The smell of disinfectant in the third-class ward of the district hospital had been stinging his nose for the past three months. Sony Anggara stared at his phone screen. Balance: forty thousand rupiah. His mother’s surgery bill was due tomorrow morning. If it wasn't paid in full, the hospital would discontinue her intensive care.Sony had no choice. He had already sold his motorcycle, his laptop, even his furniture. Only one place remained: the Baskoro Group office. He was merely a low-level field technician, but he had a clean work record. Out of desperation, he decided to apply for an employee loan—a procedure that was virtually impossible to get approved for someone in his position.The 42nd floor of the Baskoro building was a different world. Thick carpets, the aroma of expensive coffee, and a suffocating silence."Mr. Baskoro is in a meeting. Wait in the VIP lounge," the male secretary said with a condescending tone. Sony nodded, sitting on a leather sofa that likely cost more th

The Baskoro mansion felt like a marble-lined coffin. Cold, silent, and suffocating. After a series of exhausting performances in front of business colleagues, Sony was finally ushered into the master bedroom, which was large enough to swallow his entire subsidized apartment.The teak door closed with a final click. Aruna immediately kicked off her high heels, tossing them carelessly until they hit the wall. The mask of the graceful woman she had worn all day dissolved instantly, replaced by the expression of a weary predator."Listen, servant," Aruna walked toward the vanity, reaching for a glass of ice water without even looking back. "The rules of engagement in this room are simple. You sleep on the sofa. Don’t ever touch me, don’t ever speak unless I ask, and don’t ever expect some romantic 'wedding night' here."Sony stood frozen near the door. His eyes swept across the room. Luxurious, yet it felt like a prison. He remembered Aruna’s threat about the man at the hotel. A chill sti

The atmosphere at the Baskoro residence felt even more suffocating after the incident at the hospital. Aruna sat on the living room sofa, sipping a glass of water with hands that were still trembling. Sony stood near the window, observing the grounds outside, which now looked even more sterilized than usual double security."Don't think you're safe just because someone forged those test results," Aruna broke the silence, her voice sharp yet hoarse. "My father isn't that stupid. He's waiting for us to make the slightest mistake so he has an excuse to get rid of us."Sony didn't turn around. "I didn't forge that data, Aruna. And I'm certain you didn't either. There's a third party here. Someone who has access to the Baskoro Group's hospital system."Suddenly, the ringing of Aruna's phone shattered the tension. The phone screen lit up, displaying an unidentified number. Aruna answered it with hesitation, then her face changed drastically, turning as white as a sheet. She immediately hand

The night in the five-star hotel ballroom felt suffocating. The crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling seemed like interrogation spotlights aimed directly at Sony. Beside him, Aruna stood in a navy silk evening gown that shimmered with every movement, projecting an air of elegance capable of deceiving anyone who saw her."Remember," Aruna whispered, her voice so low it was barely audible beneath the thrum of the smooth orchestral music. "Keep your hands from going cold. If you tremble while shaking my father’s colleagues' hands, I’ll make sure you never see your mother again."Sony took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He was wearing a tuxedo that fit him perfectly, a gift from Baskoro designed to make the technician look like the son-in-law of a conglomerate family.In front of them, Baskoro stood with a glass of wine in hand, smiling broadly at a middle-aged man in an expensive suit who appeared very powerful. It was Mr. Gunawan, the owner of the largest propert

The deafening explosion of shattering glass was ear-splitting. Crystal shards flew like jagged snow, raining down on the white marble floor now stained with dust. Sony held Aruna’s body tightly, rolling her behind the sturdy king-size bed. Their breath came in ragged gasps, joined in a suffocating panic."Dammit," Sony cursed under his breath. He glanced toward the window. The red laser dot was still dancing across the floor, as if hunting for the prey that had just vanished from sight. "Who are they? Did Baskoro really send people to kill his own son-in-law?"Aruna was shaking violently in Sony’s arms. Her usually haughty face was as pale as a sheet. "He’s... he’s insane. I only wanted to manipulate his position on the board of directors; I never thought he’d hire professionals to take me out along with you!"Sony didn't answer. His mind was racing. He was a technician; he knew how security systems worked. This mansion had to have