Inside the cramped living room of the tiny apartment where the Wijaya family had taken refuge, the air felt far more suffocating than a prison cell. Demands and foreclosure notices from the bank lay scattered across a worn wooden table. Mr. Wijaya, who always used to dress immaculately in Italian suits, now wore a rumpled t-shirt, his face looking ten years older.

"We have no other choice, Ratna," Mr. Wijaya said, his voice raspy. "If we don't make a debt payment within 48 hours, they will seize our last remaining property."

Mrs. Ratna, usually so arrogant, could only sob helplessly. "That property? The luxury apartment in the city center? That’s the only asset left in Bella's name! If we sell it, Bella won't have a place to live!"

"Bella can live anywhere!" Mr. Wijaya cut her off harshly. "What matters is keeping us out of prison over these corporate debts! Bella! Bella!"

Bella, who had just returned from Nexus Global’s headquarters with swollen eyes and a shattered heart, emerged from behind her bedroom door. Her face was pale, but her gaze was far more mature—or perhaps, far more numb.

"Yes, Father?"

"Sell your apartment," Mr. Wijaya ordered bluntly. "It’s the only way we can survive right now. We’re holding a closed auction this afternoon. A property investor has already agreed to take a look."

Bella looked at her father with a quiet, burning disgust. She had just been humiliated by the man she believed was her husband, and now her own family didn't give a damn where she would sleep. "Do whatever you want," Bella said flatly, turning back into her room without looking back.

That afternoon, a prominent notary's office served as the setting for a tense meeting. Mr. Wijaya had invited several potential buyers for a fast-track auction of Bella’s luxury apartment. They needed a massive amount of cash, and they needed it immediately.

The prospective buyers present were mostly nouveau riche looking to snag a prime location property at a bargain price. Mr. Wijaya appeared restless, constantly checking his watch.

"Very well, let us begin the bidding," the notary announced. "Starting price is set at fifteen billion rupiah."

Someone immediately raised a hand. "Sixteen billion!"

Mr. Wijaya broke into a wide smile. That was only the beginning. However, before the notary could call for the next bid, the heavy office doors swung wide open.

Andi, Aris’s personal secretary, walked in wearing a tailored black suit, accompanied by two senior attorneys. An instant hush fell over the room. Everyone present knew exactly who this man represented.

"Apologies, ladies and gentlemen," Andi’s voice echoed calmly, yet filled with undeniable authority. "I am here on instructions from Mr. Aris of Nexus Global."

Mr. Wijaya swallowed hard, his face draining of color instantly. "What... what are you doing here?"

Andi ignored Mr. Wijaya and looked directly at the notary. "We have been monitoring all assets currently up for auction by the Wijaya family today. Mr. Aris has issued explicit orders to buy everything—without exception—at double the market price."

The room erupted into chaos. Double the market price? That meant thirty billion rupiah!

"But... why?" one of the buyers asked in utter confusion.

"Because Mr. Aris dislikes seeing prime real estate fall into the wrong hands," Andi replied coldly. He placed a leather folder onto the notary's desk. "Here is a cashier's check for thirty billion rupiah. We request that the transfer of ownership rights be finalized within ten minutes."

Mr. Wijaya felt the ground trembling beneath his feet. He wanted to scream, he wanted to refuse, but he knew he had zero leverage. "This is absurd! Who gave that man permission to meddle in my private affairs?"

"Pursuant to the debt contract you signed, Mr. Wijaya," the attorney beside Andi chimed in, "we hold the right of first refusal to purchase any assets you attempt to liquidate so long as your debt to Nexus Global remains unpaid."

In an instant, Bella’s apartment no longer belonged to Bella, nor to the Wijaya family, and certainly not to the other bidders. Everything had officially changed hands to Nexus Global.

Shortly after the deal was sealed, Bella—who was waiting inside the apartment that would soon no longer be hers—heard a firm knock on the door. When she opened it, she found Andi standing there with an expressionless face.

"Miss Bella," Andi said politely. "This property has now been officially acquired by Nexus Global."

Bella froze, her eyes glistening with tears. "So... do I have to leave right now?"

"Mr. Aris gave one message," Andi continued. "He said you have one hour to pack your belongings. After that, a renovation crew will arrive to overhaul this entire place. However..."

Andi held out a keycard access pass. "This is the keycard to the penthouse unit on the top floor of this building. Mr. Aris stated that this unit is yours now. You do not need to pay a single cent."

Bella looked down at the keycard, her hands trembling. Aris’s words from the office echoed back in her mind: "Don't bother trying to figure out who I am. Because if you find the truth, you won't like what you see."

"Why is he doing this?" Bella asked, her voice raspy. "Why buy it at such an inflated price, only to hand me a place that’s far more luxurious?"

Andi simply bowed his head slightly. "I am merely executing orders, Miss. Mr. Aris is a man who likes to ensure his enemies lose everything. Yet, on occasion, he also likes to ensure that someone... 'precious' to him still has ground to stand on, even as he tears their world apart."

Andi turned and walked away, leaving Bella standing frozen with the keycard gripped tightly in her hand.

Bella stared at the card with a mixture of burning hatred and intense curiosity. Aris was playing mind games with her. Aris was flaunting his power. He wanted to prove that he could destroy her family, yet hold absolute control over her life.

Bella squeezed the card so hard the edges dug painfully into her palm. She wouldn't move into that penthouse to thank him. She would move in to demand answers. If Aris wanted to play games with her ruin, then Bella would make sure he faced the consequences of what he had done to her heart.

"You think you can control everything, Aris?" Bella whispered into the silence of the empty apartment. "Let’s see who breaks first."