Nayla was surprised, but tried to normalize her feelings, “No. He doesn't look like you at all. He doesn't look like you at all.”
“Then why don't you and Michael live together?”
“It's a private matter. You have no right to interfere too much.” Nayla was about to stand up after her harsh words, but Zavier quickly held her back.
“I thought we were here to talk about the tender?” Nayla stared at Zavier with clear, perfectly rounded eyes.
“Let go of your hand, Zavier. Mind your manners!” she exclaimed, starting to feel agitated.
“Or are you going to slap me again? It still hurts.”
Zavier smiled slightly and immediately pulled Nayla into a hug, “I just missed you. Let me hold you for a while.”
Nayla froze, she felt confused because she could not lie to herself
“So we will compete fairly?” asked Zavier as he followed Nayla out of the room.“Yes, I will show you my skills. Promise to abide by my rules when I win.”Ting!The list opened and Nayla stepped into it followed by Zavier.As the elevator doors closed, Zavier brought his lips to Nayla's ear, “I will obey.”His whisper gave Nayla goosebumps and was slightly amused. However, the pounding in her heart made her unable to focus properly.“Aah, we're here,” she said awkwardly.When the elevator doors opened, Michael was already waiting in front of the elevator. His brow furrowed at the sight of Nayla's company in the same elevator.“I-I, we met downstairs earlier,” Nayla greeted him awkwardly and quickly got out of the elevator.“Those li
Zavier put his hand back and stared at the departure of the two people with a smile full of mystery.“She's mine,” Zavier muttered with a cold stare.***The evening's event took place grandly, in a luxurious ballroom filled with crystal chandeliers and elegant decorations. Guests danced on the spacious dance floor, while waiters passed by with trays of lavishly served drinks and snacks. Soft jazz music played, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.Nayla and Michael arrived together, looking perfectly matched in their party outfits. Nayla looks elegant in a light blue sheer dress that shows off her curves. Michael's hands were constantly on Nayla's back, which was exposed up to her waist.Zavier sipped his drink rudely at the sight and felt jealous.Michael was never far from Nayla's side, watching her every move. Whenever Zavier approached, Michae
Nayla fell silent, her face paled as guilt assailed her. “Michael, I can explain...” she tried to speak, but her voice trailed off.Zavier remained calm despite the escalating situation. He looked at Michael with a faint smile on his face, as if he didn't feel the slightest bit guilty. “There's nothing to worry about, Michael. We were just talking.”Michael approached further, now standing between Zavier and Nayla. “Stay away from my wife,” he said in a low, threatening tone, ”I warned you before, Zavier.”Zavier raised an eyebrow, as if challenged. “Sure, Michael. But remember, Nayla has the right to choose what she wants.”Before Michael could react, Nayla pulled his hand away, trying to stop the confrontation from escalating. “Michael, let's go,” she whispered, her eyes pleading with him not to prolong the matter. 
After soaking in the bath, trying to relieve the tension and calm herself down, Nayla came out feeling more refreshed, but her mind was still racing. As she reached for her cell phone lying on the dressing table, the screen lit up, displaying a message that had just come in.It was from Zavier.“When are you going to reunite me with Joen?”Nayla paused, staring at the screen with mixed feelings. The message from Zavier made her heart even more uncertain.He had promised to reunite Joen with his biological father, but she knew something else would happen when Zavier started the DNA test.“What should I do when Zavier finds out about his son? Will he take him away from me?” Nayla monologued pensively in front of the dressing table.Beep beep.Another message came in and it was from Zavier.&ldquo
Zavier gave a small applause. “That's amazing, Joen! You were great!”Joen smiled shyly and then approached Zavier, taking his hand gently. Zavier felt his heart melt at the little girl's sweet gesture.Nayla smiled happily at their interaction. Inwardly, Nayla recognized that Joen was rarely so close to new people. “You really have the magic touch, Zavier,” Nayla murmured as she gazed at Zavier and his movements in playing with Joen.Zavier felt proud and happy. “I'm glad I could make her comfortable. Joen is a wonderful girl.”Nayla nodded. “She is indeed extraordinary. Joen has her own way of showing affection and comfort. I'm so grateful that you can accept and appreciate her.”“Why do you want to meet him? He is Michael's son. Not yours, stop your unwarranted suspicions,” Nayla said with a confident smile.&n
That night, Zavier went home with a warm feeling in his heart. Meeting Joen gave him new hope and a deep sense of love. He knew that just by virtue of meeting the little girl, he had a chance to win Nayla's heart back.Zavier took out a neatly folded tissue from his pocket as he called Mando.“Yes, sir?”“Come here right now and keep this call a secret from Cahyo. I need you to do something for me!”“Okay!”As the call closed, Zavier smiled mysteriously as he unfolded the neatly folded tissue.A few strands of hair belonged to little Joen.Only half an hour and Mando was already in front of Zavier, “Sir.”“Do a DNA test on this hair and give the samples to three different labs. I don't want any more mistakes.”“Yes, sir.”“There is one more thing,” Zavier continued.“Yes, sir?”“Do Fernando's DNA tes
Nayla was silent for a moment, contemplating Michael's words. “Michael, I'm not asking you to forget or forgive Zavier. I just want to give Joen a chance to get to know his father. I will always protect Joen and myself, but I cannot ignore Joen's happiness.”“This is not about me or my feelings, Michael. It's about Joen.”“She looked like a normal girl when she was playing with Zavier. She was interacting with her father. I-I was touched by the sight.”Michael sighed, held his sore cheek and sat down next to Nayla. “Nayla, I just want you to be happy and safe. I don't want to see you hurt again.”Michael realized his own shortcomings because while he was playing with Joen, the girl kept glancing the other way and playing with her own world.Nayla looked at Michael with understanding. “I know, Michael. I really appreciate your
Nayla was stunned and froze for an instant. She had not yet said anything. Michael had already moved closer to her.With a strong inner drive, Michael finally forced a kiss onto Nayla's lips. The kiss was filled with emotion and desperation. Nayla, who was distressed and confused, did not resist; she let Michael kiss her with a broken heart.However, as the kiss progressed, Nayla felt helpless inside her. The sound of her slow, ragged breathing could also be felt by Michael.Michael realized that the kiss was not getting the response he expected. There was something in the way Nayla responded that showed how much she was still attached to Zavier.Michael pulled away, letting go of Nayla painfully. He looked at Nayla with eyes full of sadness. “I cannot continue this, Nayla. I know that in your heart there is only Zavier.”Nayla looked down, tears streaming down her ch
***Happy ending***Zavier smiled coldly, his gaze calculating. “They conspired,” he replied in a low but firm tone. “They stole Nayla's identity and made my wife suffer through memory loss. They played with her life, erasing the precious memories we once had. If they think they can get away with it, they're sadly mistaken.”His assistant remained calm on the other end of the line, waiting for further instructions. “What is your plan, sir?”Zavier stared far ahead, his eyes filled with determination. “Reclaim her face,” he said meaningfully, ”and let the fake forget her memory. Make her feel what Nayla experienced. If they dare to take my wife's life, then I will take back what they stole. The face they created, the memories they formed... let it all crumble and perish.”His assistant nodded on the other end of the line, understanding what Zavier meant. “Yes, sir. I will arrange everything.
Sefia gasped and turned her head quickly, her eyes showing obvious shock. “Oh, Zavier... I just... had some sudden business,” she stammered. “You don't need to worry. It's just a short meeting.”However, Zavier did not simply believe her. There was something in the woman's demeanor that made him suspicious, and his desire to find out more surfaced strongly.Without saying anything else, he let Sefia go first, but not long after, Zavier got into his car and started following behind.Zavier kept his distance, making sure that Sefia did not notice his presence. He drove slowly, following Sefia's car carefully. Every turn the woman took further emphasized Zavier's suspicions. “What is she really hiding?” he muttered to himself.“She doesn't look like the Nayla that belongs to me, her eyes, her voice are different, and her height. Why did I never realize that?&rdq
“Sara, a-I'll give you an extra fee... for... for what happened last night.”Hearing that, Sara's eyes rounded and a pile of tears began to gather rapidly.Those words pierced Sara's heart. It was as if everything that happened between them was just a transaction, not something that had meaning.Her face that had been full of love turned into unbearable anger. “Pay?” she snarled in a sharp voice, her eyes looking at Bram with disappointment.“So, you think I'm just a servant who can be bought? What happened last night is just something you can pay me to erase?”Bram was silent, not expecting Sara's reaction to be that harsh. He opened his mouth, trying to find words to defuse the situation, but Sara continued before he could speak.“I'm not something you can bargain with, honorable Mr. Bram! Whatever happened last nig
His ears seemed to be deaf to the words Sara threw out. To him, in that drunken state, Sara was Nayla coming back to him, and this was a chance to embrace the woman he had been longing for.“Don't leave again, Nayla... please...” she whispered desperately, holding Sara's body on the bed. Tearing off the clothes she was wearing and starting to nuzzle Sara's slender neck.Sara tried to push Bram away, trying to snap him out of his drunken stupor. “Mr. Bram, this is not Nayla! You're drunk! Let go of me!” she said in a loud and trembling voice. However, her efforts were not strong enough to sober Bram up.Feelings of fear and confusion mixed in Sara's mind. She knew that this man was obsessed with Nayla, but she never expected to be in this situation.In a last ditch effort, she gathered all the strength she had and managed to break free from Bram's grip, roll off the bed, and escape out of the room as quickly as possible, leaving Bra
Nadia's face-or Nayla, as it often crossed his mind-was so similar to the one he remembered as the wife he loved. Not just in terms of physical appearance, but also in the way she spoke, her gentle smile, and the way she looked at Zavier as if recognizing the deepest part of his soul. Every glance, every body movement, felt like an inexplicable déjà vu.Her lips and her kiss.However, the woman now in his home-who he had always believed to be Nayla-felt different.It was as if something was missing, something unseen but felt. Her gaze was empty and distant, her touch no longer providing the warmth they once shared.“Have I been blinded by my desperation to get my wife back? Is that woman really Nayla?” Zavier thought.Zavier clasped his head with both hands, trying to calm the turmoil of his feelings. If this Nadia was the real Nayla, then who was the wo
Zavier immediately turned to Nayla, who was now sitting upright on the sofa with her hair tousled and her eyes half open. He knew that the situation could get ugly if he didn't get things under control soon.“Nayla, calm down,” he said in a soothing tone on his cell phone. “I'm helping someone who needs help. There's nothing for you to worry about.”However, those words were not enough to calm Sefia down. “Helping someone? In the middle of the night like this? And that woman's voice, why is she with you?” Sefia was getting more and more agitated, her voice portraying a burning anger and jealousy.Zavier let out a long breath, realizing that a simple explanation would not be enough to ease the anger of the woman who claimed to be his wife.“Nadia is facing a complicated situation, and I can't just leave her. Believe me, I didn't do anything wrong,” she r
Zavier looked at her deeply, as if trying to find the answer behind Nadia's eyes. “Maybe there's something in you that's more than just a similar face to Nayla. Maybe, somehow, we once had more of a connection than we realized.”“Or... are you the real Nayla?” asked Zavier, but the question was more to himself as Nadia just looked at him with a sad face.They sat in silence for a while, enjoying the warmth that still remained from that moment. Although there was a lot of confusion and questions still hanging in the air, both of them felt a strange but real bond, as if fate had brought them back together after a long time apart.The rain began to fall heavily outside, droplets soaking the windows and a soft, soothing rhythm could be heard.Zavier looked out for a moment before turning back to Nayla. Without saying much, he led her to the living room. They walked slowly, feeling the silence filled only by the sound of the rain drippi
Zavier took another step towards Nayla and said, “You rest inside and I'll take Joen home first. After that, I'll come and bring some food for you, okay?”Nayla nodded obediently and gave a warm smile and waved goodbye to Joen.They got back into the car, and Zavier drove Joen home.Along the way, his mind was spinning, thinking of the steps to take. Who exactly was the woman he brought to the empty house? Was she really the real Nayla, or just the result of Bram's crazy obsession with creating a clone?The questions kept swirling in his mind, and Zavier knew that the answers he would find might change everything.After ensuring Joen's safe return, Zavier quickly returned to the empty house. He had to talk to the woman, find out who she really was, and what was really going on. In his heart, Zavier hoped that the truth, no matter how hard it was, would come out so that everyone involved could find the peace that had been taken from thei
Having run out of steam to vent his anger, Bram shuffled towards his room. The door slammed loudly behind him, signaling that he didn't want to be disturbed.Sara stood at the door, while several servants began to organize to clean up the broken glass scattered in the living room.Moments later, there was the sound of a bottle being opened and the smell of alcohol spreading from behind the door. Bram took a rough swig of liquor, trying to shake off the deep frustration and emptiness.He felt like he had done everything-transforming Sefia into Nayla's likeness, and thinking he could slowly possess Nayla-but in reality, the real Nayla still eluded him.In that dark room, Bram felt completely defeated. No matter how much he tried to control the situation, reality always made him feel like he was chasing a shadow that he could never reach.The man occasionally shouted, startling Sara. However, the woman remained faithful and behind the door of the room