Robert's words, which seemed to take all the blame for this incident, made Lilia understand the man's aim clearly. The man is trying to protect Leila.
Lilia once again felt that this difference in treatment was truly like the earth and the sky. He was beaten, interrogated, and received all kinds of cold welcomes at the Irwan Family home. Robert kept saying that he loved Lilia as his daughter, but the man never spoke a word in her defense. Now, in order to protect his biological daughter, Robert wants to take all the blame.
In this situation, Lilia finally believed that the love that Robert had shown during the past twenty-four years was truly an illusion!
Lilia's throat felt like it was blocked, but her clear eyes looked straight at Robert. He started speaking in a cold, even voice, like never before. "Father, do you really love me? Is selling me in a contract marriage with Kenneth Remsi, a 50 year old catering tycoon, a form of your love? Are you sure that it is not just for the benefit of the Pangestu Family?"
Lilia's eyes were filled with sarcasm. The corner of his mouth slowly lifted into a mocking smile as he watched surprise color Robert's face. She didn't want to hear the ridiculous excuses that man was making in the name of love. At this point, Lilia even felt that Sylvia was better than Robert. At least Sylvia never pretended to love Lilia like her own daughter. That woman always showed genuine hatred for Lilia.
Lilia chuckled and shook her head, her heart filled with bitterness. Among all the Pangestu family members, the person he cared the most about was the one who disappointed him the most. Lilia feels stupid for believing Robert's "love" for her.
Jean, who had been sitting by Lilia's side, suddenly grabbed his wife's shoulder. The man pulled Lilia into his arms, as if determined to protect her from anything that could hurt her. Jean shot Robert a murderous look, one that said she couldn't wait to tear him apart.
Robert caught Jean's gaze and immediately turned deathly pale. He automatically took a step back with his body shaking violently. Before this, Robert had always thought that Jean would respect him as Lilia's father. However, after Lilia's true identity as the daughter of the Irwan family is revealed, Robert loses his faith.
Bam!
Everyone turned to the source of the voice. Grandpa Simon had pounded on the table with an angry face. "Mr. Robert, even though Lilia is not your real daughter, you intend to marry her off to an old man who is more than half a century old?"
Grandpa Simon's tone sounded very sarcastic, just like Lilia's when she was teasing someone.
"Since you already know that he is the son of the Irwan family, have you asked Irwan's family opinion? Did you hear we approved the marriage? Or are you deliberately sacrificing the future of a girl who is not your real daughter in order to smooth the life of your own biological daughter? You really are ridiculous and self-conscious! "
Lilia slowly lifted her face from Jean's chest. He turned his head towards his grandfather, who had defended him in front of everyone. Since the beginning of their meeting, Simon has always treated him well and fairly, regardless of his true identity. Lilia could see that the old man hated injustice and greed the most.
Cold sweat ran down Robert's back as he was questioned by Simon. But Robert tried his best to keep his cool. She first smiled apologetically at Simon, then she turned her head towards Lilia. The daughter had Lilia's indifferent expression, but Robert still tried to explain why.
"Lilia, you misunderstood this matter. I didn't approve of your contract marriage to Kenneth Remsi at that time. Otherwise, how could you be with Jean now?" Robert said in an unnatural voice.
The man tried hard to keep his facial expression neutral. But the smile on his lips looked fake.
Just as Robert finished speaking, a low, deep voice came from across the room. "I think Mr Robert deliberately forgot the fact that the Widjaya family took the initiative to cooperate with the Pangestu Family. My marriage to Lilia was only made possible by that cooperation!" Said Jean straightforwardly.
The implication of Jean's words just now is that the Widjaya Family took the initiative to offer cooperation only for Lilia's sake. If it weren't for that woman, the Widjaya Family would never have taken the Pangestu Family seriously.
Robert's eyes widened when he heard Jean's words. What Jean said was fact, but the thing that surprised Robert was not that. He didn't expect that Jean would actually tell the truth in public.
But now that Robert looked back, he realized something. Since Jean agreed to marry Lilia, she had never heard him call him "father-in-law" or "father". In other words, Jean never once saw Robert as Lilia's father. This fact made Robert very embarrassed.
The combination of attacks from Lilia and Jean successfully made Robert's reputation even more damaged in front of everyone. She still wanted to say something to save her honor, but Richard never gave her that chance.
Just before Robert could open his mouth, Richard took a step forward and met Robert's eyes. He glanced at Leila, who was still kneeling on the ground, and finally spoke with a heavy heart.
"Since Mr. Robert said that we misunderstood, I will ask you. If you knew from the start that Leila was your son, why not bring him back to the Pangestu house?" Richard asked in an even voice.
"T-That's because ..." Robert tried to explain, but Richard wasn't done talking.
"If you really love Lilia, why did you arrange for her to marry an old man like that? Are you sure this is what you call pampering? " Richard continued in a bitter voice.
At this point, Robert started to hate Lilia for offending Kenneth Remsi. If that child shut her mouth and enjoyed the joy of being the wife of the fourth son of the Widjaya Family, she wouldn't be in this difficult position!
"You want to cover all of Leila's mistakes, but I suggest that you don't think of the Irwan Family as fools! If you don't know that Leila is the son of the Pangestu family, how could she have spent your money since fourteen years ago ?! "
Robert could only bow his head without being able to reply to Richard's words. In terms of knowledge and eloquence, Robert could not match a man from an educated family like Richard.
Richard looked down at Robert's bowed head sarcastically. He felt ridiculous for being cheated by a small family like this. Robert dared to speak nonsense in front of him, as if Richard was stupid enough to take it for granted. The Pangestu family had truly looked down on his family.
It's no wonder Leila has changed so much, with a couple of parents teaching bad things behind Richard's back. She was a complete failure as a parent!
After thinking about this, Richard turns to Leila. The young woman continued to kneel on the floor, trembling violently and pale face. But Richard ignored all of this and ordered him, "Miss Leila, raise your head!"
There was not a trace of warmth in Richard's voice. That man purposely called her out like how he had called Lilia before this.. Richard drew clear boundaries between them and reduced his love for fatherhood.
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