Because I Don't Want to Lose
45 - Unloaded

For a while, Anaya and Mr. Arsyad talked about something else, essentially more advice from his former in-laws. About family, business, and health. Anaya remembered everything. Ahead of the farewell, Mr. Arsyad asked Naira to be allowed to stay at least a week at his house.

"I really want to be with that kid, Nay. Now I have plenty of free time. Let me take the school and pick it up from here." Mr. Arsyad begged.

A hopeful look knocked Anaya out. Where could he bear to see the look of those tired-looking old eyes.

"Yes, nothing. I'll send you her clothes and school supplies." Anaya smiled.

Anaya left the old man with a haru feeling that filled her chest. For him who has lost his father at a young age, the attention of Mr. Asyad to him is very meaningful. Although sometimes the nature of hard and wibawa sometimes make him reluctant.

When Anaya was just stepping on the carport, a car entered the spacious courtyard in a hurry. Anaya recognizes him as Ridwan's car. The man got out of his car with a riled gesture and an angry face. Her eyes fell sharply on Anaya who was walking slowly towards her car parked next to her ex-husband's vehicle.

"Why did you come here?" Ridwan asked without the slightest impression of courtesy.

"Naira Antara. Your father asked to see you." Anaya replied calmly, trying not to be provoked.

"Why did my dad ask to see you?" Ridwan is getting closer to Anaya.

"Your father was Naira's grandfather. The time you forgot? It's natural they meet." Anaya was astonished by Ridwan's question.

"No excuses! It's obvious there's another reason why you guys, especially you're here!" The man snorted dissatisfiedly.

Patience of Anaya tested. He began to be uncomfortable with Ridwan's tendentious words.

"Your father called me, asked Naira to stay here, because she missed seeing her granddaughter. If you keep wondering, why your father misses, ask yourself. Why don't you pick up Naira again and ask her to meet her grandfather!" anaya's voice finally sounded.

Ridwan did not look warted for a moment.

"Now I ask, why don't you care about Naira anymore?" Anaya looked at Ridwan.

"I'm busy knowing!" Ridwan half growled.

"Busy or because it is no longer ambitious to take custody of Naira? Whyyy?... I know your goal is to pursue custody of Anaya for wanting the property your father gave you, right?" serang Anaya's.

There was a sense of surprise on Ridwan's face.

Anaya thought Ridwan had felt defeated because he had not managed to prove Anaya's mistakes or shortcomings. She is no longer a single parent. Naira's childhood life is complete with the presence of her doting stepfather.

"You won Anaya. I admit your steps are smarter than mine."

With a cynical smile, Ridwan took a step closer to Anaya. In his heart, Anaya tried to digest the meaning of Ridwan's words.

"I know your wits and the man you married to fool me. Your marriage is just pretending. How much did you pay him, huh?!"

Anaya was surprised. His heart is racing. How did Ridwan know that?

"It's none of your business!" Anaya half snapped.

"Indeed not! You want to remarry with whom it is none of my business. Whatever the reason is."

"Certainly, why are you now an emotional person? Angry to take care of my business?" Anaya defied back.

Ridwan clenched his palms.

"Not you can be sneaky! I can too! Whatever I'm gonna do to Naira. I won't let you take it from me just for the sake of his treasure. You also just pretended to be attentive to him. Lucky now he has a stepfather who sincerely loves him!" firmly Anaya tried to corner Ridwan.

Ridwan laughed in an harassing tone. Anaya pursed her lips.

"You're too naive of Anaya to be fooled by that guy. Or maybe because you've been blinded by love so much that you don't realize that your husband is more outspoken? Sincere what? He pretended to be nice so you and Naira liked him. Evidently you two are trapped in the ruse."

Anaya's eyes stared at Ridwan. What does the word mean?

"You used to take advantage of her adversity by giving her in exchange for money to marry you so that Naira had a complete family. But, you don't know, he used the opportunity to get opportunities with a value multiplied from what you gave him," said Ridwan.

"It's not just you that he's tricking, but my dad too. He could have fooled me on Naira's grounds. By his trick, he made father change the will of treasure for Naira. With his persuasion, he also managed to obtain a big project!" Ridwan's face flushed with emotion.

"And today, all of a sudden my father gave half of his company to him! Who is he? I'm his son! I'm more entitled!"

A very deep fret penetrated into Anaya's heart. Is it true what Ridwan said?

Although very angry, Ridwan managed to hold his voice not to the point of shouting loudly. They were both far from the main building. However, his voice could have been carried away by the wind and reached inside.

"You're not getting divorced, are you? That's because he has made you fall in love. He won't be separated from you, Anaya. Without you noticing, you and Naira were made into his gold mine!" Ridwan unceasingly reveals the other side of Izzar. Slumped it into Anaya's mind.

"You just found out by now that your father gave his shares to Izzar?"

"Yes. I didn't trust my father until I kept it a secret from me. That's why I'm here for nanya."

"Then, how did you know all that?" ask Anaya.

"I have a reliable source."

"Sasika?"

The name just slid from Anaya's mouth, because he remembered the closeness of Ridwan and the woman lately.

"Yes. One of them."

"You guys dating?"

"It's none of your business!" ketus Ridwan's. "The woman is as sneaky as Izzar! He came near me just to set me up. I suspect they both worked together."

Anaya fell silent. He was at a loss for words. Too much negative information was crammed into his mind. He still can't believe Izzar used it. And, Mr. Arsyad feels too clever to be tricked or incited.

After feeling that there was nothing more he needed to hear from Ridwan, Anaya got into the car and drove home. Along the way, all Ridwan words were absorbed one by one.

A sense of wonder appeared. Why did Mr. Arsyad not tell about the giving of shares? What is the senegative Izzar that Ridwan presents. Half of Anaya's heart rejected this, but others considered the opposite. Don't-don't, it's true Izzar set him up.

He was trying to recall suspicious behavior. He remembered that the man was a bit closed about his business dealings with Mr. Arsyad. Like something was hidden. One of them was this morning's meeting.

Geeh! Anaya is really nervous. He should get an answer soon.

The Maharani, asking for Izzar's position. After getting information he was still in his office, Anaya turned his car.

The day before dusk and the working hours are over. As soon as Anaya arrived, Maharani greeted her with an anxious face.

Although astonished, Anaya continued to step to the door of the Izzar room.

"Don't go in, Mom!" The maharani tried to prevent.

The Maharani ban did not deter Anaya. He kept the door open. In front of his eyes immediately presented the scene of Sasika who was hugging Izzar. He could hear the voice of the woman.

"Congratulations, yes!"

Anaya. A second later, he ran out, towards his car.

Maharani could only be stunned to see Anaya's reaction, Izzar's shout calling out to Anaya, and Sasika who was trying to hold Izzar back. He regretted not being able to prevent the women from entering his superior's office.

Anaya berlinang tears. Ridwan's sentence blurted out clearly, "I suspect the two of them are cooperating."

Given the view in the room Izzar earlier, all of Anaya's heart so sided with Ridwan. He kept driving no matter what the phone rang.

Anaya did not return to Izzar's house.

...***...