Hasan was now wide awake, acutely feeling the pain in his heart as he fell into a love that could never bear fruit.
He said, "Nadi, my family is part of the Wijaya clan from the City of Sura Bay. We may not be as powerful as the Rahmans, but we're no pushovers either. I'm your friend, Nadi. Let me handle finding your mother."
Lili nodded vigorously and quickly added, "The Puspa family isn't so weak. The big families in the City of Sura Bay are all tangled together. Aditya thinks he can wipe us out? He's dreaming!"
She held out her hand to Nadi. "Nadi, give me your hand. Trust me."
But Nadi was still scared, afraid Adi might hurt them. She looked like a frightened deer, her eyes full of panic. She shook her head and took a step back. "I need to go home."
Hasan suddenly felt an urge to hug Nadi, to comfort her. He held back, taking a deep breath before speaking slowly. "Nadi, both Ms. Puspa and I promise you won't get hurt. Our families will be safe."