After hearing Alex's words, Tom gently pushed Sasha's back towards the empty place the man was pointing at.
"Sasha, Alex is right. You can sit there." Tom whispered to the woman.
The place Alex was referring to was beside him, farthest from Jean. Sasha also realized that Alex was trying to keep her away from Jean, but she didn't protest. She sat beside the designer, then realized Lilia's gaze on her.
However, Sasha only glanced at the model for a moment. Then she looked back at Jean who was sitting next to her. The daughter of the Hiroshi Family put on a sympathetic face as she said, "Jean, you shouldn't be too sad because Uncle Hans left. Humans are destined to be born, grow up, and then die."
Lilia glanced at the man beside her, waiting for Jean's reaction to the woman's words. However, Jean didn't show any reaction. The man acted as if Sasha wasn't there.
The atmosphere between them was enveloped in an awkward silence. No one spoke up in response to Sasha's words.
Tom looked around in panic, then he hurriedly opened his mouth. "B-Bro Jean, Sasha's health is not very good right now. She just went to the hospital this morning, which is why she couldn't come to the funeral ceremony this morning. But Sasha takes the time to attend this dinner." Tom explained.
He had just finished explaining when Alex suddenly kicked his leg under the table. Tom turned to his friend with a confused look.
Before Tom could ask what was wrong, Alex threw the cigarette case on the table. He lit a cigarette while glancing at Sasha. "If you're not feeling well, you don't have to force yourself to come here, you know." he said dryly.
"Ah, I'm fine, really." Sasha said with a weak smile, trying to provoke sympathy from others. "Today's event is more important than my condition."
Lilia silently rolled her eyes. She didn't want to sit here and listen to Sasha's pathetic acting any longer. The woman patted Jean's arm, causing the man to turn his head towards her.
"I'll go get some fresh air for a bit, okay." Lilia said.
The woman intended to go alone, because Jean needed to accompany the guests as the host. But the man got up from the sofa and pulled Lilia up.
"I will keep you company." Jean, who hadn't said a word to Sasha, finally opened his mouth and spoke to Lilia in a gentle tone.
Sasha's face turned stiff when she saw how Jean treated her differently. No matter what she said to Jean, Sasha felt like she was talking to a rock. The man did not respond to her words at all. Even when Jean heard that Sasha had just been admitted to the hospital, the man didn't show any reaction. But once Lilia said something, Jean immediately responded with a gentle smile.
Sasha clenched her fists tightly with an angry expression. How come all of her efforts over the years couldn't match the woman who suddenly appeared in Jean's life?! That cheesy model was only able to marry Jean out of luck, but she acted like she was better than everyone else!
The daughter of the Hiroshi Family was so focused on her own feelings that she didn't notice Tom's gaze. The man was stunned when he saw the hatred and jealousy coloring Sasha's expression. The woman clearly felt a great discomfort, as if her face had just been punched by someone.
Though Jean never looked at Sasha, she still desperately continued to chase after him. Sasha was completely oblivious to Tom by her side, who was waiting for her to turn to him.
Tom's heart ached even more when he saw Sasha's gaze that was fixed on Jean. The woman watched Jean leave with Lilia without blinking. Tom sighed and shook his head. When would Sasha stop chasing Jean and turn to him? The promise he had made with Jean this morning was starting to sound impossible.
Alex puffed out his cigarette while glancing at Sasha. Then his gaze shifted to Tom's face filled with despair. He sighed and tapped his cigarette against the ashtray.
"You are not a child anymore. Don't you know that your actions are inappropriate? Then why do you keep doing it?" Alex coldly said.
Sasha and Tom both turned towards the man in surprise. No one knew exactly who his words were intended for. Was it for Tom, who brought Sasha here? Or was it for Sasha, who humiliated herself in front of Jean? Or could it be that Alex was talking about the two of them?
After saying that, Alex got up and turned to Alan. The first grandson of the Hartanto family stood up before leaving the lobby with Alex.
Tom and Sasha exchanged glances as they had been left on their own. Then Tom's gaze fell on Alex's cigarette box which was on the table. He hesitated for a moment before picking up the box.
"I didn't mean anything by bringing you here," Tom muttered defensively. "Sasha, you said that you wanted to attend this banquet, so I brought you here. I don't understand why Alex suddenly said that. What the hell are you trying to do, Sasha?"
Tom's mood got worse and worse. He squeezed the cigarette box as he spoke. His eyes refused to look at the woman beside him.
When Sasha heard Tom's words, her eyes began to tear up. Her trembling body looked extremely frail and helpless. She said slowly, "Tom... can you help me win Jean's heart?"
The sound of something hitting the floor violently echoed through the lobby, making Sasha jump in shock. Tom had slammed his cigarette case on the floor in rage. He didn't seem to care if the other guests in the lobby were staring at them.
"Sasha, are you serious about what you say?!" Tom asked in a growl. "You are asking me to help separate Jean from Lilia ?! Are you crazy?!"
"Tom, can't you help me just once?" Sasha pleaded with hopeful eyes.
She couldn't— wouldn't marry another man! She would rather die than marry someone other than Jean! How could Sasha be with a man she didn't love?! No one deserved her but Jean!
Tom glared at the woman. There was a faint hatred in the man's gaze. Without thinking, Tom caught Sasha's chin and forced her to stare straight at him.
"Listen to me carefully, Sasha." Tom growled. "I will not help you. Do you understand?"
Sasha's expression was tinged with pain. She spoke in a bitter voice, "Tom, why must you treat me like this too? Even though I believe in you! Don't you know that the only man I love is Jean ?! If you don't want to help me, I'll — hmph!"
Tom's eyes turned bright when he heard Sasha say that he loved Jean. The man didn't think twice and kissed Sasha on the lips.
Plaque!
"Tom Wibowo, are you crazy?!"
The sound of slaps and screams echoed throughout the lobby. The other guests turned their heads curiously.
Tom just stood there while watching Sasha run away from the place. Even from a distance, he could see Sasha rubbing her mouth over and over again.
"... damn!" Tom cursed his own foolishness. Though he couldn't see Sasha's expression, he could imagine the disgust on her face.
Why did Sasha hate him so much?! Was it because that woman still liked Jean?! Tom's mind was so full of such questions that he didn't realize the corners of his mouth were bleeding from Sasha's slap.
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