Chapter 90 - Lies (1/2)

After receiving Lilia's call, Robert rushed home.

When he arrived in front of his house, Robert panicked even more when he saw Jean's car. The fourth son of the Widjaya Family was leaning against the car, looking straight at his house. His attitude clearly showed that he was waiting for someone. Robert immediately invited Jean into the house with him.​​

Now Robert sat next to Sylvia, while Jean and Lilia sat across them. The atmosphere in the living room was heavy and gloomy. The servant who came in with the tea didn't dare to look up at all. She just put down the tray she was carrying before running away at lightning speed.

Sylvia stole a glance at Jean with an embarrassed expression. If she found out that Jean was waiting outside her house, she would have been more careful with Lilia. Sylvia shot Lilia a cold gaze for a moment before trying to correct this grim situation.

”Jean, this is the newest type of tea that is in vogue right now.” Said Sylvia in a sweet voice as she handed one cup of tea to the fourth son of the Widjaya Family, ”Go ahead and try it, don't be shy.”

But Jean just stared at the teacup without moving to take it. His icy gaze made Sylvia's heart shrink even further.

Robert immediately took the cup, then put it in front of Jean. Lilia's father had seen his daughter's grim face and teary eyes. Considering how much Jean loved Lilia, that man would not remain silent watching his fiancée getting treated unfairly. If Sylvia wasn't Lilia's mother, Robert was sure Jean would have made her regret hurting Lilia.

”Jean, how about we talk in my study?” Robert offered. He wanted to get Jean away from Sylvia before she made Jean even more angry.

Jean glanced at Lilia, who kept her head lowered. His fiancée had refused to look at him ever since Jean walked into the house, as if trying to hide her crying face. Jean didn't want to leave Lilia alone with Sylvia, but he also didn't want her to listen to his conversation with Robert. In the end, Jean's d.e.s.i.r.e to solve this problem quickly prevailed.

Jean grabbed Lilia's hand, causing the woman to finally turn to him, ”I'll be right back. Call me if there's anything, okay?” Jean said softly.

Jean's c.h.e.s.t ached when he saw Lilia's red eyes. Before Robert came, he knew something was wrong when Lilia didn't come out of the house. Sylvia's shocked expression was mixed with embarrassment when she saw Jean and it added to his suspicion. Jean deliberately showed his support for Lilia in front of her mother so that she wouldn't dare to wrong her any further.

Lilia slowly nodded. The warmth of Jean's hands and his caring gaze helped her to calm down.

After Jean and Robert disappeared upstairs, Sylvia secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Then she shot Lilia a sharp gaze, ”Did you bring Jean here on purpose to embarrass me?” She asked fiercely.

Hearing that, Lilia looked at the woman. She didn't understand why Sylvia felt that Lilia was always trying to cause trouble for her.

”Mother, if you still think of me as your daughter, you don't need to treat me like this.” Lilia said in a tired voice.

”How am I supposed to treat you, Lilia? You don't seem to realize that the older you get, the more insolent you behave toward me.” Sylvia said coldly.

”Now that you have Jean to support you, you no longer respect me as your mother. Tell me, why should I shut up and excuse your rebellious attitude?” Sylvia glared at Lilia.

Her hostile attitude made Lilia's c.h.e.s.t feel even tighter. Her whole body felt frozen, as if she was in the middle of winter.

Lilia clenched her fists tightly and spoke in a bitter voice, ”Mother, since when have I been so rude to you? You told me to marry for the sake of this family and I obeyed your words. You sold me for a high price, isn't that enough for you?”

”If you still think of me as your mother, you won't insist on refusing to have a wedding!” Sylvia snarled.

”Unlike you, I don't want to be the gossip for the whole town!” Lilia replied, ”Even though I'm not having a wedding, I'm still going to marry Jean and you'll still get the dowry you want! So why did you lie about our family register?!”

”I-I…” Sylvia's cold expression turned into panic as she was shaken by Lilia's words. She avoided her daughter's gaze while wringing her hands frantically. Sylvia didn't think that her lie would be exposed so easily.

”Father told me he didn't have the family register with him.” Lilia continued while suppressing her anger, ”Are you that desperate for a wedding party that you have the heart to hide the family register? Why are you more concerned with your wishes than my happiness? Aren't you still my mother?!” Lilia's voice cracked as she shouted that last sentence.

For the umpteenth time, Lilia wondered why Sylvia was treating her so coldly. When she was a child, that woman mostly ignored her. But lately, Sylvia openly treated her like an enemy.

Sylvia was silent for a moment. She finally opened her mouth to say something, but the sound of footsteps from the direction of the stairs interrupted her. She immediately closed her mouth again while Lilia tried to erase the irritation on her face. Robert emerged from the direction of the stairs and approached the two women.

He stopped beside Lilia and stroked her head, ”Lilia, I'm sorry. You've been treated unfairly by your mother.” He said softly.

The warmth of Robert's hands and his regretful voice made Lilia almost shed tears. She bit her lip while shaking her head, ”You don't have to apologize. I'm fine.”