Alma woke up in the morning with swollen eyes. Her fate was truly tragic, abandoned by her husband on her wedding night.
Alma recalled the events of the previous night. She had planned something.
So, without Davin's knowledge, Alma decided to hire a private detective named Eric. She hoped Surya could uncover the truth, whatever it was. Alma wanted to know if Davin's suspicions were true, or if this was just the emotional outburst of a husband who had lost his beloved sister.
Alma tried to sit up and lean against the headboard, checking her phone for messages. It was information from Eric.
Eric got to work quickly. He interviewed Vanya and Irvan's friends, checked Vanya's phone and social media records, and found out about their working relationship. Eric discovered that Irvan and Vanya were indeed close, more specifically, they seemed intimate and often met in several places.
It was highly likely that Irvan was in love with Vanya. However, he had not yet found any evidence pointing to Irvan's involvement in Vanya's death or an affair. In fact, Irvan had disappeared as if swallowed by the earth, and his whereabouts were unknown.
Eric promised Alma that he would try to find Irvan immediately.
Alma pondered for a moment, then decided to take a shower and go to her office.
But then her cell phone rang. It was a call from the hospital where Alma's father was being treated.
"Hello, what's wrong?"
Alma listened carefully to what the hospital staff said. A moment later, her face turned pale.
"Okay, thank you for the information. I'll be there right away and pay the remaining costs."
Alma wasted no time and immediately left to see her father.
This time, Alma was at the bedside of Bram, her father. The sound of the monitor next to her father's bed ticked monotonously, as if counting down time. Alma held her father's thin hand, tears streaming down her cheeks. The doctor had just explained that her father's heart condition had worsened and required immediate medical attention.
Then a nurse came to see her, handing her a stack of papers and saying,
"Mrs. Alma, these are the emergency treatment and surgery costs for your father's sudden illness."
Alma saw that the total cost was over 300 million rupiah. The monthly recovery costs alone amounted to 100 million rupiah. Alma had taken on exhausting design projects to cover everything. She had just paid this month's hospital fees. Now, she only had 20 million rupiah left in her ATM account-would that be enough for the surgery?
Alma was forced to call Davin. The husband she had just married, not out of love, but as part of an agreement that felt like a trap.
With trembling hands, Alma reached for her phone. Her heart was pounding, not out of love, but out of fear and wounded pride. Their marriage was an irony, a revenge that Davin had planned perfectly.
"Hello?" Davin's voice sounded cold, like ice.
"Davin... it's me," Alma's voice was hoarse. "Father... his condition is worsening. The doctor said he needs surgery immediately. I... I need money, Davin. A lot of money."
There was a moment of silence. Alma could feel Davin on the other end of the line weighing his options, perhaps enjoying every second of it.
"Money?" Davin finally said, his tone dismissive. "Why don't you find it yourself, do whatever you can, including selling yourself if you want to."
Those words hit Alma like a whip. Alma gasped, her chest tightening. "Davin! You're out of line. Don't talk like that! My father is dying! This is not the time to talk about your vague grudges."
"Oh, really?" Davin laughed cynically. "This is the perfect time, Alma. Why do you think I married you? Do you think I really love you? How naive you are."
Alma held her breath, tears streaming down her face. She already knew, but hearing it directly still devastated her.
"I married you to see you suffer, Alma," Davin continued, his voice now full of cruel satisfaction. "To see you beg, to see you kneel. Just like my sister felt, because of what your brother did."
"That's not true! You didn't explain in detail, my brother never..." Alma tried to defend herself, but Davin cut her off.
"Shut up! I don't want to hear your nonsense! So, you need money for your father? Fine, I'll give it to you, but there's a condition!" Davin shouted, his voice booming.
"What's the condition, Davin? Don't waste time, I really need that money now."
"Kneel before me and say that Irvan is a scoundrel worse than an animal."
Alma couldn't believe what she had just heard. She found Davin's thoughts very strange, truly cruel. Alma was silent for a long time and didn't say a word. She was thinking, could her family's bankruptcy have something to do with Davin? Her father had heart disease due to depression, then her brother disappeared somewhere.
Meanwhile, Davin grew impatient waiting, then spoke sarcastically.
"You don't want to do it, do you? I knew it. Well... there's nothing else we need to talk about," Davin replied, his voice final.
"I won't give you a single penny. You can find it yourself, like you always do. And don't ever contact me again for something as trivial as this. You are no longer important to me."
"Tut!" The phone connection was cut off.
The cell phone slipped from Alma's grasp and fell to the floor. Her legs went weak, and her tired body slumped beside her father's bed. Her tears flowed, not only because of despair over her father's fate, but also because of the gaping wound that had been reopened by the man who was her husband. Davin's revenge had taken everything, even her last hope of saving her father's life. Alma felt broken, alone, and trapped in a marriage that felt like hell.
Now Alma waited in front of the operating room door, and when it opened, she rushed forward and asked.
"Doctor Bram, how is my father?"
"Mrs. Alma, don't worry. Mr. Riki is very lucky to have survived this critical condition. But psychologically, he is still too weak. For the time being, don't let his emotions be shaken again."
"I understand," Alma sighed in relief, "Thank you, Dr. Bram."
Although in her heart Alma wondered, a few days earlier her father's mental condition was quite good, why did he suddenly have a heart attack?
Alma felt that this was not as simple as it seemed. After she asked the nurse to take good care of her father, Alma quickly walked to the nurses' station to ask about visitor registration.
"Mrs. Alma, no one visited Mr. Riki this morning."
"Oh, okay."
"Thank you."
"Oh, yes, Mrs. Alma, has Mr. Riki's bill been paid?"
With an awkward look on her face, Alma said, "I'll pay it right away, I'm sorry."
***
Alma was currently sitting crouched at the bus stop, watching the street full of people passing by.
The heavy rain was like a large net trapping Alma. It made it difficult for her to breathe.
Alma looked regretful. If only she had continued her studies to a higher level, with her abilities and education, she would have had a very bright future. Who would have thought that her family would go bankrupt? Davin, who initially treated her like a precious treasure, suddenly changed. Alma lost everything in a short period of time. Meanwhile, Alma's mother had passed away long ago.
The day before the wedding, Davin told his assistant to take all the jewelry and designer bags that Davin had given Alma during their relationship. The only valuable item she had on her person at that moment was their wedding ring.
Alma decided to return to her office. She had already contacted her client, Mrs. Linda, who came from a wealthy family. Alma planned to sell the custom-designed diamond ring. The ring was a wedding gift from Davin that had been made several months ago. Since Alma had lost everything, the only thing she could hope for was that her father would be able to live well.
Just as Alma arrived at her office and fashion store, Mrs. Linda arrived. The upper-class middle-aged woman got out of her luxury sedan with a haughty look on her face. She noticed Alma's simple clothes, which were soaking wet because she hadn't had time to change.
"Please come in, Mrs. Linda," Alma greeted her at the door.
"Yes, okay... but remember, I don't have time, so just show me the jewelry you want to sell," Linda replied flatly.
Linda and Alma sat in the living room, Linda examining the ring Alma had offered.
Unbeknownst to Alma, Sofia and Davin were walking in through the door. Sofia whined to Davin that she wanted to visit Alma's shop and asked Davin to give her a luxury boutique in the largest mall in the southern city.
After finishing looking at the ring, Linda smiled slightly, "I'll only offer 50.000 dollar for this ring. If you give it to me, I'll pay for it right now."
Alma frowned; the ring was worth over a billion rupiah, with its unique design and high-quality materials.
"But Mrs. Linda, didn't we agree on 80.000 dollar earlier?"
"I changed my mind. The diamond's sparkle isn't as beautiful as I thought. 500 million, and I'll pay now. If not, I'll go home," Linda said with a cold grin.
Just then, a woman's voice was heard.
"If Miss Alma wants to sell it, I'll buy it. This ring is very beautiful, I really want it."
Slender fingers with purple nails quickly picked up the diamond ring on the table.
When Alma looked up, she saw the woman standing next to Davin, which made her feel disgusted.
Alana thought, that snake woman must be Sofia. Davin's first girlfriend l.