Cold Man And Miss Stone
48. Unchosen

"I like you."

Rowan reviewed a small smile at Ema's shocked expression over her statement.

"I liked you from the beginning, maybe." He exposed it honestly. "You made me remember my mother. It makes me miss you always."

Rowan's memory of her mother is of course about the woman's last moments. He lay sick, weak helpless. Rowan came to hold his hand, trying not to cry even though he also wanted to scream like Soraya.

"My son, listen to Mama." Is what he said between the weight of his breath. "Don't trust women."

Rowan did not understand at the time.

"Don't trust women. Whoever it is. Don't put your heart on them except for your sister. Listen, Rowan. That woman is a fraud. They are manipulative, egocentric, will do whatever, whatever it takes, for what they want to be achieved. Don't trust women. Not even your wife. Just your sister, okay? Just your sister."

Maybe her mother was right. Women are deceitful and manipulative creatures. But Mama never once said how not to fall.

And Rowan has fallen.

"There's something you have to do."

Therefore, after meeting Ema, Rowan immediately came to Rangga.

His cousin looked empty, unable to hide the confusion in him over Soraya's death.

"What?" Rang asked weakly.

Make Rowan come closer to him, looking straight at his eyes. "Go to Uncle."

"Huh?"

"Go and hide yourself behind Uncle."

Rangga. But he's not a fool or new to Rowan. "Don't tell me it's Uncle Samuel."

Of course ... Rowan nodded. "I want you to live."

"Stop joking, Rowan. I know Soraya—"

"I told you this family is sickening." Rowan gulped, trying to stay calm conveying it. "I told you this kind of family will eventually be destroyed."

Rangga frowned deeply. "Not him."

"That's it." Rowan tried hard to breathe regularly. "That's Ema."

"Rowan, she's just a village girl—"

"Did you think I was relaxing when I found out my sister was dead? I-i know. No need to ask why. I don't want to tell anyone and neither do you. That's Ema."

"Roman."

"Look." Rowan gripped firmly on Rangga's shoulder. "Promise me one thing."

"Roman."

"Please, Rangga."

Something stabbed Rangga as a result of that tone, but he finally nodded. "What?"

...*...

The boy already knows.

His eyes showed that.

Anger, sadness, doubt. Rowan Ahkam already knew all was the actions of Emilia. But until tomorrow he will be silent.

The whole house was only mourning Soraya's departure without anyone glancing at Emilia.

Of course, investigators were brought in. Although Emilia did not know that the one who came was Rashi Anuja.

"I'm studying criminal minds on Brother's errand." That's what Rashi said when it was Emilia's turn to be questioned in a closed room. "They're my friends. Including the man behind me."

Emilia caught a glimpse of the young man and guessed his age was still around Samuel's age. "What did Senior say?"

Rashi just smiled. But the man behind her made a sound. "You look guilty, Ema—or Emilia?"

"I don't feel guilty" he argued quickly.

"really? Didn't you think 'why kill Soraya when unlike Idrus who did you wrong, or Seline who died away from you, Soraya died because of Nine's manipulation in your hands'?"

Emilia glanced at Rashi. "I told you not to."

"You feel guilty." Rashi knitted his hand under his chin. "And it's totally normal, Emilia."

"Does Senior ask you to say that?" Emilia was suddenly agitated. "If this question session is a formality, then I'll be out now."

And Rashi couldn't have done his job right now if he had read Emilia's emotions he couldn't. The young lady let Emilia stand up, but did not let Emilia go.

"Kakak—I mean, my husband, Mahesa Mahardika, just considers you a trading tool. You know that."

Emilia stiffened her jaw. Clenching his hands firmly when he heard the sound of the chair crunching, which signified Rashi moving.

"Emilia, you know for sure your position in her eyes, but you accept it. Wh why? Because love? That's just a ten percent excuse. You know your loyalty won't be in vain put in Mahesa's hands."

Rashi pulled her shoulders gently. Looking at the pale face of Emilia.

"You know why Mahesa should marry another woman again after five years of our marriage? Because I am not capable of carrying out heavy duties as his wife. I don't have a problem. Not rejecting a bit. And I can figure out the reason why Mahesa chose someone, why not."

Now Emilia could clearly tell what she was going to say.

"You are not qualified."

Emilia's breath is hunting.

"Therefore Mahesa did not expect many things. What does Mahesa want from all this? Not what you did, but what Samuel saw from you."

In other words, whatever Emilia had been doing all this time, it did not give any meaning or weight to her position in the eyes of Mahesa.

He is still not elected.

*