Five

I closed the door to my room slowly, leaving Lucas and Jennifer in their confusion. Rachel looked at me for a moment, like she wanted to say something, but didn’t open her mouth. I signaled her not to follow—I needed some time alone. My steps echoed along the office hallway, ignoring the stares of the employees who might have overheard the conversation.

My head is full of strategies. I could no longer let them think that I was just a woman left over from the past. This time, I wasn’t just going to take back what was mine. However, I made sure they lost more than just their comfortable position. Everything must be rooted out.

I stopped at the 10th floor balcony, taking a deep breath. The wind swept through my hair, refreshing my overcrowded head. My gaze swept over the bustling city streets, but my mind drifted far away, to the painful past.

Three years ago, I didn’t even have enough money for a decent lunch. My energy was milked dry. The first year of living as the wife of a Lucas who was starting a business, I was malnourished. The second year started to get better even with all the work I had to do. I almost risked everything I had, even my dignity, to help Lucas start S&Lu Corp. I thought, if I sacrificed enough, the love between us would last until the end. But as it turned out, all that came was betrayal and a woman named Jennifer. The love between us was an illusion.

I closed my eyes. The image of them laughing on our bed for three years, talking about his dreams that I wrote down with my own sweat is still vividly etched. Damn it, I can still remember Lucas’s laughter. The laughter that once made me fall in love with him is now the spark of a grudge that will never be extinguished.

My phone vibrated, returning me to the current situation. An incoming message from Rachel.

Ma’am, there’s someone here to see you. He says it’s important and it’s related to Lucas. Should I refuse?

My eyebrows shot up. “Who?” I typed quickly.

His name is Rey. He said he was S&Lu’s former head of operations, but left abruptly a year ago.

Rey. I recognize that name. Lucas once referred to him as ‘confidant’—someone who knew too much about the dark side of S&Lu Corp. I didn’t answer the message immediately. Caution is key in a game like this.

However, this kind of opportunity is too rare to waste.

“Send him to the small meeting room. Don’t tell anyone. I’ll come.”

Sent.

I quickly turned around, my pace becoming faster than before. If Rey really knew Lucas’ dark side, I could use that information to bring him down from within. A more elegant way than simply terminating the cooperation contract.

Arriving at the small meeting room, I found a man in his late 30s with a tired face and wary eyes. He stood up as I entered, nodding politely.

“I know who you are,” he said before I could ask. “And I’m not here to persuade you to forgive Lucas. I’m here because I know you can stop him.”

I sat without speaking. Let him actively reveal everything he wants to open up.

“Lucas ran more than just a vegetable business,” he said with low voice but steady. “He used the company to launder money from various illicit sources, including illegal investments from overseas. I used to cover everything, but when I found out he would sacrifice me to cover his tracks, I backed off.”

My eyes narrowed. “And why are you coming to me now?”

Rey looked at me straight on. “Because you’re the only person who can take him down without setting everything on fire. You have control, you have a name, and—most importantly—you have a reason.”

I leaned back, trying to digest the information. Lucas turned out to be not only a personal traitor, but also a hardened criminal. Three years of living together, how could I not know anything about that asshole?

Damn it! I’ve been completely fooled. My Stanford degree is so useless on this brain of mine. Asshole!

“What proof do you have?” I asked flatly. I tried hard to looked calm at all times. I didn’t want to give anyone a chance to derail my efforts by being impulsive.

Rey took out a small flash drive. “Here. The financial data I have stored. Recorded conversations. And one video of Lucas receiving a briefcase from a person who was never listed as an authorized investor.”

My hand was almost shaking as I accepted the small object. I didn’t know if this would be the key to his destruction or if it would backfire on me. However, I was certain of one thing when it touched the surface of my hand; with this, I could making Lucas pay for three years of my wasted life.

“How much do you want to get paid for this?” I asked sarcastically. Thinking about Lucas and his crimes really made me more emotional.

Rey shook his head. “I don’t need money. I need peace of mind. And I think only you can give me that.”

I stared at him for a while. Ever since I found out Lucas deceived me, I’ve always assumed people have motives.

“If what you’ve brought is fake, I’ll make sure you’ll never be able to work again, not even in the market,” I said as I got up from my seat.

He nodded. “I knew the risks of coming here.”

Leaving him in the room, I brought the pendrive in hand, as if holding the detonator of a bomb ready to explode. Whatever Rey was planning, I would be one step more vigilant than him.

“Send people to watch Rey’s movements. Report his every movement by the hour, if there is anything suspicious, report immediately.” I said firmly as Rachel followed me out of the room.

***

Later that evening, I sat in my dimly-lit apartment, accompanied only by a glass of espresso and the sound of my laptop turning on. I opened file after file, and the longer I looked at it, the deeper the anger and disgust grew. Lucas… he’s even more vile than I imagined.

However, one last file made my heart almost stop.

The video showed Lucas… not receiving money. But talking to someone I know very well.

I zoomed in on the image. That face… no way. That’s my father!

“Why…?” I muttered, almost in disbelief.

They talked about ‘securing the project’, about ‘long-term concessions’, and about ‘sacrificing for the sake of the family’. And then, I heard my father say something that made my whole body freeze.

“If she finds out, everything could fall apart. So take good care of her. Don’t let her know that all of this is… for her sake.”

Dark screen.

I sat up, lost for words. The secret that had been hidden all this time now appeared like a monster under the bed.

My father was involved. Lucas was just a pawn. And I… I’m the reason for everything.

The sound of my cell phone jolted me.

Incoming call: Lucas.

I stared at the phone screen for a long time, before finally touching the green button.

“Yes?”

His voice was calm, almost as if nothing had happened this morning.

“I think we should talk again. But this time, it’s not about business. There’s something you should know,” he said.

“I have something for you too, Lucas,” I replied softly.

There was silence for a moment. Then he said, “Good. Because if you don’t come to me tonight, I’ll come to you tomorrow. And I don’t think you’re going to like who’s I’ll take it.”

Click.

The call ends.

My hand was still clutching the pendrive tightly. For some reason, for the first time in a long time… I felt scared.