Chapter 8

The morning atmosphere in Serena’s new office—located on one of the floors owned by Haris Nasution—felt worlds apart from her past life. There was no longer the smell of dust from the warehouse or the lingering aroma of meals she used to prepare for ungrateful in-laws. Here, there was only the rich scent of expensive Arabica coffee and neatly arranged stacks of scripts and legal documents.

Serena sat behind her mahogany desk, staring at an unmarked brown folder that Reno had just placed in front of her.

“Ma’am, this is the data you requested. It wasn’t easy to break into the hospital system where Vanes does her routine check-ups, but thanks to Mr. Haris’s network, we found something interesting,” Reno said, his tone laced with intrigue.

Serena opened the folder. Her eyes narrowed as she read through line after line of Vanes’s medical records. All this time, Dewangga and Emely had proudly flaunted the claim that Vanes was carrying a baby boy—the long-awaited heir they had always desired, the very reason they cast Serena and Clarisa aside.

“Their claim about a baby boy is very specific, Reno. Dewangga has even ordered a blue-themed nursery for the house,” Serena murmured. Then she paused at a particular sheet—an ultrasound result that Vanes had secretly taken at a different clinic.

Serena fell silent. A faint, cynical smile slowly curved her lips, now adorned with elegant nude lipstick.

“She’s lying,” Serena whispered.

“Not just about the baby’s gender, Ma’am,” Reno added, pointing to the pregnancy age column. “If we calculate from the last time you saw them together before you left, the timeline doesn’t match. There’s a gap—about three weeks older.”

Serena leaned back in her leather chair, twirling a gold pen between her fingers. Her producer’s mind began working, assembling the pieces into a plot far more ironic than any film.

“So, Vanes used this pregnancy to trap Dewangga. She knew he desperately wanted a son, so she falsified the lab results to convince him and his mother. And worst of all… Dewangga might not be the only possible father.”

Reno nodded. “Vanes was seen several times at a nightclub with a man from her past before she completely ‘locked in’ Mr. Dewangga. Should I hand this evidence over to the lawyer for tomorrow’s divorce hearing?”

Serena went quiet. She gazed out the window, taking in the Jakarta skyline. If she exposed this now, Dewangga might cancel his marriage to Vanes—and his attention would shift back to disrupting Serena’s life.

“No, Reno. Not now,” Serena said firmly.

“Why, Ma’am? This could destroy Vanes instantly.”

“Too soon,” Serena replied, her eyes gleaming sharply. “If I destroy her now, Dewangga will only feel deceived. I want him to feel ruined. I want him to give everything to Vanes—his wealth, his reputation, his love—and when he finally feels like he’s at the peak of happiness because of that ‘baby boy,’ that’s when I’ll tear his world apart.”

Serena folded the documents and placed them into her personal safe. “Let Dewangga marry Vanes. Let him spend even more money on their lavish wedding. Let Vanes feel like she has won everything. I want them to rise as high as possible, so when they fall… not a single bone remains unbroken.”

A Banquet in a House of Hell

Meanwhile, at the Dewangga family residence, the atmosphere was lively. Emely was busy flipping through jewelry catalogs for Vanes to wear at their wedding next month.

“Vanes, dear, you must wear these emeralds. They symbolize prosperity for my grandson—the one you’re carrying,” Emely said sweetly, a stark contrast to how she used to speak to Serena.

Vanes smiled, though a flicker of unease lingered beneath her composure. She gently caressed her growing belly. “Thank you, Mother. Dewangga has been so kind to me. He even promised me shares of Zea Production—the ones he just took over—as a wedding gift.”

Dewangga entered the room with a slightly tense expression. The impact of Serena’s appearance at the Gala Premier still haunted him.

“Mother, Serena is getting bold. She’s with Haris Nasution now. We can’t let her keep shining like this. People at the office have started talking about the Zea Production funds I used,” he said.

Emely scoffed. “Let her show off. She’s just trying to get back at you for choosing Vanes. Once your son is born, everyone will forget about Serena. Focus on your wedding, Dewangga. Vanes is your future.”

Dewangga looked at Vanes, searching for comfort. He gently rubbed her belly with hope. “I can’t wait for my boy to be born. He’ll carry on everything I’ve worked for.”

Vanes could only nod stiffly. Deep down, she knew she was walking on a razor’s edge. She had to ensure her secret stayed buried until the marriage became legally binding.

A Secret Meeting in a Quiet Café

That afternoon, Serena met Haris at a private café. Haris observed her calm expression—too calm for someone who had just been brutally betrayed.

“Did you find something?” Haris asked directly.

Serena took a sip of her tea, then gave a small nod. “Vanes is digging her own grave, Haris. And the funny thing is, Dewangga is holding the shovel for her.”

“You’re not going to tell him?”

Serena shook her head. “I’m a producer, Haris. A producer knows when to release the climax of a story. If I expose it now, it’ll just become fleeting daily drama. I want this to be a colossal tragedy for them.”

Haris chuckled, leaning back in his seat. “You’ve truly come back, Serena. Your sharpness has never dulled. So, what’s your next move?”

“Tomorrow is the first hearing,” Serena said, looking at him seriously. “I want Dewangga to feel like he’s winning. I’ll let him believe he’s in control of the trial. The more arrogant he becomes, the more careless he’ll be.”

Serena stood up, straightening her suit. “Haris, thank you for helping me get that data. Now I know—I don’t need to mourn my past anymore. My past was just a flawed rough draft… and now I’m writing the perfect script for my future.”

She walked out of the café with her head held high. In her mind, she could already see scene after scene of Dewangga and Vanes’s downfall. To her, Vanes’s secret wasn’t just a trump card—it was a ticking time bomb she had planted right at the heart of their new marriage.

And Serena was the only one holding the trigger.

“Sleep well, Dewangga,” Serena whispered as she got into her car. “Because when you wake up… reality will become your worst nightmare.”