Lanny, who was still at the corporate headquarters in the luxurious district of Jalan Thamrin, Jakarta, immediately rushed out after receiving a call from Hendrik. Without wasting a moment, she hurried down the elevator and headed to the parking area.
With slightly trembling hands, Lanny opened the car door and quickly got in. She started the engine and sped toward the hospital near the Jakarta funeral home.
Throughout the drive, Lanny's heart raced. Her breathing was rapid, and her thoughts were in chaos after hearing that Hendrik had been injured in a stabbing. Slowly, a burning anger began to rise within her.
"This must be Jenny's doing... she's jealous of me. I'm the one Hendrik chose to be his wife. I can't just let this go. I have to report this to the police!"
Her feelings were a mix of anger, panic, and frustration. Yet, she kept driving without paying attention to the fear gripping her. There was only one thing on her mind… Hendrik.
Soon, her car arrived at the hospital next to the funeral home. As she got out, Lanny quickened her pace. Her face was tense, her breathing uneven, and her eyes full of anxiety. The high heels she wore almost made her stumble because she was moving so fast.
Upon reaching the hospital lobby, Lanny hurriedly approached the information desk. With a panicked voice and a distressed expression, she asked,
"Excuse me… where is the clinic?"
The customer service officer, noticing Lanny's panic, immediately pointed toward the right corridor.
"To the right, ma'am. Go straight, then turn right. The clinic is there."
Without another word, Lanny dashed toward the indicated direction. The closer she got to the clinic, the more her feelings spun out of control. Her heart pounded faster, and her palms began to sweat.
From a distance, her eyes caught sight of Hendrik lying weakly on the hospital bed. Lanny's steps faltered for a brief moment. Her chest felt tight. Seeing the man she loved so pale and fragile, it felt like her heart was being crushed. Without holding back, Lanny ran toward Hendrik.
"Honey! What happened? How did this happen to you?" she shouted in panic.
Tears immediately welled in her eyes. Her voice trembled, and her face was full of fear. She grasped Hendrik's uninjured hand while trying to suppress her sobs. Her body trembled slightly as she noticed Hendrik's right hand, already bandaged.
With a voice full of worry, she asked again,
"Honey ! Are you really okay?"
Hendrik looked at Lanny and gave her a faint smile, though his face was still pale. He held her hand firmly, as if to reassure her.
"Relax, … I'm fine," Hendrik said briefly.
But although his lips said he was fine, Lanny could clearly see that Hendrik was still enduring tremendous pain. Her expression shifted. The fear that had filled her earlier gradually transformed into anger. She looked at him with red-rimmed eyes and asked, her voice trembling as she restrained her emotions,
"This must be Jenny's doing, right? She's the one who stabbed you?"
Still, Hendrik remained weak on the bed. While wiping her tears, Lanny looked at him with full anxiety. Her voice quivered as she asked hesitantly,
"Honey!… are you really okay?"
Hendrik nodded slowly. Even though his head was still dizzy and his body far from fully recovered, he tried to get up from the bed. Supporting himself with one hand, Hendrik stepped onto the floor, but his legs wobbled slightly.
Seeing this, Lanny panicked and immediately grabbed his arm. Hendrik turned to Lanny standing nearby and whispered softly,
"Honey… let's go home now. I'm feeling better."
Lanny was still extremely worried about Hendrik's condition. She could see clearly that he was still pale and his steps were unstable. But because Hendrik insisted on leaving, she had no choice but to comply.
Carefully, Lanny supported Hendrik and guided him from the clinic toward the parking lot. Throughout the walk, she made sure he wouldn't fall. She wrapped one arm firmly around him while Hendrik walked slowly with weak steps. Every time his body seemed to falter, Lanny's heart raced even faster.
He wasn't truly ready to leave; he was far from fully recovered. Yet Lanny knew one thing… once Hendrik made up his mind, it was nearly impossible to argue with him.
Once they reached the car, Lanny gently helped Hendrik into the vehicle. She had intended to discuss something with him, but seeing him so weak, she quickly abandoned the idea.
Taking control of the car, Lanny drove while Hendrik sat beside her, eyes closed. Occasionally, small groans escaped him, a reminder of the pain he was still enduring.
Unable to tolerate Jenny's actions—Katrina's sister—Lanny hesitated but finally spoke, her voice hoarse with emotion,
"Honey ....what if I report this to the police? That way, Jenny gets what she deserves!"
Hearing this, Hendrik's closed eyes snapped open. His face tensed immediately. He looked at Lanny and, with a weak yet firm voice, shook his head,
"No… honey . Please don't!"said Hendrik
"But…honey, look...what she did this to you!" Lanny argued, her voice full of emotion.
Hendrik shifted closer to Lanny, who was focused on driving. A small, but clear, murmur escaped him,
"Not yet… it's not the right time, honey! I have a better plan."
Shortly after said that, Hendrik fell asleep.
"Hah!?...Lanny thought in shock, unable to hide her surprise at her husband's words.
It turned out Hendrik was preparing a much bigger plan, something she had never realized.
Lanny remained silent for a moment, then focused back on driving straight ahead. Relief slowly filled her heart—Hendrik had already devised a way to take revenge on Jenny.
She smiled to herself, victorious, her eyes sharp and focused on the road ahead. Gripping the steering wheel tightly, she murmured to herself,
"Jen… this time, I'll make sure you go to jail for a long time!"
Meanwhile, at the funeral home, Pa Hendra was on the phone with several key commissioners, discussing plans to fire Hendrik.
He pressed the call button, connecting to Pa Agus Salim, a senior commissioner and Hendra's business partner.
"Agus! I want to fire our CEO, Hendrik! He's responsible for my child's death. I need you to agree with this plan!" Hendra said, his voice full of rage.
Agus Salim tensed upon hearing this. His voice shook as he replied.
"Fire him!? Hendrik, our CEO… he's brought us huge profits, Hendra! You… you've lost your mind!"
Hendra cut him off sharply, almost forcing his will,
"Agus! I don't care! I want him fired. Agree or not, I will fire him!"
Click… the call ended.
Agus Salim fell silent. He stared at his phone, saying little. Unease gnawed at him. Hendrik, a man they had trusted for years, was now caught in a conflict that could destroy everything.
With trembling hands, Agus opened .
his contact list. Hendrik's name appeared on the screen. He pressed the call button, hoping to reach him directly.
But alas… the cell connection failed.
Agus stared at the dark screen, tension written all over his face. In his silence, one question lingered: Where is Hendrik now? And what is he planning?
To be continued...