Jenny pushed her sister's wheelchair down the airplane aisle and into the cabin. Because Katrina was using a wheelchair, she was seated at the very front, near the entrance.
Katrina looked at Jenny as if she could read what was in her sister's heart. She squeezed Jenny's hand tightly and whispered softly, "Don't worry, Sis… Jenny is here, staying with you."
Not long after, the plane took off from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, leaving Jakarta behind as it headed for Singapore.
Inside the plane, Katrina still found it hard to calm herself down.
Her eyes stared at the blue sky through the window, but her body was rebelling. Nausea churned in her stomach, her chest felt tight, and her hands began to tremble.
Every movement of the plane nearly made her lose her balance in the wheelchair seat. Her breathing turned ragged, and she covered her mouth, afraid she might throw up in front of the other passengers.
Jenny gently patted her back and held her hand even tighter. "Calm down, Sis… take slow breaths," Jenny whispered calmly, her face as expressionless as always, though her eyes were unusually soft.
As the flight continued, Katrina gradually managed to enjoy the view of the clouds drifting past the plane. But the constant roar of the aircraft still made her heart pound, reminding her of the little time she might have left in this world.
Nearly two hours later, the plane landed smoothly in Singapore, a city known for its cleanliness and order. As soon as they arrived in the airport lobby, Katrina looked at Jenny with eyes full of worry.
"Jen… thank goodness you're here. If not, who would take care of me? Hendrik is always busy with work," she said, her voice almost trembling.
Jenny turned to her, her face still calm, her hand still holding Katrina's. "It's okay, Sis," she replied briefly, as steady as ever.
Katrina took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but her anxiety returned when Jenny delivered the unwelcome news.
"The doctor who was supposed to examine you… apparently isn't available today. We have to wait until tomorrow."
Katrina lowered her head, her whole body suddenly feeling heavy. Her chest tightened, her hands trembled, and her empty gaze drifted toward the airport ceiling.
Jenny stayed by her side, holding her hand. Though her words were few, her presence gave Katrina a small sense of comfort.
After that, Jenny booked a taxi to the hotel they had already reserved.
During the ride, Katrina nearly fainted as her headache and nausea grew worse.
"Jen! Please get my medicine… I can't take it anymore," she whispered through a painful grimace.
Jenny, who rarely had to take care of her sister like this, panicked.
"Wait, Sis! I'm looking for it now!"
Jenny's hands trembled as she searched for the medicine, her eyes never leaving Katrina. The taxi driver looked irritated, afraid Katrina might throw up in the car.
At last, Jenny found the medicine and quickly handed it to Katrina. Katrina swallowed it, and her expression eased just a little.
Less than twenty minutes later, the taxi stopped in front of the hotel. The driver was unwilling to help, which irritated Jenny, but she still lifted Katrina into the wheelchair by herself.
After checking in, Jenny brought Katrina to the hotel room and laid her down on the bed. She sat beside her, looking at her sister, who still looked weak and exhausted.
After letting Katrina rest for a while, Jenny sent Hendrik a message to let him know they had arrived safely at the hotel.
Ding…
The only reply she received was a simple "good" emoji.
Jenny was briefly suspicious, but she brushed it aside and told herself, Maybe he's busy.
Meanwhile, Hendrik had already returned to the office after dropping them off at the airport.
Lanny, who was filling in for Jenny, had prepared everything for the meeting with impressive efficiency.
Nearly two hours later, the presentation was over, and the client agreed to purchase the company's products worth two billion rupiah.
Hendrik then invited the client to dine at an upscale restaurant, and Lanny had no choice but to accompany him.
Inside the car on the way to the restaurant, Lanny frowned, feeling awkward and annoyed, but in the end, she obeyed.
"Yes, Sir…" she answered with a pout.
Only Hendrik and Lanny were in the car, while the others followed in another vehicle. The atmosphere inside was silent, filled only with the hum of the engine and the sounds of the city outside.
When they arrived at the luxurious restaurant, Hendrik ordered an expensive bottle of red wine to entertain the client. Lanny felt uneasy, but she still took a few sips out of respect for the guest.
After only a little wine, her body began to heat up, and her vision blurred until she nearly lost consciousness.
Hendrik and the client merely smiled at her reaction, and when she finally regained awareness, she realized she was already in Hendrik's car.
It turned out Hendrik had not taken her back to her own home, but to his.
"Sir… why are we here?" she asked in confusion, trying to endure the pounding in her head.
"You should rest here tonight. I'll take you home tomorrow, alright?" Hendrik replied.
"Alright, Sir…" Lanny nodded, still holding her aching head.
She followed Hendrik into the luxurious house, one grander than anything she had ever seen in her life.
Curious, she asked, "Where is your wife, Sir?"
"She's in Singapore for treatment," Hendrik answered.
Lanny could only nod, still trying to steady herself.
Hendrik's serious yet attentive gaze made her feel awkward, yet strangely curious. He guided her to a bedroom, making sure she could rest comfortably.
Lanny lay on the bed, her heart pounding, caught between tension and an intense emotional closeness. Hendrik sat beside her, looking at her with a serious yet gentle gaze that made her feel safe… and at the same time, nervous.
There, they were about to enjoy something that should only be shared by a lawfully wedded husband and wife.
But...
It turned out that all morality and ethics vanished beneath the uncontrollable desire between a man and a woman.
That night, strange sounds could be heard… over and over again.
Those sounds were known only to the two people inside Hendrik's bedroom.
A trace of satisfaction appeared on Hendrik's face after going four long years without being intimate with his wife.
The phone on the table kept ringing, but neither of them noticed it at all.
Jenny kept calling again and again, her face filled with anger and panic when no one answered.
Swallowing hard, she whispered, "Come on… where are you, Hendrik…?"
Elsewhere, Hendrik and Lanny remained lost in each other, indulging in the intimacy of a husband-and-wife relationship. They completely ignored the incoming calls.
The two of them were far too absorbed in the warmth and comfort they found in each other.
Jenny had actually been trying to tell Hendrik that Katrina had collapsed and needed to be rushed into the ICU in Singapore.
Back at the fairly luxurious hotel, Jenny stared at her sister, who had suddenly gone limp. Katrina's body was cold, her face pale, and her breathing ragged. Jenny's heart pounded violently. She swallowed hard, dropped to her knees beside her sister, and gripped her hand as tightly as she could.
"Sis… don't be like this… stay strong, okay?" she muttered, her voice trembling.
Her hands shook as she checked Katrina's pulse, terrified that every second might mean something worse.
Seeing her sister becoming more and more unconscious, Jenny panicked and immediately asked the hotel staff to call an ambulance.
Without much delay, the ambulance arrived and took Katrina to the nearest hospital.
During the ride, Jenny kept watching her sister, holding back her tears and forcing herself to stay calm even though her heart was racing wildly.
Every breath and movement Katrina made caused time to feel unbearably slow for Jenny.
Jenny knew this was a critical moment.
Every second could determine Katrina's condition.
She steadied her breathing, forcing herself to remain focused as she waited for the hospital staff to help.
Panic gripped her heart, but she was determined to do everything she could to save Katrina.