"What do you need?" asked Robi coldly.
"Do I have to have an excuse every time I go to Grandma's house?"
"Grandma hasn't come home yet. There's only Mommy in there."
"Then, I'll wait here."
"You can go ahead, but unfortunately, there's no news about when Grandma will be home."
"Hmm ... even so, may I join in on the conversation with you guys. We're brothers, we have to get along like this often."
David asked a housekeeper to prepare a new tea, which meant he purposely wanted to linger with his two brothers. Alan and Robi tried to calm down, this wasn't the first time they had faced David's arrogance.
"So you want to join the company too, Lan?" he asked.
"Why? Can't you?"
David smiled mockingly. "No, I can't, I'm just amazed."
"Amazed?"
"Yes, amazed. Considering your status as only an illegitimate child, I thought you would remain silent in the shadow of this beloved brother of yours," he sneered.
"My cousin is very considerate. Thank you," he answered, not to be outdone.
David smiled bitterly. It was not the response he had expected from one of his rivals. "My guts are big too."
"Oh yeah? I just realized."
Robi is proud of his brother, he can calm down in the face of David, who is often acting up.
David was irritated, his bait missed and instead annoyed him back. If Alan failed to provoke him, he had to turn to his other cousin—Robi.
"Bi, I heard from uncle, that you and Amelia are going to inseminate, right?"
Robby glared sharply. "That is none of your business."
"Hey, don't be sentimental like that. I'm just worried about Aunt Mayang, who is already waiting for a successor."
"Don't think about me and mind your own business. I heard that the Princess of the Prayogo family rejected you flatly," Robi countered.
David snorted in annoyance. "There are still other influential family daughters I can approach, at least not the daughter of a prostitute I picked up from the street."
Robi could no longer tolerate David's words, especially when it came to his wife—Amelia.
"Watch yourself, Dav!" Alan snapped, trying to help his brother.
"Uh, why are you the fussy one, Lan?"
"You—"
"Ah ... I just remembered. You are also from a prostitute, it's only right to be offended." David wasn't satisfied yet, especially when he saw that Alan and Robi were already getting emotional.
"Go!" snapped Robi.
"So what?"
"Dave—"
David laughed, making the two brothers even more furious. "You guys are ridiculous. What a perfect brotherhood, the loser, and the bastard. One has guts, and the other lives in the shadows of the past—"
Buugghh!
One hard hit from Robi landed, making David stagger almost fall. "Enough!"
"Gosh, that was a punch just now? My housemaid's power is much bigger than yours, Bi."
"Hurry up, damn it!" said Alan, no less furious.
"Okay-okay. The tea is cold, too."
David was about to turn around and leave, but he stopped and went back to Robi and Alan.
"Are you ready to compete with me, Bi?"
"Yes, of course, I have."
"Based on affection as a cousin, I just wanted to remind you to be more careful."
Robin smiled faintly. "If you want to compete, I'll be happy to wait. We'll do it fairly."
David drew closer to Robi, then he whispered something, "In the business world, justice is a taboo. It seems Aunt Mayang didn't teach you well. I will compete even if I have to throw dirt at you, while I will win."
Robin smiled wryly. David's words indicate an open war at all costs, even if they have to bring each other down.
"Isn't there someone else who is far more dangerous to your position? Your beloved brother is also in the company. Don't you think your biggest enemy could be right by your side?" he continued.
Alan who heard it was annoyed. David pulled then he pushed away from Robi's body. "Go! Don't listen to him, Brother."
David laughed. "Why, illegitimate child? Are you afraid that Robi will block you from entering? You should know yourself, being able to stay and eat calmly is already grateful—"
Buugghh!
One raw blow landed on his face, even David fell to the ground. Fresh blood flowed from his nose, he immediately wiped it. "Reasonable."
Robi was ready to attack again, but Robi stopped him. "Well, don't be served."
"I can't believe you have Wijaya's blood, Bi. Look at your naivety, it's fragile."
"Dav, better go and we'll settle it at the board of directors meeting."
David tried to get up, when Robi was about to help him, he shook his hand roughly. "I can do it myself."
"I warned you well, Bi. Then, for you, an illegitimate child. Don't expect to win a position in Wijaya's company, I am the one who has the right to take it," he threatened as he walked away.
"Crazy," Alan snapped.
"Well, let it go. You know, he's a person who likes to compete."
"Still, annoying. Brother, don't get carried away by his words, I didn't mean to."
"Enough, don't talk about it. Brother goes home first. Sorry, Amelia must have been waiting."
"Yes, be careful, Bro."
Robi left the palace that felt like a prison, a place that his mother might have to go to at any time if control of the company's power fell on his uncle's side.
His breath hitched, thinking about the many things that might happen in the future. Although so far, everything is still running smoothly thanks to the mother's help, not necessarily tomorrow or the day after.
He was well aware of his capacity, if he could escape, he might have done it from the start. His status as the first child made him the mother's foundation for survival, increasing the burden of his life.
If it weren't for Amelia, maybe he would have chosen to leave and start a new life. No! Not because of that, but because he was too timid, he made his wife a shield to cover himself as a loser.
"Aaarrgghhh!!"
Robi screamed hysterically, releasing the stress he had been hiding for so long. David is not an easy opponent, considering his broader intelligence and connections, unlike himself who is always supreme and relies on Mayang.
He lamented at his stupidity in pretending to remain calm even though he was scared in his heart. As for Alan, it wasn't that he wasn't worried that his little brother would take his place, which was why Robi was being nice so that Alan wouldn't think about hurting him in the future.
Not only because Alan is also the father's better son, but Alan is much brighter in every way than he is. He felt unworthy of being the successor whenever he compared himself to his brother.
"You're such a coward, Bi," he whispered, wiping his tears.
That's the real him. He was looking strong even though he was shaking violently deep inside, getting a lot of competition from people who were far superior to him.
Robi immediately wiped his tears, then tried to catch his breath to regain consciousness. His wife should not know about this, nor should anyone else. No one should be aware of how cowardly Robi Wijaya is.