THE BILLIONAIRE'S HEIR UNCHAINED

CHAPTER 5

The streets of Jakarta were alive with their usual chaos—motorbikes weaving through traffic, street vendors shouting their deals, and the scent of grilled satay lingering in the humid evening air.

Raka dragged his feet along the uneven sidewalk, exhaustion settling deep in his bones after another grueling shift at the warehouse. The soles of his worn-out shoes barely cushioned each step, but he pressed on, eager to get home. At least to find little he could eat.

As he walked past a row of shops, his eyes were drawn to a brightly lit jewelry store. The gleaming glass display showcased delicate necklaces, rings, and bracelets—far beyond what he could afford. Just as he was about to walk past, something caught his attention.

A necklace.

It wasn’t the most extravagant piece in the collection, nor was it adorned with diamonds or gold. But it had an elegant simplicity—a silver chain with a small sapphire-like stone set in the center. He imagined it resting against Nadine’s neck, complementing her graceful features.

His heart tightened.

Nadine.

She never looked at him with warmth anymore. In her eyes, he was just a burden, a man she had married out of duty rather than love. He knew she was ashamed of him—her silence at family gatherings, her dismissive tone when speaking to him, the way she never introduced him properly to anyone. He had nothing to offer her.

But maybe this necklace could change that.

Raka hesitated, looking at the price tag. 500,000 rupiah.

Half his monthly earnings.

His throat tightened. That was a lot. He barely made enough to cover his living expenses. But still… wasn’t Nadine worth it?

If he could do something—anything—to make her smile, to remind her that he loved her, wouldn’t it be worth it?

He clenched his fists. Not today. But when he got his pay, he would return.

A Week Later

The moment Raka received his salary, he wasted no time. Instead of heading home, he took a detour straight to the jewelry shop. The shopkeeper barely glanced at him, likely assuming he was just another broke window shopper. But when Raka placed the cash on the counter and pointed at the necklace, the man raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.

Raka walked out of the store with a small velvet box tucked carefully in his pocket. His chest swelled with anticipation. This would be the first real gift he had ever bought for Nadine. Maybe—just maybe—she would look at him differently.

At Home

Nadine was seated on the couch, scrolling through her phone. She barely acknowledged Raka’s return. The TV flickered in the background, some high-end lifestyle show featuring the luxurious lives of Indonesia’s elite.

Raka approached, his pulse quickening. “Nadine…”

She didn’t look up.

“I got something for you.”

That got her attention. She glanced at him, then at the small box in his hands. Slowly, she reached out and opened it.

For a moment, she said nothing.

Then, her lips pressed into a thin line. “This?”

Raka smiled nervously. “It’s a necklace. I thought it would suit you.”

She picked it up between her fingers, examining it as if it were a piece of discarded trash. “How much did this cost?”

“500,000,” Raka said, pride slipping into his voice. “I saved for it.”

Silence.

Then, a soft scoff.

“500,000?” Nadine let out a breath of disbelief. “You spent half your salary on this?” She placed the necklace back in the box and shut it. “Raka… you shouldn’t have wasted your money.”

His heart sank. “But I—”

She stood, placing the box on the table. “I have a headache. I’m going to bed.”

And just like that, she walked away.

Raka remained standing there, his fingers curled into his palm. The warmth of anticipation had drained from his body, leaving only a cold emptiness.

Later That Night

The apartment was silent except for the occasional hum of passing motorcycles outside. Raka had cleaned up the living room and was taking out the trash when something caught his eye.

A familiar velvet box.

He frowned, reaching into the bin and picking it up. His fingers trembled as he opened it.

The necklace was still inside.

She had thrown it away.

A lump formed in his throat. He swallowed hard, staring at the delicate piece of jewelry that he had bought with such hope.

His vision blurred for a second, but he quickly wiped his eyes. No. He wouldn’t cry.

He clenched the box tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Tomorrow, he would confront her.

Tomorrow, he would ask her why.

***

Raka sat at the edge of the bed, staring at the crumpled bedsheet where Nadine lay, curled up with her back to him. His fingers clenched as he looked at her, at the woman he had given his love to, yet who barely acknowledged his existence.

He had woken up with a heavy weight pressing against his chest, the image of that discarded jewelry box burned into his mind.

He had spent half his earnings on that necklace. Had thought—naively—that she would appreciate the effort. That maybe, just maybe, she would look at him with something more than cold indifference.

But instead, she had thrown it away like trash.

Raka reached out, gripping her shoulder. “Nadine.”

She stirred slightly but didn’t open her eyes.

His patience was already razor-thin. “Nadine, wake up.”

She groaned, rolling onto her back and blinking up at him with irritation. “What?”

His jaw tightened. “Why did you throw away the necklace I bought you?”

For a moment, there was silence. Then Nadine sighed, stretching her arms above her head as if the question itself was exhausting. She propped herself up on her elbow, her face unreadable. “What are you talking about?”

Raka reached into his pocket and pulled out the small jewelry box, flipping it open to reveal the necklace inside. “I found this in the trash.”

Nadine barely spared it a glance before shrugging. “So?”

“So?” Raka repeated, his voice sharpening. “I spent half my salary on this! And you threw it away like garbage.”

She sighed again, rubbing her temple as if this conversation was beneath her. “Raka, listen. It’s not my fault you wasted your money on something I didn’t ask for.”

His chest tightened. “I thought you’d like it.”

Nadine let out a dry, humorless laugh. “Raka, be serious. Look at this.” She gestured toward the necklace as if it were some cheap trinket. “It’s not even close to the kind of jewelry I wear. The gifts I receive? They’re real gold, real diamonds. This?” She scoffed. “It’s nothing special.”

Raka’s fingers curled into a fist, gripping the edge of the box so tightly it nearly snapped. “I worked for this,” he said quietly, his voice trembling. “I spent hours in that warehouse, breaking my back for a salary that barely covers our rent. And when I finally save up for something—to make you happy—you throw it away without a second thought?”

Nadine rolled her eyes. “Why are you being so dramatic?”

“Dramatic?” His voice rose, anger cutting through his usual restraint. “I’m your husband, Nadine. Doesn’t that mean anything to you? Or am I just some fool paying for your lifestyle while you look down on me?”

She sat up fully now, folding her arms. “You’re the one who chose this life, Raka. You knew what you were getting into when you married me.”

His heart pounded. “What does that mean?”

“It means,” she said, her tone cool and detached, “that I didn’t marry you because I was in love with you. I married you because I thought you could help my family out of their family Crisis. And now, here we are—stuck in this ridiculous situation where you expect me to act like some devoted wife just because you bought me a necklace that looks like it came from a street stall.”

The words hit him like a physical blow.

Raka had always known, deep down, that Nadine didn’t love him. That to her, their marriage had been an obligation, not a choice. But hearing it out loud, with such brutal honesty, left him speechless.

He stared at her, his throat tight. “So that’s how you see me?”

She didn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The air in the room felt suffocating.

Then Raka exhaled, his whole body sagging. He looked down at the necklace one last time before shutting the box and slipping it back into his pocket.

“I see,” he murmured".

Nadine didn’t say anything as he stood up, running a hand through his hair. His chest burned with frustration, bitterness, and something else—something heavier.

Disillusionment.

He had nothing more to say to her.

Without another word, he grabbed his jacket and walked out, the door clicking shut behind him.