Chapter 228 - Ghost From The Past
Chapter 228 - Ghost From The Past
Jean didn't say anything more, but his hands continued to caress her hand to calm her down. From Lilia's attitude, Jean knew that the woman that got arrested was someone important to his wife. He wouldn't let anyone interfere with their relationship!
Meanwhile, Lilia went back to thinking about what Mellie said before she was arrested. Her gaze automatically turned to Andrew who was sitting beside her. The Austin Family and the Irwan Family were great friends, so the man should have recognized Mellie if they met.
"Brother Andrew, does the Irwan family have anyone...?"
Unfortunately, Lilia's question was interrupted by Leonard's appearance. Andrew immediately jumped up from his chair and approached the man, "How about it, Leonard? Do you need anything?" He asked worriedly.
Leonard walked up to them and hit Andrew on the back, "You are easily worried! It so happened that the victim in this incident was willing to withdraw his report, so that the woman and her men could be released." Leonard said.
Andrew laughed with relief when he heard that, "Thank you, Leo. I know you can always be counted on!" He praised him.
Even though Andrew said that, he didn't really believe Leonard's words. He knew this classmate very well, so he couldn't believe that the victim in this case suddenly retracted his report. Andrew believed that Leonard did something that made the victim change his mind.
At that time, Leonard stole several glances at Lilia. Every time their gazes met, Leonard's eyes always flashed with interest. But that man didn't say anything to Lilia.
"You don't need to thank me." Leonard said to Andrew, "The victim in this case reported to the police because he was scared to death of the debt collectors. After he calmed down, he canceled the report. I hardly did anything." Leonard replied.
Andrew nodded, "Fine, but it doesn't change the fact that you help me. If you have free time, I'll treat you to a drink!"
As the two of them were talking, a police officer came out of the interrogation room. He carried Mellie and his subordinates behind him. They all looked like ducklings trailing behind their mother.
Leonard turned around and his gaze fell on Mellie's figure. The man's eyes turned cold. Finally, he found the 'stray cat' he had been looking for! That night, Mellie managed to escape from him, but it turned out that they were destined to meet again. If Leonard hadn't visited the interrogation room earlier, he wouldn't have known Mellie was here.
The inspector walked over to Mellie, who immediately stopped walking and gave her a worried look. Leonard put on a worried face as he asked politely, "Is everything alright?"
Andrew followed Leonard's gaze and saw Mellie's figure. In an instant, the man's eyes widened. Andrew opened and closed his mouth several times, but no words came out.
After a while, then Andrew said in a choked voice, "... Mellisa?"
Both Lilia and Jean turned towards Andrew in surprise. They didn't know why Andrew looked so shaken. The suspicion in Lilia's heart turned into a conviction. So Mellie was indeed a member of the Irwan Family!
But Andrew's next words took everyone even more by surprise.
"Aren't you dead ...?"
Five years ago, the Irwan Family lost their daughter. Everyone in the Irwan Family and Austin Family knew about that fact.
But no one thought that Mellisa was still alive today. Even Andrew, who met the woman here in person, had a hard time believing it. He was sure that Mellisa had really lost her life five years ago.
Even so, the face of this woman in front of him was very similar to Mellisa that he remembered. It was true that these women looked bolder and wilder, but overall, they looked the same.
Another thing that also surprised Andrew was the resemblance of Mellie's face to Lilia. The two of them looked so alike that the man would believe they were twins. He wondered if Mellisa had always looked like Lilia, or if that woman had deliberately changed her appearance.
Naturally, Andrew questioned his memory, because Mellisa's death made his memories of her blurry. In addition, Lilia and Mellisa's characters were a stark contrast, like two different rivers that flowed side by side but never met. Lilia was a calm and elegant woman, while Mellisa grew up to be a tomboy and freedom-loving woman. No wonder Andrew didn't notice their resemblance until now.
Lilia gave Andrew a quick glance before advancing towards Mellie. She felt that their current place was not appropriate to discuss their complex past. The model took Mellie's hand and said softly, "Let's go. We can discuss this matter elsewhere."
Mellie nodded and followed Lilia without protesting. She looked very submissive in front of Lilia, in contrast to her usual wild demeanor. But when Mellie walked past Leonard, the woman deliberately lowered her head and accelerated her steps.
Mellie's attitude made Leonard smile coldly. So now that woman was trying to avoid him? Did she not remember how their burning passion collided that night?
*****
As they left the police station, Lilia had Clifford escort Mellie's men back to their base. Meanwhile, Lilia, Mellie, and Jean rode in Andrew's car.
In the car, the Austin Family's eldest son gripped the steering wheel and glanced at Mellie in the rearview mirror. The woman sat in the back seat with Lilia, but she refused to look at Andrew at all.
Andrew began to say, "Mellisa, how can you ...?"
The man's voice faded as he struggled to find the right words, 'How can you still be alive?' Sounded like a sentence a petty criminal would say. Andrew was still thinking about his words when Mellie opened her mouth.
"Mellisa Irwan is dead." She said in a cold voice, "Just call me Mellie."
That was the first thing Mellie had said to Andrew since they met earlier. Andrew was visibly hurt by Mellie's cold attitude towards him. But he could only sigh and stop talking to her.
Andrew turned to Jean who was sitting in the passenger seat, "I have an empty apartment nearby. Shall we talk over there?" He suggested.
Jean nodded, "Why not?"
*****
The apartment that Andrew mentioned was located on the same road as the Lilia and Jean hotels. It was one of the most classy apartments in Jakarta, with a strategic location and guaranteed security.
Andrew and the three others entered the apartment where the man lived when he was still single. The whole apartment looked plain as the paint was dominated by monochrome colors like black and white. It was obvious that Andrew didn't care about the design at all.
Lilia looked around with curious eyes. Even though Andrew didn't live here anymore, the apartment's service always cleaned this place regularly. The marble floors looked clean and smooth, and there was not even a speck of dust covering the display of photos on the shelves.
Andrew threw himself onto one of the couches in the living room, followed by the other three. The man took out a cigarette before offering his cigarette box to Jean. Without saying a word, the two men started smoking a cigarette to help them stay calm.
The landlord folded his legs and looked straight at Mellie. He exhaled his cigarette smoke before saying, "Mellisa, tell me what's going on."
Lilia took turns looking at Mellie and Andrew. The woman refused to return Andrew's gaze, as if running away from something, "Brother Andrew, do you know Mellie?" Lilia asked.
Andrew smoked his cigarette and exhaled again.. Then he replied, "She is Mellisa Irwan, the oldest daughter of the Irwan family who died in a car accident on Jakarta's toll road five years ago."