Michaela shook her head hastily, but she couldn't stop shaking, "Brother Harold, I… I…"
Harold seemed to understand the fear in her eyes. He walked up to Michaela and stopped right in front of her. Then he viciously spat out cigarette smoke in her face, as if showing contempt. "If I had found out that you were so sneaky, I wouldn't bother helping you!"
He wasn't surprised by the method Michaela used. After all, Harold was the one responsible for his words and deeds. The biggest difference between humans and animals was that they could control their thinking and behavior. However, he unreasonably lost control last night.
Harold's cold gaze made Michaela even more terrified. Her tears were pouring out irresistibly. "Brother Harold, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I really like you, so that's why I'm doing this... please don't be angry..."
"You like me?" Harold snorted.
He gripped Michaela's chin and stared at the woman. His eyes were like a predator looking at his prey.
"Do you really like me? Or do you just like my money?" Harold continued fiercely.
Michaela's breath was caught in her throat. She couldn't answer that question.
"Get out!" Harold pushed her away in disgust. There was absolutely no warmth in his words.
Michaela staggered back with a shaken expression. Harold pushed her like trash that needed to be thrown away. His gaze darkened as his pride crumbled to pieces. Michaela used to always boast about the beauty of her face, but in Harold's eyes, she was like a worthless grain of dust.
As the girl ran out of the apartment in tears, Harold stared at the closed door with a complex gaze. Hearing the sound of Michaela's crying made Harold remember something from last night's incident.
Last night, Harold was very enthusiastic, and his mouth ... called Lilia's name from beginning to end. He couldn't deny his feelings for the most popular supermodel in entertainment today— Lilia Pangestu!
*****
This morning, around seven o'clock, Lilia would go back to Magetan for filming. But before she could get into the car, she received a call from Robert, her father.
"Lilia, what happened to your social media account yesterday?" Robert immediately asked when the phone was connected. His tone didn't show any anger, just a little worried.
Jean heard everything clearly over the phone from beside Lilia. The man narrowed his eyes with a dangerous expression. Now that they knew that Lilia was not the daughter of the Pangestu Family, Jean would not hesitate to destroy that family if Lilia asked for it.
Lilia glanced at Jean and saw the man's cold expression. She held the man's hand while smiling at him. "Father, I just announced my marriage to Jean. What's wrong?" Lilia replied casually.
She did announce her marriage officially, but she was deliberately hiding the man's identity. Lilia was sure that only certain people knew that her husband was Jean Widjaya. To be precise, only the high-class folks that were present at the dinner yesterday.
So why did Robert sound so nervous?
Hearing Lilia's words, Robert was silent for a few seconds. Then he said solemnly, "It's okay, but didn't Daddy tell you before? Until your relationship with Jean is officially established, you better not say anything about it. I'm afraid that you'll be hurt."
'Did you really think about me when you said that?'
Lilia swallowed back the words she wanted to say. She took a deep breath and stared at the well-groomed garden of the Widjaya Family house. The green and beautiful scenery helped her stay calm.
"Father, Jean and I are married. Our relationship has been established for a long time. Even if I announce it later, it won't change anything. Besides..."
Lilia stole a glance at her husband, who was listening to her every word with full attention. The corner of her mouth automatically lifted into a smile.
"I'm sure that Jean won't let anyone hurt me."
Robert was silent for a few more moments after Lilia said all that. The silence made Lilia even more impatient. She had to get going so she could catch up with her shooting!
"Father, I have to go immediately…" just as Lilia said that, Robert had changed the subject.
"If you say that, then I won't worry about you anymore. By the way, are you okay lately? You're not worrying about anything, right?" Robert asked a very ambiguous sentence.
At a glance, the man sounded like a father worrying about his daughter. However, if listened carefully, it made one feel that there was a hidden meaning behind the question.
Lilia frowned. After thinking for a moment, she said slowly, "I'm fine, but I'm a little busy. So I didn't even have time to go home and visit Dad. Oh yeah, the last time I came back to Surabaya, it was because my friend was missing."
She kept her tone light as she started telling her father about this.
"My friend was accidentally picked up by Mother. Dad may not have had time to see her at that time, but she gets along well with Mother. This is the first time I've seen Mom like someone so much."
Lilia could imagine the expression on Robert's face when she said that. The head of the Pangestu Family must be desperately racking his brains for a way to solve this problem.
"Do you know that I always think about this? After I finish filming, I will immediately return to Surabaya. I will also bring my lost friend here. If you happen to be at home, I will introduce my friend to you." The smile on Lilia's face grew wider as she promised that.
"After all, my friend's meeting with Mother can be considered fate. She also looks a lot like Sylvia—"
Tuut. Tuut.
Before Lilia could finish her threat, the call had been disconnected!
Lilia stared at her phone in disbelief. This was the first time Robert had hung up on the phone in the middle of their conversation. Her expression turned cold as she bit her lip, trying to suppress her disappointment.
Jean immediately noticed Lilia's change in mood. The man grabbed Lilia's hand until the model leaned against him. Then he kissed her soft lips tenderly. Only after he confirmed that the woman calmed down did Jean speak.
"Don't think of it too much. You can talk about it when you get back from filming," said the man in a calm voice.
Lilia stared at Jean for a few moments, then she smiled weakly. She stood on tiptoe to kiss Jean on the cheek in return. "I'm fine, thank you very much. I'll..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Lilia's cellphone rang again. She glanced at the name of the caller and wasn't surprised to see the name Robert. She had guessed that her father must not have finished talking.
Lilia calmed down for a moment before picking up the phone. "Dad, what's wrong?" she asked.
From the other end of the line, Lilia could detect the reluctance in her father's voice. The man said halfheartedly, "Lilia, the phone just went dead, what did you just say?"
His explanation did not sound sincere. However, Lilia had grown up as Robert's daughter over the years. She couldn't deny all the love and care that this man gave her. That's why Lilia could only smile bitterly.
At least,?Robert still treated Lilia like a princess, different from how Sylvia had been towards her. It was true the saying that a father's love to his children was like a mountain.. Lilia's only hope was that the mountain wouldn't become an avalanche in the end.
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