Their eyes met. This time, Kinan bravely stared straight into the black orbs hovering above her body. The sadness in Kinanti’s eyes was obvious, but Angga didn’t care. His ego was too big to feel sorry for her.
Clear liquid trickled from the corner of Kinan’s eye. The fingers of the man consumed by jealousy gently wiped away the tear, and the fire burning in his heart dimmed a little. Suddenly, affection surfaced there.
“Relax. I’ll do it properly. Haven’t you done this plenty of times already?”
Kinan shoved Angga hard in the chest, but it still didn’t make him budge. The anger in Kinan’s eyes was unmistakable. Angga only gave her a crooked smile.
The man leaned in again, caressing the girl beneath him with his lips. “I ran into Bram earlier.”
Kinanti froze, her chest feeling as though it had been struck by a massive hammer. “But I’ve never done anything with Bram. Fine. If you really don’t believe me, then go ahead and prove it. I’m ready.” Kinanti’s hands stopped resisting. She fell silent.
But Kinan’s defense made Angga pull away. His eyes studied the miserable-looking girl with suspicion. A thin sneer tugged at his lips. “Did you actually prepare all of this?”
“Prepare what?” Kinan’s eyes widened as she stared at Angga. She didn’t understand what he meant.
The man snorted. He knew exactly what women out there were like—willing to undergo hymen surgery to trap a man.
Angga ignored Kinanti’s words and stormed out, slamming the door. Kinanti cried as she lamented her fate. Afterward, she pulled herself together and headed to the bathroom.
“God, why did Angga want to help me, and why did he have to be this cruel afterward? What did I ever do to you, Angga?” Kinanti sobbed in the bathroom.
A gentle breeze played with the strands of hair hanging over part of Kinanti’s face. She gazed at the sun as it began to sink over the western horizon. Kinanti drew a heavy breath. Without her realizing it, the exotic-skinned man was standing behind her.
“After evening prayers, I’m taking you to meet my family. Get ready!” Angga ordered.
Kinan jumped slightly. She hadn’t realized Angga was behind her. Since when? She glanced over her shoulder but refused to meet the man’s eyes, merely giving a weak nod.
Without another word, the masculine man left Kinanti behind. Angga had felt a pang when he saw Kinanti’s swollen eyelids. She had probably cried too much earlier. But his ego was stronger, and his jealousy of Kinanti dominated everything else.
But what was he jealous of? Weren’t they only friends all this time? Angga didn’t even know how Kinanti felt right now. She had agreed to marry him only because she was desperate, being chased by debt.
The man hurried into the game room and vented his anger at himself, brutally beating the heavy bag. His chest heaved with every breath. At last, his body crumpled to the floor, and he cried.
“Miss, we were told to help you get ready.”
Two maids entered Kinanti’s room carrying an evening gown.
“Have some fruit first, Miss. We’re worried you’ll get hungry later since you didn’t eat lunch.”
“No, thanks. I’m not hungry.”
“B-but Mr. Angga ordered you to finish all this fruit.” Ningsih’s face was full of pleading.
Kinan nodded and slowly ate the fruit on the plate. Then she drank her favorite avocado juice. Angga still remembered the fruit and drink she liked. Kinanti’s chest tightened, and her eyes grew misty. Her thoughts spun, wondering what her marriage would be like from now on.
“Why are you crying, Miss? Are you touched? Mr. Angga is a good man. He’s never brought a woman here before. And it turns out the first woman he’s brought here is his wife.” Ningsih smiled.
Kinan forced a smile. “Is Mr. Angga ever mean, ma’am?”
“No. He’s never fussy about food, either. Usually, he comes home with batagor, saying he bought it at his college cafeteria.”
Thud.
Once again, a huge hammer slammed into Kinanti’s chest. Back then, they had eaten batagor at the college cafeteria more often than anything else. Batagor had always been Kinanti’s favorite food.
“I’m done with the fruit, ma’am.” Kinanti handed the plate to Ningsih. Her appetite suddenly vanished again. “Come on, let’s get ready. Mr. Angga will be waiting.”
The two maids quickly did Kinanti’s makeup and dressed her in a black evening outfit. “Miss, Mr. Angga also ordered us to have you wear a hijab. You’re his responsibility now, and he doesn’t want to be held accountable on Judgment Day.”
“Oh. All right.”
When they were finished, the three of them went downstairs, with the maids holding Kinanti’s arms, while Angga stood with his back to them, talking on the phone. When he finished his conversation, Angga turned around and stared at the beautiful woman before him.
His eyes lingered on the girl who looked perfect to him. The girl he had worshiped all this time, the girl he had always waited for, the girl who had once torn his life apart.
Kinanti gave him a captivating smile, but Angga maintained his cold expression, without even the slightest smile or curve to his lips.
“Come on.” The man walked toward the car parked in the garage, making no effort to open the door for the girl who looked perfect.
Kinanti pursed her lips. “Jerk,” she thought.
She opened the door herself and sat beside Angga, slowly and gracefully. Angga watched her from the corner of his eye. You really are perfect, he thought, his heart cheering at finally being able to have Kinanti. But another part of his heart told him she was nothing but a cheap girl.
At last, the car arrived in the yard of a house far larger than the one Kinanti had been staying in for the past two days.
Kinan’s lips parted slightly. “Sir, how come I never knew you were a tycoon?” The words slipped from Kinanti’s lips.
Angga abandoned his intention of getting out of the car and stared at the girl beside him in disbelief that she had said such a thing. He took her chin and drew his face close. “If you’d known I was rich, would you not have accepted Bram as your boyfriend back then and given yourself to me?”