Chapter 19

After last night attending a banquet, today is the time for Darwin and several other business partners to visit two mining sites that they will be working on for some time to come.

Picked up and then departed by bus at around eight in the morning, they all traveled overland for two hours. Just around 10 o'clock, everyone arrived at their destination.

As soon as they got off the bus, everyone was asked to wait for a while at the first post. Before entering the location, all representatives from each company were immediately given mining equipment. From safety helmets, protective jackets, even having to change shoes that support them to step on the mine site they will go to.

After perfect use, everything immediately around. Guided to see and check directly the location of one of the largest tin mines in Malaysia.

Initially, on today's agenda, only Darwin and Nathan went to represent Wijaya and the Khiel Group to go to the mine site. However, after finishing his tour and about to return to the initial post, Darwin found Velove who was also there. His wife apparently came to follow and accompany his father who was also traveling with one of Leighton's top officials.

"How about it, Win? Have you checked the location?" asked Darius when he passed his son-in-law who was preparing to return.

Darwin then nodded. The look of enthusiasm was still on his face.

"Darwin has checked all the locations indicated. The mine here is indeed very large. The machines used are beyond expectations. It is far more modern and also very sophisticated. It supports even small or mass production processes."

Darius nodded his head. It was very serious to hear the explanation that Darwin conveyed to him. There is nothing wrong with this trip bringing along their son-in-law who is very competent and knows very well about the mining business that they will be working on in the near future.

"How about you, Nathan? Have you got an idea after seeing the location that we have to work on later with Leighton," Darius asked Nathan who was also standing next to Darwin.

Nathan then nodded. From the beginning of the visit, he had been watching and slowly learning what was presented before his eyes.

"Previously, Mr. Darwin and I had discussed. There are several steps and plans that we might both present at the next meeting with Leighton," explained the man with great confidence. After all, Nathan is a person who always believes in himself at every opportunity.

"That's good then. I'm happy with the performance of the expert staff who are quick to respond like this," Darius praised sincerely.

Completing the first visit, all of them were led by Leighton to get ready to go to the next mine site. Darius himself decided to join one of Leighton's top officials so he could return to the main office immediately. While Velove chose to join Darwin and Nathan who was getting ready to go to the next location.

"Are you sure you want to come with us around, Mrs. Velove?" asked Nathan earnestly. He couldn't believe it when he saw Velove decided to join the group that wanted to check out the second location.

Asked such a question, Velove then gave a faint smile. He could feel that his ex-girlfriend was now worried about him. Moreover, visiting a mine site is a new experience for Velove's lifetime.

"I'm just curious, Mr. Nathan. Besides, as a newcomer to the world of mining, I really want totality. That's why I'm interested in joining in the checking.

"In that case, be careful, ma'am. Pay attention to your steps too. Because the terrain that will be traversed is not as smooth as when we go around the factory or branch office. I'm afraid ----"

"Pak Nathan," interrupted Darwin who suddenly approached. All this time he had been a listener on purpose, after a while he was too hot and very excited to want to reprimand him immediately. "Thank you for the warning given to my wife. Let me take care of her and accompany her during the visit."

Nathan pressed his lips together. Instantly he swallowed back the sentence that was about to be said earlier. Because he probably felt bad for Darwin, he chose to remain silent and then continued with his activities.

So after this, all who had gone to the first location, continued their activities to tour the second mine site. Like what Darwin said, he really accompanied Velove during the visit. Participated in answering that his wife asked about things he did not know.

"Is working at a mine site like this the risk of receiving a higher risk?" Velove asked Darwin while on his way back to the main command post. He seemed very enthusiastic to see how the processing of tin there.

Darwin immediately nodded when asked. Slowly giving an explanation of what the wife asked.

"Working at the mine. The salary is high compared to those of us who work in offices. It's just that the higher the salary, the higher the risk that must be accepted. That's why there are many procedures that must be passed and the selection process for workers is also no joke. "

Velvet nodded in understanding. For a moment, he watched the sky suddenly change from hot to overcast, accompanied by a slightly strong gust of wind. Like a person who is panicking, Velove Moves forward. He made every effort to get to the main post as soon as possible.

Darwin, who was confused by Velove's change in attitude, tried to catch up. Luckily, the heavy rain just fell when everyone had arrived at the main post.

Darwin thought there were no problems at all. He and his other colleagues were getting ready to get back on the bus and then go home.

However, when the rain fell so hard, not to mention the wind that was also blowing very hard, at that moment Velove, who was standing right next to Darwin, immediately reflexively hugged her husband. Not only that, Darwin also felt how Velove's body was shaking violently. Just like a scared person.

"V, what are you doing?" Darwin asked confused. Stretching the hug, he saw how his wife's face looked pale even at that time she even cried. And Darwin had no idea what had caused his wife to be like this.

"Ve, are you okay?" asked Darwin once again. But the wife continued to cry. Even the woman tried to cover her ears tightly with both hands.

"Ms. Velove has a trauma with rain and wind, sir."

Nathan, who had been paying attention, immediately took the initiative to come closer. Opening his jacket, then without hesitation immediately wrapped it around Velove's body.

"We have to take him back to the hotel immediately, sir. If it continues like this outside, he might pass out."

Because there was no other choice, Darwin just nodded. He also looked for supervisors and companions from Leighton's side and then borrowed a car so he could take Velove back to the hotel immediately.

***

Darwin just kept watching Velove's face who was now sleeping peacefully. In fact, previously his wife had looked pale and like a frightened person. Initially, it was not easy for Darwin to calm his wife.

Realizing that Nathan was someone who was once close to Velove, he couldn't help but call the man to come to his room immediately. Darwin was very forced to ask the man's help to tell him how to calm Velove who was afraid like now.

"If you're scared and keep crying like this, there's only one way to calm Mrs. Velove."

"What?" asked Darwin curiously.

"Hug him until his crying subsides. Later after that, he'll slowly calm down on his own. Usually he even falls asleep right away."

"Hug?" asked Darwin looking doubtful. He thought it would be easy enough if only hugging Velove could calm him down.

"Yes, sir. That's what I often do," Nathan confirmed.

Darwin immediately chuckled in his heart. Why did Nathan use to give an affirmation as if he used to hug Velove so that he would calm down immediately?

That's why, without wasting any more time, Darwin immediately grabbed Velove's body. He reached out and then hugged her tightly.

Miraculously, it seems that what Nathan said was not a figment of the imagination. The proof, he could feel the vibrations of the body that had been obvious, now slowly fading away. In fact, Velove's breathing also began to be regular as before.

Even though he was lazy or proud to admit it, what Nathan had suggested before really worked. It seemed that the man really knew inside and out what Velove's habits had been.

"If you don't have anything else to ask, I'd better go back to my room, sir," Nathan said when he started to feel uncomfortable seeing the woman he loved lingering in another man's arms. Even though he realized that Darwin was Velove's legal husband, there was still a feeling of pain eating away at his heart.

Darwin nodded. Still in the condition of hugging Velove, he slowly answered.

"Thank you for your help, Pak Nathan. If you don't mind, please meet me in half an hour at the coffee shop on the first floor. There are some important things I want to talk about."

Because Nathan agreed, after making sure Velove was fast asleep, Darwin quickly went to the coffee shop on the first floor of the hotel. Actually, there were several things he wanted to ask and he was sure that only Nathan could answer his curiosity.

"In advance, thank you once again, Mr. Nathan, for being willing to wait here," said Darwin when he was seated comfortably facing his interlocutor.

"You're welcome, Mr. Darwin. Since it's not working hours and I'm sure our conversation isn't about work, it's best to just call me by name to make it more comfortable."

"OK."

"So what's there to ask?" Nathan inquired. He suddenly felt sure, there must be many things about Velove that Darwin wanted to ask him.

Darwin then nodded. Resting his hands on the table, the man leaned forward to start the conversation again which was considered serious.

"Actually I'm still wondering what happened to Velove at the mine site earlier."

"About Velove being afraid of rain and wind?"

Darwin nodded once more. According to him, it's strange because there are people who are so afraid of heavy rain or wind. Moreover, to the point of hysterics and even almost fainting like what happened to Velove before.

"As I said before, Velove really has a trauma from rain and strong winds. So, when he was a teenager. If I'm not mistaken, around the age of 14, while on his way to pick up Velove, his mother had a car accident and the unfortunate incident coincided with rain. heavy. From there, the trauma was formed. Velove always thought that rain could take the lives of those he cared about."

"Just a moment," Darwin cut in between Nathan who was giving an explanation. "Velove's mama is dead? Isn't she still alive?"

Nathan shook his head. The man denied what Darwin said.

"Velove's biological mother has died long ago. Now this is her stepmother. And until this moment, she really doesn't feel right with Aunt Cristina. They often even argue."

Darwin was aghast. He almost couldn't believe what Nathan had just said.

"For Christ's sake, I just found out that one of Velove's parents is dead."

Nathan smiled knowingly. Like it's not a great thing if Darwin just found out about this.

"Velove really never wants to talk about family. Especially regarding the death of his mother. So, I can understand if you don't know about this. Instead of talking about family, Velove prefers to discuss what achievements he has achieved. Because even though he was born Even as a rich man, he has always been used to being independent and getting what he wants in his own way."

Darwin rolled his eyes again a little embarrassed. The more he came here, the more he was lazy to admit that Nathan really was someone who knew inside and out about habits or whatever it was regarding his wife.

"You two must have loved each other before, huh?" asked Darwin suddenly. And this time, it was Nathan's turn to gasp.

"You mean?"

Darwin chuckled. Smiling faintly, the man answered back again. "You don't need to hide it, I know that you're a former Velove, right? Even his ex-girlfriend," Darwin said in an emphatic tone.

"But, it's not like you imagine," Nathan evaded. He suddenly felt uncomfortable. "Me and Velove ----"

"Sssttss..." Darwin hissed stopping Nathan. "Just relax. No need for any clarification. I already know everything from Velove. He himself told me that before he failed to marry you because he had to arrange an arranged marriage with me."

Nathan took a deep breath. After all, if Darwin already knew, why would he even deny it.

"Yes, that's the reality. Because I'm not from affluent people, I was trying to satisfy myself so I could become a Velove companion. Even then, our relationship was established secretly. When I almost succeeded in achieving what I aspired to, our relationship even ran aground. With great compulsion I had to let her marry another man."

Nathan smiled bitterly. The man's eyes almost filled with tears. However, after realizing that he was getting too carried away, he hastily corrected his words.

"B-but, you don't need to worry. I have no intention of interfering with your relationship."

Darwin chuckled. The man responded with a straight face. After all, why did he bother about Nathan and Velove's relationship? After all, he himself already has Vicky.

"Just relax. Don't be too shy or exaggerated."

"But..." Nathan continued. The man's face was clearly serious. "I'm sorry if what I said after this might offend you. We both know that your marriage was based on an arranged marriage. If basically you don't have the slightest feeling for Velove, I hope you never hurt him. If you can't, or maybe If you feel bored, it's better to let him go gently. Because here, I'm ready anytime to replace the position you occupy."

Darwin fell silent. Nathan's words just sounded so shocking. In his heart he immediately thought, is it necessary to release Velove as soon as possible?