Substitute Mother

Chapters 166. Countdowns

“So, when did you leave?”

Jeanno stared at the flow of champagne that Mark poured into his glass. “Next week. Then the next week I will go to Japan”

“For?”

“Taking over the project papa is working on. Papa entrusted me to represent him”

Amazed, Mark shook his head. “You haven't met Uncle Thomas, but you've planned a lot of things”

“Then Aera... how? You think one week will be enough for him to adapt to your parents?”

“Not” Jeanno shakes. “Mama will come with me to Japan”

Mark sipped in his champagnet before sipping the toilet. “I still have a hard time believing, you will leave me go”

“Ck, don't overdo” Jeanno turned his face away, a little amused by Mark's remarks. “You can go to Japan at any time. Maybe after your child was born and pretty big”

“You are evil once separated Aera from her sister”

“Then Judith. Hows it? I mean.. are you going to keep telling my people to look after him?”

Jeanno nodded, without needing to think for long. “Yes. There was Micah reporting all the time, but she was just an ordinary girl. I still need a guard who can protect Judith from harm”

Mark reached for his phone showing an incoming message notification that apparently came from his father. No words, just a link containing headlines to a news portal. A moment later Mark threw his phone screen in front of Jeanno, sneering.

“Basic bastards”

‘Have found misappropriation of funds to touch the figure of trillions of rupiah. Investors are busy pulling shares of Mahendera Group, Robert Mahendera company threatened to bankrupt’

**

Jeanno did not play when he said he wanted to make Arman and his entire family destroyed. After an epic infidelity drama that makes Paula's career likely to dim, the police and private detectives begin to visit the Mahendera group's main office to investigate the embezzlement. It didn't take long to prove Robert guilty, because in fact the investigators had pocketed concrete evidence that they had found out where they had come from.

The storm made Mahendera's number in the market decreased dramatically, no more colleagues who intend to plant their shares, in other words. this is ‘kiamat’ for Robert Mahendera.

Oh, not only that. The next day, the police arrive at Arman and Paula's residence. Arman Mahendera arrested on drug abuse charges. And sure enough, once tested, the results showed positive. Arman has been using meth for the last three years.

The news of Mahendera's destruction became trending on various news portals. The public was made to wonder how could a family that looked fine and perfect from the outside, turned out to have a disgusting ulcer.

Jeanno couldn't stop smiling that day. Two days before he left Indonesia, everything went according to his plan. Beyond expectations. With Arman in jail, at least he can go quietly. Knowing that crazy guy won't touch Judith. The young master had also made sure that Arman did not tell his men to look for Judith.

“Two days left. Don't you want to meet him?”

Jeanno loosened her tie, then leaned against the body of the sofa. “If I meet him, there will be more heavy steps for me to go”

“How about Aera?”

“I have given him the understanding that Judith has a life of her own, although it is undeniable that her face looks sad, but Aera tries to understand”

“You... been honest with him about Nayara?”

Jeanno nodded softly. “Sore yesterday I took her to visit Nayara. As soon as we reached the cemetery, Aera seemed to immediately understand where Nayara had been all this time. But my daughter only shed tears once, and then she calmed down and talked to her mother. I'm so proud of my daughter, Mark”

“She is more mature than her age” greeted nod sign agreed by Jeanno. “Mark”

“Hm?”

“I leave this company, huh? you're the only person I trust to take over here as long as I'm in Japan”

Actually, it has been three days ago Jeanno offered Mark to replace his position here while he was away, but it was only responded to a joke by Mark. Didn't expect that the offer was again uttered in a pleading tone.

“Isn't this too sudden, Jean?”

“No. I've had a board meeting, and there I appointed you as my deputy”

“I don't think I can resist it, huh?”

**

Three weeks passed without any news from Jeanno or Aera. After Judith was forcibly repatriated by Jeanno and Mark, many questions still hang in mind. Starting from the chaos in Jeanno's house, the man who looked fragile and relieved at the same time when he saw her. Until the goodbye and the severance of relations with Aera. Judith did not understand what was really happening, however hard her brain tried to connect the strands of thread it did not also get a bright spot.

The phone is ringing. Video call from Hannah.

“Hai, darling. How are you?”

“Good, but I have to bedrest because yesterday had bleeding” replied Hannah, displaying her pale face against the back of the bed. “Jeez, but now you're okay, right? Why not tell me”

“I don't want to worry you. I'm okay anyway kok”*

“Thank God. Next time you need help, call me right away. I don't want to hear bothered by you or anything like that. I'm your best friend, remember?”

Hannah chuckles. “I miss you, Judith. It feels impatient to wait for my baby to be born and big enough to be brought to see you”

“I also miss you”

Hannah could see Judith whose facial expression was indecisive as if she wanted to ask something. Understanding what she had in mind, Hannah smiled. “Aera is fine. I heard Jeanno was telling the truth about Nayara, and they both went to the cemetery. You tau? aera's reaction was very mature. After knowing her mother was already with God, she prayed every night before sleeping”.

Judith could not hide her teary eyes. Alana must be proud to have a daughter as strong as Aera. “He is very great.”

“Yes.eum, Judith”

“I don't know if I'm allowed to talk to you about this, but..”*

The fragrant smile on Judith's face was dashed, replaced by nervousness due to Hannah's hanging statement. “What's up, Hannah?”

“Jeanno and Aera will move to Japan. He had made peace with his parents, evidenced by the company Jeanno merged with the company owned by Mr. Thomas”

Judith's eyes were round, not expecting the news she had just heard.

“Possible Jeanno will stay there, because of work problems or something like that. Mark didn't tell me for a period of time, but we know how ambitious Jeanno Alexander is. If he had been entrusted by his father to take care of a big project, he would have done it as perfectly as possible. And will not return before successfully”

“Oh.. so” of the many bersamukan in his mind, only that is able to be diluted by the beer Judith.

“They left two days ago, baby. Sorry I just told you about this”

Judith tried to review the smile even though it seemed forced. “It's okay, uh there's a visitor. I'll call you later, okay? Bye, babe”

Judith disconnected after Hannah said her regards back. He lied, there were no visitors in front of him. The only reason he ended his call was because he could not help but cry. About Jeanno and Aera's departure to a distant land without saying goodbye, making it crowded. Makes him begin to realize that his existence does not have a major impact on their lives. Previously Judith received roomy if not allowed to call Aera again, the important thing is that she can still hear how the child is doing through Hannah.

Now, however, the beautiful child was on a land thousands of kilometers away from him. He did not know how he was, how his day was, how his friends were. And Jeanno, Judith didn't think there would be a time when she would really lose the man..

Losing the man he never had in the first place.

**