Since she was little, Arini felt different. Her parents, although kind and loving, always felt like strangers to her. She never felt like she was truly part of the family. And now, with the evidence of the DNA test results she found a few weeks ago, all her past questions were answered. She was not their biological child.
When a woman named Arini opened her eyes that morning, the white ceiling of the hospital room was her first sight. The distinctive smell of antiseptic stung her nose, making her head dizzy even more. She was still trying to understand the situation. In the corner of the room, a nurse was writing something down on her clipboard.
"Mrs. Arini, how are you feeling?" the nurse asked gently.
Arini just nodded slowly. Her body felt weak. She knew that everything was over. Everything she had ever believed in, everything she thought was true, had fallen apart.
Since she was little, Arini felt different. Her parents, although kind and loving, always felt like strangers to her. She never felt like she was truly part of the family. And now, with the evidence of the DNA test results she found a few weeks ago, all her past questions were answered. She was not their biological child.
Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. Feelings of disappointment and hurt flooded her heart. She felt abandoned and unwanted. She thought hard, but there was no one she could ask for help. It all felt like an endless nightmare.
With the remaining strength, Arini lifted her body from the bed. The nurse quickly helped her stand.
"Thank you," Arini whispered softly.
The nurse smiled slightly, handing me a piece of paper with someone's address and phone number on it. "The doctor suggested you see a counselor. It might help."
Arini just stared at the paper expressionlessly. What could a counselor do? Restore a lost identity? Erase the pain of feeling unwanted?
After leaving the hospital, Arini decided to walk aimlessly. Her feet took her to a small park on the outskirts of town. A place she used to visit often when she felt chaotic. This place always gave her peace. There, under a large shady tree, she sat and looked into the distance.
Among the crowd of people passing by, Arini's gaze fell on a familiar figure. Her heart was beating fast. A man about 180 cm tall, wearing a white shirt and black pants. The man walked closer, and his firm face became clearer. His neatly arranged black hair, sharp eyes that radiated confidence, and a faint smile.
Arini gasped. It was Bimo, the man she had hurt in the past. A man whose relationship with Arini had ended so badly. They had both been involved in a small business together, but because of Arini's misunderstanding and selfishness, the business fell apart, and Bimo lost a lot. At that time, Bimo promised never to forgive her.
"How are you, Arini?" he greeted coldly.
Arini was silent. Various feelings were mixed in her heart-shock, fear, and maybe a little guilt.
"Bimo... I..." Arini tried to speak, but her voice was choked.
"You look different," Bimo said, squinting. "What's wrong? Why are you here?"
Arini swallowed. She wanted to get out of there immediately, but her legs felt heavy. "I... just want to be alone," she finally answered.
Bimo nodded. "Me too," he said as he sat down next to Arini, keeping his distance. They were both silent, lost in their own thoughts. Bimo stared ahead, at the trees swaying gently in the wind.
"I heard about your family," Bimo said finally, his voice low but firm.
Arini turned her head in surprise. "How did you know?"
Bimo shrugged. "News like that spreads fast, especially among people we know."
Arini felt her chest tighten. She didn't want to remember any of that. "I don't need sympathy from anyone, especially from you," she said defensively.
Bimo smiled thinly, a little cynically. "I'm not here to give you sympathy, Arini. I'm here for something else."
"What?" asked Arini in a suspicious tone.
"I need an assistant," Bimo answered briefly.
"Assistant?" Arini laughed wryly. "You're kidding, right? You think I'll work for you after everything that happened?"
Bimo stared at Arini with sharp eyes. "I'm not kidding. You need a job, and I need someone I can trust, even a little. And you're the best choice I have right now."
The atmosphere in the auction room was electric, thick with tension and anticipation. Spotlights illuminated the faces of the bidders, but all Isabella Blake could focus on was one man-Marcus Hale. She had been kidnapped and sold like a piece of property, and now, the highest bid echoed ominously in her ears. "Seventy million dollars!" shouted a man in a black suit, and Isabella felt a chill run down her spine at the staggering figure. She never imagined her life would end up like this, trapped in a brutal auction for her own freedom.
Aruna is a new secretary at a leading technology company in Jakarta, TechSage Corp. It was only a few weeks ago that she accepted this job, an opportunity that she believed would open many doors in her career. However, today felt different. There was anxiety that had been hanging over her since she woke up this morning, as if a bad feeling was waiting for her.
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
Sawyer, the world's top arms dealer, stunned everyone by falling for Maren—the worthless girl no one respected. People scoffed. Why chase a useless pretty face? But when powerful elites began gathering around her, jaws dropped. "She's not even married to him yet—already cashing in on his power?" they assumed. Curious eyes dug into Maren's past... only to find she was a scientific genius, a world-renowned medical expert, and heiress to a mafia empire. Later, Sawyer posted online. "My wife treats me like the enemy. Any advice?"
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
After two years of marriage, Kristian dropped a bombshell. "She's back. Let's get divorced. Name your price." Freya didn't argue. She just smiled and made her demands. "I want your most expensive supercar." "Okay." "The villa on the outskirts." "Sure." "And half of the billions we made together." Kristian froze. "Come again?" He thought she was ordinary—but Freya was the genius behind their fortune. And now that she'd gone, he'd do anything to win her back.
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"