Title: Part 42.


    The orange sky turned dark. The beauty of dusk was reced by the night. Joe was still in his car on his way home. Antoni was driving for him. He noticed Joe’s continued gloominess since this morning. That afternoon, his boss didn’t show a smile at all when signing a contract with a model for the new Blue Jewelry product of the month. Even when returning home from work, his lips remained tightly sealed without a smile.


    “Sir,” Antoni called out, observing Joe through the rearview mirror.


    “Hmm…,” Joe nced briefly and looked out the window again.


    “Is Miss Kimmy still not recovered?” Antoni inquired. He was always curious about what was happening with his boss.


    “Kimmy is in the healing phase, her injuries aren’t too serious,” the man replied without turning. There was a heavy burden on his chest.


    “Is there a problem, Sir?” Antoni probed further. “Is this about Miss ra?” he pressed.


    “Hmm…,” was all Antoni heard.


    “If it’s a matter of the heart, I can’t help, but ifpared to your ex-wife, I think ra is more sincere with her feelings!” Antoni eximed.


    Joe didn’t respond. Because their car had already arrived at his home.


    “Not that issue!”


    “Then?”


    “You wouldn’t understand, Antoni!” Joe exined. Yes, this was aplicated situation. Letting go of ra to London? Letting go of ra for Gaston? And… Reconciling with Vivian?


    Joe shook his head vigorously; that wasn’t the solution. His life would be full of regrets if he let that happen. No!


    Joe’s phone vibrated, a message from Gaston came through.


    Dr. Gaston: [ra isn’t just beautiful, she’s also smart. Marry Vivian, and I will fight for ra!]


    Joe clenched his fists tightly, reading the message from his colleague.


    ==?==


    “Dad, Mom, we need to talk!” Joe looked at his parents alternately. About ra, it had to be settled soon.


    “What is it, son?” Mr. Bondmanded.


    “It’s about ra!” he said.


    “What about that girl! She’s the one who chose to leave this house!” Mr. Bond retorted.


    “I can’t let that happen, Dad! Even if ra studies in Ennd, I’ll be the one to take her there! I’ll be the one to prepare everything!” Joe insisted.


    “Do you choose Kimmy or ra?”


    “Both, Kimmy is my daughter, and ra, she has no one else but me!” Joe replied to his father’s gaze.


    “Vivian, don’t you want to go back to Vivian?!”


    “No, I have the right to choose what I want, and I will always prioritize Kimmy! I hope Mom and Dad won’t interfere anymore!” Joe left his parents’ room. Deciding to pick up ra tonight as well.


    ==?==


    “Mom, Dad, let me introduce her name is ra!” Dr. Gaston said to his parents.


    “I’m ra, Uncle, Auntie!” ra greeted each of the couple in front of her with a handshake.


    “Airin, Gaston’s mother.”


    “Edwin, Gaston’s father.”


    After making sure Kimmy could be discharged, Dr. Gaston, who had taken leave, immediately went to Bali. Besides missing his parents, he also wanted to take ra on vacation.


    “Is she your future wife, Gaston?” Mrs. Airin asked with sparkling eyes. All this time, she had wished Gaston would get married, but she couldn’t force her only son. The middle-aged woman could understand the pain her only child felt.


    “I don’t know, Ma, until now I haven’t gotten any answer from her! Look, until now she always calls me ‘doctor’!” Gaston protested, ncing at ra with a mischievous look.


    “ra, where do you live?” Mrs. Airin was very interested in ra. She wanted to get to know the girl better.


    “ra lives at Joe’s house, Ma, actually ra just graduated from high school, and her parents passed away ten years ago!” Gaston briefly exined.


    Mrs. Airin looked at ra. There was a feeling of sadness when looking into the girl’s eyes.


    “Have some, ra,” Mrs. Airin requested. She opened several boxes of cookies.


    “One moment, I have pudding in the fridge.” Mrs. Airin went to the kitchen followed by Gaston trailing behind her.


    “Do you really want to make ra your wife?” Mrs. Airin impatiently asked. This was the first time Gaston had brought a woman to introduce after his fiancée’s death.


    “I’m interested in her, Ma!” Gaston replied.


    “Mom will be very happy if you start thinking about finding a wife!” she replied. Mrs. Airin opened the fridge and took out avocado pudding.


    “Pray for me, Ma, even though ra is still young, I am really interested in her!” Gaston widened his lips into a smile.


    “Mom always prays for the best for you, son!” they both walked back to the living room.


    “ra, let’s eat!” she offered.


    “Okay.” ra widened her lips into a smile, but her heart still felt sad.


    Dr. Gaston, seeing ra still looking gloomy, took the initiative to take her out for a walk.


    “Ma, I’m going to take ra to the beach!” he informed.


    “Alright,e back before dinner, okay?”


    “Yes, Ma!”


    “Auntie, I’m leaving now!” ra bid farewell.


    “Okay.”


    Mrs. Airin smiled. There was a new hope, well at least Gaston had moved on and was no longer imprisoned in the memories of his past.


    ==?==


    The beach wind blew softly, caressing ra’s face. She sat next to the doctor.


    He was mesmerized by the beauty of the sunset.


    “ra,” he called softly, turning to the girl beside him. The reflection of the orange sun made her face look different. In Gaston’s eyes, she was very beautiful. Since the moment he met her at the clinic that morning.


    “Yes?” ra replied. It sounded like a question.


    “Do you not remember any of your family members?” Gaston asked.


    “I don’t remember, doctor!” ra replied.


    “What about your parents? Do you still remember them?” Dr. Gaston asked again.


    “My father’s name is Devano Rusadi, and my mother’s name is Ce, we used to live in London. After my parents passed away, Uncle Joe decided to take care of me,” ra exined.


    “Are your parents Joe’s coworkers?” he inquired.


    “No, Uncle Joe only lived with us for two years, while he pursued his master’s degree,” ra replied.


    “What about your grandparents?” he asked again. Quietly, he was investigating to find out about ra’s family. Curious!


    “My dad and mom never took me to meet them!” ra revealed.


    The girl lowered her head. Realizing one thing, that being alone and having no one was very sad.


    Dr. Gaston shifted his body. Closer to ra and forced her to lean on his shoulder.


    “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you sad, ra!” he said.


    “No, I’m not sad!” she dodged.


    “Can I ask again, ra? It would bother me if I didn’t ask!”


    “Just ask, doctor! I’ll answer!” ra slowly began to feelfortable. She who initially referred to herself as ‘saya’ now changed to ‘aku’.


    “Do you still hope for Joe after what happened at the hospital yesterday?” the man asked point-nk. Gaston didn’t intend to snatch ra from Joe, but what’s wrong with fighting for it. Who knows there might be a chance.


    “I no longer hope, but I still love him very much!” ra expressed honestly. Actually, ra wanted to meet Nadia and pour out her heart to her. Dr. Gaston didn’t mind, he was also a good listener.


    “Do you know anything about love, ra! You’re still young, pursue your dreams, study the major you want, and when you graduate, then you can think about love!” the doctor advised. “Whether it’s me or Joe you will choose!” he added.


    “What do you mean, doctor?” ra asked.


    “Look at me, ra, am I less handsome than Joe?” he joked, forcing ra to look at him.


    ra remained silent.


    “I’m a doctor, and I’ve never been married! My w, I just never attended gossip events because I never had a rtionship with a model!” he joked.


    “Does the doctor want to have a rtionship with a model, to go viral?” ra teased.


    “No! I’m more interested in having a rtionship with you!” he replied. Looking at ra with a warm and deep gaze.


    ra just stayed silent.


    ra’s phone rang. Startling them both.


    ==?==


    “Where’s Dad going?” Kimmy asked, seeing her dad rushing down the stairs.


    “Dad’s going out for a bit!” Joe replied, grabbing the keys from the table and leaving the living room.


    “Where are you going?” Kimmy asked again.


    This time Joe didn’t respond, wanting to pick up ra right away. Gaston’s words really disturbed him.


    Joe entered the car. Turning the key and driving his ck McLaren at full speed towards Gaston’s apartment.


    “Tonight you have toe home with me, ra. How dare you not call and not send a message. Beware of you, Gaston! Are you a friend or an opponent!” Joe muttered angrily. He kept stepping on the gas pedal, wanting to arrive at his high school friend’s private doctor’s apartment as soon as possible.


    Shiiiit….Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Joe stopped his car in front of the apartment building. He stormed in through the main door.


    Entering the elevator and pressing the button ording to the apartment unit.


    Joe stood and couldn’t calm down. Irritated by Gaston’s intention to take ra away from him.


    Ding!


    The elevator door opened.


    The man got out of the elevator, his steps fast and wide. Less than a minute, he arrived in front of Gaston’s apartment door.


    Joe pressed the doorbell.


    Once.


    Twice.


    Three times.


    No response and no answer.


    Joe grabbed his phone, deciding to call ra. Unwilling to let Gaston imprison ra any longer.


    The call connected.


    “ra,e out quickly, I’m waiting for you in front of the door!” Joe almost shouted.


    “So you’re picking up ra, it’s a shame we’re on vacation in Bali!” Gaston replied on the other end of the phone.


    The man really made Joe furious.


    “Where’s ra, why are you answering my phone, Gaston!” Joe protested.


    “We just enjoyed the sunset, let me and ra return to the hotel and she’ll call youter!” Gaston replied. Intentionally mentioning his house as a hotel. He smiled satisfied. Very sure tonight Joe wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully.


    To be Continued.