Hearing Louisa's words almost made Viona faint. She really couldn't believe that the professor she respected turned out to have another side that was so terrible.

"I'm sorry, Viona, I didn't mean to expose Frank or ask for your defence," Louisa sobbed in a barely audible voice, ending her story.

​​

"I can't believe Frank is like….

"Surely no one will believe what I say and think I'm crazy," said Louisa, cutting off Viona's words.

Viona sighed at her words. She slowly moved her seat to Louisa's side and hugged her tightly to support her. Even though she didn't know the truth one hundred percent, but Viona knew that right now Louisa was speaking the truth. No woman in the world would be proud to say that she had become a sex slave of the man she loved and didn't get the real love.

"Be patient, Lou, be patient ... believe me, behind all this, there will be a beautiful rainbow waiting for you, Lou," Viona whispered into Louisa's ear.

"Hopefully, Viona, I don't have the courage to hope. For me, who is already dirty, I really don't deserve more ..."

"Hey Lou! Watch your words, how can you be discouraged like that? Be sure you are not alone, there are still many people who care about you. Even if you really don't have friends, you still have God. He is your place to take shelter and refuge. God will definitely help us if we believe in Him," Viona said, half screaming, cutting off Louisa's words.

"Talk is cheap, Viona. I'm the one who has to go through this pain," Louisa replied briefly in response to Viona's words.

With a deep breath, Viona finally told Louisa the story of her bitter life. A life story that not many people really know. Because, all this time, Viona had indeed kept the secret from other people, except for Amina and Jenny who she considered to be her younger siblings. Viona told how sad she was when she found out that since she was born into the world, her parents didn't want her and threw her on the side of the road, until finally Mrs. Maria found her and become her adoptive mother. She also told Louisa how bitter his life was after Mrs. Maria died, that she finally had to work in a laundry shop and bury her dreams deeply at that time. Finally, God's help came to her so she could go to England and started a new life in a foreign country without family.

Louisa, who did not know about Viona's life struggles, seemed incredulous. She thought that Viona had lived well until she finally became a doctor and was currently married to a wealthy man who was very influential in the city.

"Not everyone will immediately get what they have today unless they were born from a rich family so believe me, there are still so many people out there whose lives are far less fortunate than us," Viona said softly, ending her story.

"I was also struggling in pain to get what I aspire to, dreams of becoming a doctor like my adoptive father, who died decades ago before I was born. So, I know what you are going through, even though what I'm going through may be less painful than what you're feeling right now, but trust me, Lou, I know what it's like to live in adversity," Viona added softly in response to her previous words.

Louisa was crying again at Viona's words. She felt ashamed to think that she was the person who was suffering the most in this world.

"Believe me, there are still a lot of men out there who can love you sincerely without looking at your past, without judging whether you're still a virgin or not. Believe me, sincere love is not always measured by an intact hymen," Viona said quietly, encouraging Louisa.

"But is there a man like that today, Viona? They will always think of women who are no longer virgins as naughty women, and I have experienced it myself," Louisa answered while wiping the tears that rolled down her cheeks. She still remembered how Franklin had said to her when he managed to touch her on the rooftop, and since then she had been in the hands of the handsome Professor she loved so much.

"Of course there is, believe me. Oh right, I have one question that has been bothering me, please answer me honestly, Lou," Viona said seriously while staring into Louisa's eyes sharply.

"If I can answer it, I will, Vio," said Louisa with a smile.

Viona smiled at her words. She then grabbed Louisa's hands and held it tightly.

"Do you really love Franklin?" Viona asked quickly.

Thump!

Louisa immediately fell silent upon hearing Viona's question. She did not expect to get a question like this from Viona. Even after she talked at length about what Frank had been doing to her all this time.

"Answer me, Lou, you promised me earlier," Viona said softly, as she increased the strength on her grip to Louisa's hand.

"I don't love him," Louisa answered softly in an almost inaudible voice as she lowered her head.

A smile crossed Viona's lips when Louisa said that. She then grabbed Louisa's face, which was lowered, with one hand and lifted it quickly so she could face Viona.

"Look at me and say out loud that you really don't love Franklin right now," said Viona again with an increasing tone.

"I don't love her, Viona," Louisa replied, stammering with tears in her eyes.

"So you don't love Franklin right now," Viona said, repeating her previous words.

"I - I don't love him, Viona ... I hate him," Louisa answered again, lowering her face again. She didn't dare to look at Viona's face.

"If you really don't love Franklin, then right now all you can do is throw away the memory of him from within yourself, the memory of your togetherness, and open your heart to another man," Viona whispered, hugging Louisa tightly.

After finishing talking, Viona felt that Louisa's body was shaking again in her arms and soon Louisa was sobbing. Viona had actually guessed from the start, she knew that Louisa actually still loved Franklin very much. Therefore, she deliberately said that, hoping that Louisa would immediately confess her feelings to Franklin.

"I know you love him, I know, Lou," Viona whispered softly into Louisa's ear, while patting her back slowly to provide support.

"I hate him, Viona, I hate him. I want to forget him, but ... sob, I'm not used to, hoo hoo ..." Louisa's cry broke out again in Viona's arms. The disappointment and pain of being used by Franklin which was covered with great love for the handsome professor.

Viona's tears also flowed slowly from her eyes. She was moved to see how much love Louisa had for Frank, her brother-in-law. In the past, she never believed in the name of love because of the bad experiences she had previously with Lexy, and Fernando, which made an impression on her heart. But as time went on, she understood that her feelings for Fernando were not because of fear, but because she had fallen in love with him, because of all his abusive treatments in the past.

Viona slowly released her hug from Louisa. She then wiped the tears that wet Louisa's beautiful face with a tissue she carried in her bag.

"Get your love back and show him that you are truly sincere to him. Believe me, Frank also loves you, but because of his high ego, he doesn't want to admit it," Viona said softly.

"But he loves you, Viona," answered Louisa with a sob.

"There's no way he loves me. I'm sure his feelings for me are not love. I'm sure it's just an obsession. Trust me, Lou, I'm sure he loves you," Viona replied with a rising tone, trying to convince Louisa.

"Show him how much you love him, I'm sure he will tear down his ego and confess his feelings for you, Lou," Viona added briefly in response to her previous words.

Louisa was silent to hear Viona's words, she actually still loved Franklin very much. However, because of the considerable disappointment in her heart, she tried to throw it away and bury it deeply in her heart. But the more she tried to get rid of Franklin's image, the stronger the memory was embedded in her heart.

"How do I do that?" Louisa asked haltingly, wiping her tears.

"I will help you!" Viona replied excitedly.

To be Continued