When Sylvia heard Leila's words, her expression turned stiff. She stepped forward and stared at her daughter closely, "Lilia, how did you get acquainted with Leila?" She asked.
Lilia felt that Sylvia's reaction was a little strange, but she didn't really think about it, "I met her in Jakarta." She honestly answered.
Sylvia didn't say anything more and just nodded. But her expression turned stiff after hearing Lilia's answer.
"Ah, Aunt Sylvia, thank you for bringing me here." Leila broke the awkward silence with her sweet as honey voice. The woman approached Sylvia and gripped her hand tightly, "If it weren't for Auntie, I might still be stranded by the side of the road." Her words sounded sincere.
Leila's change in attitude impressed Lilia. She used to be like a young girl in love, but now she presented herself as a polite and grateful woman.
Sylvia's stiff expression melted away, replaced by a warm smile she never showed Lilia. She patted Leila's hand saying, "You're welcome. Like you said, our meeting today is predestined. I'm glad to see you today, Leila."
"Aunt Sylvia, let's say goodbye. I will come to visit again if I have the opportunity!" Leila didn't forget to give Sylvia her number when she said goodbye.
When Mike and Leila left the Pangestu Family home, Lilia was still standing rooted in her original position. Her gaze never left Sylvia who was seen waving at Leila.
When that woman felt Lilia's gaze, she asked curtly, "What are you looking at?"
Then Sylvia finally realized that Jean was still standing behind Lilia. She cleared her throat and hurriedly invited the two of them to sit down.
Kenny took the opportunity to leave the living room quietly. He went to the front yard and had a smoke while waiting for the two to finish. His mind automatically returned to Leila.
He couldn't deny that her appearance was very similar to Sylvia. If the two of them were standing side by side, other people would have thought they were mother and daughter. No wonder Lilia looked so shaken when she saw the two of them earlier.
Inside the living room, Sylvia shifted restlessly in her chair. She repeatedly stole glances at Jean, who was casually sitting next to Lilia. It was at times like these that Sylvia wished her husband was home. Robert was much better at dealing with a man like Jean than she was.
A maid appeared and served tea to the three of them, then hurried back to the kitchen. However, neither Lilia nor Jean touched their tea at all.
Sylvia took a sip of her tea to calm herself down, "Jean, it's almost time for lunch. How about you two eat here?" She offered with a stiff smile.
"I will follow Lilia's wishes." Jean replied immediately without hesitation. He purposely showed Sylvia that Lilia was someone precious to him. If that woman dared to mess with his wife, Jean would not remain silent.
"I-Ah, I see. What do you think… Lilia??? Sylvia shifted her gaze towards her daughter. Her voice squeaked when she called out Lilia's name, implying that she had hardly called her name all this time.
Lilia thought about the offer for a moment, then finally she shook her head, "We have to return to Jakarta this afternoon. Thank you, but it's okay."
To Lilia's expectation, her mother seemed relieved to hear the answer, "Alright, be careful on the road."
Jean got up from his chair, but Lilia didn't move at all. Her gaze remained fixed on Sylvia, as if she was trying to dig up whatever she was hiding.
"I'll wait for you in the car." Jean said while stroking Lilia's head. He saw the doubt in her eyes and knew that she wanted to ask Sylvia something.
"Ah...alright." Lilia gave Jean a grateful look. She felt grateful to have an understanding husband like this man.
Jean smiled faintly and stroked her head one more time before leaving.
Sylvia continued to stare at Jean until the man disappeared behind the door. Only then did the woman really relax. Sylvia turned her gaze back to Lilia.
"Why don't you go with him? Don't let Jean wait too long." She urged.
'Mother, do you know who your child is?' Lilia wanted to say that, 'Why do you care more about Jean than your own daughter… ah, never mind.'
Lilia took a deep breath. Even though Sylvia acted as a good mother in front of Leila earlier, the acting didn't last long. Now that woman had returned to being the cold and heartless mother figure Lilia had known all along.
"Mother, where did you meet Leila?" Lilia asked as she looked into Sylvia's eyes closely.
"Why are you asking that?" Sylvia replied while using her arms. Her tone was tinged with irritation.
Lilia laughed in a sarcastic tone, "I won't do anything to you, gosh. I'm just curious. How did you meet Leila in a city as big as Surabaya? That's an extraordinary coincidence, right?"
Sylvia shot her cold gaze towards her daughter as she took a sip of her tea. The atmosphere in the living room felt like a pair of enemies trying to find their opponent's weak point. Quite the opposite from normal mother and daughter interaction
"I don't care what you think, but it was a coincidence. I just took Leila home because we look alike and I feel sorry for her." Sylvia replied curtly.
Lilia sensed that Sylvia wouldn't say anything else, even if she kept asking. As far as she could remember, that woman was neither kind-hearted nor helpful. So why was she helping Leila specifically today?
For a moment, silence hung in the living room. Sylvia was about to put her teacup back on the table when she heard Lilia's question.
"Mother, have you embezzled Dad's company money recently?"
The sound of porcelain clunked loudly in the quiet room. Sylvia accidentally smashed her cup against the edge of the saucer. That reaction was enough of an answer for Lilia.
"What did you say? What did I embezzle your father's money for? Who told you that?!" Sylvia's voice was getting higher and higher.
Lilia looked at Sylvia with a flat expression, "Then, tell me why you want to borrow 200 million from me. What do you need that much money for?"
An abrupt silence suddenly filled the room.
Sylvia repeatedly opened and closed her mouth, but she couldn't find a good reason. Finally, she slammed her cup on the table and glared at Lilia.
"So this is how you treat me now? After you get married to the fourth son of the Widjaya Family, you dare to interrogate me like this, huh?!" Sylvia snorted.
Lilia sighed, "Mother, I asked carefully." She replied in a sharp tone, "You want to borrow my money, but you won't even tell me what the money's for? Are you going to lend your money to someone like that, Mother?"
Sylvia could only shut her mouth after hearing that.
Lilia smiled coldly and spat out the deadliest sentence she knew, "Mother, I feel like you're treating Leila more like your own daughter than I am."
Sylvia's face turned pale in an instant.
"Lilia, I..." The woman said in panic, but Lilia was no longer listening to her.
The model got up from the sofa and left the living room without looking back.
Sylvia was trembling violently when she was left alone in the room. Did Lilia say that because she already knew? Or was it just because she was angry and spoke recklessly? She already knew that she couldn't let Lilia go to Jakarta to shoot, and it turned out that they actually met there.
The woman looked up and searched her cell phone with wild eyes. Right now, all she needed to do was call Robert. She grabbed her cell phone and dialed her husband's number with a trembling hand.
"R-Robert, you… you have to go home. T-There is something… something wrong… just hurry home!"
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