[8]

Leonel gritted his teeth. His sharp gaze stared at the increasingly busy road filled with other vehicles. Occasionally, he honked the horn too forcefully, even though it was unnecessary. Morning rush hour traffic was the perfect companion to his workday.

"Dear," the woman beside him called out. Since she got into the car, the gloomy aura of the man she loved was palpable. However, they could still converse casually at the dining table, although Ester repeatedly took deep breaths and clenched her fists in frustration with Chloe's behavior. Since arriving at this house, Ester felt unable to breathe freely.

Feeling no response, Ester called the man, focused on the steering wheel again. "Dear, are you angry?"

Leonel only glanced briefly, smiled, and shook his head.

Ester was taken aback by Leonel's behavior this morning. Throughout her relationship with Leonel, she had never been ignored like this. "What's gotten into you?" Ester couldn't stand it anymore. Her head was filled with emotions, and she deeply regretted her foolish actions of being swayed by Chloe's seduction—that damn woman. Ester would make sure to give her an equally miserable response.

A phone call came in as she was about to reach the apartment. It furrowed her brow in confusion, but then a sarcastic smile appeared on her face. "What is it?" she asked with a dismissive tone. She leaned back casually in the passenger seat, where her assistant occasionally glanced at her with unease.

"There's a family dinner tonight. As my future bride, it seems fitting for you to come here now."

Ester straightened her back in surprise. She had just ended the phone call with Leonel not long ago. He didn't mention anything about dinner. But Leonel always emphasized that if she visited, he should be the one to pick her up.

"I'm not interested," Ester reluctantly replied. Her eyes stared at her red-painted fingernail tips. She almost lost her focus while talking to Chloe. She would be the one to destroy that woman, not the other way around. That would never happen in Ester's life.

"Are you sure? I already told Mama Agatha to invite you, and she agreed."

Chloe's words took Ester aback.

"We'll wait for another thirty minutes. By the way, Leonel wants to have Ayam Taliwang for dinner. You know Leonel's favorite, right?"

Ester's hand clenched tightly by her side. The same happened when her phone returned to the home screen. Her jaw tightened, and her gaze grew even more frustrated. "Rio, turn around. Take me to Mr. Leonel's house."

Rio turned to look back, confused by his employer's request. But as usual, Ester wanted to avoid repeating her orders. She leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes. This made Rio glance at Sofi in surprise.

"Yes, Rio. Head towards Mr. Leonel's house, please."

Rio responded briefly because there wasn't much he could do. "Okay, Miss."

Examining her attire, which she deemed decent enough, tonight's dinner should be fine. After all, she felt she should be in the midst of the Grisham family. Her impending marriage was starting to become visible. Besides, Leonel had already started taking care of his divorce. The fool was no longer her. That woman realized her position was merely a decoration there.

And her?

The woman who rightfully belonged by Leonel Grisham Djaya's side. Thinking about it made the anger that had consumed her earlier dissipate. It was replaced by a tiny spark of determination to correct her appearance. "Am I ready, Sof?" Ester asked after finishing inspecting her hair. She thinned out the somewhat heavy makeup and made it as natural as possible. Sofi initially wanted to help, but it seemed her employer needed to allow it.

"When is Miss Ester not beautiful," Sofi sincerely praised. What she said was true. Ester and her makeup and appearance never failed to impress those around her. Ester had received compliments too often. She only made sure to present herself well. There was nothing she couldn't conquer. Even after five years, were Leonel's parents still unaware that their love was real?

It didn't take long for their car to arrive at the golden and dark towering gated house, which looked luxurious outside. Ester was prepared with her handbag and asked Sofi to bring a change of clothes later because she decided to stay here. Once the invitation arrived, Ester would never waste it. On the contrary, she would make the most of it. If necessary, Ester would quickly remove Chloe from there. She could solve the problem with Leonel's parents later.

Her steps swayed perfectly. Several servants welcomed her, saying little other than escorting the newly arrived guest to the dining room, where the homeowner awaited the guest's arrival.

With Ester's arrival, Leonel stood at the top of the stairs. His eyes widened in surprise at seeing the beautiful woman before him. How was this possible?

"Hi, sweetheart," Ester greeted with a sweet smile.

"What are you doing here?" Leonel whispered. He quickly took Ester aside, but it was too late. Chloe, assisted by Peni, had already spotted them.

"You've arrived?" Chloe asked. She didn't care that she was looking in the wrong direction but was confident that Peni was leading her correctly. "Dinner is about to start. Don't let Papa wait." Chloe spoke with a smile.

Meanwhile, Ester glared in annoyance at Leonel's excessive change in attitude. She immediately brushed off his hand and walked towards Chloe. But as usual, her loyal servant created some distance between them. "Fine," Ester said with a hint of sarcasm as she quickly glanced at Peni, who promptly averted her gaze and directed Chloe back to the dining table.

The atmosphere at the dining table was agitated. Agatha couldn't understand Chloe's thoughts at all, and neither could Robby. But the two of them attempted to follow along with whatever Chloe was planning. It was the first time Chloe was genuinely acting out of character.

Leonel clenched his fists tightly and tapped the table, slightly startled by this unexpected dinner. He sat down and tried to calm himself. Leonel could see the tension being concealed one by one from the corner of his eye. Although the greetings and conversations were small, Leonel immersed himself while deciphering what Chloe wanted.

Was this what Chloe wanted for their relationship?

"So, is your modeling career getting more successful?" Agatha asked in the form of small talk. Guests dining at the same table deserved to be acknowledged. Although it was difficult for her to see Chloe's expression, she made another attempt to understand her daughter-in-law's desires.

"Yes, Aunt. Or can I start calling you Mom?" Ester asked with a polite smile.

Leonel choked, and Chloe turned and asked Peni to prepare a drink. This surprised Leonel but made him realize that Chloe was now limited in her movements and handling of objects. Her way of asking Peni was very polite and impressive in the eyes of Leonel's parents.

"Thank you, Peni, for being my eyes," Chloe said.

Peni smiled awkwardly.

"At least I can help Dad, who suddenly choked." Chloe turned to Leonel on her right side. "Is there something wrong with the food? Maybe the taste?"

"No, there isn't," Leonel quickly replied, wiping the corners of his lips that were wet from hastily drinking.

"I wanted you to comment on the taste. I've taught Mbak Inah the measurements for your favorite dishes."

Leonel just nodded.

"Because it would be a disaster to let Ester in the kitchen and have her prepare your meal, Honey. She could ruin this kitchen, right, Ester?"

Wait to ask about Ester's face. It's flushed with embarrassment, but she quickly composes herself. "I'm not used to the kitchen, but I can learn."

Chloe smiles wider. "I'm serious, Ester, with your expensive manicure. I'm the one who usually cooks for Leonel, and it often ends up in the trash. What about you?"

"Chloe," Leonel warns immediately.

"Is that true, Leonel?" Robby quickly asks, a slightly disappointed expression on his middle-aged face. "Even Papa likes Chloe's cooking. It's a shame that Papa hasn't been able to enjoy his favorite daughter-in-law's cooking lately."

"Papa is right, Leonel. Chloe's cooking is delicious and suits Mama's taste as well."

"Why doesn't Mama learn to cook like Chloe, then?"

Agatha freezes upon hearing Leonel's recent statement.

"Just like Ester, who doesn't, I mean, hasn't mastered the kitchen to serve food here. But she's willing to learn." Leonel can't let Chloe have the upper hand. He regrets ever caring and paying attention to his wife. He glances at her, but she seems unaffected by his recent words.

And Ester, sitting in front of Leonel, smiles even more comprehensively.

"That's what I meant, Honey," Chloe briefly turns her gaze and then looks ahead. If only her sight had returned, but no, Chloe doesn't want to regain it just yet because she still wants to play here. "Mama can't cook either. And Ester shouldn't be an issue, right?"

Before Agatha could feel hurt, Chloe quickly added to her statement.

"Sorry, Ma, if I offended you. But Mama's only lacking in the kitchen department. Supporting Papa, encouraging Papa, wholeheartedly loving Papa, and never leaving Papa's side are the best ways to be a wife."

Agatha feels confused now. She looks at her husband, who appears equally bewildered. They're both perplexed and alienated by their daughter-in-law's unexpected behavior.

"And Papa, what else? Cooking shouldn't be a problem big enough for Papa to choose another woman. Right, Pa?"

Robby is taken aback, and his eyes lock on Leonel's with intensity. "Papa is not someone who would betray Mama's love," he asserts. Throughout the five years, Chloe has been their daughter-in-law, he has never heard any complaints about their son as a husband. Chloe has always praised him to the skies. At every family gathering, Chloe has always been able to match Leonel.

Gentle, warm, caring, and not demanding much. That's how Robby sees Chloe.

But now?

"Even though I think Papa has everything. Compared to you, Honey."

Leonel feels like smashing Chloe right now.

"But it doesn't matter. It's me who has shortcomings, Ma, Pa, Mas Leonel. I apologize. That's why I specially invited my husband's affair to sit here. We can have a meal together while discussing how their marriage approval will be, right?"

"Chloe," Agatha warns. She places the spoon she was using to sip the soup a bit forcefully. "Mama doesn't agree."

Chloe smiles again. "For five years, Chloe has learned to accept those who play behind her back. This time, it's easy to accept them playing in front of Chloe. After all, Chloe can't see now. But Mama can teach us how an ethical daughter-in-law in the Grisham family should behave. Right?"

Agatha blinks slowly.

"Mama must know what kind of woman Leonel chooses. So later, Leonel can evaluate whether this woman deserves to be here." Chloe, still smiling broadly, turns to Leonel. She knows for sure that her husband is furious. However, his anger is suppressed because both his parents are present. "Or...not," she whispers.