บท 32: The Unforeseeable Message From An Unexpected Sender
All three of them slept in the living room. Nadia and Liliana put the coffee table and moved the other couches away before they lay down futons on the carpet. Nancy was sound asleep much to their relief.
Even though it was already the witching hours, the city was still busy. The sound of vehicles passing the roads downstairs echoed in the quiet night.
While lying on their respective futons, Nadia whispered to Liliana. The lights had been switched off.
"Lili, will you really go to the New Year banquet at the Xin's?"
Liliana turned her head to her right side where Nadia was. She answered softly, "Yes, in the afternoon. It won't be as big as the Lunar New Year banquet though."
Nadia silently nodded while adding, "Well, just ignore everyone and eat lots of good food. Make that your priority."
Liliana covered her mouth. She almost burst into laughter.
"Hehe, Grandma also said the same thing. She told me to enjoy the food."
"Thank goodness Old Madam Shen continues to care for you," sighed Nadia in wonder, "If not for her, you won't get that much property division and alimony."
"That's true..." Liliana moved her eyes to the ceiling above her, her voice turned quieter, "At first, I just wanted to leave without anything. But... Grandma convinced me otherwise. I need the money for my new life and for my mother too."
Nadia shared the same view, "Yes. Even if your father stops supporting your mother's treatment, you can handle it by yourself. Old Madam Shen is really wise."
Both Nadia and Nancy knew Liliana's situation in the Xin and Shen families. She didn't have any solid support in her maiden family while her grandmother-in-law doted on her so much.
At first, Nadia was skeptical about Old Madam Shen favoring Liliana. She found it hard to believe that a matriarch from a prominent family would love to have an illegitimate child as her grandson's bride.
Despite knowing so little about high society, Nadia at least knew that illegitimate children were taboo. Fortunately, Old Madam Shen proved that she really cared for Liliana.
But...
Why?
What was it that made the old madam set her eyes on Liliana and even helped her to get the most favorable condition in the divorce?
Nadia just kept those thoughts inside her mind. As long as Liliana got along well with Old Madam Shen, she didn't mind anything.
The three ladies slept in until nearing noon. The cold weather made them so lazy to get out of their blankets.
Liliana was the first one to wake up. She glanced at the clock, finding that it was already half past eleven. Seeing that both Nancy and Nadia were still curling up under their blankets, she quietly went to the washroom.
"I should make something," murmured Liliana.
Some fried chickens hadn't been touched last night. Liliana boiled the white rice, made tofu and seaweed soup and fried three eggs. They could just have these as brunch later.
"Lili... you woke up already?" muttered the groggy Nadia from her futon. Her eyes were still closed tight.
"Want coffee?" Liliana inserted a coffee pod into the machine. She answered from the kitchen, "I just cooked simple dishes. We can eat the fried chicken from last night."
"Wow~ That smells so good," Nadia was lured out of the blanket by the divine scent of the coffee, "Make one for me too."
While Liliana and Nadia were having coffee and food later, Nancy finally woke up from her long sleep. Her eyes were still swollen but, her spirits were better than before.
"Go wash up," said Nadia to the sleepy Nancy, "Let's eat. Your shift's in the late afternoon, right?"
"Yes..." replied Nancy after yawning, "I feel so lazy... don't want to go to work... New Year's Eve is the worst..."
The three friends didn't talk much during eating. All of them actually were still groggy. After they were done, they gathered back in the living room.
"That scum didn't text you?" asked Nadia while slumping back on the futon. Liliana and Nancy also did the same.
"No," Nancy glared at her phone screen, "He knew about me staying here. He must be happy because I'm gone."
Nadia and Liliana exchanged a look, thinking of what they talked about last night.
"Nancy, you won't get back with Gilbert, right? After we finish our revenge plan?" Nadia stared sternly at Nancy.
"Hell no! Why should I?" Nancy quickly refuted Nadia, "I'm dying to slap his face. He wasted all the years I spent with him!"
Liliana and Nadia nodded in agreement. To them, a cheater would always be one. If Nancy suddenly decided to forgive Gilbert and start anew, they would smack more sense into her head.
Not only Gilbert cheated on Nancy with other women, but he also misused the funds in the joint account. Perhaps, he had done more but, still unnoticed by Nancy.
"So... what do you guys think?" Nancy looked at Liliana and Nadia alternatively, sounding so dejected, "What should I do? Do I just confront him with what I've found?"
"Well, here's the thing," Nadia started to get serious, "Listen to me first and then decide if you wanna follow the plan or not."
Nancy nodded a few times. Liliana kept her silence, letting Nadia bring up her ideas.
As how shocked Liliana was last night, Nancy also was the same. Nadia laughed seeing the frightened look on Nancy's face.
"How's that? Won't it be so satisfying?" Nadia smirked. She raised one of her brows, "For wasting your years with him, I think that's fine."
Nancy blinked. Her horrified look slowly changed to acceptance. She muttered, "I can really do that, right?"
"Do it," insisted Nadia, "We'll help you with that. Gilbert won't be able to retaliate."
"But, how can we source it out?" asked Liliana after thinking it through, "Do you know how, Nadia?"
Nadia laughed sheepishly, "Well... no."
Liliana and Nancy glared at Nadia. The latter continued laughing.
"Don't worry, just set up the beginning stage first," Nadia reassured her friends, "Hurm, I can ask my artist friends. They should know about these things."
Liliana and Nancy began to worry but, they chose to just trust Nadia. Her connections were extensive, unlike theirs. She had friends from every part of the globe.
"Well, if you worry about..."
Ting~
Liliana was disrupted by her phone ringing. It was a notification for a message. She quickly tapped on the screen, thinking that it was Old Madam Shen.
But...
The sender was someone she didn't expect.
[Mr.Liu: Ms. Xin, I'm sorry for not replying to you. I'll be straightforward. If possible, may I ask for your help? I'm in a dire situation now.]
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hansora
hansora It's quite late buttt here's Liliana and Lucas meeting again ;)
บท 33: The Disappointment Kept Piling Up
||Lucas||
<<A few days ago>>
Ever since the night Lucas saw Daphne being intimate with the unknown man, he stopped going to the apartment. It was obvious that even if he wanted to have a talk with her, it wouldn't end well.
A sense of anger took over his sorrowful heart. Lucas kept thinking that Daphne might have been seeing that man behind his back before. Only now did she dare to show him in the open.
'No... stop, just stop thinking about it.'
Lucas was actually conflicted with himself.
On one side, he was exhausted and just wanted to leave everything behind. On another, he thought that he deserved an explanation from Daphne.
Despite the cold treatment she had given him way before the sudden breakup, Lucas still felt like he was left hanging by her.
What should he really do now?
Because New Year was closely approaching, the school was on winter break. Lucas kept working at MoodSpresso; delivering orders to the nearby area or tending to the customers when they were short-staffed.
During the time Lucas was not working, he tried to take up as many chores as he could at home. Not only he felt responsible for giving his mother an easy time, but he also wanted to avoid hearing his father's sarcasm.
On December 24th, Kevin came home, looking so spirited for the Christmas and New Year's celebrations.
Winter break had begun for the students in the university. Amanda also had returned to her hometown. She hailed from another province in the west. The break ended on January 7th.
Lucas' shift finished early on that day. He was able to join their family dinner. Fortunately, he didn't need to stay until late on Christmas Eve. But, he was needed all time tomorrow on the 25th.
Despite being Christmas Eve, their family just treated it as a normal day. When they were halfway eating, Kevin suddenly brought up a topic. He even dragged Lucas into it.
"Big Brother, let's go to the mall tomorrow. I wanna buy Amanda a New Year's gift. She's been eyeing a bag from her favorite brand."
Lucas frowned in an instant. Looking up from his rice bowl, he stared at Kevin's expectant face. Their parents were still enjoying the food.
"I'm working tomorrow," replied Lucas quietly, swallowing what he really wanted to say, "Can't you go alone? I might return late."
"Oh, come on! You're still working tomorrow? It's Christmas!"
Kevin's face changed immediately. He looked disappointed to be turned down.
Linda and Richard moved their eyes to the two brothers, listening to what they had been talking about. Three pairs of eyes were looking at Lucas.
"We're short-staffed. I can't leave my colleagues just like that."
"They can still work together," Linda was displeased. She put down the chopsticks on the small wooden rest, "It's rare for you two to go out. Can't you make some time for Kevin?"
"Mother, I can't," Lucas shook his head, "It's too sudden. We're already busy right now."
Richard clicked his tongue, "Even that kind of job can make you so busy? It's not like they give you much money. I can't imagine how you are when you get a proper one."
Lucas could only smile stiffly seeing the judgmental stares from his parents and younger brother. His appetite diminished even though he was so hungry right now.
"Kevin, I really can't. Didn't you not have enough money to support yourself in the uni this semester? Why spend it on a branded bag? A uni student like Amanda will understand even if you get her a cheap one."
In the end, Lucas pointed out what he restrained himself from earlier. His tone was weary.
"How could you say that, Big Brother?" Kevin scrunched his brows. He looked offended, "Why? Just because you give me a measly sum of money? I just want to make my girlfriend happy for New Year. Can't I?"
Linda chimed in, obviously couldn't accept what Lucas had said to Kevin, her golden child.
"That's rude, Lucas. You can't just turn your brother down without saying something like that! Why? Do you feel superior because he needs your help?"
Lucas admitted defeat. He didn't answer his younger brother or his mother. It was better to just keep his silence when both of them were against him.
At the head of the table, Richard's face turned darker. His sharp gaze pierced into his eldest son. He clenched his jaw before spitting out hurtful words.
"Lucas, want us to kick you out? You're the one who needs help right now. Stop rebelling. Apologize to your mother and brother!"
Lucas was irked by the statement coming from his father. His blood started to boil after his attempt to calm his own disappointment down.
Looking straight into his father's infuriated glare, Lucas slowly enunciated, "I have my work ethic too. My colleagues need me tomorrow. Unfortunately, I can't go with Kevin."
Richard gritted his teeth. Somehow, he felt challenged when his eldest son answered him with such lengthy words. The wooden chopsticks almost bent in his tight grip.
"Suit yourself! I can't even have dinner in peace!"
Richard slammed the chopsticks down. He pushed the chair out before leaving the dining room.
"Dear! Don't just go like that! Finish your food!"
Linda was panicked, calling for her husband back but, Richard already left for his study room. The sound of his heavy footsteps disappeared behind the door.
With how things unfolded at the dining table, Linda directed her anger to Lucas.
"Geez! Why must you ruin our dinner? Your father hasn't eaten with us in weeks! Can't you just follow along with what we told you about?"
Lucas didn't give Linda any response. Doing so might worsen the already strained situation.
Kevin was also quiet. His initial dissatisfaction changed into guilt at the sight of his elder brother's sunken expression. The younger man slumped his shoulders, trying to shrink his existence there.
"Urgh! Be more helpful if you want to stay here!"
Linda also got up from her seat. She went running to Richard's study room, intending to placate his sour mood.
The two brothers were left alone in the dining room. The air around them was tense.
Without saying anything, Lucas slowly gathered the dishes. He felt bad for ruining the situation but, he couldn't just swallow the mistreatment.
"Err... Big Brother, I'm sorry..."
Kevin's voice was as quiet as a mosquito. His conscience was pricked as he realized that he was indeed acting childish while his elder brother just giving a solid reason.
"It's fine," answered Lucas without looking at Kevin, "Finish your meal. I'll wash Mother and Father's dishes first."
"...okay."
That night was not the worst for Lucas.
The biggest ordeal one appeared in front of him on the next day.
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hansora
hansora
Mass release tomorrow! ;)
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