The Wife of the King's Pay

Chapter 1 The Beginning of Destiny

“You're the son of a pesky carrier. Because of giving birth to you, your mother until death.”

The words always ring in Cleantha's head. A single sentence often left him mired in an incredible pit of bitterness. Even worse, the slick sentence was spoken from his own father's lips. A father who should be present as a figure who protects and loves him. But what happened was the opposite. The father cursed him and gave him a painful label as the son of an unlucky bearer.

Ever since she was a child, Cleantha had done little wrong, she must have been bullied. But who cares about his situation. Her older sister, Keyla, thinks only of herself. He was accustomed to silence a thousand languages, pretending not to hear and see the treatment of his papa. Sometimes he even supported his papa in scolding Cleantha.

The situation worsened when his father married again. Aunty Ana, a friend of her late mother, who has now become her stepmother, turns out to be bad for her as well. At home, however, he was just an outcast. Considered useless, brings distress and only deserves to be treated as a messenger.

But the Power does not always give trials that exceed the strength of His servant. Although Cleantha grows up to be a quiet and reclusive girl, she is endowed with intelligence beyond her schoolmates. He became a class champion from Primary School, until finally getting a scholarship to enter the top university in his city.

One day it occurred to Cleantha to end her life. But for some reason at night, he dreamed his mother came and hugged him. Since birth she had never seen her mother, but Cleantha often looked at the photos of the woman who gave birth to her through the album. From there, she always remembered her mother's beautiful face and kept it in her subconscious mind.

"Cleantha, don't be sad, honey. Mother loves you. Mommy is proud of you," said her mother stroking Cleantha's soft black hair.

Although it was only a dream, for the first time Cleantha knew what it was like to be loved and wanted as a child. Until he did not feel he woke up from sleep while removing a circle of tears that dripped on both cheeks.

“It looks like Mother came to give me the spirit of life again. Mother, I promise that no matter how much trouble I face, I will not despair. I'll fight through it for Mother,”

muttered Cleantha promise in her heart.

After that night, day after day Cleantha hoped to see her Mother again in a dream. Unfortunately, that hope never came true.

****************

A week after her graduation as an economics scholar, Cleantha was in the middle of a job interview at a private bank. But suddenly he got bad news from Keyla, his sister.

His father, Sigit Hastomo, suddenly suffered a stroke for the second time. Cleantha was completely shocked by the circumstances. But he was unable to do anything. Half-run, Cleantha left her interview. He took a taxi and soon followed Keyla and Aunt Ana to the hospital.

"Clea, said the doctor we have to move Dad to Citra Husada hospital whose facilities are more complete. I had to have surgery because I had a brain hemorrhage. But the cost of the operation is very expensive. Brother's savings alone will not be enough to finance him. Moreover, Sister's money has been used up to buy Dad's medicine," said Keyla seems depressed.

Aunt Ana, who was following along in tears, looked at Cleantha with a cynical look.

"Clea, this once can't you be a useful child? Look at your father's situation now. If she is not helped, you will be an orphan and Aunt will be a widow. Haven't you got a job yet?"

"Sorry, Aunt Clea has just entered the second stage selection at the bank. Clea had yet to figure out whether to escape or not," Clea replied bowed.

"It's just that you graduate with cum laude predicate if finding a job is difficult. Do you want to end up unemployed?"

Unexpected by Cleantha, Keyla this time spoke up to defend her.

"Tante, Clea has just graduated, where it might be possible to get a job that fast. Besides, this is not the time to discuss Clea's matter. We need to move Papa and make some money for the surgery."

Keyla took a deep breath while massaging her own forehead. "I only have five million. Where do I get the remaining thirty million?"

"Sister, sorry, I don't have a job yet. But I have one million rupiah left over from my work as an assistant lecturer last semester."

"One million rupiah? Such a small amount could help what, Clea?" keyla said, grunting annoyed.

"Did Auntie say Key, your sister was a useless girl. Mas Sigit hated him so much."

Aunt Ana stood up from her seat and approached Keyla.

"Auntie actually has one solution to this problem."

"Tell me Aunt. After all, I already have no other way to earn money."

"Look at Key, Auntie has a loan shark acquaintance. His name is Aunt Puspa. He can lend us thirty million dollars."

"Huh rentenir??? He would definitely wear a tall flower. Our debt could be doubled, Auntie."

"Key, you have to take risks for your father's safety. Aunt Puspa is an old friend of Auntie's. He won't be too cruel to us."

"No, Aunt. I don't want to" Keyla replied, rejecting the idea of her stepmother.

"As far as you are, Key. Maybe you'd rather see your father die."

Hearing the conversation, Cleantha fell silent. I really want him to provide a solution. Do something to help her father and sister. But his position, which has no money, makes him fail to do that intention.

Suddenly there was courage in Cleantha. This was an opportunity for him to show that he was not an unlucky child. His birth caused his mother to leave forever. Now he has a chance to save his father's life.

"Tante, just borrow thirty million on Auntie's friend. I'll guarantee the payment."

Spontaneously, Keyla and Aunt Ana widened her eyes.

"You're kidding me, Clea? What will you pay that much money for?" asked Keyla.

"No, Aunt. I'm sure I'll get a job soon. After that every month I will pay interest and repay the principal with my salary."

"Feel in trust in yourself. But well Auntie will comply with your request. Then we leave now," asked Aunt Ana to take Cleantha's hand.

"Wait!" keyla held Cleantha.

"Clea, are you sure you're going to be the guarantor of that debt? If you can't pay the debt and something happens to you, I won't interfere."

"Yes brother, I will bear everything myself. Now you better take Papa to Citra Husada hospital," replied Cleantha trying hard.

"Okay, if that's your decision, then I won't stand in your way."

****************

Cleantha entered a large two-story house, which in front of her fence was guarded by large bodyguards. Before there, Aunt Ana had contacted her loan shark friend to make an appointment. From Aunt Ana's cheerful expression, it was clear that her friend had agreed to their meeting.

Without a doubt, Cleantha followed her stepmother's steps towards the living room of the house that looked quite spacious.

"Ana," said a thick-bodied woman with thick makeup.

The forty-year-old woman hugged Aunt Ana tightly. Up close, it was clear that a diamond necklace, bracelet, and gold ring adorned the woman's fingers.

 

"Puspa, we haven't seen each other in a long time" Ana hugged her friend back.

"Yes, you're here because you want to ask for my help, right? Please sit down, don't be shy."

Aunt Puspa glanced at Cleantha.

"Who is this beautiful young girl, Ana?"

"This is Cleantha, my stepdaughter. I brought her here because she actually has a special request for you" Ana said meaningfully.

"Hmmmm, is that true Cleantha? Are you interested in borrowing money from Auntie?" tanya Puspa launched his sharp gaze.

Cleantha simply lowered her head, not daring to look directly into the woman's eyes. He clasped his own cold, sweaty palms.

"I.iya Aunt. I.want to borrow thirty million for my father's operation."

"Thirty million? That's not a small amount, Cleantha. If a Auntie gives you that money, do you have enough guarantees to get it back? Remember, Aunty requires regular interest payments. Twenty percent a month."

"Sa.yeah.yes.guarantee myself, Aunt. I'll pay off all that debt with the interest."

"Good, so you're the guarantee. But auntie needs certainty not just promises. You must sign a written agreement. Give me your identity card and your bank account number. Auntie will prepare the agreement first. Wait here!"

Puspa walked quickly away from the living room. From the outside, Cleantha could hear Puspa's voice talking to someone.

In agitation, Cleantha waited without speaking a word to her stepmother. About fifteen minutes later, Puspa came out with a piece of paper in his hand. With a big smile, he thrust the paper at Cleantha.

"Sign this letter, then no less than five minutes, thirty million dollars will go into your account."

"I have to read the deal first, Auntie."

"Cleantha, let Auntie read it so it's over. Your father needs the money now" said Ana, seizing the paper from Cleantha's hand.

Ana's eyeballs moved right and left as she studied the contents of the agreement.

"This is just sign it. Puspa has made a favorable deal for you."

With trembling hands, Cleantha placed her signature on the stamped covenant letter.

"Congratulations, Cleantha. Now Auntie will send you the money immediately," said Puspa pressed the number button from his phone.

SERIATE

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