Chapter 44: Chapter 44

For the past three days, Anne has been quieter than usual in Melly's eyes. Melly knows Anne is not much of a talker but still willing to ask about Ica. Lately, the young woman who owns the store where she works seems to have lost her voice. She spends more time in the backyard, enjoying her favorite part – various pots of lilies.

And the peak of it all is because Melly is starting to get annoyed with Anne's behavior in her eyes. How could Anne manage to print the wrong message on the balloon glasses they'll be sending today?

"Anne," Melly calls out softly. She can't bring herself to startle the girl. Sitting in front of her laptop screen, seemingly checking orders, but Melly is sure her mind isn't there. No response makes Melly speak again. "Hey, An."

"Ah, Melly. What's up?" Fathia is quite surprised to see Melly approaching her, even a small touch on her shoulder.

"What's wrong with you? I've been noticing you all this time, and you seem lost."

Fathia finally grimaces. "Really?"

Without hesitation, Melly nods.

"Yeah. I've got a lot on my mind, to be honest. But it's okay, not too distracting, you know."

Melly wants to object, but seeing the girl give a small smile and then move to the big table where they're putting together orders, Melly refrains from voicing her intention.

"How many orders are left? Next week, I want to prepare a repeat order for those ten bouquets of roses."

"Just four more. The latest delivery is tomorrow, Anne. I checked earlier, the flower shipment from Korea has arrived at the port. We just need to arrange for it to be brought here."

Fathia nods slowly. "Alright then, let's work on the last four orders. When they're done, maybe we can start accepting pre-orders for ten days ahead. We'll wait for the flowers to arrive first."

Melly agrees with the information. Then she goes back to her usual activities. Ica is already asleep. The nearly four-year-old child is always calm and cooperative while Melly works. She's truly fortunate – maybe Ica realizes that if Melly doesn't work, there won't be any economic support.

Once again, Anne in Melly's eyes is working silently. Normally, she often softly hums along with the rhythm of the not-so-familiar music. Just gentle notes from a musical instrument, but day by day, those notes are soothing. Anne says it's her favorite song; Kenny G.

Melly shakes her head softly and continues her part. Preparing the arrangement materials while Anne across from her starts writing the greeting cards. She also gets the cardboard and protective plastic ready to wrap the orders later.

"Melly," Fathia calls out softly. The pen she's using to write the message is intentionally suspended in the air. This time, she's not making any mistakes. Two hours ago, a lot of greeting cards ended up in the trash. All of them had the message written wrong. Oh God. Fathia feels foolish. That's why she momentarily steps aside and chooses to watch tutorials on flower arrangement with different models.

But still, all the steps they informed about on YouTube, none of them seemed to stick in her mind. She felt overwhelmed and ... fixated on one name. Claire. Even the morning wake-up that usually jolted her footsteps as if on a fast dance, she was still thinking about her family.

"Did you call me?" Melly asks to confirm. She isn't deaf, but she waits for Anne to speak, who seems to be lost in thought once again.

Fathia blinks slowly, finally giving a small smile. "I just want to ask, what would you do if we had a right, but we were told to step aside? I'm trying to ask a simple question, even though it feels complicated."

"A right? What kind of right? Inheritance?"

"Something like that."

Melly furrows her brow. She never asked further, knowing that here, Anne is just a newcomer. She doesn't have parents and struggles to support herself.

"Um... if you want my opinion, since I need a lot of money, well... I would fight for it. Especially with Ica in the picture."

Fathia nods in agreement. There's nothing wrong with what Melly suggested. She has a different goal for gaining that right; her child and her finances. Fathia? Her life is overwhelmed by orders, and she feels like it's more than enough.

However, Jess's words have indeed influenced her. If she manages to uncover the crimes that shroud her family, there's justice she can demand for the victims. It seems that the person who deliberately did this doesn't care about the number of people affected. Whether it's revenge or something else, the goal was achieved.

It looks like she has to dig up old news again and start following Clara and Sebastian's developments. After all, she doesn't want to pay attention to those she left behind.

"Why, Anne?" Melly asks, quite curious. Not without reason, when Melly gives her answer, it seems to make the girl in front of her daydream even more. Her gaze is on Melly, but there's emptiness there. As if Melly were something intangible that could be pierced through.

"There's nothing. I just need more perspectives."

"Did your parents leave a lot of inheritance? Taken over by other relatives?"

Fathia is puzzled about how to respond.

"If they did, I totally support you taking your inheritance back. Seriously, it's not fair. They can't just do that. It's heartless. And especially, sorry, Anne, but what if you were pushed aside because you couldn't fight back against that wound of yours?"

"My wound?" Fathia asks, quite intrigued by what Melly just said.

"Yeah. There are families out there who cast away their disabled children. Sorry, not trying to hurt your feelings. They're afraid, afraid you might embarrass them. So they just discard you even though you have a right to that inheritance."

Then there's a series of enthusiastic statements from Melly, supporting Fathia to reclaim what's rightfully hers. Not to mention, who knows, if she inherits a lot, it could be used to open a new branch. A new collaboration with flower farmers in remote areas for fresh flowers. Growing this flower shop. That's how Melly views the right she's aiming for in the inheritance.

"Like that, huh?"

"But sorry, I didn't mean to touch on your situation. Really."

Fathia chuckles. "No worries, Melly. I know you mean well."

There's a glimmer of hope upon hearing Melly's overly enthusiastic spirit. Even though she doesn't know what Fathia is dealing with, at least hearing her spirited voice lifts her mood slowly. She uses that to get back to finishing the orders. As for the issue of deciding to dig into the things that are bothering her about her life, she'll think about it again.

Luckily, the orders are done an hour before all the couriers arrive. Fathia herself has already placed a special order for the orders she'll work on two weeks from now. At least she needs to prepare different materials, especially the availability of fresh flowers, which she always relies on as her flower shop's slogan.

Towards the evening, Fathia is a bit surprised by Jess's visit. Normally her friend would just give a call or a short message. While she doesn't mind, seeing Jess enter the shop with that expression on her face makes Fathia suspicious.

"What's up with you?"

"You have to read this."

Fathia's brow furrows. Then she alternates between looking at Jess and her phone. Confused.

"Quickly," Jess urges impatiently. Fathia's lips purse slightly, but she can't refuse. On Jess's phone, there's a photo where two people in it are still very familiar to her; Clara and also... Sebastian.

"You did this on purpose, didn't you?" Fathia mutters, not pleased. Her face turns stiff and a pain grows in her chest.

"On purpose? Read the caption."

Fathia's eyes quickly shift to the string of words right beneath that nauseating photo in her view.

Waiting for My Love not busy at the Group Azure office.

Fathia's brow furrows even more. "What does it mean?"

"It's obvious. Your uncle is still at Group Azure. The one who's going to be replaced soon."

Like the will Papa left. Fathia's inner thoughts.

"This is your chance, while Sebastian is still there. If you want to go back, come on... I'll accompany you."

"But... what about Clara, the Fox?"

Jess gently embraces Fathia. Her eyes close briefly before she speaks again. "Have you ever thought that the Fox is also part of this conspiracy? She deliberately made you stay away from Group Azure. The benefit she gained was getting Sebastian. In another position, there are parties that are actually targeting your father's business. Seeing both of you gone from there, what's it called if not mutual symbiosis?"

Fathia wants to laugh at the analogy Jess just presented, but all of it makes sense.

"That Fox woman couldn't have wanted to help you get away so quickly. She's cunning, Fathia. You need to realize that."

In the end, Fathia nods slowly, starting to agree with Jess's impassioned thoughts.

"So?" Jess asks while leaning back slightly after releasing her embrace. "Have you made up your mind?"

"When did I decide to come back?"

Jess rolls her eyes. "You're overthinking it."

Fathia chuckles softly. "I still don't know what to do, Jess."

"Oh my gosh, Fathia. After hearing those words from a stranger? You'd be crazy not to be influenced."

Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of a courier picking up a package, while Melly is in the background taking care of Ica.

"There's an influence, Jess, obviously. It's just that I still don't know where to start."

That's true. Fathia indeed doesn't know where to begin.

"What's important is, we're going back to New York City."

Fathia looks at her enthusiastic friend skeptically. "Why are you so excited?"

Jess grins, not bothering to hide it. "Because you deserve to fight, Fathia. Everything that should be in your hands is controlled by others. You? You're struggling to survive here. That's what you should fight for."

"Clara?"

Jess sighs. "You have to set your priorities, I guess. Why are you coming back? For Group Azure and justice for your other friends, or for your uncle?"

****

"Sir, should I also email the report about Mr. Alef?"

Sebastian lifts his gaze from the overwhelming stack of reports. He falls silent for a moment, thinking. "No need. I'll just read it."

After Vino provides the report in a large and numerous bundle, he excuses himself.

"Vin," before his assistant leaves his office, "Destroy the copy you have. Don't leave a trace."

Vino obediently nods. "Sure, Sir."

After the door closes again, he sets aside the stack of files for a moment. He's been waiting for these reports for three weeks. He's still in Beverly Hills, still needs to oversee the project in that area. Alongside Alef, whom he will eventually hand over Group Azure to as discussed in last year's final meeting. If ownership of Group Azure is handed over to the Alvin family, the most dominant and capable in running Group Azure.

Sebastian's eyes scrutinize each report intensely. The longer he looks, the more frustrated he becomes, his hand clenching tightly. His suspicions about Alef's actions in Group Azure over the past weeks have been confirmed. This evidence wasn't obtained quickly because the people around Alef were not easily penetrable.

"Damn it!"