Lilia's attitude towards this matter was honest and fearless, but Jean couldn't see her suffering from the slightest bit of criticism.
He pressed the corners of his lips and did not speak, the outline of his handsome face was covered in frost.
...
At half past eleven in the afternoon, the convoy arrived at the center of the city where the mayor's residence was located.
European-style palace buildings lined up and the large palace was full of exotic flowers and plants.
On the far left, there is a small church with a tower.
"You're here!"
Alice, standing at the lobby hallway, rushed over when she saw the two of them get out of the car.
She is seen wearing a unique Parma national costume, a purple half-shoulder dress, and her hair tied in a bun, looking very unique indeed.
Lilia stepped forward and as she saw Alice's dress, she exclaimed. "You look so much prettier than that pink dress!"
Alice stiffened, then she took two steps forward. "I heard that you are a model. Can you tell me about matching colors if you have time? Do you know that my stylist really doesn't understand fashion? I think my dress always looks ugly!"
Lilia smiled and nodded. "Okay, no problem!"
Alice hooked her arms and walked forward happily. Looking back at Jean, she smiled slightly and said nothing.
Ten minutes later, Lilia and Jean sat aside in the mansion's banquet hall.
Alice sat beside her and explained to her about the murals and decoration styles in the banquet hall.
The mayor's house is heavily guarded and magnificent.
After Alice explained everything, Lilia just found out that the most abundant reserve here is gold.
No wonder the nobles here were richer than she knew.
Alice was still talking about Parma to her, but suddenly the banquet hall's door was pushed open at this time.
Hearing that sound, Alice took the lead to get up, Lilia and Jean also stood up one by one.
When four trained bodyguards appeared, the mayor of Parma, who was in his sixties, walked slowly in gray clothes.
His skin was a little dark, looking fierce. And his serious eyes were neither angry nor pretentious. After walking around the banquet hall, he pointed at Jean, then shook his head and smiled. "My son, you are finally willing to come back!"
Jean took a step forward, leaning back slightly with one hand on his chest. "Uncle Lorenzo."
"Hahaha, it's been so many years since you left, you've really grown up to be a fine gentleman! Where's Hans? He's not coming back with you?"
He's the Mayor of Parma, Lorenzo Alessandrio.
He could not stop himself from looking at his old friend, because he was very crucial in his life.
To help him stabilize his position at Parma, Hans gave him lots of advice at that time.
The man thought Josh would bring him back with him this time.
Thinking of Hans, Lorenzo's eyebrows raised slightly.
At this time, Jean pursed his lips and said in a calm tone, "Uncle Hans died a few months ago."
Lorenzo was shocked, why didn't he hear any words about it?
He shook his head and sighed as he couldn't help but feel sad. "Too bad. You and Hans both used fake identities back then. If it weren't for it, maybe I could meet him one last time."
To find them, Parma mobilized considerable human and financial resources.
But unfortunately, it was too late.
"Okay, let's not talk about this. I heard you came back this time and brought your wife. Where's she?"
Hearing this, Jean stretched out his palms towards Lilia, and when he withdrew his hand, he said warmly to the woman. "This is Uncle Lorenzo."
Lilia stood beside him and smiled generously at Lorenzo's gaze, "Hello Uncle, I am Lilia!"
The elderly didn't judge people from the look of their faces, but their temperament and character.
The old man's eyes were filled with excitement as he stared at Lilia for a moment.
After a while, he smiled softly and said to Alice, "Alice, don't blame anyone if you lose to her!"
"Father!" Alice groaned, but not angry.
After all, Parma knew that she had failed to catch up with Josh, and it was no big deal for her dad to tease her.
Well, she has a very big heart indeed!
"Josh, are you going to stay here or are you going to leave?"
After Lorenzo greeted him and made small talk, he asked this important question.
As far as he could tell, he really wished Josh could stay in Parma.
Here, he needed talent like him.
However, the man's tone was calm yet firm when he answered, "I'll be leaving tomorrow."
Lorenzo immediately frowned. "Why so fast?"
Even Lilia couldn't help but stare at him. She moved her lips, but she stopped speaking.
It seems that Jean still wants to return to Indonesia as soon as possible.
Jean disagreed with Lorenzo's gaze. "Sorry, there are still some matters that I need to deal with at home."
"Hey, I thought you'd stay for a while even though you had to go. Anyway, Alice, you better take Josh's wife for a walk outside for a while. This is the first time she's been here, so stay with her!"
Lorenzo told Alice once he changed the conversation, he clearly wanted to divert their attention.
Lilia and Alice got up and walked out. When the door behind them closed, she heard Lorenzo joking. "I've always hoped you could be my son-in-law. Now there doesn't seem to be a chance."
Alice also heard these words. She grabbed Lilia and walked out a little embarrassed, still muttering, "I'll take you to the butterfly garden first. There are lots of butterflies there, all raised by Uncle Enrico. It's really nice there."
The two of them walked around the front building along the flower path to the garden, enjoying the sight of butterflies.
Lilia asked while looking at the scenery. "Is your father a foreigner?"
She did not understand the history of Parma, despite the many ethnicities and tribes, it still surprised her that Lorenzo could become a mayor.
Alice nodded. "My father is a foreigner and my mother is a native here. I'm not afraid if you want to make jokes, my father is an adult."
In fact, if Josh was willing to marry her, she was also willing to give her inheritance rights to him.
"The butterfly garden is right here," Alice said with a feeling of loss in her heart, raising her eyes and pointing to the domed glass building ahead.
Lilia looked away and saw colorful butterflies flying in the glass room before she got closer.
In her ear, she heard Alice cheer. "Uncle Enrico ..."
At the entrance to the butterfly garden in front, a figure in black robe was seen cleaning the ground.
His back was slightly awkward, and when Alice called out to him, he turned around slowly.
Lilia's heart jumped when she saw him at the first sight.
Not because of anything— the face of the person she saw was covered with long scars, one eye socket was sunken, and his eye was missing. He looked very terrifying even when he was under the sun.
Alice grabbed Lilia, and then reminded her, "Don't be afraid, even though Uncle Enrico is full of scars on his face, he is very nice. He was also taking good care of Josh at that time. He saw Josh looking at butterflies with a smile, so Uncle Enrico immediately raised lots of them here, then built a butterfly garden for them."
Lilia heard this story and her heart was touched.
Everyone at Parma treats her husband very well.
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