Beyond Betrayal: From Scandal to Billionaire's Vow.

The corners of Xaras's lips curved, rubbing her bulging

belly as her feet stood in front of a motorcycle spare parts store. She vividly

remembered the brand of the store which also had a workshop attached. It was

the store her husband, Kendra, always used as the backdrop in every message he

sent. Although every time Kendra made a video call, he did it from the rented

house, she still believed that the business in front of her belonged to her

husband.

"Excuse me, Sir. Is Mr. Kendra here?" Xaras asked

a mechanic who was opening a motorcycle tire.

The thin-mustached man raised his eyebrows. "Mr.

Kendra?"

"Yes, Mr. Kendra who owns this store and workshop. He's

tall, fair-skinned, thick eyebrows. His hair is slightly curly."

Xaras enthusiastically described her husband's

characteristics.

"Mr. Kendra who owns the store?" he asked again.

He seemed puzzled by Xaras's question, then even more surprised when he saw the

expression on her face.

"Yes. My husband said this is our store and workshop,

rented out six months ago." She took out her phone and showed a photo of

Kendra that the man had sent about four months ago.

The man furrowed his brow, staring at Xaras's phone screen.

"Oh, Kendra. He used to work here, but he hasn't come since he got

married. He said..."

"Wait a minute, Sir. Married, we've been married for a

long time, and you can see for yourself that I'm heavily pregnant, and..."

"I don't understand what you're saying. But what I know

is he quit working here after getting married because his wife forbade

him."

"Forbade? How could I forbid when this shop..."

"It's better if you go to his house and ask Kendra

directly. It's not far from here. Just go straight, then turn right at the end.

Not far from the traffic light, there's an elite housing complex. Well, he

lives there. Just ask the security guard on duty, he will know which house is

Kendra's. And one more thing, this workshop isn't owned by Kendra, but by my

boss. That man with glasses there, and Kendra used to be an employee here just

like me," explained the man, pointing to the middle-aged man sitting at the

cashier.

Xaras was stunned. Her body felt weak hearing the man's

explanation. She had never imagined that all this time Kendra had been lying to

her. This was just the first lie, and it already left her feeling drained. It

was as if all her bones had been pulled out. Especially when she came and found

out the reality that Kendra already had a wife, again!

"T-thank you, Sir," Xaras murmured. She walked

towards the address mentioned earlier. If only she wasn't curious, it could be

guaranteed that right now Xaras wanted to give up and go back to the village.

Xaras forced her steps into the upscale housing complex.

There were so many luxurious houses neatly arranged there. She swallowed hard

as she stood in front of a house with a towering fence, said to be Kendra and

his wife's house. Could Xaras hope that the Kendra mentioned was another man?

Not her husband.

However, when she saw the gate open, revealing the situation

of the two-story house, Xaras's body froze as she saw her husband, who had been

waited and searched for, not far from where she stood. It was clear in her

sight that Kendra hugged a woman before kneeling down, caressing the pregnant

woman's belly.

" Kendra?" Xaras murmured. Her body collapsed,

sitting on the ground. She no longer had the strength to witness such a

heartbreaking scene. The husband she loved so much had turned to a woman she

knew very well. The woman who was none other than Riska, her high school

friend. Also, the friend who sent her money to come to Jakarta.

"Neighbor Again?"

A man named Kendra touched his wife's shoulder, Xaras. When he saw her shoulders rise and fall, accompanied by soft sobbing, Kendra already knew what caused Xaras's tears.

Xaras shook her head gently, wiping away her tears before turning to look at Kendra. "No, Hon. I got something in my eye."

"Don't lie. I've known you for more than just today. Almost four years of marriage, two years of courtship, surely I know you well, Ras." Kendra embraced Xaras and hugged her. "I can't bear to see you being laughed at by neighbors. So, I'll accept DiHon's invitation to go to the city."

Untangling herself from Kendra's embrace, Xaras sighed heavily. "But where will we get the capital, Hon? If..."

"Just the rice fields. Pawn it to Mr. Ramli, and I'll pay the installments. Fixing Xaras's hair. "Believe me, the shop we're going to open can pay off the debt and interest. I'm sure it won't take long, especially since Dimas's shop offer is in the city center."

"If the rice fields are pawned, what about me?" protested Xaras. She felt she didn't agree with Kendra's idea.

Moreover, Dimas was also known as a playboy when he still lived in the village. It's not that she didn't trust her husband, but she was afraid that Dimas would bring bad influence later on.

"I'll leave you some money to hold on to. I'll send money once a week, and you can collect it at the post office."

Xaras didn't respond. She walked out of the room. If Kendra continued, he would keep talking about going abroad, which made her uncomfortable.

"Ras, please give me a chance to prove to everyone that I'm a responsible husband. I'm tired of being laughed at, being called a parasite. Although I've worked hard in the fields, there's always a problem. Whether it's rats, pests, or drought. Instead of a harvest, it's just a loss," Kendra grumbled. Muttering to himself as he followed behind Xaras. Hoping his wife would sell the rice fields for capital to go abroad.

"I'll think about it." Xaras turned towards the kitchen. She grabbed a frying pan to make their dinner menu. She tried hard to ignore Kendra's presence and the headache that was now hitting her.

"I know it's hard for you to pawn the rice fields, let alone sell them. Because that's your parents' legacy." Sitting on a wooden chair, not taking his eyes off Xaras. "But that's what makes me a subject of ridicule. An unemployed person proposing to a village flower who has everything. Not living well, but one by one, your parents' legacy runs out because I can't manage it."

"You know that, Hon," Xaras sighed, turning around. "That's why I can't let go of the rice fields anymore. It's the only thing left of my parents' inheritance. Do you want to let that go too?"

Kendra took a breath. "No. But I have a strong reason why I dare to ask this of you. I'm not good at farming, but I'm good at trading. That's why I want to go to the city to try my luck. Come on, Honey, while we haven't been blessed yet, so later you can freely travel by plane to visit. I..."

"Alright. But just as a pawn, don't let it be confiscated. We won't have a livelihood anymore if..."

"I promise this is the last time, Honey. Thank you." Kendra hugged Xaras. Kissing every inch of his wife's face, overflowing with gratitude. Finally, he could go to the city and start a business there.

Dimas said getting money in the city was very easy. Just by opening a motorcycle or car spare parts store, the capital would be returned in a month. Dimas said he had proven all that, returning to the village bringing a metallic black car that still had plastic covering on the seats.

Of course, Kendra spat at such achievements. Moreover, he had been mocked as a parasite all this time and couldn't even give Xaras a child. The criticisms that haunted them every day were becoming more complete.

Understandably, because Xaras was once the village beauty who was admired by many men. Starting from the village head's son, spice merchants, to the loan shark's son, all came to propose. However, the winner was Kendra, who only did odd jobs, and even that money was spent on drinking wine during his village patrol.

Kendra was bigger than them, mocking and ridiculing Xaras's choice to marry Kendra, just because the man found his mother fainting in the rice fields. Since then, Kendra diligently visited to win her heart. Not long after, Xaras's mother passed away. Two years later, her father followed suit, and Kendra was chosen to be Xaras's husband in the final moments of her father's life.

"A hundred million if pawned, two hundred if sold, Honey. What do you think?"

Kendra slumped on the edge of the bed. He was quite disappointed with Ramli's offer, a well-known moneylender who always bargained at a low price, but his money could be cashed out on the same day.

"What do you think, Hon? Is a hundred million enough? If it is, that's it. If not, it's better to deal with a bank loan. The interest is low," Xaras responded without stopping her work. She remained focused on the clothes just taken off the clothesline.

"It's enough, I guess," thought Kendra. "But just barely. Waiting for a bank loan takes a long time, it takes a month from application to field survey. Someone else might beat us to it."

"So?" Xaras turned around.

"A hundred is fine. I can get the money tonight. How about you hold on to five million?"

Xaras sighed deeply. Refusing would be useless since Kendra had made up his mind.

She didn't give an answer but returned to focus on the clothes in her hands. Hoping Kendra would realize it was a hesitation leaning more towards rejection.

However, Kendra, who had been poisoned, got up and took the land certificate from the cabinet. Taking it away, and Xaras didn't need to ask where her husband was going. She squeezed the clothes tightly in her hands. Venting her frustration at Kendra's stubbornness.

Resigned. That's all Xaras could do. Watching her husband pack his clothes into a backpack after returning from Ramli's house. Because he came when the bank was closed yesterday, so the money was available this morning.

"Don't you wait for me to recover first, Hon? I feel nauseous. My body also feels hot," complained Xaras. Trying to sit, leaning on Kendra so her husband's arm could feel the warmth of her body.

Kendra's hand lifted, touching Xaras's forehead. "Just a common fever. You'll recover soon."

"Hon..."

"Okay, let's go to the health center and get checked." Kendra led Xaras to stand up, grumbling slightly. He also moved the backpack to the side of the cabinet so it wouldn't block their path.

"Xaras is pregnant." A female doctor made Xaras and Kendra both startled to hear her explanation.

"Her heartbeat is strong, and look, Xaras's belly is starting to bulge. How could both of you not notice," she criticized with narrowed eyes.

Kendra and Xaras looked at each other. Xaras hoped Kendra would cancel his departure after knowing she was pregnant. However, she didn't want to hope too much because Kendra frowned. He seemed displeased with the news, even though they had been waiting for this moment for four years.

"I'm pregnant, Hon, don't you want to postpone your

departure for now? Um... at least until I'm stronger." Xaras sat down next

to Kendra, hoping this time her husband would soften and listen to her wishes.

Xaras couldn't imagine living alone in the village,

especially while pregnant. There was a slight disappointment in her heart when

Kendra decided to continue migrating despite their long-awaited pregnancy.

Xaras was sure Kendra knew that being pregnant at such a

young age was vulnerable to miscarriage. Wasn't her husband afraid of leaving

her without supervision?

"Yes, but what can I do? I've already told Mr. Ramli to

buy me a plane ticket, and it's impossible to cancel it now. You know, the

ticket price is more than two million. If I buy motorcycle spare parts, there

are many items I can get."

"But Hon, I'm..."

"I'm sure you'll be fine, Xaras. It won't take long,

maybe two to three months, and I'll be back to pick you up. I'll also keep an

eye on you from afar, so answer my calls if I contact you, okay?" Kendra

stroked Xaras's long hair. Assuring his wife that everything would be fine if

they faced it with sincerity.

It wasn't a matter of sincerity, but Xaras, who was an

orphan, was certainly hesitant to be left alone by her husband to migrate. She

would have to do everything alone without anyone accompanying or taking care of

her.

Unable to be prevented at all, Xaras finally escorted Kendra

to the bus terminal. There they would part ways, and Kendra would continue his

journey to the city. Only from there would her husband board a plane to reach

the capital. The long journey Kendra would undertake made Xaras hesitate to let

him go, but everything had been carefully prepared without her knowledge. This

made Xaras unable to postpone or cancel Kendra's departure.

"Promise me you'll always be faithful even though

there's a long distance between us," Xaras said. Forcing a smile to bid

farewell to Kendra amidst a mix of turmoil, fear, and disappointment.

Kendra's departure brought the last bit of capital from

their venture in the village. Leaving her pregnant and without any relatives to

accompany her. Could Xaras be any unluckier?

"How could I ever betray the love of a woman as good

and perfect as you?" Kendra knelt in front of Xaras. Kissing his wife's

burgeoning belly. "Darling, don't be stubborn, okay? Dad will go first.

Dad promises to come back to pick you up. We'll live there, leaving behind the

village that always hurt us."

Xaras felt unable to hold back her tears when she heard

Kendra's words. Could she be angry now?

However, Xaras tried hard to hold back all those tears of

disappointment, remembering her mother's advice.

Under no circumstances should one release someone's

departure using tears, let alone shed tears so that the person would not

experience misfortune later on.

As a result, Xaras kept her lips curved to bid farewell to

Kendra. She also raised her hand, waving to Kendra as he moved further away on

a bus.

When the bus disappeared from her sight, Xaras's tears

finally fell, wetting both her cheeks. She sobbed slightly and silenced herself

with her palm so she could swallow the tears that were ready to burst right

now. She also tried to look strong so she wouldn't be laughed at by the people

at the terminal.

Xaras was very sure that the news of pawning the rice fields

for Kendra's business capital had reached the ears of the villagers, especially

since they pawned the fields to Ramli, a stingy and sharp-tongued moneylender.

***

Arriving home, Xaras cleaned herself up and lay down on the

bed. The simple house felt incredibly lonely without her husband's presence.

Usually, they would engage in conversation before Kendra went to their field or

someone else's field. But starting today, all those habits had to change, and

Xaras had to be prepared to go to the field alone, even though she was

currently pregnant. If not her, who would take care of the field, which was

starting to turn yellow?

"Why won't this headache go away even though I've taken

medicine and eaten?" Xaras complained, massaging her temples to alleviate

the pain that now dominated her head.

Almost three hours had passed since she fell asleep after

crying, and it seemed to worsen the situation when she woke up.

Xaras glanced at her phone on the wooden bedside table,

checking if there were any missed calls from Kendra. Seeing the time that had

passed during her sleep, Xaras was sure Kendra had reached the airport. Not

wanting to be late inquiring about her husband's whereabouts, Xaras hurried to

contact Kendra.

Fortunately, when she wanted to make the call, Kendra did

the same, causing Xaras to pull the corners of her lips. She was quite happy

because the spiritual bond between them was so strong, even though the distance

between them was widening.

"Darling, I've arrived at the airport, and I'll be

boarding the plane soon. I'll probably be active in about two hours. Be

patient, okay? Once I reach the airport, I'll contact you again. I'll also tell

you about the situation in the capital," Kendra said quickly, comforting

his wife. He was sure Xaras was crying because of his departure.

"Yes, Hon, I know, that's why I contacted you, but you

were the one who contacted me first."

"That's what you call the spiritual bond between a

husband and wife. Even though we're not physically close, I can read your mind,

and vice versa. I promise this won't take long, and I'll come to pick you up

soon, my dear. Just be patient a little longer."

Xaras nodded, even though Kendra couldn't see what she was

doing. This was what made Xaras melt towards Kendra compared to the other men

who had come to propose to her. Kendra was so gentle and articulate that he

never once spoke harshly to her.

The proof was when Kendra wanted to pawn the inheritance

from both his parents, Xaras couldn't refuse the request until she had to lose

the last field for Kendra's business capital to open a shop in the capital.

"Okay, then, I'll end the call. You take care at home,

and if there's anything, contact me immediately. I'll call my friend to check

on you at home later."

"No need to bother, Hon. I don't want the neighbors to

think badly of me because your friend is here while you're not at home. Later,

I can ask Aunt Candra who lives across the street, even though she's gossipy,

but I know her heart is good."

"You're right, Kendra." Xaras replied in a very

low voice. She knew the neighbors around her never looked down on her; they

just kept gossiping because they regretted the decision made by her wife to

accept the proposal of an unemployed man like him.