The Successor's Wife of the President
Preliminary

POV Arumi 9 years...

I'm here, standing among the mourners weeping over my father. Last night, he had a sudden heart attack. Right where we were celebrating my birthday.

It was only a matter of hours before the doctor declared that he was no longer alive. I was nearby with a look of disbelief, my body stiff with no expression. Seeing my stepmother and two half-sisters sobbing at his side.

I was not surprised when their cries and sadness only lasted a few hours from the completion of the funeral process of Dad. Half-brother, half-sister who is the same age as me and beautiful stepmother have done their own activities. His bereaved face turned into a cheerful laugh when some plans for fun were arranged that night as well.

"Stay at home, and never leave this house. You know what Mama would do to you if you didn't comply?" Threatening the beautiful woman in front of me. I just nodded with fear. The woman smiled again before receiving a phone call and going out to meet her friends.

Braaaq...! The door closed.

Now I am alone standing behind the door. My body staggered slightly stepping with a blank look towards the sofa. There's nothing I can do but reach for one of my photos hanging on the wall.

I feel like my feet are no longer able to move. Before arriving at the sofa, my tiny body had already crashed onto the floor first.

Hugging my knees later, I stared at the picture of my father in front of me. My tears broke again, my soul was sliced back. I'm not ready, and I haven't received it.

Thinking about my fate after this? My days must not be easy, as if all the pain and sorrow had been waiting for me for days full of injustice.

Why Daddy? Why should Dad?

My heart continued to thrash, feeling unaccepted. When the body that is the only focus of my affection should go first.

But I want to call her name a few times. Dad still won't come back. It all made me realize that I was getting further and further away from happiness.

Because, the falsity of my stepmother's good attitude also seems to be no longer seen. And will change with the arbitrariness that is increasingly becoming. Now, it's just a matter of waiting until when this miserable fate ends.

.

.

.

thirteen years later...

The morning came, Arumi greeted with gratitude. Even though the outside of the sky still looks dark, he must hurry awake to move.

Today Brother Sonny left early for the first day of work, while Maura had an extra morning class. Be now a busier morning than usual.

Arumi cooks spinach clear vegetables, orek tempeh, sambal, also fried chicken. As per the request of the beautiful lady in this house. No, maybe she meant her stepmother.

Yeah, the more here his life gets the farther from the word decent. Being a free maid in this house has become commonplace. Even the kick was also a blow he got not only from his stepmother, but his two half-siblings as well.

But, yeah... He only needs to survive a little, until the money he saved is collected. Then he can leave this house with the aim, even if he can continue his school.

Arumi really wants to go to college, just like her stepbrother. But for now it is very difficult. Mama Linda would never give him permission. He said that college was expensive and he would not be willing to spend a penny for him.

The morning that gets warmer when the sun starts to appear gives light to the earth. It should be full of calm, but it becomes rowdy when the two brothers are fighting for something that does not know what. His voice sounded very loud even to the kitchen area.

This increased with the shrieking voice of the middle-aged woman who began to get upset when her two children could not calm down on the dining table.

Unlike the favorite children of Mama Linda who have filled their stomachs. Arum was busy washing clothes with his hands. The washing machine is broken.

Bruuuk...

"Wash all of you, tuh! I don't want to know, the day after tomorrow I have to be ready to wear." Without further ado, the twenty-two-year-old girl came back out from where Arum was washing.

The beautiful woman sighed, looking at the daily mountain of laundry. Not to mention the shoes of his stepbrothers who are more than reasonable impression in use by college children or offices. The ground is thickened on each side under their shoes. Like on purpose.

"OKay! arumi spirit. Let's finish this, before we work at the department store." Arumi daydreamed, looking at her innocent face on the surface of the clean water in the tub. It hurt, when he had to work for a wage that was far from normal in the convenience store owned by his own father.

Yeah, used to. Arumi's father has five department stores. But now there are only two left, others have been sold by Mama Linda without knowledge let alone permission from her.

Arumi wiped the sweat off her forehead, smiling again even though her heart was choking every day. Again, he continued his task of washing clothes and shoes to clean.

––

The girl was done, she immediately dried her clothes. Under the scorching sun, Arum still seemed excited. Until a bucket of water suddenly poured towards him from behind.

"Yahoo!" Arum let out a small scream, reflexively in surprise. "Why did Mama water Arum?"

Mama Linda throws the bucket hard almost to Arum's feet which she reflexively avoids.

"Stupid girl! Did you wash the clothes I hung behind the door?"

Arum shook his head, "I just washed the clothes in the bucket."

A plaaaak! A slap landed along with Arum's small scream.

"You think I'm senile? obviously I haven't put that shirt in a dirty laundry bucket!"

Arum was still holding his cheek, biting at the tip of his lip, holding back the cry of pain in his cheek and heart.

"Mama was always like this. accused me of a mistake I never actually made."

Sighing rudely, "What do you mean I deliberately searched for your mistakes, when in fact you are really a useless stupid girl and continue to make mistakes!"

"If I'm useless, why do you still let me stay in this house?"

"You're getting smarter talking, huh? Who taught you this courage, HUH!!" Stare with a sharp look as usual. The same with Mama Linda, Arum returned the gaze was no less sharp, while his lips tightly closed.

"Will an ant always remain silent when its body is trampled?"

Mama Linda smiled cynically, "smartly you answered my words. I'm so sorry, why I took care of you and even sent you to high school. If it were, you'd be a girl who doesn't know herself. Now, looking at you who can act like this...remind me, should I stop paying the grave contract of your two parents?"

The deg! Arum sculpting. Both corners of his eyes suddenly cut into the river. My mom always threatened me with that. Because, if the grave contract is not extended both parents will be dismantled and then used again to bury the new body.

A firm grip on her hair made Arum gasp before grimacing in pain.

"You gave me a warning not to act in front of me. Be grateful while I'm still willing to feed you..."

"I swear! will work hard, and become a rich man to pay for my freedom from you!"

"Oh, yeah...?" Mama laughed at Arum's words earlier, with a dismissive tone. "Just do. I'll make sure, until your pretty hair is gray, you won't be able to pay for it. Because you've been destined to be a maid in your own home for the rest of your life!"

Arum shed his tears. Shortly after the stepmother let go of her grip and sauntered away. His hands clenched firmly, while his other hand wiped his tears violently. His head looked up, facing the blinding sun.

I'm sure! Justice is there for sure... His mind pleads with great hope that God will bring him to a better destiny.