"BASTARD! I'LL KILL YOU!"
Bugh! Duak!!
Punch after punch, followed by vicious kicks, rained down from Topan. He was completely consumed by rage.
"How dare you! Do you really think I'll let you live after this, huh?!"
Grep!
Topan grabbed his brother's collar and yanked him up. He didn't care about the bruises or the blood dripping from the corner of the man's lips.
"Heh… you think I'm scared of your threats, hmm?"
Their red eyes locked sharply. Even with his face nearly unrecognizable, Ryuji still managed to curl his lips into a mocking smile at his younger brother.
"Back off… Dewi is mine, and I will take her away—"
BRUAK!
Topan lost control and slammed his forehead against Ryuji's. The impact was brutal and unavoidable.
"Arrghh—you… sshh—!"
Ryuji winced in pain. Fresh blood slowly streamed down his temple. His vision began to blur.
"YOU'RE NOT IN YOUR RIGHT MIND! DO YOU EVEN THINK THIS IS LOVE, HUH?!"
Topan shouted again, furious. His grip on Ryuji's collar didn't loosen in the slightest.
Drap… drap…
Chaotic footsteps echoed closer to the room, but Topan didn't care.
"STOP IT, BOTH OF YOU!"
Ratna's voice rang out, followed by her sobs at the sight of her sons nearly killing each other. The middle-aged woman trembled violently, her body almost collapsing if not for Merry holding her steady.
Grep!
Andri and Gamma rushed forward to pull the two apart.
"Topan, stop! You could kill your brother!"
Andri pulled the tall man back with all his strength, helped by Arya.
"Let me go! I'll teach this shameless brother a lesson, nghh—"
Gamma shook his head, unable to understand Ryuji's stubbornness. Even though his body was wrecked and he could barely stand without support, he still tried to challenge.
"Oh, come on. Let's finish this—"
"TOPAN! RYUJI!"
Ratna, trembling in Merry's arms, moved closer to them.
"S-stop it, both of you… y-you're brothers… please come to your senses…" her hoarse voice begged desperately.
"Mom, I'm only taking what has been mine from the very beginning—"
"You think Dewi is an object, huh?! She's my wife!" Topan snapped, cutting him off.
Ratna shook her head weakly. Her eldest son truly hadn't changed at all.
"Ryuji… wake up, my son… please…" she pleaded, her eyes full of desperation.
"No," Ryuji shook his head stubbornly. "M-Mom, you know I love Dewi and—"
"WAKE UP, YOU COWARD! What you're feeling right now is guilt because you're too weak to admit your own mistakes!"
The sharp words from his younger brother hit Ryuji hard.
"You—WHAT DO YOU EVEN KNOW ABOUT ME?! DAMN IT!" Ryuji roared back.
Once again, he tried to break free from Gamma's hold, but his battered body refused to cooperate.
Topan attempted to lunge forward, but Andri and Arya restrained him firmly.
"That's because all you've ever done is run and run away, COWARD!!!"
"WAIT—WHERE IS MY SISTER?!"
Everyone froze at the piercing scream from Merry. Her eyes scanned every corner of the room—Dewi was nowhere to be found.
"D-Dewi…"
Hearing his wife's name snapped Topan back to reality.
God… how could he be so blinded by rage that he forgot Dewi had been trembling on the bed just moments ago?
Srek!
With all his strength, Topan broke free. While the others were still stunned, only one alarm rang loudly in his head—
Find her. Now!
---
Topan POV
Drap... drap...
"DEWI, STOP!"
My fast steps didn't slow as I saw the silhouette stumbling ahead, and I was sure it was Dewi.
"D-don't chase me, go back… hikss…"
Stop running! And do you think I'd leave you alone in this dark forest?
"I said stop—"
Srrk!
"Kyaaa—h-help...."
Grep!
I jumped just in time, grabbing Dewi's right hand. My chest tightened as I saw her swollen, tear-streaked face while we locked eyes. Her tattered, messed-up clothes made me feel even more guilty.
"T-Topan..."
"Hold on, I-I'll pull you up—"
Ksrrhh!
Damn, the rocks at the edge of this cliff are so fragile. One wrong step could be fatal, but I couldn't let Dewi hang there any longer, especially with the river's strong current rushing toward those sharp edges below. She could die falling from this waterfall.
"T-Topan, l-let go..."
My eyes widened in shock and I shook my head hard, refusing her words outright.
"You want to die, huh?! NO—"
I froze, staring at her genuine smile in the middle of this desperation.
"Thank you for coming to save me."
No!
Don't give me that smile as if this will just end fine!
Tes!
"Y-your forehead is b-bloody..."
I chuckled at Dewi's panicked voice as a drop of blood from my wounded forehead accidentally trickled onto her cheek.
Brugh!
I pulled Dewi into my embrace as the rocky ground beneath me collapsed, sending us both falling.
Splassh!
The strong rushing water immediately hit our bodies plunging into the river. Struggling, I held Dewi as tightly as I could. Even if we'd fall freely from here, at least I could make my body a shield to protect her.
"T-Topan, hey... up ahead is the waterfall, i-idiot!"
She panicked, but I didn't resist. I pressed her head against my chest, hiding her trembling self.
"Ssst… don't look. Besides, the current is really strong. Just stay calm, you're safe with me," I whispered softly in her ear.
"W-what—"
The roar of the waterfall ahead was deafening; I couldn't hear Dewi's next words anymore, and as our bodies fell…
Topan POV END
●●●
Two hours earlier…
Duak!
"What the— M-Mr. A-Arya!"
A tall man with a flat expression stepped into the apartment of someone suspected of helping Ryuji plan Dewi's kidnapping.
Tap… tap…
"Agus, how dare you! Now face the consequences of your stupidity!"
Agus Susano, a 35-year-old administrative division manager at Sagara Group, immediately dropped to his knees, begging for mercy.
"F-forgive m-me, Sir! I-I… I was j-just helping Mr. Ryuji handle some documents, uh…"
His lips trembled. He couldn't continue.
Grep!
Arya grabbed the man by his collar, glaring sharply at him.
"So all this time you've been sending information about master and his wife to Ryuji, haven't you?!"
Agus nodded quickly, his heart pounding in fear. He truly never expected the consequences of his actions to be this fatal.
Drap… drap…
"Arya, hurry! Bring Agus with you. Mr. Andri just called — they've found Miss Dewi's location."
Arya turned and gave a short nod at Satya's words. The middle-aged man gestured to several of his bodyguards to search the entire apartment and collect evidence.
"S-Sir, p-please f-forgive me— I m-made a m-mistake— I was t-tricked by Mr. Ryuji, p-please— arrgh!"
Without mercy, Arya dragged him away, ignoring his pleas.
For Arya, it was far too late for apologies — after years of being Ryuji's 'eyes' and 'ears,' even using his authority to silence several Florentia Airport administrative officers for tonight's plan to smuggle Dewi away.
---
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
Ratna POV
I sat silently in the living room. My head was filled with countless assumptions about where my eldest son had taken Dewi. Anxiety and fear grew heavier by the second.
"Ryuji, my son… you've truly gone too far this time…" I murmured softly, feeling even more guilty when I saw Mira still unconscious from shock earlier that afternoon.
Drap… drap…
"Mother!"
I flinched and turned when Merry rushed in, heading straight toward me.
"What is it, dear—"
Tring!
My phone rang. It was my youngest son, Topan.
"Mother, I've found Dewi's location and—"
I stood up and gestured for Merry to stay quiet. She nodded.
"Topan, are you—"
"Mother, tell me where Caterfall is. Now!"
My eyes widened.
Caterfall. Oh God… that place.
With trembling hands, I explained the location — the old basecamp where Dewi and Ryuji used to spend time with their college friends.
"Caterfall is a bit hidden, far from the city center. After entering the outskirts of Florentia, head north toward the tropical forest — you know it, right? The one surrounded by cliffs and a waterfall. That's the place."
I took a deep breath.
After all these years, Caterfall was mentioned again. I was certain Ryuji had gone there.
"Topan?" My voice turned hoarse as I tried to ask something, but Topan's cold tone stopped me.
"Mother, I'm sorry. This time, you can hate me forever. I know you've always loved Brother more than me and…"
"Topan—"
"Mother… sorry…"Tut!
The call ended.
Hikss… what did Topan mean by that?
Grep!
"Mother, be careful…"
I sobbed in Merry's embrace.
Tap… tap…
Satya appeared with Medina, who looked anxious, walking straight toward me. I inhaled deeply.
"Satya, take me to Caterfall now," I said firmly.
Satya looked slightly surprised, as did Medina, but before he could respond, Merry spoke first.
"I'll do it, mother."
I turned to see the determination in the young girl's eyes.
"Aunt Ratna, I'm coming too!" Medina added.
I knew she was worried about Dewi. She had flown here immediately after hearing the news.
I shook my head firmly. "Someone has to stay here with Mira."
I looked at Satya.
"Merry and I will drive to Caterfall right now. Please stay here and watch over Mira. If anything happens, call us immediately."
Satya hesitated briefly when he glanced at Merry, but finally nodded.
"Yes, Ma'am. Please be careful."
Merry and I nodded together. We hurried out of Mira's house toward the parking area.
Tap… tap…
"Aunty, Merry, be careful… it's quite far, and it's already getting late," Medina said as she saw us off.
I turned and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, dear. I'm with Merry. And Andri and Arya are there too. Please take care of Mira, alright?"
My best friend was still unconscious. If she knew where Dewi was, she would've insisted on coming.
After Medina nodded in understanding, I stepped into the passenger seat.
"I'll guide you with the exact directions," I told Merry as she started the engine.
I looked at the evening sky.
As the car began to move, I never stopped praying.
'God, please protect my daughter-in-law. Dewi, hold on, dear… just a little longer…'
Ratna POV END
●●●●
(The roaring sound of rushing water)
The two bodies that had just fallen from the waterfall above were slammed hard into the violently rushing river below.
Topan's grip loosened slightly, causing Dewi's body to slip away and drift farther from him.
"Ukhh… T-Topan…"
The man struggled to swim toward his wife, whose body kept rising and sinking against the strong current.
"Hey, ughh… grab my hand!"
He stretched out one hand for Dewi to reach. Their bodies were still being tossed around by the relentless flow.
Just a little more — their fingers were about to touch and...
Grep!
The moment Topan pulled Dewi toward him, a massive rock loomed directly ahead of them.
"WATCH OUT!"
Bruak!
At the exact second he yanked his wife into his arms, Topan twisted their positions, using his own body as a shield against the impact.
Crashh!
Dewi's eyes widened in horror as fresh blood instantly spread, staining the water around them red.
Dewi POV
NO!
"T-Topan! H-hey…!"
Why was he so stupid, using his body as a shield to protect me?!
Damn it! I can't panic right now. Think, Dewi!
The current wasn't as strong as before. I looked around frantically and spotted a bridge ahead.
Hup!
I managed to grab onto the edge of one of the bridge pillars while struggling with all my strength to drag both myself and Topan's unconscious body along.
Just a little more… come on!
The riverbank was within sight and—
Srek!
"Hah… hahh… T-Topan, h-hey, open your eyes! Hikss…"
Breathing heavily, I finally pulled us both onto the rocky edge.
When my hand reached the back of Topan's head, I weakly screamed for help.
"H-HELP!!! SOMEONE…!!"
Oh God, no… no! Please don't let anything happen to Topan!
I tore the already-ripped hem of my blouse and pressed it against the wound on my husband's head, trying to stop the blood that kept seeping out.
"Stay with me… please… hikss…" I whispered, my teeth chattering as the air grew colder.
My eyes nearly closed from exhaustion, but I had to stay awake — for Topan.
"I-I… ukhh… I have to find help…" I muttered, lowering my head onto his broad chest. Relief flickered faintly when I still heard a weak heartbeat.
Srrkk…
Huh? Who's there? Is someone coming?
Drap… drap…
"OH MY GOD! MISS DEWI!"
That voice… isn't that Ranah?
I forced myself to lift my head again. A bright beam of light shone toward us, blinding me for a moment.
"Jaya, Andi, hurry! Take Topan home right now and call Miria as well!"
That hoarse voice… who is that?
Ranah helped me to my feet, while two men carried Topan away.
"Miss, hikss… how did you end up here? Hikss… c-come on…"
I struggled to walk with Ranah as we climbed up toward the bridge.
As my vision slowly cleared, I finally saw our rescuer — especially the elderly man walking slightly ahead of us. His back was still straight, a cane gripped firmly in his right hand.
"W-wait… you…"
I stopped in my tracks. When the old man turned fully to face me, I finally realized who he was.
Those red eyes. That flat, unreadable gaze…
"Granddaughter-in-law, hold on just a little longer. My house is just ahead."
The faint smile on his aged face belonged to none other than—
Sagara Indrajati
The founder of Sagara Group and Topan's grandfather.
Dewi POV END
TO BE CONTINUED...