"Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Ganke. Thank you for the time you have provided," said Professor Gilbert kindly as he extended his hand towards Leon.

"You're welcome, sir, it's also an honor for me to be present at this special ceremony," said Leon stuttered. He still couldn't focus because of Anne's presence.

​​

"Alright then, let's go inside. The event is almost starting," invited Professor Gilbert, while directing the way for Leon and Steffi, who were still tightly shutting their lips.

Anne's eyes immediately filled with tears when Leon and Steffi disappeared from her sight. Her two legs that she had been forced to keep standing firmly were now unable to hold her weight anymore. Instantly Anne fell into the chair behind her so that it made Agnes surprised.

"Anne, are you all right?" asked Agnes, worried, because she saw cold sweat pouring down from Anne's forehead.

"I-I need to get some fresh air for a while. Will you be alright if I go for a while?" said Anne stammered, looking down.

"Yes, I'm fine. Go if you need to," said Agnes quickly. She was worried when she saw Anne's pale face.

Without a word, Anne got up from the chair and walked towards the field area near the parking area. She walked slowly. She tried her best to hold back her tears so as not to fall down when faced directly with her ex-husband and ex-friend who had betrayed her. She didn't want to cry in front of the two people she hated so much. Anne walked without seeing the terrain she was standing on because half of her soul had gone from her.

"Aghhhh ..."

"Anne!!!"

Aaron arrived just in time when Anne almost fell into the small ditch in front of her. Now Anne was in Aaron's arms who had pulled her so she didn't step forward.

"What are you looking for in a place like this, hmm?" Asked Aaron quietly.

Anne, who still closed her eyes, didn't realize that she was currently in Aaron's arms. After she managed to control herself, Anne opened her eyes slowly. The scent of Aaron's masculine perfume pierced Anne's nose, which was leaning against Aaron's broad chest. Anne lifted her face up to find out who was hugging her. Her mouth was wide open when she saw Aaron smiling at her, Anne's consciousness immediately came. She immediately pushed Aaron away from her and tried to get away from Aaron by stepping back. Aaron, who already knew that the ditch was behind her, immediately pulled Anne back into his arms for the second time. But the difference was that she was drawn to a face-to-face position.

"What are you thinking, Anne?! Behind you there is a ditch, look," scolded Aaron, almost losing his temper. He felt that Anne wasn't focused and this made him annoyed.

"Aaron … I want to go home," said Anne softly, trying to hold back tears.

Thump! Aaron's heart skipped a beat at Anne's words.

Quickly Aaron lifted Anne's lowered face. Suddenly his eyes widened when he saw that Anne's eyes were already filled with tears that almost fell..

"What's wrong with you, Anne …? Did something upset you or are you still sick?" asked Aaron quietly.

Instead of answering Aaron's insistent questions, Anne cried. She squatted right under Aaron's feet. Seeing Anne squatting, Aaron followed her and squatted beside her. Aaron slowly moved his hand and stroked Anne's hair without speaking.

"If you don't want to tell me, I won't insist. You can cry but only this time, after that I won't let you cry anymore," Aaron said softly, trying to calm her down gently.

Hearing Aaron's words made Anne cry even louder. Her voice that had been inaudible was now heard loudly which finally made Aaron smile. Without hesitation, Aaron grabbed Anne's head and brought her to his chest. He let Anne's tears fall down on his expensive coat. Aaron hugged Anne without any question as to what had caused her to cry. For him, it was Anne's privacy. If he had asked once and Anne didn't want to answer it, that meant that he didn't have to talk about it anymore. He chose to wait for Anne to explain everything directly to him.

Meanwhile, at Agnes's table, Daniel seemed confused because Aaron wasn't seen, even though they had to immediately enter the venue. He repeatedly contacted Aaron, but his calls were never picked up by his master. Holding back his annoyance, Daniel contacted Aaron again.

"Boss, you're really irresponsible," said Daniel to himself, as he continued to contact Aaron for the umpteenth time while trying to find Aaron's whereabouts.

"Mr. Daniel," Professor Gilbert said quietly, touching Daniel's shoulder.

"Uhh you, uh I mean Professor Gilbert," said Daniel stammered, as he lowered his cell phone from his ear and quickly put it in his pocket.

"Come on in, the event is almost starting," said Professor Gilbert kindly.

"Yes, Professor, but Mr. Aaron, he's still not here yet," Daniel replied in panic.

"It's okay, sir, Mr. Aaron will be able to join later. I'll catch up with him again, the important thing is that now you go inside first," said Professor Gilbert again.

Daniel was silent to hear the words of the young professor in front of him. He was really in a dilemma. Because professor Gilbert was a very friendly person and he felt uncomfortable not to say yes to his invitation. After a struggle in his heart, Daniel entered the venue with Professor Gilbert with a suitcase containing the contract forms that Aaron had agreed to this morning.

Aaron gave his clean handkerchief when Anne was able to control herself and didn't cry anymore. Her beautiful face now looked even more attractive due to her natural blush after she cried. Her eyes looked even more beautiful in that swollen condition and this made Aaron couldn't take his eyes off Anne, who was still wiping the tears that had remained on her cheeks.

"Do you feel better?" asked Aaron softly, with a smile.

"Huum, thank you for accompanying me," answered Anne, trying to smile.

"Alright, let's go to your campus again, aren't you currently in an event ..."

"Wait ... how do you know there is an event on my campus and why are you on my campus? Then why are your clothes this neat?" asked Anne quickly, interrupting Aaron's suspicious words.

"That's what I've said before to you, I work at the best property development company in London and now our company is invited to this campus event, Anne," Aaron replied quietly.

"Oh my God, Aaron, the program must have already started. Hurry up and go, enter the venue or you will be in trouble if your boss finds out," shrieked Anne loudly, as she looked at the watch on Aaron's left hand.

"Let's go together," said Aaron briefly, inviting Anne to come along.

"No, my job is at the guest table. Agnes and I are in charge of welcoming the guests who come," replied Anne quickly, rejecting Aaron's invitation while pointing at Agnes, who was sitting alone.

Seeing the direction in which Anne was pointing shocked Aaron. His true identity was almost exposed. He still didn't want to tell Anne who he was because he didn't want to distance himself from Anne. Aaron wanted to approach Anne in other ways. He wanted to be friends to see if Anne was a girl who was dazzled by wealth. Unlike other girls who have been close to him, he wanted to know whether Anne would accept him or not if he didn't show his wealth.

Not long after, Aaron and Anne left the place and went towards Agnes. When they arrived at the guest table, Anne drove Aaron out of the venue, because she didn't want Aaron to get into trouble.

"Can't I just stay here?" asked Aaron quietly.

"Didn't you say that you are currently working, so get in there quickly. I don't want you to be scolded by your boss, Aaron," said Anne curtly.

"Take it easy, my boss will definitely not ... aaww that hurts, Anne," said Aaron loudly when his ears jerked by Anne suddenly.

"Get in quickly. So, don't be naughty, I don't want you to get in trouble," said Anne again, glaring intently at Aaron as he folded his arms across his chest.

"But I want to be with you here, it seems more fun to be here than in there, Anne," protested Aaron again.

Hearing Aaron's words made Anne sigh. The last time she threw Aaron out of her apartment, it took more than thirty minutes. Anne smiled when she saw a number of catering staff back and forth carrying food out to the tables. An idea suddenly came.

"If you don't go in there, don't expect to taste my cooking ever again," whispered Anne softly with a broad smile.

"Okay, I'm going in, Anne!!! And don't ever think you can do that to me," Aaron said quickly.

"So go away, don't let me change my mind," said Anne quickly.

Without a word, Aaron immediately turned around and walked towards the venue, leaving Anne, who was still standing in front of Agnes, who had been silent when she saw Aaron and Anne were fighting like lovers. When Aaron had disappeared from their sights, Anne smiled with teary eyes.

"Thank you, Aaron, thank you for accompanying me to cry without asking why. I was crying not because I was still sick, but because of those two traitors' actions. I was crying because I was still given the opportunity by God to be able to see the karma that would befall them," said Anne silently to herself.

Agnes, who had been silent for a while, could not stand it. She then pulled Anne's shirt quite hard.

"Are you all right, Anne?" asked Agnes curiously.

"Of course I'm fine, why do you talk like that?" Anne asked her back, as she sat next to Agnes calmly. The feeling of tightness in her chest had disappeared after crying for a while with Aaron earlier.

"Since the handsome man went into the building you kept looking at the building. If you miss your boyfriend, you better just follow him, Anne. I can do it myself," replied Agnes, smiling broadly.

"Don't say that, he's a friend. My best friend is not a lover," said Anne quickly.

Hearing Anne's words made Agnes laugh so widely that she burst into tears, she then grabbed a tissue and wiped her tears slowly.

"There is no such thing as good friends between an adult man and an adult woman, Anne, you must know that. If you just consider him a friend, that doesn't necessarily make the handsome man consider you as a friend too," said Agnes, wiping her remaining tears.

To be continued.