When Irene started talking about their past memories, Jenny stole glances at the young couple. Her gaze never left the figure of Lilia, who walked beside Jean while holding hands. Jenny pretended to agree with Irene's words while taking out her cellphone.
[Jenny]: "I want you guys to investigate something. But do it carefully and without leaving a trace."
The woman explained what she wanted to investigate before sending the message to her subordinates.
*****
Jean led Lilia to the sofa where he had been sitting earlier. The woman was not surprised to see Tom and Alex there. Apart from them, Alan was there as well. He was present to replace his cousin Chris.
Of all of them, Tom looked the saddest. His face was so gloomy and his movements looked sluggish without enthusiasm. The man reminded Lilia of the vegetables that had crumpled and withered.
When Tom saw Lilia coming with Jean, he dragged himself up to sit up straighter. Then he put on a languid smile while greeting Lilia halfheartedly, "Ah ... Sis Lilia ... long time no see."
Lilia looked at Tom in confusion, but the man had no intention of explaining his plight. She decided to let Tom sulk first before questioning him further. Then Lilia turned her gaze to Alex and Alan.
"Brother Alex, it seems like it's been a long time since we last met. How are you?" Lilia greeted him in a friendly tone.
"I am fine. I'm glad you look the same as before, even after filming the movie." Alex looked at Lilia from the ground up with the sharp eyes of a designer. "I'm designing some new clothes and I want you to try them on. Tell me when you have time, okay?"
"Yes, of course!" Lilia replied enthusiastically. When else would she get a chance to be the first to try the latest Van brand clothes?
Lilia shifted her gaze towards Alan, but she hesitated to say hello. Was his name really Alan? Or did Lilia remember his name wrong?
Jean noticed Lilia's hesitation and lowered his head. He whispered in Lilia's ear, "He is Alan Hartanto, Chris's older cousin."
Lilia's expression turned relieved when she heard that she remembered correctly. The woman then smiled politely at Alan. "Nice to see you again, Brother Alan," she greeted him.
"Hello." Alan only nodded briefly at Lilia. The man was very different from his cousin who was more expressive. Alan's face was cold and emotionless, as if he was made of a statue.
"Hmm? Have you two met before?" Alex spoke up while taking turns looking at the two of them.
Lilia nodded. "Only once, when I went to visit my best friend Rachel's office. We passed each other in the lobby, that's all." she explained.
After greeting Jean's friends, Lilia sat down beside him. Even though they were sitting next to each other, their hands were still tightly knit together as if they were inseparable. Lilia had tried to gently pull her hand free, but Jean tightened his grip instead. She finally gave up and let the man grab her hand, as if she was the most precious thing in the world.
Sitting across from them, Alex found himself staring at their two joined hands. After a few seconds, he hurriedly looked away. The corner of his mouth twitched as he struggled to keep his expression neutral. Why did they have to show off their closeness in front of him?! What's wrong with them?!
Alex chose to run away rather than being forced to see the romance of their relationship. He nudged Alan before whispering, "Would you like to accompany me to smoke outside?"
"Sure, why not?" Alan didn't know why Alex suddenly asked him to leave, but he just shrugged and followed the man away. The two of them were quite close to each other thanks to their business cooperation.
After the two of them were out of sight, Tom leaned back against the sofa. The man slumped down into his seat, as if he didn't have enough strength to hold his position.
Seeing Tom's strange attitude made Lilia tug at Jean's sleeve. After the man lowered his head, she whispered in Jean's ear, "What's wrong with Brother Tom today?"
Jean ignored Tom's attitude and instead called one of the servants who passed by. He took a cup of hot tea from the man's tray before handing it to Lilia.
"He's just bored. Just ignore him," he firmly asserted.
Hearing that, Lilia looked at Tom with suspicion. Today, Tom looked different than usual. The man looked like a young master from a rich family. His distinct black shirt with the floral patterned shirt gave him a sharp look.
Tom pursed his lips tightly, then he turned his gaze towards Lilia. He was about to say something, but his attention was stolen by the red kiss mark on Lilia's neck.
Tom was so shocked that he immediately spoke without thinking, "Sis Lilia, can you help me convince Jean to cancel Sasha's wedding?"
"Huh?" Lilia stopped her hand from lifting the tea cup for a moment. She almost dropped her cup in surprise, so she hurriedly put it back down.
Sasha was getting married?! That proud and selfish woman of the Hiroshi Family intended to build a future with another man?! Where had the love she had for Jean gone to? How could Sasha bury her feelings so quickly?
Various questions filled Lilia's mind, but she didn't get the chance to say anything. Lilia could feel the temperature around them drastically dropped. She didn't have to turn around to know that Tom's words had ignited Jean's anger.
But from the way Tom put it, did this mean that Jean had a hand in Sasha's marriage?
Lilia felt that the timing was too good. Sasha just left Magetan a few days ago. Then she suddenly heard that the woman was getting married. Now Lilia understood why Tom looked so discouraged. Coupled with what he said just now, he became convinced that Jean was involved in Sasha's marriage.
"Jean." Lilia looked at her husband closely and asked what she most wanted to know right away, "Does Sasha really want this marriage?"
The fourth son of the Widjaya Family did not immediately answer. Instead, Tom spurred to sit upright on his sofa and began to defend Sasha.
"Sis Lilia, this is definitely an arranged marriage!" Tom furiously argued. "Sasha has been crying for days in her room! Can't you ask Jean to be merciful and cancel the marriage?"
Lilia frowned at Tom's defense. "Why did Jean have to cancel the wedding too?" she asked in surprise.
If Sasha was forced to marry a terrible man, Lilia understood why Jean needed to cancel their marriage. But she knew that her husband wouldn't be so bad that he chose a bad partner for his childhood friend.
Just then, Jean finally spoke up. The corner of his mouth lifted into a sinister smile as he said, "Tom, Sasha doesn't suit you. Accept that fact."
Tom clenched his hands when he heard that. If it wasn't Jean who said it, maybe the man would hit the person without hesitating.
"Jean, I'll admit that we don't look like a good match in the eyes of other people." Tom angrily said. "But that doesn't mean that you can force her to marry someone else!"
The anger and bitterness in Tom's voice took Lilia by surprise. She didn't know Tom could use such a harsh tone when talking to Jean.. This showed how much Tom hated the marriage that Jean had arranged for Sasha.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel