Around nine o’clock at night, the plane Kairos was on arrived at Heathrow International Airport in London. Finally, the important work he had to do in Italy for nearly a month could be properly completed.
Waiting for about 30 to 45 minutes while dealing with paperwork at immigration, Kairos’s phone rang. Checking it immediately, he found Samuel’s name calling him at that moment.
“What’s up, Samuel Knight? You rarely call me.”
“Oh, my God, Kairos. Finally, you picked up my call. Where have you been, actually?”
Kairos laughed instead. He assumed Samuel called him out of longing. Besides, he had been in Italy for almost three weeks and couldn’t be contacted at all.
“I’m just around, Samuel. Still on the same Earth as you. Where else would I be?”
“I’m serious!” Samuel exclaimed, clearly irritated. Even though he was serious. But, as usual, Kairos teased him.
“Relax. No need to get all worked up. You’re so much like Raphael. Besides, what’s going on? Do you miss me?”
Samuel sighed audibly. His cousin seemed to think he was feeling nostalgic.
“Where are you right now? Are you still in Italy? When will your work be done? You need to come back soon.”
“Hey, relax. I’m back already. I just arrived in London. Currently at the airport. Oh, come on. Seriously, why are you looking for me so urgently?”
There was a loud sigh from the other end.
“It’s not me, it’s Edward who’s been trying to find your whereabouts for a few days now. He complains that you’re hard to reach.”
“I’ve told him, I’m working and on a dangerous mission. So, I won’t have time to answer calls, let alone reply to messages. Besides, why is Edward looking for me? It’s unusual. He’s not sick, is he?”
Kairos looked puzzled. Usually, Edward wouldn’t bother with him unless it was work-related.
“It’s about Julia and Bella.”
“What about those two women?” Kairos became curious too.
“Edward seems confused about making a choice. Whether to divorce Julia and marry Bella or choose Julia and leave Bella.”
“What a foolish man. Even for something like this, he has to think long and hard and bother to seek me out. Can’t Edward make decisions on his own?”
“When it comes to foolishness, we both know. But, I think Edward really needs your help, Kairos. It’s time you told him about the affair Julia has been having. Poor Bella.”
“What about Bella? Is something happening to that unfortunate woman?”
“Her fate is unclear here. You know Edward himself is very foolish in his thinking. If he chooses Julia, Bella will be sidelined. Not to mention that her unborn baby will be taken by Julia. So, please tell Edward immediately so he doesn’t make the wrong decision.”
Kairos sighed repeatedly. He had just arrived and already been given a task that he really didn’t want to deal with. But, because Samuel asked, and especially because Bella’s fate was at stake, Kairos reluctantly agreed to intervene.
“Alright. I’ll try to contact Edward as soon as possible. Just pray that the fool doesn’t make the wrong decision.”
When all his affairs were settled, Kairos headed straight to his car. Initially, he tried to contact Edward to tell him that they needed to meet and have a serious talk. But unfortunately, Edward’s phone was inactive. That’s why Kairos decided to go straight to Edward’s house.
Driving above average speed, the Audi Kairos was in entered Edward’s residential complex. Passing several blocks, his eyes caught sight of a woman walking half-running as if being chased.
Approaching, Kairos tried to make sure. After careful observation, he was convinced that the woman he saw was Bella.
Kairos intentionally continued to follow. Trying to catch up until he finally reached Bella.
Quickly, Kairos got out of the car. Running a little, he chased after Bella, who seemed to be avoiding him.
“Bella…” he called out a little loudly. “What are you doing here late at night? What’s really going on?”
The woman turned. Seeing Kairos’s figure. She immediately stopped and then sat down while speaking with a pleading tone.
“Kairos… For God’s sake, please help me. Please take me far away from Edward’s house.”
Kairos immediately helped support Bella to slowly get up. He led the woman carefully to his car. After making sure that Bella was sitting comfortably, he continued the journey. But not to go to Edward’s house.
Instead, he was going straight back to his own home.
Throughout the journey, Kairos chose not to ask too many questions. He let Bella calm down first, clearly in a state of chaos.
Only when they arrived at his residence did Kairos gently ask. Anyway, he needed information from Bella about what had actually happened.
“What’s wrong, Bella? What actually happened?”
Bella’s eyes appeared swollen and red after continuous crying. She wiped her tears slowly. And with sobs, she tried to recount the chronology of the problem she was currently facing.
“Julia tried to harm me. She forced me to take abortion pills.”
Kairos was shocked. If what Bella said was true, it meant that Julia had committed a criminal act.
“Julia forced you to have an abortion? B-but why? Wasn’t Edward and Julia eagerly awaiting the baby in your belly?”
Kairos tried to gather information, pretending not to know about the status of the baby in Bella’s womb.
“The story is long, Kairos.”
“In that case, take it slow. I’ll listen. If it’s not told, how can I help you?”
Bella nodded. Her eyes became wet again.
“Julia found out about the relationship between me and Edward. A few days ago, she caught us in bed.”
“Julia? She caught you and Edward-”
“Yes!” Bella nodded. “Edward and I didn’t know that night Julia suddenly returned from Italy. When she entered the room, she found us making love. Julia was furious, of course. She even went berserk. Pulling hair, dragging, even insulting me in various ways.”
“And Edward didn’t defend you?”
Bella shook her head.
“Not at all. Even though earlier, Edward promised to choose me and divorce Julia soon. But, when we argued, Edward acted like a man who couldn’t do anything.”
“Stupid!” Kairos cursed loudly.
“But…” Bella continued her story. “The next day, Julia suddenly changed for the better. She even said in front of me and Edward that she would forget our affair, not expose this issue to the media.”
“I’m sure Julia gave you both conditions, didn’t she?”
Bella nodded, confirming Kairos’s guess.
“Yes. You’re absolutely right. Julia promised not to mention the closeness we had as long as Edward didn’t divorce her. And if we dared to have a relationship, Julia threatened to sue and imprison you.”
“Julia said that?”
Bella nodded. Then, shortly after, she started crying again. As if the problem pressing on her was so heartbreaking.
“I thought, after agreeing to her request, everything would go back to normal. Turns out, today when Edward left for Switzerland, suddenly Julia came to my room. We argued. Until finally, Julia forced me to take abortion pills because she knew that the baby in my belly was the result of a relationship that Edward and I had before.”
Kairos was speechless. It seemed that besides being an adulterer, Julia also had a talent for crime.
“Unbelievable! So, why did you manage to escape? And about the pills, did you really take them?”
Bella shook her head. Fortunately, she thought of a way to trick Julia. Otherwise, it was certain that the baby in her belly would also be a victim.
“I didn’t take them. I just slipped them between my tongue. When Julia left the room, I quickly vomited. Maybe tonight I can escape and survive from the Darkwood family’s residence. But Julia threatened to kill my mother. That’s why, please save my mother too, Kairos. I’m afraid that when Julia realizes I’m not at home, she will dare to do what she threatened before.”
Kairos nodded. Seeing Bella crying again, he was moved to provide assistance.
“Don’t worry. You don’t need to be afraid. I’ll mobilize my trusted people to protect and defend your mother from any criminal acts Julia might commit.”
Bella tried to stop her tears. Seeing Kairos’s serious gaze, she tried to believe.
“I hope I can trust you, Kairos. There’s no one else in this world that I can trust and rely on.”
“Don’t worry. I promise to protect you. Now, you better rest. Let me handle and solve all of this.”
In the end, Bella agreed. Ensuring that Kairos would keep his promise, she decided to rest.
Meanwhile, Kairos immediately contacted his trusted people. Asking them to guard and protect Bella’s mother from any criminal acts that Julia might commit.