Leon had always believed he knew everything about Hana her favorite desserts, the way she liked her coffee (extra strong, no sugar), her irrational fear of pigeons, and even the way she unconsciously twirled her hair when she was nervous. But nothing absolutely nothing could have prepared him for the truth that shattered his reality that morning.
It started with an envelope.
A simple, cream-colored envelope left on their kitchen counter, sealed with a golden emblem he didn't recognize. Leon had woken up early, hoping to make breakfast for Hana as a surprise, only to find the mysterious letter with his name written in elegant calligraphy.
Curiosity prickled.
He opened it.
Inside was a letter formal, cold, and heavy with implication. It was from a law firm in Switzerland.
> "Dear Mr. Leon Hartanto,
We are reaching out in regard to your wife, Mrs. Hana Ardelia von Dämmerung, concerning her inheritance status as the sole heiress to the Dämmerung Group."
Leon's heart stopped.
The Dämmerung Group? As in the Dämmerung Group the global luxury conglomerate rumored to own everything from fashion empires to private islands?
He had to read it again.
Then again.
And again.
Each time, the words didn't change. Hana. His Hana the woman who wore $20 sneakers, cooked instant noodles with joy, and once cried over a stray cat was a billionaire heiress?
"Leon?"
He flinched.
Hana stood at the doorway, her hair still damp from a shower, wrapped in his hoodie. Her eyes widened when she saw what he held.
"You… opened it," she said softly.
He looked at her, eyes filled with disbelief, betrayal, confusion.
"You knew?"
She sighed and stepped closer. "I was going to tell you. I just… didn't know how."
Leon let out a humorless laugh. "Didn't know how to tell me that our entire life is a lie?"
"It's not a lie," Hana said defensively. "Everything we've had, everything we've built it's real. I never used a cent of that money. I left it all behind."
He stood still, overwhelmed. "So all this time… who are you really?"
"I'm still me," she whispered. "Still your wife. Still the girl who tripped into your life with a coffee spill."
But the air between them had shifted.
And then the doorbell rang.
Leon didn't move, so Hana did.
She opened the door to reveal two sharply dressed individuals a man and a woman in tailored suits. Their expressions were neutral, but their presence was anything but.
"Hana Ardelia von Dämmerung," the man said with a slight bow. "We've been sent by the family. It's time."
"No," she said instantly, stepping back. "I told them I wanted nothing to do with that life."
"They insist," the woman said. "The board needs you."
"I'm not their puppet," Hana snapped. "Tell them I said no."
But Leon couldn't ignore the sinking realization this was bigger than them. Bigger than their small apartment, their late-night ramen, their shared dreams.
And then the man turned to Leon.
"You must be the husband. Mr. Albrecht, you should be aware marrying into the Dämmerung family comes with consequences. You are now a person of interest to many… dangerous individuals."
Leon's fists clenched. "Are you threatening me?"
"Not at all," the man said calmly. "Just informing you that your life both of your lives is about to change."
Neither touched their dinner. The envelope lay between them like a landmine.
"I should've told you," Hana said eventually, her voice cracking. "I wanted to be normal. To live free. To be loved for me not the billions attached to my last name."
Leon swallowed hard.
"You are loved, Hana," he said hoarsely. "But I need time to process this. Everything's upside down."
She nodded slowly.
"I'll wait. As long as it takes."
But deep down, they both knew the beginning of chaos had arrived. And their love, as strong as it was, would now be tested like never before.
The city lights shimmered like diamonds scattered across velvet, casting a soft glow on the streets below. Hana stood by the balcony of the upscale apartment Leon had rented for the evening, her long black dress flowing gently in the breeze. From afar, it might have looked like a scene from a romance movie. But for Hana, everything tonight was anything but a fairytale.
Leon emerged from behind her, holding two glasses of sparkling juice. "You look… stunning," he said, handing her a glass.
"Thanks," she replied softly, taking the drink but not meeting his eyes. "So… what is this, really?"
Leon gave a casual shrug, though his heartbeat betrayed his calm demeanor. "Just a night out. Friends can enjoy the night, right?"
Hana gave him a skeptical glance. "With candlelit dinners and rooftop views?"
He chuckled. "Okay, fine. Maybe I wanted to impress you. Just a little."
Hana turned away, hiding her smirk. "You're ridiculous, Leon."
"But you're smiling."
"I'm not."
"You are."
They both laughed, easing the tension that had clouded them for days. Since the chaos of Hana's family truth being revealed, they hadn't truly talked. Tonight was supposed to be that moment.
They sat down at the elegantly set table. The food Hana's favorites was ordered from a Michelin-star restaurant. Leon had planned every detail. He wasn't sure if she'd appreciate the effort, but he hoped.
"Why did you really do this?" Hana asked, cutting a piece of grilled salmon.
Leon hesitated. "Because I miss you. And because I wanted one evening where we weren't talking about money, power, or bloodlines. Just you and me."
She looked at him for a long time, her expression unreadable. "But we're never just you and me, Leon. Not anymore."
A beat of silence passed.
"I know," he admitted. "But I'm still going to try."
Later, they took a walk through the quiet park nearby. Hana had taken off her heels and was walking barefoot on the grass.
"I used to come here with my mother," she said. "Before… everything."
Leon watched her, noting how her expression turned wistful. "Do you miss her?"
"Every day. She was the only one who really saw me. Not the heiress. Not the daughter of some empire. Just… Hana."
He stopped walking and gently took her hand. "That's how I see you."
She looked down at their entwined fingers. "I want to believe that."
"You can. You should."
But before she could reply, the sound of a phone buzzing broke the moment. It was Leon's.
He glanced at the screen, and his expression changed.
"What is it?" Hana asked.
He hesitated. "Trouble. With your uncle's company. There's a leak. Someone's trying to crash the stock."
Her eyes widened. "Tonight?!"
"They waited until you were distracted," he said grimly. "We need to go. Now."
Back at the mansion, chaos was already brewing. Financial advisors, security experts, and legal teams buzzed around like bees. Hana switched into her CEO mode without missing a beat. Gone was the vulnerable woman from the park. In her place stood a sharp, commanding figure.
"Get me the latest stock figures. Contact legal. Where's Alan?" she barked orders.
Leon stood by her side, watching her with a mix of pride and worry.
In the corner of the room, Alan the family's chief strategist approached with a grim look. "We traced the leak. It's internal. Someone close."
Hana's jaw tightened. "Who?"
Alan hesitated. "Your cousin, Riko."
A sharp breath escaped her lips. "Riko? He's family!"
"Which is why he had access to everything."
Leon stepped forward. "We can't let this escalate. If the board hears about this betrayal"
"They already have," Alan interrupted. "And there's more. The press is catching wind of it. Tomorrow morning's headlines won't be kind."
Hana closed her eyes for a moment, gathering herself. "We fight this. We release our own statement. We show them that we're not weak. That we're in control."
The next 12 hours were a whirlwind. Hana and Leon barely rested. They crafted a media response, froze internal accounts, and launched an internal investigation. Hana stood in front of cameras the next day with a calm, poised demeanor.
"We are aware of the situation, and we are acting swiftly. Betrayal from within is painful, but it also reveals who truly stands with us. I will not let my family's legacy be tarnished by greed," she declared.
Her speech was broadcasted across every major network. Social media lit up. Public opinion slowly began to sway in their favor.
That evening, Hana finally collapsed onto a sofa, exhausted. Leon brought her a warm cup of tea.
"This wasn't how Iimagined the night ending," he said.
She chuckled weakly. "You and me both."
He sat beside her. "But we survived it. Together."
She leaned against him. "It wasn't a date."
"No," he agreed. "But maybe it was something more."
They stayed like that, in the quiet. No more words were needed.
And for once, despite the chaos, everything felt… right.