"Don't speak on my mother." Lihua let out a shrill cry as if her heart had been sliced open.
He was the reason why her mother died. How dare he target her mother!
Suddenly the door was pushed open and a guileful looking girl rushed over to help Xia Tianlin who was still clutching his wrist in pain.
Hearing all the commotion Li Yan had hurried over to her father's study. "Dad! Are you alright?" The panic was evident in her eyes as her hands flew to cover her mouth.
Li Hua grimaced as she saw the newcomer from her peripheral vision.
Liyan's eyes fell on Lihua, making her almost jump from shock. "What is she doing here?"
"Didn't grandpa tell you that he has invited me for dinner?" Lihua said, side-eyeing her step-siter.
Liyan's lips distorted into a sinister mien. Her grandfather considered her as an illegitimate daughter who had ruined his son's perfect marriage with Lihua's mother. Liyan's existence was like a thorn pricking his skin. She had tried everything to impress elder Xia, but she couldn't change his outlook on her.
Naturally she was excluded from family affairs and grandfather Xia didn't let her know about most of his arrangements.
Gritting her teeth she harshly spat out, "No, you are lying."
"Of course he didn't say it you. After all you aren't one of grandpa's favorites." Lihua shrugged with a lazy expression and provocative tone.
Xia Liyan knew that Lihua was clearly mocking her because grandfather Xia didn't favor her. Her face turned green when she saw Lihua's nonchalant facade. Unable to accept the candor, she asked Xia Tianlin, "Father is it true that grandpa invited her for dinner?"
"Yes, but I'll make sure that she is driven out of the house before she can even touch the food!" Xia Tianlin was so angry that he wanted to hit Lihua. He didn't say anything about her advent to Xia Liyan or anyone else on purpose because he knew that they would be perturbed by her attendance.
"Why did grandfather invite her over for dinner? She committed crimes like embezzlement and brought shame on the Xia family's name because of her scandalous act." Li Yan walked over and jabbed Li Hua in her ribs. You should have been kicked out of the family long ago."
"This is so funny to me." Lihua broke into a fit of laughter. Holding her stomach she continued, "You know it better than me how much of truth is in your words."
"Don't spout nonsense! The evidence was conclusive and irrefutable."
Li Hua stared straight at Li Yan.
Conclusive evidence?
Embezzling company's money was an act done by her father, Xia Tianlin.
'Scandalous act'? Wasn't she framed by Li Yan and Meng Rui? It was a joint work done by her step-sister and cousin.
Li Yan trembled under the intensity of Li Hua's stare. The bone-chilling coldness of her eyes was so prominent that she wanted to turn her face away from her.
"I'm not here to waste my time. Xia Tianlin give me my room keys." Li Hua demanded, putting her hand forward and curling her fingers in a hasty motion.
"You don't even bother to call me father anymore. How can you be so vulgar? Get out of this house!" Anger made Xia Tianlin's neck turn red and veins began to emerge from his forehead.
This unfilial daughter!
Li Yan gained some confidence after hearing her father's furious remarks. This foolish thing not only caused her father to become even more infuriated but was also looking for trouble. She held her nose up and jutted out her chin at Lihua. "Father you should just send her to the prison."
"Heh, you want me to go to the prison?" Lihua's voice dropped dangerously low.
"We should have sent you to the prison long ago! We took pity on you because we are a family." Li Yan clenched her teeth looking like she was the one who was wronged.
Li Hua couldn't stand Li Yan acting all innocent. "Pa!"