Dewi POV
I'm so tired of all this!
Tap… tap…
I walked quickly into the elevator and pressed the button over and over.
Hahh…
My shoulder leaned weakly against the elevator wall. Once again, I was running away from Topan. I was too scared of what would happen to us in the future, and the only thing I could do was choose to walk away from him.
"Yeah… maybe this really is the best way for both of us," I murmured softly.
Ring!
I flinched when my phone rang. When I looked at the screen, it was Daddy calling, so I immediately answered.
"Dad?"
"Sweetie, Daddy might be a little late picking you up. Is Topan there? You can ask him to drive you—"
I let out a quiet sigh and quickly cut him off.
"No need, Dad. I'll just take a taxi from outside," I said. I still hadn't told my parents the real reason why I wanted to go back to their house.
Maybe Mommy would scold me for deciding to divorce Topan, but… ah, whatever.
"Dear, are you and Topan having problems, hm? You don't need to take a taxi. Wait in the lobby, Daddy will come pick you up soon."
I felt relieved that Daddy didn't press the issue.
"Alright, Dad. I'll wait—"
Ding!
The elevator doors opened. Just as I took a few steps out, I froze when I saw someone I knew all too well standing right in front of me. He looked just as surprised to see me.
"Dewi? Why are you here? Wait—are you already discharged? You look so pale…"
Srek!
I instinctively slapped his reaching hand away and stepped back.
"R-Ryuji…"
Yes. The man standing in front of me was Ryuji. Wait—why was he here? There was no way he came to visit me, right?
"W-what do you want?"
Damn it. Why was my voice shaking?! No—this couldn't happen. I couldn't let him see me weak. If he—
Grep!
My eyes widened in shock when he suddenly grabbed both my arms.
"L-let go! H-hey—"
"Why are you running, hm? Perfect timing. I came here to pick you up. Come on, let's go, my love."
Cold crept up my spine at his words, spreading slowly and sharply. I shook my head hard, trying to break free.
"N-no! P-please let go… uh, Top—"
I clamped my mouth shut before I could finish saying Topan's name. No. I couldn't say it anymore.
Right now, the only thing I could do was escape from Ryuji—even though panic was already making it hard for me to breathe.
"No. You have to come with me, Dewi."
Once again, I struggled—and this time, I managed to break free.
I turned around, about to rush back into the elevator ahead, when suddenly something struck me hard.
Dimly, I could still hear Daddy's voice from the phone call that I apparently hadn't hung up yet.
"Dewi? Sweetheart? You're still there, right? Hey, I'll be there soon—" beep!
Thud!
Dewi POV END
Grep!
Dewi's phone slipped from her hand as her body went limp. She collapsed unconscious—only to be caught immediately by Ryuji.
Yes. He was the one who had struck the back of Dewi's neck, knocking her out so he could easily carry her in a bridal hold. With firm, steady steps, Ryuji walked away with Dewi in his arms.
"Everyone keeps trying to stop me from taking you away, but why should I care? You've been mine from the very beginning—and you'll stay mine forever," he said coldly.
He walked on with an empty, frozen gaze, not caring even as he passed hospital staff. There was only one thing on his mind—taking Dewi away with him.
---
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
Andri POV
I had just returned to my office and thought Dewi had already ended the call. Turns out she hadn't.
But when I lifted the phone again, on the other end, I heard something—like a body hitting the floor.
"Dewi? Sweetheart? You're still there, right? Hey, I'll be there soon—"
Krrssk… click!
"That's strange… what was that sound?" I murmured, staring at the screen as the call suddenly disconnected.
No. I shook my head slowly, refusing the thought that had just crossed my mind.
Earlier, when Dewi called, I was still dealing with a few client issues, trying to wrap them up as fast as possible so I could pick her up.
I tried calling her back.
Nothing. Only the operator's voice answered.
Knock...Knock...
I looked up to see Satya standing at the door after knocking.
"Mr. Andri, today's meeting—"
I firmly shook my head, cutting him off, already grabbing my jacket and car keys.
"Cancel today's meeting. I need to pick Dewi up at the hospital. Now," I said quickly.
"Miss Dewi? Did something happen to her, sir?"
I paused for a moment, let out a short breath, then patted Satya's shoulder to calm him down. He looked worried too.
"I'm not sure. That's why I need to check myself. Dewi just called asking to be picked up. Please ask Merry to stay with her mommy at the boutique for now. Wait for further news from me."
Satya nodded in understanding and hurried out of my office.
Please… nothing bad happens to my daughter.
Some time later…
Drap… drap…
I walked quickly—almost running—into the hospital lobby, nearly bumping into a nurse. I muttered a quick apology and headed toward the elevator, but—
Something caught my eye near the corner, right under a flower pot.
It was Dewi's phone.
"Why is this here? And where is Dewi?!" I muttered as I picked up the purple-cased smartphone. The edges were cracked. The screen shattered in several places. Like it had been dropped—hard.
Andri POV END
Ting!
The elevator doors opened, and someone stepped out.
Tap… tap…
"Daddy? Where's Dewi?"
Andri turned and found his son-in-law, Topan, standing not far away, his face filled with shock.
Drap… drap…
Bugh!
"You're asking where Dewi is, huh?! I just got here and found this!"
Overcome with rage, Andri couldn't hold back anymore. He punched Topan hard in the face while shoving Dewi's phone into his view.
Groaning in pain, Topan turned his head and narrowed his eyes.
That was Dewi's phone.
His blood instantly boiled.
With a cold, murderous look, Topan strode toward the security office, Andri following closely behind. Nurses and staff who passed them immediately stepped aside—Topan's aura alone was enough to freeze anyone in place.
Tap… tap…
A senior doctor around Andri's age hurried over.
"Andri? What's going on? Huh—"
Grep!
Topan grabbed the doctor by the collar, his gaze sharp and lethal.
"Where the hell is your security?! My wife was taken, and none of you noticed?! Check the CCTV. NOW!" he snapped.
Andri rushed in and pulled Topan away.
"There's no need for violence!"
He glared at his son-in-law, but Topan only scoffed coldly.
"Rudolf…" Andri turned to the senior doctor.
"What exactly happened? Dewi? What's wrong with your daughter?" Rudolf asked, trying to steady himself.
Andri shook his head anxiously. There was no time.
"I'll explain later. Right now, show us the CCTV footage from less than an hour ago."
Rudolf nodded.
They rushed into the security room, led by the senior doctor. The staff inside looked panicked and immediately moved aside when Rudolf gestured.
"I don't know what exactly happened, but the footage should still be there and—"
Topan stepped closer to the large screen displaying multiple camera angles. His hand moved fast, dragging the cursor to the top-right corner—where Dewi's figure appeared. He clicked. Pressed play.
His jaw tightened. His fists clenched.
"Ryuji… how dare he!"
Topan's voice was dangerously cold.
Andri was just as shocked. Rage instantly flooded him when he saw Dewi being forced by Ryuji—especially when the man struck her neck, making her collapse unconscious.
"I have to find Dewi!"
BAM!
Topan slammed the security room door open and stormed out. Everyone inside could only tremble—no one dared to speak.
Rudolf let out a slow breath.
"I suppose this isn't just a simple problem, is it, Andri?" he said, patting the older man's shoulder.
"No. Ryuji was Dewi's former fiancé, if you remember. And something in the past led to this… to what's happening now."
Rudolf nodded.
"I'll look for witnesses who might have seen what happened."
He gave Andri a reassuring pat.
Andri nodded back, then hurried after his son-in-law—to find Dewi.
●●●●
Ryuji POV
"It's been a very long time since you visited Caterfall again, Ryu. This is the key. All this time, Uncle only asked people to clean the place."
I nodded, smiling faintly when Uncle Qwenteen handed me a key with a Winnie the Pooh keychain.
"Yes, Uncle. I just want to feel nostalgic for a bit. You don't mind if I stay there temporarily, right?"
Uncle Qwenteen shook his head slowly, then patted my shoulder while letting out a light laugh.
"If only you were still with Dewi, maybe—ah, damn it, what am I saying?! Hmm, I'm sorry, I ended up bringing up your past again."
He said it with a regretful look.
Without realizing it, my left hand at my side clenched tightly. But I only gave a crooked smile and shook my head lightly in response to Uncle Qwenteen's words.
"I have to go now. See you again, Uncle. Oh, and please don't tell Mother if I stay at Caterfall for a while."
I said my goodbye, then hurriedly left Uncle Qwenteen's jewelry store.
Click!
I smiled as I glanced at the back seat, where someone was still sleeping peacefully.
"Sleep well. Before everything is settled and I take you to Vegas, we need to go to the place where we were always together."
I whispered softly, then fastened my seatbelt and started the engine.
Skip some time later…
"Nghh…"
I had just laid Dewi down on the bed when I heard her small voice.
I stood beside the bed, smiling widely, ready to wait for her as she slowly fluttered her eyes open.
"W-where… ugh…"
I chuckled softly at her reaction and decided to sit on the edge of the bed.
"Dewi—"
My woman jolted in shock.
Without any warning, Dewi jumped off the bed. Her gaze was full of panic.
Hahh… I don't like this.
"Y-you! W-why did you bring me h-here, huh?!"
She looked around the room.
Yes, this room was filled with many photos hanging on the walls, and most of them were pictures of me and Dewi.
Srek!
I stood up from the bed and tried to approach her.
"You remember this place, right? Thank God. I thought you really forgot it. This is the only place that holds our memories too—"
"This is also where you did that…"
My words stopped, cut off by Dewi's cold voice.
"Dewi, that—"
"YOU DAMN LIAR!"
Thump!
I froze.
My gaze turned flat when I heard Dewi's rejection.
"You think I'm blind, huh? You think I'm stupid?! You and Avra are both bastards! You both hurt me! I trusted you, I trusted Avra… hikss… s-so stupid…hikss…"
Please don't cry...This place feels so suffocating.
Tap… Tap…
I tried to step closer to Dewi, but my feet felt stuck in place.
I could only stand a few steps away from her as she sat on the floor, crying miserably.
"I-I was wrong… but please don't reject me. I-I came back, I'm here again—"
"NO!"
My chest thundered violently, once again hearing her rejection.
"You!"
Dewi lifted her tear-streaked face and glared at me angrily.
"You never felt guilty! Ryu, stop this. Please go. I-I'm already married to Topan."
My eyes darkened when I heard that damn my little brother's name.
Without realizing it, I moved quickly toward Dewi, roughly grabbing her arm and pushing her hard until she fell onto the bed.
Grep!
"You think I care about your status, huh?!"
My body hovered above her, trapping Dewi beneath me. One of my hands restrained both of her wrists above her head, pressing them down hard.
"L-let go! T-Topan—eunghh…"
Smooch!
I roughly kissed Dewi's lips, making her stop saying that name again.
"You're mine! Forever mine! I'm the one who should've married you! You hear me?! Answer me?!"
Smooch!
My free hand grabbed Dewi's chin and squeezed it roughly as I kissed her lips again.
"T-Topan, p-plea—euhh… h-hey…"
Plak!
Dewi bit my tongue hard.
I growled in pain and, without hesitation, slapped her until her body went still.
"DON'T SAY HIS NAME AGAIN! YOU'RE MINE, DAMN IT!"
Bugh!Prang!
I slightly straightened up and punched the lamp on the bedside table until it shattered and fell to the floor.
My chest rose and fell rapidly as I took deep breaths, trying to control the emotions that were spiraling out of control.
Under the moonlight slipping in from outside, illuminating part of the dark room, my gaze was fixed on Dewi's reddened cheek, her face turned to the side from my slap.
"If Topan can have you, then this time I'll make him let you go…"
I leaned back down toward Dewi's face, inhaling the scent of her neck as I whispered softly.
"W-what do you mean?"
Grep!
With a swift movement, I restrained both of Dewi's hands as she tried to push my chest away.
"Ryu-Ryuji… l-let go… y-you can't—"
I could clearly see the fear shimmering in her eyes. But this was the only way that crossed my mind right now.
"Yes. I'll make you completely mine tonight…"
I whispered, breathing hot air into the hollow of her neck.
Ryuji POV END
TO BE CONTINUED…