In the dining hall of the White family.
SLAP!
An old man, who was in his mid-sixties, slapped Lucas as hard as he could. He was none other than the Head of the White family, George White, the founder of the White family. He was holding some documents. As a result, Lucas stepped back a bit from the force of the slap. His wife Natasha White quickly stepped forward from aside and supported Lucas.
"Ah! Lucas", she murmured.
"Bastard! You are telling me that you handed over our assets to them just over this crap!", George yelled at Lucas in fury. His penetrating gaze was fixated on his son for a moment until it shifted on a man who was dressed in black; standing at a distance beside the couple. He was the personal secretary of Lucas who was appointed by George.
"Andrew! Explain this to me in my room later!", he ordered.
"Yes sir"
George glared at Lucas with grimaced expression, "What are you still standing here for!"
"T-then what should I do?", Lucas asked with clenched jaws while gazing at the floor.
"GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY SIGHT YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING SON OF A BITCH! YOUR DAMN USELESS MOTHER COULDN'T TAUGHT YOU ANYTHING BEFORE DYING LIKE A USELESS BITCH!", George retorted loudly with bulging eyes. He glanced at his wife who was standing beside him at the moment, "TAKE THIS FILTYHY WHORE WITH YOU AND GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY PROPERTY RIGHT NOW!" The people present there could hear George gasping. George turned around and sat down on the couch.
Natasha bit her lower lips when she heard the last part and lowered her head. She was already holding Lucas's hand. She pulled him towards herself and whispered to him, "Come on honey let's leave." But Lucas didn't move an inch from his place. When Natasha noticed that, she glanced at his eyes, it was fixed at his father. Natasha could feel his rage just by peeking at him. She knew his temper therefore, Natasha quickly stood in front of him and gently caressed his cheek where he received the slap earlier. When Lucas's eyes met her pleading gaze his anger quickly sub-sided.
Natasha gave him a sweet smile, "It's okay honey let's leave this place", and pulled him towards her. Lucas nodded, he grabbed her hand and left the house.
In the hall, George was sitting on the couch, he rubbed his eye-brows. He poured some water in the glass and drank it. As George leaned back to rest, he saw a cute little girl who was hugging a bunny in her arms while sitting in the staircase; she was staring at him from above. George eyes opened wide with surprise. He quickly forced a smile and asked, "Sorry sweety. Did daddy scare you?"
She shook her little head and said in her sweet voice, "I am not scared of daddy, because I love daddy."
Hearing her reply George felt relieved and his anger melted away. He said with a big smile, "Aw my sweet little princess! Daddy will come upstairs in a bit so I want my little princess to wait in the bed. Would you do that for daddy?"
She got up, "Okay! but don't be late daddy."
"Yes sweety~ daddy will be with you in a moment", replied George. The little girl went back in her room after hearing George's reply.
Whereas, George took a sigh of relief and faced Andrew with a stern look, "I'll hear about this in the morning!", and then went upstairs in her daughter room.
"Yes Sir!"
...….
Earlier in the afternoon, Jennifer and Amanda were riding in the black sedan. While Amanda was busy on her phone talking to someone.
"Yes—it went well—yes it was just like you predicted—he took the bait and signed it—we have him in our custody from now on—yes—yes—I know what to do—I'll do it right away when I arrive at the house with Madam—take care!", Amanda hung up the phone.
Amanda noticed that Jennifer was staring at her intently. She had this quizzical smile on her face. Jennifer was very curious regarding what Amanda did earlier at the office of White family therefore, she asked, "Amanda, when did you manage to do all of that?"
Amanda understood that she was referring to the earlier event happened in the conference room of the White family. She partially opened her lips but closed them afterward without speaking a word. Jennifer noticed her reaction and slightly furrowed her brows, "(chuckle)— it's okay, if you don't want to answer. I won't force you either. Tell me when you are ready." Jennifer leaned back, closed her eyes and heaved a sigh of relief.
On the other hand, Amanda was still struggling to come up with the right words for the answer. She was in a turmoil, whether answering her right now would be better or not so she directed her gaze downward and said, "Umm—ma'am!"
Jennifer whose eyes were closed responded, "…So you finally decided to tell me! —I am listening."
Even though Amanda was working for Guryon household for a few years, she still felt hesitant sometimes when it came to situations like the current one when she had done something out of ordinary.
Amanda steeled herself and explained, "Ma'am—the thing is—Ahem! The thing is ma'am…I planned it a few years ago—when Lady Jasmine ordered me to investigate this on the behalf of young master Leonardo. I was on to it and was done with investigation, and I wanted to inform our beloved lady but then——all that happened in just one night. When you told me about the deal earlier in the morning, I somewhat anticipated that this might come in handy when things wouldn't work in our favor. I know I crossed my limits after making such decision without your discretion but— what I did—I thought it'd be best for the family—l sincerely apologize for my misconduct and I am prepared for any punishment you may give me."
Jennifer opened her eyes at this moment and said with downhearted expression, "Don't apologize Amanda." The latter's head was covered with wrinkles. "But we lost the port Ma'am! And—"
Before Amanda could finish, Jennifer cut in, "It's okay Amanda. I am not blaming you, instead it's the opposite." Amanda didn't continue after hearing Jennifer.
Jennifer was feeling discouraged but at the same time her eyes were gleaming with happiness. She glanced at Amanda and noticed that the latter was feeling down. She looked ahead and stared blankly, "If we lost the port then it was my fault, not yours —" Jennifer looked Amanda in the eyes, "Sigh! Do you know why all this happened?"
Amanda was lost for words and couldn't reply. Meanwhile, Jennifer continued, "Because I am a bad mother—"
"Ma'am! Please don't say that!", Amanda remarked.
Jennifer didn't even bother by the latter's sudden denial and added, "—I recalled the past and I figured that I barely spent time with my daughter when she was young…. whenever I arrived home earlier than usual, she always came running to me holding a story book in her hands, and says Mommy~ you are back! Read me a story from this book! With a pure smile on her face— and when I'd arrive late at night I—I—I always found her sleeping in…the doorway…waiting f-for…m-me—" her voice wavered. Jennifer ceased talking for a moment because she as overwhelmed by the memories of her past.
Amanda was watching her quietly. She noticed that Jennifer's lips were quivering while reminiscing about her daughter. Jennifer covered her mouth with her hand while tears began rolling down her eyes, she burst into tears and whimpered, "Oh Jasmine~ —sob! Sob! I am so sorry darling! Sob! Sob! –for being such a bad mother—sob! Sob!"
Amanda furrowed her brows anxiously. "…It's a-alright my lady! Y-you still have young master to care about. Please don't cry!", Amanda mentioned.
Jennifer nodded in response and wiped her tears.
Watching a helpless old lady who lost her only daughter at such a young age, Amanda's eyes were moistened. She could feel a stinging sensation in her nose but she quickly recovered. Amanda diverted the attention of Jennifer by thinking of something really quick.
"Ma'am there is something important I wanted to tell you about".
"…Please speak", Jennifer replied in a trembling voice and wiped her tears.
"Now that we have custody of young master. But there is something which is making me uncomfortable", Amanda said while staring blankly.
Jennifer understood the gravity of Amanda's worry and demanded an answer from her, "What is it?"
"It's just my speculation!", Amanda replied. Jennifer stared at the latter with narrow eyes, "Go on!" "I think—I think that Whites will make a move against young master one way or the other", Amanda responded with a straight face.
Hearing Amanda's reply Jennifer's expression didn't change in the least and asked, "What do you suggest? Should we station some more guards at Leonardo's room?"
"That would only draw more attention. But—there is another way we could avoid the attention of our enemies and deal with this until young master recovers", Amanda replied, because she knew the underhanded methods of the White family after being a part of Guryon family.
Jennifer asked, "Are you referring to bring Leonardo home?" Jennifer was well aware of the White family too so she could guess what would be the right course of action.
"Exactly! We will bring young master home. And that way nobody would be able to harm him in any way neither from inside nor from outside.", Amanda gave her opinion with a stern face. Jennifer wasn't astonished when she heard Amanda's answer. The side of her lips formed a distinctive smile. She gazed at front and her faced turned ice cold.
"Alright, let's do this!" Jennifer knitted her brows in firm determination and muttered, "This time I will make sure that no one could harm my family again!"