IN THE CAGE

104. BEST FRIEND

...NORMAL pov...

...----------------...

In a room with dim lighting, the cold temperature of the AC stabbed the white skin that was only covered by a thin satin pajama. The figure wearing those satin pajamas - although feeling a chill run down on him and piercing his skin, he did not move to reach for anything capable of making him feel warm.

No, because now.even though he shivered from the cold, this was the punishment he had to carry out.

He would suffer in that cold room, with his eyes closed by a red satin ribbon and his hands tied above his head. The rope that tied his hands was tied directly to the head of the bed. No matter how powerful he created the rebellion, he would end up hurting himself.

He is Indira, in Evan Caspian's room for so many days that he has not counted anymore, Indira was restrained by the man. Being kept from going anywhere, it is certain that he will not touch the sunlight and does not interact with anyone other than Evan's chosen person.

The main reason the situation became like this was because Evan was tired of Indira's unruly behavior.

"I have a lot of important business right now that I have to give priority to, you're the one who's acting a lot not one of them." was Evan said that day, the day he took Indira to his room. Cradle the girl with a soft touch and boom!

It turns out it was just a trap.

"I'll let you go when all my troubles are over, and until that day comes, I hope you've learned well about the ways of being a submissive wife, Indira."

"Damn it!" Indira took a deep breath. He won't lose to Evan. Nah!

Cklek!

The sound of an open door awakens all of Indira's senses, her ears spontaneously being in standby mode as she hears the sound of shoes pounding on the stone floor.

"Did he act while I was gone?" that's Evan's voice.

"No, Mr. Evan. Miss Indira, to be honest, did nothing as long as Mr. Evan left." the maid responded.

"Huh, is that it?" Evan threw his gaze at Indira. To his wife who now showed calmness. It was foreign and not Indira once.

"Leave us," Evan later said. He then sauntered towards Indira, staring intently at the pale body that oh.

"Indira.." Evan's voice that suddenly greeted his face made Indira gasp. He pulled his face back and immediately threw away his gaze wherever it was not from the source of the voice.

"What's cold?"

"..."

"If you're cold, you should ask the waiter to give you a blanket. Why are you quiet? Do you think hypothermia will help you get out of here?"

"It's none of your business." said Indira. "Didn't you have more important business? Stay away from me and let me die here."

"Very dramatic." Evan rubbed Indira's cheeks with his thumb, sweeping Indira's delicate skin with a touch of her rough fingers. Not stopping there, the touch went down to the neck of the level of Indira and anchored on his bare shoulders.

"You're tied up here and you're still finding ways to irritate me. Oh, Indira.., I thought you were a good girl."

"I'm only kind to people who deserve kindness."

"What do you mean the nice guy is Ace?"

Indira was beaming as she felt Evan's hand coming down from her shoulder. Go down slowly and play around on his skin. Stimulating his body with temptation made him hold his breath furiously.

"..."

"Indira, talk..." Evan said in front of Indira's face. "Do you prefer Ace to touch you here?"

"Mu-maybe..." Indira tries to maintain her sanity, pretending to be tough despite the heat starting to radiate from every trace of Evan's touch on her skin. Pretending to be strong even though sweat had soaked his face.

"Indira, are you jealous of my and Norah's closeness?" Evan continued to talk, no matter if now Indira had gasped for breath due to the actions of his hands.

"I'm not...!!!" Indira is stubborn.

"Don't I tell you he's just my childhood friend?"

"I don't care, okay!"

"You sure you don't care?" Evan pulls Indira's hip further away from his reach. "I'm not done talking, Indira."

Evan rubbed up the red ribbon that covered Indira's eyes with his thumb. Waving the girl's forehead that was soaked in sweat and looking into her eyes deeply.

"Oh, you don't seem to be cold anymore."

"You're annoying, Evan. I'll divorce you, no matter what!"

"I hate to hear you say something over and over again, you know what reason? Because I hate to give you the same response." Evan steals one light kiss on Indira's lips. "I won't divorce you, Indira."

"Even if I lose everything, I won't let you go."

"Huh?"

Evan sighed. "We promised at the altar to love each other forever, and I won't take my word at all."

"But you don't love me, damn it!" Indira is very sure Evan does not love her. Their domestic relationship had lasted almost a year and Evan had never touched her before this madness, before Indira asked for a divorce. Evan never cared much for him and always treated him like a trophy he had won. A display. That'sthat's all.

"I may not have the romantic feelings you want, Indira..." Evan rubbed Indira's cheek again with his thumb. "But in this world, no woman more perfect than you deserves to be with me."

"Tsk. This is again, right? You and your business brain..." Indira threw her face away, she felt the irritation in her chest shrink and her disappointment started to tide.

"If I wasn't perfect, Evan, you wouldn't marry me, would you?"

"Of course." Evan smiles. "I can only get the best, Indi. How else..."

"You don't deserve happiness."

"Happiness is not important. As long as I'm the best, that's enough." Evan pulled himself away from Indira who from his appearance, was no longer shivering and pale as before.

Evan pulled the blanket from the foot of the bed and covered Indira with it.

"Ace is better than you, is that why you killed her parents?" Indira looked at Evan who was sitting next to her again. Busy hand folding up his black shirt sleeve.

"What did you say? I didn't kill anybody."

"Don't lie to me, Evan. I know you're capable of doing such a heinous thing."

"To be able does not mean I want to. Oh, Anggara is also capable, just so you know. But..., no, he wouldn't think it all the way there because he's a moron."

"These men still have a conscience."

"No, Anggara's just a stupid guy who's easy to control." Evan returned Indira's angry gaze with a thin grin playing on his face. "If I say the one who killed Ace's parents is Anggara, your brother will nod and justify my words."

"..."

"Because you are Angga's weakness, you in my hand are like putting a knife around his neck."

"Damn, Evan. You're not human."

"I think we already know each other well" Evan said, a hint of disappointment heard in his tone. "I just want the perfect result, Indira."

"Ace will destroy you."

"I don't know about Ace, but I know my father."

"Your father?"

"Yes. My father always gave me the best in the world, Indira." Evan's face blooms in happiness as he tells Maximillian. The person he is most proud of.

"Since childhood, my father always taught me to just be the best. To be number one. I'll just accept the perfect outcome, get the perfect partner, marry the impeccable girl, and right now, when things are falling apart, my father will fix everything."

"You're very loved, aren't you?"

Indira again remembered his position and Anggara in the Rashid family. How the abusive treatment of his parents made Anggara become very tortured and until now, the torture still continues to come in the form of pressure and expectations that are too great.

"As I said, my father always gives me the best results. So.., whatever Ace was about to do, I believed in my father. He won't let me be ruined."

"You're overconfident, Evan."

"If I'm not confident, Indira. It means I doubt my father. I would never do that."

"Have you thought about the worst possible outcome that could happen when this war started?"

Evan stood up and stretched his arms, "There is nothing worse than losing a precious friend."

"Oh."

Oho!

Indira was instantly speechless as the word friend escaped from Evan's lips. Friend, in Evan's eyes was a dark-eyed man with hair as thick as the night sky. A High School childhood friend who has always been close to him deserves a brother.

A friendship that despite having been cut off due to their status, still lives beautifully in his room. Still framed sweet on the table.

Indira looked at the photo with gloom, a photo of two comrades embracing while holding a gold medal. The chest puffed up proudly, and the smile broad cheerful.

Photos of Evan and Ace living there, a history that makes the eyes of Indira sore.

"Do you still consider Ace your best friend, Van?"

Evan slicked his shoulders. "I have always and forever considered Ace my best friend, Indi. Even though I know he never really looked at me the same way. But he's my best friend."

"Did you hurt him?"

"Of course." Evan left Indira and sauntered towards the door of his room, about to come out. "He was the best friend I ever had. If one day he becomes an obstacle to my success, I won't hesitate to get rid of him."

Because there is only one person who can be the best, then Evan chose the position should only be occupied for himself.

...----------------...