Young Lady

A few hours earlier

"Are you sure about your decision to run the company?"

After talking with Arthur for a long time, Marco and Kimberly were sitting together on the back porch. He had to re-assure Kimberly about the woman's decision to care for the company. Marco knew that Kimberly had never been interested in anything about Sanjaya Corp. That's why he didn't want her to feel burdened.

It's not easy running so many companies. Moreover, Kimberly has no experience at all. Kimberly took a deep breath. His facial expression was so calm.

"I'm very sure. Even though I wasn't interested in the past, now things are different. Grandpa needs my help." Marco smiled. The woman was entirely beyond his predictions. I don't know what surprises Kimberly will show in the future.

"Whatever you need, I'll help you, Kimmy. Whatever it is. I also believe that someday you will become a leader that even your colleagues and rivals will reckon with." Marco spoke confidently.

Kimberly smiled faintly. Time and again, she was moved by Marco's attitude. However, if we look back, ever since she decided to leave the house, Kimberly desperately hated the man. But repeatedly rejected and expelled, Marco never once left Kimberly. The man was still watching from afar. Making sure Kimberly lives safely without anyone interfering.

"Why are you so nice to me? I even hated you so much after grandpa forced us to get engaged?" asked Kimberly suddenly.

Marco chuckled lightly at Kimberly's question. He then asked back, "Why should I be mean to you, Kimmy?"

Kimberly chuckled. "You, this! Instead of answering, he asked again."

Seeing Kimberly's expression turning annoyed, Marco laughed again. Not wanting the woman to get more upset, he quickly replied, "If you forget, after your parents left, I promised to take care of you until you meet your companion. Before that time comes, you are still under my supervision."

Kimberly's heart warmed. She did remember that when she woke up from a coma after the fire incident, Marco made sure he would always take care of her. And the man kept his promise now. "Yeah, I remember that. And it looks like you'll have to look after me a little longer."

"If we're engaged, I might take care of you forever," Marco joked jokingly, but Kimberly responded with a straight face. "It seems that it happened. After all, who wants a woman who can't give birth to a child like me," Kimberly replied. Her face turned somber.

Marco hissed. "Kimmy, stop it. I wouldn't say I like seeing you sad like this. After all, it's just an assumption. It's not necessarily true. I'll never tire of reminding you either. If someday there isn't a man who wants to be your partner, there's still me."

Kimberly gave a smile. "Thank you, and I depend on you."

While they were still chatting, Marco's cell phone rang. His secretary accidentally called him, reminding Marco to attend an exclusive banquet with businessmen.

Kimberly, who was listening beside him, suddenly became interested. "You want to go to an event?" asked Kimberly curiously.

Marco nodded. "There's an exclusive dinner tonight. I have to come to represent the Adiatma Group."

Kimberly also nodded. "Can I come with you?" she asked suddenly. It made Marco look confused. "You want to come? Are you sure?"

Kimberly nodded again. "Think of the beginning as the successor to Sanjaya Corp," Kimberly answered confidently. She hoped Marco would agree to his request.

"I don't mind if you want to come along. But..." Marco paused.

Kimberly raised an eyebrow. "But what?" asked Kimberly curiously.

"...you can meet Nicholas there. Are you sure it's okay to meet him?"

Kimberly sighed. She forgot that if this were an exclusive dinner between businessmen, Nicholas would be there. But staying silent and constantly avoiding is also not the right choice. "It doesn't matter if I meet him there," Kimberly spoke confidently.

Marco changed his seat to face Kimberly. The man looked up inquisitively. He did install a bug in Kimberly's room.

But regarding the exact chronology of what caused the woman to come home, she suddenly has not been told until this moment. "What's going on between you and Nicholas? I thought you two were inseparable. You even refused to come home when grandpa was sick yesterday," Marco inquired.

Kimberly sighed softly. She was lazy to tell because it would make her heart hurt again. But Marco also needed to know because Nicholas thought the man was Kimberly's lover.

"Nicholas had people spy on me while he was away in Canada. Unfortunately, Nicholas's people took photos of us holding hands and when you were hugging me."

Instead of being impressed or pitied, Marco laughed. "I guess Nicholas misunderstood and accused you of cheating on me?"

Kimberly nodded in agreement. "I've tried apologizing and trying to explain, but Nicholas always refuses and doesn't give me a chance. He kicked me out at the peak that day after I accidentally spilled coffee on a sheet of contract documents he was working on." Kimberly was silent, took a deep breath, and then resumed her story. "But now that I think about it, it's better for us to separate. I don't think I deserve to be his partner. Grandpa also definitely disapproves of our relationship."

Marco rubbed Kimberly's shoulder gently. "Whatever your decision, I will always support you, Kimmy. You know best what is best for you."

When night fell, Kimberly accompanied Marco to the dinner party. Before getting out of the car, Kimberly held Marco's arm. There was something he wanted to tell the man.

"What's wrong?" Marco asked, confused.

"If we run into Nicholas there, please admit to being my fiancé."

***

"Think what you think. It's all true. From now on we don't know each other. So there's no need to look for me anymore."

Along the way home, Kimberly's face turned red with tears. Her request to Nicholas at the hotel lobby made her heartache now. Is she sure that she will be able to be indifferent and not know each other with the man who once met her in the future? Only time can tell. Marco, sitting beside Kimberly at first, just watched silently—choosing to let her first regulate his emotions until they subsided. When he felt calm, Marco took the initiative to rebuke her.

"Are you okay?" Marco asked.

Slowly. Kimberly didn't move. She chose to remain silent and didn't answer.

"If you need support, my chest and shoulders are always available for you," he said again. In the next second, Kimberly shamelessly leaned her head against Marco's muscular chest. He was freely wetting her cheeks.

"It's okay, Kimmy. Take your time. Nothing will stop you from crying."

Marco said as he continued to gently stroke Kimberly's hair. Trying to keep calm and provide comfort until the crying voice subsided.

"Do you think I'm evil?" Kimberly mumbled quietly. Looked at Marco's face. Marco lowered his face and smiled gently. "No, you're not bad. This man deserves a lesson. If you don't hold me, maybe it's not just his lips torn off because I beat him." Kimberly then kept quiet, choosing not to respond to Marco's words anymore.

In a different place. I don't know how many things Nicholas had thrown in any direction. His emotions were still peaking when he remembered what Kimberly said to him.

No...No! Nicholas shook his head many times. I'm pretty sure Kimberly didn't mean what he just said. I know he loves me. How could he ask me to forget him and choose that man over me?

Nicholas rubbed his face roughly. He looked messed up and more frustrated than before.

"Kimberly ....." Nicholas whispered sadly. "Please come back to me."

Nicholas sat on the floor staring at the engagement ring Kimberly had returned to him.

***

Not sad, Edward, who had been in Nicholas's room, seemed to be smiling. He smiled countless times. He meant to laugh, but he knew not to do it so openly.

"Stop making fun of me, Ed. I hope one day you feel the same way I do now." Edward couldn't stop himself from laughing anymore. He laughed loudly, which made Nicholas even more annoyed.

"This is the first time I've seen someone so stupid as you, Nicholas. You suck."

Nicholas growled in annoyance. "You're going too far, Ed. Aren't you sympathetic to what's happening to me right now? Even last night when that guy beat me up, you weren't helping!" Nicholas protested.

"What am I helping out for?" joked Edward. "You have to beat yourself up first to wake up. I'd be the one to beat you up if that guy didn't punch you in the face last night. Instead of apologizing, you called Kimberly a slut. You are an idiot! Where's your brain left, Mr. Alistair?' Edward sneered.

He took all his annoyance at Nicholas. At the same time, they were both still busy arguing. Without a knock or warning, the door to the room suddenly opened. At the same time, Nicholas and Edward turned around and saw a man strolling in casually without any burden. He even sat right next to Edward.

"Good grief, Jacob Grey. What's your etiquette for entering a room without knocking first?" Edward protested. Apart from commenting on people's lives, Edward liked to protest against anyone. Jacob gave a scornful look.

"Why would I knock on my room's door. If I want, I can even kick you out of here!"

After the other person finished his sentence, Edward, without hesitation, directly punched Jacob's arm lightly until the man groaned. Then not long after, he immediately threw a hug towards his best friend. "Well, don't let it. Throw me out. Remember! Your company still needs my skills," Edward teased as he spread his arms.

Jacob's gaze now turned to Nicholas, who had been watching him for a while. "Are you okay, Nicholas?" Jacob asked, surprised. Usually, it was the man who always enthusiastically greeted his arrival.

"I---"

"He's heartbroken, Jac." Edward cut in, making Nicholas glared at him.

Jacob's forehead furrowed deeply. "Broken heart? What do you mean?"

Nicholas opened his mouth again, intending to answer. "Kimmy---"

"Kimberly left him recently. It was his fault he was so stupid. Accusing Kimberly of cheating and even calling her a cheap woman. You can see for yourself that your best friend's lips turned red from being beaten by a man Nicholas thought was Kimberly's mistress."

Gosh, for God's sake, Nicholas was growling furiously. He felt that Edward was talking so much now. Twice his words were cut off by the naughty playboy.

"Ed, can you be quiet for a moment? You're acting as if you're my mouthpiece!"

Edward chuckled, then raised his hands. "Okay... all right. I will be silent. But I can't promise to open my mouth again later."

This time it was Jacob's turn to laugh and then ask again. "So, what's the matter with you?"

Nicholas took a deep breath. Not sure where to start with the story. He heard from Edward. Some of what he said was true.

"Kimberly left me because of the stupidity I had done to her. I alleged that she was in a relationship with another man. Not to mention last night, the man claimed to be Kimberly's fiancé. That made me so emotional that I called Kimberly a slut."

"Oh my God, Nicholas." Jacob shook her head in disbelief. "Why have you changed so much now? Where is Nicholas, wise and whom Alya is always proud of? I think out of the three of us, and I'm the worst with women. There's something even worse, and it's you, Nicholas."

Nicholas snorted in annoyance. "Jac, please side with me. Don't be like Edward, who always calls me stupid."

"Okay, forget what I said earlier. Now answer my question, do you know the man who claimed to be Kimberly's fiancé last night?" Jacob asked curiously.

Nicholas shook his head. "Not specifically. I met and passed him several times. Time and time again, I found the man involved in a conversation with Kimberly. I even thought about asking Hans for help in investigating anything to do with Kimberly."

Jacob's forehead furrowed deeply. He looked puzzled. "Hans? You want Hans to investigate Kimberly?"

Nicholas nodded. "I lost track, Jac. Until this moment, I don't know where Kimberly lives. I've been trying to find and dig up information from friends and companions. But still nothing." Nicholas sounded desperate.

Jacob leaned back against the back of the chair. He changed his position to be more relaxed.

"I wanted to tell you for a long time. But I didn't because I thought it would be better for Kimberly to tell you herself. But after hearing your story, it seems you don't know anything."

Now it was Nicholas's turn to be confused by Jacob. What exactly did his best friend mean?

"Jac, please don't act like Edward. Straight to the point, don't beat around the bush," protested Nicholas. His tone was irritated.

Jacob took a deep breath, then spoke again. "I've been investigating Kimberly for a long time. If you want to know, Kimberly is Arthur Sanjaya's only grandson. The owner of Sanjaya Corp."

Nicholas looked at Jacob in disbelief. "You must be kidding, Ken?"

Jacob shrugged his shoulders dramatically. "It's up to you to believe it or not. If you're looking for Kimberly, maybe she's in the real estate."

Nicholas massaged his temples which were throbbing in pain. He couldn't believe how many secrets she was keeping from him. You told me you love me, Kimberly. But why are you keeping so many secrets from me.