When Lilia stepped out of her house, she galloped over to Jean's car and violently opened the door. Without saying a word, she threw herself into her husband's embrace.
The woman was actually holding back her tears ever since she was alone in the living room with her mother. The painful words that the woman spat stabbed Lilia's heart like an invisible dagger. She was worried that if she didn't leave immediately, her fight with Sylvia would get even bigger.
Kenny heard Lilia sobbing and immediately raised the divider between the front and rear seats of the car. Then Jean's assistant got out of the car to give them some privacy.
This was the first time Kenny had seen Lilia in such a bad mood. The woman's condition was like a bomb that could explode with the slightest touch. Only his boss was able to calm Lilia down at this time.
Jean was seen hugging his wife tightly. The woman's body that always appeared brave and full of confidence was now shaking violently. Jean's hand stroked Lilia's back in a soothing motion. Lilia's body gradually stopped shaking.
"Are you going to tell me what you were talking about earlier?" Jean asked in his deep, magnetic voice.
Lilia buried her face in Jean's chest and replied in a muffled voice, "...I said that she treats Leila more like her own daughter than I."
She didn't mean to say that, but she was too carried away with emotion that the words just spilled out of her mouth. But after Lilia thought about it again, she started to believe in those thoughts. Were she and Sylvia really related by blood?
Sylvia's attitude toward Lilia resembled that of an iceberg that couldn't melt. Even if she tried to please Sylvia, that woman would only respond with sharp and piercing words. One wrong word could easily break their fragile relationship.
"Are you crying?" Jean asked softly while pulling Lilia away. The man cupped his wife's face with both hands and studied her closely.
Lilia shook her head with a stubborn expression, but her eyes were filled with tears that threatened to spill out, "I'm not crying. I… I'm just mad at her." Lilia said.
Jean nodded and did not question her any further. The man hugged Lilia tightly again, as if making sure that the woman wouldn't shatter to pieces.
"Kenny will investigate further about today's incident. He will also find out about the relationship between Leila and Sylvia— "
"You don't think so, do you?" Lilia suddenly interrupted him.
The woman looked up and looked straight at Jean. Her gaze was defiant, but also looked desperate. She seemed to beg Jean to agree with her words.
"You didn't think that Leila and Sylvia were…"
'Mother and daughter.' Lilia couldn't bring herself to finish that sentence.
Jean paused for a moment before landing a kiss on the woman's forehead, "We can't say anything yet. But too many coincidences usually means they are not coincidences."
Lilia nodded slightly, "When Kenny carries out the investigation, have him find out if Leila has any other nicknames."
She remembered the time she caught Sylvia calling someone, right when Lilia had just returned from Milan. The woman called her interlocutor 'Lei' with great affection. Could it be that the 'Lei' she was talking to was actually Leila? Or did they just happen to have the same nickname?
"Of course." Jean kissed Lilia again while agreeing to her request.
In the end, Kenny only returned to the car after he had finished a few cigarettes alone.
"President, are you going straight to the airport?" Kenny asked as he started the car engine.
"No. Take us to Hirayuki Restaurant. Then send someone to pick up Sister Claire and Brother Andrew at the airport." Jean ordered.
Lilia immediately turned to Jean in surprise, "Sister Claire came here?"
It had been almost three hours since this whole commotion started. Was Claire so worried about Leila that she immediately flew to Surabaya?
Jean nodded, "This incident was caused by Mike. Sister Claire wants to come here and solve the problem that guy has caused."
*****
When Lilia and Jean's car arrived at the Hirayuki Restaurant, she saw Mike's sports car parked in front of the restaurant. The young man leaned casually to the side of his car smoking a cigarette. Leila clung to his side as usual while chattering non-stop.
Seeing that woman's figure brought out various complex emotions in Lilia's heart. At first, she didn't have any particular feelings for Leila, but now her feelings were tilting in a negative direction. Lilia didn't hate her for having the same appearance as Sylvia, but for her ambiguous nature.
What kind of woman was Leila exactly?
At their first meeting, Leila looked gentle, shy, and lacking confidence. But when they found her at the Pangestu Family house, Leila was able to speak fluently and convincingly. Lilia had a feeling that she couldn't underestimate Leila's ability.
*****
At lunch time like this, Hirayuki Restaurant was full of visitors. But when the waitress saw Jean's figure, she immediately escorted them to the VIP room without asking any further.
Inside the room was a long table covered with a snow-colored tablecloth. A vase of flowers adorned the center of the table, while several landscape paintings were displayed on the wall. Overall, the room gave off an elegant and elite feel.
Claire and Andrew arrived at the restaurant half an hour later. As soon as the door to their room swung open, Claire immediately bursted in. Her gaze swept across the room and fell on Leila's figure. She only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that the woman was all right.
If anything happened to Leila while she was in Surabaya, the Austin family would be held responsible.
"Mike Austin! You have crossed the line this time!" Claire scolded loudly while crossing her arms.
Claire looked so angry that she didn't have time to greet Lilia and Jean. The woman glared at Andrew's younger brother, who leaned lazily into his chair while sipping a glass of beer.
Andrew entered the room and immediately went to his brother, then tapped his head, "How can you be sitting here with a relaxed expression like that?! If something happens to Leila today, your life alone won't be enough to make up for it!" The man rebuked.
Simon, the former head of the Irwan Family and Leila's grandfather, was furious about this incident. Fortunately, nothing happened to the woman.
Mike rubbed his aching head as he shot Leila a glare. That accusing look made Leila lower her head with an expression of regret.
"Brother Andrew, Sister Claire, you can't just blame me. I went to Surabaya to finish my business, not to take care of this little girl. She followed me of her own accord. Why am I the one to blame when she got lost?" Mike protested.
The man hated the current Leila, who was always sticking to him like plaster. He tried to escape from the woman by hitching a ride in his friend's car. They drove without a break from Jakarta to Surabaya. Mike managed to get away from Leila, but as a result, she got lost chasing him. Leila perfectly defined what a troublesome and useless woman would be like!
Hearing Mike's protest, Leila didn't say a word. Luckily, she didn't cry like last time. Leila just kept her head down and hid her expression.. No one there knew what was inside the woman's mind right now.
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