Chapter 4
1190 Words
Like the nights before, the evening was quiet in Aluna and Kaanan’s bedroom. Aluna lay on the side of the bed staring anxiously at the ceiling while Kaanan slept with his back turned to her.
They had lived together for weeks, yet the distance between them felt like an invisible chasm. Kaanan was cold—too cold. Occasionally he softened, but only for a fleeting moment, then rebuilt the wall of ice that made Aluna feel like a stranger in her own home.
Aluna bit her lip. How long can I keep enduring this?
She sighed and rolled to the side. Her hand almost reached out to touch Kaanan’s back, just to make sure he was real. But before her fingers could touch him, Kaanan shifted away, as if his body knew... or deliberately avoided her.
“Such a cold man,” Aluna murmured bitterly.
---
The next morning, Aluna went down to the dining room. The long table was laid with a full breakfast—bread, eggs, bacon, fresh fruit. The servants bowed respectfully.
“Good morning, Mrs Aluna.”
Aluna forced an awkward smile. She still wasn’t used to being called that. “Has Mr. Kaanan left yet?”
“Not yet, Mrs Aluna. Sir is still in his workroom.”
Aluna nodded and sat, sipping orange juice. But unease gnawed at her. There was something different about the morning—an ominous feeling that wouldn’t leave her.
Sure enough, not long after, Kaanan emerged from his study. His black suit was perfectly fitted, his tie immaculate. His face was cold as a statue. But it wasn’t his appearance that made Aluna flinch; it was the first words he spoke.
“Did you get a message from someone last night?” Ask Kaanan.
Aluna nearly choked on her juice. “A-a message? What message?”
Kaanan stared at her sharply. “An unknown number.”
Aluna’s heart pounded. Indira—she remembered the brief text from her stepmother. But she had deleted it. How could Kaanan know?
“There was nothing,” she answered quickly.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Silence fell. For a few seconds Kaanan simply watched her, as if searching her face for the lie, then he walked away.
---
Across town, a woman stood elegantly before a mirror. Her red gown hugged her figure, lipstick matched to perfection. Indira.
“Quite special today,” she murmured to her reflection. “After so long, I’m back.”
She reached for a glass of wine. On the table lay a framed photo of Kaanan—and beside it, a photo of Aluna smiling awkwardly at a recent company event.
Indira brushed a finger across Aluna’s photo and smirked. “That little girl has grown up. Now she’s the lady of the house, huh? The world is smaller than I thought. You think I’ll sit quietly after you pushed me away?”
“Watch and see. I won’t let you two be.”
---
A few days later, Aluna accompanied Kaanan to a company event. She stood at his side, maintaining the proper image though her heart weighed heavy. Guests approached, greeting Kaanan with respect.
Then Aluna froze.
Across the room, Indira stood—dressed in an elegant black gown, hair neatly pinned, a thin smile on her lips.
Aluna felt as if her blood stopped. “Indira?”
Kaanan glanced over. “What did you say?”
Aluna quickly shook her head. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”
But her eyes couldn’t leave the woman. Indira looked back, then raised her glass in a casual toast.
After the event, Aluna slipped outside for a moment. She found Indira in the rear garden, standing alone with a cigarette in hand.
“Indira.” Aluna’s voice caught.
Indira turned, her smile venomous. “Ah, finally we can talk.”
“Why are you back? What are you planning?” Aluna demanded.
Indira stepped forward and smirked. “Because the time is right. I don’t care who you married, Aluna. You’re still the child who once stood in my way. And now you will pay.”
Aluna took a step back. “I never stood in anyone’s way. You left when Father went bankrupt and fell into debt.”
Indira laughed softly. “So naive. You think I left because I wanted to? I left because your father was useless. But now I see opportunity. Being part of the Sangkala Group looks far more appealing.”
“Don’t interfere with Kaanan,” Aluna said, her voice trembling but firm.
Indira sniffed. “Oh, so you defend your husband? He doesn’t even love you. Everyone knows you’re a wife bought with debt. Believe me, Aluna—I can take everything from you, including Kaanan.”
“We’ll see who remains standing,” Aluna replied.
---
Since that night, Aluna’s anxiety worsened. She wanted to tell Kaanan everything, but she was afraid—what if he misunderstood? What if he thought she was conspiring with Indira?
Meanwhile, Kaanan grew suspicious. He noticed Aluna often lost in thought, her face tense.
“If there’s something, tell me,” he said one night.
Aluna shook her head quickly. “There isn’t.”
Kaanan stepped closer, staring at her sharply. “You are hiding something.”
“I’m not—”
“Don’t lie, Aluna. I hate lies.”
His words struck like a whip. Aluna swallowed and looked down. She wanted to speak but didn’t know where to begin.
Kaanan turned away at last. “Fine. If you don’t trust me, don’t expect me to trust you.”
Those words pierced Aluna’s heart. Tears fell before she could stop them. If only Kaanan knew how frightened and frustrated she really was.
---
Elsewhere, Indira was busy plotting. She approached a few old trusted associates of the Sangkala family, offering money and sweet promises. She also began spreading rumors that Aluna was nothing but an opportunistic woman using her father’s debt to climb the social ladder.
The rumors spread fast. A few gossip outlets ran articles—unnamed, but clearly referring to Aluna.
Kaanan was furious when he read them. But instead of defending her, he turned to Aluna.
“Is this your doing?”
Aluna froze. “What do you mean?”
“Are you seeking attention in a cheap way? Creating gossip so people feel sorry for you?”
“I would never do that!”
“Then who?!” Kaanan snapped. He was very angry.
“I don’t know!” Aluna’s tears fell. “Why do you always accuse me?!”
Tempers flared. Kaanan let out a heavy sigh and walked away, leaving Aluna sobbing.
---
That night Aluna sat alone on the balcony, staring at the city lights with swollen eyes.
“If this continues, I’ll go mad...” she whispered.
Her phone vibrated. A message arrived from an unknown number.
“Did you know? Your husband will soon find out who I am. And when that happens, you will lose everything.”
Aluna dropped her phone after reading it, her body trembling. The sender smiled in satisfaction.
- Writer
