One rainy afternoon, when Ethan and his friends were having their favorite coffee, he saw his Dad with a beautiful woman his Dad's age. It was vivid in his mind that his Dad looked uncomfortable, but he introduced the woman anyway; her name was Leila. He didn't give it much thought, but he saw them not once or twice but several times. He noticed his Dad cared so much for the woman, which was supposed to be only meant for his mother, Maurine.

He began to spy on his Dad until he saw Leila was with a girl. She was beautiful; he felt calm as he stared at her from a distance. She became Ethan's motivation to follow his Dad, only to see the girl who became his crush. He never had the nerve to ask his Dad about the girl as he might suspect he was spying on him.

It went on for almost 3 years until he decided to ask his Dad about the woman, but his Dad only gave him vague answers like they used to be business partners and grew up together. Ethan didn't dare to ask about the girl even once, but his curiosity got the best of him, and he decided to inquire about the woman from his Dad's assistant, Tom. He hoped to get more info from Tom, leading to the girl's whereabouts. But what he got was unexpected and turned his world apart.

Tom was careless and told Ethan that Leila was his Dad's ex-girlfriend. She was the woman his Dad wanted to marry, but her family disapproved of him as their company was on the brink of bankruptcy then. It was like he was hit by tons of volts. Ethan summarized everything he saw and concluded that Leila was his Dad's mistress. The evidence was solid. Why would his Dad choose to be with another woman frequently when his mom was on the hospital bed and fighting for her life. Her mom was in a coma all along, helpless from all of his Dad's infidelity.

From that day, Ethan lost his respect for his Dad and never looked at him the same way. It broke his heart to know that the man he idolized from childhood was never the same. A few days after learning about his Dad's relationship with Leila, her mom died, leaving him hopeless.

"Ethan?" Bruce called out his son for the third time. His voice cut off Ethan's reverie. "Why are you not eating? Do you want the maid to cook your favorite?"

Ethan froze, looking at his Dad in disdain. It was vivid in his mind how his Dad cheated on his mom. "I'm fine," he said before turning to Lily. Her sight was glued to her plate. Ethan frowned, seeing Lily's face just like her innocent-looking mother. "They both can deceive people easily." He gritted his teeth out of frustration. He hated himself for fantasizing about Lily for years.

He looked at the food on the table but lost his appetite, sharing the table with people who betrayed his trust. While Lily did nothing intentional to him, she is the daughter of his Dad's mistress, which automatically made him hate her. He knew it was unfair to Lily, but he couldn't betray his mom. All of his mom's enemies are his enemies, too.

Feeling the weight of Ethan's hostility, Lily kept her gaze fixed on her plate, attempting to shield herself from his negativity. She could almost hear the unspoken words lingering in the air, a battle of willpower that threatened to disrupt the act of civility.

Sensing the unspoken currents between his son and Lily, Bruce attempted to bridge the gap with light conversation. "Lily, how are you adjusting to life here?"

Lily managed a polite smile, her eyes briefly meeting Ethan's before returning to her plate. "It's different, Uncle Bruce, but I appreciate the opportunity to be here. This place is way better than being with Vanessa and Maddy."

"Uncle Bruce?" Ethan rolled his eyes at the thought of it. "She was so comfortable calling Dad her Uncle. What else does this girl know about her mom's secret affair?" Thinking about it disgusts Ethan.

"Lily, I apologize for not coming to help you sooner. I couldn't imagine the agony you went through while with your stepmother and your stepsister. I recently heard all of it and am guilty of not helping."

"Don't be," Lily said sincerely. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Uncle Bruce. I know you're a busy man with many companies and employees to take care of. I am not one of your responsibilities."

"No. You are my close friend's daughter. How could I leave you in your darkest times?"

"You were there when mom died. It was enough," Lily assured.

A flicker of sadness flashed in Bruce's eyes at the mention of Leila's death. Ethan saw it all and was disgusted by his Dad's blatant show of affection to Leila even when she already died.

"It was a different story. If I had stepped in when Vanessa and Maddy lived with you on the same roof, you wouldn't have to suffer in their hands."

"Don't worry, Uncle Bruce, it made me stronger. I have decided to leave it all in the past and move on with my life."

"Has this girl been abused?" Ethan wondered. Even if he hated the girl in front of him, he didn't approve of any violence and abuse. Whenever he sees someone getting bullied, he stands up as he knows he has the power to do so.

"I like that spirit, Lily," Bruce praised. "You really are your mother's daughter." Bruce knew how much Leila had endured during her marriage with Anthony. From the very start, Anthony isn't a good husband to Leila, which only brings more problems, including the downfall of their merging group of companies.

Lily and Bruce's conversation continued, and they circled about Leila. Uninterested in the talk exchange between his Dad and Lily, Ethan pushed his plate away, the clink of cutlery against china punctuating the strained silence. Bruce, attempting to diffuse the mounting tension, offered a reassuring smile.

Bruce, keen on dispelling the uneasy atmosphere, shifted the conversation towards business, a subject Lily seemed familiar with. As Lily's eyes brightened with enthusiasm, Bruce inquired, "Your mother was quite the businesswoman. What did she teach you about running a company?"

Lily's face softened at the mention of her mother, and a genuine smile played on her lips. "Mom always said that a leader should be a guide, not a dictator. She emphasized leading by example, taking responsibility, and making decisions that benefit everyone. It's not just about managing a business; it's about taking charge of your life."

Bruce nodded in approval, appreciating the wisdom embedded in Leila's teachings. "Those are valuable lessons. Your mother was a remarkable woman."

Though absorbed in his disdain for Lily, Ethan couldn't help but be drawn to her articulate response. Despite his silent resentment, her understanding of business impressed him. He observed her from across the table, his cold gaze offering no hint of the conflict within.

The conversation between Bruce and Lily continued, exploring various facets of business philosophy. Lily's insights reflected her mother's teachings and her genuine passion for the subject. As the dialogue unfolded, each time Lily's eyes met Ethan's, his cold stare persisted, a testament to the lingering animosity that refused to be concealed.

Unable to contain his disdain, Ethan finally spoke with a cold detachment. "Why did you bring her here, Dad? This is our home, not a charity for strangers."

Bruce maintained his composure, addressing Ethan calmly. "Lily is not a stranger, and she needed our help. We have more than enough to share."

"Uncle Bruce, it's okay," Lily said softly. " If you want, I can leave now and stay in my room so you two can talk."

"Stop acting like the victim, you poor girl," Ethan burst. "Do you think I wouldn't notice? If you can fool Dad, not me."

"Ethan, no," Lily asserted. "It's not like that. I don't want to be the cause of your argument with your Dad."

"Well, we already did if it's not obvious to you. You've caused a ruckus in this home."

"Ethan, how many times do I have to tell you..." Bruce paused as he looked at Lily.

Lily noticed there was more to it that Bruce wouldn't let her know, but she didn't dare to ask.

"Tell me what?" Ethan thundered.

"It seems like you have no appetite to have dinner. Go to your room," Bruce commanded. Bruce's sudden change in demeanor troubled Lily. She felt like Bruce knew why Ethan hated her so much.

Ethan didn't want to hear his Dad twice as he stood fast and left the dining room. Lily and Bruce were left alone, not mentioning the argument earlier like it didn't happen. Lily asked to go to her room first, and Bruce nodded before she left.

Lily's surprise at finding Ethan at her door was palpable. She was observing if Ethan would open up about the argument at the dining table.

Ethan's voice edged with irritation, cut through the air. "I don't want you here, Lily. Stay out of my way. I don't want to see you whenever I'm around."

Lily gripped the doorknob as she listened to Ethan's straightforward words. His frankness took her aback, and she couldn't hide the flicker of confusion in her eyes.

As Ethan started to turn away, Lily couldn't contain the nagging curiosity that fueled her question. "But why? We've never met before. Why do you hate me?"

Ethan halted, his back rigid. Slowly, he pivoted to face her, his eyes burning with an anger that seemed to come from a place Lily couldn't fathom. He grabbed Lily's arm. "You and your mom, you've caused me more pain than you can imagine."

Ethan was so close to Lily that he noticed how soothing her face was. Her skin felt soft and warm under his touch, and he almost gave in while looking at her innocent brown eyes. Lily felt the pain under Ethan's grip in her arm, but she endured it.

"Me and my mother?" Lily said in confusion. "But how? Ethan, please tell me how my mom and I wronged you so I can fix this problem," she begged.

Ethan scoffed. "You're good at acting. With that pretty face, you can be an actress if you dare to," he said mockingly.

Disappointment crossed Lily's face. Ethan wasn't taking her seriously. "Ethan, I don't want tension between us, as your Dad has been kind to me. I want to be at least civil with you if you can't accept me as your friend," Lily said hesitantly.

"You're right. We can never be friends," Ethan said nonchalantly, but he felt a pang of pain in his chest. He wished he had never seen Lily before so he wouldn't have to deal with the pain of erasing her from his memory.

Lily stood there, confused, as Ethan walked away, leaving her to grapple with the enigma of his words. How could her mother and her, who had just arrived at the Grant mansion, be the source of his pain? The unanswered question hung in the air, shrouded in the mystery of the past, a past that seemed to have woven an intricate web of conflict between them.