"It seems so hard to even find, let alone meet you after you married Keenan." Liam, a man who is an old friend of Catherine Chandra, raised his glass, inviting the woman's glass to clink with his.
Catherine smiled, her eyes winking to the side. "I love Keenan, and I have to be a good wife to him by not seeing other men like you."
The two old friends laughed heartily. Tonight, Liam met Catherine because he wanted to invite her to rejoin their company.
"You're beautiful and talented, Cath, but I admire that you're willing to give everything up for your husband. Ah, you're even more beautiful now that you're married." Liam teased as he folded the black folder that had been open all this time.
"I just don't want to be a disobedient wife." Catherine chuckled softly. "You also know, it was very difficult for me to find a well-established man like Keenan."
Catherine's phone rang softly, and an alarm for tonight's schedule prompted her to grab her clutch and stand up. "I have to go tonight."
"Meeting Keenan?" Liam asked.
"Of course. He's my only man every night."
Liam patted the woman's arm lightly. "Alright, your old habit hasn't changed. In that case, let's part ways. I hope we can meet again someday."
"Of course, Liam. I'm sure this won't be our last meeting," said Catherine.
They hugged briefly, then parted ways. Catherine went to her car in the parking lot. However, before she started the engine, a text message startled her.
***
The sound of moans filled the 5x5-meter room in a five-star hotel. A brown-haired woman led the way, making the man beneath her enjoy the moment.
"You're amazing, Arsila...."
CRASH!
The man and woman, amid their heated encounter, turned in shock, halting what they were doing and quickly covering their bodies with the blanket.
"LET ME IN!" Catherine shouted angrily as two officers blocked her entry into the hotel and allowed her inside.
Catherine's rage peaked as she stormed to the bed, yanking the blanket off Arsila.
SLAP!
A slap landed on Arsila's cheek, causing her face to turn aside. "ARE YOU STEALING MY HUSBAND?! HUH?!"
Arsila didn't respond; her head lowered as if feeling no guilt.
"ANSWER ME, ARSILA—"
"Watch your tone, Catherine!" Standing at 180 centimeters, the man pulled his wife away from Arsila.
"Show respect to Arsila and stop this cheap drama!" Keenan yelled.
"Cheap? What do you mean? I'm your wife, Keenan. This cheap woman is the one who stole you from me!" Catherine shouted back.
Keenan stood up, put on his pants, and pulled Catherine away from the bed. "Do you realize what you've done?!"
"Do you realize what you've done, Keenan? Why are you sleeping with another woman when I invited you for dinner?!" Catherine's voice quivered violently.
Keenan was about to respond to his wife when Biana—Keenan's mother—suddenly entered the room. Her arrival stopped their argument. Catherine felt a sense of safety, thinking Biana would defend her since Keenan had crossed the line.
"Mother, please remove this woman from my room. She's disturbing Arsila and even hit her," Keenan said.
Biana approached her fingers, smoothing Catherine's slightly messy hair and wiping away the tears on her daughter-in-law's cheek.
"My dear, end this drama. Haven't you realized that the business world is never without infidelity?" Biana said softly, her words sending shockwaves through Catherine.
"What do you mean, Mother? Why aren't you stopping Keenan?"
"Stop? Don't you see the chaos you've caused tonight? You made us lose everything. Can't you think, can't you be aware of the condition of this family?!" Biana's voice began to rise.
"Ah, I had my suspicions. At first, I ignored the rumors about you often hanging out with male friends outside... you never cared about your husband because you could leave whenever you wanted if this family fell apart!"
"Mother, what are you saying—"
"Enough, Catherine! Stop pretending and leave your husband with Arsila!" Biana snapped.
"MOTHER, I NEVER MET WITH MALE FRIENDS, LET ALONE HAD AN AFFAIR!" Catherine screamed in anger, but Biana just smiled at her.
"No garbage is stored without a stench spreading. That's what you've been like all this time," Biana said.
Catherine's body trembled violently, her eyes glaring at Arsila, who still wrapped herself in the blanket. The woman smiled maliciously at Catherine, feeling victorious because she was fiercely defended.
"If you were aware of your husband's condition, at least you would stop using our family's wealth to go out partying. Stop using our family's money and be a useful wife by allowing your husband to sleep with a woman much more useful than you," Biana said.
"Mother, I can do anything for Keenan. I'm sorry I didn't understand what was happening, I—"
A condescending smile appeared on Biana's lips as she stroked Catherine's head, then turned the gentle touch into a painful squeeze.
"Stop your nonsense and leave this place right now!" Biana growled, her eyes glaring at her daughter-in-law, her hand slapping Catherine's head harshly.
Catherine turned to Keenan, tears uncontrollably flowing, lamenting her misfortune tonight. "Honey...." Catherine called softly. "You still believe in me, right?"
Keenan took a deep breath. "Everything is clear. Stop pretending when you know my current condition. I'm the victim of your selfishness all this time."
"But that woman... she's stealing you from me," Catherine said.
"She didn't steal me; I need her more than anything." Keenan approached Catherine and whispered. "You need to understand why I need to do all this, and you just need to sit quietly and give in...."
"The company is facing a downturn; I need someone who supports me, and Arsila is the right person."
Catherine trembled violently, her stomach churning painfully. "Stop all this, Keenan. Let me do it for you—"
Keenan jerked Catherine's hand, holding his arm, as she knelt. "Aren't you ashamed, Catherine? You're talking as if you have everything in front of Arsila. You should protect your husband's reputation and give in. Arsila is much better than you!"
Keenan took a white folder he had prepared in case something like this happened tonight.
"Take this and go home... we'll continue our business at home. Don't interfere with what I'm doing with Arsila."
Catherine opened the folder, and immediately, her body froze as two burly men forcibly pulled her arms.