Greynard’s penthouse occupied the top floor of a prestigious tower in the heart of the capital. The residence, spanning more than ten thousand square feet, offered not only luxury but also perfect isolation from the hustle and bustle of Jakarta.
Security was the top priority. Bulletproof windows, a biometric door system, and several trained guards kept the place secure around the clock. Greynard had even deliberately built a private golf simulator in one wing of the penthouse just to make sure he never had to leave home unless absolutely necessary.
“Baby Kenzo’s in the master bedroom, asleep. Do you want to see him first or take a shower?”
Greynard loosened his tie as he walked ahead of Glenca across the spacious living room.
“I want to see him.” Glenca’s smile blossomed automatically. The exhaustion from spending the entire day at the police station seemed to vanish the moment she heard the little boy’s name.
“But don’t make any noise, okay? He was fussy and only fell asleep a few hours ago.”
“Relax. I know how to handle babies better than you do.”
They walked side by side toward the end of the hallway. Of all the luxurious bedrooms in the penthouse, Greynard insisted on sharing the master bedroom with his son. He always claimed he would prepare a separate room once Kenzo started elementary school. Glenca always answered with a scoff because she knew Greynard could never sleep peacefully unless he could hear his son breathing nearby.
Glenca opened the bedroom door without a sound. In the middle of the room, a little boy slept soundly in the center of a king-size bed covered with white linen sheets.
Glenca turned toward Greynard, who was taking off his expensive watch and setting it on the nightstand.
“Can I kiss him?” Glenca’s voice was barely more than a whisper.
“Even if I said no, you’d kiss him anyway. Since when do you bother asking my permission? You usually just charge ahead and do whatever you want.”
Greynard walked closer. He stood directly behind Glenca, who was already kneeling beside the bed.
“I’m trying to set a good example of guest etiquette. Don’t ruin my effort, Grey.”
Glenca looked up at Greynard. She flashed him her sweetest smile, making her beautiful eyes curve into crescent moons. “Thank you.”
“The hair on the back of my neck stands up every time you give me a manipulative smile like that, Caca.”
“But I really am this sweet. It’s just your nearsighted eyes refusing to see the truth.”
“If I’ve already seen the truth, then why do you still refuse to put my name on your family registry? If you’d swallow your pride just a little, a diamond ring would have been on your finger since last year.”
Glenca rolled her eyes lazily. She raised a hand and shoved Greynard’s broad chest away.
“Go on. You said you’re all sticky and want to shower. Don’t ruin my happy time with my son.”
“Or do you want to join me under the shower? Warm water is great for your tense muscles after punching someone in the jaw.”
“Greynard!”
Glenca’s voice caught in her throat. Her eyes went perfectly round. She immediately pinched the man’s muscular arm hard.
Greynard chuckled, though he tried to hold it back. He gave Glenca’s shapely nose an affectionate pinch before quickly stepping away.
“That’s all it takes to make your face turn red.”
Greynard promptly disappeared behind the bathroom’s frosted glass door before Glenca could continue scolding him and wake Kenzo.
Glenca huffed irritably. She turned her attention back to the peaceful face in front of her. Her small hand reached out to stroke Kenzo’s chubby cheek, as soft as silk. The familiar scent of baby powder wafted through the air, soothing her frayed nerves. Her fingers slowly moved up to stroke Kenzo’s fine hair, which he had inherited from his father.
“I can’t believe you’re already four years old. You’re growing so fast.”
Glenca leaned down. Her lips gently touched Kenzo’s forehead.
“You have to grow up to be a man with empathy. Don’t inherit your dad’s rigid, overbearing nature.”
Warmth spread through Glenca’s chest. Her life was full of loss and betrayal. Her mother’s death had been the starting point of the collapse of the world she knew. Then one disappointment after another followed, forcing Glenca to build a thorn-covered wall around herself. The harsh world of law had become her escape, a way to fight back against injustice. Yet this little toddler was her one exception. Baby Kenzo was the anchor keeping her sanity from sinking. Though they shared no blood, Kenzo was a part of her soul.
Glenca closed her eyes. Images from the past began spinning through her mind again.
“If only Riana were still here. She’d be so proud to see her little hero grow up this handsome.”
Glenca pulled the blanket up to Kenzo’s chest, then stepped out of the room.
The nighttime air in Jakarta cut straight to the bone. Glenca rested her arms on the transparent glass balcony railing. Her long hair streamed in the wind. The city lights below stretched out like a sea of fireflies. This place always managed to quiet the noise in her head. A silence that came at a steep price.
The soft squeak of the sliding door disturbed her peace. Greynard stepped outside. He had changed into casual clothes: a plain black T-shirt and gray pajama pants. His hair was still slightly damp, carrying a fresh, masculine scent.
“To thaw your frozen brain after you spend so much time thinking about everyone else’s problems.”
Greynard held out a white porcelain mug sending up a thin wisp of steam. The aroma of hot chocolate immediately competed with the chill of the night air.
“Thank you.”
Glenca accepted the mug with both hands. A sincere smile curved her lips. The warmth of the porcelain spread into her frozen palms.
Greynard had always remembered the little details of what she liked. He stood leaning against the railing beside her. His gaze wasn’t on the glittering city lights but on Glenca’s profile, bathed in moonlight.
“How long are you going to keep wasting your energy living like this?”
Greynard’s baritone voice cut through the roar of the wind. The question sounded calm, but a sharp reprimand lay beneath it.
Glenca took a slow sip of her hot chocolate. Her tongue tasted the perfect sweetness, exactly the way she always made it herself.
“I’m not wasting my energy. I’m using it exactly as it should be used.”
“Defending people from the lower class without charging a single cent, fighting corporate thugs, and putting yourself in a holding cell. You call that using your energy properly?”
Glenca lowered the mug from her lips. Her gaze went blank as she stared into the distance.
“It’s how I fight back against my family, Grey. Their giant company is stealing poor people’s land. If I don’t put myself on the line against their money and power, who will? Those people have no voice.”
“You need to think about your own life, Caca. You’re fighting beyond your limits. Your family... they have connections everywhere. They’ll never stop crushing some little pawn who tries to block their path. Why are you so determined to throw yourself against an unbreakable concrete wall?”
There was desperation in Greynard’s voice. He had offered financial assistance and legal protection through his company’s team countless times, but Glenca had always rejected them outright in the name of her pride.
“Because I have no other choice. It’s the only way to give my mother peace up there.”
The air on the balcony grew colder. Glenca knew that fighting the corporate giant owned by her own father was a suicide mission. But she couldn’t stop. Not after learning the horrifying truth behind the accident that had claimed her mother’s life.
“Then how long are you going to wait for justice to come? Until your body breaks down first?”
“I believe in miracles. There has to be a way for me to achieve my goal. And I believe someone will help me.”
Greynard turned fully toward Glenca. His eyes fixed on her, locking onto every movement she made.
“Then consider me the miracle sent especially for you.”
Glenca furrowed her brow. Her grip on the mug tightened.
“Join my company. I need a new head of legal. Leave your street-circus act behind and make your position at my office your primary protection.”
Greynard’s offer was direct and impossible to argue with. Glenca fell silent. She knew the position wasn’t merely a job—it was the shelter of a massive power structure that could protect her from threats posed by her own family.
But Glenca knew Greynard too well. The man never offered a deal without demanding something of equal value in return.
“And what payment do you want for that prestigious position?”
Glenca gathered the courage to meet Greynard’s sharp gaze. She prepared to reject whatever outrageous condition came out of his mouth.
Greynard stepped forward. He raised a hand and smoothed the strands of Glenca’s windblown hair away from her face. The touch of his fingertips against her cheek felt incredibly warm, a sharp contrast to the night air.
“Simple.”
Greynard’s voice dropped, deep and full of demands.
“Change Baby Kenzo’s legal status to your legitimate son and stop rejecting my proposal.”