Leo nodded. "I wish to give her the best wedding when all these troubles are over." he divulged.
Charmaine looked away. She didn't want a big wedding. The one she has in her memory was enough. She just wished they could live together in harmony until the end.
James too didn't say anything. Leo looked serious this time. He knew very well that Charmaine liked Leo since she was a child. But how about Leo? He hope he really likes his daughter and he's not just using her to gain a better foothold in Ji Group.
"Why don't you stay here with us for a few days?" James told Leo and then turned to his daughter. "What do you think, Xiaomin?" He wants to see with his own eyes just how well Leo would treat his only daughter.
"I think it's alright." she responded.
Behind the secret door connecting the drawing room to the study, Bianca was standing with a smirk. When she thought she's already heard enough, she walked away, leaving the door ajar and took out her phone. She searched for a certain contact from her list and made a phonecall.
"Yes. Leo is currently in the Song mansion and I think he'll be staying here for a few days. Also, I think I just heard him ask James Song for his daughters hand in marriage." she reported.
***
Jun Ji tightened his grip on the phone after ending the call. Leo Ji asked permission to marry Charmaine Song? He said he didn't like her before, but now he's determined to marry her? He's really a scum.
Yes. He wanted Charmaine Song for himself. When Jun Ji entered the Ji household when he was nine, he thought he won big-time. He and his mother lived a simple life but after his identity as Joel Ji's son was revealed, he suddenly became a winner in life; a millionaire's first born son; heir of the Ji family; he can have whatever he wanted, he thought. But that was until Leo Ji and his sister came back six years later. He realized that in the Ji household, Leo Ji was considered the crown prince and he was nothing but an illegitimate child. The old man favored Leo Ji more and he... he was nothing but dust in his eyes.
Jun envied Leo. He wanted what was his. All of it should have been his if he didn't exist. But Jun was weak. Because he was week, he just watched as Leo relish upon everything good in life. But what angered him was his attitude towards the women he liked. He ignored them and hurt them. He liked Charmaine before, but he dared not covet his brother's fiancee so he set his eyes on Jienna. Sadly, Jienna too fell for his brother's charm. He has been watching her but he failed to have her. Since the day Jienna died, he promised himself that he will fight back. He will never again vow in front of Leo. He will never allow him to have his way. Charmaine must be his and so was Jienna's son.
Yes. He will do everything that must be done. And today the task would be to break Charmaine and Leo apart.
***
Aya hurriedly pulled Charmaine to a corner before whispering something to her. "Tell me the truth. What happened?" she asked.
Charmaine looked at her mother with perplexed eyes. "What do you mean?" she said.
Aya sighed. She leaned on the backrest of the settee and tilted her head. "When you came home from Paris, weren't you dejected? Weren't you fighting? Leo didn't show up until thursday. And now you're back together?" Aya stated. "Tell me the truth. What changed your mind?"
Charmaine was dumbfounded. How should she answer that question? Must she tell her the truth that she felt threatened when she saw Chanel Aikens seducing Leo? Or that she felt helpless when Jun Ji started threatening her, and Leo was her only hope to deter that mad man? She felt vulnerable and so she gave in to her weakness. Her weakness was her family. In her heart, Leo and Luke were hers.
"Mom... is it bad? Because I still like him so much. In fact I love him. I have always loved him." she declared with sad eyes. If her mom was this surprised to hear they were together, she wondered how she'll react once she finds out she's already married to Leo.
Aya shook her head. Of course she loves him. But about Leo? He must only be using her to get out of the mess he was in. "Anyway, if you're with Leo this days, then why was he sending flowers and gifts here?" Aya said as she suddenly remembered the flowers that arrived this morning.
Charmaine furrowed his brows. "Flowers? What flowers?" she asked. Leo didn't tell her anything about sending gifts at home.
"Well... those gifts over there." Aya pointed on the flowers on a white vase in the living room. Beside the vase were two boxes wrapped in colorful giftwrappers. "Yesterday, a dozen of red roses came along with a gift." she said before standing to get the cards the presents came with from a drawer nearby. "Just this morning, a set of lilies and another gift came. Here look."
Charmaine took the cards. One said, "Happy birthday Love." and the gift they received the same day said "To my lovely fiancee." Meanwhile, the flowers this morning arrived with a simpler dedication. It just came with the card saying "To Charmaine." And the gift was labeled "To my son, Luke."
"I was sure those were from Leo. Why? Is there something wrong?" she worriedly asked.
Charmaine shook her head. Something was telling her these weren't from Leo Ji.
***
"Jun Ji." Charmaine called his name after realizing her call connected.
"Oh, I didn't expect you to give me a call. What can I do for you, babe?" Jun asked from the other end of the line.
Charmaine took a deep breath. "Did you send something in my parent's house by mistake?" she probed. Those gifts, she believed it was Jun who sent them.
Charmaine suddenly heard Jun Ji chuckled. "Mistake? I sent those for you and also for my son." he replied.
"Luke is not your son." she insisted. "Why can't you just leave me alone? Tell me what I have to do so you'll agree to just let us be!"
"Oh! I like that. I like making deals. Well, If you agree to meet me tonight, then I guess we can talk about it."
Charmaine furrowed her brows. Meet him? Tonight?
"Where?",she asked.