Mrs. Richardson's face went ugly.The young man just stole her son's limelight.He stole her son's painting!Just when everyone thought the painting would be theirs, this unknown young man just snatched it!
"Who is that young man?", she asked in annoyance.
Henry stared at the young man below them.He could only see his back.He also doesn't know him.
"I don't know.", he replied.
When the auction ended, the others began to leave but Lia and Xavier went to process the payment.The painting is quite large to be inside their car so Xavier decided the painting to be delivered tomorrow to their penthouse.
Lia walked out of the museum with Xavier.They entered their car and Xavier started the car.
"You really don't have to buy that painting."
"You don't like it?", he asked her while looking at the road.
"I like it.I just feel like it's too expensive."
Although, she liked the painting.$88M is just too much.The amount is too astronomical.She felt like it was not worth it.She can already survive for years without working with that money.She also couldn't believe he just spent it like that.Is he really that rich?
"Don't worry.Your husband's not broke.", he joked.
Lia felt helpless and said, "This is not the time to joke around.I really mean it.$88M is just too huge."
"But I like it.If you don't like it.I'll throw it then."
Lia looked at him in disbelief.That's $88M portrait!He'll just throw it away?!
"You don't get it Lia.I love the painting.I know you want that painting too."
Lia was silent.She sighed and looked at him.
"Thank you.", she said sincerely with a flushed face.She really appreciates it.Although, the painting is too expensive, she really loves the painting.She looks happy in that portrait too and looks pampered.It's just sad she can't remember anything about her childhood.
Xavier felt delighted hearing her 'thank you'.Her thank you just feels so right that he feels like his day is complete.He couldn't help but to smile while looking at the road.
The next day, Eloise was absent at school and was staying at their house.When her father arrived at home, she immediately stood up from the couch and went towards her father.
"Dad!How is mom?"
Here father haggardly sighed.
"I couldn't bail her out.It was an attempted murder.", Mr. Williamson said and sat on the couch.His whole body felt heavy and his under eyes are dark.He rarely got a nice sleep these past few days.He felt extremely tired.
He looked at his daughter who was left standing in silence while still looking at him.Perhaps she was in disbelief.
"Tell me, Eloise.Why did your mother do that?Why would she attempt to murder Lia?Is it because she couldn't take it anymore when your reputation was destroyed?Do you know anything about this?", he asked in suspicion.
Eloise was stunned and felt nervous.She immediately shook her head to deny.She indeed knew about her mother's revenge but she didn't know what kind of revenge.She just let her mother do.It's just that yesterday her mother was suddenly taken by the police with an arrest warrant of attempted murder.
Mr. Williamson didn't ask his daughter anymore when saw his daughter's reaction.He felt depressed.
Days have passed.Lia didn't appear at any court appearances except for subpoena and sentencing.Her Aunt Selene also helped the case.In the end, Lia won the case.Sarah was imprisoned for lifetime.She was also compensated in terms of physical and psychological injuries.
"What?!For lifetime?!", Sarah angrily yelled at the sentencing hearing.She felt shocked and couldn't accept the fact.
'Lia was just being physically abused and attempted to be murdered.Isn't being imprisoned for a lifetime too much?!'
The next day, Lia and Xavier got out of the car which Alaric is the driver.Naftali rolled down the window in the passenger seat and looked at Xavier with a childish upset look.
"I'm trusting my sister to you.You better give her lots of delicious snacks.", Naftali said.
"Don't worry.", Xavier said with a stoic face.
Naftali harrumphed and made the car window up.The car finally left.Lia looked at the restaurant in front of them.This restaurant is famous to the wealthy people.Williamson family often eat here for business meetings.Eloise could go here often but she was not included.It was her first time here.The people greet the two of them.Lia just followed Xavier until they reached the second floor and enter a specific room.
The Western man inside immediately stood up and smiled respectfully when he saw Xavier and Lia.He bowed to Lia and Xavier.
"Your Highness.Young Master.", he greeted after bowing and led them to the table.The table was filled with foods.
"Bill.", Xavier greeted him back.
"Your Highness really looks like the Queen.I'm really honored to eat at the same table of the Princess."
Lia just respectfully smiled a little as a respect to elders.She was still not used to smiling.She is still learning.
Xavier prepared food on Lia's plate.
"Eat.", he said.
Lia began to eat silently and the two people began to talk.
"Young Master.We have won at the auction and already have 5.6 billion years old newly discovered stone you asked for.Our scientists lately discovered that the stone has extreme hardness and durability especially it's piezoelectric properties.It is extremely good for creating guns.The stone possesses piezoelectric properties, allowing it to generate an electrical spark for ignition without the need for flint and steel.Last night, Old master Casimiere ordered men to find the person who discovered the stone."
"Grandpa really ordered?That's unusual.We still haven't successfully made a gun with that stone."
"It is said you can successfully create a gun with that stone at 90% rate.Your father, your uncle and wants you to come back to make a decision with that stone but the old master said you cannot come back unless you give him a grandchild.He also asks you to create a blueprint of your desired weapon."
Xavier was speechless and looked at Lia who's silently looking at him in awe.Lia just feels like Xavier is too awesome because he can create a gun blueprint.She also couldn't help but to ask deep inside, who is Xavier?But she doesn't want to question him.She values his privacy.She also values people's privacy.It was her personality.Up until now she doesn't question her brother about her parents.Her parents seems to be busy.But thinking about what his grandfather asked Xavier, Lia felt her blood rushed to her cheeks.She suddenly felt uncomfortable and pretended she have not heard anything.She continued eating silently.
Xavier frowned and continued eating.
"The audacity of him to ask me for a blueprint when he has driven me away from home."
Bill chuckled and sighed."The others still don't know you are here even the distant relatives.Being on a foreign country and is dangerous for you and the Princess.I just hope we can hide your location longer."
"I know.Xue's life is complicated.The Queen and King wants Xue's to finish Xue's current semester here and enjoy her freedom for a few months.She'll be busy in training and handling the Queen's secret mercenary group by then."
At this moment, the Castelli family got out of their car and walked towards the restaurant.
"Husband, why did you rush us here.", Mrs. Castelli asked her husband while walking.
"I'm telling you.You will not regret.I took you and Eiser here because I heard a man from the Atheria Continent named Bill is in this restaurant.", Mr. Castelli excitedly exclaimed.
Mrs. Castelli's eyes went wide and I felt excited.
"Really?!"
Eiser right now was feeling confused.He felt that his mother and father are just being too excited like a child.Atheria Continent?He had never heard of that.
"What is the Atheria Continent?"
"You probably don't know son but there's a rumors of a continent hidden in map where the wealthiest people around the world live.It's name is Atheria.There's no government in that place and not just anyone can enter there.They must have a wide connections and power in able to survive in that place.I heard Mr. Bill is here.Mr. Bill is a man working under the richest family in Atheria.", Mr. Castelli replied.
Eiser was shocked.A place like that exist?!He began to feel excited.Maybe this time, they can surpass the Richardson family if they make a relationship with that man named Bill.
"Let's eat at the opposite room where Mr. Bill is eating.", Mr. Castelli said to his son and wife.
They went to the reception area.
"I want room 15, please.", Mr. Castelli said.
"No!We want room 15!", Mrs. Richardson said and hurriedly walked towards the frost desk.
Everyone looked at Mrs. Richardson and was taken aback.Her husband and son also followed.The face of Castelli family went ugly.The Richardson is actually here for Mr. Bill too and are trying to take the opposite room where Mr. Bill is dining.
Mrs. Castelli smiled respectfully at Richardson.
"Mrs. Richardson, sorry but we arrived here first.", she said.
Mrs. Richardson folded her arms and scoffed.
"So what?I want that room."
Mrs. Castelli's face went ugly.She can't fight Mrs. Richardson at all.She wanted to fight with Mrs. Richardson but the Richardson family is more powerful than them.
The receptionist panicked.She recognized these two families.The families from the upper class!
"I-I'm sorry, Ma'am, Sir but all the rooms on the second floor are fully booked."
The two families were stunned and felt embarrassed.They bickered and fought each other but in the end, the room is unavailable.It was obvious that it was Mr. Bill's doing.Mr. Castelli cleared his throat in embarrassment.
Suddenly, Eiser saw Lia coming out of the restroom.His eyes went wide.
"Lia?", he murmured and immediately walked towards Lia.Henry noticed his rival suddenly walked out and followed Eiser.
Lia was about to go to the second floor when someone grabbed her wrist.She looked at the person who just grabbed her and saw it was Eiser.She felt upset deep inside but she didn't show it.She was just looking at his with dull eyes.
"Lia?What are you doing here? Don't you know the second floor is fully booked?Eloise called me and told me your unknown man made Sarah imprisoned for lifetime.She said the unknown man did it because you said so.Aren't you being too shameless Lia?The Williamson family raised you.Why are you so ungrateful? Isn't lifetime too much?"
Lia's face wrinkled and revealed a slight displeasure.She was angry that she couldn't keep it anymore.She had tolerated Eiser up until now but all this emotions she bottled up boiled.Perhaps because she was it was too unfair and she trusted Eiser before or perhaps her brother and the others made her realized she shouldn't think of her rights as a human are useless.
Ungrateful?The Williamson family never treated her like a living human.She was abused by them.For them her life is worthless.Now that she obtained freedom, she was ungrateful?
She felt it's funny that Eiser is siding with Eloise.What's the point of chasing her when he won't even side with her?He said before that he loves her.This isn't love at all.In the end he was just joking.He doesn't love and he's just after her because of her background.
Henry behind Eiser frowned with what he just heard and stepped in between Lia and Eiser.
Lia saw Henry's tall back covering her sight towards Eiser.The man even held her hand and acted as her shield.Lia's eyes softened and felt relieved.She tried to control her emotions but her forehead is still slightly wrinkled.She's still slightly feeling upset.
Henry angrily glared at Eiser.He felt pain for Lia.He felt regret.If only he rivaled Eiser from the beginning maybe Lia wouldn't be hurt like this.Nothing hurts more than being betrayed by the person you love.
"Why do you have to be like this Eiser?Can't you see she was being physically abused by Sarah Williamson?Don't you pity her?!"
Lia stood beside Henry and looked at Eiser.Eiser frowned and looked at Henry.
"No.You don't understand.Sarah did that because Lia was a thief.Eloise told me that there was a time when Lia stole Sarah's necklace and sold it somewhere.She also pushed Eloise on the stairs three months ago.She had done a lot of bad things!I don't believe Aunt Selene can cover all of Lia's expenses when she was just a nanny.Her husband is gone when she birthed her son and she has to support her son's college all alone."
Lia was stunned.All of it was a lie!She never pushed Eloise!Yanyan's father just died 1 year ago!She also didn't steal a necklace!
"Honestly Lia I was turned off by the truth.That's why I cheated.You are so evil and ungrat--"
"I didn't steal anything!!!!", Lia angrily yelled when she couldn't take it anymore.