He's The Unaffordable
Chapter 68 - Photo Scandal

“What bad news?” ask me in passing. Dira likes drama, so he often exaggerates problems that are actually trivial.

“Kakak view this.” He gave me his tablet so I could see what was on his screen. “This photo is in all online news media, also widely spread on social media, Kak.”

The photo that filled the tablet screen was Clarissa being with a man. The clothes he was wearing were quite open with his cleavage clearly visible. He and the man were sitting so close that it looked like they were in a cafe or restaurant. Clarissa and the man looked very friendly with one of the man's hands on his shoulder and the other hand holding his hand on the table.

I shifted the screen and the next photo was of Clarissa with the same man walking so close. The man's hands wrapped around his shoulders and they walked with happy faces. The skirt of clothing that Clarissa wore was in the middle of her thigh.

I sped up the next photos to know what the photo spreader wanted to show. My hand stopped sliding the screen while on a news article. “Grandson Eduardo Abraham who was declared missing lived a comfortable life as a campus chicken”. There are many similar articles that accuse Clarissa of being a comfort woman because of which she was deliberately hidden by Om Edu.

Social media is worse. People shared the news and berated Clarissa without any clear evidence. Some words and sentences are not even worth writing. Why are they suddenly so angry at someone they don't know at all? And I'm sure they never met Clarissa in person either.

“Does Papa already know this?” I gave the tablet back to Dira.

“I don't know. I was checking social media when one of my acquaintances shared this post on his homepage,” he replied as he read what was on his tablet screen.

“You please come down first, I need to talk to Rissa.” I picked up my phone on the nightstand and chose my fiancee's number.

Until the sound of the dial ends, Clarissa does not answer my incoming call. I tried to contact him again, the results remained the same. No matter how soundly she slept, she never ignored the call from me. He must have read the news.

If Dira had known this, then it was likely that Charlotte would have known about it as well. I picked her number and I don't think she's going to answer the phone from me either. It turned out that after quite a while of waiting, the call was connected.

“Clarissa wants to be alone, Hadi. Ii'm sorry. Him, he's ruined.” Charlotte sniffles. I didn't say anything as he tried to calm himself down. “She was silent when she found out I was reading the news about her secret work. We don't know how he is now, but he locked himself in the room and didn't let us in.”

“You must have a backup key, why not try to open it from outside?” I'm giving you advice. Clarissa should not be left alone at this point.

“Can't if the key still hangs from inside.” Charlotte sighed clearing the liquid from her nose. “Why do they do that? Who would have the heart to spread that photo and attack my brother like this? Clarissa was never evil to anyone. We just met but he won't have the heart to hurt anyone.”

“Don't worry about photos and all that news. As soon as my papa intervenes, they'll erase all the news without any leftovers. All we need to think about is Clarissa's situation. The invitation to our engagement today must have been heard by many. This news coming up today is no coincidence, Charlotte. Please, calm him.”

“We will try to do the best we can. Grandpa and Grandpa were taking care of this news matter with their assistant. Poor Brother. Today should be his happy day. But they could ruin it.”

“Today will still be his happy day. No one can snatch that from him.”

Mama looked worried as she looked at me entering the living room. Papa's talking to someone I'm sure is Om Irwan. Dira and Adi were sitting on the couch with Mama looking expectantly at Papa. This is what I love about my family. When one person has a problem, then all assume this is their problem as well.

Papa invited us all to keep jogging and wait for the next news from Om Irwan. I don't know what happened to Black and Gold, they followed me along as we ran casually around the grounds of the house. Maybe they can feel my grief.

It's like it's not the way Clarissa usually behaves to problems. When Finley first came to see him and confessed that he was his missing son, Clarissa came to me. He came and asked my advice to find a solution to his problem.

What's different about this time? Why didn't he call me, and won't answer my calls? Something's not right. The Clarissa I know is not easy to cry especially for an attack as low as this. She is a strong and strong girl. Faced with his explosive adoptive sister alone he was not provoked by emotions, let alone just news like this.

“Charlotte says she's still locked up in her room.” Dira shrugged both of his shoulders as I asked about Clarissa's condition.

That's very suspicious. “Is Charlotte sure that she is in her room?”

“What does Sister mean?” tanya Dira was confused. His eyes then rounded wide. “What does Big Brother suspect he's out of his room and going somewhere?”

“I need to talk to Papa!” I rushed out of the living room to Papa's study. This was the room where he usually was to keep up with the progress of the problem that was troubling his mind. Although Clarissa is not officially part of our family yet, she is a family because her grandmother and my mother were good friends.

“Wait a minute.” He talked to someone behind the phone before turning to me. “What's up, Son?” He looks tired. There must be no news about the perpetrators of all the photos.

“Pa, is Clarissa out of her house?” my many. Only Papa, Om Edu, and Uncle Mason have access to the app that connects to the signal from Clarissa's necklace. The rest is monitored by Clarissa's bodyguard and the people Papa and his two friends hire. I have absolutely no access to it.

“Edu and Mason didn't say anything, he should have been home. Oh!” Papa looked at his laptop screen in surprise. “Irwan, Clarissa is not at her house. One of your men told me he was in a taxi. Yes, please take care of him for me.”

“What happened, Pa? Clarissa went where?” aska I want to know.

“Do not worry. There's always someone watching him. The signal of her bracelet and necklace remained at home, it seemed like she had accidentally removed the two jewels. Wherever he went, he didn't want anyone to know where his destination was.” Papa called someone again on his cell phone.

“I'll follow him. Maybe he met someone who had something to do with those photos.” I turned around, intending to get out of the room.

“No, Hadi.” Papa's call stopped my steps. “I understand you're worried about your fiancee, but I can't let my son in danger. There are Irwan's people following him, they will look after him.”

“But, Pa,” protest.

“I saw the state of your car, son. You're lucky you only have heavy bruises and no injuries to your internal organs. They have to put you in a coma, it's not something I want to see happen to my son again. It was their second attack, I don't want you to have to face assault again for the third time.” I opened my mouth to say something. “This is not for discussion.”

“She is my fiancee, Pa.”

“I know. If he doesn't love his life, that's his business. But I won't let my son risk his life for a girl like that. I'm not ready to lose you yet,” Papa said in a hoarse voice. Now I feel guilty for making him have to say all that. Staying at home is not an option.