Chapter 5 - The plan behind the plan

Kania took a deep breath, trying to calm her violently pounding heart. Whatever they were talking about, she had to know. Curiosity and fear mixed into a single, suffocating knot. Slowly, she approached the door, pressing her ear to the thick wood, trying to catch faint scraps of the conversation.

"Yes, Sir. I know that. I'll take care of it as soon as possible," Arka's voice was heard, clearer this time. There was a familiar tone of seriousness and authority, a tone Kania had always heard when Arka was handling important work in the past.

Then, her father's voice was heard again, this time with the hearty laugh Kania missed. "Ha ha ha! Good, son. You're always reliable. I trust you. I hope your plan goes smoothly. Don't worry about Kania. She's fine."

Kania's heart sank. Don't worry about Kania? Her father said that to Arka? And what plan were they talking about? A plan that made Arka contact her father in the middle of the night?

Kania stepped back, a dizzy spell assaulting her. This was strange. Very strange. Since the divorce, Arka and his family had practically cut off all contact, except for legal matters. Kania herself desperately kept her distance, refusing any help or attention that came from Arka.

"No... it can't be..." she whispered to herself.

Kania shook her head hard. She had to think clearly. She knew her father was sick. His psychological condition was unstable, and he was often taken advantage of by others, especially concerning debt and gambling. Could Arka be trying to trap her father again? Or was Arka just trying to get revenge by approaching her father and exploiting him?

The thought infuriated Kania. She clenched her fists. She didn't care if Arka remarried, or got engaged to anyone. But if Arka dared to lay a finger on her father, Kania would not stand idly by.

Without waiting any longer, Kania quickly pushed open her father's bedroom door.

Her father, who was sitting on the edge of the bed with a cell phone to his ear, looked shocked. His eyes widened, and the smile on his face instantly vanished.

"Dad!" Kania exclaimed, her steps quickening toward her father.

Her father immediately pulled the phone away from his ear, trying to hide it from Kania's view, but it was too late. Kania had already seen the name on the screen: "Arka."

"Kania! Why did you come in without knocking? That's rude!" her father scolded in an angry tone Kania rarely heard, which indicated he was panicking intensely.

"What are you talking about with him? Why are you calling Arka this late? What are you planning?" Kania pressed, her voice trembling with restrained anger and fear.

Her father let out a harsh sigh. "It's none of your business! I was just talking normally, a small matter. That's enough, don't interfere! Go!"

"A small matter? Dad, he... he got engaged last night! He's nobody to you anymore! What else are you asking from him? Money again?" Kania could no longer hold back her disappointment and pain.

Her father's face immediately darkened, his eyes showing sadness. "He doesn't want to hurt me, Kania. He actually wants to help us. He said he would pay off all our debts and help with my treatment," he said in a softer voice, trying to defend Arka.

Hearing those words, Kania felt like she had been hit by a blunt object. Not anger, but a deep pain that her father so easily trusted false promises and demeaned himself.

"Dad... you know, right? All of Arka's promises must have an ulterior motive. He won't give without asking for a much bigger return. Please, don't be so gullible!" Kania pleaded, her voice now softening with supplication.

Her father shook his head. "I know him, Kania. He's not that evil. He's just... trying to make amends."

Kania was speechless. She knew that when her father spoke like this, it was pointless to argue. His mind was troubled, and he would always look for the easiest way out, even if it meant sacrificing his own daughter, or in this case, getting dragged back into Arka's affairs.

"Alright," Kania said, picking up the bowl of soup and cup of coffee that had begun to cool. "Your soup is ready. Drink and eat, then rest. Please, don't call him again tonight. Let me handle the debt problem," she requested, then turned and left the room with a broken heart.

***

On the other end of the phone, Arka sighed in relief when he heard Kania's voice move away and then the door close. He knew Kania would react. That was why he had only spoken briefly with Kania's father, just to make sure his first phase of the plan was well-received.

Arka moved the phone away from his ear and stared at the ceiling of the luxurious hotel room. Olivia was already asleep beside him, facing away. Arka could feel the distance between them, a distance that was not only physical but also emotional.

The engagement that night was a show, part of a larger scenario to keep Kania safe from Olivia's family. Arka knew exactly how cruel his fiancée's family was. If Kania wasn't kept away, or at least convinced that Arka no longer cared about her, Kania would become an easy target.

Arka couldn't let that happen. He had failed to protect Kania in the past, but it wouldn't happen again this time.

He pressed the redial button, waited briefly, then brought the phone back to his ear.

"Vero, it's me," he whispered softly, ensuring his voice wouldn't wake Olivia.

"Yes, Mr. Arka. I'm still in the lobby," Vero replied from the other end.

"Proceed as planned. Early in the morning, take care of all of Mr. Eleanor's debts. Pay them all off. Also make sure his psychological treatment costs are covered by the foundation under an anonymous name, not mine. Kania must not know I'm the one doing it," Arka commanded, his voice calm yet firm.

"Understood, Sir. I will prepare the documents immediately. But Mr. Arka, are you sure you want to go this far? She... Miss Kania really hates you," Vero asked cautiously, a hint of worry in his voice.

Arka was silent for a moment. Yes, he knew Kania hated him. That hatred was a shield, a barrier he himself had created so Kania could distance herself from him and live a better life.

"Let her hate. It's easier for me. The important thing is she's safe. During the holiday, make sure all my people are around Kania's house. Don't let her be alone, not even for a second," Arka concluded.

"Yes, Sir. I understand," Vero replied.

Arka ended the call. His heart felt heavy, but at least he had taken the initial step.

He knew Kania's plan to "detonate the bomb during the holiday" must be related to an effort to remove him from Olivia's life, so he wouldn't be in danger. Kania always protected the people she cared about, even if that person was her former husband whom she hated.

Arka smiled faintly. Kania never changed.

"You'll see, Kania. I will protect you, even if I have to become the man you hate the most in this world," Arka murmured. He got up, grabbed a towel, and headed for the bathroom.

He had to cleanse himself, not from the residue of the "crazy struggle" as he had thought before, but from the suffocating burden on his mind. Tonight felt long, and tomorrow, he had to put back on the mask of the cold man who was loved and feared by many, especially in front of Olivia.