Love Redux: Fated to the Handsome Doctor

After the trial, Seno returned to prison with a heavy heart. He didn’t expect Lara to show up there.

“How about those incompetent fools? Why did they fail to make her withdraw as a witness?” Seno asked angrily to his lawyer. They were in a special consultation room. Seno’s lawyer asked for a little time before his client returned to the cell to wait for the next trial.

“Sir, please don’t speak so loudly,” his lawyer advised with an anxious look. His eyes scanned the room, trying to check if anyone else was overhearing their conversation.

“ARGH! If Lara shows up, all our plans could fall apart! That woman talks too much!” Seno was frustrated and tugged at his hair fiercely. He was truly angry because he felt he had failed to thwart Lara’s steps. His ex-wife should have been scared after the severed dog’s head incident, but for some reason, the expected effect didn’t show. Lara even seemed calmer and bolder than before.

“They didn’t seem to succeed….” the lawyer said in a despondent tone.

“You’re the best lawyer in the country, Mr. Hoffman! How could you all be so incompetent-”

“Calm down, Sir! Give us time. I’ll make sure the team does their job better,” the lawyer promised Seno as the client being served. In the legal world, if winning outright in court seems unlikely, then the backdoor route could be tried.

That was the route Seno and his lawyer took: the front and the back. After terrorizing Lara with the severed dog’s head, they were now planning something else that could potentially stop Lara from testifying further in court.

However, Lara’s presence would obstruct Seno’s freedom program. His affairs could become more complicated, and his room for maneuvering would diminish. “Are you sure?” Seno emphasized that this time, the threat Lara received must truly stop her from appearing in court.

“I’m very sure, Sir. Meanwhile, we’ll find out where she lives.”

“Good. This time, you cannot fail!”

***

Meanwhile, in the car, Lara looked glum. She was upset with her lawyer for the lack of defense. “How could you let me fight alone, Sir? You even missed the moment when the Judge asked for opinions!”

Andre held Lara’s hand tightly. He smiled and winked. The male lawyer sitting in the driver’s seat also had the same expression. They were so strange! Lara truly didn’t understand their expressions.

“You put on a great show, Mrs. Lara,” the lawyer said calmly even though he was being blamed.

“How can I put on a great show if I was completely destroyed by that Hoffman!?” Lara yelled. The anger in her chest still raged. Lara felt futile having to rely on seemingly incompetent lawyers.

“Mrs. Lara, we’re setting up a trap,” he said then.

Lara’s eyes widened. She sharpened her hearing, wanting to hear the rest of the lawyer’s words. “What do you mean?”

“We’re bringing back the flashback to the accident involving you and your friend, Mahya.”

“T-That….”

“Yes, Lara. The accident case is not included in the indictment. So, there must be a triggering argument that can bring up the case in court,” Andre added.

“They fell for our bait because they were too greedy and tried too hard to deceive the judge. In the next trial, we’ll introduce new witnesses and evidence that can bring up this incident. Seno won’t be able to maneuver anymore!” The lawyer’s eyes were fiery. Lara swallowed.

“S-So, my testimony earlier was successful?”

“Successful, Honey! You did your best.” Andre tightened his hug and kissed Lara’s forehead affectionately.

“Thank goodness,” Lara truly couldn’t believe that both of them had hidden this fact from her.

“If you knew, it could be dangerous! Your response would definitely be different, and they wouldn’t be trapped so easily,” Andre said, resting his head on Lara’s shoulder. Lara nodded, understanding Andre’s words. She was indeed a calm woman who might not invite confrontation.

The focus of this trial was confrontation; Lara wouldn’t succeed in luring the enemy into the abyss if she knew it was all a hoax.

“Thank you, everyone,” Lara smiled, wiping away the tears on her face. She didn’t expect these men to truly help her even though she didn’t realize it.

“We’re behind you, Ra. You don’t need to worry,” Andre said softly. Lara smiled in response to his words.

*

The black sedan smoothly glided towards the Five Seasons apartment on Setiabudi Street, South Jakarta. Lara felt sleepy from the exhausting journey. Andre felt the same way.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“I’ll play soft music to make the journey feel calming,” the driver said, playing a love song on the music player.

“Hm, I like this song,” Lara said as Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” filled the car cabin with its beautiful melody.

Andre, sitting beside her, smiled at Lara’s calm expression. They both looked out the window, watching the passing cityscape with the various activities of urban dwellers.

The journey home from the trial had given them a peaceful moment together, away from the tension and drama in court. Although the case was still ongoing, at least they could enjoy simple togetherness like this.

“Lawyer, would you like to join us for dinner?” Lara asked as they approached the apartment.

The bespectacled lawyer shook his head. “I have a dinner appointment with my wife,” he politely declined.

“You can bring your wife along. What’s she like?” Lara asked enthusiastically. Her lawyer had never talked about his wife during their time together. Lara was quite curious about the companion of such an intelligent man.

“Ah, my wife is just an ordinary housewife. She often writes novels as a hobby,” he said.

“Oh really? I love reading novels. What novels does she write?” Lara couldn’t contain her curiosity. She became even more interested in the lawyer’s wife.

“Romance novels, sometimes romance thrillers or even drama. Actually, I often become her guinea pig,” the lawyer said with a laugh.

“Haha, a guinea pig? How’s that?” Lara was even more intrigued. The lawyer’s wife seemed interesting to talk to. A writer must be good at storytelling. She must be a pleasant companion.

“Well, my wife often asks about how a case works, consultations, and also digs up information about my old cases that have been won by our team. She usually gets story ideas from there. Then, I’m constantly harassed to satisfy her curiosity.”

“Pft!” Lara stifled a laugh. The lawyer’s wife’s attitude was almost like hers when she was curious about something. Lara was even more eager to meet the lawyer’s wife.

“Next time, join us for dinner, Sir! I want to meet your wife.”

“Sure, Ma’am. I’ll deliver the message to her. My wife’s latest novel is ‘Revenge on My Cheating Husband’, it seems this story is similar to your story, Ma’am. The husband cheats and hurts his wife in despicable ways.”

Lara was stunned. She never expected that the lawyer’s wife was… Sherly Anez! Her favorite author!

“Sir! I want to meet your wife! I’m her fan!”

“Is that so?”

Lara nodded enthusiastically!

Andre laughed at Lara’s response. “Relax, Honey. You’re like a puppy possessed.” This time, Andre often called Lara ‘Honey’ without shame. Lara was a bit embarrassed but happy to hear that nickname.

“No need to butt in, Ndre. You’re not invited to chat,” Lara pretended to sulk. This time, it was the lawyer who laughed. They spent the time very pleasantly! However, they truly didn’t realize that since earlier, there were two black cars following them from behind.

“Sir! It seems like we’re being followed!”