That morning, the atmosphere in the Hardinata family home felt much colder than usual. No one dared to speak as the entire family gathered in Hardinata's study.
Raya sat in the chair at the far end. Her face was as calm as ever. Vivi, on the other hand, looked restless. Several times, she squeezed her own fingers. Cold sweat had even begun to bead at her temples. There was also Maya, Vivi's eldest daughter, who was around the same age as Raya, and Akbar, her youngest son, who was in high school.
A phone lay on Hardinata's desk. The phone Raya had played the night before.
"Dad, I've already told you—that isn't my voice," Vivi said for what felt like the hundredth time.
Hardinata didn't answer immediately. He opened a brown folder his personal secretary had just handed him.
"Last night, I told someone to investigate everything."
Vivi's heart began pounding faster.
"Including the account used to pay the person who framed Raya."
The color drained from Vivi's face.
"Dad..."
"The transfer came from an account in your name."
The room fell silent. Vivi stared at him in shock.
"That... that was just a coincidence."
Hardinata lifted a piercing gaze. "A coincidence?"
There was no answer.
"There's a voice recording. There's proof of the transfer. And the witness has confessed, too."
Every word that came from Hardinata's mouth felt like a hammer pounding against Vivi's head. For the first time in her life, she was unable to defend herself.
"Why?" Hardinata asked.
The old man's voice sounded far more disappointed than angry. "Why did you do all this to Raya?"
Vivi's tears finally spilled over. "Because I'm tired, Dad!"
Her outburst shocked everyone.
"I'm tired of watching you worry about Raya all the time!" Her breathing came in ragged gasps.
"You've always defended her since she was little. Always put her first. All your attention is for her!"
Hardinata fell silent.
"I'm your daughter!" Vivi screamed through her tears. "But every time there's a problem, all you ever think about is that granddaughter of yours!"
Raya merely stared at her impassively. She didn't feel victorious. All she saw was someone who had harbored envy and hatred for years.
Hardinata slowly rose to his feet. His gaze was cold.
"Starting today, I'm cutting off all the family financial access I've given you until now."
Vivi's eyes widened. "Dad!"
"You will also no longer manage the branch company."
Vivi staggered. "That's my right!"
"No."
Hardinata's voice was firm.
"It's a trust I gave you."
He pointed toward the door. "And starting today, you've lost that trust."
Vivi burst into tears. "You can't do this to me, Dad!"
"I can."
Hardinata looked at his daughter without the slightest hesitation.
"And if you try to hurt Raya again, I'll personally hand all that evidence over to the police."
Those words were like a final verdict. Vivi collapsed into a sitting position. The world she had built over all those years slowly crumbled before her eyes.
That afternoon.
Raya walked out of the Hardinata family's company building. A gentle breeze brushed against her long hair. Her phone vibrated.
Hardinata's name appeared on the screen.
"Grandpa?"
"Be careful on your way home."
Raya gave a faint smile.
"Okay."
"Okay."
"Let me know when you get home."
"I will."
The call ended.
Raya put on her full-face helmet and climbed onto her beloved sport bike. The engine purred.
A few seconds later, she sped away from the company grounds. Unbeknownst to her, a pair of eyes was watching her from the second floor of the parking garage. Eyes filled with hatred.
Vivi. She gripped her phone tightly. "Why does she always get away..." she murmured.
A large man stood behind her. The same man she had paid before.
"Is everything taken care of?" Vivi asked.
The man nodded.
"It's done."
"She won't be suspicious?"
"No."
A faint smile appeared on the man's lips. "I've damaged the braking system." Vivi's body tensed. Her breath caught.
For a moment, she looked hesitant. But the hatred that had piled up over the years took control of her once again.
"In that case..." she whispered.
The man smiled.
"It'll all be over soon."
Meanwhile.
Raya sped along a fairly busy highway.
The sky was beginning to cloud over. The black sport bike cut through traffic at a steady speed. Then, suddenly...
CLAAANG!
A huge truck appeared from the intersection ahead. Raya instinctively pulled the brake lever. But...
There was no response. Her eyes widened.
"What?!"
She pulled the brake again.
Nothing.
The rear brake.
Nothing.
It felt as if her heart had stopped beating. The bike was still speeding toward the intersection. Up ahead, a massive container truck continued crossing the road.
"The brakes failed?!"
Cold sweat instantly drenched her body. Raya twisted the handlebars, trying to swerve out of the way. But the distance was already too short. The truck's headlights filled her vision. Suddenly, the sound of a horn blared deafeningly across the entire road.
HOOOOONK!!
Raya's eyes widened. Just as her body was about to slam into the side of the truck...
CRAAASH!!
A deafening explosion shook the highway. People screamed hysterically. The black sport bike was flung into the air. Raya's body was thrown several yards away. Her helmet struck anything in its path. Blood slowly spread beneath her body.
Meanwhile, in the distance...
The silver bracelet she had always worn slipped from her wrist. The object rolled slowly across the rain-soaked asphalt. Then it stopped right at the feet of a mysterious man who had just stepped out of a luxurious black car.
The man stared at the bracelet. His eyes widened.
"Impossible..."
His hand trembled as he picked up the bracelet.
"She's still alive?"
As rain began to fall, the mysterious man raised his gaze toward Raya's body lying in a pool of blood. His face slowly went pale.
"If that's really Raya..." The man swallowed hard. "Then the Arkan family isn't extinct after all."