DARK PREPARATIONS
That night, in David's still-messy study, Robert and David were studying the layout of Natasha's apartment and her routine. A digital map was projected on the screen, with red dots marking security camera positions.
"The team will move tomorrow night," Robert said in a low voice. "She usually arrives at her apartment around ten after social events. We have a three-hour window before the building security does another patrol."
David nodded, but his mind wasn't fully focused. There was a restless feeling in his chest, like a bad premonition he couldn't explain. As if the ceiling of the room was slowly collapsing on him.
THE CALL THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING
Just as Robert was explaining the team's entry point, David's phone rang. It was one of his aides, Anton.
"Sorry to disturb you, Sir. But I think you need to know this."
"What is it,Anton?" David asked, trying to mask his restlessness.
"I'm at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.I was escorting a business client, and... I saw Mrs. Elara and Miss Alisha."
David immediately stood up, his heart pounding. "Where? Which terminal?"
"Terminal 3 International.They're in line at the Singapore Airlines check-in counter. From the luggage tags, their destination is Paris, Sir. Flight SQ 346, departure at 23:40."
The time was 21:15.
"Stop them,Anton! Try to stop them! Say anything!"
"I already tried to approach,Sir. But Mrs. Elara... she didn't want to talk. She only said, 'Tell David this is for the good of us all.'"
The call ended. David stood frozen, the phone still pressed to his ear. Paris. Elara was taking Alisha to Paris. Far away. Very far away.
"David?" Robert asked worriedly.
"She's leaving,Robert. She's really leaving."
A DESPERATE RACE TO THE AIRPORT
Without thinking, David grabbed his car keys from the table and ran out.
"David,wait! You're not in any condition—"
"THERE'S NO TIME!"
His sports car sped out of the garage at high speed, leaving Robert standing at the door. David didn't call his driver—no time. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, while his right foot pressed the accelerator almost to the floor.
CHAOTIC THOUGHTS ON THE HIGHWAY
At 150 km/h, David's thoughts spun like a broken record:
Paris. She's taking her to Paris.
Alisha who's afraid of flying.
Elara who might never return.
The photo of Natasha in bed.
I have to apologize. I have to explain.
But what's the use? She's already decided.
Tears blurred his vision. He wiped them roughly, but it made the car swerve slightly in the fast lane. Horns from other cars blared in anger.
"ELARA!" he screamed inside the silent car. "DON'T GO! DON'T LEAVE ME!"
AN ACCIDENT THAT ALMOST TOOK HIS LIFE
From the opposite direction, a container truck changed lanes without signaling. David, driving too fast and unfocused, reacted too late. He yanked the steering wheel left, the car swerved but grazed the roadside barrier.
The car's tire burst. The vehicle spun, turning twice before crashing hard into the guardrail. The windshield shattered. The airbags deployed with a bang.
For a few moments, David was unconscious. Then, he coughed, feeling warm liquid on his forehead. Blood. He looked in the rearview mirror—his face covered with glass shards and blood flowing from wounds on his forehead and lip.
But what made him get up wasn't the pain. It was the image of Elara and Alisha at the airport. The plane about to take off.
With difficulty, he opened the dented door. The front of his car was smashed, smoke billowing from the engine. But the engine was still running.
"Damn," he muttered, getting back into the car.
The crumpled car moved again at limited speed, sounding like a dying old engine. One headlight was broken, but David kept driving. Blood from his wounds dripped onto his white shirt, forming a growing red pattern.
ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT IN A PITIFUL STATE
22:45. David arrived at Terminal 3. His wrecked, blood-stained car attracted security officers' attention, but he didn't care. He jumped out, ran to the entrance, leaving his car with the door open and engine still running.
His appearance was terrifying: torn and blood-stained clothes, face full of wounds, wild eyes. People moved aside to give him way. Security officers approached.
"Sir, you need medical help—"
"MY WIFE!WHERE IS SINGAPORE AIRLINES CHECK-IN?"
He didn't wait for an answer, running to the check-in area. His eyes scanned the crowd, heart pounding fast. Nothing. Nothing.
Then, in the distance, near the immigration gate, he saw Alisha's two braids. And next to her, Elara holding their passports.
"ELARA! ALISHA!"
A MEETING FULL OF BLOOD AND TEARS
Elara turned. Her face was initially annoyed that David had followed her, but her expression turned to horror when she saw David's condition.
"David? OH GOD! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?"
"An accident.Not important." David stumbled closer, breathing heavily. "Don't go. Please."
Alisha cried, hiding behind her mother's skirt. "Daddy's bleeding! Daddy's hurt!"
Elara looked around. All eyes were on them. Airport staff were approaching.
"You need to go to the hospital, David."
"ONLY WITH YOU.PLEASE. DON'T FLY TO PARIS."
Elara hesitated. In her eyes was a conflict between worry for the injured David and her desire to escape the pain she was experiencing.
"You know why I have to go, David," she whispered, tears welling up. "I can't stay. Every time I see you, I remember... that photo."
"Natasha manipulated me! I was unconscious! I—"
"THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT!"Elara shouted, then lowered her voice when she saw Alisha frightened. "You still slept with her, David. Conscious or not, you still did it."
David knelt on the airport floor, blood from his forehead dripping to form a small puddle. People gathered around, some recording with their phones.
"I will change. I will do anything. But don't take Alisha away. She needs her father."
"And I need a husband who doesn't betray me!" Elara cried. "Do you think this is easy for me? Leaving everything? But staying hurts more, David! EVERY NIGHT I DREAM OF THE TWO OF YOU IN THAT BED!"
Alisha tugged her mother's clothes. "Mommy, don't be angry. Daddy's hurt. Please help Daddy."
Elara looked at her daughter, then at David kneeling on the floor in a pitiful state. Her heart was torn.
A CHANGE OF MIND
Airport staff and medics had arrived. "Sir, you need immediate treatment. The head wound is quite serious."
David didn't care. His eyes only stared at Elara. "If you really want to go... let me walk you to the plane. Let me hug Alisha one last time. Then... I will let you go."
Elara trembled. She checked the time: 23:10. Only 30 minutes left.
"You need stitches,David. You need treatment."
"After you leave."
Finally, Elara nodded. "Alright. But you must let the medics bandage your wounds first."
While the medics gave David first aid—cleaning his wounds and bandaging them temporarily—Elara sat on an airport chair, hugging Alisha. The little girl was still crying.
"Mommy, are we still going?"
"Yes,Sweetheart."
"But Daddy..."
"Daddy will be fine.I promise."
But when Elara saw David in pain as his wounds were cleaned, her heart jerked. This was the man she once loved more than anyone. The man who was her daughter's father. And now he was injured, bleeding, and nearly died in an accident chasing her.
THE FINAL MOMENTS
23:25. Boarding time.
David,with his head bandaged in blood-stained gauze, walked with Elara and Alisha to the boarding gate. He carried Alisha's small bag.
"David, this is far enough," Elara said softly.
"Wait."David knelt (this time with difficulty) in front of Alisha. "Sweetheart, Daddy is sorry. Daddy scared you."
Alisha hugged him, careful not to touch his wounds. "Daddy, don't drive too fast again."
"I promise."David kissed her forehead, holding back tears. "Be a good girl for Mommy, okay? Call Daddy every day."
Then he stood up to face Elara. They looked at each other for a long time, as if memorizing each other's faces one last time.
"David..." Elara's voice was choked. "Take care of yourself."
"You too."
He wanted to hug her but knew it wasn't allowed. Elara might refuse. So he just nodded, tears finally falling, mixing with the blood on his face.
Elara took a deep breath, then took Alisha's hand. "Come on, Sweetheart."
They turned toward the boarding gate. David watched them leave, step by step, getting farther away. Shattered. He felt himself shattered into pieces.
Suddenly, just before passing through the gate, Elara stopped. She turned back, eyes glistening with tears.
"David... if you really want to fix this... find proof. Real proof that Natasha manipulated you. Not words. Proof."
Then she left, disappearing behind the gate.
David stood there, alone, amidst a crowd of strangers. The bandage on his head was red. His body ached. But what hurt more was the hole in his heart.
He looked at the sky through the airport window. The Singapore Airlines plane began moving to the runway.
"Elara," he whispered. "I will find the proof. And I will bring you home. Home to our house."
But was that possible? Or was the plane taking off tonight the end of their story?
He didn't know. All he knew was: a new war had just begun. And he wouldn't stop until he got his family back.