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Sixteen

Author: Aurora
last update Last Updated: 2025-05-24 22:38:27

The night sky was falling when I arrived at Matthias’ apartment. The air in Jakarta was sluggish, like it was holding back the rain. But it’s not the weather that makes my heart beat harder than usual—it’s my own thoughts.

Matthias opens the door with his usual smile. But this time, I find it a little more… calming. Or perhaps, I’m the one who wants to feel calm too much.

“I’ll make some tea,” he says softly. “You look tired.”

“I’m not tired,” I replied softly. “I’m… thinking too much.”

He looked at me for a moment, then invited me in without question. Instrumental jazz music plays softly in the background. The scent of cinnamon from the diffuser fills the room.

We sit on the sofa, across from each other. Not directly touching. And that was strange. Because my body misses him, but my mind is always full of alarms.

“What’s going on?” he asked finally. His voice was calm, but he could clearly read my expression.

I handed over a thin folder from my bag.

"It's not about you directly," I s
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  • Billionaire   Twenty Nine

    The next day, I returned to the foundation office feeling refreshed. Vera's face hardened as soon as I walked in."Good morning, Foundation Boss who just got back from a day away," she said sarcastically, but she had a smile.I chuckled. "Relax, I didn't come back to get scolded."Rachel appeared from the next room. "But you came back to sign something big."She handed me a folder. On the front, it read:Application for New Institutional Status: Arini Foundation - Independent EntityI rubbed the writing lightly. "So this is the official step?"Vera nodded. "If you sign today, the legal process begins. We're free from the structural influence of the Smith family. The name of the foundation can still be used because Arini is not a trade name, but we can no longer be considered 'an extension of the family business'."I picked up the pen. Stared at the first page.Then said quietly, "When I sign this... there's no turning back, right?""No," Rachel replied. "But who wants to go back in ti

  • Billionaire   Twenty Eight

    I woke up earlier than usual. Jakarta's sky was still gray, but I knew... what would happen today was not about the weather. It was about direction. It's not just the direction of the company. But the direction of my life.Because today, the Smith family will decide if I'm worthy of continuing to stand in this chair... or if they'll try to take everything away from me.I arrived at the voting site at around nine in the morning. The old building owned by the Smith family in Kebayoran is usually used for annual meetings. But today is no ordinary meeting. It's a kind of "family session".Inside, Rachel and Vera are already preparing. Matthias accompanies me inside. His face is calm, but his hands clasp my fingers as tightly as possible—and I can tell he's nervous too.I wore a dark suit. Not flashy, but bold. No family bros. No symbols that can be interpreted in different ways.Just me, Sara, who came not with a name. But work.***The big room was full.Uncle Theodore in the front seat.

  • Billionaire   Twenty Seven

    That afternoon I didn't have time to go back to the apartment. As soon as I left the courtroom, Rachel caught up with me, breathing heavily."Ma'am... You've been asked to attend a meeting of the Smith family. Right now.”I turned my head sharply. "Who's calling?""Uncle Theodore. And... he said it's not an invitation."I sighed."Okay. Let's get it over with."***The meeting was held in the living room of the Smith Heritage Estate-a place that is rarely used except for important moments. The large room has high ceilings, with family paintings hanging like watchdogs from the past.Once I entered, there were about ten people there.Uncle Theodore. Aunt Evelyn. My father's cousin Charles. Some distant family members I've seen at relatives' weddings... but never really spoke to.They all sat like an unofficial council.And when I walked in, everyone turned their heads like they were welcoming a threat, not family."Sit down, Sara," Theodore said.I sat down. Calm down. Straight. No lowe

  • Billionaire   Twenty Six

    Part 26This morning, the air felt heavier than usual.Not because Lucas's lawsuit gave me direction. But because one name resurfaced, a name I hadn't heard in our family conversations for years.Cornelia Smith.My father's brother-in-law. One of the long-standing figures on the Smith family's honor roll. She wasn't part of the company's board of directors, but in the business social network, her name carried weight.And this morning, she sent me an invitation.Not a call, but lunch invitation.Rachel raised an eyebrow as she handed over the invitation. "She rarely contacts anyone. The last time she spoke to the media was almost five years ago."I stared at the invitation card for a long time. Ivory paper with gold ink that hasn't changed since I was a teenager. And there was only one sentence written on it: "Come, Sara. Time to talk as a family."**The restaurant is quiet. Exclusive. Just like Cornelia, elegant but cold. She was already sitting at a corner table when I arrived, wea

  • Billionaire   Twenty Five

    After leaving the house, I sat in the car for a long time without saying anything.Rachel tried calling me twice. Vera also texted me about the latest report on Lucas.But I didn't answer.I just kept quiet. Because for the first time since all this started... I feel heavy not because of the conflict, but because of the peace that is slowly coming. And that feels much more painful than anger.My eyes still felt hot. But not from anger.I just… tired.And strangely, warm.***When night fell, I went back to Matthias' apartment. He opened the door and could tell right away from my face—I had just gone through something that couldn't be described in words alone.He didn't ask anything. He just pulled me into his arms. And I... let myself stay there.For a long time, I let this body rest fully. As if all the weight could stop on her shoulders. As if... I could rest, even if only for a moment."I've met her," I whispered finally."Marianne?"I nodded. "We're talking. Quietly. But deep."He

  • Billionaire   Twenty Four

    I did not delay any longer. After all the legal measures were filed, all the communication strategies were executed, and all the allies were mobilized... there was only one thing I hadn't done yet.Facing my father.Richard Smith.Not as a child bowing down waiting for blessings, but as an adult woman who comes with her own truth.I went up to the top floor of the mansion in Menteng, where it all began. The house that once felt like a palace... is now just a museum from another era.Rachel escorted me to the living room, then quietly excused herself.There, sat Richard Smith. Dressed in a gray leisure suit, still strapping despite being well past seventy. His hair was partially white, but his eyes were sharp, as always."Sit down," he said matter-of-factly.I sat across from the round glass table. The same table where I learned to calculate profit and loss when I was less than nine years old.He gave me a long look, before finally saying, "You make a lot of people uncomfortable, Sara

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