The gate opened, a car drove through the courtyard until it reached the front door of the Husky family residence. A servant opened the door and took a suitcase from the car's trunk. A man got out of the car, sweeping his dark brown hair back. Then he straightened the suit and tie he was wearing.
He walked with full authority; several servants greeted his return warmly.
"Welcome home, Mr. Peter Husky." The servant opened the door to the Husky residence.
Peter Kayhel Husky is one of the important figures in the Husky family. He holds the role of treasurer for Husky Group.
For the past two months, he had been abroad smoothing out the export-import routes between global ports and ports owned by Husky Group. Now he had returned, after the system he built was able to run independently.
Peter stood at the threshold; the view inside was still the same as when he left two months ago. But there was a warmth he didn't feel out there, and only found at the Husky residence.
Aurel descended the stairs, her eyes focused on her phone screen. Peter smiled slightly at her. "Be careful you'll fall, look down, don't keep focusing on your phone."
The girl looked forward, seeing Peter at the threshold. She jumped for joy. "Uncle Peter is home! Yay!"
Aurel ran and hugged Peter tightly. Her longing for her relative was so great. It had been two months since they last met. And now... the formation of the Husky family at home was complete.
Afternoon turned to night. Now all the Husky family were at the dining table, complete with delicious dishes. Graham Husky sat at the head of the table, while the rest of the family sat on the two sides. Peter hadn't stopped smiling since earlier; he kept gazing at his family one by one.
"Peter, can you tell us about your work in Melbourne?" asked Roy, one of the Husky family members.
"Well, I could say I had some difficulties at the beginning. Because I had to recruit local workers there, who weren't very trained yet. But now everything is running perfectly," Peter said with pride.
Aunt Eva exclaimed in admiration. "Wow, my nephew is so great, no wonder Mr. Graham entrusted that work to you."
"Thank you, Aunt. But I really missed this moment, I always imagined being at the same table with all of you again."
Aurel raised her hand. "By the way... uncle, do you know any foreign guys?"
Several people laughed, including Peter. "Hahaha... later uncle will introduce you to my foreign colleagues."
Graham, who had been listening all along, finally joined in welcoming the return of one of his family members. "Peter, thank you very much. Because of you we have direct access to Australia, now it's time for us to open several collaborations between ports in ASEAN, what do you think?"
"I think that's a good idea, sir. But I need to approach the owners of those ports. So that Husky's ships can dock there."
"Alright, I'm counting on you, son."
As the dinner session was about to begin, all eyes turned to the empty chair there. It was Sophia's chair; she hadn't come down from her room yet.
Peter looked at it with a confused expression, then asked curiously. "Speaking of which, where is Sophia? Isn't she joining dinner?"
"She'll be down soon," replied Jordi, who was also a family member.
Not long after, Sophia finally came downstairs; everyone had been waiting for her at the dining table. Her eyes widened when she saw Peter had finally returned. She ran quickly towards her chair, then looked at Peter with longing.
"When did you get back? Why didn't you tell us?" Sophia asked, grinning.
"Well... maybe because our family is too big, I couldn't inform everyone one by one," Peter replied casually.
Since everyone was already at the dining table, Graham as the head of the family led the prayer, so that their dinner would be blessed.
After dinner finished, the Husky family usually chatted warmly at the dining table while enjoying tea and coffee. While Peter wasn't at home, the table often discussed Sophia's boyfriend, Kaelino.
"Oh yes, Pet. You're twenty-eight now, right? Have you found a future wife yet?" asked Aunt Eva curiously.
Peter stirred his tea before answering that question. "I haven't thought about that yet, Aunt, because what I'm thinking about now is work and work."
"Excellent! If someday you want to get married, look for a woman who is equal to you," said Aunt Eva, while glancing slightly at Sophia.
"That's right! Preferably a model, besides uncle is handsome!" Aurel chimed in enthusiastically.
Peter just laughed, then glanced to the side. "Sophia, how about your boyfriend?"
"My boyfriend? Does it have to be discussed here?" asked Sophia; several family members looked at her cynically.
Uncle Roy threw out a sneer. "She's embarrassed to discuss her boyfriend, basically nothing special about that Kaelino."
Jordi agreed with Roy. "That's right! He'll just live off the Husky family!"
Aunt Eva didn't want to be outdone. "Auntie actually knows the son of a state official, who clearly has a reputation in the city. But she instead chooses an administrative police officer."
"He's far better than all of you!" said Sophia, her eyes sharp towards her annoying family members. "What exactly are your contributions to Husky Group? Almost none! Isn't that also just freeloading?"
"Hey Sophia! Just because you're the second heir doesn't mean you have the right to insult your own family! You're being impertinent!" scolded Uncle Roy, his eyebrows sharply furrowed.
"Look at Peter, she keeps defending that useless man," whispered Aunt Eva.
Peter could only shake his head; the Husky family table now felt heated. "Okay calm down, we shouldn't fight like this." He looked at Sophia with a guilty expression. "Forgive me, Sophia, I shouldn't have asked you that."
"No, Peter, you're not wrong. It's just them!" Sophia glanced at Aunt Eva, the person most vocal in rejecting her and Kaelino's relationship.
Seeing what his family was doing, Graham could only observe, letting his family resolve their own problems. He knew he supported what Sophia chose, but for now... he wanted to test his daughter regarding her own choice.
Aurel had been giggling watching the chaos at the family table, and it was all because of discussing Kaelino.
"I'll refuse to let Kaelino stay here, if someday sister Sophia marries him."
Sophia smiled cynically, then looked at her. "Oh really? Do you remember what Kaelino did for you at PIK? He saved you!"
"There's no proof he saved you! You're just being deceived by him!"
"Deceived?" Sophia narrowed her eyes. "If he hadn't been there, you might not be here tonight!"
Aurel started to panic; several family members glanced at her confused. She shook her head slightly at Sophia, signaling her not to continue this. "Sister Sophia, enough!"
"Enough? We clearly owe him a debt! If he hadn't saved my stupid cousin! The Husky family's reputation could have been ruined because you were drunk and almost taken away by some men!"
Instantly the situation at the table heated up. Graham Husky, who had been silent, finally spoke. "Drunk?" he repeated, looking at Aurel. "Is that true? Aurel?!"
Aurel immediately looked down; she didn't dare meet Graham's face. Sophia, carried away by emotion, reported. "Father, she almost tarnished our family's name!"
"Sophia!" Aurel snapped, then quickly apologized to Graham. "Sir, forgive me. I promise I won't repeat it. It was completely out of my control."
Although Aurel pleaded, Graham still took firm action, while also warning the rest of the family about this. "I forgive you, Aurel. However, all your assets and involvement with Husky Group will be frozen for the next month! And I will also lock your ATM card. I hope you learn from this!"
Upon hearing Graham's verdict, Uncle Roy, Aunt Eva, and Jordi immediately remembered. If they continued talking, they would be the next targets. As for Peter? He could only shake his head. After he went abroad, it turned out that many things had happened without his knowledge.
Aurel was annoyed, but she couldn't fight Graham's decision. "Watch it! Kaelino's girlfriend!" she muttered angrily, glancing at Sophia.
***
Graham Husky smoked his cigar in the family vineyard. Now all the grapes had been harvested, and were in the fermentation period to produce the best wine. Sophia met her father there, with a confused expression.
"What is it, father, calling me here late at night?"
"My dear child." Graham turned around with a gentle smile. "Is what you said at the table true? About Aurel and Kaelino?"
"Yes, it's true," Sophia answered confidently. "You don't need to doubt it, father. He's a good man."
"I know he's good. And... he's your choice, I have no right to interfere in your affairs." Graham took another puff of his cigar. "Besides... why was Kaelino at Pantai Indah Kapuk that night?"
Sophia shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know either, father. Maybe he was on duty."
"He is a policeman, but an administrative police officer shouldn't be wandering around outside working hours."
"That's right." Sophia began to think; she felt a little suspicious. "Or maybe... my Kaelino isn't actually an administrative police officer?"
Graham looked at her deeply. "Yes, only he knows." He turned around, looking at his vineyard. "But he has saved us. It could have been... our family dragged into a scandal I didn't want. We should give him a reward."
"He'll definitely refuse it; he's too humble for any of our generosity," Sophia explained.
Graham laughed softly. It was true, because Kaelino always refused any offers he gave. And that made him feel that Sophia's choice was not a threat to his business. He was only worried that when this business fell into Sophia's hands, the people who approached her would only want to take away everything he had built for so long.
Even though Kaelino had nothing to support the Husky family business. At least... he was an honest person who cared about Sophia. That was enough for Graham, who no longer had time to protect his little girl.