The delicious smell of baked cream cheese wafted throughout the mansion. Inevitably, Paula did acknowledge Larissa's greatness in playing with kitchen utensils. Taking the pie from the hot mold, Larissa did it with her bare hands.
"Don't you feel hot?" Paula asked, surprised to see Larissa's miraculous skill as if Samuel's mother had supernatural powers. "It looks dangerous."
"Mom is an expert. She is born to cook," Samuel joked in a sarcastic tone. He was still upset over something he had just heard from William's secretary. "Don't be surprised if you see her flipping the tempura-fried by bare hand."
"Really? You do that?" Paula asked in disbelief, knowing that only tempura chefs in Japan could do this.
"He is lying! Do not believe him!" Larissa denied.
Everyone laughed at Larissa's argument with her eldest son. The two of them argued very often, like friends.
"Soon your in-laws will come here!" Larissa set her homemade cheese pies which were still hot and melted on the dining table. "Too bad, William is busy. Even though this is the first family gathering after you two are married."
"Well, he can't help, right? His schedule is very tight."
Paula smiled faintly at Larissa's complaints. Unbeknownst to her, Samuel was watching her movements, making something in his chest rumble.
Shortly after, William's parents, Alex and Lisa, came along with their youngest daughter, Vanessa.
"Hello, my beautiful daughter-in-law!" Alex greeted Paula in a friendly manner. Lisa also gave a warm welcome, hugging her daughter-in-law in a tight embrace.
"You cherish her!" Thomas teased his baby brother, Alex, pursing his lips.
"Well, why don't you ask Sam to get married either?" Lisa asked.
"Why does Sammy stay single? Are you playing for the other team? Look at Sofia, she is still in high school, yet she changes boyfriends just like changing socks?" Vanessa joked which made all eyes stare at Samuel's sister, Sofia.
"Sofia?" All eyes were on that cute redhead.
"It's a lie, mom! I am not like that!"
"Sofia, If I find it true, I will marry you off as soon as possible!"
That was the family event that afternoon. They share gossip and updates about the news of the two families.
"By the way, where's William?" Lisa asked, she just realized that her eldest son was not present.
"Uh, William has a meeting, mom!" Paula answered with a reassuring smile.
"Sunday meeting? Bullshit!" Samuel smirked, "I guess he is seeing a … girl, maybe? Oh, sorry. I forgot he is married," and then laughed.
Paula suddenly stared at Samuel, wide-eyed. She then immediately said, "Because it's short notice, mom, dad! He has an important meeting."
Samuel shot a disbelieving look at Paula. As well as her, she also glared at him. After controlling the situation, Paula dragged Samuel away from the crowd to interrogate him.
"What do you mean by saying that to William's parents?" Paula rebuked, demanding an explanation.
Samuel smirked, then replied, "You're being ridiculous, aren't you? Did you conspire with William to deceive Uncle Alex and Aunt Lisa? What kind of wife are you? Oh, that loser! He never learned, yes? That brat always chooses anything but the right woman."
"The problem is—"
"Or maybe William gave you a handsome payment to fool his parents, huh? A billion or two? One hundred—"
A hard slap on Samuel's cheek silenced the man from continuing his blasphemy against Paula. The young woman's eyes stared blankly at the cruel-mouthed man who had just insulted her.
"I love money, indeed. But I'm not that poor to the point of begging for money from him," Paula whispered in a low, threatening tone. Her sharp nose swelled and deflated from holding her hot breath, preventing her emotions from rising even further.
Meanwhile, Samuel could only hold his left cheek which hurt from Paula's hard slap. He let Paula go, leaving him in the corridor without saying a word.
***
After returning from the hospital, William and Lea went to a restaurant for lunch—the late one. Lea's previously gloomy face now looked relieved because her mother's condition had recovered. Everything was under control.
"Thank God, your mother is getting better," William said with relief as he smiled at Lea. "Come on, now you should eat well. You haven't eaten anything since morning."
Leah nodded, smiling weakly. "Thank you, darling! You've helped me a lot. I owe you a lot, baby."
"Lea, don't say that," William whispered.
"No, Will. I can't always depend on you," Lea said with a sad face. "I need to get a job soon so as not to burden you with my mother's medical expenses. You shouldn't spend some money on me."
"Lea, since when have you been a burden to me?" William reached Lea's shoulder and brought her closer to him. He stroked the head of his lover who was now leaning on his shoulder.
If only William's mother knew that Lea was a good girl, she would surely approve of the girl's relationship with her son. She was not a gold digger like most women who approached his son in the past. The girl never even wanted to eat in a fancy restaurant and chose a fast-food restaurant instead. She also always considered all the help William gave him a debt, that she would pay—one day—with the money she earned by herself.
Lea then discussed something else to lighten the current mood up. She told him that she had applied for a job as a secretary at a real estate company. The salary was quite high. The owner was also well-known as a kind and professional boss.
"So you're having a job interview next Monday?" William asked. He was happy with her plan. He hoped that she would get her dream job. With this, his parents would appreciate her more. Unlike before when she was still a student.
All day, William also accompanied his lover for a walk. After having late lunch, they went to the movies and other places they used to frequent. It was a very happy day for him, of course, because he could spend a wonderful time with her.
However, deep down, William was haunted by guilt for not being honest with Leah. He owed a big explanation to her. He decided to immediately tell the truth about his current condition—a married man.
Because of that, at this time, in front of Lea who was smiling sweetly at him, William was determined to tell her that he was married. Of course, Lea's eyes popped out instantly.
"So while I was in Japan, did you get married to another girl?"
"Lea, listen to me. I—"
"You did what your parents wanted you to do, didn't you?" Leah's tears flowed slowly. Her tears broke before William could give more explanation. "Why? Why don't you try explaining to your mom and dad that we love each other and … that we are inseparable?"
"Lea, mom is sick. A few days ago she just got out of the hospital. I couldn't have done that. You know that my mom didn't give her consent to our relationship from the beginning." William tried to calm Lea down. "Please be patient, honey! I'll divorce Paula later and we'll get married. I'll tell my parents when the time is right."
Lea wiped her tears. She stared at William helplessly. "Then, how about your wife? Can she accept the divorce?"
"Lea, you don't have to worry about her. She is even planning a divorce and will help me explain this to my parents. She is kind. She is a friend," William's long explanation to calm Lea down sounded too good to be true.
Unfortunately, Lea's suspicion was increasing even more that William and his wife were very close. Otherwise, why did William speak well of his wife?
"Do you like her?" Lea asked again.
"Lea, my dear, nothing has happened between us. She's just different from other women!" This time, William sweated profusely. He lied about this. Because physically, he and Paula were connected. Live a normal life as husband and wife.
"Both of you aren't doing anything, are you?" Leah asked again doubtfully. "I almost don't believe it."
William hugged Lea tightly. "Lea, calm down! I only love you."
However, which woman could believe William's words at a time like this? Lea released herself from his arms and immediately got out of the car.
"Lea!" William chased after his lover. "Lea, please!"
"Go away, Will!"
She wanted to keep trusting William as she used to because the man was proven to be loyal. It's just that, in the current condition, when William was married to the woman of his parents' choice, can he be trusted? Was he still the man she used to love?
Everything went wrong. Lea's anger made William realize that things would not be as easy as he imagined.
Paula said that if Lea loved him, she would understand and support him. She would accept his current situation. But, it was not as easy as it sounded. Paula was never in love with someone. She didn't know what jealousy was.
***
It was already late when William intended to pick up Paula who was still at his uncle's mansion. He parked his car in the front yard. However, how surprised he was when he found his parents' car parked there.
William gulped. Why didn't anyone tell him that his parents were also attending the gathering?
"Wow! Speaking of the devil, the one we've been waiting for has finally arrived!" Samuel's voice sounded cruel and made William's heart stop beating.
William never expected that Lea's anger wasn't the only thing he had to deal with today.