Chapter 166: KENN: The Wrong Homecoming

Kenn’s POV

Our company, IT Alvart, operates in the IT sector, offering computer software, consumer electronics, PCs, and services. The company is most well known for its software products. Custom software development usually comes from clients such as state-owned enterprises, government institutions, and other large companies.

Upon arriving in Germany, I went straight to the headquarters to lead a coordination meeting in person.

I looked sharply at each member of the board of directors in front of me. "I didn’t fly all the way here just to listen to reports of failure. Explain how our security system could be breached by outsiders," I demanded in a low but pressing voice.

The room fell silent instantly. I threw the report documents onto the glass table. "Was our cybersecurity team asleep when the attack happened? I want a thorough audit of the server access logs in the last twenty-four hours," I added firmly when I saw the head of the IT division bow his head weakly.

The company’s current problem was that one of our clients, who had worked with us for decades, was threatening to terminate the contract due to news that outsiders had managed to hack our company’s data.

The IT team confirmed the news, but they had fought off the intruders, so the company’s most important data remained safe. I was sure it was the work of a rival company trying to humiliate IT Alvart. Or perhaps the hackers intended to sell IT Alvart’s important data to several competitors.

I tried to make sure by checking everything. Fortunately, the hackers had not succeeded in breaking into the system that stored the company’s confidential data, exactly as the IT team had said.

The problem now was that the client still could not trust us even after the company had explained everything. For days, I was busy with that issue. I even strengthened the software, instructed all employees not to be careless, and to always update the software regularly so that the security system would always recognize the latest threats and be able to deal with them.

"Make sure there isn’t even the smallest gap. If another leak happens, I won’t hesitate to take firm action," I instructed the head of the security division.

There was no other way. I had to handle it myself. A few days later, I held a meeting with the related company and explained everything we had done. I also offered additional compensation that benefited both parties, until cooperation between the companies was finally agreed upon again.

"This is our commitment to maintaining your trust. We guarantee the security of this data with IT Alvart’s reputation," I said as I shook hands with the client company’s leader when the new agreement was signed.

In a little over a week, I completed all of Father’s assignments. Without wasting time, I returned to Indonesia that very day. Unfortunately, when I arrived home, Father gave me a shocking surprise about Frel and Kevan officially dating.

"You came home at just the right time, Kenn. Frel and Kevan have just made their relationship official," Father said with a cynical smile as he greeted me at the door.

Anger and disappointment mixed together until it became hard to breathe. My hands clenched, and my jaw hurt from grinding my teeth too hard. I almost shouted in rage, but stopped when I realized Father was still standing there proudly, throwing me a victorious smile.

I was sure that while I was gone, Father had investigated everything. He already knew that I loved Frel.

"Congratulations, if that’s what you wanted," I replied in a restrained voice, trying to remain polite in front of the man who controlled my life.

Regaining control of myself, I put on a blank expression, trying not to be provoked by his words, then walked upstairs in silence.

At school, I tried to act calm. I kept walking even when Frel called out my name. The second time she called, I stopped and turned to face her, looking at her flatly.

“I want to talk, but not here,” she said when she finally caught up to me.

“Here, or not at all.”

She asked about the hospital bills I had paid, about the video recording, and about Farah whom I had expelled from school. She asked why I had done all of that.

Did I still need to answer honestly when the chance to have her was already gone?

“Just consider it repaying a favor. You made me realize what I had to do for Hendra,” I answered at that time as an excuse.

Yes, even though I owed her, that had nothing to do with Hendra. I helped her purely because I loved her, and I didn’t want anything bad to happen to her.

“Is that really all?”

There seemed to be a tone of disappointment in her voice when she heard my answer. For a moment, I was glad to hear it, but when I saw Kevan walking toward her, that brief happiness suddenly vanished, as if reminding me of the reality of their new relationship.

I had no other choice but to leave Frel, trying to be strong and apathetic.

I don’t know how many weeks I had been avoiding her. Wherever we met, I acted as if we had never known each other. Meanwhile, Frel always tried to get closer and ask me more.

“How long are you going to keep avoiding me, Kenn?” Frel asked in a desperate tone when we passed each other in the hallway.

Didn’t she realize that her attitude was making it even harder for me to forget her?

Until it reached a point where I could no longer avoid her. She forced me to take her to the orphanage to meet Abel and Reno.

And I felt that fate was involved when, at the orphanage, I suddenly heard Abel and Reno ask us to accompany them on an outing. It didn’t stop there. There was an incident at the zoo where I held Frel’s waist when she almost fell because of her stubbornness, pretending to be fine even though it was clear she was enduring pain from her sprained leg.

“Stop pretending to be strong. I know you’re enduring tremendous pain.”

However, from that incident, I finally knew that I wasn’t the only one who had feelings. She had the same feelings as I did. It was proven by her nervous behavior when I held her waist, and by her awkwardness when I stared at her intensely from such a close distance.

Those few clues were enough for me to take the next step. I became more and more proactive in giving her clear signals. Day by day, I increased the intensity of my attention, and I received unexpected responses from her in return. Even though she looked awkward and confused, her body language and the way she spoke could not deceive me.

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