The Untouched Heart

132 - Facing Common Problems

I felt a hand encircle my body so that I could still stand on my two feet. Hendra switched television channels and stopped on one of the channels playing a loose film. He invited me to sit down. I comply.

“Anyone who has done all that will get the reward, baby. Don't think about it, yeah. Everything will be fine.” She wiped the hair that covered both of my cheeks.

“Hadi is your biological son, Hendra. Dira too,” I said slowly.

“I know. Don't listen to what they said on the news, baby.”

“Not only our family, friends, and neighbors know about the night I spent with Vivaldo. The whole world will know about it soon, Hendra. And because of me, you'll lose everything. Your good name, your business partner, even your rights to the company.” Yeah, God. Why is this happening now? Why wasn't it revealed while we were still apart?

“Hey, I won't lose anything. Do you doubt my abilities after knowing me all this time? You have to be strong, baby. Remember, the man took advantage of your situation and you slept with him not at your own will. I'll make sure that everyone knows it. Please, I'd rather lose everything than lose you,” he pleaded.

“What will we do now?” many fear. He put on a serious face.

“You don't have to do anything. Just stay by my side and take care of our children. Let me take care of the rest.”

“Hendra, Papa and Mama hate me so much. They will hate me even more for this. What if they can never forgive me?”

“One-by-one, darling. Don't burden yourself with many problems at once. What we need to take care of now is so that Hadi and Dira are not affected by this situation. Some deliberately raised public doubts to shake the shareholders' decision. I won't let them off the hook after daring to question the legality of my relationship with my son.”

Hearing that last sentence, my blood suddenly boiled. Everyone can insult me and do whatever they want to do to me. But not with my children. My sins are not their sins. Unable to defeat Hendra by carving achievements, someone even involved my children?

“Iya. You're correct. The problem we face now is the lies they spread. Get them all, Hendra. You must not let them get away with it after involving children in adult affairs,” I said firmly. Hendra smiled.

“Well. This is my wife!” He kissed my lips. “Don't let anyone try to separate us again. I need you to stay strong. Do you understand? Don't let anyone weaken you. I need you, Za.”

I swallowed heavily. “Iya. We can face this together.”

“True. We can face this together.”

Not wanting to be affected by the news that was going viral, I was as normal as possible when we were going to stay for two nights in a secret place. Hadi was very excited to see the place of what was called a secret by his father.

We sang along the way. Dira also mentioned the lyrics that he already knew. To the lyrics he was unfamiliar with, he just stared at us in confusion. Seeing her tiny lips gaping in wonder is adorable.

“Wah, Pa! Are we going to see many more animals?” tanya Hadi looked at the large board at the entrance of the resort we were heading to.

“If you want, we can go there later. Previously, we went to the inn first,” said the mysterious Hendra. Hm. His villa was close to this place, why would he waste money on an inn?

We waited while Hendra took care of the administration. Then he led us to our room. Hadi cheered happily at the place called room by Hendra. We stayed in a caravan. There is a terrace protected by the roof, then in the caravan there is a large bed, sofa, television, bathroom, and other details that are generally in a hotel room.

“Wah, Pa. This place is cool!” Hadi checked everything in the caravan. He checked the bathroom, climbed the bed, looked at the contents of every drawer, even the refrigerator. Dira imitates what her brother does.

“Thank you, baby. It's a great place.” I hugged Hendra and he rewarded me with a kiss at the temple.

“We have lunch now?” tanyakanya. I nodded quickly.

Hadi was more interested in swimming when his papa offered between swimming or seeing animals. So all day we just take advantage of it by being at the resort. We also took a walk to see other lodging facilities they offered. But our son preferred what Hendra chose. Stay in a caravan.

Satisfied swimming, sleepy children. Hendra and I relax on the terrace enjoying the cool mountain air while Hadi and Dira sleep in the room. We chose one of the movies and watched it on my husband's tablet. I sat down with my head on his chest.

Hearing the sound of something shaking, I turned to look at the table. There's a video call from Darla. Hendra and I smiled at each other meaningfully. He stopped the movie for a while so I could talk to my friends. And my guess is right. All four of my best friend's faces appeared on the screen.

“Zahara, are you okay?” tanya Qiana was worried.

“I'm fine. Why do you guys look so worried?” tanyaku. They looked at me confused.

“Do you not know what happened yet? You two are the talk of almost everyone in this country,”, Qiana said.

“You should be proud of your best friend, Qiana. She faced the problem bravely,” said Hendra who suddenly just kissed me on the cheek. Friends immediately huu ria saw it. I covered my face with my free hand, enduring the shame.

“Are you sure you're okay? You guys okay? The situation here is very chaotic,” Darla added. “We passed your house and there were many reporters with cars they were expecting to interview you.”

“Even your office is also full of reporters, Hendra. The headlines of every television station only aired about Zahara's video and the shameless man, Hendra's appointment as President Director of Satya Perkasa Group, and you should know this, he said, there was one television station getting an exclusive interview with the man. The show aired tonight,” Lindsey said.

“Basic men are shameless. He even rose to fame by appearing on television. Normal people must be ashamed to talk about their disgrace. He looks proud.” Qiana snorted in annoyance.

“Did you forget? He's an ex-convict. That interview was an opportunity for him to clear his name as well. So people will not remember him as a bribe receiver, but a wife conqueror. You know for yourself that Zahara is notoriously untouchable among us. There is no man Hendra allows to just shake his hand,” Darla said.

“Wah, you were right too. He must be very proud to be able to tell that he not only managed to hold Zahara's hand, but also ...jerk man,” Claudia said. We put our index finger in front of our lips to hear him call the forbidden oath.

Is this what Vivaldo calls his revenge? What will he say in the interview? All the bullshit he ever told Hendra? Or does he want to boast as told by friends? Not likely. If he was so sure he could make me beg him to come back to me, he would have other plans.