Unconsciously, the red bra had been left at home.
They hurried to leave.
In their separate cars, an awkward tension filled the air. Silence stretched between them, while their minds were consumed with questions: would this relationship continue, or face insurmountable obstacles?
Besides that, Hendrik was haunted by doubts about his relationship with Lanny.
Yet he could not hope for more from Katrina, who, due to her cancer, could neither fulfill his biological needs nor give him children.
In his heart, Hendrik was certain: his relationship with Lanny could not be disturbed.
Whether it was discovered or not, he had made the decision to marry her.
Not only for the future, but also to have children with Lanny… and of course, his own biological needs came first.
During the drive to take Lanny to the office, they looked like a married couple, always together wherever they went.
Lanny only gazed at Hendrik, her boss and lover.
In her heart, she felt anxious about her social status if she became Hendrik's second wife.
She asked herself, "Am I doing the right thing?" Doubt continued to haunt her, and she wanted clarity about their relationship.
While staring at Hendrik with a questioning look, Lanny finally spoke, her voice tense,
"Honey…"
"Yes, honey What is it?" Hendrik replied briefly, keeping his eyes fixed straight ahead on the road.
Lanny repeated, her voice trembling with anxiety,
"Honey.... what about us? You promised you'd marry me!"
Hendrik fell silent for a moment, carefully weighing his words. Finally, he said,
"After I meet my wife today, we will register our marriage at the Civil Registry tomorrow morning.
Bring a witness; I'll bring Mas Udin.
How about that, dear?"
Lanny turned to him, her tension slightly eased. She nodded, then gently tapped Hendrik's shoulder.
But suddenly, Lanny looked at him again, her eyes filled with worry.
"But… Honey! What if my being with you gets discovered by your wife?" she asked, reviving the tension that had momentarily eased.
The question froze Hendrik in place. His mind spun, weighing the hard choice: lose Lanny, or add to Katrina's sorrow. His breath grew heavy, fingers tapping nervously on the steering wheel.
Finally, with a firm yet slightly trembling voice, he said,
"I… I'm ready. I still love you."
The words eased Lanny's chest, and a small smile appeared on her face. Yet behind it, a trace of anxiety lingered—a feeling that this decision might bring deep regret in the future.
Not long after, Lanny dropped Hendrik off at the office before continuing with her day.
It was 11:00 a.m. when Hendrik headed to Soekarno-Hatta Airport to pick up Katrina.
He arrived an hour later and immediately sent a quick message to Jenny:
"I'm at the airport!"
Ting! The message was successfully delivered.
Hendrik waited in the lobby outside the arrivals gate, thinking about Jenny, who knew about his relationship with Lanny.
"What is she planning? Should I talk to her properly?" Hendrik wondered.
Looking at the arrival board, he saw that the flight from Singapore–Jakarta had landed.
He hurried to the arrivals area to pick up Katrina. The crowd was bustling, people from various ethnicities moving past one another.
Amid the crowd, his eyes caught a familiar sight: a beautiful woman pushing a white-haired woman in a wheelchair.
Hendrik smiled broadly. In his heart, he shouted,
"That's her… Katrina!"
He waved from a distance, calling out,
"Jen!"
Jenny, who was looking for Hendrik, smiled as she saw him.
"Look… it is Hendrik!" she shouted, pointing toward Katrina.
Katrina's face lit up. The man she had waited for, the one she loved, was finally in front of her.
"Come on, Jen! Hurry, I want to see him!" she said impatiently.
Hendrik approached Jenny and Katrina.
Without hesitation, he embraced his wife tightly. The hug was warm, yet behind it lay relief and worry. Eight years of marriage, full of twists and trials, now seemed to condense into a single moment.
Katrina's eyes sparkled with joy in Hendrik's arms. Yet there was a hint of hesitation, a shadow of lingering pain. Hendrik sensed it. His heart throbbed—this happiness was fragile.
Jenny smiled, holding back a laugh, while Katrina tried to return the smile, though her lips were slightly tense. They seemed cheerful, but Hendrik knew something could not be ignored.
After a moment, Hendrik took a deep breath, loosening his hug slightly, and looked at Katrina gently.
"How have you been… honey?" His voice was warm, yet tinged with worry he couldn't hide.
Katrina met his gaze, her eyes soft and downcast.
"I'm fine… Hendrik," she replied shortly, her voice restrained, unwilling to fully open up.
Hendrik furrowed his brow. He sensed her hesitation, as if there was something she wanted to say but couldn't.
Slowly, he reached for her hand, holding it gently.
"Kat… if there's anything you want to tell me… you can. I'm here," Hendrik said, his voice full of sincerity.
Katrina swallowed hard, her eye
s brimming with tears. She wanted to smile, but fear held her back. Her heart was torn: happy to see Hendrik, yet anxious about the secrets and lingering pain, wondering how to face the days ahead.
Jenny noticed the tension. She looked at both of them, smiling slightly but also worried.
"Let's go home soon, so we don't get too tired," she said, trying to lighten the mood.
Hendrik glanced at Jenny, smiling faintly, but his eyes remained on Katrina.
"All right… but Katrina… don't force yourself. We're here together," he said again, assuring her he was ready to listen to anything she wanted to share.
Yet the calm was soon tested. Jenny, looking at Hendrik with a soft yet sharp smile, suddenly asked,
"Hendrik… what about Lanny?"
Hendrik froze, his chest tightening.
"Hah?!… Lanny?" he stammered, nervous, as if hiding something.
"Yes, Lanny… your assistant. She's fine… right?" Jenny's tone was subtle but sharp, her eyes watching Hendrik, reading his every thought.
Hendrik swallowed hard, trying to calm himself.
"Yes… she's fine," he replied shortly, his voice weighted.
Jenny smiled slyly, her eyes sparkling, as if she could see right through him.
"Oh… good to hear," she said, her tone leaving a chill lingering in the air.
Hendrik exhaled slowly, trying to ignore Jenny's attitude. He turned to Katrina, now standing in front of him. Her smile warmed his chest. He felt relieved to be beside the woman he loved.
Yet behind it, anxiety crept in.
"What if Katrina finds out about my secret relationship with Lanny? What should I do?" Hendrik thought, his mind in turmoil.
He looked at Katrina's gentle hand holding his, but his thoughts were trapped in dilemma.
Leave Jenny for Lanny… or remain silent and protect the secret?
The tension between love, duty, and power nearly drove him mad. His heart raced, his hands clenched slightly. He forced a smile, yet the shadow of Lanny lingered in his mind, clouding the happiness he was trying to savor.
Jenny, noticing the signs, smiled faintly again, her eyes saying, "I know all your secrets." Hendrik glanced at her briefly, then turned away, containing his anxiety so Katrina wouldn't suspect.
Katrina, on the other hand, still smiled sweetly, unaware of the storm swirling in her husband's mind. Hendrik felt the dilemma grow heavier. He knew one wrong step, and all his secrets could be exposed, unleashing a storm that might destroy everything.