CHapter 65

Darwin remembered well that he had been selective and thought carefully about all the material that he would present today. Also, Rama has also assessed and even evaluated what things he needs and doesn't need to convey in the determination presentation.

Realizing that he has mastered all the material. Darwin had never been this confident before. He even believes he can perform optimally and qualify to become one of the candidates who won the Foxtail tender.

Especially during the question and answer session, he was able to bulldoze all the questions addressed to him. So, what else is missing? Why did Darwin have to be left out like now?

Still in a sitting position. Darwin continued to budge. Netranya was busy staring straight at how Darius, who at that time got up from his seat while giving a look and a smile full of ridicule. Maybe now his father-in-law is complacent because he managed to see himself embarrassed because he couldn't prove what he had said and promised before.

Meanwhile, Samuel, who understood Darwin's mood, immediately approached. He gently tapped the man on the shoulder and asked him to get up.

"It's okay, Win. Losing and winning in matches is normal, right? Who knows, God is preparing something much bigger than today's failure."

Darwin nodded. Tried to be heartened and listened to what Samuel had to advise her. Yes, even though the reality was really hard, he couldn't do anything anymore now. Foxtail has made the final decision. And it is impossible for a large company class like them to give the wrong assessment to the participants who previously fought fiercely in the final selection.

"Win ...." from another direction, there was Randy who came closer. His face was no less gloomy. His heart even felt bad for his cousin. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wish you all kinds of things. You know that I often joke around. For God's sake, what I said earlier was nothing more than a joke."

Randy was not playing feeling guilty. Who would have thought that the jokes he made before the selection process were now becoming a reality. In fact, he was already in the habit of often making fun of and joking at will with his cousins. From here, he came to the thought that in the future he could no longer speak carelessly.

"Deep down, I'm really sorry," the man begged sincerely.

Darwin nodded again. There was not the slightest hint of anger on his face. After all, it's useless to be angry and annoyed. It did not have the slightest effect or could change the fate that had happened to him.

"Forget it. I'm not the least bit angry or offended by your words. Maybe, it's just my ability that turns out to be still below all of those who passed today."

Samuel shook her head. Again, he approached, then patted Darwin's shoulder. Trying to strengthen and provide support so that his cousin does not dissolve or even blame himself.

"No, Win. There's no doubt about your ability. You're just as good and even better than them."

"Better?" Darwin narrowed his eyes, then smiled wryly at Samuel's words. "If I'm really better, then why didn't the admissions pass like now? In fact, I was sure that I would be one of the candidates from the three companies that were selected. And now? It seems I have to be prepared to lose everything."

Samuel was speechless. He knew full well the consequences Darwin had to accept for today's failure. Not only losing Velove, but a family company that has always been so proud of.

Moreover, Samuel was also worried. As a person who had experienced his name being forcibly separated, he knew that Darwin would surely feel a loss. Samuel is afraid that later her cousin will collapse or even act out of bounds.

"Whatever will happen to you after this, I just want to emphasize that you have family, have cousins who will always support you in any positive way. So, never feel alone. Remember, Win, we are always there for you. you, any time."

Darwin couldn't hold back his emotion. The second reflex also threw a hug towards Samuel. Also, Randy also did the same thing. Try to strengthen Darwin so that he doesn't feel sad all the time.

As soon as he felt better, Darwin decided to immediately leave the meeting room. Going down to the first floor, from a distance he could see how Nathan, who at that time was busy, received congratulations and praise from various parties.

Intending to leave immediately, Darwin's steps stopped when someone from behind pulled his arm. Turning around, he found Velove who then asked him to follow the woman's steps towards the garden behind the Coliseum building.

"Velove...." Darwin squeaked with a face that was hard to define.

"It's okay, Win. You don't need to say anything," Velove said softly as if he knew what his husband wanted to say to him.

Then, Velove smiled. Without saying anything else, the woman drew closer to close the distance between the two of them. Then without hesitation hugged Darwin tightly. Long enough, as if forgetting the longing he was feeling lately.

"I'm sorry..." Darwin squeaked once again in a position still hugging. "I'm sorry for letting you down. I've tried my best."

Velove just nodded. Tightening the hug, then patting Darwin's shoulder gently.

"It's okay. No matter what, you are still the winner in my heart."

Darwin was touched. Unknowingly even to tears. His heart hurt so much at the thought that after this he had to accept the consequences of parting with the woman he now loved so much.

How could Darwin ever imagine that it could be this painful? In the past, when he parted ways with Vicky because he had to marry Velove, he didn't even cry like now.

"For God's sake, I'm not willing to be separated from you like this, Ve."

Velove just kept patting Darwin's shoulder gently. After feeling enough, he loosened the hug. Taking his hand, then wiped the tears that rolled down her husband's cheeks.

"I also don't want to be separated from you, Win. You calm down first. After this, I will talk to Papa to forgive and accept you back as before."

Feeling that the time was enough to talk to Darwin, Velove decided to leave. He didn't want his father to look for his whereabouts because he had been out of sight for too long.

Meanwhile, Darwin, who was still sad, didn't know what to do. With unsteady steps, he walked down the corridor intending to leave.

When he arrived at the lobby of the building, his netra caught Purmomo's presence. His father seemed to have come directly to meet him.

"Pa...." Darwin said with a sad expression.

"Papa already knows everything, Win," Gerald said softly, then tried to smile even though it was thin.

"I'm sorry Darwin, Pa. Sorry, Darwin has disappointed Papa."

Gerald nodded. Back to reviewing the smile, then afterwards hugging Darwin while trying to calm his eldest son so he would not dissolve in sadness.

"Never mind, Win. Maybe this is the way it is."

"But, what about the Khiel Group, Pa?" asked Darwin worriedly. He knows that the company is the only pride of his father so far. The man has experienced ups and downs in order to raise and develop the Khiel Group to be as big and as great as it is now.

"Don't worry about it," said Gerald. "Perhaps, this is God's way of asking Papa to start resting and enjoying a more intense old age with the extended family."

"Papa..." Darwin muttered softly. The guilt is getting worse. He couldn't bear it because he had destroyed the great hope that his father had instilled in him.

"It's okay, Win. Once again, you don't need to worry."

Darwin then burst into a hug. Again touched by the attitude of his father who was already heartened and tried to continue to strengthen him.

***

After returning from the Coliseum building, Darius deliberately treated all the expert and core staff to celebrate Nathan's success because he had passed the big tender.

After giving speeches and congratulations in person, Darius and his assistant; Adrian, decided to return to the Wijaya Group building. After about ten minutes of sitting in a chair, Darius already had guests. As if he knew who wanted to see him, without much thought, Darius immediately asked his secretary to invite guests who came to enter the room immediately.

"How do you feel right now Darwin Morales Khiel?" Darius asked directly when he found his son-in-law looking down at his desk.

"Where was your confidence this morning? Didn't you promise to pass the selection and win the big tender today?" continued Darius without preamble. The words the man uttered clearly sounded so poignant.

Darwin, who initially stood still, then looked up. Stare into the eyes of the mother-in-law for a few moments, then work up the courage to speak.

"Pa, sorry Darwin. This is really beyond expectations," he squeaked softly. "Darwin, even mobilized all his abilities to qualify for this final stage of selection. Even though, Darwin is also ----"

"No need to be sorry, Win," interrupted Darius hastily. "From the start, Papa was pessimistic that you would pass. And it turns out that Papa's suspicions were proven, right?"

"So, Darwin really doesn't have another chance to get back together with Velove?" asked Darwin openly. It didn't even occur to him to mince words anymore. After all, if he could still be persuaded, he would like to ask Darius for relief to allow him to return to live with his wife.

However, Darius' decision seemed unanimous. It was proven that the man didn't budge when Darwin asked about the second chance.

"From the start, you already know the consequences if you fail, Win. Papa has given you the opportunity to provide evidence. If in the end it doesn't go as expected, you should be heartened to accept what happened."

Darwin was at a loss for words. Instead of returning to the argument, the man unexpectedly knelt down. Requesting Darius' generosity to reconsider his request.

"Pa, for God's sake and for whatever it is, Darwin loves and loves Velove. There was not the slightest intention to hurt, double, let alone betray daddy's favorite daughter."

In his seat, Darius smiled faintly. In fact, Darwin had knelt begging him. However, the middle-aged man seemed untouched by what Darwin had said to him.

"The decision is unanimous, Win. After this, you must prepare yourself to separate from Velove soon."

Darwin looked up. Staring wistfully, the man shook his head repeatedly. Still hoping that his father-in-law would give him one more chance to prove that he was serious about Velove.

"Pa ... please. Give Darwin one more chance."

Darius shook his head. Indicates that he disagrees with what Darwin asked him to do.

"Never mind, Win. Everything is very clear. Now you hurry up, because we don't have anything else to talk about."

"But, Pa----"

"Ssstss...." Darius hissed. Putting his index finger above his lips, the man asked Darwin to finish his chatter. "Now, quickly leave this room."

"Darwin won't wake up before papa gives Darwin one more chance. For God's sake, Darwin is willing to do anything as long as he can be back with Velove."

Darius let out a long sigh. Apparently his son-in-law is very persistent when he wants something. It didn't take long for Darius to laugh sarcastically. Nodding, he spoke again in a tone no less serious than before.

"Okay. Here, Papa won't give you a chance but rather an option."

Darwin's eyebrows knit together. He struggled to understand what his mother-in-law had just said.

"Choice? You mean what choice?"

"Papa won't give you a second chance. But, Papa just wants you to choose and make a decision."

Darius seemed to pause his sentence for a moment. The aura around the room grew increasingly tense. Plus Darius's facial expressions are very difficult to predict.

"As you know, the consequence of your defeat was divorce from Velove and letting go of the Khiel Group being acquired by the Wijaya Group," remembers Darius. "Here, because Papa wants to be kind, Papa will not take both of you from your side. For that, think carefully. Between Velove and Khiel Group, which one should you choose and which one will you give up?"

"Papa means, Darwin must ----"

"Yes," Darius said quickly. "I'm sure you understand. That's why, please choose, do you want to stay with Velove and let the Khiel Group be acquired by the Wijaya Group. Or vice versa, choose the Khiel Group and let Velove leave your side?"

Hearing this question, Darwin immediately fell silent. Instead of finding a way out, the choice that Darius had just presented left him speechless.