APARTMENT IN MONTMARTRE, PARIS - LATE AFTERNOON
A familiar knock sounded on Elara's apartment door. When she opened it, Kael stood there with a bouquet of purple and white asters—the flowers he always gave her when she was sad.
"To chase away the clouds on your face," Kael said with a soft smile, offering the flowers.
Elara accepted them, breathing in their gentle scent. "Thank you, Kael. You always remember."
"I also brought pain au chocolat from your favorite bakery on Rue Cler,"Kael added, holding up a small paper bag. "And fresh orange juice."
They sat in the small living room. Madame Claudette had taken Alisha to a children's painting class at the local community center, giving Elara some time for herself.
"How is David's case progressing?" Kael asked as he poured juice for Elara.
Elara sighed. "Chaotic. Bad news everywhere. He says he's trying to control it, but..." her voice faded. "I'm worried for Alisha. She's starting to ask why Papa's name is in the 'bad news' on the tablet."
Kael nodded understandingly. "This will pass, El. All scandals eventually pass."
UNEXPECTED COMFORT
After discussing David, their conversation shifted to lighter topics. Kael talked about a new art exhibition he visited, about a talented young painter whose work reminded him of Elara in her youth. He made Elara laugh by imitating the thick French accent of a fussy cafe waiter.
"You know, seeing you laugh like this makes everything feel better," Kael said, his eyes sparkling.
Elara smiled, but it quickly faded. "Sometimes I feel guilty, Kael. Because here with you, it feels... normal. Peaceful. While David is out there fighting alone."
"And you're fighting here too,"Kael reminded her. "Your battle is no less difficult. Just because your wounds aren't visible doesn't mean they're not real."
He reached out, taking Elara's hand. "Let me help you carry that burden, even if only for a little while."
His touch was warm, stable, different from David's touch which was now always shadowed by tension and guilt. Elara closed her eyes, letting herself sink into the comfort Kael offered.
A HEALING EMBRACE
Unconsciously, tears began to stream down Elara's cheeks again. "I'm tired, Kael. So tired."
Kael didn't say much. He simply opened his arms, and Elara moved into them. He held her tight, one hand patting her back in a soothing rhythm, just like he used to when Elara was stressed about exams or family problems.
"Just let it go," he whispered. "I'm here."
And for the first time since arriving in Paris, Elara felt the weight on her chest truly lift. With Kael, there were no expectations to meet, no painful past to confront, no big decisions to make. There was only the present moment. Comfort. Certainty.
They sat like that for a long time, until Elara's crying subsided. When she pulled away, her eyes were still red, but there was peace in them.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"Always,"Kael replied, wiping the remaining tears from her cheeks with his thumb.
INDONESIA - EXCLUSIVE CLUB IN KUNINGAN, JAKARTA
Meanwhile, in Jakarta, David sat in a dark corner of an exclusive club, his face tense. Across from him sat a well-dressed man with designer glasses, in his mid-thirties. His name was Adrian Wijaya, Natasha's ex-boyfriend who was with her for two years before Natasha met David.
"Thank you for agreeing to meet," Adrian said, his voice low.
"What do you want?"David asked directly, without preamble. "Your message said you have information about Natasha's pregnancy."
Adrian nodded, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "Natasha and I broke up about six months before she approached you. The breakup... wasn't good. She was very possessive, very manipulative."
"Tell me something I don't already know,"David retorted.
"The point is,"Adrian continued, "Natasha can't get pregnant. At least, not naturally. She has stage four endometriosis. Doctors said her chances of natural conception are less than 5%. We had even consulted about IVF programs."
David froze. "What are you saying?"
"The pregnancy she's claiming from you—if she is indeed pregnant—is most likely not a natural conception,"Adrian explained. "And if the conception date matches that gala night... it's nearly impossible. Because a week before that, she underwent a curettage procedure for a ruptured cyst."
David felt the world spin. "Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because I just realized the scale of her game,"Adrian answered with a disgusted tone. "I saw the news. And I remember how she destroyed me when we broke up—spreading rumors that I was unfaithful, contacting my superiors to try to get me fired. This woman is dangerous, Yang. And she won't stop until she's completely destroyed you."
David took documents from the bag Adrian handed over—medical results, prescriptions, consultation notes with a gynecologist.
"These are copies,"Adrian said. "I have the originals. I'm willing to testify in court."
"And what do you want in return?"David asked warily.
"Security,"Adrian answered. "I now have my own business, a reputation. I don't want her coming to destroy me again. If you can guarantee she'll be controlled—imprisoned or treated—I'll help."
HIGH STAKES
The meeting ended with an agreement that David's legal team would contact Adrian the next day. On the way back, David called Robert.
"We have a breakthrough," he said, his voice filled with new hope. "Natasha's ex-boyfriend is willing to testify. He has medical evidence that Natasha is highly unlikely to conceive naturally."
"But she's claiming to be pregnant,David. There's a doctor's certificate," Robert reminded him.
"Then we need to investigate that doctor.And request an independent, court-supervised pregnancy test."
While David began to see light at the end of the tunnel, his heart remained heavy. He looked at his phone, wanting to call Elara, to tell her this good news. But he changed his mind. Not now. Not until all of this was proven.
He stared at the photo of Elara and Alisha on his lock screen. "I will clear my name for you," he whispered. "I will prove that I deserve a second chance."
PARIS - A BITTER PARTING
Back in Paris, Kael prepared to leave. "I have to go to the gallery tomorrow morning, but I can stop by in the afternoon if you need company."
"You've helped me too much already,Kael," Elara said with guilt. "I don't want to disrupt your life."
"You're never a disruption,"Kael gently objected. "It's always a joy for me to be near you."
As he left, Elara stood by the window, watching Paris begin to light up for the night. On one side, there was Kael—safe, stable, filled with simple love. On the other side, there was David—complex, wounded, but with an undeniable bond through Alisha and their eight years of marriage.
Her phone rang. From David. She answered.
"El,there's been a development," David said, his voice sounding lighter than usual. "I can't explain the details now, but... there's hope. Real hope."
"Is it safe?"
"Safe.I'll tell you everything tomorrow. Send my love to Alisha."
When the call ended, Elara looked at Kael's asters in the vase, then at the family photo with David on the table.
Two worlds. Two possibilities. And a heart still torn.
In the distance, the bells of Sacré-Cœur rang out, announcing the evening hour. The day ended with more questions than answers. But for the first time, there was hope—both from David's new evidence and from the comfort Kael offered.
The problem was, hope from two different directions only made Elara's choice more difficult.