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Ninety-Six

Penulis: Racheal Novella
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-18 02:31:26

96

The air in the dining room carried the scent of warm soup and grilled fish, mixed with the sweet undertone of ripe mangoes and freshly cut pineapple. The long polished table, once a setting for stiff formal dinners, now held a softer energy, a fragile kind of peace that was just beginning to breathe.

Crystal’s mother moved briskly between the kitchen and the dining space, her eyes scanning every plate, her hands adjusting cutlery and tablecloths that already sat perfectly aligned. “Grace,” she called to one of the maids, “add more fruits to the center, please. And tell the cook to bring more tea, just in case.”

She was trying to cover up years of guilt with slices of watermelon and perfectly folded napkins. But beneath all that, her heart was alive with hope, and her hands trembled with the weight of a daughter finally home.

Crystal sat at the far end of the table, her body slumped slightly as she leaned back in the chair. Her hands cradled her belly gently, and her eyes fluttered
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Anne
I am so happy for Crystal and Adrian.
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  • The Price of His Betrayal    One Hundred & Seventy

    Adrian had carried the weight of Caleb’s absence all morning. He lingered longer than usual at the house, half-expecting him to walk through the door, but Caleb never came. By the time he arrived at the office, unease pressed heavily on his chest.He moved briskly to his desk, set down his files, and immediately called one of the assistant board staff. “Has Caleb checked in?” His voice betrayed a faint edge of worry. The replies were all the same, no one had seen him, no trace, no word.Adrian rubbed the back of his neck, pacing slightly. His brow furrowed deeper with each passing second, his jaw clenched as though he was holding back the frustration of not knowing what was going on. Finally, he gathered his things, ready to step out of the office and search for answers himself.The door creaked open just then. Caleb walked in, his steps unhurried, his face calm, too calm, almost as if he had prepared that composure.Adrian froze for a moment, relief flashing quickly across his eyes b

  • The Price of His Betrayal    One Hundred & Sixty-nine

    The morning broke gently, the sky painted in strokes of soft orange and pale blue. Birds called from the trees near the compound, their songs weaving into the rustle of leaves stirred by the early breeze. The mansion’s staff had already begun their duties, waiters moving briskly with trays, the gardeners watering flowers, and security men taking their shifts at the gates.Caleb stood quietly outside the tall wrought-iron gate, his hands in his pockets. The air was still cool, but a certain heaviness pressed against his chest. He had come with every intention of beginning the day smoothly, keeping things normal despite Jenny’s words from the night before about Crystal’s suspicions.But when he approached the guards, their tone was firm.“Sir, I’m sorry,” one of them said, shifting uneasily. “Madam Crystal instructed that you are not to be granted access into the house anymore.”For a moment, Caleb’s face stiffened. He lowered his gaze, his jaw tightening as the weight of the words sett

  • The Price of His Betrayal    One Hundred & Sixty-eight

    Crystal’s chest rose and fell with intensity as she gripped the balcony railing, her voice now firm, almost commanding. “He’s not going to step foot inside this house anymore,” she declared, her eyes narrowing. “Any business, any transaction, let it happen at the office or at his own place. But not here. My instincts don’t lie, Adrian. Something is definitely wrong. I am not comfortable with him being around here… around Zoe.”Her words came fast now, urgent, her hands trembling as she pressed them to her heart. “He needs to stay awake, Adrian, you need to stay awake. Look at the new securities, the men I’ve added. Do you think I did that for fun? No, it’s all for my son. I love him more than life itself, and I’ll go to any length to protect him. I will never—” her voice cracked, but she forced it louder, “—I will never let what happened before happen again!”Adrian stared at her, stunned at first, then shook his head with a bitter laugh. “Wow,” he muttered, his face twisting into dis

  • The Price of His Betrayal    One Hundred & Sixty-seven

    Caleb had explained everything to Rosie, Jenny’s growing obsession, Crystal's strange suspicions, and the dangerous feelings Jenny was beginning to develop. His voice had carried both frustration and weariness, yet also urgency, as though every word he spoke was time stolen from a clock that was running out.Minutes passed. Rosie’s shoulders softened, her clenched jaw easing as the storm on her face began to calm. Her eyes, still glistening with the remnants of tears, flickered with understanding. She finally exhaled, shaking her head slowly.“So… Jenny has feelings for you?” she asked quietly, her voice steadier now.Caleb’s gaze didn’t waver. He nodded once, firmly. “Yes. She does. But I can’t let that distract me. I have to be very careful with her… you know she's Crystal's best friend.” His tone was low, calculated, yet tinged with the weight of someone forced to play a dangerous game.Rosie tilted her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. Her expression shifted, half resignat

  • The Price of His Betrayal    One Hundred & Sixty-Six

    Caleb froze, then slowly turned his head toward her. She still hadn’t moved, her face hidden, her voice like a blade wrapped in velvet.A faint smile tugged at his lips, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You’ve always had the sharpest nose, Rosie,” he said softly, his voice low, almost soothing. “Even the wind wouldn’t dare pass you without being recognized.” He gave a quiet chuckle, masking the unease behind his words. “Don’t worry… nothing worth losing sleep over. Just a long day.”Rosie suddenly shifted, pushing herself upright on the bed. Her hair fell loosely around her face, her eyes glistening, not from sleep but from the weight she had been carrying inside. She turned to face Caleb directly, her lips trembling as she searched his face.“You know… at this point, I don’t understand you anymore, Caleb,” she began, her voice breaking between frustration and pain. Her brows furrowed, eyes narrowing as though trying to read something hidden in him. “One second, I matter to you

  • The Price of His Betrayal    One Hundred & Sixty-Five

    Caleb leaned forward slightly, his brow furrowed.“What do you mean by ‘strange,’ Jenny?” His voice was calm but carried a hint of curiosity that felt almost forced.Jenny gave a small laugh and waved her hand dismissively, the corners of her lips curling into an easy smile. “Oh please, it’s nothing much,” she said lightly. “Forget I even said it.”Caleb tilted his head, eyes narrowing just a little. “Nothing much? Come on, Jenny. I’ve known you to be a very transparent person, and I don’t think you’ve changed. So… what exactly makes me strange? I’m just curious to know if it’s something I can work on.”Jenny blinked at him, her smile faltering for a second. “It’s really nothing serious, like I said.” She took a sip from her drink and set the glass down, tapping her fingers on the table. “Well… the thing is, Crystal has been noticing some weird things about you.”Caleb’s spine stiffened. “Weird things?” he asked, his tone even, but his eyes darted down briefly before finding Jenny’s a

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