Mavis could not believe her ears. She looked and him and asked, "What?"
"Daniel, am I someone you just happened to know?" Mavis was feeling a lot of feelings. Her heart was thumping uncontrollably. She clenched her fists , trying to hold herself together. She had hoped that maybe she heard it wrong.
To her, there was no way Daniel would say that about her.
Daniel was about to say something to Mavis , "Mavis, you..."
Lilian hugged Daniel's arm and interrupted him before he could say anything, "Oh, so she's just someone you know. So Danny , why don't you have a drink with me. It's been so long since we met. I have a lot to say to you."
Daniel hesitated for a moment. And said to her, "How about later. I want to have a word with Mavis. "
Lilian acted pitifully and said to Danny, "But I miss brother Danny so much. I can't wait any longer. I want to talk to you now. Please Danny, you can always talk to her anytime. But it's okay. "
Lilian started tearing up as she continued talking, " She is more beautiful and important than me. "
Daniel replied to her disagreeing, "You know that's not true. You already know no one can be compared to you. Come on, let's go."
He looked at Mavis and said to her, "Let's have a chat later."
He then left with Lilian.
Mavis could not believe what was happening infront of her. She wanted to cry and call out Daniel's name . She wanted to ask him what he meant about what he was just saying right now. She told herself to stay strong. After all , he said they will have a talk later. So there is a chance to ask all the questions she had right.
People around her started whispering. They were whispering high enough for her to hear what they were saying. They were mocking her.
..."Did you see that? Mr Bernard acted like he doesn't know her."...
..."I know right. I heard she was going out with Mr Bernard. But now he just said she is someone that he know. Doesn't that mean she nothing to him. "...
..."Can't you tell that Mr Bernard only kept her close to him because she and Miss Lilian look a lot like each other."...
..."Oh, now that you said that. I think there was a rumor that Mr Bernard had a thing for Miss Martin. I heard when they were together you could feel their love for each other. Then later Miss Martin was sent abroad by her father because he thought it was too early for her to think about love."...
..." Does that mean if they were not separated they would have been together right now?...
..." Seems like it."...
..."Doesn't that make that actress Mavis Williams is nothing but a Substitute? "...
They started laughing at Mavis .
Mavis heard everything they said and she started questioning her relationship with Daniel. She did not want to believe what they were saying. Her? Mavis Williams? A stand in for someone else? But clues were right there infront of her. But she denied them . She believed Daniel would never ever treat her like someone else's replacement. They could tell that Daniel loved her. But does he? She couldn't be sure after seeing how Daniel smiled at Lilian. To top it off, the way she and Lilian looked alike. It was too much to digest. She decided to go home.
She searched for Daniel about the hall and she spotted him and Lilian at the balcony. She went there to tell him she was leaving. She did not want to leave without telling. She did not want him to worry about her not knowing where she is. But would he even think of her when Lilian was around.
She was about to open the balcony door when she over heard Daniel and Lilian's conversation. They were in the middle of a conversation.
Lilian asked Daniel sounding all happy, "....so you're not dating anyone right now?"
Daniel answered her, "No."
"But I heard you're going out with that actress "... she curiosity said to him.
He said , "Don't think too much about it. It's just a passing thing. I'm a man you know. I have my needs ."
Daniel didn't think too much about what he was saying. He didn't want Lilian to get the wrong idea about him and Mavis. To him, all that matters is Lilian's feelings for him. He loved her, so he thought. And he knew Lilian loved him a lot more than Mavis did. To him, Mavis was only with him because he thought Mavis wanted something from him. And he needed a woman by his side. It just so happened that his involvement with Mavis just happened to last long because Mavis was clean and surprisingly interesting in her own way. But that did not mean he would love her. Just liking her was enough.
When they were talking Lilian noticed Mavis at the balcony door and smirked at Mavis.
She hugged Daniel happily and said out loud, "I was a little worried. I thought you had forgotten me. But it seems like you still have me in your heart."
Daniel hugged her back and said, "How could I ever forget you?"
Daniel felt slightly uncomfortable about the hug thinking it was unfamiliar. He told himself it's because he's not used to hugging Lilian. He told himself this feeling will pass because Lilian was the woman he loved.
Tears started flowing down on Mavis's face. She confirmed what was happening, but still held on . She thought maybe there is an explanation. At that moment Dave approached her from behind and held her shoulder .
He said to Mavis, " Why are you crying? I told you to come to me if things don't work out for you."
Mavis looked at him and avoided his gaze. She silently left the party. When she was outside waiting for a cab, she texted Daniel that she'll be waiting for him at the mansion. Her tears were falling uncontrollably. She wanted to stop them but she couldn't. The pain she was feeling in her heart was unbearable. At this moment, she could not have imagined the pain that was coming her way.
Mavis took the cab back to the mansion that she lived with Daniel. She waited for him all night. There was no respond to the massage she sent him.
That night at the party after Mavis left. Lilian asked if Daniel could join her and the guys for a drink. She told him that Dave said it was the best way to catch up with everyone. She gave the excuse saying she did not feel safe driving when he is not around. So she will really appreciate it if he could come. Daniel did not want her drinking while surrounded by the other guys. Friend or not. He was just overly protective. After all , to him , Lilian was the most innocent girl who did not know much about outside world.
At a club. When everyone was catching up. Lilian pouted and started coming to Daniel.
"I don't like living in the hotel. It does not feel like home at all. I don't want to stay at dad's place. The tension between him and mom is too much. I can't handle it."
She continued and asked, "Can I come stay at your place?"
Daniel paused looking at her thinking on how to respond. Lilian didn't give him a chance and begged with puppy eyes.
"Pretty please. I promise I won't make any trouble. "
Daniel could not say no to her. "Okay, but you should talk to your parents about it."
She said to him, "I'm not a child anymore. So they won't mind. "
Daniel said, "You can come live at the western mansion for the time being. I'll do the renovations according to your taste of style at the eastern villa. You can help too.And when it's done, you'll move there."
"Yay!!!!" She celebrated and thought to herself, ("That will be enough time to kick that woman out of my Danny's life.")
After catching up with the guys, they all headed to their places. Daniel decided to take Lilian to the hotel where she was staying. He decided to book a room at the same hotel because he was tired. He had a long day after all.
At the mansion. Mavis waited for him all night until morning. She decided to take a bath and prepare to head out for the photo shoot. When she was done and about to leave the mansion, Daniel walked in holding a suitcase, and there was someone behind him.
Mavis's heart thumbed the moment she saw who it was. Lilian, it was her.
She did not know what to say for a moment , but she mustered the courage and said,...
" I've been waiting for you . Why you did not come back last night. Didn't you say we need to talk?"
Daniel replied to her,... "Oh, I forgot about that. I hope you did not wait too long and slept, right?"
Mavis was disappointed by his words, "What? Did I sleep? Daniel do you know how..."
Lilian cut Mavis's words, " I'm sorry for being rude, but please don't blame Daniel for not coming back last night. It's just that we drank a lot. So Daniel took me back to my hotel. And he was tired himself so he spent the night there. You won't mind right?"
Mavis frowned at Lilian and looked Daniel, "After what happened at the banquet. You spent the night with her? Daniel , tell me , what am I to you? Do you even know how painful it was for me being there alone at the banquet? Surrounded by people I ..."
Daniel shushed Mavis by saying , " Mavis, don't make trouble. I told you that we will talk about it later. I just got here and you are greeting me like that? Know you place Mavis."
"Oh, and Lilian will be staying here for the time being. Treat her well" Daniel said to Mavis.
Daniel was about to take Lilian upstairs when Mavis asked while trembling.....
" W...what's my place, Daniel?"
Mavis raised her voice with tears in her eyes, she asked again....
"WHAT'S MY PLACE , DANIEL?"