That night, Amora no longer wanted to look for Roy. She pushed aside all the curiosity and anger that had filled her chest. With a sullen face, she chose to go home. The streetlights flickered across her car windows as her mind wandered, haunted by the fragments of a past that refused to fade.As soon as her car entered the garage, she saw her mother standing at the doorway. Jessica, dressed in her nightgown with her hair slightly disheveled, smiled in relief. The worry that had clouded her face moments ago was replaced by a calm expression.Amora stepped out of the car, frowning as she looked at her mother.“Mommy, what are you doing here?” she asked, walking closer.“Waiting for you to come home,” Jessica replied casually, though her tone carried a trace of concern.“Oh, come on, why would you wait for me?” Amora let out a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m a grown woman now, Mommy. I can take care of myself.”Jessica gazed at her for a long moment before replying softly,
Two days had passed…Amora still couldn’t believe it. Her eyes widened when she saw the black gift box once again lying on the front seat of her car. The same box—with the slightly wrinkled red ribbon—greeted her the moment she opened the car door that morning.“No way…” she whispered under her breath. “I haven’t even left the house for two days…”Her hands trembled. She immediately looked around, checking every corner of her small driveway. No one. The place was silent, save for the faint sound of morning wind brushing through the leaves in her tiny yard.For the past two days, her mother, Jessica, had forbidden her from going out.“Amora, just stay at home for now. I don’t want anything bad happening to you,” Jessica had said with a firm yet worried face.But Amora had insisted.“Mom, I’m not a kid anymore. I can take care of myself. I just want to work, not wander around!”And now, the moment she was finally allowed to leave, that box had reappeared—as if mocking the illusion of sa
The moment she arrived home, Amora hurried straight to her room without even taking off her shoes. Her breathing was uneven, her steps restless, as if something unseen were chasing her. She shut the door tightly behind her, then sat down at her desk and turned on her laptop.As soon as the screen lit up, her fingers began flying across the keyboard, opening the CCTV footage directed toward the garage. She fast-forwarded to around two in the morning—the time she was sure something strange had happened.Seconds later, the dim light of the night revealed a shadowy figure climbing over the three-meter-high fence in front of her house.The man wore a black hoodie with the hood pulled up, his face hidden behind a dark mask. His movements were swift, calculated—almost soundless.Amora frowned, her eyes narrowing at the screen.“So, my suspicion was right,” she muttered coldly. “That intruder was the one who put that black box in my car.”She took a deep breath, slowly closing her laptop as t
Amora guided Roy slowly back to his hospital bed. Her steps were calm, but there was something unreadable in her eyes. Once he lay down, she adjusted his blanket without saying much.“Roy, I still have other things to do. I hope you recover soon,” she said flatly, though politely.Roy looked at her for a long time, a gentle smile forming on his face. “It’s fine. Thank you for visiting me, El.”Amora met his gaze. This time, the smile on her lips turned faint and slightly defiant. “You’re welcome. But once you recover, don’t forget—I’ll be collecting your promise.” Her voice was low yet sharp. “You can’t run from that evidence, Roy.”Roy’s face stiffened instantly. But then he smiled again, pretending to be calm. “Of course I remember, El.”Amora lifted her bag and walked toward the door. “You’d better,” she said coldly before leaving Roy alone in that quiet hospital room.Roy exhaled deeply. His eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. For some reason, her departure left an empty space in
Roy had cracked a silly joke that made Amora, who had looked gloomy all morning, unable to hold back a small laugh. As annoying as he could be, at least this morning Roy had managed to make her smile again.“You know, Elisha,” Roy suddenly said, his gaze fixed intently on her face that was still struggling to suppress a laugh, “in my whole life, you’re the first genuine girl I’ve ever met.”Amora turned to him, raising an eyebrow. “Ah, what kind of joke are you going to make this time, Roy?”“No,” Roy replied quickly, his voice deeper this time. “This isn’t a joke, El. All my life, I’ve never felt a woman’s affection.”Roy’s eyes suddenly turned somber. The playful expression he’d worn moments ago faded, replaced by a look filled with pain he couldn’t put into words.“Your mother?” Amora asked softly, her tone suddenly gentle.Roy stared at the ground, his voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know. She left—I don’t even know where to. All I remember is, since I was little, it was ju
All the way to the hospital, Amora’s face was drawn and tense. Her heels clicked sharply against the polished, cold floor as she strode through the corridor. When she reached the reception desk, she fixed the nurse with a firm gaze.“I’m looking for a patient named Roy Danuwarta,” she said flatly, though her tone carried authority.The nurse scanned the list of patients before replying, “Room 314, east wing.”Amora gave a brief nod. “Thank you.”Without another word, she headed down the long corridor filled with the sterile scent of antiseptic. Each step echoed with a mixture of anger and irritation that she tried hard to suppress. After a few turns, she stopped before a glass door labeled Room 314.She knocked lightly. A hoarse voice came from inside, “Come in.”Amora pushed the door open, and Roy’s gaze immediately found her. The man managed a faint smile, though his face still looked pale.“Ah, El… I knew you’d come,” he said in a teasing tone.Amora stared back blankly. “Don’t fla