Chapter 4

My heart pounded hard, as if the sound of its beating could be heard through the phone line. On the phone screen, Vivian’s face filled the digital space, her large eyes watching me with suspicion. In the real world, inside this soundproof SUV cabin, Davian’s hand was still there, pressed against my skin, giving off a heat that contrasted sharply with the cold sweat flooding my temples.

“Darling? Are you daydreaming? Why is your face so red?” Vivian’s voice rang out, breaking the suffocating silence.

I swallowed. My throat felt as dry as a desert.

“Ah… no, Vivian. The AC in Davian’s car seems to be having problems. It’s very hot in here, and we just got out earlier to check the land boundary,” I lied, a falsehood slipping easily from my lips that were still throbbing from Davian’s kiss a few minutes ago.

Beside me, Davian smirked. He did not move away. Instead, he deliberately leaned his face closer to my shoulder while staying outside the phone camera’s reach. He wanted me to know that he was feeding on my fear. He wanted to savor every second of my panic.

“Oh, is that so? Poor husband of mine,” Vivian sighed sweetly. “Davian! Don’t let my husband overheat! Finish the project business quickly and bring him home. I miss him.”

Hearing the word miss him felt like a heavy punch to my stomach. The guilt was there, but it was drowned beneath the wave of adrenaline sparked by Davian’s presence.

“Of course, my dear little sister. I’ll take care of him… very well,” Davian suddenly replied, his voice deep and full of intrigue.

Vivian laughed on the other side, completely missing the dark tone behind her brother’s words. “Good. Dewangga, I’ll hang up now, okay? Mom is calling me for the dress fitting for tonight’s party. I love you!”

Click.

The phone screen went dark. Silence once again filled the car cabin. I leaned my head back against the seat, closing my eyes tightly. My breathing came in ragged gasps. It felt like I had just crossed a deadly abyss on a rope that was about to snap.

“You’re very good at acting, Dewangga,” Davian whispered. He finally pulled away, returning to the driver’s seat and fixing his slightly disheveled shirt. “If I didn’t know who you really are, I might believe that you love her.”

“Enough, Davian! You’re driving me insane!” I shouted, releasing all the pressure trapped in my chest. “What do you actually want? Do you want to destroy your own sister’s marriage? Do you want to destroy me?”

Davian started the car engine. The rumble sounded like the growl of a wild beast. He stared ahead at the vast green plantation, but his eyes were empty.

“I don’t want to destroy anyone. I just want you to stop lying to yourself. Marrying Vivian was a mistake, and you know it. You’re just a coward hiding behind your family’s big name.”

“I’m doing this for my father! For the family’s honor!” I argued, though the words sounded hollow even to my own ears.

“Honor?” Davian laughed cynically as he turned the steering wheel and drove back to the main road. “What kind of honor is built on a bed filled with the shadow of another man? I know what you were imagining last night, Dewangga. You can’t fool me.”

I fell silent. His attacks were always precise. The rest of the drive home passed without another word. Yet the air inside the car felt heavy, filled with unresolved tension.

The Dinner at the Glass Pavilion

That night, the entire family gathered at the glass pavilion behind the house. The golden garden lights reflected on the surface of the swimming pool, creating an elegant and peaceful atmosphere. But to me, this house felt like a golden prison.

Vivian looked stunning in a maroon silk evening gown. She kept holding my arm, introducing me to her distant relatives as “the best husband in the world.” Every compliment that came out of her mouth felt like a blade slicing my heart.

“Dewangga, you look pale. Are you tired after going around earlier?” my mother-in-law asked, a graceful woman who always looked at me with quiet scrutiny.

“Just a little dizzy, Mom. Maybe I just need to rest for a bit,” I replied politely.

“Then sit down for now. Davian, accompany your brother-in-law. Vivian needs to help your father greet guests from his business associates,” she instructed.

Once again, fate seemed determined to push me deeper into trouble. Vivian kissed my cheek before leaving, abandoning me alone with Davian in a slightly dim corner of the pavilion.

Davian sipped his red wine, his eyes watching the crowd before us with a look of disdain.

“Look at all of them, Dewangga. Everyone is wearing a mask. Including you. You’re the best actor in this room.”

I didn’t respond. I simply stared at the glass of water in my hand, trying to ignore his presence. But Davian never allowed me peace. He stepped closer, standing so near that our arms brushed.

“You know… earlier this afternoon in the car… we weren’t finished,” he whispered.

“Not here, Davian. Please… respect your wife… I mean, your sister,” my voice nearly disappeared from fear.

“I don’t care about these formalities. I only care about the fact that you want me more than you want oxygen right now.” Davian placed his glass on a small table and slipped his hand casually into his trouser pocket.

Suddenly, he reached into my suit pocket and dropped a small key inside.

“The guest room on the third floor. End of the hallway on the left. I’ll be waiting for you there in ten minutes. If you don’t come, I’ll make sure Vivian knows what happened in the car this afternoon. I have a very interesting voice recording, Dewangga.”

My blood rushed violently. A voice recording? When did he do that?

Davian walked away without another glance, blending into the crowd of guests as if nothing had happened. I stood frozen, my fingers touching the cold key in my pocket. My head throbbed painfully. This was blackmail—a trap that could make me lose everything.

The Silent Third Floor

Ten minutes later, I found myself standing in front of a room on the third floor. This floor was rarely used and far quieter than the lively party downstairs. My breathing was uneven. Logic told me to leave—to run as far away from this house as possible. But curiosity and Davian’s threat pulled me like a tightening noose.

I turned the key.

The room was dark, lit only by moonlight streaming through a large window. Davian stood there, staring outside.

“You came,” he said without turning.

“Delete that recording, Davian. Don’t ruin my life any further,” I said, my voice trembling.

Davian turned around and walked closer, his steps slow and calculated.

“Your life was already ruined the moment you decided to betray yourself, Dewangga. I’m just helping you admit it.”

He grabbed my jaw, forcing me to look into his wild eyes.

“Tell me, who were you imagining when you touched Vivian last night? Tell me.”

I tried to turn my face away, but his grip tightened.

“I… I wasn’t imagining anyone!”

“Liar!” Davian shoved me against the wall. “You imagined me! You imagined this tattoo, these hands, and this voice! You’re a traitor, Dewangga. And the best part is… you enjoy it.”

He kissed me again, this time more brutal. I tried to resist, pushing against his broad chest, but every touch burned away the remains of my defense. Hatred and desire mixed together, creating an explosion of emotion that made me lose my sanity.

Inside that cold room, on top of a pile of secrets and lies, I once again surrendered myself to the devil wearing my brother-in-law’s face. I let myself drown, even though I knew that when the sun rose tomorrow, I would wake up as a man more broken than before.

Yet amid the turmoil in my heart, a terrifying thought crossed my mind:

What if Vivian had already begun to suspect?

What if that recording really existed and would destroy my career and family?

Davian chuckled softly between his kisses, as if he could read my chaotic thoughts.

“Don’t worry, Dewangga. Your secret is safe with me… as long as you remain mine.”