pressurized silence of a command center waiting for an order. She woke up at 6 AM, her body still aching from the tension of the previous forty-eight hours. The bed wa

black suits patrolled the perimeter with a military precision that made Bram's hired neighborhood watch loo

maid; it was a woman in a sharp grey suit with

e assistant. He is waiting for you in the dining hall. We have exactly thirty

. Dirgantara already? The ink i

n this house, the agreement is

one knew their place. Everyone had a role. It made her realize that she wasn't ju

presso in the other. He didn't look like he had slept at all, yet he looked perfectly

y for what's coming," he said, n

operty," Nayla replied, sitting down across from him. A plate of perf

ble differences' regarding personal integrity. Simultaneously, a series of photos will be 'leaked' to a mid-tier gossip site. Photos o

. "And what about the cheatin

ok weak. But if we show you moving on with someone more powerful, someone like me, before the news of the affair even breaks... you look like the one who chose

id," Nayla whispered, a slow

he's playing a game of checkers. I'm

nced at it and then turned the screen toward her.

s Ways with Husband; Spotted wi

ming. Notifications flooded the screen so fast it began to lag. Calls from

them talk to the void. The more silent

Nayla said, her hand trembling

s Bram's," Arzlan said coldly. "She'll be fine once she s

side was a diamond so large it looked like a piece of ice carve

ip firm. He slid the ring onto her finger, repl

will be there. He's trying to secure a loan from the Wijaya family to cover the holes

fury. "He's bringing her? T

the 'unstable' wife who ran away. He wants to show the world his 'suppo

night, you are not the victim. You are the prize. You don't look at them. You don't talk to them. You stay by my side,

e looked at the man who was offering her a weapon d

n do

our dress and makeup. I wa

t being restored for a grand exhibition. They waxed, they buffed, they painted. But through it all, Nayla felt strangely detached. She kept thin

shadows. It hugged her curves, the slit up the side showing just enough leg to be dangerous. With her hair swept into

ad just survived a war and wa

kin. When he saw her, he actually stopped for a second. His expression didn't change, but his eyes da

hough his voice was sli

enged, a small, sharp sm

ht start thinking you don't need me," h

breathing, trying to calm the storm in her chest. She wasn't scared of Bram. She wasn't even scared of the public. She wa

shbulbs were blinding. The news had been out for

d before the roar of cameras intensified. He turned back, reaching

asking about Arzlan. She ignored it all, her face a mask of serene indifference, just as

s her world-the high society of Jakarta-but tonight, it felt like she was an alien visiting from a su

ispered into her ear, his b

avy suit, looking every bit the successful businessman. And standing beside him, her hand posses

. They were busy laughing

y signal,"

o a dignitary. He was the sun of this room, and everyone else was just a planet orb

, they turned their heads, their eyes widening. Bram, sensing

e died i

hand dropped from his arm as if it had been burned. Her mouth fel

up to them, his presence effectively

th and conversational. "I don't bel

absolute. You could have heard

d words. "Fiancée? Nayla, what... what

't shake. It didn't break. "I thought you made it very clear wh

nlookers. Nayla didn't care. She looked at

is a bit... young for you, don't you think? But then again, you alway

s eyes wild. "You're making a scene. You're being impulsive.

le yet so threatening that Bram instinctively flinched. A

e future Mrs. Dirgantara. Any insult to her is an insult to me. And I'm sure you've noticed that your credit line

out. "You... you're

reason you're going to lose your company. I'm the reason you're going to lose your

mbling. The "best friend" looked like

ause by the time Arzlan is done with him, he won't have

zlan. "I'm thirsty, darling.

said, tucking her ha

of a circle of judgment. The whispers started immediately, a t

yla felt her knees go weak. She leaned into Ar

oking at her, but his grip on h

ick," she

turning to your body. It's uncomfort

s Bram tried to talk to several investors, only to be politely-but firmly-rebuffed.

ght back," Nayla

try to sue. He'll try to leak stories about you. But my team is already three steps ahead. By tomorrow, Tiara's history with other married me

ifying. He was cold. He was calculating. And he was currentl

Really? It can't just be about

legacy. My mother... she died waiting for him to come home from a hotel room with another woman. I promised myself I would never let men like that win. When I saw you in that cafe,

CEO slipped, and she saw the scarred boy underneath. It was a flee

t a partner.

estroy them, aren

ith a dark, intense light. "We're going to erase them. And th

her jaw. It was a gesture that wasn't in the c

, the contract didn't matter. The money didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was

la," he whispered, his voice lik

ed, her voice steady. "I need a king

st beautiful and terrifyi

, Queen. The war ha

d silk of her dress trailing behind her like a river of blood. She was no longer the wife who had been chea

den of whispers. But in front

crets, more betrayals, and more pain. But as she sat in the car ne

ow again. She was the storm. And t