I laughed, the sound I'd held back for so long finally bursting out full of bitterness, dripping with sarcasm and not the slightest hint of hesitation.
"Do you really think you can make up for everything you've done with an offer that crazy, Andrian?" I said, my voice trembling but firm. "You've humiliated me enough in the past. You left me right when I was preparing to become yours, without a word, without an explanation. That wound never healed. The pain still lingers to this day, and you think I'd let myself be bound to you again?"
I slammed my employee ID card and desk drawer key onto the wooden table.
"I'm stepping down now. Starting this second, I'm no longer your secretary, and you're no longer the superior I have to respect."
I turned and walked away without looking back. Behind me, I heard Andrian's breath catch. When I glanced over my shoulder, I saw his face deathly pale, his eyes wide with disbelief. His lips moved as if he wanted to say my name, but not a single word could escape.
And for the first time in five years, I felt entitled to walk away, even though the pain still tore through my chest.
Walking out of the building felt like dragging a ton of weight behind me, but my decision was final. My breathing quickened, and cold sweat trickled down my temples despite the cool afternoon breeze. I climbed into a taxi and finally let out all the tears I'd been holding back until my chest felt tight.
When I arrived at my apartment, I collapsed into a chair on the terrace. Before I could calm myself, my phone rang loudly. The name “Aunt Ana” appeared on the screen. My hand trembled as I answered.
“Hello, Auntie?”
Aunt Ana's sobs immediately filled my ear. “Nisa… Nisa, honey… Grandma's been hospitalized!”
It felt as if my blood stopped flowing. “What? What's wrong with Grandma? How did this happen?”
“She suddenly fainted this afternoon and was taken to the regional hospital. The doctor said Grandma has a heart problem and needs surgery immediately. The cost… the cost is enormous, Nisa. We don't have enough money.” Aunt Ana broke down sobbing. “I'm so ashamed to call you… but there's no one else we can ask for help. Do you have any money left that we could borrow? I'll pay you back, I promise, as soon as possible.”
My tears flowed even harder. I clutched my aching chest. Grandma was everything to me—the parent who raised me from childhood after my father and mother passed away. I couldn't just stand by and let her suffer.
“Don't worry, Auntie… I'll try to gather the money. I promise I'll help as much as I can.”
“Thank you, Nisa… Thank you so much, honey. You're our only hope now.”
After the call ended, I hugged my knees tightly. The chaotic thoughts came rushing back. I'd just quit my job, throwing away my only substantial source of income. How was I supposed to pay the hospital bill?
Andrian. His insane offer came back to me. But every time I remembered his face, the pain from that wedding day tore through me again. Yet for Grandma's sake, should I reconsider it? Or was there another path I could take?
Just thinking about it made it hard for me to decide. Andrian was so cold—even when we'd first met again after five years, he was still the same. What would he say if I accepted his crazy offer?
[Nis, let's meet]
Short, direct, and clear. The unknown number had contacted me again. And after checking the profile, I realized it was Andrian Antoni. I had no idea where he'd gotten my phone number.