Because I Don't Want to Lose
59 - The story

It was not important for Anaya to ask where Mr. Arsyad knew about his current whereabouts.

Young assistant Pak Arsyad tidied up the chair beside Anaya's bed, then invited Mba Kemi to wait outside. The door was closed, giving time and space to both of them.

Mr. Arsyad with his charisma sat on the chair. Smiling kindly at Anaya. While Anaya was still amazed to see the good condition of her former in-laws.

"How are you doing? Already better?" ask Mr. Arsyad.

Anaya nodded. His face was still confused.

"Why do you see me like that?" Mr. Arsyad held back his smile.

"She's sick. But how healthy is this?" Anaya expressed her astonishment.

"Who am I saying I'm sick?"

"Ridwan,” replied Anaya.

"I really want him to think that."

Anaya's forehead is wrinkled. "meaning?

“He wants me sick. So, I made him think I was sick.

“What does it mean, all this time pretend to be sick?"

Mr. Arsyad did not answer.

"Which time we last met, also pretend?" Anaya remembers how weak Mr. Arsyad was when he drove Naira to his house.

"If I were to you, I would never pretend. I was really sick at the time. But, it's healed now."

Anaya. The relationship between father and son has never been simple.

"If it's healed, why don't you want to meet and help Ridwan and even pretend to be sick again?" Anaya is confused. He remembered Ridwan who asked to persuade his father.

"Because he's the cause of my pain. If I meet and I help you, it's the same as hurting myself again."

“But he needs his father right now. Why not defend? His name is a child, as bad as anything should not be supported?”

Mr. Arsyad laughed.

“Why laugh?’

“Don't you used to fight with Ridwan? Why think about his fate now? Nevermind! No need to defend him. You don't know the problem" said Mr. Arsyad.

“Then, what's the problem?” Anaya wants to know.

“What have you heard?”

“He embezzled company money.”

“Where did you hear?” search Mr. Arsyad.

“News from everywhere, after he was arrested.”

“Izzar don't tell?”

Anaya scowled at hearing that name.

“Anaya. Why did you leave Izzar?”  Mr. Arsyad switched the topic.

Anaya quiet.

“Didn't I tell you to live happily with him? He's a good man, trustworthy and responsible.”

“Can be trusted what?” Anaya interrupted immediately. Rather fierce.

“I trust him.” Mr. Arsyad replied confidently.

“Why trust a new person rather than your own child?” Anaya did not think.

Mr. Arsyad even looked at Anaya strangely.

“I know why you were married to Izzar just for taking a shortcut so Ridwan doesn't take Naira. You choose to sacrifice a lot of your money so as not to lose the child. Lucky for you, because you didn't choose the wrong person!”

Anaya. He realized, he would never be able to trick this powerful man.

“But, he lied a lot!” Anaya is still trying to deny it.

“What lie?”

“Projects, stocks, things.”

“Includes other women?”

Anaya bit her lip.

“Is Sasika still bothering you?”

Anaya was silent again.

“Tell me that she's still teasing. But, I'm not sure he'll still dare to bother you again after his last act. To me, she's a snake girl, the same as her aunt.” Mr. Arsyad looks upset.

Anaya shifted her eyes. His heart is uncertain. He remembers the girl trying to apologize to him through Ridwan. What the hell happened to him?

“Anaya I'm here because I have something to tell you. I know a lot of things that make you nervous. I'm sorry, because I admit it was my fault. It was my fault that Ridwan turned out to be a treasure madman, and was reckless to use all means to get what he wanted. My fault forced Izzar to do my wish and forced him to cover up and lie to you.”

Anaya looked again at the face of her former in-laws. Focus more attention on the old man's speech.

“You already know, what is the background of my plan to share my treasure when I started getting sick. Just so that there is no seizure of the inheritance as many happened. However, then I came to know the real character of Ridwan after knowing he pressured you about Naira.

"I hired a professional to investigate everything. Until the end, I regretted having involved him in the venture I pioneered before he was born into the world. Secretly he has been gnawing at the company as you hear the case now. He cooperated with a syndicate that made my company a means of money laundering crimes.”

Mr. Arsyad's eyes are glazed. Anaya bit her lip.

“I built that company with integrity. Although the business world is full of deceit, from the beginning I did not want to engage in such dirty and dangerous games. His ambition blinded his heart, until he made me sick. I don't have to tell you how he really wants to make me die.”

Anaya surprised. How strong was Ridwan to his own father?

“I want to punish him when I know. But there is a reason that holds me back. My wife, and my other children. It's hard to criminalize and fire your own child from your company without causing a family split. So, I'm putting together a plan. I wanted to ask you to help me carry out that plan. But you are a woman who plays with feelings. You will sacrifice anything if your loved ones are threatened. For example, the reason you married Izzar. Unsound

once.”  Mr. Arsyad shook his head.

Anaya was a little embarrassed.

“But, then I met Izzar turned out to be a good and responsible man. He is the same as you, will do anything for his loved ones. Only, he uses logic and can very much control his emotions.”

Mr. Arsyad sighed.

“I'm sorry that I've tested it while using it. I used him to carry out my plan, to release the Ridwan parasite from my company and clean it up. I tested him by making you and Naira a guarantee as well as a threat. I don't want him to obey me because he doesn't want to lose you both even if the risk is great. Losing your trust is one of them.”

Arsyad's eyes were fixed on Anaya who turned agitated. Her former-in-law's secret telling left her a little shaken.

“You know Anaya?” Mr. Arsyad leaned in. “The handing over of my shares to him was actually just a temporary agreement to give him the authority to execute Ridwan. However, ahead of the execution, I changed my mind, I offered him to actually have it. Aside from being in return, it was also because he was indeed competent. But, what did he do?”

Mr. Arsyad postponed his sentence to make Anaya curious and seemed to give a dramatic effect.

“He refused! He doesn't want to accept anything. The property project that I have given will be handed back because he is not sure I gave it because I like the proposal.” Mr. Arsyad's voice reflected his admiration.

“She just asked, so that I can realize my guarantee, that you and Naira will come back to her. Back then, she didn't even know you were pregnant."

Anaya was stunned and then grew restless. He no longer dared to look directly at his former father-in-law. The words of Izzar who asked him to trust him were echoed again.

“But, why should he keep it a secret from me?" Anaya is not satisfied.

“I asked for it. Because I know, you're friends with Sandra. Friends share with each other, even accidentally. While Sandra is close to one of the lawyers working with Ridwan.”

Anaya fell silent pondering over everything, hooking up all the pieces of the story. From beginning to end. From the smallest to the largest.

Everything, except one has been answered. If Izzar did not receive a large sum of money, where did Izzar get the nominal money in the check placed on Sandra?

...***...