"Let me go! What are you doing?!" Arlin screamed in panic as several large men lifted her into a black car waiting outside her house.
She had no idea what was happening, only shocked when this group of men suddenly burst into her home.
One of them, a man in a black suit with a calm expression, looked at her with a cold stare.
"Calm down, miss. You won't be hurt as long as you don't resist."
Arlin struggled, trying to escape, but it was futile. Her hands were tied tightly with plastic rope, and two other men held her arms firmly.
The car began to move, and Arlin could only watch as the road grew distant, her heart pounding with growing fear.
"Who are you? What do you want from me?!" Arlin asked, breathing heavily.
The man turned his head slightly, then refocused on the road ahead.
"You'll find out soon enough."
---
Several hours later, the car stopped in front of a large house, more like a mansion. The gate was tall and made of black iron, a luxury clearly different from Arlin's daily life.
This place felt very foreign, far from the world she knew.
Arlin was dragged out of the car, her steps heavy and reluctant. Her eyes darted around, searching for a way to escape.
But there was nothing she could do; the men who had kidnapped her were too strong, and the large gate behind her was already shut tight.
As they entered the mansion, the room felt larger than Arlin had ever imagined. The walls were high with large windows illuminating the living room.
The ceiling was adorned with crystal chandeliers emitting soft light, giving an impression of luxury and coldness.
She was taken to a room that looked like the master bedroom.
Soon, several maids entered the room. They carried clean clothes and thick towels. One of them, a woman in her forties, smiled gently at Arlin, though her smile did not make Arlin feel any more at ease.
"Miss, please take a bath. We've prepared everything for you," the maid said in a polite voice.
Arlin furrowed her brows, confused and wary.
"What... what is happening? Why am I here?"
"I'm sorry, miss, we were only instructed to take care of you. The master will explain later." That answer made Arlin even more confused. The master? Who was he referring to?
Although she was frightened, her body was tired and dirty after the long journey. After a few seconds of thinking, Arlin decided not to resist for now. She could use this bath time to think more clearly.
Arlin followed the maids to the very spacious bathroom. Marble walls and large windows offered a view of the garden outside.
In the corner, there was a bathtub filled with warm water and soft, steaming bubbles. Everything looked like a dream, but Arlin felt it was more like a nightmare.
She bathed with mixed feelings, between fear and confusion. After finishing, Arlin put on the prepared clothes, a long, light blue dress that felt soft against her skin.
The dress was extremely luxurious, something she had never imagined wearing in her life.
After returning to the room, the maid who had guided her spoke again.
"The master will meet you shortly. Before that, we have prepared dinner for you."
"Dinner?" Arlin grew even more confused. She had been kidnapped, brought to this large house, and now was being treated like a special guest?
"Please, miss."
The maid gestured toward a table in the corner of the room, already filled with various luxurious dishes. The aroma of the food filled the room, making Arlin's stomach growl despite her chaotic thoughts. However, she hesitated.
"Who... is that gentleman?" Arlin asked in a soft voice, her eyes fixed on the maid with a questioning look.
The maid bowed her head slightly, as if unwilling to say too much. "Mr. Gilang will explain it himself."
Hearing that name, Arlin fell silent. Gilang? The name felt unfamiliar to her. She tried to remember, but her memories were too blurry.
Before Arlin could think further, the door to the room opened slowly, and a man with a sturdy build entered the room. When her gaze focused, Arlin was stunned—this man was the one who had slept with her the night before.
"This can't be..." Arlin murmured, fear enveloping her.
Her heart raced, and all the memories of that night came flooding back.
Their eyes met, and Arlin felt an odd tingling sensation within her.
Why was he here?
With a faint smile, Gilang stepped closer.
"We meet again, Arlin."
Arlin struggled with all her strength, her body trembling.
"Let me go! What do you want from me?" she cried, her hands trying to push away the maids holding her.
"You're here because I wanted you to be." Gilang's voice sounded calm yet cold.
Arlin turned quickly, her face red with anger and sadness. "You have no right to keep me here! I'm not yours!"
"I never said you were mine," Gilang replied, walking toward her slowly. "But that night... something changed. You can't just leave like that."
"What do you mean?!" Arlin screamed, tears streaming down her face. "That night you ruined my life, and now you want me to stay here? I don't want to!"
Gilang stood still, his face showing no emotion. But there was a flash in his eyes, something he couldn't control.
"I won't force you, but you'll stay here until I'm sure you're safe."
"This is a prison, not protection!" Arlin tried to walk toward the door, but a servant quickly stopped her. "Let me go!"
"You don't understand, Arlin," Gilang approached, his voice lower, "I just want you to be safe. And out there... it's too dangerous for you."
"What do you really want? Is this just about that night?" Arlin pressed, her tone growing weary, but her eyes still radiating determination.
Gilang fell silent for a moment. He turned his face away, as if deep in thought. "That night... I liked her, just as you thought."
Arlin laughed bitterly. "Don't give me that nonsense, sir. Do you want me to be safe, or do you just want me here because you're obsessed with me?"
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Gilang suddenly snapped, his voice rising. Arlin was startled, but she remained calm.
"Why don't you just be honest? You want me here because you can't stop thinking about me, right?" Arlin glared at him with hatred in her eyes.
Gilang looked back at her, his eyes cold but tense. He leaned closer to Arlin, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"What happened that night... Maybe it was just a coincidence. But I, I liked all of it."
"Don't you have any shame?" Arlin snorted, mocking him. "You forced me, you kidnapped me, and now you're talking about something like that? This is crazy."
Gilang fell silent, his face returning to calm though his eyes still burned. "You can hate me all you want, but you're not going anywhere."
"I'll escape! You can't lock me up here!" Arlin screamed, her body growing weak from the exhaustion of screaming and crying.
Gilang held his breath, growing increasingly tense. He turned away, no longer looking at Arlin. "Shakeel," he called in a cold voice.
Shakeel appeared at the door, his gaze respectful. "Yes, sir?"
"Watch her. Don't let her leave. Make sure she gets everything she needs, but don't let her go," Gilang ordered without turning to look at Arlin.
"You can't do this!" Arlin shouted again, trying to get Gilang's attention as he began to walk away.
"You can't do this!" Arlin shouted again, trying to get Gilang's attention as he started to walk away.
Gilang paused at the doorway, his voice low but full of restrained emotion.
"You'll be safe here, Arlin. It's the best thing for you." Without waiting for a response, he left, leaving Arlin crying helplessly.