At that time, Mellisa still didn't know who had hurt her. She hadn't investigated whoever was secretly supporting Leila from behind. Mellisa didn't dare to come back. It's hard to guarantee that she wouldn't die again.
In the Mayer Family, her grandfather's favorite grandkid was her. But there was also a bunch of business in the Mayer Family that needed to be resolved. Even if Mellisa asked the Mayer Family for help, it wasn't the best way to solve her problem.
What's more, her grandfather had retired from his military service. In recent years, his physical condition had been very poor. All the affairs of the Mayer Family had long been left to their eldest son. From the Mayer Family's point of view, Mellisa was an outsider.
After that year's accident, Mellisa carefully considered the next step she needed to take. In the end, she chose to give up on going home and fought alone in a big world.
To be precise, someone had been helping her secretly in the past five years. But that person never showed their identity to Mellisa. She didn't know who it was or what their purpose was. That person had indeed saved her from the burning car. They also sent Mellisa to the hospital to recuperate. Even so, Mellisa couldn't find any traces of the mysterious helper.
Her savior hid in the dark, and reached out to her in their own way. As Mellisa thought about this, she suddenly realized that the person had not contacted her in over two months. After Mellisa thought carefully, the person who had helped her disappeared after she met Lilia. That person sometimes asked Mellisa to do something for them, but now they never contacted her again.
At this moment, Mellisa was silent for a long time while still immersed in her deep thought. From Caleb's point of view, he captured his granddaughter's grief.
Caleb sighed heavily as he put his cane on his knee. Then he took Lilia and Mellisa's hands, and put their palms on his own.
"Okay, Mellisa, you don't have to worry anymore. Grandpa is here with you now. Let's see who still dares to mess with you! I won't let my granddaughter to be bullied by outsiders for no reason!" Caleb said full of confidence.
His words brought a broad smile to Mellisa's face.
"Don't give up on the Irwan Family!" Caleb continued fiery. "Incidentally, Lilia was also found again. When Grandpa returns to Jakarta, we will have a banquet for both of you. I want everyone to know that you and Lilia are my grandchildren!"
Caleb's words jolted Mellisa out of her reverie, as if she had just thought of something shocking. Her face was a little pale and her eyes were fixed briefly on Caleb's face. Without saying anything, Mellisa lowered her head and nodded.
Mellisa was determined that Lilia's identity must be clarified for her own good. There was a lot of malicious speculation on the Internet, and it's time to give them a strong counterattack.
Caleb took turns looking at Mellisa and Lilia. They were his grandchildren. But they had very opposite characteristics.
This old man was a war general. He once had blood on his hands and spilled some blood for the homeland. He was an upright and resolute person, the type to be the most uncomfortable with academics and the likes who were full of cunning tricks like the Irwan Family. According to him, the children from the Mayer family must be brave and upright. And Mellisa had been a tough kid since childhood.
When Caleb looked at Lilia again, the old man's sharp pupils could catch a glimpse of the elegance in the woman's face. That grace felt natural and couldn't be taught by others.
Caleb realized that Lilia's eyes were clear and her gaze was straight. There was no pretense in it like Leila, who deliberately put on a sweet smile in front of others but did some dirty tricks behind their back.
When Caleb judged a person, he looked at their determination and strength. And both were found in Lilia and Mellisa. After thinking about this, Caleb narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "I heard that Leila was sent back to her biological family?"
Mellisa and Lilia nodded at the same time.
Caleb could only sneer, "Sure enough, that is the gentle style of the Irwan Family. Didn't they also leave you without any explanation? Janice has been assimilating in the Irwan Family for years and forgot our family principles! What a disappointing child!"
When Caleb talked about his disappointment towards Janice, the sisters didn't say anything. Even though she was their birth mother, her style of doing things did not inherit their grandfather's strength and speed. However, as Janice's daughters, the two of them had no reason to badmouth their own mother's name.
*****
After this heart-to-heart chat, Caleb enjoyed lunch at the Lakeside Villa with his two grandchildren. His health wasn't that good lately, so he went to the guest room to take a short break after eating.
On this occasion, Stefani sat in the living room and looked at Caleb's two granddaughters in front of her. Her gaze was fixed on Lilia's figure and they were filled with curiosity.
"To be honest, I was shocked when I heard that Lilia and Young Master Jean were married. When did your wedding take place? Was it last year?" Stefani asked kindly.
Lilia looked up and shook her head in response. "No, unfortunately I've been too busy with my work all this time, so the wedding party has been postponed,"
She deliberately left out the part that she didn't intend to have a wedding party. Even though the problem with her family background had been resolved, Lilia didn't plan to let the Irwan family be known as the Widjaya family's in-law.
"When will the party be held?" But Stefani did not catch Lilia's meaning and continued to ask with an innocent face. "I just heard what the old man said, that he wanted to have a big party to celebrate your sister's return. Wouldn't it be better to announce it when..."
Before Stefani could finish speaking, Jean appeared behind Lilia and immediately interrupted her. "We have other arrangements for the wedding, so Auntie doesn't have to worry about that," he said in a calm voice.
Even though Jean pronounced the sentence neatly, his meaning was clear. This was his business with Lilia as husband and wife, so there was no need for outsiders to interfere.
Hearing that, Stefani's expression froze for a moment. But she immediately smiled and replied, "Ah, I see. I'm just trying to give you a suggestion. I know young people arrange things on their own so it won't bother an old woman like me to talk much."
At this point, the atmosphere in the living room became a little awkward.
Lilia heard from Jean that Stefani was indeed the aunt of Irene, her sister-in-law. But they hadn't been in touch for nearly 30 years. During that time, Stefani worked as a personal nurse for Grandpa Caleb.
When his wife died, Caleb unexpectedly used Stefani as her replacement. Even though the marriage between them did not take place, it caused quite a sensation at that time.
When Caleb took Stefani as a substitute for his wife, the old man was over 65 years old. But Stefani was in her early forties. Of course many people opposed Caleb's decision, but the old man refused to listen to them.
Even the entire Mayer family was full of problems.
Today, Stefani and Caleb were able to appear at the Lakeside Villa because Jean took the initiative to contact his sister-in-law Irene.. It was only thanks to that woman that they could gather in a meeting like this.
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om