The Illicit Clause

Two days later

Andre flew to Singapore—on the same flight as Selvia. She was already waiting for him in the business lounge. Andre arrived with a wide smile, his eyes locked on her.

Meanwhile, Diandra could only swallow the pain in her heart. She knew her husband was traveling with Selvia. But she didn’t want to act recklessly. Too many people could get hurt if she made the wrong move.

Trying to ease her mind, Diandra decided to go shopping. It had been a while since she used her credit card to splurge on luxury brands she once loved.

While browsing through clothes at a high-end boutique, a man suddenly approached her.

"Diandra? Is that you?" he asked, calling her name.

"Roy?" Diandra responded in disbelief.

"Wow, Di. You haven’t changed a bit. Still as beautiful as ever," Roy complimented her.

"Oh, please, Roy. But you, you look... different."

"Well yeah, I’d be worried if I still looked the same as I did back then. So, who are you here with? Where’s your husband?" he asked casually.

At the mention of her husband, Diandra’s smile faded. She wasn’t in the mood to hear Andre’s name.

"Husband? Hmm… probably swimming with sharks at the bottom of the ocean," she replied dryly.

Roy laughed. "You’re still the same. Always dramatic when you’re upset. Trouble in paradise?"

"And you? Who are you here with?" she asked, trying to change the subject.

"Just me."

"Where’s your wife, Roy?"

"Oh come on, Di. You really don’t keep up with my life, do you?"

"How could I? You disappeared for years. No contact, no updates."

"Well, ever since we broke up, I never married. Still single. Still searching."

Diandra paused. Roy had been her first love. They dated all through high school and college, but ended things because of their different beliefs.

"Oh, poor thing. Handsome face, mixed blood, but no luck in love? Should I help you find someone?"

"Sure. My type is pretty close to you, though. But you’re taken, unfortunately. If not, I’d marry you in a heartbeat," he teased.

Diandra’s cheeks turned red. Roy’s words stirred up old memories—like a love story left unfinished.

"Aww, someone’s blushing," Roy teased even more.

"Oh, stop it, Roy."

They ended up continuing their conversation over lunch at a nearby restaurant.

"So you’re a lawyer now?" Diandra asked after Roy shared about his work.

"Yep. I’ve always liked the idea of being in law."

"Nice. I might need your help sometime."

"Oh wow, I don’t know if I can handle helping the daughter of a council member."

"Correction—ex-council member. My dad’s retired now. He’s into gardening and spoiling his grandkids."

"But your husband must have a whole team of top lawyers, right? Isn’t he the CEO of PT. Pratama Abadi?"

"That’s his title, not mine."

"Still, one word from you and he’d probably make anything happen."

"Can we not talk about Andre right now? I’m too tired to waste energy on a man like him."

Roy noticed the shift in Diandra’s expression. Something was definitely wrong.

"Don’t tell me you’re thinking about getting a divorce?"

"Bingo! You win a hundred thousand!" Diandra pulled out a red banknote and placed it in front of him.

"Seriously, Di? Throwing money at me like I’m some broke guy. I’ve got my own, you know," Roy chuckled.

She laughed. Roy had always hated it when she flashed her wealth. His family was well-off too. His father was a foreigner and his mother a Javanese woman. Though they were divorced now, money was never an issue.

"Di, whatever it is, talk it out. Don’t rush into divorce. Think about your kids."

Diandra went quiet. Roy was right. She also worried how a divorce might affect her children emotionally. If only Andre had considered that before cheating.

"How many kids do you have now?" Roy asked gently.

"Two. A boy and a girl."

"Exactly. Think of them. Divorce can really mess with a child’s mental and emotional growth. Don’t make a decision just because you’re angry."

Tears welled up in Diandra’s eyes. Everything Roy said was true. But what he didn’t know was that Andre had cheated more than once.

"If I may ask... what really happened?"

"Roy, do you remember Selvia?"

"Selvia? Hmm... which one?"

"You know, the one who was always with me during college?"

"Oh, the one with the sexy outfits? Yeah, I remember now. Never liked her, to be honest. Something about her always felt... fake."

"Turns out you were right. I helped her so much back in college, even after she divorced and had no money. I supported her. And how did she repay me? By stealing my husband."

Diandra told Roy everything—how Andre cheated with Selvia, how she felt utterly betrayed by the very friend she once helped. Roy listened quietly, stunned.

"I’m so sorry, Di. That’s... awful. But are you sure you want to go through with the divorce? Maybe give Andre another chance?"

"This isn’t the first time, Roy. He’s cheated more than once. A man like Andre will never be loyal."

"So you’re saying Selvia’s not the only one?"

"Nope. She’s just the latest."

"Wow. Your husband must be popular with the ladies. Meanwhile, here I am—eternally single and untouched by termites," Roy joked.

Diandra burst out laughing. "That’s exactly why I want to end this. I’ve had enough. My heart is already shattered."

They spent the next hour talking about what Diandra should do next. Roy suggested she visit his office for a proper consultation. They exchanged numbers, and Diandra said goodbye—she had to pick up her kids from school.

Back in Singapore, Andre and Selvia were all over each other—sightseeing, holding hands, kissing like nothing else mattered.

What they didn’t know was someone was secretly watching them.

With Roy’s help, Diandra had hired

someone to follow Andre, capturing every moment with his phone. Every kiss, every touch—evidence she might need very soon.