Married Bad Boy

104

Widya Lovarza sat opposite Rendra Fernandez in the room. A private room inside a sushi restaurant. Tension hung in the air as the two were silent to each other. It was Rendra's movement that made things melt a little.

"So ...." The man took the file Widya had placed in front of him. "You've come to take back the assets we've seized?"

Widya nodded calmly.

"Why? Pradipta Group has a certain amount of debt to be repaid."

"Yes, if the debts arise for a just cause. But what if it comes up because of a sneaky trick done by President Matthew Fernandez, your father."

Rendra widened his eyes. "I wouldn't believe you if you didn't show me solid evidence."

"I wouldn't have come if I didn't have it."

Widya handed over some maps to Rendra's front. Each map contains a file of evidence that the GN President launched devious ways so that the Pradipta Group owes GN Group. Rendra examined it carefully. Widya wondered how this man would react after reading it. He had guessed he would react the same as Lia, hysterically then denied. However, his guess was wrong.

Rendra just sighed and let out a comment that left Widya flabbergasted.

"I had expected this to happen.“ he put the map and looked at Widya with tired eyes, "Company as big as Pradipta Group is not possible to have accumulated debt that can not be paid. I thought my father was behind all this."

"You suspect your own father." Widya doesn't believe it.

"I know my father more than anyone, Mrs Pradipta," Rendra replied calmly. "He is the most ambitious man in the world. Anything he can do to get what he wants or, get rid of something he doesn't want."

Widya's stunned. The man's statement was not expected at all. He had already prepared several scenarios to debate Rendra should he deny it or if necessary, he would report this to the police. However, seeing Rendra so understanding and big-spirited, Widya felt a little guilty for expecting a no-no. He thought the entire Fernandez family was the same, as cruel, as arrogant, as ambitious. However, Rendra Fernandez, this man is different.

"Really, Mrs Pradipta. You make me speechless. Even though I expected it, I was still surprised to know my father did all this.“

"Strickery does not only happen to Pradipta Group. But also in some companies that are now bankrupt such as YT Foundation and AR Financial Group."

Rendra's expression dimmed, “I know, AR Financial Group is a Marleen family-owned company."

"Marleen?" Widya. "Is that why you're engaged?"

Realizing Rendra's expression turned sad Widya immediately apologized. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."

The man laughed, "No, unfortunately what you said is very true. My dad used me to get the company. Just like he used Lia to take down Pradipta Group."

They were immersed in each other's thoughts for a few moments. Widya realized this atmosphere should not happen immediately apologizing. "It's my fault I shouldn't have discussed this."

"You're right, this topic of conversation is useless. So what do you want from me other than to help you get back the assets of the Pradipta Group that we confiscated?"

You seriously want to help me? I think the biggest difficulty was convincing your father to do it. He's been struggling to get the company, I don't think asking him back will be easy."

Rendra just smiled. "I'm going to do something with it." she silently looked at Widya. "I honestly admire your spirit, Widya. You have great courage to face your opponents for justice. Is all this evidence you collected?"

"I want to say yes." Widya smiled regretfully, "However, all the evidence was the result of Azri's investigation. Everything was stored in the bag that he always carried everywhere. He'll turn all this evidence over to the police but your father moved first, announcing the news of the seizure in the media so Azri's attention was distracted and finally, he had the accident."

Suddenly Widya felt tight. "He should have brought this to you."

"I am saddened by the accident. I hope he wakes up soon."

"I hope so." Widya. It was sad to know Azri was still asleep like the last time he visited her.

"I can't promise to approve your request, Widya" Rendra interrupted Widya's daydreams. "But I'll figure out how to deal with my father."

Widya lowered her head as a plea to Rendra. "I just want to get back what was stolen from my husband and his family. I hope you can return something that is not yours." he lowered his head once again and got up after clearing the files he brought. Widya could not be relieved because her fight had not ended today.

After Widya's departure, Rendra pondered. He looked at his hand that was leaning on the table. Fingers vibrate. Actually, he was just pretending. He was really surprised, amazingly surprised to know his father that instant. From how clever the way his father dropped Pradipta Group and also AR Finance, it is likely that his father will do the same to him if he intends to challenge him. He had to find a way to deal with his father.

***

This time did not change when Widya visited Azri for the second time. When everyone was asleep, he went to see her. There was nothing else Widya did but sit looking at her husband.

"El. How are you doing? You missed me?" That's all he can ask. Widya clasped Azri's hand, rubbing it against her own cheek.

"I didn't know you were going to get angry or not, but I stole the evidence document from your bag and showed it to Rendra. I think my actions are right because Rendra is different from Lia and the GN President. I wish he could help us." Widya looked silently at Azri. "After all this is done, my other hope is. I'm asking you to get up, please."

Azri's hand. Despite promising not to cry, Widya denied it that night.

***

Elsewhere, a person slumped into darkness in the middle of the dining room in his home. The doctor forbids her from consuming alcohol, Lia breaks it that night. He gulps down alcohol which can kill her at any time. He did not care because he expected death. He never wanted to leave this world more than tonight.

Everything he knew in this world had betrayed him. He was deceived by his own father. His father makes himself look terrible in front of Azri, the man he loves. If only he hadn't tried to ruin someone's life, would he have had a chance to get that man's love?

Lia laughed then placed her drinking glass loudly on the table. No way, even if he did a thousand good deeds Azri El Pradipta would not turn his eyes away from Widya Lovarza. She's a lucky girl.

Yes, even Yuna was lucky to have ever gotten Azri's love.

Marleen was just as lucky to have been with the man.

While he only got hatred from Azri El Pradipta.

Everything that happened to him was due to his greedy father. The father he highly praised who turned out to use himself. Killing the only hope he has for life, and putting him on a life filled with vengeance.

Lia couldn't let this happen as her father had hoped. He tightly grasped the glass containing the reddish drink. Jaw hardens. If his father had used himself for the sake of the GN Group, then he alone would have destroyed that company. His father deserved the disappointment he felt today.

"Alcohol is not good for your body, sister."

The presence of Rendra was not realized at all by Lia. He blinked from his daydream as the man moved the glass from his hand to another place. "What makes you feel bad like this? I don't think it's a trivial matter."

Lia responded to her brother's words coldly. "Dad's only been using me this whole time."

"Wow, why am I not surprised to hear that?" sahut Rendra flat. “So that's why you drank this poison?"

"Dad disappointed me. Yuna's death, Yuna's letter, my hatred, were all already part of her plan. How could I not realize it? Am I that stupid that you could use me so easily?"

His eyes glanced blankly forward. A drop of tears fell. "That middle-aged man has already snatched Yuna away from me. Make myself hated by the man I love and ruin my life.“

Rendra sighed then sat down beside her sister. "I'm sorry you had to know this. I know you'll be very disappointed." He has known this since he realized he had been used by his father to bring down the Marleen family company.

It is undeniable that Lia will get similar treatment.

"Because that's how I feel when I find out."

Lia looked at him wonderfully puzzled.b"How could Big Brother remain calm like this after knowing Big Brother is only a puppet for our Father? Does Brother not feel angry, vengeful to the point of wanting to destroy what Father has achieved after he has used you? Then Marleen, you were forced to get engaged to her, you pretended to say you loved her, but you didn't really love her, did you?"

Lia was astonished by her brother's temperament. Since childhood her brother never denied anything their father ordered. He is so kind and loving. Now he felt his father was so cruel because he had deceived a man as good as his brother.

"To be honest I was angry, very angry. Being a rope puppet that my own father controlled, I could go crazy every time I thought about it. Right after Dad got what he wanted. I feel so guilty for the Marleen family. Every time I saw the girl's face, what I remembered was the fact that I was the destroyer of her family's life. God, how could she stand being stuck for living forever with the man she hated?"

Rendra smiled bitterly. Lia looked at him pity.

"Sister, I'm sorry.“

"But" the man cut. "There's one thing our father didn't realize. The fact that I also used it to get Marleen."

"What?"

Lia was surprised not to play. So, this brother really loves Marleen? la guess her brother's sweet treatment of Marleen all this time is just a formality. Who would have thought.

"I love that girl. I'm more like crazy about him. I was even willing to be used by my own father to get it. I don't care if Marleen hates me. I just hope that what I'm trying to do for her right now can make her happy and that her hatred for me is gone. Even if it's impossible."

Hearing her brother's confession didn't make Lia's heart happy. He just felt more suffering. He was not as lucky as his brother. From the beginning he intended for revenge, not to steal the heart of his loved ones. What his heart felt at this moment would not be cured unless he destroyed his father's ambition.

Lia was crying with smiling lips. "True, that girl really killed me. I don't think there's any point in living."

Rendra's expression stiffened. "Lia, what are you going to do?" he panicked when he saw Lia rushing away. “Lia!"