Lilia's heart immediately tightened at Alice's words.
Everything about Jack is so sad and heartbreaking.
Just so the Widjaya family wouldn't find him, he was willing to hide in the trunk and rushed here from Surabaya!
Lilia suddenly understood his intentions.
No one knew what would happen at this Ricardo family banquet.
So he hid in a corner of the crowd, waiting for the situation— or tension to be exact— to escalate.
If nothing had happened or Florence hadn't attacked his family, he would most likely return to Parma in secret and would never show his face in front of the Widjaya family again.
Just how deep was the guilt that made him have such pitiful considerations?
Lilia's throat choked, and she glanced at Jean with wet eyes..
However, after a flash of light, she saw that her man had already left the living room.
Irene kept wiping the corners of her eyes, holding back her tears, as if breathing was hurt for her.
After Lilia took a deep breath, she pulled her lips forward. "I'll go out and see him."
"Wait a moment!" Chris opened his mouth and handed the cigarette case in his pocket to Lilia as he walked. "If he wants to be alone, leave him alone, and please, let this be with him."
Lilia looked into a box of cigarettes in her hand and nodded. "I know, thanks!"
After she left, Chris looked at the door.
He was an outsider, but he couldn't help but be heartbroken when he heard this, let alone the Widjaya family who value love and truth.
Especially Jean!
...
Lilia followed Jean to the garden outside the hotel building.
The night breeze was cool, ruffling her skirt and hair between her foreheads.
The starless sky was moistened with a dark color, and the green leaf branches were covered by the darkness of the night.
She stood nearby, looking at Jean's upright and cold figure, like a large tree that had grown accustomed to living alone.
After pondering for a moment, Lilia was still walking slowly.
She didn't say a word, squeezed the cigarette case in her hand, and when she stood beside him, she handed it over. "I heard that cigarettes can relieve sadness!"
The man's eyes, which were condensed in the night sky, dropped a few inches.
He stretched out his hand and wrapped Lilia's finger and the cigarette case in her palm, then said in a dull tone, "Come back, it's cold in here."
Lilia replied, "You shouldn't take too long either, the second brother's examination should be over soon!"
The man swallowed his throat, his eyes looked at his wife deeply, then he gently nodded and promised. "Okay."
Lilia held his fingertips tightly, took his hand, and kissed his lips.
Without saying anything, she put the cigarette case in his palm, then turned around and walked back.
At times like this, her husband needs time to sort out things and calm his thoughts.
She won't interfere, but... will definitely be with him in her own way.
Because of that, Lilia didn't go far from him.
Instead, she was standing at the hotel entrance, looking at the man smoking in the darkness of the night.
Perhaps, all she could give him was solitude.
As time passed, her hand subconsciously stroked her lower abdomen.
She saw the figure of Jean who had lit the third cigarette.
It doesn't seem like the guy will stop soon.
She lowered her eyes, pressed the corners of her lips, and sighed softly.
At this moment, the sound of footsteps entered her ears, and in an instant, Lilia looked back. In the bright light, Alfred's figure appeared in her eyes.
The moment she saw Alfred, Lilia immediately became alert.
She silently stared at the green plantation outside the building, and turned to leave.
"Wait..."
Alfred's voice came from the other side of the corridor, followed by his quickening pace.
Lilia was near the promenade that led to the hotel's garden and was blocked by Alfred.
She lifted her eyes, her pretty face was cold, and she looked at him warily.
Alfred's tired brows showed a look of dilemma. He clearly understood Lilia's vigilance, and laughed at himself. "Does my presence make you so disgusted?"
Just as he guessed, Lilia suddenly took a step back, and opened the distance between them.
Within such a safe distance, his slightly dim eyes locked onto Lilia's figure.
Lilia looked at him and said, "No, because after all, I never liked you!"
Alfred understood her words, he then stiffly pulled the corners of his mouth, and slowly turned around and looked at the garden.
A few seconds later, he said grimly, "I always knew that you were very intelligent and spoke straightforwardly. I really miss the moment when I first met you at school."
Alfred's eyes fell towards the garden, Lilia didn't know if the man was looking at Jean's figure.
Or maybe he really saw him, but couldn't bear to say the words.
The man's current mood was extremely complicated.
Facing Lilia again, there was a lot to say, but those words were always…
At this moment, Lilia still didn't let her guard down. She moved again without showing her composure, glancing out the window and said in a cold tone. "I also miss the figure of Brother Alfred who teaches and educates people with all his heart!"
"Heh…" Alfred chuckled, rolling his eyes and curling his lips. "If I was still a teacher, maybe we wouldn't be where we are today, right?"
Lilia looked at him faintly. She did not comment on that assumption.
She couldn't understand Alfred's past intentions when he told her.
But tonight, everything he did exceeded her expectations.
This man, in her opinion, was still cunning and dangerous.
Thinking of this, Lilia had to give up the idea of ??accompanying Jean. She walked back to the room. "No matter what, it's over. I have something to do, and you are free to do whatever you want in his hotel."
"Lilia, if I said I like you, would you believe it?!"
Seeing Lilia turn around, Alfred looked back and said the feelings that had been hidden in his heart for a long time.
Lilia stopped, looked back and smiled, and gently shook her head. "Sorry, I can't believe it! You want to take my life, I really can't see the love in all of this!"
Alfred's face changed suddenly, he stepped forward and looked at her. "When did I ever want your life?"
Does this guy still have the nerve to pretend?!
Lilia didn't want to waste time with him, but if she didn't explain, would the Ricardo family think that she was just talking nonsense?
With anger, she straightforwardly said, "Yesterday, my car had an accident because all the brake pads were replaced with used ones. I was really lucky to not be in the car when it crashed. The only repair record that exists is when the car was taken to the repair shop by your bodyguard after the collision with your car the other day."
"Mr. Alfred, if you were to do it, I won't object to any intention you have. But if you have the courage to deprive me of my life, don't pretend you don't know anything about it. One thing you should know well is that my husband and I will never fear you."
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel