Chapter 66

Darwin was pretty sure his hearing wasn't a problem. Kneeling, he begged his father-in-law to be given a second chance. However, instead of being granted, the man in front of him offered two important things that he had to choose from.

"Velove or Khiel Group?" Darius repeated emphatically. "All decisions are yours."

Darwin was silent for a long time. Actually, choosing is an easy thing. But, not for this one. His fate this time was like eating a simalakama fruit. Choosing Velove means losing the Khiel Group. On the other hand, choosing the Khiel Group meant that he had to let go of Velove from his side.

"Why?" Darius scolds when Darwin doesn't give an answer. "You have trouble choosing?"

Standing up, Darwin innocently nodded. Somehow, that was exactly what he was feeling right now.

"It's not a problem if you can't give an answer right now," Darius said again. Looking at Darwin's face, the middle-aged man smiled meaningfully. "Papa will give you time. And it seems like 24 hours is enough for you to think. Please consider carefully which choice you want to take. And if you have nothing else to talk about, please leave this room."

Darwin's lips felt numb. Without saying anything else, with unsteady steps he chose to leave Darius's room.

Descending one floor at a time, exiting the elevator and finally crossing the lobby of the Wijaya Group building, Darwin's steps stopped for a moment. He accidentally had to cross paths with Nathanel who had just returned from a meal together. Judging by the look on his face, the man seemed to be overjoyed at his victory and success today.

"Congratulations," said Darwin first when the two of them were so close.

Nathanael smiled as usual. He nodded and responded to Darwin's words in a friendly manner.

"Thank you for your words, Mr. Darwin. In fact, I already thought that you also passed the selection today."

Darwin pulled the corner of his lips slightly. I don't know whether Nathanael's words were just small talk, deliberately sarcastic, or sincere from the heart. To be sure, Darwin did not care one bit. In fact, trying not to linger in conversation or discussion with his wife's ex-lover.

"Yeah, maybe luck hasn't been on my side today. It doesn't matter. Once again, I congratulate you on your success."

Nathan nodded. Before the man could speak again, Darwin deliberately tapped Nathan on the shoulder and then walked away from the Wijaya Group building. Not to go straight home. Darwin, instead chose to stop by another place. According to him, he needed to calm down for a while somewhere. After all, he also had to think carefully about the choices Darius proposed and he needed to answer them in the near future.

Darwin had been alone for quite a long time. Choosing one of his favorite cafes where the atmosphere is so calm, he tries to concentrate. Considering several aspects before actually making the big decision in his life.

"Jesus, God. Wanted everywhere, you're even here alone?" said Randy who suddenly came with Samuel and both of them were standing right in front of Darwin.

Worried about Darwin's condition, who had just failed the selection process, Samuel and Randy decided to follow their cousin at the office. However, when they arrived at the Khiel Group building, Darwin was not there.

Samuel and Randy then took the initiative to visit Darwin's house. But, alas, Darwin was not at his residence. In fact, according to the household assistant who works at the same time, their master hasn't come home at all.

So, where is Darwin right now? Samuel even tried to contact Darwin's cellphone many times. But, the man seemed to deliberately ignore and reluctant to respond. Until finally, Randy decided to be desperate to find Darwin's whereabouts in all the places they used to visit. Until finally the search yielded results and they found Darwin sitting quietly alone.

"Win... what are you doing? Still thinking about today's tender selection?"

Seeing that Darwin was not responding to Randy's warning, Samuel decided to sit down and ask questions about her cousin's condition. According to him, it is also not good if Darwin drags on in the sadness or depression he is feeling.

"I'm so dizzy, Ken," the man said softly. His eyes looked glazed, as if he was carrying such a heavy burden.

"Why are you dizzy again? Just tell me or Randy. Who knows we can both help."

Randy, who was also sitting next to Samuel, nodded in agreement. All her life she knew Darwin, where had she ever seen the man look so broken like now.

There was also pity in Randy's mind. After all, if it wasn't him and Samuel who reached out, then who else would help Darwin in times of trouble like now.

"If you need someone to talk to, we are both ready anytime, Win. Just tell me everything that's bothering you," Randy offered, no less sincerely.

Darwin smiled slightly. Maybe, in the midst of the problems that occurred, he could still give thanks for the presence of his two cousins. Samuel and Randy have always been at the forefront when she is experiencing unexpected things.

"I'm sure you both must still remember my story before. This is all about the consequences I will receive if I fail the selection that Foxtail is holding."

Samuel nodded. How could he forget about this one. Since agreeing to the challenge that Darius Wijaya gave, Darwin immediately told the story and invited himself to have a discussion.

"I remember everything, Win. If you fail, you must be willing to lose Velove and also the Khiel Group."

"Yes, Ken. That's what I mean," nodded Darwin. "Earlier, after the announcement, I deliberately visited Velove's father. My intention was to ask for relief or a second chance to prove that I am worthy and that I really really love him and want to return to building a serious household with his daughter."

"Keep going?" Samuel asked curiously. Even Randy, who was sitting next to the man, looked serious and also listened carefully to what Darwin was saying.

"Instead of giving me a chance, Papa Darius gave me a difficult choice."

Randy's brow furrowed reflexively. Filled with intense curiosity, the man could no longer hold back from asking.

"Choice? Which choice do you mean?"

Darwin took a deep breath. It was as if a heavy weight was hanging on him.

"Because I lost and asked for relief, Papa Darius argued that he would give me a choice. So, between Velove or Khiel Group, which one should I choose to get back."

"Jesus, Win!" Randy seconds also shouted loudly. "So, since disappearing earlier, you're busy thinking which one to choose?"

Darwin nodded. There was no denying that he was dizzy thinking about it.

"It's not that easy to make a choice, Ran. There are many big risks that come with it."

"What's so hard about choosing?" Rand debate. "After all, you want to return to building a household with Velove, right? Then why not just choose him?

"You can't do that, Ran," interrupted Samuel. "It's not wrong if Darwin has to think hundreds or thousands of times. Because his position is completely wrong now. Just imagine, if you choose Velove, Darwin and his family will lose the Khiel Group which they have worked so hard to build. But, on the other hand, if he chose the Khiel Group, which means he has to be willing to really lose Velove."

Randi nodded. Completely understood what Samuel was saying.

"That's exactly it. Darwin should have chosen Velove. After all, in the end all companies will fall into Velove's hands, right? In the future, Darwin can just ask him to come back."

"It's not that easy." This time, it was Darwin who interrupted Randy's words. "This problem is not as easy as you think, Ran. I can't just choose as you imagine. Just so you know, if I choose Velove and give up the Khiel Group to be acquired, it means that there are thousands of Khiel Group employees who have to lose their livelihood."

Randy seemed surprised by the last sentence that Darwin delivered. He was sure his cousin was not wrong to say.

"You mean ----"

"Yes," Darwin cut in immediately before Randy continued her sentence. "If the Khiel Group is successfully acquired, all old employees at the Khiel Group will be replaced by staff or workers from the Wijaya Group."

"Crazy! Does that mean Darius Wijaya wants to clean up employees?"

Darwin nodded then took a deep breath. It was because of this that he could not make any choice.

"Samuel's right. I'm in a completely wrong position now."

Randi nodded in understanding. After a long time, he also became dizzy thinking about the fate of his cousin. He thought, maybe this is the karma that Darwin has to live with for the bad attitude that man used to have in the past.

It can't be helped, Darwin can't escape reality. The only thing his cousin has to do is live all of this gracefully.

"If it's like this, I can't carelessly give advice, Win," said Randy. He is also afraid that he will even give the wrong advice. "You try to calm down first. Think about the pros and cons and the consequences you have to accept if you choose one of them."

"Randy is right, Win," continued Samuel. "What is certain, whatever your choice is, it is the best. After all, life is full of choices, right?"

Darwin took another deep breath. His head felt like it was going to explode because he kept thinking about the question of who he would choose next.

***

"Nathan, since you managed to qualify and make the Wijaya Group one of the companies participating in the Foxtail Gold joint venture, then as promised, I will make you the leader of Axon Gold in Nevada, America."

A wide smile that second also appeared on Nathanael Chandrawinata's lips. It was not in vain that he recently devoted all of his energy, thoughts and abilities to study and make the Wijaya Group a company that passed this prestigious selection.

Now, Nathanael's dream is becoming more and more real. In the near future, he will become the head of a bona fide company that has even been operating abroad for a long time. Nathan also needs to be proud of himself because he could get all of this from his own hard work and efforts.

"Thank you very much for the trust, sir," Nathanael said politely. A smile continued to be etched on his lips as if he could no longer hide the joy he was feeling. "I promise to be a responsible and reliable leader."

"Very well then," Darius said. "In the near future, there will be a meeting of all levels of leadership. There, you will be officially appointed by the board of commissioners. And you also need to know, you can start occupying this position after the first phase of the Foxtail Gold project is completed."

Nathanael nodded in understanding. He also obeyed what Darius told him.

Meanwhile, from home, Darwin decided to go straight to the Wijaya Group Building to meet Darius Wijaya. After all night thinking carefully and sifting through all the advice that his parents and cousins conveyed, Darwin finally made a choice. He was ready to accept all the consequences that he would get afterwards.

Exactly at eleven in the morning, Darwin arrived at his destination. Luckily, before actually facing his father-in-law, he ran into Velove. His wife immediately asked Darwin to stop by for a while to his room. There, they talked for a while.

"You want to meet Papa?"

Darwin nodded.

"Your papa gave me a choice and he asked me to make his decision today."

This time, it was Velove who nodded back. Throwing a smile, he then approached Darwin then hugged him tightly.

"Whatever your decision will be, I'm sure it will be for the best of the best."

"You trust me, right?" Darwin replied in a whisper.

"Not only believe. I even love you, Win."

Darwin stretched the hug. Smiling, then grabbed Velove's lips to then kiss him for a while before finally unraveling.

"Me too, Ve. You need to know, that you're the only one I love right now."

Having had enough of talking with Velove, Darwin then continued his original plan to meet Darius. As soon as he reached the front of the room, his secretary-in-law immediately let him in to meet the owner of the room.

From his eyes, Darwin could see how his father-in-law was sitting and right next to him, there was an assistant waiting for him. It seemed they were both waiting for his arrival.

A smile Darius gave. The man even brought his hand, acting as if he was inviting him to sit in the available chair.

"How? You already have an answer?"

Darwin nodded decisively. Whatever happened after this, he had thought things through very carefully.

"In that case, we'll just shorten the time," continued Darius impatiently. Darwin could even see the curious look his father-in-law was showing. "So, between Velove and Khiel Group, which one would you choose?"

"Khiel Group," said Darwin at that moment. The man no longer thought or procrastinated like he did before.

Meanwhile, across from Darwin, Darius seemed to smile faintly. He was not the least bit surprised by Darwin's decision.

"So, you prefer your family's small company to Velove, which in fact has everything? After all, you never said that you are serious and really love your wife?"

Darwin nodded. The man confirmed what Darius had told him.

"Darwin is serious and in love with Velove, Pa. However, pawning the fortunes of all Khiel Group employees is also not the right choice. Darwin is not the type of person who just wants to be happy at the expense of other people. After all, if God really ordained Velove as Darwin's soul mate , one day for sure he will return to Darwin's side without anyone being able to get in the way."

Darius laughed out loud. Whether ridiculed, impressed, or whatever it was, it was certain that after hearing Darwin's explanation, he didn't want to say anything more.

"Fine. Since you've made your decision, I'll give you what you asked for." Darius then waved at his assistant. The man prepared to issue an order.

"Adrian, please fetch the file that I prepared the other day. Bring it here so it can be signed immediately."

In his seat, Darwin seemed to gulp his saliva. Waiting for about a minute, Darius' assistant, who had left the room, appeared to be coming back in. The man carried a white folder, then handed it to Darius.

"Please sign all the files. After that, you can leave here."

Darwin took a deep breath. Receiving a pen from Adrian, he immediately signed all available files.