Love Redux: Fated to the Handsome Doctor

Lara bit her lip. Tears streamed down her face again. “Hohow could …” She couldn’t even continue her sentence.

“Lara. Just hold on. These are just do”

“But still! Seno’s been playing me from the start, Mahya!” Lara cut in quickly. Mahya just sighed deeply. That’s exactly what she had been thinking. “He’s always been like that. Right from the beginning, Lara,” Mahya added, making Lara’s sobs even louder.

“Hang on … hang in there, Lara,” Mahya patted Lara’s shoulder, then hugged her. She understood how Lara felt. Hurt, betrayed, and … almost losing her life at the hands of her own husband, it was really tough to go through. No one in this world could bear such a burden alone.

“I have to go back to Grandma’s house, Mahya! Seno’s Grandma will surely acknowledge me. She’s a very kind person. Take me there, Mahya. Please …,” Lara pleaded. Mahya shook her head weakly. It was too risky to make contact with the Seno family.

“We don’t know what Seno’s Grandma is hiding, Lara. I refuse,” Mahya said firmly, loosening her embrace. She looked straight at Lara, reassuring her that Seno’s acknowledgment of their marriage was not important.

“But … but … I just want to hear Grandma’s opinion once, Mahya! My mother-in-law may be wicked. But … Grandma is very kind. Believe me!” Lara kept convincing Mahya. Her friend rolled her eyes. She really couldn’t believe anything related to Seno Adhijaya.

“If Grandma is on Seno’s side, then … I’ll never show up there again. Please, Mahya.”

For a moment, Mahya began to consider Lara’s request. It was too early to link the larger Seno family to every case involving Seno. “Well, it wouldn’t hurt to try,” Mahya said softly.

“Really?” Lara asked incredulously.

“Yeah,” Mahya pinched her friend’s cheek.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

“Thank you, Mahya!” Lara hugged Mahya again. This time, her embrace was tighter. She really wanted to find another reliable ally. In her opinion, Grandma Seno would be a balanced friend.

***

The next day, Mahya escorted Lara to Seno’s Grandma residence in Depok, West Java. The residence was actually Seno’s old house, but it had been renovated extensively.

The house was then gifted to Seno’s Grandma because she had always taken care of Seno and his family since the passing of his father.

“Is this the house?” Mahya asked. She had passed by this luxurious housing complex before, but Mahya didn’t remember the details.

“Yes, Mahya. I have to get down,” Lara said spontaneously after Mahya parked her car.

“Wait! Hold on!” Mahya exclaimed. She then put a cap and sunglasses on Lara. Lara’s clothes already made her figure look different. She appeared fuller. Now, it was time to hide her face and eye color.

“Alright, done. You have to be careful, okay? I’ll be on standby here,” Mahya said again while opening the driver’s seat door.

“Okay.” Lara tried to calm herself down. She opened the car door slowly. Her steps were firm. Lara was actually scared and traumatized by the recent events. What if Seno saw her again?

“Relax, Lara. This isn’t a James Bond movie. Nothing’s going to happen in broad daylight,” Lara whispered to herself, trying to calm her racing heartbeat.

“Oh … there she is!” Lara’s gaze stopped at a figure she recognized. “Melati,” she murmured. But Lara didn’t immediately call out to her assistant. She assessed the situation first. Lara was still hiding behind Mahya’s car.

When the gate opened, Lara wanted to run across the street immediately and hug Melati, who had become like her own sister. But to Lara’s surprise, Melati was being led to get into a black van.

“Who are they?” Lara muttered in confusion. Melati’s face looked frightened. She was scared … Melati was also being violated! Just like her!

“Mel! Why are you so scared like that! We’re just moving far away! You should be happy!” Lara’s mother-in-law … correction … former mother-in-law, scolded while pushing Melati’s trembling body.

Lara couldn’t hear anything anymore because Melati’s voice was too small, unlike her former mother-in-law’s booming voice.

“Where’s Lara, Ma? We’re moving and she’s not showing up at all!” Ami, Lara’s former mother-in-law, grumbled in annoyance.

An elderly lady appeared from behind. She was wearing comfortable cotton clothes, with a hat and sunglasses to complete her appearance.

“Lara divorced Seno. She wouldn’t come,” she replied loudly. That lady … Seno’s Grandma! It seemed she didn’t feel any hint of sadness or concern for her grandson’s wife.

“Whawhat? Divorced?” Ami’s eyes widened. Lara was still spying on them. This time, she moved closer behind the gate. Fortunately, her cap and sunglasses prevented Lara’s figure from being recognized by the people who were busy packing for the move.

Several big men were seen coming and going. They were carrying suitcases, brown boxes, and furniture. Several trucks were also parked in front. Grandma’s house was quite crowded with people.

“Why is Grandma talking like that?” Lara mumbled sadly. It turned out, Grandma Seno couldn’t be an ally either. Luckily, Lara listened carefully. She sharpened her ears again. This time, Ami’s voice resounded loudly.

“Married in secret, divorced in secret, Seno and Lara just do whatever they want!” she exclaimed while putting her hands on her hips.

Seno’s Grandma patted Ami’s shoulder firmly. “The important thing is, Seno always gives us money. That’s enough, right?”

Ami pouted and looked displeased. However, she was Seno’s biological mother after all. The only parent left. What’s so difficult about informing or pretending to ask for permission if she wants to cut ties with her disliked son-in-law?

Ami wouldn’t mind.

“Be careful if he marries another useless girl!” Ami continued to grumble, but her mother reminded her not to meddle in her grandson’s affairs. “For us, the funds provided by him is always enough!”

Unintentionally, when the ladies were still engrossed in their conversation, Melati’s eyes caught Lara’s figure. They glanced at each other for a moment. Melati flinched but then she looked normal. She thought hard. She want to meet Lara in secret. Both of them know that the situation is dangerous. She got out of the van and ask for permission to retrieve her belongings in the house.

“Ma’am, sorry, I forgot my phone,” she said.

“Hurry up! We’ll miss the plane!” Ami ordered bluntly.

“Yes, Ma’am!” Melati replied before going back inside the house. She signaled Lara to follow her. Lara nodded and met Melati on the secret path in the backyard of the house.

***

“Melati!” Lara called out her servant’s name in fear and amusement. Finally, she got the one she could talking to.

“Mrs. Lara!” Melati replied and hug her employer warmly. She sobbed and then started to tell everything she know about the conspiracy … from the very beginning. “I’m so sorry for what had happened to you ….”