s heart shattered. Her chest felt like it was being pierced. Her child was eventually found. However, she could only hold him in a piece of photograph. ¡°Huwaa!¡± Lara cried her heart out.


    Briptu Ani tried to calm her down, but Lara became more agitated. Her chest felt hot, and the tears that flowed seemed to burn her. ¡°MY CHILD!¡± She screamed in profound despair.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we couldn¡¯t let you participate in the burial because your condition is still unstable.¡±


    ¡°NO! You should have brought me, Briptu! You¡¯re so cruel!¡± Lara started to me the officer who unterally decided something. ¡°This isn¡¯t fair!¡± she demanded, pointing usingly at Briptu Ani¡¯s face with fiery anger.


    ¡°Please calm down, Ma¡¯am! We¡¯ve consulted with your legal counsel and¡­ Doctor Andre. He said it¡¯s better to bury him without you.¡±


    ¡°What does Andre have to do with me? What?!¡±


    ¡°You are¡­ my patient under my care, Lara.¡±


    Andre¡¯s voice suddenly sounded. With slow steps, he entered Lara¡¯s room. Andre had just arrived with an indescribable joyous mood, after sessfully finding the CCTV footage at the ident scene. But his happiness was short-lived.


    Andre was so surprised to hear screams from Lara¡¯s room.


    ¡°Ndre! How could you!¡± Lara shifted the me to Andre and wailed again. She really wanted to meet her child.


    One thing Lara didn¡¯t know. The photo was also manipted. The condition of Lara¡¯s child was truly heartbreaking. Andre was first contacted by the officers, a few minutes after returning from the restaurant.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t let Lara know. Just bury him after the autopsy, Ndan! I don¡¯t want Lara to be more shaken. Her condition is unstable. This news could make her mental state even worse.¡±


    Andre remembered his conversation with Briptu Ani some time ago. The police officer also informed Lara that her child¡¯s body had been buried, even though the body was still in the morgue awaiting autopsy.


    Andre couldn¡¯t imagine Lara¡¯s reaction when she found out that her child¡¯s body was no longer intact. Many organs had been dissected like a scrapyard machine. Andre didn¡¯t want Lara to spend the rest of her life in despair.


    *


    ¡°Evil! Huhu¡­ You¡¯re all so evil!¡± Lara cried her heart out. She punched Andre and was really upset because she wasn¡¯t consulted.


    ¡°Please calm down, Ra. Your child is already in heaven.¡±


    The effect of the bone marrow extraction experiment on the baby for drug development was truly cruel. But¡­ the police could only arrest theboratory head, and there was no name of Seno on any list there.


    ¡°That bastard is really good at hiding. I will never give up on uncovering the truth!¡± Andre growled behind Lara¡¯s mournful cries, which had now calmed down a bit in her embrace.


    ¡°Doctor, your arm!¡± Briptu Ani took several tissues to wipe the fresh blood flowing from Andre¡¯s arm due to Lara¡¯s attack. The handsome doctor just grinned slightly and shook his head slowly.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he answered spontaneously, after making sure that Lara had fallen asleep from exhaustion.


    ¡°Good job, Briptu! Thank you for helping us deal with this crisis.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee, Doctor. I¡¯m d I could be useful.¡±


    Briptu Ani then said goodbye with a deep sigh. She could see that Andre loved Lara so much. She even willingly became the target of Lara¡¯s venting, although her intention was truly for Lara¡¯s happiness.


    A small smile spread across the officer¡¯s face, imagining if she could also feel such genuine love.


    Briptu Ani left the safe house with a warmth in her heart that she had never felt before.

 Part 92 # Andre’s Six-Pack Abs

    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 apanied by screams that startled Andre.


    The man slept on the sofa, not far from Lara¡¯s bed. Andre really wanted to apany 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 bedsidemp 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, apanied by his charming dimples, soon adorned his face. Lara approached and hugged Andre. ¡°Sorry,¡± she whispered softly, burying her head in her lover¡¯s chest.


    Andre just gently stroked Lara¡¯s head and whispered words offort. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I won¡¯t leave, even if you strangle me or sh my arm, Ra. I¡¯ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. I¡¯ll always be with you.¡±


    Lara looked up, gazing into Andre¡¯s captivating brown eyes. No. It wasn¡¯t the beauty of Andre¡¯s face or the depth of his gaze that Lara aimed for, but the reflection of his love and affection that made Lara feel at peace. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± Andre tightened the hug and patted Lara¡¯s back gently. Lara knew she had gone too far. Her scratches were still visible. Lara felt guilty. ¡°Your wounds?¡±


    ¡°Ah, usual wounds for a guy, Ra!¡± Andre chuckled and didn¡¯t mind. ¡°I¡¯m a skilled doctor, fortunately. Otherwise¡­ I might get an infection,¡± he added, embracing Lara again and resting his head on his lover¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°Sleep here.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Andre teased Lara. Suddenly, the woman¡¯s face blushed.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°If things happen as desired, what then?¡±


    ¡°What!¡± Lara lightly elbowed Andre¡¯s ribs.


    Andre gently tousled Lara¡¯s hair and pinched her cheek fondly. ¡°Rx, I can control myself. As long as nothing disturbs that tranquility.¡±


    ¡°Enough, just sleep, okay!¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay.¡±


    The light was turned off. Lara slept with her back against Andre. She pulled the nket high, covering her entire body perfectly. Before drifting off, Lara made sure there was a bolster as a bed divider.


    ¡°Good night, Ndre.¡±


    Actually, it wasn¡¯t Andre who felt that this position was dangerous. It was Lara who thought so.


    Lara was curious why Andre didn¡¯t respond to the farewell before sleep. ¡°Ndre?¡± Lara called again without looking back. Andre¡¯s voice still hadn¡¯t been heard. But a momentter, Andre answered in a deep and¡­ sexy voice.


    ¡°Good night, Honey.¡±


    ¡°Shit¡­.¡±


    ***


    The sunlight began to peek through the window curtains. The chirping of birds made a littlemotion that soon woke Lara from her subconscious state. She smiled as she saw Andre sleeping soundly, almost without moving from his original position.


    ¡°Must be really tired, huh?¡± Lara muttered without wanting to wake Andre up. The face she knew so well was now asleep like an angel. Lara never knew how Andre worked hard to protect her.


    ¡°What are you hiding, Ndre?¡± Although Andre never told her, Lara knew that Andre was hiding something. Her memories turned to childhood, when Lara was bullied by her ssmates.


    Andre came home battered, but only admitted to having a usual fight. Lara heard arguments at Andre¡¯s house. Andre¡¯s mother med her youngest son andbeled him a troublemaker.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    A few dayster, Lara found out that Andre had challenged Lara¡¯s bully to a duel. The result? Andre was beaten up, Lara¡¯s bully was even worse¡­ much worse, even. Whatever made a big guy like the bully enjoy bothering Lara, Andre couldn¡¯t ept it.


    But Lara never knew. Andre always protected her silently.


    ¡°What are you up to this time?¡± Lara caressed Andre¡¯s still sleeping face. She spoke to herself and didn¡¯t demand an answer. Lara would know at the very end. For Andre, all the responsibility and effects of his actions didn¡¯t have to burden Lara.


    That¡¯s how Andre expressed his love and affection, not only to Lara, but to his family and friends as well.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Lara smiled again. Andre¡¯s nature reminded her of the superheroes she saw on TV. They sacrificed their lives for the safety of the citizens, but no one ever knew them.


    ¡°I just hope you won¡¯t sacrifice your life, Ndre. I will never forgive that.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Ma¡¯am! Mr. Seno¡¯s trial has begun!¡±


    Briptu Ani called Lara that morning. Lara had just intended to wake Andre up after breakfast. It seemed that the man had already woken up first.


    ¡°Morning,¡± Andre greeted with his bright smile.


    ¡°Morning. Just a moment, I¡¯ll talk to Briptu Ani.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Andre gave a thumbs up. He then went to the bathroom to freshen up, while Lara continued her phone call.


    ¡°When?¡±


    ¡°Today. I¡¯ll update you on the progress, okay?¡± Briptu Ani offered because she didn¡¯t want Lara to be there. Her recovery process was not yet optimal. Psychologists and doctors responsible for Lara also suggested this.


    ¡°What if I attend?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t, Ma¡¯am. Dr. Ricky still hasn¡¯t given permission.¡±


    ¡°Alright. I trust that justice will be served.¡±


    ¡°You should prepare in case you¡¯re called as a witness. For now, just rest, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Thank you for the information, Briptu Ani.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. Hopefully everything goes smoothly.¡±


    Lara finally ended the call. She prepared breakfast at the dining table and called Andre toe. However, it seemed that Andre was still in the bathroom.


    ¡°I¡¯ve prepared coffee and fried rice, Ndre. Hurry up and take a shower,¡± Lara shouted so Andre could hear her, even though he was in the shower. Soft sshing could be heard from behind the bathroom door. Lara immediately knew that Andre was showering.


    ¡°Yes. Okay!¡± Andre replied while still washing his body from the stickiness of soap and shampoo that enveloped him.


    Lara smiled. She rearranged the table so that this morning¡¯s meal could be enjoyed perfectly. For the first time, Lara felt happy to be useful. Previously, when with Seno, all kitchen and house chores were entrusted to the maid.


    ¡°Mmm¡­ smells good,¡± Lara sniffed the wafting coffee steam in front of her. Her mood changed to cheerful, just because of the caffeine aroma that was so appetizing.


    ¡°Why did I only realize that eating together is so enjoyable?¡± she murmured as she sat down, waiting for Andre toe.


    When still with Seno, let alone happy, the opportunity to eat together was never felt by Lara. Seno was too busy. They rarely even met. What romantic rtionship was formed from a married couple who had been married for almost 2 years was unknown. Everything was so nd and didn¡¯t foster love.


    ¡°Wow, it smells delicious,¡± Andre just came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around part of his body.


    ¡°N-Ndre. Put on your clothes first,¡± Lara said shyly, turning her face away. Andreughed teasingly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see my six-pack abs, Ra?¡±


    ¡°St-stop!¡±

 Part 93 # Terror

    Andreughed 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 avable 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 hebed through his collection of T-shirts and shorts to rx on this bright morning with Lara.


    ***


    ¡°Turns out, you¡¯re good at cooking too. The fried rice is delicious,¡± Andre praised after scooping the avable 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 asionally,¡± Lara replied.


    ¡°A good future wife, huh,¡± Andre joked, throwing a nce at Lara sitting in front of him. The woman just blushed and lowered her face. Andre became more enthusiastic in teasing her.


    ¡°About Seno¡¯s trial¡­,¡± Lara began to speak. Meanwhile, Andre seemed reluctant to discuss it.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about itter,¡± he quickly interjected. Remembering Seno made his appetite decrease. Andre didn¡¯t want that scoundrel¡¯s image to sh in his mind.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lara sealed her lips. She didn¡¯t want Andre to feel ufortable. ¡°Want some more?¡± she offered. Andre nodded, and Lara took a few more scoops of fried rice from the ss te.


    That morning was very calming for both of them. They never felt that such a morning would finallye.


    ¡°I want to visit my child¡¯s grave, Ndre,¡± Lara requested.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll ask Briptu Aniter, where they buried your child¡¯s body. You have to be strong, Ra. Events like this are painful¡­ but¡­ we can¡¯t turn back time.¡±


    Lara understood Andre¡¯s words, although part of her still rejected the fact that her child, whom she had carried everywhere, now only existed in memories.


    ¡°Which mother¡¯s heart wouldn¡¯t break hearing all that, Ndre? I can cope with divorce or living alone. But losing a child whom I haven¡¯t even seen his face? I don¡¯t know¡­.¡± Tears welled up in Lara¡¯s eyes unprompted. But she quickly wiped them away.


    ¡°Ra¡­.¡± Andre finished his meal. He immediately approached Lara and hugged her. Lara hadn¡¯t fully recovered. Her soul was still gnawed by painful memories from the past.


    ¡°Sorry, Ndre. Done with your meal?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m full. Ra, how was yesterday¡¯s assessment with the psychologist?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡­ Yeah, I¡¯m still unstable, Ndre. But my wounds have improved.¡±


    Andre seemed to contemte for a moment. He then looked at Lara with an unusual gaze.


    ¡°W-What is it?¡±


    ¡°Ra, what if we move to my apartment? It seems like you don¡¯t need to be here anymore,¡± Andre said as he reached for Lara¡¯s hand. Lara¡¯s heart raced again.


    ¡°L-Live together?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Do you want to live alone in Mahya¡¯s apartment? It¡¯s not safe, Ra.¡±


    Lara swallowed her saliva. Andre¡¯s words had truth in them. She also didn¡¯t want Mahya to be dragged back into her case. ¡°How¡¯s Mahya, Ndre?¡± Lara asked anxiously towards her object of concern.


    ¡°Mahya is awake, Ra. She¡¯s closely guarded by the hospital security team. I don¡¯t know, it seems like James will move Mahya, or has he already? After your kidnapping case, Mahya¡¯s security is also in jeopardy.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. You probably didn¡¯t know¡­.¡± Lara remembered Andre¡¯s words about his dismissal. Plus, he had to take care of Lara. Surely Andre¡¯s mind was divided and restless. ¡°Sorry, Ndre.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m causing so much trouble.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯m not bothered at all.¡± Andre tidied Lara¡¯s hair. Their brown eyes shed affectionately, for a moment, the earth seemed to stop spinning between them. The clock hands seemed to stop ticking, the atmosphere enveloping them was so quiet.


    ¡°Th- The d-dining t-ta-¡±


    Cup! Andre nted a kiss before Lara could change the subject. ¡°Mmh¡­.¡± Lara actually enjoyed the kiss, but¡­ ¡°Ndre! There¡¯s a phone call!¡±


    ***


    ¡°Yes? Go ahead.¡±


    Andre answered the phone immediately, it turned out to be from Briptu Ani who reported on the autopsy results of Lara¡¯s child¡¯s body.


    ¡°There are many cuts and injection marks here and there. Even, we feel pain just imagining it,¡± she exined, taking a deep breath. Andre also sympathized.


    ¡°You can fill out the online form, I¡¯ll send it to you soon, for the burial process.¡±


    ¡°Oh, good. Thank you, Briptu Ani.¡±


    Andre became Lara¡¯s guardian in this autopsy process. He really wouldn¡¯t let Lara know this little secret.


    ¡°From whom, Ndre?¡±


    ¡°Oh. Briptu Ani.¡±


    ¡°What did she say?¡±


    ¡°She said¡­ the location of your child¡¯s grave will be informedter. She¡¯s still busy,¡± Andre lied. How did he know where the grave was, if the body hadn¡¯t even been buried yet? Andre had to be good at making up stories.


    ¡°I want to visit his grave soon, Ndre,¡± Lara said mournfully, staring nkly at the ceiling of the house. The sun had risen. The temperature inside the house started to rise. The morning cheerfulness had turned into the heat of the sun¡¯s rays.


    ¡°We¡¯ll visit his grave soon, Ra. Just wait.¡±


    Andre hugged Lara from behind and kissed the top of the girl¡¯s head affectionately. Lara turned out to not be as tall as he thought. If Andre was with Lara, he seemed to be a human shield who could protect her from danger.


    ¡°I hope you¡¯re always safe with me, Ra.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Ndre.¡±


    ***


    Andre received news from Riko that Seno¡¯s trial was intense. With usations of violence as the basis of the charges, Seno dodged them.


    ¡°He said he just wanted to meet Lara without intending to torture her,¡± Riko said on the phone. Andre was furious. How could the judge be so easily deceived?


    ¡°And what about the injuries on Lara¡¯s body? The kidnapping?¡±


    ¡°Those injuries were imed to be just idents. And, for the kidnapping case¡­ there¡¯s no evidence of that, Ndre. The CCTV at the hospital area wasn¡¯t even functioning, right?¡±


    ¡°WHY IS IT LIKE THIS?¡± Andre was truly at a loss for words.


    ¡°That¡¯s the use of a goodwyer, Ndre. All usations can be turned around, and all charges can be unproven. We just need to wait for the witnesses,¡± Riko exined wearily. He felt Andre¡¯s suffering as a close friend. Lara¡¯s case was not as easy as they thought.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Andre tapped on the terrace table. He intentionally called Riko when Lara was already asleep. It was 10 PM. The cold air felt biting. The police guard shift at the safe house only consisted of one officer. The position of his post was about 3 meters from where Andre was.


    ¡°Can we meet tomorrow, Bro?¡± Andre asked after deciding something.


    ¡°We can. What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°I brought new evidence about that ident¡­.¡± Andre paused for a moment, after hearing a strange sound in the backyard. The sound was simr to someone brushing against bushes. ¡°Hold on.¡±


    Andre took the small shlight that he always carried in his pocket. Police shlight, they called it. The term was attached as a selling point for a small but useful item, like a police detective hunting down criminals. All those descriptions were, of course, made up so that the item could be sold easily.


    ¡°Bro¡­.¡± Riko called from the other side, but Andre ignored him.


    PATZ!


    Suddenly, the electricity went out.


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    Andre immediately ran to Lara¡¯s room, while the guard seemed to rush to check the generator located in the backyard of the house, precisely in the warehouse.


    ¡°Lara!¡± Andre called out urgently. He hurriedly searched through the dark room to reach Lara¡¯s room.


    ¡°KYAA!!!¡±


    Toote.


    Lara¡¯s scream made everything chaotic!

 Part 94 # A Slaughtered Dog

    ¡°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 bnce his body. Andre then opened the window wide.


    ¡°Shit!¡±


    Andre eximed in surprise when the moonlight provided a little light to examine something that made them curious.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Ndre?¡± Lara couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity. She followed Andre¡¯s footsteps and approached the window. The moonlight only ended near the bookshelf not far from there. Lara still couldn¡¯t see anything.


    ¡°DON¡¯T COME HERE!¡± Andre shouted breathlessly. He was still very shocked by what he saw.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°What¡¯s wro¨C AHH!!!¡± Lara screamed again after seeing a severed dog¡¯s head covered in blood in front of her. The foul and putrid smell she had smelled turned out toe from the dead dog¡¯s carcass.


    Thud!


    Lara instantly fainted. ¡°Lara!¡± Andre quickly caught Lara¡¯s body, which was almost immersed in the disgusting dark blood spill. The doctor immediately secured Lara on the couch in the living room and reported the incident to the guard who had been on duty.


    ***


    ¡°We¡¯re sorry, Doc. We really messed up,¡± Briptu Ani apologized the next day, after hearing yesterday¡¯s terror story.


    ¡°I was really shocked. Lara fainted, fortunately she wasn¡¯t hurt,¡± Andre grumbled, staring nkly at another bedroom that could be used. Lara¡¯s bedroom was being cleaned, and besides, Andre didn¡¯t want Lara to go back there.


    ¡°We want to leave here, Briptu. Please help us,¡± Andre said afterwards.


    ¡°Where will you go?¡± Briptu Ani asked curiously. ¡°At moments like this, terror can happen. We should have tightened security,¡± she added regretfully.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s already happened. I¡¯m just thankful that the troublemaker didn¡¯t harm Lara¡¯s life.¡±


    ¡°Maybe this is rted to the ongoing trial. Mrs. Lara will be called as a witness next week. This kind of terror seems to be intended as a blow to Mrs. Lara¡¯s mental state to refuse to testify¡­.¡±


    ¡°And that won¡¯t happen,¡± Lara suddenly interjected. With a still pale face, she walked into the living room, where Andre and Briptu Ani were talking.


    ¡°Mrs. Lara!¡± Briptu Ani stood up and hugged her. ¡°Are you okay?¡± she asked worriedly. She didn¡¯t want to disturb Lara¡¯s rest time. Briptu Ani deliberately only talked to Andre.


    Lara felt the warm touch of Briptu Ani¡¯s embrace, which made her feel slightly calmer even though she was still trembling. She nodded slowly in response to Briptu Ani¡¯s question about her condition. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine,¡± she replied in a weak voice.


    Andre, sitting beside her, looked at Lara with the same concern in his eyes. His gaze was full of the same anxiety as Lara¡¯s. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± he asked with a caring tone.


    Lara tried to smile to reassure Andre. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, although the tremor in her voice revealed the uncertainty she felt inside.


    Briptu Ani nodded, understanding that this was a difficult moment for Lara. ¡°You¡¯ve experienced a very frightening situation. But you¡¯re very strong, Mrs.,¡± she said gently. ¡°We¡¯ll do our best to ensure your safety.¡±


    Andre nodded as he tightly held Lara¡¯s hand. ¡°We won¡¯t let things like this happen again,¡± he said firmly.


    ¡°Exactly as Andre said, Briptu. Let us leave here,¡± Lara said afterwards.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re very sure.¡± Andre reassured Lara¡¯s decision. Briptu Ani seemed to think for a moment, not long after, a officer approached her and informed her that their CCTV only captured the presence of a man wearing a hat, before the entire surveince camera circuit wentpletely dead.


    ¡°Damn!¡± Briptu Ani looked annoyed. ¡°They turned off the security system. No wonder,¡± she said angrily.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Briptu. Let us leave here.¡± Andre reaffirmed his decision. Being in this house was no longer safe for Lara. If one troublemaker had seeded in causing amotion, who could guarantee that there wouldn¡¯t be another troublemaker or even¡­ a murderer?


    Thinking about that, Andre suddenly had a headache. He didn¡¯t want to lose Lara again.


    Briptu Ani nodded. She understood that the safety and well-being of the victim were top priorities. ¡°Alright, I will arrange for your return immediately. But make sure you remain cautious. We will send patrol officers around your area.¡±


    After ensuring that the repatriation steps had been arranged, Briptu Ani left them briefly to coordinate with other officers. Meanwhile, Andre sat next to Lara, looking at her with a clear expression of concern in his eyes.


    ¡°Lara, are you sure about this decision?¡± he asked with a soft voice, but full of concern.


    Lara met Andre¡¯s gaze with a determined look. ¡°I¡¯m sure, Andre,¡± she replied without hesitation. ¡°We can¡¯t stay in a ce that makes us feel unsafe. I want to get away from here before something worse happens.¡±


    Andre gently took Lara¡¯s hand and rubbed it slowly. ¡°I will always protect you, Lara. Whatever happens, we¡¯ll get through this together.¡±


    After preparing themselves, Andre and Lara left the safe house, watched by the officers standing outside. They felt a burden lifted from their shoulders as they left the ce and stepped into the waiting car.


    The journey home went smoothly. Andre¡¯s car moved at a moderate speed, cutting through the quiet streets. It was already 6 a. m. The orange glow of the rising sun apanied their journey.


    Somehow, Andre felt morefortable being far from the safe house, as long as Lara was with him.


    As the car moved slowly, Andre couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling of anxiety that continued to haunt him. His mind wandered back to the events ofst night and the dangers that might lurk around Lara at every corner. Andre had to find a way to prevent simr incidents from happening again in their home.


    ¡°Ndre¡­,¡± Lara called from beside him. Lara still looked weak and shaken by the recent events. Although she tried to maintain herposure, the tremor of anxiety was still evident in her voice and movements.


    ¡°Yes, Ra? Do you need something?¡± Andre asked quickly while still keeping an eye on the road from behind the wheel.


    ¡°Not me, but you. Are you okay?¡± Lara held one of Andre¡¯s hands beside her. The young man was taken aback, not expecting Lara to reach out to him.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m okay,¡± Andre replied with a thin smile that concealed his worry lines. Lara sighed, knowing that Andre must have a lot on his mind.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too hard on yourself, Ndre. I¡¯m fine. We¡¯re fine. Just focus on the trial,¡± Lara finally decided to shift their focus. She knew very well that Andre would surely bear the burden of his own safety.


    Lara didn¡¯t want Andre to push himself too hard. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, okay?¡± Lara said firmly. Andre would surely me himself for leaving Lara alone that night.


    Misfortune and blessingse alternately without being known. Who can predict destiny?


    ¡°Yes, Ra. I won¡¯t dwell on it too much,¡± Andre finally managed to crack a smile, not just drawing a curve as a formality. Lara¡¯s words ignited his spirit and calmed his heart. He became more confident in always being by Lara¡¯s side and protecting her.


    ¡°Because you¡¯re very special, Honey.¡±

 Part 95 # Andre’s Penthouse

    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 ie 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 eximed in admiration as their car began to enter the parking area.


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m d 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 ¨C although not a reliable husband ¨C 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 get out, we will go up to the top floor,¡± Andre said, pulling the handbrake lever. He then got out and waited for Lara to join him.


    ¡°The top floor?¡± Lara smiled. ¡°The Penthouse?¡± she guessed with sparkling eyes.


    ¡°Yes. Do you expect a studio apartment, Ra? My body won¡¯t fit,¡± Andre joked, hugging Lara¡¯s waist and leading her through the parking area towards the building.


    Instead of showing off his wealth, Andre joked about his height. One thing Lara liked about him was his humility, unlike Seno who would disy grandeur in every word and action.


    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s that?¡± Lara suddenly asked, looking at Andre affectionately.


    ¡°What?¡± Andre stopped in his tracks.


    Smack!


    The girl nted a sweet kiss on her boyfriend¡¯s cheek. How lucky she was that Andre never gave up on winning her heart again. Their budding love story, interrupted by family sabotage, was now not going to be wasted by Lara.


    ¡°Mischievous, huh!¡± Andre tightened his hug and tried to shower his beloved with kisses. Lara squirmed withughter as her chin was tickled by the thin hairs that were so ticklish.


    ¡°Let go! Haha¡­.¡± Lara felt happy, even though she had been really scaredst night. However, Lara chose to dismiss all the negative thoughts and focus on things that would soothe her heart. She wouldn¡¯t be easily defeated by Seno¡¯s deception. Not anymore!


    After the intimate moment in the parking area, Andre and Lara continued their journey to the top floor of the apartment. They walked through the elegant corridors, with Lara¡¯s admiring gaze praising how beautiful Andre¡¯s house was, even though the owner was rarely at home.


    ¡°What number is it, Ndre¡¯s apartment?¡± Lara asked curiously after they exited the elevator door and were on the top floor.


    ¡°Number 5010, Ra,¡± Andre replied with a smile.


    ¡°It must be nice,¡± Lara guessed.


    ¡°Not bad. I chose this apartment because it¡¯s close to the hospital,¡± Andre replied before Lara could think that he was extravagant or even arrogant just because of his ce of residence.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of this apartment, I used to look around,¡± Lara spoke up, recalling the moments when she was still blessed with abundant wealth from her scoundrel husband.


    ¡°And then? Did you take the unit?¡±


    ¡°No, Ndre. Seno¡¯s given house is enough. I don¡¯t want to be greedy.¡±


    ¡°You could use it for investment, Ra,¡± Andre tried to give his perspective, but¡­ upon second thought, Andre seemed to lead Lara to ept her ex-husband¡¯s wealth. ¡°Ah, forget it!¡±


    ¡°Hehe¡­.¡± Lara was about to reply that she was grateful to have rejected her husband¡¯s offer back then. Lara truly wasn¡¯t crazy about wealth. ¡°Even now I have nothing¡­.¡±


    Lara stared nkly at the marble floor shing with her shoes. But she was grateful because she could still enjoy life and¡­ ¡°You have me. That¡¯s it, don¡¯t remember it anymore,¡± Andre kissed Lara¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°What¡¯s with all the kissing since earlier?¡± Laraughed. Unbeknownst to them, they were already in room number 5010.


    Andre opened the penthouse door with his fingerprint. Lara was amazed, and she really wanted to try it herself. ¡°Unfortunately, only family members¡¯ fingerprints can be registered,¡± Andre said after Lara said she wanted to try sticking her fingerprint there.


    ¡°Ah, I have a solution,¡± Andre whispered in Lara¡¯s ear. ¡°Be my wife, then I can register your fingerprint,¡± Andre said jokingly.


    ¡°What? That¡¯s not funny!¡± Lara covered her ears and turned her face away. She didn¡¯t want Andre to see her face turning red. Anyway, Lara was really nervous when Andre said that sentence. It was really rude!


    ¡°Pleasee in.¡±


    Andre still held backughter for sessfully making Lara embarrassed. He enjoyed this moment so much.


    ¡°Wow¡­.¡± Lara entered Andre¡¯s penthouse. The main room of the penthouse was more spectacr than she had ever imagined. The high ceiling andrge ss walls provided a breathtaking view of the Jakarta sky, as if it could be reached by hand. Andre¡¯s house was on the 50th floor, high enough to reach the stars. Lara liked it.


    ¡°So nice and luxurious, Ndre. I¡¯ll befortable here,¡± Lara was impressed.


    ¡°There are three rooms. One master bedroom, one guest room, and one maid¡¯s room. But, I don¡¯t use thetter two. I don¡¯t have children and maids,¡± Andre chuckled, looking at Lara with a gaze that invited many questions.


    ¡°What?¡± Lara squinted.


    ¡°Do you want to have children with me?¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Lara punched Andre¡¯s back. She had never acted like this towards anyone else. Andre dared to swear that his absurd and cringe-worthy behavior was only for Lara. He was really happy to tease her.


    *


    Andre continued the home tour so Lara could feel at home and feel that the penthouse was her own home. They explored every corner of the room with Lara¡¯s constant admiration, praising how beautiful Andre¡¯s home was, even though the owner was rarely home.


    ¡°I have a maid, but shees and goes as she pleases,¡± Andre exined when Lara was quite surprised by the cleanliness and tidiness of the room.


    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Lara finally understood.


    ¡°BI Marnies every 7 am and leaves at lunchtime. She will also cook and put it in the fridge. I just need to warm it up. Don¡¯t worry, your life will be guaranteed here. Your only task is to bezy,¡± Andre said, staring deeply into Lara¡¯s brown eyes that widened.


    ¡°What?!¡±


    ¡°Yes. Just bezy, okay?¡±


    ¡°Ew! Unhealthy!¡±


    Andreughed and ruffled Lara¡¯s hair. Undeniably, the girl felt like she was in a real pce. Around her, various luxurious furniture and elegant decorations were neatly arranged in every corner of the room. Every detail of the penthouse was perfectly designed and managed to create a warm andfortable atmosphere.


    Andre and Lara continued their journey to the private terrace, where they could enjoy the beautiful city view while sitting under the sky and stars.


    ¡°Hm¡­ so refreshing.¡± Lara could feel the cool breeze and the peaceful atmosphere amidst the hustle and bustle of the city below her feet.


    Her eyes looked outside, observing the traffic jam that urred on this evening. Laraughed when she saw the people below. They were like tiny ants that were very small and hard to see.


    ¡°Hey, let¡¯s go inside, you might catch a cold,¡± Andre followed Lara, bringing two sses of chilled red wine for her.


    ¡°Drinking in the evening?¡± Lara was quite surprised.


    ¡°To celebrate our freedom from worries, shall we?¡±


    Lara looked at Andre lovingly. ¡°Okay,¡± she nodded and epted the ss he offered. The red wine looked delicious and tempting. ¡°Ah! So fresh and sweet!¡± Lara eximed with joy.


    Andre raised his ss and sipped the drink with Lara, while enjoying the bustling city view. ¡°It¡¯s better at night,¡± he quipped. Lara nodded.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go inside!¡± Andre then invited Lara to continue exploring other rooms there.


    ¡°This is the master bedroom,¡± Andre showed a room with arge andfortable bed, equipped with soft and fluffy sheets.


    ¡°Your room?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It can also be your room if you want to sleep together,¡± Andre teased, grinning slyly at Lara. Lara had had enough of his cheesy ttery.


    ¡°Next!¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± Andre looked disappointed, or pretended to be disappointed, more precisely. He then led Lara to another room not far from there.


    ¡°This is your room,¡± Andre said, opening the mahogany door in front of him.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Wow, neat and clean,¡± Lara praised the tidiness of the room, although it was smaller than the master bedroom. But its tidiness was extraordinary. The gray sheets and the white bed cover on it gave afortable impression.


    ¡°Ah! I want to sleep on it!¡± Lara immediately ran andy down on her bed. ¡°Thanks, Ndre!¡± she said, truly happy.


    ¡°No problem!¡± Andre smiled and followed Lara. He sat on the edge of the bed, as Lara rolled around and felt the warmth of the nket and the softness of the pillow she hugged.


    ¡°I¡¯m softer and fluffier, you know.¡± Andre offered himself again.


    Laraughed. The woman finally dragged Andre andy him on the bed with her.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see¡­.¡±

 Part 96 # The Trial

    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 Andrepletely. 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 n to keep rising until they could look at each other.


    ¡°Mmhh¡­.¡± Lara enjoyed a sweet and tender kiss from her lover¡¯s lips, with a reversal of roles this time. Andre gripped the back of Lara¡¯s neck andid her back on the bed, like their initial position.


    ¡°You started it,¡± Andre whispered breathlessly, undoing the top two buttons of his shirt. Lara¡¯s increasingly teasing moans warmed the room that was initially cool from the air conditioning. The room was now heating up, simr to the increasingly tumultuous kiss.


    ¡°Andre, wait¡­.¡± Before they went any further and stripped off all their clothes, Lara seemed to loosen her embrace. She suddenly remembered the unpleasant experience with her husband, who eventually dumped her.


    ¡°I-I might not be ready, Ndre,¡± Lara finally straightened her dress, which was open enough to reveal her entire chest area. Andre looked disappointed, but¡­ he tried to ept Lara¡¯s decision.


    ¡°Take your time, Honey,¡± Andre said softly, kissing Lara¡¯s forehead. He seemed to rise from his position and now sat on the edge of the bed with a face that returned to normal. Andre understood that Lara¡¯s psychological condition was still not perfectly calm. She still needed to arrange her heart and mind.


    ¡°Sorry¡­.¡± Lara¡¯s voice was soft, while she hugged Andre¡¯s broad back.


    ¡°No problem,¡± Andre didn¡¯t show his disappointment for too long. He didn¡¯t want Lara to worry and get hurt even more. He turned his body and looked at Lara with an ordinary gaze. Nothing had changed, even though Lara hadn¡¯t been touched by him.


    ¡°I love you, Ndre,¡± Lara said, shedding tears. Her heart and mind couldn¡¯t be forced and synchronized as she pleased. Andre knew the reason. The post-traumatic syndrome experienced by Lara might have left a deep mark on her mind.


    ¡°I love you more, Ra. But¡­ I think I need to take a cold shower first,¡± Andre tightened his hug while burying his face in his lover¡¯s neck. But he didn¡¯t hear an answer. Lara fell asleep!


    ¡°Ugh¡­ it¡¯s hard to talk to a tipsy person,¡± Andre sighed sadly as heid Lara on the bed. The red wine he had just sipped sessfully rxed Lara¡¯s nerve muscles, making her behave wildly¡­ then fall asleep!


    ¡°You surely don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve done to me, Naughty Girl!¡± Andre then covered Lara¡¯s body and went to the bathroom to cool off. The passion he had so hard to hold back finally erupted.


    Unfortunately, it was all just a joke. Lara had truly ensnared Andre in a pit of despair. ¡°Haha!¡± Andreughed bitterly as he dragged the bath towel. He had truly been fooled!


    ***


    Meanwhile, in the courtroom-where the case of Seno and Lara was being considered-it was bustling with the presence of many people. Many TV crews were covering the event, both inside and outside the building. Seno¡¯s case was so intriguing because he was a prominent figure in the business world.


    Seno¡¯s journey as a sessful young businessman had once been the main topic in leading business magazines. Undeniably, he had be an inspiring figure. However, what was seen in the magazines was so different from the reality today. The violence case involving his name was so interesting to follow. The public was very enthusiastic about thetest developments that revealed the dark side of Seno¡¯s story.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± Andre whispered to Lara.


    ¡°I am,¡± Lara replied confidently. Today, she had been invited as a witness in the violence case charged against her ex-husband. After going through a fierce trial, the third trial was finally held again. This time, Lara was brought in as a witness (victim).


    With steady steps, Lara entered the courtroom. The air in the room felt tense, filled with sharp nces from the audience, including Seno sitting on the defendant¡¯s bench.


    Behind the wooden door as the boundary, Andre sat with a tense face. He was worried about Lara. Andre was ready to provide moral support to Lara, but he still felt nervous.


    ¡°I hope she¡¯s not nervous or says something wrong,¡± Andre muttered as he watched Lara¡¯s back move further away.


    The judge sitting on the podium looked around the room briefly before starting the trial. The echoing bell signaled the beginning of the legal process that should provide justice to anyone who needs it.


    That¡¯s how the spirit of this trial should be. That¡¯s why thew exists in society and provides rity on a case.


    ¡°Bring in the next witness,¡± the judge ordered firmly.


    Upon hearing the order,wyers from both sides stood up. Seno¡¯swyer stated, ¡°We want to call Lara Selene Smith here as a witness, Your Honor.¡±


    ¡°Allowed,¡± the judge replied.


    Andre looked at Lara with hope. Lara nodded slightly as a sign of readiness. With firm steps, Lara walked into the middle of the courtroom and stood before the judge,wyers, and Seno.


    Seno¡¯swyer began to ask Lara questions, trying to twist the facts ording to his client¡¯s defense strategy. Lara answered calmly and firmly, not affected by thewyer¡¯s attempts to shake her testimony.


    ¡°Then, why did you go to your ex-husband¡¯s office if not to ckmail him? Haven¡¯t you been divorced?¡± thewyer asked threateningly. Lara trembled, but she was confident in the truth she believed in.


    ¡°I came to confront him because he had kidnapped me before! He even operated on me without my consent, and my child died! Then¡­ I suddenly woke up in a dark ce waiting for death¨C¡±


    ¡°Lies, Your Honor,¡± Seno¡¯swyer interrupted Lara¡¯s speech.


    ¡°W-what?¡± Lara widened her eyes in disbelief. How was thewyer so sure that her words were lies?


    ¡°When did you im to be kidnapped, operated on, and abandoned?¡± thewyer asked again.


    ¡°Um, around March 23, 2022.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± Thewyer then provided a ne ticket photo and also a portrait photo of Seno when he was at the airport on the date mentioned by Lara. ¡°My client was in Bangkok on March 23, 2022, ording to the time given. You all can see the evidence in front of you.¡±


    Lara gaped and couldn¡¯t deny the evidence provided. ¡°It could be a lie!¡± she yelled angrily.


    ¡°Sister, please calm down,¡± the judge interjected with a cool head.


    ¡°Speak when asked to speak. Defense counsel, continue.¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Are there any physical evidence to support the witness¡¯s statements? I don¡¯t think so. If there is, it can be presented here. But, all of that is not in the evidence list.¡±


    Lara growled. She remembered the judge¡¯s words that she shouldn¡¯t interrupt.


    The prosecutor sitting at the table opposite Seno¡¯swyer interjected firmly, ¡°Your Honor, I request that our focus remain on the evidence presented. Sister Lara¡¯s testimony is not only based on one incident but also on medical evidence and police reports supporting that she was a victim of violencemitted by the defendant.¡±


    The judge looked at both sides with careful consideration. ¡°Very well, I remind both parties to adhere to the rules of the trial and refrain from unnecessary interruptions. Now, continue.¡±


    Seno¡¯s defensewyer nodded and continued his questioning of Lara. ¡°Do you have physical evidence showing that you were kidnapped and operated on without consent?¡±


    Lara swallowed for a moment, trying to calm herself before answering. ¡°This evidence, my abdomen was cut open. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡± She showed the surgical scar on her stomach.


    However, Seno¡¯s defensewyer quickly responded, ¡°That may be a scar from another incident or a medical procedure you voluntarily underwent. Isn¡¯t there any evidence showing the defendant¡¯s involvement in this?¡±


    Lara felt increasingly pressured by these questions. However, she persisted with the truth she believed in. ¡°I never agreed to that surgery. I was kidnapped and forced to do it!¡±


    The judge decided to give the prosecutor a chance to respond to the defensewyer¡¯s arguments.


    The prosecutor stood up perfectly. He was ready with all the questions that could incriminate Seno as the defendant.


    ¡°Your Honor, we have medical evidence showing that the injuries suffered by Sister Lara are consistent with the violence she reported. In addition, we also have testimonies from other witnesses who saw the acts of violencemitted by the defendant. All of this evidence shows that the defendant is responsible for the violence against Sister Lara.¡±


    The judge nodded, ¡°The evidence presented by the prosecutor is strong enough. The court will consider all of this evidence in the decision-making process. Does Seno¡¯s defense counsel have additional evidence to present?¡±


    Seno¡¯s defensewyer seemed to think for a moment. He nced at Seno for a few moments, but then he admitted that the evidence held by the prosecutor was indeed strong. ¡°We do not have additional evidence to present at this time, Your Honor. But, we will look for additional evidence that refutes the witness¡¯s argument.¡±


    The judge then looked at Lara, ¡°Do you have any additional testimony or evidence you want to present in this trial?¡±


    Lara shook her head. ¡°No, Your Honor. I have presented everything I have.¡±


    The judge understood. ¡°Very well, the trial will be adjourned for the time being. The court will give both parties the opportunity to prepare additional arguments and evidence, if any, for the next trial.¡±


    Thus, the trial was adjourned to give time for both parties to prepare strategies and additional evidence needed to support their arguments.


    However, of course, Seno would not let that happen.

 Part 97 # My Favorite Author!

    After the trial, Seno returned to prison with a heavy heart. He didn¡¯t expect Lara to show up there.


    ¡°How about those ipetent fools? Why did they fail to make her withdraw as a witness?¡± Seno asked angrily to hiswyer. They were in a special consultation room. Seno¡¯swyer 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,¡± hiswyer 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 ns 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 seed¡­.¡± thewyer said in a despondent tone.


    ¡°You¡¯re the bestwyer in the country, Mr. Hoffman! How could you all be so ipetent-¡±


    ¡°Calm down, Sir! Give us time. I¡¯ll make sure the team does their job better,¡± thewyer promised Seno as the client being served. In the legal world, if winning outright in court seems unlikely, then the backdoor route could be tried.


    That was the route Seno and hiswyer took: the front and the back. After terrorizing Lara with the severed dog¡¯s head, they were now nning something else that could potentially stop Lara from testifying further in court.


    However, Lara¡¯s presence would obstruct Seno¡¯s freedom program. His affairs could be moreplicated, and his room for maneuvering would diminish. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Seno emphasized that this time, the threat Lara received must truly stop her from appearing in court.


    ¡°I¡¯m very sure, Sir. Meanwhile, we¡¯ll find out where she lives.¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Good. This time, you cannot fail!¡±


    ***


    Meanwhile, in the car, Lara looked glum. She was upset with herwyer for theck of defense. ¡°How could you let me fight alone, Sir? You even missed the moment when the Judge asked for opinions!¡±


    Andre held Lara¡¯s hand tightly. He smiled and winked. The malewyer sitting in the driver¡¯s seat also had the same expression. They were so strange! Lara truly didn¡¯t understand their expressions.


    ¡°You put on a great show, Mrs. Lara,¡± thewyer said calmly even though he was being med.


    ¡°How can I put on a great show if I waspletely destroyed by that Hoffman!?¡± Lara yelled. The anger in her chest still raged. Lara felt futile having to rely on seemingly ipetentwyers.


    ¡°Mrs. Lara, we¡¯re setting up a trap,¡± he said then.


    Lara¡¯s eyes widened. She sharpened her hearing, wanting to hear the rest of thewyer¡¯s words. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re bringing back the shback to the ident involving you and your friend, Mahya.¡±


    ¡°T-That¡­.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lara. The ident case is not included in the indictment. So, there must be a triggering argument that can bring up the case in court,¡± Andre added.


    ¡°They fell for our bait because they were too greedy and tried too hard to deceive the judge. In the next trial, we¡¯ll introduce new witnesses and evidence that can bring up this incident. Seno won¡¯t be able to maneuver anymore!¡± Thewyer¡¯s eyes were fiery. Lara swallowed.


    ¡°S-So, my testimony earlier was sessful?¡±


    ¡°Sessful, Honey! You did your best.¡± Andre tightened his hug and kissed Lara¡¯s forehead affectionately.


    ¡°Thank goodness,¡± Lara truly couldn¡¯t believe that both of them had hidden this fact from her.


    ¡°If you knew, it could be dangerous! Your response would definitely be different, and they wouldn¡¯t be trapped so easily,¡± Andre said, resting his head on Lara¡¯s shoulder. Lara nodded, understanding Andre¡¯s words. She was indeed a calm woman who might not invite confrontation.


    The focus of this trial was confrontation; Lara wouldn¡¯t seed in luring the enemy into the abyss if she knew it was all a hoax.


    ¡°Thank you, everyone,¡± Lara smiled, wiping away the tears on her face. She didn¡¯t expect these men to truly help her even though she didn¡¯t realize it.


    ¡°We¡¯re behind you, Ra. You don¡¯t need to worry,¡± Andre said softly. Lara smiled in response to his words.


    *


    The ck sedan smoothly glided towards the Five Seasons apartment on Setiabudi Street, South Jakarta. Lara felt sleepy from the exhausting journey. Andre felt the same way.


    ¡°I¡¯ll y soft music to make the journey feel calming,¡± the driver said, ying a love song on the music yer.


    ¡°Hm, I like this song,¡± Lara said as Eric pton¡¯s ¡°Wonderful Tonight¡± filled the car cabin with its beautiful melody.


    Andre, sitting beside her, smiled at Lara¡¯s calm expression. They both looked out the window, watching the passing cityscape with the various activities of urban dwellers.


    The journey home from the trial had given them a peaceful moment together, away from the tension and drama in court. Although the case was still ongoing, at least they could enjoy simple togetherness like this.


    ¡°Lawyer, would you like to join us for dinner?¡± Lara asked as they approached the apartment.


    The bespectacledwyer shook his head. ¡°I have a dinner appointment with my wife,¡± he politely declined.


    ¡°You can bring your wife along. What¡¯s she like?¡± Lara asked enthusiastically. Herwyer had never talked about his wife during their time together. Lara was quite curious about thepanion of such an intelligent man.


    ¡°Ah, my wife is just an ordinary housewife. She often writes novels as a hobby,¡± he said.


    ¡°Oh really? I love reading novels. What novels does she write?¡± Lara couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity. She became even more interested in thewyer¡¯s wife.


    ¡°Romance novels, sometimes romance thrillers or even drama. Actually, I often be her guinea pig,¡± thewyer said with augh.


    ¡°Haha, a guinea pig? How¡¯s that?¡± Lara was even more intrigued. Thewyer¡¯s wife seemed interesting to talk to. A writer must be good at storytelling. She must be a pleasantpanion.


    ¡°Well, my wife often asks about how a case works, consultations, and also digs up information about my old cases that have been won by our team. She usually gets story ideas from there. Then, I¡¯m constantly harassed to satisfy her curiosity.¡±


    ¡°Pft!¡± Lara stifled augh. Thewyer¡¯s wife¡¯s attitude was almost like hers when she was curious about something. Lara was even more eager to meet thewyer¡¯s wife.


    ¡°Next time, join us for dinner, Sir! I want to meet your wife.¡±


    ¡°Sure, Ma¡¯am. I¡¯ll deliver the message to her. My wife¡¯stest novel is ¡®Revenge on My Cheating Husband¡¯, it seems this story is simr to your story, Ma¡¯am. The husband cheats and hurts his wife in despicable ways.¡±


    Lara was stunned. She never expected that thewyer¡¯s wife was¡­ Sherly Anez! Her favorite author!


    ¡°Sir! I want to meet your wife! I¡¯m her fan!¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    Lara nodded enthusiastically!


    Andreughed at Lara¡¯s response. ¡°Rx, Honey. You¡¯re like a puppy possessed.¡± This time, Andre often called Lara ¡®Honey¡¯ without shame. Lara was a bit embarrassed but happy to hear that nickname.


    ¡°No need to butt in, Ndre. You¡¯re not invited to chat,¡± Lara pretended to sulk. This time, it was thewyer whoughed. They spent the time very pleasantly! However, they truly didn¡¯t realize that since earlier, there were two ck cars following them from behind.


    ¡°Sir! It seems like we¡¯re being followed!¡±

 Part 98 # Collision!

    ¡°What?¡± Andre froze when the driver signaled through his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± he asked, turning to look behind, followed by thewyer and Lara. They clearly saw two ck 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 elerate the vehicle and turned the signal to the right as if changingnes. 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 leftne. He would drive the vehicle as fast as possible to avoid the radar of those two suspicious cars.


    The two cars took the leftne 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 ident she had with Mahya some time ago.


    ¡°Calm down, Lara. We¡¯ll be okay,¡± Andre replied, gently holding Lara¡¯s hand, although his heart was also racing as the speedometer increased inside their car.


    ¡°What should we do?¡± Lara held her breath as if suffocating from the tense situation. The vehicle was speeding up, but the two cars behind them were still chasing after them.


    Thewyer tried to maintain calmness, ¡°Stay calm, Ma¡¯am. We¡¯ll find a way out.¡±


    Suddenly, the two cars drew closer, trapping them on the rtively empty road. ¡°Sir! What should we do?¡± Andre urged, trying to understand the situation. The twones ahead led to different roads.


    The driver should take the left side if he wanted to return to Andre¡¯s apartment, but those two suspicious cars were squeezing their vehicle as if directing them towards thene desired by them!


    ¡°They¡¯re leading us to the Bekasi route, Sir!¡± The driver panicked as the left side of the car was being squeezed.


    ¡°Be careful!¡± Andre shouted, signaling to just turn right. ¡°We¡¯ll go to Bekasi for now, it¡¯s okay! Just don¡¯t let any ident happen!¡±


    ¡°Understood, Sir!¡±


    ¡°Ndre!¡± Lara was truly terrified. Along the way, she closed her eyes and took cover behind Andre¡¯s sturdy back.


    With high speed, he drove the car towards Bekasi, trying his best to avoid other vehicles on the busy road.


    ¡°We have to hurry!¡± thewyer urged, watching the car behind them getting closer. For the time being, their car could escape from the siege of those mysterious men.


    Lara held onto the seat tightly, feeling the adrenaline pumping hard within her. Andre hugged her and tried hard to protect Lara from the impact as the car sped up to avoid the pursuit.


    ¡°Make a turn out there!¡± Andremanded, pointing to a small road that seemed to be an alternative route.


    ¡°Okay, Sir! I¡¯ll try to erase their tracks!¡± the driver responded while still focusing on the road ahead.


    The car sped quickly, turning at every corner and trying as much as possible to cover their tracks. The two cars that had been tailing them disappeared for a while because they managed to deceive them by following the flow of some local vehicles moving in tandem. The small road was quite crowded with motorcycles and some small cars that seemed to belong to the local residents.


    ¡°Oh no! They¡¯re visible again!¡± The tension inside the car intensified as the driver once again caught sight of the two mysterious cars through the windshield. ¡°I¡¯ll turn towards the farm!¡± he said, elerating the car even faster to pass through the undting road connecting the narrow road with the fields ahead.


    Each turn took them further from the pursuit, but also increased the uncertainty about the terrain they were traversing.


    After what felt like a very slow time, the driver finally stopped the car in a narrow alley on the outskirts of the city. Severalrge trucks managed to block the pursuit of the cars, just after they exited the rice field area.


    ¡°We¡¯re safe here, at least for the time being,¡± said the driver, breathing heavily.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Driver. You saved us,¡± Lara thanked him meaningfully.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee, Ma¡¯am. It¡¯s my duty,¡± said the driver with a relieved smile. The driver, recently recruited by Andre, was not just any driver. He hired him from a martial arts academy after considering that Lara might be in danger.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got the right choice, Ndre,¡± whispered Lara as they reconsidered the decision to hire this driver as a bodyguard through thewyer¡¯s suggestion. Lara¡¯s case was not ordinary; violence might ur.


    The readiness of the driver in such a critical situation made Lara and Andre feel relieved. They truly didn¡¯t miscalcte that events beyond theirprehension like this would surely happen.


    ¡°Let¡¯s rest here for a while to throw them off. In an hour, we¡¯ll continue the journey,¡± the driver said, lighting his cigarette.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Andre agreed to his driver¡¯s suggestion. They then sat in silence, savoring the sess of escaping from the threatening danger. Although the wounds and trauma still lingered, Lara appeared resilient. She was just a little cold because the AC temperature in the car was quite low.


    ¡°Here,¡± Andre handed her his jacket so Lara wouldn¡¯t feel cold.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Lara hugged her arms after Andre put the jacket on her. She felt grateful for sessfully avoiding the pursuit that could have been dangerous. Lara truly didn¡¯t know what the motives and goals of the men who had been tailing their car since earlier were, but she was sure that their intentions were not good.


    Unbeknownst to them, an hour had passed. Lara and Andre fell asleep, as did thewyer apanying them. The driver put out his cigarette after several puffs. He then opened the car door and looked around to make sure they were no longer being watched.


    ¡°It seems safe,¡± he murmured, feeling a somewhat calm atmosphere around the alley.


    Andre woke up and rubbed his eyes. He felt the vehicle starting to move. ¡°Are we continuing the journey, Sir?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes. It seems safe,¡± the driver said, remaining vignt. They didn¡¯t know if those cars would return to stalk them or had truly gone as hoped.


    ¡°Alright. Be careful.¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    The car resumed its journey, cutting through the roads connecting different provinces from the residence of their employer. At this point, they were in the West Java region, although not too far from Andre¡¯s apartment in the Jakarta area.


    The roads appeared deserted, and the day was growing darker. The lingering twilight slowly faded away. The dark sky began to stretch across the horizon.


    The driver drove the car at a moderate speed, remembering that the danger no longer threatened them. The vehicle smoothly glided to return to their employer¡¯s residence.


    However, before they werepletely free from danger, suddenly¡­ SCREECH! Someone rear-ended them.


    ¡°ARGH!¡±

 Part 99 # Held at Gunpoint

    SCREECH! The sound of a harsh collision made their car shake. Andre, Lara, thewyer, and the driver were startled by the sudden event.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?!¡± Andre eximed, 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 elerated 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 elerated it again at high speed.


    ¡°Watch out!¡± Thewyer, 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 to avoid the fatal ident threatening their lives.


    ¡°Oh, no!¡± Lara cried out in fear as the car sped up. She was once again reminded of the ident with Mahya that happened some time ago.


    The car continued to drive through the deserted streets. Night had fallen. They soon realized that the disturbance they had caused some time ago had not yielded results. The two unfamiliar cars were still chasing them and now bing more daring in their actions.


    ¡°Maybe they were waiting for nightfall,¡± Lara began to think negatively and spected that those people were hired assassins sent by Seno, as usual.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think negatively, Ra. We¡¯ll be fine,¡± Andre said, trying to stay calm even though cold sweat had soaked most of his body. His heart was racing along with the increasing speed of the car.


    Andre scanned the surroundings, dark. They were on a deserted road whose exact location was unknown. The man began to open the map on his smartphone. Nothing. The cell phone signal couldn¡¯t reach that location either.


    ¡°We can¡¯t call the police?¡± Lara asked with a trembling voice.


    ¡°Unfortunately not. The signal is difficult here,¡± Andre sighed as he tried to find a way out. What could he do when all movements were restricted?


    CLUNK! The car suddenly stopped when it turned out there was arge hole gaping in front of them. It seemed that the driver had not paid much attention to the public works marker that had been installed on the road earlier.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± The driver immediately put the car in reverse to find another way, but¡­ the two pursuing cars instead surrounded them.


    They were trapped in the middle of a deserted road with two pursuing cars blocking them in front and behind. All avenues of escape felt tightly closed, and the darkness of the night added tension there.


    ¡°We have to find a way out of this situation,¡± thewyer said tensely, trying to maintain calm amidst the chaos.


    Andre and the driver tried to find a gap or opportunity to escape, but the situation became moreplicated with the arrival of the two pursuing cars that surrounded them.


    ¡°There¡¯s an alternative road over there!¡± Lara shouted, pointing to a small road that could be seen on the right side of the main road.


    The driver quickly decided to try that route as ast-ditch effort to escape. Carefully, their car turned onto that small road, hoping to avoid the enemy¡¯s pursuit.


    However, what happened in front of them surprised them. The small road turned out to be a trap, with the two pursuing cars already waiting at the end, closing off any possibility of escape.


    ¡°We¡¯re trapped!¡± Andre said despairingly.


    There was no way out visible before them. They were truly trapped in the middle of the dark night, pursued by unknown enemies.


    ¡°We have to prepare to face them,¡± Andre said firmly, preparing for the worst possible situation.


    They all tensed, ready to face whatever would happen next. The darkness of the night thickened around them, adding to the tension enveloping the dire situation.


    The roar of the cars echoed in the midst of the silence that lingered. The headlights dazzled the eyes, as the cars finally stopped, leaving only unanswered questions for anyone.


    ¡°Stop right there!¡±manded one of the tall men in ck suits who finally began to speak. The man looked quite tall andrge, with dark sunsses hiding his eye color.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Andre asked, positioning his body in front of Lara.


    Both Andre, Lara, thewyer, and the driver finally all got out of the car. They tried to talk and ask questions that should have been answerable by those unfamiliar men. However, before thinking about how to escape from the trapped situation, they had to know the attackers¡¯ motives so they could clearly understand what was happening.


    ¡°Why do you need to know who we are?¡± the big man replied with a smirk more urately interpreted as a sneer than a smile.


    ¡°Is it Seno who sent you?!¡± Lara also didn¡¯t stay silent. She wanted to know the truth, although her voice sounded trembling.


    The big man just smiled cynically, without giving a direct answer. Around them, the atmosphere seemed to be getting tenser. Three other men followed from the other car, dressed simrly to the big man before.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have time for silly questions like that,¡± said one of the foreign men with a cold and firm voice.


    Andre tried to maintain his calm demeanor, although in his heart he kept wondering about the motive behind their attack. ¡°What do you want from us?¡±


    The big man approached Andre while taking off the sunsses that had been perched on his nose. ¡°We¡¯ve been assigned to solve a problem, and you are part of it. Now, give us what we¡¯re looking for, or you¡¯ll face the consequences.¡±


    Andre and the others looked at each other, trying to understand the situation they were facing. They had no choice but to cooperate with the unfamiliar men, at least for now.


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll work with you,¡± Andre finally said, deciding toply with the request of the unfamiliar men for their safety first.


    ¡°Okay, listen carefully,¡± said one of the foreign men, taking out a bag from his car. ¡°We¡¯re looking for a valuable item believed to be in your possession. Hand over that item to us, and you¡¯ll be released unharmed.¡±


    Andre and the others looked at each other, trying to understand what the unfamiliar man meant. If the item in question was the CCTV recording of Mahya¡¯s ident, it meant that Seno¡¯s side had read their move to uncover that important event.


    However, if Andre handed over the new evidence, it would mean they weremitting suicide. There was no other evidence that could incriminate Seno other than that CCTV recording.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have what you¡¯re looking for,¡± Andre replied firmly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie!¡± one of the foreign men eximed, threateningly. ¡°We know the item is here, and we won¡¯t leave until we get it.¡±


    The situation was heating up, with threats and tensions escting. Andre and the others had to find a way to deal with the foreign men and escape from the increasingly dangerous situation. However, before they could truly do that, a soft ¡®click¡¯ was heard right in front of them.


    ¡°Hand it over now, or you¡¯ll die right here!¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

 Part 100 # Death

    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 sses 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.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Andre nced at thewyer out of the corner of his eye. In silence, they tried tomunicate with a few considerations. First, if Andre just handed over the CCTV recording, then the only evidence that could incriminate Seno would truly disappear, along with other evidence that had been eliminated by the opposing party.


    Second, if Andre didn¡¯t hand over thest piece of evidence, then their lives would all be in danger. He really didn¡¯t anticipate this interception. Andre only thought that Seno¡¯s side would fight barbarically in court or terrorize as they had done before.


    Andre truly never imagined that Seno¡¯s side would even dare tomit another murder if necessary. They were truly ruthless!


    ¡°Just give it, Sir,¡± thewyer finally said. There was nothing they could do exceptply with the request of the scoundrels in front of them. What should be defended if lives were at stake?


    With a heavy heart, Andre nodded. He began to reach into the pocket of his shirt. As a specialist, there were many things he had to hide for the security of data.


    That special shirt-who would have thought-turned out to have another use to hide the sacred USB that could incriminate the former scoundrel husband to be imprisoned forever. If only that case were opened, then, other cases would follow as a domino effect from the deadly incident experienced by Lara and Mahya.


    Unfortunately, those aspirations vanished when faced with the danger between life and death that they never expected.


    In the chaos, Andre finally handed the USB to the man with sses. A smirk appeared on his lips. He nodded to one of hispanions and ordered him to check the contents of the USB. In a matter of seconds, a cable connected to the phone and they managed to verify that the USB did contain the important data they were looking for.


    ¡°Good. You really can be worked with.¡± The man with sses lowered his gun, but¡­ his henchmen behind him were still alert with the same demeanor, pointing their guns with the triggers already pulled towards the four of them.


    In a tense situation, Andre and the others realized that their safety was still not guaranteed even though the USB had been handed over. They felt cornered by those scoundrels who still threatened with weapons. Andre tried to stay calm and think quickly.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got what you wanted, now, leave! Let us go back home!¡± Andre shouted with eyes full of anger. He didn¡¯t care if eventually Mahya¡¯s case couldn¡¯t be used as damning evidence to imprison Seno. Andre was now more focused on the safety of all of them. And, that meant, these scoundrels had to leave and disappear from their sight!


    Lara pulled Andre¡¯s shirt, as if signaling him not to speak loudly and provoke those dangerous people. Lara didn¡¯t want any stray bullets to fly past her lover¡¯s body.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Andre whispered after realizing that Lara was so frightened and didn¡¯t want her to get hurt. The same thing was also considered by him. He didn¡¯t want Lara to experience the unfortunate incidents like they had before.


    ¡°Leave?¡± It sounded more like a mockery, the man with sses said. He put the USB that had just been given by Andre into his pocket. Proudly, he walked closer, circling the four standing almost side by side.


    ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll leave that easily, hm?¡± he asked with a sneer. Andre really couldn¡¯t stand it anymore.


    Bugh!


    He mmed his fist into the face of the man with sses, and that truly became the cause of the next chaos.


    ¡°Bastard!¡± The man retaliated against Andre¡¯s blow with another punch, and immediately, the calm, quiet, and tense area escted into a chaotic battleground!


    ¡°Lara, take cover in the car!¡± Andre yelled before punching the man with sses again, followed by thewyer and their driver fighting against the other men.


    ¡°Hiyat!¡± The driver managed to lock the hands of the henchman with a pistol, and so did thewyer, he also managed to knock down the firearm so it no longer posed a threat.


    ¡°Watch out!¡± Lara screamed when Andre was almost hit by another man. The brawl ensued quickly, apanied by the sound of bodies colliding and shouts from all the men involved.


    Lara tried to remain calm in the car, but she couldn¡¯t hide her anxiety. She watched through the window, worried about the safety of Andre and the others.


    Andre, although in a fighting situation, still tried to protect Lara. He moved quickly and agilely, avoiding the attacks of his opponents while trying to give others a chance to act. In the chaos, their survival instincts spoke, urging them to act quickly and efficiently.


    ¡°Bastard!¡± The man with sses, although surprised by Andre¡¯s sudden attack, didn¡¯t give up so easily. He fought fiercely, trying to maintain control of the situation.


    Meanwhile, his other henchmen tried to retrieve their fallen weapons, but the firearms had disappeared under the car and were so difficult to retrieve. ¡°Damn it!¡±


    In the midst of the chaos, quick action and team coordination were key to safely escaping from this situation. Theymunicated with gestures and looks, trying to figure out the next steps in the increasingly heated battle.


    However, when Andre¡¯s team was gaining the upper hand, one of the henchmen of the man with sses saw a sh of light from the direction of the car¡¯s tire. He immediately moved towards the reflection and realized that it came from the pistol that had fallen.


    ¡°I got it!¡± Immediately, he pulled the trigger of the gun and¡­ BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Four hot bullets were sessfully fired!


    The fierce battle finally ended with¡­ death.

 Part 101 # The Helper Goddess

    ¡°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 ck robe with a burning cigarette was walking towards them. The re of the dazzling car behind the woman obscured their view, coupled with the four bodies lying there, truly making everything a mysterious and suspicious affair.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you recognize my voice?¡±


    Lara was startled, her eyes squinting as she tried to identify the mysterious woman. Her face was vaguely visible under the dim light of the flickering streetmp around them. Her heart was pounding hard, afraid of the uncertainty that surrounded them. However, a momentter, everything became clear.


    ¡°Mother?!¡±


    The woman smiled thinly, but her smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes hidden behind the shadows. She looked at Lara meaningfully, as if she had a big secret to reveal.


    ¡°Yes, my dear Lara,¡± the woman said with a soft voice but full of a threatening cold aura. ¡°I¡¯vee to save you from those cursed scoundrels.¡±


    Lara felt her world spinning. How could her mother be here, amidst this chaos? Since when was her mother so skilled at firing a gun? ¡°H-how?¡±


    ¡°Ssh¡­ you¡¯re safe now.¡±


    Andre was also stunned. He couldn¡¯t imagine that their situation would be moreplicated with the unexpected presence of Lara¡¯s mother. However, behind the surprise, he felt a bit relieved. Their lives were no longer in danger.


    ¡°Mother, why are you here?¡± Lara asked, her voice trembling with confusion and worry.


    Lara¡¯s mother approached them slowly, followed by the movement of the car behind which always trailed like a pet. Although her facial expression remained mysterious, Lara¡¯s mother was different from usual. She no longer looked panicked and wanting to escape from the Interpol pursuit that had almost caught her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for a long exnation. What¡¯s important now is that you must leave this ce. Danger still lurks, my dear.¡±


    Andre stared at Lara¡¯s mother with a sharp gaze, trying to figure out the meaning behind her words. However, Lara¡¯s mother remained silent, as if keeping all those secrets to herself.


    ¡°But, Mother, we don¡¯t know where to go,¡± Lara said with a desperate tone. ¡°We have no ce to take refuge. They must already be at Andre¡¯s apartment by now.¡±


    Lara¡¯s mother smiled, but her smile felt bitter. ¡°You will find a safe ce. Trust me.¡±


    Andre sighed, apanied by cold sweat pouring from his forehead and his whole body. He wanted to believe Lara¡¯s mother, but there was doubt haunting his mind. Would they really find a safe ce amidst this chaos?


    ¡°We have to move,¡± Lara¡¯s mother suddenly said, cutting through the silence that filled the air. ¡°There¡¯s no time to think long.¡±


    ¡°Right, Doc,¡± thewyer agreed. The driver also seemed not to mind. After weighing for a moment, Andre looked at Lara and nodded. ¡°Your mother¡¯s words have truth in them, Ra,¡± he said afterwards.


    Lara just stared at Andre with nk eyes. She couldn¡¯t think clearly. Lara felt mixed up with everything that was happening. On one hand, she didn¡¯t believe her mother just like that, but, on the other hand, her mother¡¯s solution was the only hope left.


    A pat from Andre startled Lara. She snapped back to reality and answered the question thrown at her. ¡°Okay, Ndre. Let¡¯s follow her.¡±


    Andre approached Lara¡¯s mother firmly. ¡°We¡¯ll follow you. But, tell us, where are we going?¡±


    ¡°To a safe ce that no one will find, dear. You¡¯ll be safe there.¡±


    Although Madam repeatedly mentioned the safe ce, Lara still didn¡¯t know exactly where the location was. Her mother didn¡¯t leak any information and kept her wondering. Was this really the way of her mother¡¯s life? Always filled with mysteries?


    ¡°It¡¯s better to have a good reason for your disappearance all this time. Then I can decide whether to forgive you or not,¡± Lara muttered as she looked at the empty streets outside the window. She could see her mother¡¯s reflection from there. There was no smile on her face. Her mother¡¯s face looked serious and also restless.


    ¡°Why dwell on the past if it only hurts? Just focus on your future, Ra.¡±


    Lara¡¯s heart felt pierced, but she didn¡¯t pay much attention to her mother¡¯s words. In the corner of her wounded heart, her mother¡¯s words were indeed true. Piling up curiosity would only blur rationality. Lara needed her sanity to win the trial against Seno. She must not be influenced by her past.


    ¡°Ra¡­¡± Andre held Lara¡¯s hand tightly. He knew that Lara needed support at this moment. However, Madam¡¯s words were indeed true. We must focus on the future.


    The car continued to speed through the quiet streets, leaving the chaos behind with its loud engine roar. Curiosity and worry still enveloped everyone there. However, there was a belief that they were heading in the right direction, towards a safe ce.


    After a while passed in silence, Lara¡¯s mother finally spoke again, her voice soft but full of certainty. ¡°Well, we¡¯ve arrived.¡±


    The car stopped in front of an old building that seemed neglected. Lara¡¯s mother got out of the car with elegant steps, followed by Andre, Lara, and theirwyer. The night air felt colder and quieter around them. The cold even pierced to the bone.


    The old building looked like an abandoned house, with peeling paint and broken windows. But, amidst the neglect, there was a calming aura, as if the building held secrets and safety unseen from the outside.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, this is just a disturbance.¡± Lara¡¯s mother opened the door of the building with a key she took out from her robe pocket. The four of them entered, stepping into the dark hallway that stretched before them. The atmosphere inside the building felt cold and damp, with a distinct aroma of a ce long uninhabited.


    They walked along the dark corridor, followed by the echoing sound of their footsteps along the corridor. Lara held Andre¡¯s hand tightly, seeking strength and courage amidst the uncertainty that


    haunted them.


    Finally, they arrived in a fairlyrge room, illuminated dimly by the faint light. Lara¡¯s mother stopped right in that room, her smile widening.


    ¡°This room¡­ holds everything you¡¯re looking for.¡±

 Part 102 # The Final Battle

    For two days, Lara and her entourage spent their time in the old building owned by her mother. Now, with better preparation than before, she returned to court to attend the continuation of the trial.


    The evidence obtained in the old building truly became a turning point in Lara¡¯s case. This time, theirwyer could confidently win thewsuit against their opponent!


    ¡°Mrs. Lara, please step forward to the witness stand,¡± called the judge, ring sharply at her sitting anxiously on the long bench.


    ¡°You can do it, darling,¡± Andre said, holding Lara¡¯s hand. The woman nodded while swallowing her saliva as she heard the call from the judge.


    ¡°Pray for me, okay,¡± she whispered to Andre, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart.


    ¡°Of course, you can do it,¡± Andre reassured her, raising his fist in the air to encourage his beloved. Lara nodded, then stood up and walked towards the witness stand in the crowded courtroom.


    As she sat down, Lara looked around. Seno. Her ex-husband and opponent appeared angry across the room. Lara stared at him sharply, grinning. Of course, she didn¡¯t smile. It was Lara¡¯s first grin at her ex who had cruelly turned her world upside down.


    ¡°W-what does she think she¡¯s doing?¡± Seno murmured softly, gripping his orange suit tightly. Earlier, he had exploded at hiswyer because their attempt to conquer Lara failed again for the umpteenth time. They also didn¡¯t get any clues as to where the hired killers went? The gas pipe explosion on the side of the rice field road was quite disturbing, but they dared to investigate further.


    It would be better if the assassination task failed, the traces leading to Seno and hiswyer would be erased in the ze.


    ¡°You¡¯re finished,¡± Lara¡¯s lips moved, but Seno couldn¡¯t read them because he wasn¡¯t good at guessing people¡¯s words. Seno really didn¡¯t think that today¡¯s trial was the end of everything. All of his crimes would be exposed, and thus, the real world¡¯s hell would begin.


    ***


    ¡°Mrs. Lara,¡± said the judge with a calm but firm voice, ¡°You are called as a witness in this trial. I hope you can provide honest and factual testimony.¡±


    Lara swallowed hard for a moment before answering, ¡°Yes, Your Honor.¡±


    ¡°Very well, let¡¯s begin,¡± said the judge, turning to the prosecuting attorney to start the examination.


    The prosecuting attorney rose from his seat with his notebook and walked towards Lara¡¯s table. ¡°Mrs. Lara,¡± he said with a calm yet sharp voice, ¡°In your previous testimony, you revealed that Mr. Seno kidnapped andmitted violence against you. However, that was actually a misunderstanding. Can you further exin what you know about his actions?¡±


    ¡°Yes, he has done evil to me and it was not a misunderstanding,¡± Lara replied, refusing to be intimidated by the prosecuting attorney like in previous trials. After taking a deep breath, Lara then shared her story about how Seno nned the kidnapping, violence, and even attempted murder on her.


    ¡°And¡­ it didn¡¯t just happen once,¡± Lara emphasized. However, the prosecuting attorney immediately objected. ¡°Objection, Your Honor. There is no evidence rted to her testimony.¡±


    The prosecuting attorney continued the examination sharply, trying to doubt Lara¡¯s testimony and weaken her position as a key witness. Every question was asked carefully, trying to find loopholes in Lara¡¯s story. However, Lara remained calm and firm in answering every question asked.


    But when the prosecuting attorney rejected the existence of evidence showing the truth of Lara¡¯s testimony, the defense attorney stepped forward. With a calm yet confident face, he objected to the judge.


    ¡°Objection, Your Honor,¡± he said firmly. ¡°We have new evidence that will confirm Mrs. Lara¡¯s testimony.¡±


    The judge looked sharply at the defense attorney. ¡°What evidence are you referring to?¡±


    The defense attorney calmly presented the new documents they obtained from their investigation. They handed over these pieces of evidence to the judge for review.


    ¡°These pieces of evidence show digital traces confirming Mr. Seno¡¯s presence at the scene at the same time as stated by Sister Lara,¡± exined the defense attorney. ¡°In addition, we also have CCTV footage showing acts of violencemitted by Seno against our client and other evidence ¡­¡±


    The judge carefully examined the evidence, his face expressing admiration for the strength of the evidence presented by the defense attorney.


    ¡°These pieces of evidence are quite convincing,¡± the judge finally said. ¡°The trial is adjourned for further review of the newly presented evidence.¡±


    ¡°W-what? How could this be?¡± Seno gaped as the CCTV footage of Mahya¡¯s ident and the kidnapping at the hospital was reyed in the courtroom. The prosecuting attorney was also confused by this new evidence. How could the hospital CCTV footage be recovered? His client had checked that the recording had been destroyed.


    ¡°T-th-that¡¯s not true!¡± Seno shouted. However, hiswyer tried to calm his client. Seno shouldn¡¯t open his mouth wider, or their situation would be more cornered. ¡°Calm down, Sir. I¡¯ll handle it.¡±


    The prosecuting attorney tried to respond quickly to the new evidence presented by the defense attorney. ¡°Objection, Your Honor. This evidence is invalid because it was not submitted at the previous stage of the trial, and we did not have a chance to examine it beforehand.¡±


    However, the judge wisely responded, ¡°Prosecuting attorney, I understand your objection. However, as a dispenser of justice, I have a duty to ensure that all relevant evidence is considered in this trial. Because this evidence has the potential to change the course of the case, I must allow further review of it.¡±


    Seno, who initially felt confident about the chance to get out of this case, now felt confused and anxious. The new pieces of evidence shattered his belief in an easy victory. He felt that he was increasingly trapped in the trap set by the opposing party.


    Meanwhile, the defense attorney only smiled satisfactorily, showing that they had made thorough preparations and sessfully revealed the truth that was previously hidden.


    After hearing objections from both sides, the judge nodded firmly. ¡°The trial is adjourned for further review of the newly presented evidence. I will instruct the authorities to conduct a detailed examination of the authenticity of this evidence.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Your Honor.¡±


    Thus, the judge performed his duty as a dispenser of justice, ensuring that the legal process proceeded fairly and that all relevant evidence was carefully considered before making a final decision.


    ¡°Oh, God! Finally!¡± Lara felt relieved to see the progress of her case. The new evidence she brought was truly useful. Tears of happiness flowed along with Lara¡¯s sweet smile.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Congrattions, darling,¡± Andre weed Lara as she got up from her seat. With a whisper full of love, he felt he had to give that statement so that Lara felt sessful with all her efforts and perseverance.


    ¡°Thank you, Ndre. But, this is not over yet,¡± Lara wiped the corners of her watery eyes with a tissue. Although the trial was postponed for the final decision, now the truth was closer.


    Lara¡¯s side could breathe a sigh of relief with the new evidence they submitted. That meant they had given a greater chance of winning this case and revealing the truth that had been buried for so long.


    With new hope spreading in their hearts, Lara and her team prepared to wee the next stage in their struggle. Outside the courtroom, journalists were eagerly waiting. Seno¡¯s case had indeed be a ma for news hunters.


    ¡°Mrs. Lara, give yourment. How was the trial?¡± asked one of the reporters who suddenly directed the microphone at her. Lara looked nervous, but Andre calmly answered every question from the journalists as a spokesperson.


    Lara¡¯swyer alsomented, and unexpectedly ¡­ the familiar faces of the journalists had been waiting for their entourage in the ck van with the inscription ¡®Channel Insight.¡¯


    Lara¡¯s smile blossomed instantly.


    ¡°Hey!¡±

 Part 103 # Break Time

    Mahya looked beautiful with her natural makeup and glossy lips. However, of course, one strange thing made Lara feel sorry. Mahya was now in a wheelchair.


    ¡°Miss me?¡± Mahya asked, winking one eye. Lara nodded, tears streaming down her face. She then rushed towards her friend and hugged her tightly.


    ¡°Damn yes! How are you?¡± Lara asked hoarsely. Mahya just smiled and patted Lara¡¯s back gently.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, as you can see? The important thing is I woke up from aa, right?¡± Mahya said with a smile. Lara loosened her hug and examined every part of her friend¡¯s body. Right. Mahya had regained consciousness, and only her legs still couldn¡¯t walk properly.


    ¡°This is just temporary, right?¡± Lara asked worriedly.


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m a wild horse, you know! How could I lose just like that,¡± Mahya joked proudly, showing off her bicep muscles. Lara justughed. Her gaze shifted to two other people on Mahya¡¯s left and right. ¡°James, Carol,¡± Lara greeted with a nod.


    James and Carol-those two siblings-smiled and waved their hands. Lara felt a bit awkward with James¡¯ friendly attitude, but her guess became urate when he tidied up Mahya¡¯s messy hair due to the wind.


    ¡°Are you two dating?¡± Lara asked, widening her eyes.


    ¡°W-well¡­,¡± Mahya blushed. For the first time, Lara saw her friend¡¯s strange behavior. ¡°Spill the tea!¡± Lara urged, shaking Mahya¡¯s body. But James quickly pulled Lara¡¯s hand to prevent her from hurting his sweetheart. ¡°Easy, Miss,¡± he scolded disapprovingly. Mahya justughed, and so did Lara.


    ¡°Hey! Now there¡¯s her bodyguard!¡± Lara teased, stepping back to maintain James¡¯ dignity as Mahya¡¯s only man and protector.


    ¡°Oh,e on!¡± Mahya grimaced, just fluttering her eyshes. She really didn¡¯t expect that today, she would be the center of attention. ¡°Eh! Let¡¯s get in the car first,¡± Mahya invited.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lara agreed, but she forgot that thewyer and Andre were still behind.


    ¡°If you want an interview, you can talk to me,¡± thewyer said, handing out his shiny blue background name card. Andre also nodded, agreeing with thewyer¡¯s attitude.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Oh, right. Are we going to interview them exclusively?¡± Mahya now turned to James and Carol. The boss¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Of course!¡± Mahyaughed again and nned a solution that could be epted by all parties.


    ¡°Alright, here¡¯s the deal¡­ James and Carol, please get in the car with the Lawyer. Meanwhile, I¡¯ll go with the Doctor¡¯s car with my friend, okay?¡± Mahya suggested more like a coercion. Her solution, of course, only favored her because Mahya was currently not working.


    ¡°Y-you!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m on my leave, right? Why do you want to exploit my energy?¡± Mahya responded casually, sticking out her tongue. James justughed, as did Carol. The woman two years older than Mahya just shook her head.


    ¡°Alright, do what you want to do. We¡¯ll go back to work like horses,¡± Carol said, reaching out her hand to thewyer. They then got into the office car and did an exclusive interview inside.


    ¡°We can go to a quiet ce, James! You bring the car. Look! The bees are moving this way!¡± Carol pointed to another group of reporters who were trying to catch up with Lara and her team.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    ¡°Andre, you should go too!¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡±


    Andre, Lara, and Mahya¡¯s entourage immediately hurried to the parking lot not far from the courthouse terrace. Lara pushed Mahya¡¯s wheelchair withughter; she never thought that such an activity could be so refreshing for her.


    ¡°Be careful, Ra!¡± Andre warned, turning on the car rm to unlock the doors. Within seconds, he was in the driver¡¯s seat, ready to drive the car to avoid the pursuit of journalists.


    ¡°Yes! We did it!¡± Mahya eximed happily after Lara moved her shrinking body, who had not eaten enough, and pushed her wheelchair into the back trunk.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Ndre!¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    Andre immediately drove the car at a moderate speed, hoping to escape from the pursuit of the journalists. Some of them chased the Channel Insight van, thinking that Lara was there for an exclusive interview.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this case to get so much attention,¡± Lara muttered, sighing deeply.


    ¡°You and Seno, you¡¯ve been celebrities for the past few weeks,¡± Mahya replied, looking at Lara intently. ¡°Are you¡­ alright?¡± she askedter. Her facial expression turned gloomy. She knew Lara was hiding something. Mahya also understood that Seno wouldn¡¯t just sit back and ept all the defiance Lara showed.


    ¡°Well¡­ long story. But, we¡¯re fine,¡± Lara replied, ncing at Andre who was driving with full concentration. He smiled and nodded, as if confirming Lara¡¯s words.


    ¡°So, are you two dating too?¡± Mahya blinked and covered her mouth. She didn¡¯t expect that happiness as a couple would hit the two of them.


    ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s like that,¡± Lara answered, blushing.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, May. Lara is indecisive,¡± Andre joked, chuckling softly.


    ¡°Ah, I know that very well. So, Dr., Lara really cares for you,¡± Mahya said, making Andre¡¯s heart almost burst with happiness.


    ¡°Really?¡± Andre couldn¡¯t believe what Mahya said.


    ¡°Yes! Lara is very careful when ites to matters of the heart. You¡¯re lucky, Doctor. Lara is considering stepping up to the next level-Ouch!¡± Mahya¡¯s words stopped due to Lara¡¯s elbow. ¡°Stop talking nonsense, May!¡± Lara red and covered her face with her hand. Andre and Mahyaughed because of it.


    Light conversation flowed freely, breaking the silence that had initially constrained them.


    Andre, Lara, and Mahya continued to chat cheerfully during the journey. Andre drove the car carefully, while Mahya and Laraughed and joked with each other.


    Although they faced difficult situations, they could still find happiness in their togetherness.


    After a while, the car finally arrived at their destination, a secluded and beautiful beach. They got out of the car and admired the stunning scenery before them.


    ¡°Wow, the beach is so beautiful,¡± Mahya eximed in admiration.


    ¡°Yes, this ce is my favorite spot to rx and unwind. I want Lara to take a break for a moment,¡± Andre added with a smile. Lara was, of course, very happy. She quickly opened the car door and guided Mahya to get ready at the end of the passenger seat.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get the wheelchair,¡± Lara said as she walked towards the trunk.


    Meanwhile, Andre got out of the car to help unfold the wheelchair that had been folded in the trunk. Carefully, Andre took the wheelchair and set it up next to the car. Lara immediately pushed it towards Mahya.


    ¡°Thank you, Andre, Lara. Sorry for troubling you,¡± Mahya said, smiling at her two friends.


    ¡°What are you talking about? It¡¯s not trouble at all,¡± Lara said as she adjusted Mahya¡¯s position in the wheelchair. Andre also helped move Mahya into the wheelchair, he was very worried that Lara might fall while lifting Mahya¡¯s body.


    ¡°Are you ready, May?¡± Lara asked, making sure that Mahya wasfortable in her wheelchair.


    ¡°Yes! Let¡¯s explore this beautiful beach!¡± Mahya eximed happily.


    The two girls dashed ahead of Andre, who looked satisfied and happy. However, before Andre could catch up with the women, a ringing phone surprised him.


    ¡°Shanon?¡±

 Part 104 # Sister’s Help

    Andre squinted his eyes as his sister¡¯s name appeared on his phone screen. Why would his sister call him at a time like this? It¡¯s not like her.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Andre! It¡¯s urgent! You have toe here right now!¡± his sister eximed, breathless.


    ¡°Wait! Come where?¡± Andre was confused because it was impossible for him to go to Canada in such a short time, just like changingnes on a minibus. He didn¡¯t understand why his sister was so hurried and panicked like that.


    ¡°To the hospital! Not to Canada, Ndre! To your hospital! The director¡¯s office! Now!¡±


    ¡°Sister-¡±


    Click. The phone call was cut off. His sister could always win a contest for ¡®who can make people curious the most?¡¯ Andre ruffled his hair roughly. He was puzzled about how to deal with his sister¡¯s request, especially since Lara and Mahya were just enjoying the beauty of the beach in northern Jakarta. Should they go back?


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Ndre?¡± Seeing her boyfriend¡¯s troubled face, Lara certainly wanted to ask what made his mood worsen. They had just felt on top of the world, so what was the problem that made his face grimace like that?


    ¡°It seems like I need to go to the hospital, Ra,¡± Andre replied seriously.


    ¡°The hospital? Who¡¯s sick?¡± Lara widened her eyes. She didn¡¯t want anyone else to get hurt because of this case.


    ¡°Oh, no! Not to visit someone who¡¯s sick. My sister ising, Ra,¡± Andre said with a tense face. Whether Lara would like this news or not, Lara¡¯s hatred for her family came as a package deal with memories that continued to haunt her heart all this time.


    ¡°Oh¡­.¡± Lara just opened her mouth slightly. She remembered that Shanon-Andre¡¯s sister-was one of the people she hated because of the fake death case of his mother. Lara was still sorting out her feelings, trying to forget all the hatred and torment that had gnawed at her heart all this time.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯ve called the Backup Driver. He¡¯lle here, and I can use his car. You guys stay here, it¡¯s okay,¡± Andre tried to calm the situation. He didn¡¯t want to ruin Lara and Mahya¡¯s reunion moment with his personal matters.


    ¡°Driver? Let¡¯s just go home, Ndre,¡± Lara said, not wanting to bother Andre and make him worried.


    ¡°No! Look at Mahya. She¡¯s really enjoying the sea breeze. You can have a pic here for a while. The driver wille soon,¡± Andre said then. Lara looked at Mahya, who was looking at the sea with a smile on her face.


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right,¡± Lara agreed with Andre¡¯s words. But before he turned around and walked towards the car, Lara suddenly hugged him from behind. ¡°Take care,¡± Lara said, burying her head on his broad back.


    Andre smiled and patted Lara¡¯s hands that were wrapped around his waist. He felt peaceful for a moment. The friction of Lara¡¯s face against his back sent a tingling sensation. Andre¡¯s tension, which had been pressing his body¡¯s nerves, slowly eased as Lara¡¯s embrace tightened.


    ¡°I will,¡± Andre replied, turning around. He then nted a kiss on Lara¡¯s sweet lips in an instant. Lara was surprised, but she didn¡¯t refuse it. She blushed and smiled after Andre¡¯s strong hand held her cheek.


    ¡°See you tonight?¡± Andre said with sparkling eyes reflecting the orange light from the descending twilight. Lara nodded and hooked her pinky with Andre¡¯s.


    ¡°See you tonight.¡±


    They parted with warm smiles adorning their faces. The recement driver had arrived. Andre quickly exchanged the car keys with him. Secondster, the blue sedan cruised away, cutting through the empty streets that now only left memories.


    ***


    The journey from the beach to Andromeda Hospital took about an hour, luckily, Andre didn¡¯t get stuck in traffic. After driving to South Jakarta, Andre arrived at the intended location.


    ¡®The number you¡¯re calling is not answering¡¯


    Andre repeatedly called his sister¡¯s number, but the woman didn¡¯t pick up his phone calls. ¡°Argh! Why!¡± Andre felt annoyed because his sister was making him so curious. But, what could he do? That¡¯s just how Shanon is.


    ***


    After sessfully parking the car in the parking lot, Andre quickly took the elevator to the director¡¯s office. He walked quickly until he was looked at by his former colleagues with a puzzled expression¡­ or more urately, mocking? Andre shouldn¡¯t be wandering around the hospital after his dismissal.


    He put on an indifferent face because he wasn¡¯t easily intimidated just by looks alone. For him, it didn¡¯t matter if he was misunderstood, as long as he could resolve the matter with his sister soon.


    ¡°Oh, Doctor Andre?¡± a nurse greeted as they passed each other in the corridor towards the director¡¯s office.


    ¡°Hi, Nurse.¡± Andre awkwardly waved his hand. The nurse smiled and encouraged him with a fist bump in the air. ¡°Fighting!¡± she cheered happily.


    ¡°Yeah, thanks,¡± Andre replied, although he didn¡¯t understand what the nurse meant. However, several other nurses also seemed to wave at him, after receiving intimidating stares from his former colleagues.


    ¡°Here we go,¡± Andre muttered as he stood in front of the ck door with silver lettering that had a sign saying ¡®Director¡¯s Room¡¯. With a heavy breath, Andre grabbed the door handle and entered the room. He stepped in with certainty although his heart was still filled with anxiety.


    Inside the room, Andre found a familiar figure. The hospital director was also there, and also¡­ his sister!


    ¡°Miriam?¡± Andre widened his eyes when the girl turned to look at him.


    Miriam-the former fiancee-just smiled bitterly when she weed Andre¡¯s arrival. Shanon immediately put his hands on his hips followed by the deep baritone voice of a man unfamiliar to Andre.


    ¡°Finally you¡¯re here, my little brother,¡± his sister greeted with a wide smile. The man by her side also smiled when Andre started looking at him.


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Darren Kennedy, Shanon¡¯s husband,¡± he said as he reached out his hand.


    ¡°Ah, yes, sorry, Mr. Kennedy, I¡¯m a bit dazzled by you,¡± Andre said, rubbing his temples. He was still confused by this strange reunion. ¡°And¡­ Miriam, why are you here?¡± Andre asked directly to the heart of the matter.


    Shanonughed. ¡°Isn¡¯t this woman causing trouble, my brother? Aren¡¯t you the one to me?¡± he said sharply, hands on his hips. When ites to brotherplex matters, Shanon is the champion.


    Since their mother left, he was the one who raised Andre alone and worked hard to support the family. It was clear that if his brother was in trouble, Shannon would be the first to defend him.


    That¡¯s why Andre didn¡¯t want to tell his sister. Because, if Shanon intervened, then anyone would easily be crushed by her. Moreover, now his sister had married the richest widower in Canada. Shanon¡¯s power was greater than ever.


    Long story short, Shanon and Lara¡¯s mother were two women who shouldn¡¯t be antagonized by anyone in the world.


    ¡°Sister¡­ I can exin.¡±

 Part 105 # Apology

    ¡°Exin what, Ndre?¡± Shanon asked, raising an eyebrow. Andre just sighed heavily. He knew that his sister¡¯s interference would onlyplicate the situation.


    ¡°How do you know all about this?¡± Andre was still puzzled. ¡°Why did you deceive me? What¡¯s so urgent?¡±


    ¡°Andre! Oh, Andre! What don¡¯t you know? Especially after marrying this great man? Even ants whispering I can hear!¡± Shanon crossed her arms while looking at Andre with a strange gaze. Andre should know that Shanon wouldn¡¯t let her only sibling suffer, especially after experiencing the ups and downs of their lives that shook their world.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Hhh¡­ Like, whatever. This isn¡¯t a big deal. The problem is almost solved. The hospital¡¯s CCTV footage is already in the hands of the prosecutor,¡± said Andre, ncing towards Miriam, who looked astonished.


    ¡°Ho-how could that be?¡± Miriam¡¯s eyes widened. She was very sure that the CCTV footage had been destroyed by her, or¡­ someone had lied to her tantly!


    ¡°Who do you think gave that CCTV footage?¡± Shanon asked with her typical smile. Andre knew very well that smile, the smile of a psychopath who would do anything to achieve their goals.


    ¡°Was it you who gave it to Lara¡¯swyer?¡± Andre asked with a sudden realization. ¡°Ho-how do Syou even know him?¡±


    ¡°No one I can¡¯t handle, right, I¡¯ve told you-¡±


    ¡°Alright¡­ alright¡­ Madam Director, now, let us go, please¡­.¡± This time, the President Director-Miriam¡¯s father-sounded pitiful. Andre was puzzled. Why did an arrogant man seem to sound like a beggar on the street when facing his sister?


    ¡°No! You have to do yourst task after your tenure,¡± Shanon interjected, waving her hand vigorously.


    ¡°W-what? Why is the President Director¡¯s task finished, Shanon? Exin all of this! I don¡¯t understand!¡± Andre moved closer to his sister and now spoke directly in front of her.


    Shanon stared at Andre with an intensity that made him feel like he was drowning in her eyes. There was something in Shanon¡¯s gaze that made him feel worried, but also curious. What really happened behind all of this?


    ¡°Your sister reacquired this Andromeda Hospital, Andre, and that means the position of President Director now belongs to her,¡± exined Shanon¡¯s brother-inw, finally making Andre understand where all of this was heading.


    ¡°S-so-¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. The CCTV footage or whatever it is, up to the former doctor¡¯s location in this hospital, yes, I know. I¡¯m the boss. Hahaha!¡± Shanonughed lightly while pinching her husband¡¯s cheek yfully. The bespectacled man just smiled tightly, holding back the pain on his cheek.


    In contrast, Andre finally pped his forehead and felt that all his thoughts were wrong. He thought his sister kidnapped and held the President Director and his daughter captive in their own room. Whether there were bomb traps or snipers prepared to threaten the two, Andre didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°It turns out it¡¯s bought again, huh?¡± Andre chuckled and kissed his sister¡¯s cheek. ¡°Turns out it¡¯s useful to have a rich husband.¡± He whispered, flipping his sister¡¯s hair that covered her face.


    ¡°What¡¯s with you!¡± his sister grumbled while pinching Andre¡¯s cheek as punishment. ¡°There¡¯s no connection!¡± she retorted, folding her hands across her chest.


    The small squabble between siblings made Shanon¡¯s husband smile thinly. He hadn¡¯t seen Shanon¡¯s face so happy in a long time. Indeed, returning to Indonesia could restore his mental condition. For some time now, Shanon had been seeing a psychiatrist for treatment, saying it was difficult to sleep.


    Darren knew that the origin of his wife¡¯s mental illness was worrying about her younger brother. Finally, with his initiative, Darren took Shanon on a vacation to Bali and then to Jakarta to meet her brother. Unfortunately, before happiness appeared, misfortune came first.


    Shannon only found out that her brother had been fired from their family hospital. Whereas, the initial agreement with the Ramsey family allowed the hospital to be acquired with a fifty-fifty split. Shanon was very angry and asked Darren to reacquire the hospital if he truly loved her.


    ¡°So, that¡¯s the short story, Ndre,¡± said Darren, looking straight at Andre, while Shanon just blushed, in contrast to Miriam and her father, who could only swallow their anger and frustration.


    ¡°Is the farewell session over? Let us go!¡± Miriam eximed, rising from her seat.


    ¡°Yes, wait, be patient¡­.¡± Mr. Miriam tried to calm down his daughter¡¯s anger. He knew that there was a bad fate looming over his daughter if she didn¡¯tply with Shanon¡¯s words.


    ¡°Now, do yourst task!¡± ordered Shanon, advancing towards the former President Director. The old man swallowed hard. He knew that this was the time he would be humiliated.


    The former President Director looked at Shanon with disbelief and hatred. But in front of him, Shanon just smiled triumphantly, like a predator who sessfully caught its prey.


    ¡°You can¡¯t force me,¡± the former President Director said with a trembling voice, trying to hide his fear.


    ¡°Oh, but I can,¡± Shanon replied coldly, piercingly. ¡°Or do you want to see power and influential money more clearly?¡±


    The old man fell silent. He knew there was no way out for him. Shanon now had all the power, and he could only surrender to his fate.


    ¡°Alright, what do you want from me?¡± the former President Director asked with a voice that was almost choked.


    ¡°You know exactly what I want,¡± Shanon replied firmly. Her eyes pointed towards her brother with a loving gaze, but when she looked back at Mr. Miriam, her gaze changed like a wolf¡¯s.


    ¡°Apologize to him!¡± Shanonmanded mercilessly.


    ¡°I-I-¡±


    ¡°Quickly!¡±


    The former President Director fell silent for a moment, trying to swallow his saliva that felt like a stone. He felt like he was on the brink of ruin, caught between Shanon¡¯s anger and the hope of saving whatever was left of his dignity.


    ¡°I apologize, Andre,¡± he said with a trembling voice, his eyes looking down at the floor, unable to meet Shanon¡¯s disappointed gaze.


    Andre was silent for a moment, stunned by the sudden apology. He could feel the pressure of all the regret and despair in the former President Director¡¯s voice. But he also felt a deep relief in his heart, as if hearing the bell of resolution to a problem that had haunted him for so long.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Andre hesitated for


    a moment, searching for the right words to respond. ¡°I forgive you.¡±


    ¡°Wait! It can¡¯t be like this. Come on, kneel!¡± Shanon tested the patience of the former President Director even more. Andre was also surprised, as was Miriam.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you treat others more respectfully? He¡¯s older than you, Ma¡¯am!¡± Miriam shouted angrily. But Shanon just spat in her face.


    ¡°Look at yourself! So embarrassing! You¡¯re a doctor sworn to save lives, but? What did you do? You conspired with criminals to kill someone!¡± Shannon raged. She tapped Miriam¡¯s forehead angrily, and Darren immediately stopped her before the situation got worse.


    ¡°Bu-but-¡±


    ¡°Your father used Andre wrongly, fired him unterally, and¡­ harmed this hospital because of your foolish project with that killer businessman! Shameful! Both the daughter and father are the same!¡± Shanon couldn¡¯t control her emotions.


    ¡°Darling! Stop¡­.¡± Darren had to remind Shanon to be calmer as advised by the doctor. Shanon finally sighed and counted down to keep herself from losing control.


    The former President Director¡¯s face looked devastated by Shanon¡¯s sharp words. He felt like he was drowning in the waves of anger that were overwhelming him.


    ¡°Okay, stop! That¡¯s enough! I apologize, Andre,¡± he repeated in a softer voice. This time, his eyes radiated deep despair. ¡°I truly regret everything that has happened.¡±


    Andre was still silent, transfixed by the events that happened so quickly before him. He knew that the decision he made now would affect the future direction of them all. And amidst the tension that engulfed them, he had to find the strength to make the right decision.


    ¡°Alright, I forgive you,¡± Andre finally spoke, his face reflecting a deep sense of relief. But before he could continue his words, a loud voice broke the silence of the room.


    ¡°Stop! Dad! Where¡¯s your dignity? Don¡¯t let yourself be enved by her!¡± Miriam shouted angrily. She felt disappointed. Her eyes looked teary from the overflowing emotions. ¡°You can fool my father, but not me!¡±


    Miriam then ran through the door connecting the room to the hospital corridor. Unfortunately, her escape n only led her to fall into a more deadly trap scheme.


    ¡°Good! I knew she would do that.¡±

 Part 106 # Sowing and Reaping

    Miriam¡¯s steps hurriedly traversed the corridor to reach the elevator on the west side of the building.


    ¡°Damn!¡± Her slender fingers busily searched for the contact of a travel agent to call. Miriam had to leave the country immediately. Unfortunately, her cell phone signal didn¡¯t support her mission, so Miriam decided to postpone it until she reached the main lobby.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Miriam finally managed to contact her acquaintance. ¡°Prepare a ticket to Washington for me tonight, at-¡±


    ¡°Dr. Miriam Rajapatni?¡± Someone suddenly interrupted her conversation on the phone. Miriam was surprised, half-distracted. Her mind wandered to the destination she was supposed to reach that evening.


    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± Miriam asked, raising an eyebrow. She felt she didn¡¯t know the men in front of her wearing T-shirts. Three muscr men with an athlete¡¯s build. They looked out of breath, as if they had just chased a ghost or a criminal trying to escape.


    ¡°I¡¯m Detective Ragas, you need toe with us to the police station to give a testimony,¡± the muscr man with a mole on his cheek said to Miriam.


    ¡°W-what?¡± Miriam took a step back, truly not expecting that there were police officers trailing her. ¡°Y-you¡¯ve got the wrong person!¡± Miriam immediately turned around and headed for the emergency staircase. She went back up to find another way out of this hospital building safely without being chased by the police.


    ¡°Get her!¡±


    ¡°Roger, Captain!¡±


    The atmosphere in the hospital lobby became chaotic, with many people surprised by the soap opera-like chase in the treatment area. Many people were curious or even recorded the chase and uploaded it on the inte.


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    Miriam ran quickly towards the emergency staircase. Her heart was pounding fast, not expecting that her escape attempt would be detected by the authorities so quickly. After all, Miriam had just nned to flee abroad again after being caught by Shanon.


    ¡°That crazy woman! How dare she!¡± Miriam cursed angrily, imagining how her cheerful afternoon turned into misery when Shanon¡¯s men dragged her from Canada to return to Indonesia.


    That afternoon, Miriam was rxing and about to watch a music performance at her favorite cafe when therge men finally caught her and abducted her on Shanon¡¯s husband¡¯s private jet. They took off to Jakarta in a short time, and that¡¯s how Miriam had to n her escape again because she knew she was a key witness in Lara¡¯s case.


    ¡°A key witness? I could be charged as Seno¡¯s aplice. Damn it!¡± Miriam growled, continuing to run in another direction. She remembered there was a secret passage usually used by nurses to transfer VIP patients so they wouldn¡¯t pass through the main lobby.


    ¡°Right! That corridor!¡± Various thoughts raced through her mind. Miriam even forgot about the existence of that secret corridor!


    Miriam hurried towards the secret corridor. Her heart beat faster and faster. Every step she took was apanied by excessive fear and worry. In her heart, Miriam regretted her action of escaping from the director¡¯s room earlier.


    ¡°What if Dad already knows that there¡¯s an undercover agent on duty? Damn!¡± Miriam cursed herself endlessly, but it was toote! She had to take responsibility for her conscious choice, and that¡¯s what she was doing: fleeing as much as possible, as fast as possible.


    ¡°Stop!¡±


    ¡°Bastard!¡±


    The police officers were still trailing behind her, trying to catch Miriam and interrogate her at the local police station. However, they lost sight of Miriam in the blink of an eye. The police officers didn¡¯t expect that a doctor could run so fast.


    Miriam continued to run until she reached the secret corridor that required a special fingerprint key. Miriam-as a former high-ranking official-of course had special ess there, but she had to be quick. After opening the door to the corridor, she had to close it tightly.


    ¡°You won¡¯t catch me!¡± she whispered to herself, trying to keep calm. Finally¡­ click! The green light came on, indicating that the door had opened. Miriam¡¯s fingerprint could still be used!


    Without hesitation, Miriam jumped into the secret corridor and quickly closed the door. She knew that no one would chase her in here, at least for a while.


    But the calmness onlysted for a moment. Shortly after, the sound of loud footsteps echoed in the corridor. The police had found Miriam¡¯s trail and were now trying to chase her into the secret corridor.


    ¡°She¡¯s here! Don¡¯t let her escape!¡± Detective Ragas shouted to his team.


    But Miriam could breathe a sigh of relief. No one could enter this secret corridor. While the police needed time to unlock the door, Miriam could escape freely from the building.


    ¡°Damn fools!¡± Detective Ragas cursed as he pounded hard on the door.


    ¡°Now what?¡± one of his subordinates asked. The captain just shrugged, thinking for a moment. But a woman¡¯s voice broke the tension among them.


    ¡°I¡¯ll help you, gentlemen,¡± she said coldly as she walked towards the door. And¡­ a momentter, the iron door handle could be opened!


    ¡°Y-you?¡±


    ¡°Shanon Ramsey Kennedy, the new owner of this hospital. Please continue your exercise,¡± she said with a smirk.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go! Hurry! Thank you!¡± Detective Ragas and his team immediately chased Miriam back into the darkness of the secret corridor. But Shanon then flicked her finger.


    ¡°You might as well wait for her toe out through another door, more efficient, right?¡± she offered.


    The captain¡¯s feet stopped abruptly. ¡°Really, is there a secret exit?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡±


    ¡°Alright! Restu, Pandu, you chase after that doctor, I¡¯ll wait at the exit door!¡±


    ¡°Roger, Captain!¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Meanwhile, Miriam continued her escape, trying to find a way out of this hospital. She knew that the police wouldn¡¯t give up easily, and she had to move fast before they found her again.


    After wandering through hidden corridors, Miriam finally found the exit door. Dim light from outside greeted her, giving her hope that she would soon be free.


    ¡°Atst!¡± Miriam cheered! But when she opened the door, to her surprise¡­ Miriam was greeted with a sight that shattered her dreams and future.


    ¡°W-what?!¡± Her body froze, unable to move. Before her, Detective Ragas stood with his gun raised, ready to shoot if Miriam tried to escape from him, once again.


    ¡°You can¡¯t escape thew, Dr. Miriam. It¡¯s time to be ountable for all your actions.¡±


    ¡°D-damn! ARGH!¡±


    Detective Ragas calmly took out handcuffs from his left pocket, ready to secure Miriam and take her to the police station.


    ¡°Bravo! Bravo!¡± Apuse resounded as Detective Ragas led Miriam to the police car. Shanon Kennedy seemed to lead the line of spectators intentionally to humiliate Miriam.


    ¡°Look at this, Miriam. You¡¯ve sown what you¡¯ve reaped. Enjoy the prison, my dear!¡± Shanon eximed with a cunning smirk on her face.


    ¡°Bastard!¡± Miriam cursed and struggled as she was dragged into the police car. She never thought her ns all along would be in vain. Amidst the crowd, Miriam could see her Papa¡¯s face turning away when they locked eyes.


    ¡°Dad ¡­.¡± Miriam whispered, but she no longer saw her Dad¡¯s face, only his retreating back. ¡°Dad! Don¡¯t leave me! Dad!¡± Miriam lost control even more, but the police still dragged her until she was forcibly put into the prisoner transport vehicle.


    Miriam¡¯s apprehension operation immediately went viral on social media.


    Lara-who was already in Andre¡¯s apartment-found out after being sent a link by Mahya. She never thought that Andre¡¯s former fiancee would meet such a tragic fate. Lara felt sorry, but¡­ thew had to be upheld.


    ¡°You will truly reap what you sow, Doctor,¡± she murmured softly. Lara then contacted Andre to ask about his whereabouts. She couldn¡¯t wait to hear theplete story from her lover. However, her efforts seemed to be in vain because¡­ it was Shanon¡¯s voice that answered her call.


    ¡°Hello?¡±

 Part 107 # A Pile of Memories

    ¡°Lara?¡± the voice on the other end of Lara¡¯s phone answered in a low tone. Lara could conclude that the voice belonged to Andre¡¯s sister, Shanon.


    ¡°Shanon?¡± Lara asked before continuing her conversation. She wanted to make sure that Shanon was indeed the woman she was referring to and not someone else.


    Lara had somewhat forgotten how Shanon¡¯s voice sounded. Dozens of years had passed, and today was the first time they had exchanged greetings again since the misunderstanding incident about Lara¡¯s mother¡¯s ident.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me, Ra. Shanon. Andre is driving, we¡¯re heading back to the apartment.¡±


    ¡°Ah, okay. I¡¯ll wait here.¡±


    ¡°Alright! We¡¯ll be there soon, Ra. Wait for us, okay! I¡¯m bringing some warm food from my favorite restaurant in Jakarta. Hope you like it!¡±


    Lara agreed, then ended the call. Her heart was still filled with doubt. She was still unsure how to act after being at odds with the wrong person for dozens of years. Hopefully, Shanon was the older sister figure she had always longed for.


    Before that unfortunate incident, Shanon had always been a role model for Lara. She wanted to grow up to be a brave and beautiful woman like her. Since Andre¡¯s father passed away, Shanon had be the father figure in the family.


    And why not? She was ten years older than Andre and very courageous. Her physique was also masculine, with a tall stature and broad shoulders. ording to Andre¡¯s mother, Shanon was originally expected to be a boy, so when she was born, she turned out to be a girl.


    Perhaps that¡¯s why Andre¡¯s parents¡¯ upbringing seemed strict and masculine because they had a sprawling business that required a male heir. Shanon was raised in such a way that she was worthy of being called the heir of the Ramsey family business. Ten yearster, when Andre was born, the tough education for Shanon suddenly stopped. The family finally found the perfect heir, a true male figure.


    Shanon was very grateful, instead of regretting the shift in attention, she graciously epted her brother¡¯s presence with all her love. Ten yearster, their father passed away. Shanon eventually reced their father¡¯s figure while waiting for Andre to grow up.


    ¡°Hhh¡­ time really flies,¡± Lara murmured as she looked at the Ramsey family photo disyed in the living room. Memories shed by as Lara¡¯s eyes traced each family member smiling happily in the photo.


    The family photo was notrge, just the size of a postcard, hidden on the side of an old flower vase, seemingly belonging to Andre¡¯s grandmother. Lara had seen it when visiting Andre¡¯s house before. The vase was unique, Lara couldn¡¯t forget its shape.


    ¡°Perfection hidden to cover up sadness, huh?¡± Lara concluded to herself again as she looked at the giant photo of Andre, Shanon, and their grandmother disyed on the wall.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Andre wanted to show that the real family was just the two of them, not their parents. But instead of throwing away or burning the memories together, he ced the photo in an unseen corner.


    ¡°That¡¯s human nature, Ndre. So is my feeling for you all this time. I hated you so much, but¡­ I still keep the memories with you in the corner of my heart. Thankfully, those memories can be relived and experienced with you again-¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Andre¡¯s voice suddenly broke the silence in the room.


    ¡°Wow! So sweet, Lara!¡± Shanonmented, dragging a handsome bespectacled man, presumably her husband, along.


    ¡°Eh! When did you guys arrive? I-¡± Lara said, confused. She was lost in thought and mumbling to herself. Now, the people from the portrait she had been looking at suddenly appeared.


    ¡°We just got here, but you didn¡¯t hear the doorbell. So, yeah, I let myself in,¡± Andre said, approaching Lara and embracing her waist. ¡°How are you?¡±


    ¡°Ndre¡­ th-there¡¯s Shanon,¡± Lara pushed Andre¡¯s body away as he approached, whispering to him. Andre chuckled. Shanon and Darrenughed along.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay! Just pretend we¡¯re transparent humans,¡± Shanon joked lightly. Lara smiled, apparently, the awkwardness she had anticipated didn¡¯t happen. The conversation with Shanon flowed as usual. Lara felt relieved. Shanon didn¡¯t actually hate her.


    ¡°And¡­ who¡¯s that, Shanon?¡± Lara asked, looking at Shanon¡¯s husband who didn¡¯t let go of his wife¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Ah¡­ this is my husband, Darren Kennedy. Honey, this is Lara, my future sister-inw,¡± Shanon said casually. Lara blushed and nudged Andre¡¯s ribs. The man just red and shook his head slightly, indicating that it wasn¡¯t him boasting. It was all Shanon¡¯s nonsense, her own sister.


    ¡°Ah, hello Sister-inw! I¡¯m Darren, nice to meet you!¡± Darren offered his hand with a broad smile. Lara shook his hand and awkwardly shook hands. Andre just held back hisughter and nced at his sister. Shanon responded to that nce with a wink. They really seeded in fooling Lara.


    ¡°Sis, I want to apologize for what happened back then,¡± Lara suddenly talked about the past. Shanon was surprised, but she tried to act normal. She approached Lara and stroked Lara¡¯s head as she used to, when they both still didn¡¯t understand that there was a bad fate about to tear them apart.


    ¡°I also apologize, Ra, for all the harsh words and mistreatment in the past. We¡¯re both victims. Our parents should have sorted all this out, but for some reason, they disappeared¡­.¡±


    ¡°Sis¡­ tell her,¡± Andre suddenly spoke. Shanon had told Lara about the fate of Lara¡¯s father and their mother. Actually, she didn¡¯t want to say this, but Lara deserved to know the truth.


    ¡°Your father and my mother have passed away, Ra. They fled to Bali and lived there for dozens of years. Your father suffered from heart disease, my mother fell ill when your father suddenly died, and they were buried in the backyard.¡±


    ¡°W-what?¡± Lara suddenly shed tears.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the truth. So, you can erase those bad memories because your father is gone, Lara,¡± Shanon said, hugging Lara tightly. She knew that no matter how much hatred Lara harbored for her father, she would still hold the love that was worthy of the parents who had cared for her since childhood.


    ¡°We¡¯re starting a new life, Ra, with peace in our hearts. Hatred will only ruin our lives,¡± Shanon said wisely. Andre nodded, as did Lara. But she still couldn¡¯t stop crying. Lara cried for some time in Shanon¡¯s embrace, Andre also hugged them both.


    ¡°Done crying? Let¡¯s eat now!¡± Shanon asked Darren to ce the food box on the table. She then prepared the necessary utensils herself. ¡°Wash your hands, and let¡¯s eat peacefully, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay, Ma¡¯am!¡± they all eximed almost simultaneously.


    Lara¡¯s smile had widened, although her eyes were still swollen. She felt grateful to have found a new family to rece her old family that had long been gone. Shanon¡¯s personality and her firmness made her suitable to be a leader in any situation. She always controlled every situation perfectly, no matter the atmosphere.


    ***


    While Lara, Andre, and the others were enjoying dinner, something different happened to Miriam. She sat shivering in the interrogation room after undergoing a series of questions from the police officers.


    Awyer hired by her father apanied Miriam, but still, the usations against her were serious. Miriam¡¯s career was at risk of being ruined, and she had to be prepared to bear all the consequences of her actions.


    ¡°You will be presented as a key witness at tomorrow¡¯s trial. Please be prepared,¡± the police officer said. Miriam was allowed to go home with various restrictions, including travel bans. Miriam was not allowed to travel until the case was settled.


    ¡°Damn! Bastard! Arrgh! I will never forget this!¡± Miriam raged and actedpletely unlike herself. She was so stressed and couldn¡¯t control herself properly.


    ¡°Calm down, Ma¡¯am. Everything will be fine,¡± herwyer said politely, but Miriam was still angry.


    ¡°I want to see My Dad!¡±


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m afraid you can not meet him at the moment. He has flown to America a while ago.¡±


    ¡°W-what! How dare he leave me at a time like this! Dad! Damn it!¡± Miriam mmed the interrogation table again. The police officers had to drag her out and thewyer ultimatumed to calm her down to avoid causing a scene there.


    ¡°Come on, Ma¡¯am. Let¡¯s go home,¡± thewyer said, dragging Miriam to the ck sedan.


    ¡°I want to see My Dad! Take me to My Dad!¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t do, Ma¡¯am! Your dad is in America!¡±


    ¡°Take me to him!¡±


    ¡°Driver, let¡¯s go!¡± Thewyer managed to get Miriam into the car, albeit with difficulty. They immediately drove through the empty streets of Jakarta, back to Miriam¡¯s apartment until the trial time arrived.


    ***


    ¡°Mrs. Miriam. You are here as a witness. Please give your testimony honestly under oath¡­.¡±

 Part 108 # The Marriage (End)

    Time passed quickly since thest time Lara heard about her case¡¯s progress. The final trial, which featured Miriam, truly became a benchmark of victory for her side.


    Seno couldn¡¯t dodge anymore. The presence of witnesses and the strength of evidence shattered his alibi, and all objections from hiswyer became futile. Lara could finally breathe a sigh of relief when the judge dered Seno guilty of assault and attempted murder.


    Lara¡¯s ex-husband had to rot in jail for his actions.


    ***


    ¡°How do I look?¡± Lara asked hesitantly after admiring herself in the mirror for some time. She had tried on the dress before, but when the long-awaited day arrived, Lara became nervous and didn¡¯t know what to do.


    ¡°You look absolutely beautiful!¡± Mahya eximed without any doubt. Shanon thought the same. Carol also seemed to give her thumbs up. The three of them agreed that there was nothing wrong with the appearance of the bride today, who looked stunningly beautiful.


    Lara smiled and felt even happier on her special day. After her trial ended and her ex-husband was sentenced ordingly, Andre suddenly proposed to Lara. Allegedly, the man had nned the proposal as a victory gift for her.


    How could Lara refuse? Shanon and Mahya even came as Andre¡¯s main supporters in winning Lara¡¯s heart. There was no moment more meaningful than Andre¡¯s beautiful words expressing his desire for her to be his life partner forever.


    And, this was the result. Lara stood gracefully in a pure white gown that was very enchanting. Darren-her brother-inw-was currently escorting Lara as she walked down the aisle to where her future husband, Andre, was waiting.


    ***


    Lara and Andre¡¯s wedding took ce solemnly and peacefully, with a thread of prayers apanying their happy smiles. Not a single guest in the hall could hold back tears when recalling Lara¡¯s struggle and Andre¡¯s unwavering support.


    ¡°I will be the happiest wife in the world, Ndre,¡± Lara said tearfully. Mahya almost scolded her because the expensive makeup would be ruined by her repeated tears, but Andre protected his wife and red at Mahya.


    ¡°I will be the happiest husband in the world, Lara. You are my world. That¡¯s enough,¡± Andre whispered, nting a sweet kiss on his new wife¡¯s lips.


    Mahya smiled in relief; this time, she could confidently entrust her precious friend to Andre to be taken care of. There would be no more evil people who could hurt her. Lara had to believe that.


    The afternoon event proceeded solemnly and devoutly. The wedding reception was held right after the blessing ceremony. The guests and the newlywed couple could then mingle and share their happy moments, including¡­ moments with old enemies who suddenly appeared uninvited.


    ¡°I have a special gift for you, my wife,¡± Andre whispered to Lara when they finally got a chance to talk alone, after greeting the guests from friends and rtives.


    ¡°Who?¡± Lara asked, curious. Not long after, a figure appeared whom she knew very well. Tears of happiness immediately welled up in Lara¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mti?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe it, seeing her former assistant sitting with Bi Yani at a not-so-prominent corner table.


    ¡°Lara! Congrattions!¡± Mti eximed, hugging her former employer. Bi Yani also expressed simr sentiments and hugged Lara tightly.


    ¡°Oh, Mti!¡± Lara felt like she was finally relieving the longing that had been buried inside her since Seno¡¯s family left for Singapore.


    ¡°How are you?¡± Lara asked, curious.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Ma¡¯am,¡± she replied enthusiastically. Mti then exined that she returned to Indonesia and met Andre after Seno¡¯s family went bankrupt.


    Seno¡¯s grandmother was arrested on charges of being an aplice to her grandson in a case of illegal drug trafficking. Seno¡¯s mother was hospitalized for mental trauma. Seno¡¯s family suddenly became poor, and the police were frequently seen around the housingplex. Chaos was inevitable.


    Workers wereid off en masse and returned to their hometowns, as did Mti.


    ¡°I finally persuaded Selly toe along because she had to be safe, Ma¡¯am. Currently, Mr. Seno¡¯s child is in the vige with my extended family,¡± Mti exined, making Lara sigh heavily.


    Apparently, Seno¡¯s family¡¯s situation had be chaotic, as Seno rotted away in jail. Lara didn¡¯t know that Seno had truly rotted permanently because his mother, madam X, chased him even to the prison cell. His minions beat Seno every day, making him a family member who would find it difficult to lead a normal life anywhere.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    ¡°Here, for you,¡± Mti handed Lara a small gold box tied with a red ribbon as a wedding gift. ¡°This is also a message from¡­ Olivia.¡±


    ¡°O-Olivia?¡± Lara¡¯s eyebrows shot up. She didn¡¯t expect to hear that name again in her life. ¡°Where is she? I didn¡¯t invite her?¡± Lara asked suspiciously, but Mti immediately whispered to her.


    ¡°She said ¡®forgive me¡¯ and then gave me this small bag for you. Olivia didn¡¯t have the courage to appear in front of you, so she entrusted it to me,¡± Mti said with a meaningful smile.


    Lara swallowed hard. She knew that Olivia might have changed, but Lara didn¡¯t expect her change to be shown so mysteriously like this.


    ¡°Just open it, dear,¡± Andre urged while tightly holding his wife¡¯s hand. Lara nodded and began to open the batik-patterned paper bag slowly. She saw a velvet box of medium size, not too big. It seemed like it was enough to hold a ne or simr jewelry.


    ¡°A photo?¡± Lara was surprised. It turned out that the box was used to hold a portrait that was not unfamiliar to her. Lara smiled, remembering the moments captured in that photo.


    ¡°What photo, dear?¡± Andre was curious to see the torn photo taped with clear tape. Truly, it was a strange gift!


    ¡°This is a photo when I received the crown as the Campus Queen, dear,¡± Lara exined with a hint of tears. She could guess what Olivia meant with that photo. Olivia¡¯s sulky face next to Lara, drawn with a marker forming an upward curve.


    Laraughed, not expecting Olivia to apologize in this way.


    ¡°She¡­ smiled, like that?¡± Andre continued to guess. Lara nodded. Mti also had to hold back herughter because the photo looked funny, like a broken toy that was originally damaged but was hastily repaired to its original form.


    ¡°We¡­ made up,¡± Lara whispered as she looked back at the portrait with emotion. In her heart, Lara had forgiven Olivia. After all, the information she had once provided to Andre had saved Lara¡¯s life.


    Olivia wasn¡¯t as evil as she thought. However, they understood that living their own lives would be more enjoyable than pretending to be normal, as if nothing had ever happened.


    ¡°A unique woman,¡± Andre finally saw the positive side of Olivia¡¯s attitude after hating her so much for so long.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the middle of the party,¡± Lara said, waving her hand to Mti and Bi Yani, who were waiting until the dishes arrived.


    Lara¡¯s wedding ceremony was warm and very enjoyable. She never imagined that a celebration of love like this would be sweet to experience and remember.


    ¡°And I will celebrate this love with you, forever, my wife.¡±


    Lara blushed and let Andre kiss her again. The bad memories of the past were swept away by the beautiful memories of the present, with her new husband. Lara was truly happy. She felt grateful that Andre never gave up on winning her love.


    ¡°I will cherish this love always, my husband.¡±


    ***


    The End.


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