After returning from work this evening, Veronica decided not to go straight home. With a driver to accompany her, she intentionally stopped by one of her favorite cafes. She ordered a Green Tea Frappuccino and enjoyed her solitude in peace.
While sipping on the provided drink, Veronica’s thoughts occasionally drifted. She still remembered Darwin’s words from the previous night when he had called her.
“Don’t you have any desire to come back to my place? I miss you so much, Ve. Don’t you feel the same way?”
Veronica fell silent when Darwin asked that question. Of course, she missed her husband. But the disappointment she had felt was still palpable. Besides, how could she go to Darwin’s home without her father giving his permission, and without Darwin proving himself as a suitable partner?
“No, until you convince Dad that you’re worthy of being his son-in-law.”
“I’ll prove it,” Darwin replied confidently. “I’ll comply with your Dad’s request to participate in the Foxtail joint venture selection. I’m sure I’ll succeed and get the position I want.”
Veronica was taken aback. She didn’t quite understand what Darwin had just said. What caught her attention was whether her father had indeed set such an unreasonable condition for her husband.
“What do you mean, Win? I don’t understand.”
“Dad Damian asked me to participate in the joint venture selection that Foxtail will hold in the near future. This is a condition to determine whether I’m serious about our relationship. If I succeed, I’ll be allowed to continue our marriage as before.”
Veronica couldn’t believe it. She knew the name Foxtail and its track record, but she didn’t expect her father to impose such an unreasonable condition on her husband.
“And you agree to Dad’s request?”
“Of course.”
“Goodness, Darwin,” Veronica exclaimed reflexively. “Do you realize that accepting Dad’s request is like committing suicide?”
“What else can I do, Ve? Is there any other way I can prove to Dad Damian and to you that I’m serious about our relationship?”
“The problem is, Foxtail isn’t just any company. They-”
“I know,” Darwin interrupted. “That’s why I will try my best to pass and secure this tender, just like your father wants.”
“What if you fail?”
“I won’t fail,” Darwin replied confidently. “I’ll prove that I’m worthy of being your husband.”
Veronica sighed. Instead of being happy, she was worried about what Darwin was telling her. That’s why she once again asked about the possible consequences her husband might face.
“What if you fail?”
“Your dad will separate us, and furthermore…”
“Furthermore what?”
“Infinix Group will have to be taken over by Vortex Group, whether they like it or not.”
Veronica closed her eyes. She knew her father never played around or joked when it came to important matters like this. If Darwin failed, it was certain that he would lose everything.
“You should consider stepping back and asking Dad for different terms,” Veronica suggested. She knew it wouldn’t be easy for Darwin to meet her father’s conditions. Besides, if anything went wrong along the way, she wouldn’t be able to help.
“I can’t cancel the agreement I’ve already made. Where would that leave my pride, Ve? Besides, I’m confident I can get what your Dad wants. So, don’t worry. I’ll prove myself and come to pick you up soon.”
Because of this, Veronica met her father to confirm the story Darwin had told her, and Damian confirmed it.
Now, Veronica could only watch from a distance what Darwin would do, hoping that her husband could prove himself and show her father that he was the right person to be her husband.
“Ve! You’re daydreaming again! Watch out for evil spirits!”
From behind, Deasy suddenly appeared, bringing Sean along. Her friend had contacted Veronica earlier and invited her to meet up. Since Veronica had left the office early, she asked Deasy to join her at the cafe. Little did she know that Deasy would bring Sean along.
“Who’s daydreaming? I’ve been waiting for you,” Veronica casually replied.
“Oh, come on, don’t make excuses. Sean and I have been calling you, but you didn’t respond.”
“Really?”
Deasy nodded. She then took a seat without waiting to be invited, and Sean also pulled a chair and sat next to her.
“What were you thinking about?” Sean asked curiously.
“I was thinking about Darwin,” Veronica replied honestly. She intentionally mentioned it to discourage Sean from holding any hope for her.
Upon hearing Veronica’s answer, Sean just smiled. Meanwhile, Deasy let out an audible sigh. Until now, she still harbored a strong dislike for Darwin, as if she had an endless grudge against him.
“You’re just wasting your time thinking about someone unimportant,” Deasy said casually.
Veronica chose to smile. She didn’t feel like responding to Deasy’s never-ending frustration.
“In fact, this is important. My dad set an unreasonable condition for him,” Veronica explained. Then she turned her gaze to Sean. “Dad asked you to step up too, right?”
Sean nodded. Although he had been told why he was chosen, he still couldn’t believe he was given such a significant responsibility to participate in this prestigious selection.
“I was actually surprised to be chosen by Mr. Damian. There are many senior members at Vortex Group with impressive experience. But after thinking about it, it’s intriguing. Through this selection, I can gauge my abilities. Plus, I’m very optimistic about passing and becoming a part of Foxtail.”
Veronica had no doubt about that. If Sean didn’t have the skills, he wouldn’t have been chosen as a specialist staff. Besides, her former boyfriend had always been known for his intelligence. It’s just that he wasn’t born into an influential family. If he had been, maybe they would have been approved for marriage from the beginning.
“I can’t pray for you to fail or succeed in this selection,” Veronica said with a conflicted expression. “But one thing’s for sure, I hope the outcome meets your expectations.”
“Wait a minute,” Deasy interrupted, breaking her silence. “What are you two talking about?” Deasy was clearly irritated. It seemed that she was the only one who didn’t know what was going on.
“Never mind, it’s not important,” Veronica replied with a laugh.
When the waiter brought their food, she quickly changed the subject and engaged in a different conversation. From now on, as much as possible, Veronica wanted to avoid discussing personal matters with Deasy, especially when she was with Sean. The events from yesterday served as a lesson, and she didn’t want to repeat them.
“I’m finally full,” Deasy said, sipping the remaining chocolate milkshake from her glass. “Thanks for the treat, dear benefactor. Let’s do this more often.”
Veronica sighed lazily. After paying the bill presented by the waiter, she seemed ready to leave.
“Don’t worry. As long as Vortex Group is still thriving, I won’t get tired of treating you.”
“Yay!” Deasy exclaimed with a cheerful smile. “So, are you heading straight home now?”
Veronica nodded. After all, her father would come looking for her if she stayed out too long like this.
“It’s already half past eight. Besides, I’m already tired.”
“Alright, you can go with Sean,” Deasy suggested deliberately.
Sean, who had finished his meal, immediately nodded in agreement. After all, the direction to his apartment was in the same direction as the Wijaya family’s residence and relatively close.
“Yeah, Ve,” added Sean. “How about going home with me?”
Veronica smiled. Her slightly distant gaze focused on Sean.
“Thank you for the offer and your concern. But I’ll go home with my driver to avoid any rumors. Besides, Mr. Dion is waiting in the car. Why don’t you take Deasy home? It would be sad for her to go alone. She might get kidnapped by bad people.”
Rather than agreeing to Deasy’s invitation and provocation, Veronica politely declined it. Deasy, of course, immediately scowled in frustration. Sean just laughed. He respected Veronica’s decision to go home with her private driver. They bid each other farewell and went their separate ways.
***
This weekend, Darwin intentionally visited his parents’ home. He intended to inform them about the condition his father-in-law had imposed on him a few days ago.
For Darwin, it was important and necessary to convey this to his father. Especially since Infinix Group was also used as collateral. If he failed to pass the joint venture selection, it was certain that the large family company would have to be given to Vortex Group for free.
“You’re absolutely crazy, Win!” Magnus scolded. Claudia even gently rubbed her husband’s back to prevent their son from getting angry. “How could you agree to such conditions without being sure of the outcome?”
“Please, Dad, relax,” Darwin reassured him, although he was unsure himself. But what could he do now that everything was set in motion? His task was to try his best to pass this selection.
“How can I relax? If you fail, Infinix Group will be taken over by Vortex Group. What will become of us?”
Darwin knew and understood why his father was so worried. After all, Infinix Group was the family company that Magnus had always been proud of. If it were to be merged or acquired by Vortex Group, the loss would be palpable.
“Dad, trust Darwin’s efforts. Darwin will do whatever it takes to pass and win this tender. If Darwin succeeds, besides getting Veronica back, Infinix Group will also make a huge profit and become a more respected company.”
Magnus knew Darwin’s capabilities very well, but he couldn’t help but consider all possibilities. Even if Darwin failed, Magnus had to carefully plan and prepare for everything.
“Dad, I can’t help but worry about Darwin’s sincerity towards Veronica. This isn’t just about ambition. And what about Vivian? Have you really left her behind?”
Claudia was concerned about her son’s turmoil. When she heard about Darwin’s behavior during the early days of their marriage, including mistreating Veronica, Claudia was furious and deeply disappointed.
For Claudia, Darwin had always been a gentle person, so she was puzzled as to why her son had suddenly changed.
“Mom, don’t worry, Darwin has nothing to do with Vivian anymore. And again, Darwin is serious about saving his marriage with Veronica. That’s why he accepted the conditions set by Dad Damian.”
Seeing the determined look in Darwin’s eyes as he explained, Claudia believed that her son was sincere. There was nothing she could do but support and pray that everything Darwin did would go smoothly.
“Mom hopes everything goes according to your plans and wishes. Hopefully, you can be reunited with Veronica soon.”
Fortunately, after receiving some scolding, Darwin was able to convince his parents. After a long conversation, he decided to leave.
Upon arriving home, Darwin was surprised. There was a car in his driveway that he didn’t recognize. Curious, he went inside. Just as he stepped into the living room, he immediately recognized the person he saw.
“Rama?”
The man in a black shirt stood up when Darwin called out to him. He walked closer and gave Darwin a hug without hesitation.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” he said after they broke the embrace.
“Hold on… hold on…” Darwin interrupted. “How did you suddenly show up at my house? When did you come from Korea?”
Rama smiled. He was confident that his arrival tonight would surprise his cousin.
“I had a scheduled trip back to Indonesia this week, and coincidentally, Randy contacted me two days ago. He said you needed help. So, what assistance do you need?”
Darwin smiled broadly. He was very happy that his cousins were supportive and dependable.