+15 BONOS Tatiana stuttered, âYâYes!â
âIâll go to your performance with Ms. Alyssa.â Sean beamed at Tatiana like a big brother. He was close to Alyssa and Tatiana because he watched them grow up.
He even recalled how the young Tatiana, around six or seven years old, always followed Alyssa around with snot on her face, sucking on a lollipop.
Alyssa did not notice the blush on Tatianaâs cheeks because the latter was easily embarrassed.
Little did she know that Tatiana had a crush on Sean for seven years.
âLetâs go. Iâm famished. Iâve been missing Lylaâs cooking for days! Time to eat!â She held Tatianaâs hand and traversed the villa.
âMomâs still in the kitchen. Dinner is not ready yet because youâre back early.â Tatiana swung Alyssaâs arm, just like she had done since she was young.
âOh! Iâm hungry, though.â Alyssaâs stomach was growling from hunger.
âHow about some snacks?â Sean smiled and unwrapped a chocolate bar he fished from his jacket pocket. Then, he attentively fed it to her.
She turned around and took a bite, as usual, without thinking.
Tatiana felt bitter at their intimacy. From a young age, she was aware that Sean had been crushing on Alyssa.
Sean even gave up the opportunity to take over his fatherâs law firm and the chance to be a prosecutor like Silas. Heâd rather give up on career progression for a secretary role to stay by Alyssa.
Tatiana knew that Sean would never look at her.
The family was in high spirits at night because of Alyssaâs successful divorce and Tatianaâs visit from Solana City. The villa was filled with merriment.
The maids were beaming, for they had not seen the siblings having fun with each other for a long time.
The reunion would have been perfect had Miley joined themâitâd be nice to see the three sisters +15 BONOS Shields, as he was busy with his presidential campaign.
Lyla and the maids laid the feast. The dishes looked and smelled appetizing. Too bad Alyssa was unable to dig in right away as Winston had gathered everyone in the living room for a lastâminute family meeting Jonah, Silas, Tatiana, Colene, and Lyla were in the living room. Winston was seated in the middle of the couch with a stern and unforgiving look, typical of the leader of the Taylor Group.
âDad, canât we talk after the meal? Weâre hungry.â Alyssa swallowed hard as she savored the smells that wafted from the dining hall.
âHow could you think about eating after what youâve done?â Winston smirked.
âWhat? The divorce is good news! I should celebrate it with a feast!â Alyssa smiled brightly. The other family members did not respond. Only Tatiana, who was kept in the dark, widened her eyes in shock and inhaled sharply +
She was taken aback by the news about Alyssaâs marriage and recent divorce. Alyssa had always been pragmatic and businesslike. Did she opt to marry for love? That was very unlike Alyssa, who was never blinded by love.
âYou left home for three years only to marry a random man. In the end, you lost your marriage and did not get a single cent from the divorce! Plus, that jerk from the Beckett family is set to marry a new wife right away.
âI canât tolerate their treatment of my daughter. How could you allow them to bully you? You should have bankrupted them before coming home.â
Winston had lost sleep out of anger. The more he thought over the divorce, the more he fumed. If he could, he would travel to the office of the Beckett Group in Solana City and slap Jasper Beckett in the face!
âWinston, is there any way we can let this go?â She sighed, suddenly losing her appetite. âThe Beckett Group has expanded under Grandpaâs leadership. I canât possibly ruin his legacy. Your daughter is not a heartless woman.â
âIâd rather you be a heartless woman! You are my proud and heartless daughter. Iâd rather clean up after your mess than see you bullied for three years by another family!â Winston bellowed, his veins popping and his eyes turning red.
+15 BONOS His outburst came as a shock to everyone. Jonah looked at his feet with pursed lips while Silas shot a worried look at Alyssa.
Alyssa lowered her gaze. Her lashes were fluttering as she fought back tears.
She knew how much Winston doted on her. That was precisely why she had kept her marriage to Jasper a secret from Winston. However, her plan seemed to have backfired.
âMandy, I heard from the Becketts that you met with Lyse. Did you know about her marriage with that Beckett guy all along?â Winston directed his charged question at Mandy.
âYes, I did.â Mandy stared at the ground and answered honestly.