In the dinner, Claire refilled the vegetables on Lilia's plate several times. The older woman always seemed to like to care for others. However, Claire's attention this time brought difficulties for Lilia. This was because Jean didn't want to lose to her and kept getting meat for his wife.
"Sister Claire, don't give her too much food." Jean scolded while giving his sister a sharp gaze.
"Huh? You must be kidding!" Claire replied fiercely, "Don't you see how thin Lilia is? She needs to eat more!"
"Um... Sister Claire... it's not like I don't appreciate your efforts, but if I get fatter than this, I'll lose my job..."
Lilia tried to mediate between the siblings, but her voice was drowned out by their argument.
"Lilia is my wife. You don't need to interfere." Jean coldly snapped.
"Oh, now you dare to talk to me like that? What kind of husband would let his wife be this skinny? I wouldn't be surprised if Lilia divorced you because you didn't care enough!" Claire glared at her little brother.
"You two, calm down a little...!" Lilia raised her voice, but the two bullheads refused to budge.
"Lilia won't be able to divorce me. I will never let her run from me." Jean said with confidence, which resulted in the man being rewarded with an elbow from Lilia.
"Hmph! An obsessive guy like you isn't popular with women, you know!" Claire crossed her arms, "Lilia, if you want to run away from my brother, you just need to contact me, okay? I will definitely help you!"
"What did you say…?!" Jean's eyes flashed dangerously as he was about to rise from his chair.
"Jean, calm down a little!"
"Claire, stop teasing your brother!"
Lilia and Andrew reprimanded both of them at the same time. They exchanged apologetic glances, then they went back to scolding their partners.
Mike ate his meal in silence as if his presence was completely forgotten by everyone on the dining table. He took turns glancing at the two husband and wife chatting to each other. For some reason, Mike felt that this dinner was tastier than usual.
After the commotion between the siblings died down, Andrew invited Jean to a toast.
"I'm sorry, Claire was a little too excited earlier. I'm sure she's just kidding." Andrew apologized to the younger man.
"Andrew, I'm completely serious...!"
Before Claire could finish her sentence, Andrew hurriedly stuffed a piece of meat into the woman's mouth. If he let Claire talk any longer, his wife would only spark another argument!
"It's okay, I'm also sorry for getting carried away with emotions earlier." Jean replied calmly, "I will make sure that Lilia doesn't divorce me because she lacks food."
"Geez, I wouldn't do that!" Lilia protested with a flushed face, "Do you think I'm a child who needs to be fed?!"
Andrew cleared his throat awkwardly, then he turned his attention to his younger brother. The young man had been silent since earlier, not as usual.
"Mike, tomorrow you can go visit Leila at the hospital, okay." Said Andrew, "Later I'll give you the room number and..."
"I don't want to go!" Mike cut straight.
Andrew frowned and glared at his brother, "You still have to go, whether you want to or not. Visiting Leila while she was sick can be considered the most basic form of courtesy! Do you intend to ruin our family's friendship with the Irwan Family?"
Mike snorted, "You think I care about such stupid traditions? The Austin family isn't that weak to the point of being threatened by a family of painters like theirs!"
Andrew took a deep breath, "You're still young, so you don't know yet that it's better to make friends than to create new enemies." He said with great patience while massaging his forehead, "The Austin family isn't strong enough to stand alone, you know."
Mike opened his mouth to argue further, but Andrew continued.
"Besides, you haven't apologized to the Irwan family for making Leila lost in Surabaya. Even if they don't say anything about it, it doesn't mean they've forgotten it." Andrew glared at his brother, "Fortunately, Grandpa is still going overseas for treatment. If Grandpa finds out about that incident, he will probably skin you alive!"
Mike paused for a moment when he heard his grandfather being offended. The only person the reckless rulebreaker young man was afraid of was his grandfather! But Mike quickly recovered and lifted his chin up high.
"You know that incident wasn't my fault." Mike defended himself, "If that stupid woman doesn't insist on following me, she can't possibly get lost!"
Mike's words were like a piercing bullet, but he had a point. Andrew glared at his brother without being able to argue with what he said. Why was his little brother so stubborn?!
The atmosphere in the dining room became as quiet as a funeral as Andrew and Mike glared and stared daggers at each other.
Meanwhile, Lilia lowered her head and ate her food silently. As an outsider, she had no right to interfere in Austin Family affairs. But personally, Lilia believed that both Mike and Leila had a hand in this incident. If Mike wanted to treat her better, or if Leila wasn't so stubborn, that incident wouldn't have happened.
Jean continued to eat from his seat beside Lilia with an indifferent expression. The man seemed completely indifferent to the tense atmosphere in this room. When the food was finished, Jean took out his cigarette box and started smoking one.
After a while, Mike finally broke the silence, "When Grandpa comes home, I will tell him directly about the cancellation of this engagement. Even though I might be a single man for life, it would be better to me than marrying her!" He said loudly.
Everyone at the table turned to look at Mike. They all looked shocked and confused. Why did Mike hate Leila like that?
Even though Mike always acted like a young man who went on his own, Lilia was sure that she wasn't stupid. Mike must have had his own reasons why he refused to marry Leila.
Finally, Claire voiced the questions, "Mike, what did Leila do to you? Why do you hate her so much?" She asked in a soft voice, as if persuading a child to tell a story.
But Mike kept his mouth shut tight. He didn't try to explain anything, but his expression was clearly disgusted.
Andrew tapped his finger on the table, "Mike, answer your sister-in-law's question. Why do you hate Leila like that? Even though she has always followed you around, everyone can see his dedication to you." Andrew insisted.
"Do I need a reason to hate someone?" Mike shrugged with an indifferent expression, "I just don't like her, that's all."
"Mike." Andrew called out to him in a serious voice, "Do you think that ridiculous excuse can convince Grandpa? Grandfather will never let you cancel this engagement without good reason!"
Mike bit his lip. Even without Andrew telling him, he also knew that fact! His grandfather was the figure he both admired and feared the most in this house. The old man educated his grandchildren fiercely, and indiscriminately. Even though Mike was his favorite grandson, his grandfather never spoiled him!
After being silent for a few moments, Mike sighed. His gaze fell on the cigarette box that was lying in front of Jean, "Brother Jean, can I have a cigarette?" He asked.
Jean glanced at him wordlessly, then pushed the cigarette case and lighter toward Mike.
Andrew's brother then took it and lit a cigarette. He smoked the cigarette while stealing glances at Lilia. He then looked away a few moments later.
"That woman is the type of woman I don't like the most. That's all. There is no other reason.." Mike said as he exhaled his cigarette smoke.
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