Jean's older sister repeatedly peeped towards the back hall. Jean and Lilia had been there for almost an hour, but they hadn't come out. Claire and Andrew waited anxiously, but they couldn't do anything.
Suddenly, there were loud footsteps outside the tea room. Claire automatically glanced at Andrew, then she realized and hurriedly looked away. The woman walked out the door, arms crossed.
Andrew knew that he had made a mistake, so he could only sigh and follow her.
From the direction of the hall, a group of people walked towards the front door. There were personal bodyguards of the Widjaya Family on guard on both sides of the group. Leonard walked in front, with a woman in his arms. Behind the man was Jean, who had his arms wrapped around Lilia's waist.
Andrew's eyes widened when he saw them. Why was Leonard here too?
Just as Claire and Andrew were about to step forward, someone rushed past them in a hurry. Andrew caught a glimpse of the man's figure and was shocked again. Why was his brother still here?! Shouldn't Mike have left after the birthday party was over?
However, Mike ignored his brother's surprise. The only thing that was in his view right now was the figure of the woman in Leonard's arms. Mike's gaze never left the woman, so he tripped over and almost fell. But Mike didn't stop running.
When Mike was only a few steps away from Leonard, one of Jean's bodyguards immediately stopped him. However, the bodyguard was not to blame. Mike's face looked red from the amount of wine he drank earlier. In addition, the chest of his tuxedo was stained with spilled wine, and there were grass marks on the sides of his pants. Overall, Mike's appearance looked like a drunken mess.
Mike gripped the arm of the guard who stopped him tightly. Under normal conditions, he would have yelled and cursed at the bodyguard. But after Mike saw the woman in Leonard's arms, all his defiant attitudes seemed to have disappeared without a trace.
"Sis Mellisa…" Mike whispered in a very soft voice.
He had waited for over an hour outside the hall. His figure, who sat hugging his knees in the grass, lit by the light of the garden lamp, looked so lonely. Even so, Mike continued to wait patiently for them to exit the back hall.
When Mike first saw the woman in the burly man's arms, all his tiredness vanished. He felt that his wait was not in vain.
"Sis Mellisa...!" Mike called in a louder voice. He became even more convinced that it was the woman he had been looking for. Mike's confidence got stronger when he saw Lilia standing next to Jean.
By this time, Mellisa was already half unconscious. She faintly heard a familiar voice calling out her name. Yet she didn't have the strength to even open her eyes. Mellisa only moved a little, but her eyes remained closed.
Mike's heart ached when he saw Mellisa's pale face and limp body. The man's eyes turned red and his mouth continued to utter, "Sis Mel... Sis Mel... Sis Mel..."
The man was like a broken machine who could say nothing but call out Mellisa's name. The bodyguard who stopped Mike frowned with an uncomfortable expression. He began to consider dragging this lunatic out of here.
Right at that moment, Jean raised his hand and gestured for his bodyguards to retreat. The guard gave Jean a surprised look, but he obeyed his master's order.
After breaking free from the bodyguard, Mike wanted to step forward. But he hesitated again. Mike was afraid that if he got closer, Mellisa's figure would disappear like an illusion.
The man walked timidly until he felt someone slap him on the shoulder. Mike looked back, confused. When he saw his older brother, all of Mike's unstoppable feelings spilled out. A single tear fell down the man's cheek.
"Bro, look at this!" Mike said in a choked voice. "This is Mellisa! She really is Mellisa! Sis Mel is still alive!" Mike looked as if he was crying and laughing at the same time.
Andrew pursed his lips tightly. His heart ached to see his brother looking so frantic, like a blind man seeing the light for the first time. Andrew had never seen his younger brother look so frail.
Various feelings were stirring in Mike's heart at this time. His gaze locked onto Mellisa, his eyes cementing every detail of her in his memory. He didn't want—couldn't— lose this woman again. Mike didn't want to go through that hopelessness and dark times again.
Seeing Mike's expression filled with obsession, Leonard frowned. He watched the man intently for a few moments. Then Leonard immediately walked past Mike while carrying Mellisa without saying anything.
Mike turned and was about to chase after Leonard, but his elder brother immediately grabbed his arm tightly. Mike shot Andrew a sharp look, telling him to let go of his arm. But Andrew just shook his head with a firm expression.
The two brothers exchanged glances for a while, until finally Mike gave up first. He rubbed his red eyes. His handsome face was tinged with bitterness now.
"Brother Andrew, it really is Sister Mel..." Mike muttered, as if he couldn't believe his eyes. His voice was so low, different from the chaotic figure who used to give Andrew a headache.
Andrew let go of Mike's arm before patting him on the back. The gesture seemed to encourage his younger brother.
"I know. But you need to stay calm, Mike. Mellisa will be fine. She won't disappear again," Andrew assured his brother. 'I won't let her disappear,' the man added silently.
At this time, Claire took turns looking at the two brothers, then she looked at Lilia and Jean instead. Her face showed great confusion. She walked over to Lilia and asked in a low voice, "Lilia, that was your real sister, right? Is she okay?"
Lilia automatically clenched her hand into a fist when she heard that question. She shook her head with a frustrated expression. "I don't know yet. Sister Claire, how about you come with us?"
Claire could tell that Lilia was just as frantic as Mike. It's just that she could cover it up better. "Sure, let's go together," Claire said while gently squeezing Lilia's hand.
As Claire let go of Lilia's hand and turned around, she looked at Mike who was a little out of control. She sighed as she crossed her arms. "Mike, what your brother has a point. You need to calm down for a moment. After you calm down, let's go and see the situation!" Claire suggested.
Mike lowered his head and didn't say a word. Even though he was deliberately silent, his fingertips continued to tremble. Mike could not hide the emotions that were sweeping him right now.
When Mike saw the man appear with Mellisa in his arms, the first thing he felt was immense joy. But the next second, the joy turned to frustration and loss.
Where had Mellisa been in the last five years? If she's still alive, why didn't she return to the Irwan Family's house? Why did that woman hide herself and live in misery? What really happened five years ago?
The questions kept filling Mike's mind and refused to leave.
This chapter is updat𝓮d by fre(e)webnov(l).com