Chapter 002: The AccidentTo Kartiah, Aruna would always be an outsider.The only reason she had ever been part of the family was because Arga had once married her mother.Now that Arga was gone...In Kartiah's eyes, Aruna's reason for remaining in the family had disappeared as well."I know that."Gavin's voice grew heavy."That's why I'm helping take care of them too.""But—"Kartiah was about to interrupt again."ENOUGH!"The thunderous shout shook the entire room.Everyone instinctively turned.Wawan was standing tall.His face was flushed.His sharp gaze swept across everyone in the room.The warm smile that usually softened the old man's face was gone.Only anger remained."Making a scene without any sense of decency!"His deep voice filled the living room."Arga's grave is still fresh!""And what are all of you arguing about?!"Everyone lowered their heads.No one dared answer.Even Rustam, who had been the loudest until now, could only stare at the floor.Among them, only Marwan and Sundari continued looking at Wawan. Their expressions hardened. As the older generation, they felt they too had been rebuked in front of the extended family.Yet neither of them responded.Marwan was the eldest of three siblings, while Wawan was the youngest. Even so, he knew his younger brother wasn't speaking without reason. It hadn't even been seven days since Arga was buried. Talking about inheritance and property at a time like this was simply inappropriate."Stop.""Go home.""NOW!"No one spoke again.One by one, they rose to their feet.Some adjusted the sarongs around their waists. Others picked up the peci they had left on the mats. A few quietly excused themselves without daring to meet Wawan's eyes.Before long, the once-crowded living room gradually emptied.Only the old ceiling fan continued spinning lazily in the corner.Gavin remained where he stood.Both fists were still clenched at his sides.His chest rose and fell.His jaw had been tense for so long that he no longer knew when it had started.Only after the house had finally fallen silent did he realize his fingers were trembling.In one corner of the room, Halimah simply lowered her head.Her eyes were swollen.She had barely spoken a word the entire time.Yet every mention of the rental properties, the inheritance, and the fight over custody of the twins had struck her heart one after another.Four days.Only four days since Arga and Aisyah had been laid to rest.Yet what people were fighting over was no longer prayers.It was the wealth they had left behind.Wawan closed his eyes for a moment.His chest felt tight.He had known the personalities of most of his relatives for decades.Even so, seeing them change so quickly, immediately after Arga's passing, still filled his heart with pain.He drew a long breath before walking over to Gavin.His hand gently rested on the young man's head."Gavin... you're exhausted, aren't you? Go get some sleep. It's already late.""Yeah, Grandpa..." Gavin nodded quietly. A faint smile finally appeared on his face. "Thank you.""What are you thanking me for?" Wawan snorted softly. "Just go to bed. Lock the door. Runa's still at the hospital, right?""Yeah, Grandpa.""I feel sorry for that child," Halimah murmured quietly.She stared at the floor before continuing."She's been staying with the twins at the hospital for four days now. No one's taken over for her."The living room fell silent again.The hum of the old fan and the rustling leaves outside blended into the only sounds in the house."What else can we do, Grandma..." Gavin let out a quiet sigh. "I've been tied up taking care of everything here.""Has that child even been eating?" Halimah asked again, her voice full of concern."Insha'Allah, she can take care of herself, Grandma. Besides, Om Ardan has been there too. He's been keeping Aruna company at the hospital."Grandpa Wawan's eyebrows lifted."Oh..."He nodded slowly."So that's why Ardan only comes home for a moment at night.""Yeah, Grandpa." Gavin nodded innocently. "Aruna's a girl. Om Ardan would never leave her to sleep alone in a hospital waiting room.""Hm..."Wawan gave a small nod.His gaze drifted into the distance.No one knew what was on his mind."Well then," he finally said. "Let's hope the twins can come home soon.""Amin."Gavin replied with a faint smile.After saying their goodbyes, Wawan and Halimah left the house.Their footsteps echoed softly through the alley, now growing quiet.For the past four days, something had been bothering Wawan.Ardan.Aruna.Those two names kept circling in his mind.Something felt off.Yet he decided against asking.Gavin was already too exhausted tonight.The young man, who had just finished his final high school exams, looked pale.Dark circles had begun forming beneath his eyes.It wasn't just from lack of sleep.His meals had been completely irregular over the past four days.There was no longer anyone in that house to remind him to eat.Four Days EarlierSCREEECH—!The shriek of brakes pierced the air.CRAAASH!!A violent collision rocked the intersection.A black sedan spun halfway around before slamming into the roadside barrier.Its windshield exploded into countless shards, while thin smoke began rising from beneath the crumpled hood.Several motorcyclists instinctively slammed on their brakes.A woman screamed, covering her mouth with both hands.Within seconds, traffic from both directions slowed to a complete stop.Some people ran toward the wreck.Others immediately raised their phones to record."Oh my God...!""There's someone inside!""Don't get too close!"A traffic police officer stationed near the intersection immediately sprinted toward the vehicle.A long whistle pierced the air."Back up! Everyone, back up! Give us some room!"The crowd reluctantly stepped back, though many still tried to peer inside.Through the shattered windshield, the officer saw a middle-aged man slumped behind the steering wheel, his body trapped beneath the crushed dashboard.In the passenger seat, a heavily pregnant woman sat motionless.Her seatbelt was still fastened across her chest.His jaw tightened.He immediately grabbed his radio."Central, this is Bravo Three. We've got a traffic accident. Two victims are still trapped. Request an ambulance and the Fire and Rescue team immediately.""Copy that. Assistance is on the way.""Roger."He clipped the radio back onto his shoulder."No one comes any closer! Clear the way for the ambulance!"At last, the sound of a siren echoed from afar.At first, it was faint.Then it grew louder and louder.But the ambulance became trapped in rush-hour traffic.Horns blared from every direction.Vehicles only began moving aside once the siren was directly behind them.Several minutes later, the ambulance pulled up behind the mangled sedan.The rear doors flew open.Two paramedics stepped out carrying medical bags and a folding stretcher before hurrying over to the police officer."Two victims are still trapped," the officer reported briefly. "Male driver. Pregnant woman in the passenger seat. Fire and Rescue is on the way."Before they could move, another siren roared through the traffic.A fire engine, its emergency lights flashing, slowly pushed through the congestion.The Fire and Rescue team leader climbed down from the cab."We'll assess the victims first," one of the paramedics said. "Then we'll work together on the extraction.""Understood."The paramedic pulled on a pair of gloves before leaning through the shattered window."Ma'am... can you hear me?"No response.He checked her airway, felt for a pulse, then attached a portable monitor.Several seconds passed.A flat line stretched across the screen.He exchanged a glance with his partner before looking down at the woman's swollen abdomen."The female victim can't be saved," he told the Fire and Rescue commander. "The baby may still have a chance. We need to get her out immediately."The commander nodded firmly."Begin the extraction!"The hydraulic rescue tools roared to life.Slowly, the crushed frame of the car was forced apart."Easy... hold it."Once the opening was wide enough, the two paramedics reached inside."Watch her abdomen."Carefully, they lifted the woman free and transferred her onto a stretcher.One paramedic immediately rushed her toward the ambulance while the other continued monitoring the portable device.On the opposite side, the Fire and Rescue crew was still struggling to free the trapped driver."The dashboard's still pinning his legs.""Cut the right side."The rescue saw roared again.Sparks flew intermittently before the dashboard was finally removed."Pull him out slowly."At last, the man was freed.His face was pale.Blood had dried along his temple.But his breathing was still faint."He's still breathing.""Get him into the ambulance!"The two stretchers were wheeled away almost side by side.The ambulance doors slammed shut.Moments later, the siren wailed once more as it sped away from the crash scene toward the nearest hospital.The clatter of stretcher wheels echoed through the Emergency Department corridor.The moment the ambulance doors opened, nurses and doctors waiting inside rushed forward."Male victim. Severe trauma. Declining level of consciousness.""Female victim. Pregnant. Priority is saving the baby."The two stretchers were immediately wheeled in different directions.A police officer followed behind, carrying two wallets, two mobile phones, and several personal belongings recovered from the crash.He handed everything to the admissions clerk."Please log all of the victims' belongings.""Yes, sir."While the medical team fought to save the victims behind the treatment room doors, the officer opened the male victim's wallet.An Indonesian identity card.Arga Wiryawan.Age forty-five.He opened the second wallet.Aisyah.Both identity cards listed the same address."Husband and wife," he murmured."Sir."An emergency department staff member approached him."Is there any family we can contact?""I'm looking."The officer powered on one of the phones recovered from the car.Fortunately, it wasn't locked.The contact list appeared.One name immediately caught his attention.My Little Champion.His brow furrowed slightly.The message history suggested a very close relationship."Probably family."He immediately pressed the call button.The line rang several times.Click."Good afternoon."A calm male voice answered."Good afternoon. Do you know the owner of this phone?""Of course. It belongs to my brother.""May I have his name?""Arga Wiryawan."The officer took a slow breath."My name is Rudi, an Officer... from the Traffic Police. Pak Arga was involved in a traffic accident this afternoon and is currently receiving emergency treatment at the hospital."Silence."...An accident?"The man's voice immediately changed."Yes.""How is my brother?""He's in critical condition."A heavy breath came from the other end."I need you to come to the hospital immediately.""Which hospital, Officer?"The officer gave him the hospital's name and address."Understood. I'm leaving right now."A moment later, the man spoke again."Officer...""Yes?""Please do whatever it takes to save my brother."His voice began to tremble."Don't worry about the cost. I'll cover everything."The officer looked toward the treatment room doors, still tightly closed."We're doing everything we can, sir. Please get here as soon as possible.""I will."The call ended.The officer slowly lowered the phone.His gaze returned to the treatment room doors, still firmly shut.Outside, meanwhile, someone was racing against time to reach his brother.