"You said Sandra was exaggerating? Look, the CCTV speaks for itself! Oh God, so this whole time you've been treating her this badly?" Thalia slapped her son across the face as the footage showed Lukas getting cozy with Kayla.
"Have you done something with Kayla too? There better not be some pregnancy drama! I'll kick you out, and I won't forgive you! I refuse to have a grandchild born from something so disgraceful!"
"You think I'm that kind of man?" Lukas clenched his jaw in anger at the accusation.
"What kind of good man gets all touchy with another woman inside the house, while he already has a wife?"
"Who's really at fault here? You knew Kayla and I had been planning to get married since college! Why did you go out of your way to marry me off to Sandra?"
"You know exactly why. If your father had died when you were still incapable of standing on your own, do you think we'd be where we are now? We might have gone bankrupt and lost everything! Even though Sandra's father was just a gardener and her mother was our maid, their help was enormous! This marriage was fair repayment!" Thalia shed tears as she said it.
"Divorce Sandra if you want—do it right now. But your father insists: return all the privileges. Start from zero, just like he said." Emilio's words were calm but icy cold. He looked deeply disappointed in his son.
"You're choosing that beggar over Lukas? My grandson deserves Kayla! She's his real match!"
Their heated conversation escalated with the arrival of Lukas's grandmother. Maria, the elderly woman with a cane, spoke sharply in defense of her beloved grandson.
After a long stay in Singapore, she had finally returned to attend the launch of the company's new product.
"Stay out of this, Mother." Emilio warned her sternly. "You'd better go back to Singapore," he added coldly.
"You dare talk to your own mother like that? You're kicking me out?"
"If you're going to rebel, take Lukas with you. Go earn your own money and don't ask a single penny from me."
"Oh dear…" Maria clutched her chest in dramatic fashion—her signature move to gain sympathy. Sadly for her, though Lukas and Thalia were fooled, Emilio wasn't buying it.
"Cut the act, Mother. Just go back to Singapore." Emilio glared threateningly at his mother. He knew her too well. Even in the past, she hadn't approved of Thalia.
"Never forget the debt we owe. Without Sandra and her family, I'd be dead and buried. None of you would be in this position!" he said, pulling Thalia away with him.
"Who are your real children?" Lukas grumbled in frustration. It was always Sandra who got their sympathy.
"Don't worry, Grandma will help you get rid of that woman. I can't stand seeing you with her either!" Maria patted his shoulder, embracing Lukas as he sulked under the weight of his parents' words.
"Grandma will stay here for a month. And in that month, I promise Sandra will be gone!"
Lukas could only surrender. He wasn't so sure his grandmother could do it. The Sandra now was cunning and clever. Something had changed her completely in such a short time.
*****
"I'm sorry on Lukas's behalf, okay?" Thalia hugged Sandra, who was still pretending to be a helpless and fragile woman.
"Why didn't you tell Mama that Lukas was treating you badly?" Thalia asked gently and lovingly.
"It's okay, Mom." Sandra gave her a sad smile. "I didn't want to trouble you. I know my place."
Inside, Sandra was cheering in triumph. Lukas had probably been scolded to death by his parents. Serves him right for being so arrogant!
"Don't belittle yourself! You're also an heir and you have every right to what we own," Emilio added. "I saw your bank balance dropped. Did you go shopping?"
"Are you mad, Papa? I'm sorry if I overstepped..."
"Use this card." Emilio handed her a new credit card. "There's no limit on it. Shop, pamper yourself, enjoy your hobbies. Have fun. Don't let yourself fall apart again."
"Thank you, Papa, Mama!" she said weakly, her voice feigning fragility. Deep down, Sandra was thrilled. To hell with Lukas and love—what mattered now was that she wouldn't live in lack anymore!
"I'm proud of the change in you!" Emilio patted the top of her head briefly. "I'm proud because now you're socializing. You're no longer quiet and closed off."
"That's right! I'm proud too! You were so beautiful tonight!" Thalia praised her, also patting her head lovingly like a mother to her daughter.
"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you before."
"Everyone goes through a process." Thalia hugged her.
Ahem! The sound of Maria and Lukas arriving made everyone turn.
Sandra glared at them. Judging by her body language, the old lady standing beside Lukas didn't like her. She was definitely going to be a loud, nagging witch.
"Why are you here?"
"I missed my grandson, and I'm going to stay here for a month."
"Just go home and don't stir up trouble!"
"What could I possibly do? I just want to be near my grandson! I won't be around much longer, so don't stop me!" Maria rambled. This time, Emilio seemed a bit moved when she mentioned her death. Deep down, the idea that it might be true scared him.
"One month, no more. And don't cause any trouble!" Emilio warned.
"Sandra, if Grandma bothers you, call Papa or Mama immediately," he continued. "And you, Lukas—don't repeat your mistake. Papa won't tolerate it again."
After that final warning, Emilio and his wife left. Meanwhile, Maria approached Sandra and looked her up and down repeatedly.
"You've never met me before, have you? How rude! Come carry my bag!" she ordered harshly. "Massage me, then make me food! I'm hungry!"
"Sure!" Sandra replied with a sweet smile. But instead of obeying, she crossed her arms and shouted for the maids.
"Miss, please bring Grandma's bag to her room. You, massage her. And you, prepare her favorite food. Make sure everything's perfect! Serve her well!" she ordered once the staff arrived.
"I want you to do it!" Maria snapped.
"Dearest Grandma, I'm tired and not feeling well. Papa and Mama told me to rest. Should I call them to get permission?" she cooed sweetly, then ran off to her room without waiting for a response.
"You dare defy me? You disrespectful child!" Maria yelled.
"Grandma, please don't! Just go home…"
"I'm staying! She must've treated you badly too, right? I'll help you get rid of that woman!"
"Thank you, Grandma, for always defending me. Without you, I'd be alone. Papa and Mama always threaten me!" Lukas hugged his grandmother, whining like a child.
"My poor grandson! That woman needs a good lesson!"
Sandra, peeking through her room door, narrowed her eyes. Lukas was such a coward! Hiding behind his grandma like a baby! Cruel before, but now couldn't face her alone!
Now things were definitely going to get tougher. That old woman was sure to go all out to drive her away.
"The new Sandra won't lose to such obstacles. Just watch!" she muttered.
"Looks like I'll have to make that old hag bow to me too. Wouldn't it be better if she was on my side? But how?" Sandra pondered her next move.
She'd only been daydreaming for a moment when the door she was leaning against suddenly opened, nearly making her fall. Fortunately, Lukas caught her in time, wrapping his arm tightly around her waist.
"Were you eavesdropping?"
"No!"
"Caught red-handed and still denying it!" Lukas lifted her and tossed her onto the sofa.
"What are you doing here?"
"Didn't you see the CCTV outside your room? Papa and Mama are watching. They told me not to sleep in a different room!"
Sandra walked to the door to check. And sure enough—there was a CCTV camera that hadn't been there before.
"So I have to share a room with you?" she glared.
"Don't you realize this is all because of you?" Lukas pointed at her face.
"You're the annoying one!"
"No, you are! All day you've been acting and tattling to my parents like you're the one who's suffering! Drama queen!"
Sandra giggled at his words. Lukas had no idea how much he had hurt the real Sandra. If only he knew she killed herself because of him—what would he say? Bastard!
"It really was painful. You just now realize that?" Sandra said quietly. "If I killed myself because of your actions, you'd be the main suspect. The one responsible."
"We both know why we were arranged. You made me lose the love of my life!"
"And you and your family made me lose my father." Sandra's reply rendered Lukas completely speechless.