"Ma'am, y—you've been released from prison?" A woman, Richard's personal secretary, was shocked when Amara came to his office for the first time.
Amara stepped forward firmly without hesitation, her old aura not faded in the slightest. She approached the large glass window in the room, presenting a much wider view.
The city view she had missed, the grand chair she had not occupied for 7 years.
"Are you surprised to see my arrival, or... are you afraid of something, hm?" Amara turned around, then sat in Richard's chair.
"It's not like that, Ma'am."
"Tomorrow is Richard's return schedule from Bali, can you rearrange his schedule until next week?" Amara asked.
"Why, Ma'am? Aren't you going to meet Mr. Richard?"
"I want to give a surprise." Amara smiled meaningfully. "He doesn't know I'm out of prison yet. So please rearrange the schedule again, until I'm ready with my surprise. Do you understand?"
The woman lowered her head, then nodded without arguing. Amara then rose from her chair and left the room while calling someone.
Her expression changed, the firm gaze full of anger could not be hidden. In the silence of office hours that were already empty tonight, Amara would begin the next plan.
"Megan, we have about 7 days. I want to study everything, everything I missed in my own company."
---
The next day.
Amara dragged a suitcase from her room, she had no intention of staying in a house that was no longer her home. The disappointment that was already too deep, the hatred that piled up, it all broke when Amara learned Richard openly made all decisions without her approval.
On Amara's steps toward the first floor, she saw Vero standing near the living room sofa.
The child's gaze was still the same as before, looking at Amara like a stranger.
"You come with Mommy, Sweetheart. We'll live in a new house, Mommy will take care of you." Amara stroked the top of Vero's head and spoke gently.
"Why are you so sure I'm your child? And you packed my things in the room, does Daddy know?" Vero asked.
"Vero..." Amara knelt in front of Vero, looking at her son with tenderness. "Mommy has to do this, someday you'll know why Mommy made this decision. That's because you are my only purpose now."
Vero was silent.
"Mommy was wrong and apologizes to you, for 7 years Mommy was never there, it's not your fault that you ended up not knowing Mommy. No one around us can be trusted."
Amara held both of Vero's hands, hands still small and a heart still pure to be around hypocritical people.
Amara was afraid if Vero stayed around Richard, anyone could harm him. Amara wanted Vero safe, and under her protection.
"Mommy will cook your favorite food, read stories before bed, watch movies together, you can ask anything to Mommy about your homework at school. We'll do what was lost for 7 years, Vero."
Vero remained silent for a few moments. The child did not get angry when all his belongings were put into the moving car, as if something was bothering him.
Why did Vero accept the invitation without refusing? Did something happen? Amara had to find out, it was possible Vero was not very close to his father.
"But I don't want to call you Mommy yet, I don't know you. What if you're lying?"
Amara smiled faintly, after she searched many things about this house. Nothing was left, not a single wedding photo. 3 of her wedding photo albums were nowhere to be found, and Amara had no photo history with Vero.
This child kept questioning, who are you? How can I be your child?
Questions Amara could not answer.
"Alright, call me Mommy whenever you want. As long as you come with Mommy, Vero."
"Ma'am, won't this become a problem? What if Mr. Richard gets angry?" asked Lia who was with them.
Amara turned. "Do you want to oppose and side with Richard?"
Lia lowered her head. "Sorry, Ma'am."
Amara stroked Vero's hair once again. "Lia, your choice is in your own hands. Come with me and your job is safe, or side with the man who will fall in time."
"I—I'll follow you, Ma'am."
Amara smiled faintly, then rose from the floor. She led Vero into the car waiting in front of the house. Lia would work as a nanny, because Amara needed someone Vero knew so he would feel comfortable.
---
Some time later.
At an important event attended by Richard, he was having fun without realizing there would be a big surprise waiting for him at home.
He forgot that the date he passed was the moment of awakening a sleeping lion in a detention cell.
"She's beautiful, isn't she? You're not interested in approaching her?" asked a friend of Richard named Evan. He gave a sign for Richard to look at a young woman, the unmarried daughter of a wealthy businessman.
"I still want to enjoy my peace, Evan. You know yourself, since my wife was imprisoned... I worked hard day and night so trust in the company wouldn't disappear."
"But you always use call girls, is that a form of peace, huh?"
Richard turned to look at his friend. "Marriage is troublesome," he said while taking a sip of the drink in his hand.
He looked at the woman Evan had mentioned, apparently the woman was also looking at him. However, Richard was not too interested in having a serious relationship.
He was still obsessed with one thing he had to obtain. Women could come later, right?
"I've been patient enough for 7 years, be honest with me, Evan... Which man is more loyal than me?"
Richard asked, not to convince that he was loyal. Rather for an acknowledgment, that he was known by people as a good husband and father.
Richard deliberately did not openly bring women or remarry, it was for the sake of his good name. He was building a face as an angel.
---
When it was time for Richard to start working at the office. Every day, he was always confident managing the company. Although his skills were not comparable to Amara, he could still find other ways to stay in his position.
The executive elevator door opened slowly, almost without sound.
Richard stepped in with a calm stride that had become a habit for years. The elevator was always empty every morning, other employees never dared use it at his arrival time. Without needing to look, he knew everything was running as it should.
His hand raised the access card, then tapped it on the sensor panel.
A short beep sounded.
But not the usual sound. The indicator light remained red.
Richard frowned slightly. He lifted the card, looked at it for a moment, then tapped it again.
The same sound was heard.
Still red.
The director floor button did not light up.
He tried pressing the number of his office floor.
No response. The panel remained dark as if it did not recognize him.
For the first time in years working in that building, Richard stood without control inside his own elevator.
Richard then called security. "To my place now, I'm in the elevator!"
"Yes, Sir."
After waiting a moment, the officer finally came and checked.
"Please try once again, Sir."
Richard did not answer. His jaw hardened, and he tapped his access card again, this time harder than before.
Still failed.
The security officer received a call from the radio on his waist. He listened for a few seconds, then his face turned stiff.
"Sorry, Sir… your access card has been revoked from the central system."
Richard slowly turned with a cold gaze. "What do you mean revoked?"
The officer hesitated, then pointed to the small screen beside the elevator panel. A line had just appeared on the authorization system.
Authorized by: Amara Gabrielle
Instantly silent.
That name struck something inside Richard's head. Amara? Impossible.
He stared at the small screen longer, as if hoping the letters would change. But the writing remained the same, cold and clear.
Authorized by: Amara Gabrielle
"She—"
"You finally remember that name still exists, Richard?"
Richard's body stiffened. That voice... Slowly he turned back. His eyes immediately widened.
Amara stood a few steps from the elevator, wearing a dark formal suit. Her hair was neatly arranged, her face calm, too calm for someone who had just come out of prison.
Not the face of a broken woman.
But the face of someone who came to take back what was hers.
The security officer reflexively stepped back to give way.
The silence in the morning lobby felt pressing. Several employees passing by began to stop walking.
They recognized that face. Or more precisely… they remembered who that woman used to be.