Chapter 4 Barren

All day Anan's focus was split. Various problems scramble around in his mind looking for an opening to take over his attention. There was nothing Anan could do but keep quiet and bottled it up. Arguing with himself or worse, arguing with Ivana is not the best way. Ivana is still Ivana in her own way. Who is Anan to be able to change her when the love that Anan gives is considered trivial?

Anan smiled wryly. Laughing at himself who regrets having gone this far with Ivana. If he hadn't met Ivana, there would be no complications in his life. If he had not married Ivana, there would have been no contract marriage with a woman Anan did not know.

Ivana's reasoning was different from the others, so Anan had to be willing to endure it.

"Sir?"

The call from behind him dragged Anan from his reverie. Anan's eyelids flickered after a few minutes of staring at the twinkling lights in Bandung.

"The apartment you requested is ready." Teguh said after no response from his superior. "I didn't understand, sorry if I forgot. Either we rent it or we buy it. But the property will patiently wait for your decision."

"Just buy it." Teguh nodded even though Anan didn't see him. "In the name of my new wife."

"Yes?"

Teguh was frozen in place. He knew that his boss had intentions of remarrying. Even so, Teguh was still surprised. After all, Anan said it openly. There was a kind of pride in his words.

"Did you meet Kinar?"

"Sorry, sir. I was presumptuous about that-"

"You can't go against Ivana's wishes either. I know." Anan turned her chair around and stood up. "Is Kinar at the boarding house?"

Teguh nodded. "There's no sign of Ms. Kinar coming out of her boarding house."

"Do you have any new information?"

"I sent it to your email."

Anan sat back down after letting Teguh get back to work. Putting on her glasses, Anan opened her email inbox. Teguh's performance was no joke when Anan ordered him to look for information. Besides being dexterous, Teguh never asked questions after being given an explanation.

Anan took a deep breath. The information Teguh sent was complete and easy for Anan to understand. Everything was recorded in a file, even Kinar's medical history could be easily obtained by Teguh.

Perhaps this reason also made Ivana insist that she had to marry Kinar. Even though it is a contract marriage, it is not without reason that Ivana wants to share her husband.

Anan's memory of the jealous Ivana is inversely proportional to her current attitude. Ivana's infertility has turned her into a more selfish person who only thinks about herself. If he doesn't remember about his feelings, Anan wants to end this marriage.

Then it occurred to him: what does 15 years of togetherness mean?

It's the same as the end where Anan has to willingly donate her sperm to another woman. Anan must be willing to touch another woman who is not his own wife and the worst thing is that Anan has no feelings for Kinar. Just imagining it gives Anan goosebumps. No wonder Kinar insisted on asking why.

What woman would want to be honey?

"Sir, Ms. Kinar is here." Teguh stuttered but tried to remain calm. "And bring all the paper bags you sent this morning."

"Send her in."

Anan wanted to get to know Kinar better. Regardless of whether Anan accepted the contract marriage offer. When the time is right, Anan will give an explanation.

"Sir, seriously. It's in the office and I think Ms. Kinar is really angry."

"Send her in."

Anan would stare into the depths of Kinar Dewi's clear eyes. If her life journey matched the information Teguh had sent, then there were many wounds that could radiate from her eyes no matter how well she hid them.

"You're an abnormal couple, aren't you?"

Teguh had not yet left Anan's room when Kinar arrived with both hands full of paper bags.

"Why trouble me who knows nothing about your problems. Please."

"You can leave, Guh. And you..." Anan pointed at Kinar who returned the gesture with a snort. "No need to dramatize the situation. My wife is only concerned about you as her future sister."

"What?" Kinar shook his head in disbelief. His world was surrounded by crazy people. "Sister? I have no other family besides my dead parents. A sister? Where did that come from?"

"You're my future wife and she thinks of you as her sister."

"What exactly is the life of a rich person that they can afford to buy someone else's life?"

"It varies, but my wife and I are not as simple as you think. It's complicated-we're complicated."

"Don't involve me in that hassle. Can't you not be annoying with actions that I myself can't tolerate? Your wife or maybe even you." Kinar roughly placed the paper bag in his hand. "I don't need any of this."

"I need you."

Kinar snorted. "Your money can buy anyone else but me and my life."

"And a child." Anan's eyes locked with Kinar's to show surprise. "You are the most suitable target. You are perfect and healthy."

"Target?" repeated Kinar as if the words sounded false to him. Didn't that mean he had been scouted all along?

"That's right, you were scouted." Anan immediately guessed just by looking at Kinar's reaction. "Your womb is most suitable for my child-my future child. So, marry me and give birth to my offspring. I have a plan but I can't say now."

Crazy!

"I don't want to! I'm not a doll that you can play with at will. I'm not an item that you can buy and sell. I have feelings and I only want to marry someone I love." Even though Kinar no longer believed in what love was and how love really was.

Kinar was breathing heavily. The throbbing pain in his chest could not be dismissed. Anan and his wife's behavior-may be normal and natural to others-but Kinar did not want to sell himself for money. Even if he gave birth, the child would belong to Kinar and not be given to someone else. And no matter what Anan's plan was, Kinar didn't care.

"Wake up, you're already living a hard life so don't be so proud to refuse my offer. Your life will be guaranteed. You just need to marry me for a year, get pregnant with my child and give birth to a child for me. You won't lack money, house, car or any other luxuries. I guarantee it!"

"If your wife is so unwilling to get pregnant, why did you get married?"

"Sassy!" Anan pounded the table so hard. It made Kinar jump to his feet. "You have no right to speak about me and my wife."

"And you with all your power bought my life for yours. Yuck!"

Kinar left after clucking. There was no point in dealing with Anan who was crazy in Kinar's eyes.

"Stepping from this room, I charge you with a criminal offense." Kinar only waved back. "Or I withdraw all your novels from all bookstores and you pay a penalty on my terms."

Only then did Kinar's limbs stop. His body was hot and his head was boiling. Anan really wasn't just anyone he could fight.

"Selfish!" said Kinar as his body turned to face Anan. "I had a safe life before you rioted. Why don't you let me go and find a new target again? I think there are many women who are more competent to be your wife or your wife's surrogate womb."

"Ivana is barren." Kinar said nothing when Anan mentioned his wife's barrenness. "We've been married for years and I don't want a divorce. I honestly don't need children. I could have adopted them but Ivana saw you and became an observer from who knows when. She talks about you every day and asked me to marry you. I know it's hard but-"

"What woman would want to be honey? I'm still in my right mind."

"I know."

"And I still refuse."