COVERT COOPERATION

'You ruthless mobster who has no feelings, Damian. How can you let us do something you don't want? No matter how much I want to get Rose, I also have Mona who must be happy. There's no way I could force my selfishness and your crazy grudge on my daughter's life. Not! I don't want to bet on my daughter. I have to keep you out of this country!' said annoyed Arnold in his heart as he looked at Damian's back as he came out of his room.

***

"Follow the guy named Ken. Don't let that man have a bad time!" Alice said to someone through her communication watch.

Although angry, Alice is still very concerned about Ken's safety because Alice doesn't want little Qiara to be sad about the bad events that Ken will encounter on his journey to find Helena later.

"May I have a moment of your talk?" asked Ken who had just come near Alice, precisely by the pool of her house.

"Sit down and say what you want. And sorry, that punch must have hurt so bad. I can't contain my annoyance at you!" Alice replied apologetically.

"It doesn't matter, I deserve it. But, for a woman's size, that much power is very unusual!" Ken replied with a smile.

"I consider it an insignificant compliment. Just say what you want before you go. If I could, I would do it only for Qiara," answer Alice directly.

"I just want to ask you to take good care of my daughter. Take care and love Qiara like you love Sean's son (Shine). That's if you're willing," Ken said softly, lowering his head.

"What was in your head that you thought I would accept your request? You think I own the orphanage, huh?" said Alice in a haughty tone. But Ken knew it wasn't an honest word.

He knew that Alice was currently only testing him. That made him smile even more.

"You're not fit to act like that at all Mrs. Sean! An angel without wings like you is not the same as a demon in white! Don't make me laugh any more than this." chirped Ken while continuing to laugh lightly at Alice.

Alice gasped at Ken's words until she changed her speech with a calm expression.

"I'm not a perfect woman. I'm not Qiara's mother either. Aren't you afraid your child will be abandoned in my hands? I still hope you can change your mind and stay with Qiara here. Get rid of your desire to find Helena," said Alice as if to persuade Ken.

"Let me exercise my last hope of finding Helena. I'll try to make her realize and change when I find her. Even though Helena can't be as great a woman as you are to her child, at least she will realize her mistake. And if at that time I can make it better, then I beg of you, forgive Helena for causing such a big wound to your family," Ken apologized after pleading with Alice not to make things difficult for him again.

'If only everything you're saying is true, Ken!' Alice thought softly in response.

Alice took a deep breath before agreeing to Ken's words.

"You have no idea what kind of danger lurks out there. But well, if you still insist on going, then go! I hope you get what you want! I will take care of your child as best I can until you return!" Alice said calmly to Ken.

Ken leaves leaving Alice alone. He walked slowly with heavy steps towards the flower garden where Qiara played. He looked at Qiara, who was smiling all the time collecting flowers that bloomed in various colors in the wicker basket that Alice had given her.

***

Switch to Arnold's house. Damian who had just come out of Arnold's study walked over to Helena's room. Right in front of Helena's half-open door, Damian saw Helena who was still sobbing after crying for a long time.

Damian entered silently until when Damian was sitting on the single sofa directly in front of the bed, Helena still didn't notice.

"Do you still want to cry? Will those tears of yours make your revenge on the Garendra family complete?" Damian asked in a relaxed tone.

"W-who are you? Why did you come into my room?" asked Helena, stuttering a little.

"Ah, please don't use the language of this country. I don't clearly understand what everyone is talking about! Please use only international language, because I know you are a smart woman from the Brawijaya family!" replied Damian who claimed not to be fluent or clearly understand the conversation with BAHASA.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you didn't understand the language of this country. But, please answer who are you? Why are you in this house? Isn't this Uncle Arnold's house?" asked Helena who had changed to using Damian's language.

"Smart woman! Alright, I'll introduce myself to you. I'm Damian, Mona's uncle. Her mother is my younger sister. Is it clear to you, Helena Brawijaya?" Damian asked with a meaningful smile.

"So that's why you know me and my family. Then, why are you in my room now? Aren't we too close just to say hello and tell what relationship is between us?" asked Helena who was getting suspicious with Damian's sly look and smile.

"Oh, you're right! Maybe our family relationship is not so close that we can talk this close. But, we may be very close because we both have a grudge against the same person!" Damian replied with a chuckle.

Helena frowned as she began to understand the direction of Damian's conversation.

"Your enemy is Sean Garendra's family?" asked Helena to confirm.

"My enemy is Rose. Ah, I mean Alice," Damian replied with a satisfied smile.

"Rose? Who is Rose? Is Rose another name for that woman too?" asked Helena who was increasingly curious.

"Black Rose aka Alice. The same woman with a different identity. But, I can't explain anything to you right now. At our next meeting, I will tell you who Rose is. And again, I hope our current conversation is not known to Arnold or Mona. Do you understand, young lady?" asked Damian who started to stand up from his seat earlier.

"But why? Why don't you just tell me now, sir?" Helena demands a hanging explanation.

"Kendrick. I'll take care of that annoying fly that's always hovering around you. So, just wait and see what happens tomorrow!" Damian spoke casually as if slaughtering humans wasn't a big crime.

"K-Ken? What are you going to do with Ken, sir? He wasn't involved in my revenge at all. And again, my daughter is with him. How will my daughter live without her father?" Helena asked with a panicked face when she found out Damian was going to kill Ken.

"That stupid man has given your daughter to Rose! And now he's looking for you. Because of his stupidity one day, you too will be caught again by Rose and her husband. Do you want to repeat the punishment like a madwoman again? Your choice is only five minutes. Because I don't have much time!" Damian said making an offer after saying the worst for Helena.

'Ken, he's right. You are indeed the father of my daughter but you are not helping me at all. You can't make me live properly when I need your help. You're too kind to help me get my revenge on them!'

'And again, why did you hand Qiara over to that cheap woman, Ken? I'm her mother, not that bitch!'

'Sorry, Ken! Looks like I'll agree to Mr. Damian to get you out of my way. Thanks for everything, Ken. Sleep in peace!'

Helena talked to herself. At first, she looked scared because Ken would be killed, but after that, her smile widened along with her gaze at Damian.

"I leave the man to you, sir. I'll be happy to wait to hear from you," replied Helena with an innocent smile.

Damian didn't answer and just smiled before stepping out of Helena's room.

"I will take my revenge on you until things turn around and you will feel what my family and I feel! Hey, cheap woman. Wait for your death! Hahaha!" Helena's laughter echoed in every corner of the room.

The thought of Alice and Sean's destruction was the most beautiful thing for her. Helena didn't feel weak anymore after the veiled cooperation between her and Damian happened.

Then, what will happen to Ken who is being hunted by Damian and his men in the dark?

Alice, Sean, and little Qiara were silent in front of Sean's terrace, looking at Kendrick's figure who was currently looking at them.

Kendrick looked at his daughter's face with bloodshot eyes when he come out.

"Father, hurry and come get me again!" cried little Qiara while crying and waved her hand at Ken.

Ken seemed unable to control his sad emotions anymore until without responding to his daughter's wave, he walked quickly and disappeared from the three of them.

'Goodbye God's grace that I love the most. Be a good girl with them, dear Qiara!' Ken thought as he spoke but his eyes couldn't hold back the dam of sadness that had been about to spill.

Qiara who no longer saw his father's figure, cried while hugging Alice for more than half an hour. Alice and Sean let Qiara let out a cry so that Qiara's sadness would at least lessen.