Devastated

Davian stared at the papers in his hand. Debt bills, electricity bills and many others. He tried to think hard to prevent bankruptcy. His shirt looked messy with his tie loosened. Everything was really a mess. Even if he sold the company and his assets, it would only be enough to cover the payment of all his employees's salaries.

His cellphone rang. Davian didn't care about his cellphone at all. His forehead wrinkled staring at the numbers on the paper. He massaged his aching head. His cellphone rang for the second time. Davian put down the papers and answered his cellphone.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Renaux. I'm Sister Esther from the Santa Maria daycare. I apologize in advance, but is there a problem? Because Revan still hasn't been picked up."

"Not picked up yet?" Davian looked at his watch. Revan should have been picked up three hours ago. His wife hadn't picked him up. "Okay, I'll pick him up."

Davian hung up his phone and immediately dialed his wife's number, but she didn't pick up even though he called her three times, she still didn't pick up. Davian grabbed his car keys and his long coat and immediately left. His office was quite empty at the moment. The only ones left were employees waiting for their salaries to be paid.

Davian drove his car through the heavy rain. It had been raining continuously in New York City for three days. The temperature was quite cold.

After driving for some time, Davian parked his vehicle behind a church. He parked a little far away because there were already several cars parked there. Behind the church was a school, an orphanage, and a daycare. Usually, his son Revan would be left there after school until his mother finished work. But today, it was already half past six in the evening but Renee still hadn't picked up their child.

"Oh shit, I left my umbrella behind." Davian snorted in annoyance at his stupidity. "Maybe I can borrow an umbrella for Revan from the nun."

Davian opened the car door. He let the rain water wet his body. Before he got out of his car, he saw his wife Renee, taking Revan out of school. When Davian was about to call them, another figure came out. A man who was now kissing his wife's lips. Davian knew the man. Alan, his best friend as well as his assistant and personal secretary. Davian froze in place, seeing it all. Alan carried Revan and brought him into the car.

Emotionally, Davian followed Alan's car. When the road was a bit quiet, he overtook them then stopped suddenly in front of their car. Alan stepped on the brakes quickly then got out of the car.

"Dav, what the hell is that? We could have an accident!"

Without further ado, Davian grabbed Alan's collar tightly.

"How dare you! Kiss my wife? All this time I've seen your intimacy. I always ignored my thoughts. Because I thought you both were good friends since childhood. But now I can't tolerate it anymore."

"Davian, stop!" Renee shouted. But Davian ignored her.

"I'm your best friend and she's my wife, asshole!" Davian hit Alan's face then grabbed Alan's collar again and hit him a second time.

"Davian! Stop!" Renee was still shouting to break it up.

When Davian wanted to hit for the third time, Alan stopped him.

"I think two punchs are enough (pushing Davian's body) don't just blame me. You should trust your intuition."

"You—"

"Stop Davian!" Renee stopped him. Davian looked inside the car and found Revan staring at him from inside the car. Revan looked very scared.

"Let's go home." He finally said to Renee and walked towards the car door to get Revan. He didn't want Revan to see all that.

"No!" Renee held Davian back. She stood in front of the car door. Davian sighed and stared at his wife's blue eyes.

"Okay. If you don't want to come with me, it's up to you. But I'm taking Revan with me."

Renee still didn't move. "I won't let you take him."

"He's my son, Renee."

Alan laughed loudly. "Your son? (laughs again) your son?! This is so ridiculous." Alan was still laughing while Davian looked at him in confusion. "Just so you know Dav, Revan is my son. My flesh and blood. Your son? That's ridiculous!"

Davian looked at Renee. "Is that true?"

Renee stared at him for a moment then lowered her head without saying anything.

Davian laughed. He really couldn't believe what he was hearing right now. Yes, he felt suspicious seeing the unusual relationship between his wife and Alan. He knew Alan and Renee had been friends since childhood. Alan was the one who introduced Renee to him and supported them until they got married. But all this time he ignored all his suspicions. All this time Renee had been kind. Their sexual relationship was also very good. That's why he ignored everything.

Alan pushed Davian's body away. Davian did not push or block him back.

"Get in." Alan asked Renee. Renee obeyed and got into the car. Alan looked at Davian. "They are mine now, and so is everything you have." Davian frowned. "I was the one who embezzled the money. Yes, it was my doing. You always use the money for charity and all your silly research. It's too bad that that much money is used for unimportant things."

Davian threw another punch but this time Alan was able to deflect it and pushed Davian's body until he fell on the asphalt.

"Now, you're just a loser. Renee? You don't deserve her at all. She's too perfect for a loser like you."

Alan spat at Davian then immediately got into the car and drove away. Davian didn't stand up immediately. He lay down on the asphalt and let the rain fall on his body.

A few weeks later, Renee filed for divorce and she also got the results of the DNA test. Sure enough, Revan was not his child. But even so, he had a strong bond with Revan. He was very close to him. Since he was a baby, he was the one who took care of Revan when he was not with his mother. That made him fall apart. Davian tried to get up and search for the artifact that had been agreed upon. If he succeeded, he would be able to pay off his debt without having to sell his house and car.

Davian, assisted by his trusted crew, conducted the search and excavation. He only had a small crew, because most had resigned. Only those who were quite close to him were still willing to stay.

After several days of searching, they had not found any clues about the artifact's whereabouts.

"Do we still have to keep going in? I think that's enough." Asked one of the crew.

"But I'm sure it's over there. You know, my instincts are always right when it comes to artifacts." Davian assured.

"That's right."

"But we don't need to do it now. It's getting dark. You know the rules."

"Sure, let's end it. (turning to the other crew) Let's stop, we'll continue tomorrow."

Everyone started to pack up. Davian walked first out of the large hole that was quite deep. He had to climb with a rope as a safety measure. Davian was certainly experienced. He had done many searches even in much more difficult places.

Davian climbed slowly and very carefully but for some reason the rope swayed irregularly. Suddenly the sound of the rope breaking was heard. Davian fell freely down. He was only halfway there. But he fell and everything was dark.

Davian slowly opened his eyes. The light was quite dazzling to his eyes. Vaguely, he looked around him. He was in a hospital ward. He remembered what happened. He fell from a fairly high height. His eyes were still too heavy to open completely. His body was even difficult to move.

Davian heard someone enter his room.

"Is he conscious?" asked one of the people.

"I don't think so. He's still affected by the drugs."

"Poor him. He won't be able to use his left leg anymore."

"He's still alive after falling from such a high height, that's already a miracle."

"You're right."

Davian was stunned to hear all that. Unconsciously, her tears fell. His whole life was now completely destroyed.

***

The school bell rang. The students began to prepare to go home.

"Remember, your homework. I'll wait for you next week."

No one answered. They were all busy tidying up their bags and leaving the classroom. Davian was now sitting alone in the classroom. The classroom was empty. He was silent for a moment, then tidied up his desk. Davian took his stick and went out of the classroom.

"Good afternoon, sir." Several children greeted him. Davian smiled faintly. He watched the children running down the corridor.

Davian walked quite far from school to his house on the outskirts of a small town. He had moved to a small town far from New York. He wanted to rebuild his life. Far from everyone he knew. He couldn't drive a car because of his disabled legs. So in the morning when he went to school to teach, he would take the school bus. But after teaching, he would walk or if he had time, he could take the school bus again.

Davian went to the forest, collecting firewood, one by one. Although he couldn't work fast, he always did it himself. With his stick as part of his leg, he gathered some firewood. The weather was getting cold in this September. It rained often. Davian made hot tea and made dinner for himself. For Davian, every day was the same. There was no difference. But at least he was grateful, his life was much calmer.

Davian opened a small drawer near his bed. He took out a photo. A photo of Revan. Even though he knew Revan was not his biological child, he loved the child. Davian lay down on the bed. He tried to forget everything, but the memories still crossed his mind.

A knock on the door was heard. Davian looked at his phone.

"11.55. It's quite late to visit." He muttered. He walked towards the door. At first he was hesitant but he thought it couldn't be a thief, right? Who would steal from him. He didn't have anything. Davian opened the door. A man was standing in front of the door.

"Hello Dav. Long time no see."