Doctor Stephen Lim gave instructions to the nurse to apply the defibrillator again.
"1… 2… 3… Go!"
The monitor remained flat. Stephen Lim began to worry, but he didn't give up.
"One more!"
"Des…!"
"Beep… beep… beep…"
Finally, Katrina's heart started beating again. Everyone smiled in relief. Hendrik and Jenny, without realizing it, hugged each other—shocked yet relieved. When they became aware, Jenny's face flushed red.
Doctor Stephen Lim approached them.
"Congratulations… your wife is stable again."
"Yes, Doctor… thank you," they replied.
But the doctor's expression turned serious again.
"However, Katrina's condition is not guaranteed to recover. Her illness is complicated. We can only proceed with chemotherapy later."
Hendrik and Jenny fell silent. Hendrik murmured in his heart, Do I have to accept this… that Katrina cannot be cured?
Suddenly, a voice was heard from a distance:
"Jenny!"
Meliana and Hendra arrived at the hospital, their faces tense yet gentle. Jenny immediately hugged them and kissed their hands.
"Mom, how did you know I was here?"
"Lanny told me. Hendrik is in Singapore, and Katrina is hospitalized."
Meliana looked at Katrina's condition, holding back her sadness. Then she spoke with a trembling voice:
"Jen… Mom wants to talk to you and Hendrik. Let's go to the café in the lobby downstairs."
Hendrik tensed. Something wasn't right… Jenny felt the same, but she knew her mother must have something important to say.
On the ground floor, they sat in front of Meliana and Hendra. After ordering coffee and tea, Meliana began seriously:
"Jen… when are you getting married?"
Jenny looked at her lazily. "I don't know, Mom… I don't even have a boyfriend."
Meliana's emotions flared.
"Jen! You're getting older. Try to find a partner. I want grandchildren!"
Jenny pouted. "Love can't be forced, Mom!"
Meliana looked disappointed and turned to Hendrik.
"Hendrik… you've been married for 10 years without children. And with Katrina's condition like this, it's impossible to have a child. I want you to marry Jenny in a secret marriage."
Thud!
Hendrik and Jenny were shocked. What?! A secret marriage?!
"Mom! My sister isn't even dead yet! Why are you telling us to get married?" Jenny thought.
Hendrik remained silent, confused. His relationship with Lanny was already complicated, and now there was pressure to marry Jenny.
Meliana stared sharply. "What do you think, Hendrik?"
Hendrik replied carefully, "Yes, we'll think about it first, Mom. For now, let's focus on Katrina's recovery."
Meliana insisted, "I allow you to remarry, but not with another woman. I want someone from my own bloodline to inherit our wealth. Understand?"
Hendra spoke firmly, "Hendrik! I don't want you to make the wrong choice. Marry Jenny. She's your sister-in-law anyway. We're getting old—who will continue the business? Strangers?"
Hendrik stayed silent, his mind in chaos. Katrina hadn't recovered yet, and a new problem had already appeared. He could only nod.
Jenny couldn't take it anymore. "That's enough, Mom. If there's nothing else, I'm going back upstairs." She stood up and left.
Meliana sighed, looking at Hendra. "Every time she's advised… it's always like this! Look at your daughter…"
Hendrik actually wanted to leave too, but seeing his in-laws' gaze, he held back.
Suddenly, his phone rang:
Ding!
Meliana asked, "Who is it from?"
Hendrik replied briefly, "From Lanny, Mom… asking something about the office."
"Oh… alright. If you need to talk, go ahead. Mom is done here," said Meliana.
"Yes, Mom," Hendrik replied. He bowed slightly and felt relieved that the message freed him from the tension.
Hendrik stood up, walked toward the hospital lobby, and called Lanny.
Lanny's voice sounded panicked. "Mas… the debt collector came again. He'll seize the house tomorrow if the installments aren't paid. What should we do?"
Hendrik responded briefly, "How much is your father's total debt?"
"500 million rupiah, including interest," Lanny answered firmly. "I'll go home tomorrow. I'll transfer it later."
"Alright. I still have other matters," Hendrik said, his heart growing more troubled. One problem wasn't solved yet, and another had already appeared.
He wanted to go upstairs to see his wife, but Meliana called him again.
"Hendrik… remember, you must decide this as soon as possible!"
"Yes, Mom," Hendrik replied before quickly heading to the second floor.
When Hendrik entered the ICU room, Jenny was already there, still watching over her sister.
Hendrik approached her.
"Jen… I'll go back home tomorrow. I have some business at the office. Please take care of Katrina," Hendrik said calmly, lying.
Jenny nodded. Hendrik planned to rest at the hotel, but suddenly Jenny spoke, making his head spin even more:
" Hendrik… what do you think if we go through with the secret marriage like Mom and Dad want?"
Hendrik fell silent. He sat beside Jenny and let out a long sigh.
"I… can't love you, Jen. Even if we marry, it would only be an empty marriage," Hendrik said firmly.
Those words made Jenny realize something. She reflected for a moment, then thought:
Love can't be forced, but… we can still live without love.
After leaving for the hotel, Hendrik wanted to rest for a while since he hadn't slept the night before.
The distance between the hotel and the hospital was only about 300 meters, but his mind was in turmoil—the words of his in-laws, Katrina's worsening condition, and the pressure of family decisions that haunted him.
He entered room 543, closed the door, and tried to sleep for a few hours. When he woke up, Hendrik prepared to shower and change before visiting his wife again.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Hendrik's chest pounded. Who knew he was here?
When he opened the door, it was Jenny. Hendrik was stunned, his feelings mix,,?ed between relief and anxiety.
Jenny stepped inside and looked at him seriously. " Hendrik… I have to be honest."
"I want to support you, but I can't hold back my feelings any longer. I agree with Mom and Dad's wish, but I want you to know… I've liked you for a long time."
Hendrik stepped back, shocked by Jenny's sincerity. "I'm sorry, Jenny… I… I can't," he finally said, his voice heavy.
But…
Jenny moved closer to him.
Her body drew nearer and nearer until the distance between them was only about 1 cm.
She whispered into Hendrik's ear:
"Love me… Hendrik. I've been waiting for this for a long time."
Her seductive whisper was enough to make any man unable to refuse.