Chapter 7 Meeting Father-in-Law

It was beginning to turn dusk when Anita left her office. The sky was red, as if reflecting her finally calm heart. She took a deep breath, enjoying the breeze caressing her face. It had been a rough day, but at least two venomous snakes, as Anita called them, no longer intimidated her.

She opened her car door, ready to step inside, when the sound of hurried footsteps stopped her.

"Anita."

Reflexively, she turned. A middle-aged man in a gray suit stood a few meters away. His face was calm, but there were lines of worry at the corners of his eyes.

"Father-in-law?" Anita tilted her head, surprised. "What are you doing here, Dad?"

"Can we talk for a moment?"

Anwar's tone was calm, but Anita detected a hint of wariness. She raised an eyebrow, considering, but finally nodded. "Okay. Let's go to the garden behind the building. It's quieter there."

They walked in silence, only the sound of their shoes bouncing on the tiled floor.

The small garden behind the building was silent. Only the gurgling water from the fish pond and the rustling of the wind through the leaves accompanied them.

"So, what's the matter with you, Dad?" Anita asked, looking directly into Anwar's eyes.

He sighed heavily, as if considering many things.

"Morgan is returning to Indonesia."

Anita was silent for a moment, before finally saying, "I know. He contacted me first."

Anwar was surprised. "Did he tell you?"

"Yes. Why? Is there something Dad is worried about? Is he having financial difficulties?" Anita was deliberately provoking. She knew there was something he wasn't saying.

Anwar's lips moved, as if about to speak, then decided against it. Finally, he shook his head slowly. "No. It's not that."

"Then what? Dad seems anxious," Anita said quietly, noticing the look in her father-in-law's eyes.

Silence. Anwar stared at the pond in front of them, then finally spoke.

"He's in big trouble. Trouble I can't tell you in detail. But one thing's for sure... Morgan has a lot of enemies, Anita. Enemies who won't hesitate to kill anyone who gets near him."

Anita fell silent. Her heart sank, but she tried to remain calm. "What do you mean, Dad? Am I—"

"You'd better be careful. Then I'll be going."

Mr. Anwar left immediately after saying that Morgan had many enemies. He was worried that Anita would become his main target.

Anita herself was surprised by what Mr. Anwar had just said. Morgan had a lot of enemies? Who's the enemy, anyway?"

"Mr. Anwar," Anita called back, but the man had already left.

"Wow, he runs so fast."

Anita was about to chase after Anwar and ask something, but the man had already left. It left her puzzled.

"What did he mean by that?" Anita thought.

While Anita chatted with Anwar in the garden, two female figures peeked out from behind the vine-covered wall. The afternoon breeze ruffled Hana's loose hair, but her gaze remained sharp, observing Anita's movements.

"Does Mama know that man?" Hana whispered softly, her voice almost drowned out by the murmur of the pond water.

Ayu shook her head slowly. Her face was full of puzzlement. "No. But from the way they spoke… it wasn't a normal relationship."

"Are you sure, Mama?" Hana looked at her mother with a raised eyebrow. "He seemed familiar. He even seemed to be saying something important."

"Yeah… I felt strange too. Anita isn't the type to get close to men carelessly."

Hana squinted, observing Anwar's posture from a distance. Although the man's body wasn't as youthful as it once was, his eyes were strong and compelling. "Wait, Mom... could it be that that old man is Anita's husband?"

Ayu glanced at Hana quickly, shocked. "You said... her husband?"

"Yes. They're both mysterious. If he really is her husband, then Anita is hiding something."

Ayu seemed to be deep in thought. Her eyes stared blankly at the ketapang tree, which was shedding its leaves one by one. "No way. I know Anita is intelligent; she wouldn't marry a man our father's age."

"That's precisely why it's interesting to investigate." Hana grinned slightly. "I won't stay silent."

But the smile quickly faded when Ayu gripped her daughter's hand tightly.

"I want you to investigate that man, Hana. Find out who he is, what his relationship is with Anita, and what they're both hiding."

"Me?" Hana's face suddenly looked reluctant. "I'm not a detective, Mom. And I'm busy taking care of my own engagement."

Ayu tightened her grip on his hand. "Listen, you're the future son-in-law of the Sanjaya family. You have everything: access, money, power. Don't let your engagement be ruined just because of one scheming woman named Anita."

Hana fell silent, starting to feel a burning sensation in her chest. The engagement to Prayoga was part of her plan, and if Anita interfered… she wouldn't let it happen.

"Okay, Mom. If this is what you want, I'll do it." A sly smile slowly formed on her lips.

"Good." Ayu smiled with satisfaction. "We won't let Anita ruin everything. She needs to know her place."

The two of them looked at each other before finally turning to leave their hiding place.

TO BE CONTINUED