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While they eat dinner, grandpa Joo can't help but give Lea a frowned glare.
Lea ignores him while she and Theo chat along with their friends.
Grandpa Joo
I don't like this.
Theo
Grandpa? What's wrong?
Grandpa Joo
The food tastes stale.
Henry
The food is fine Dad. Whatever do you mean?
Grandpa Joo
The food has grown stale because the environment is not good.
Theo
Grandpa! Why are you being irrational? I can't understand you.
Theo
No! Its been like this since Lea arrived!
Theo
Not only did older brother not attend my birthday, now this.
Theo
What's wrong with all of you?
Theo
You've been acting strange!
Grandpa Joo
Why did you even invite that woman?
Grandpa Joo pointed at Lea.
Zeke couldn't hold it in much longer. He slammed his palm at the table.
Lea stopped him from going berserk.
Grandpa Joo
The food became unpalatable because of you!
Theo
What's wrong with you Grandpa?!
Russel
Cause he hates your sister, my dear Theo.
Russel Chen
28 years old
First Born of the Chen Family
Russel just arrived and he can already guess what happened.
Russel
Not like that old man wants me here anyways.
Grandpa Joo
Watch your mouth Russel.
Russel
Anyway, you need to stop pretending like you're not aware Theo.
Russel
You deliberately invited her here cause you wanted our parents and that old man to feel guilty.
Russel
Man, you're really naive.
Lea
Did you really think they'll feel guilty?
Theo
But Lea, what they did to you-
Lea
Do you hate them Theo?
Lea
Do you despise them for abandoning your little sister after all these years?
Lea
What do you hope to achieve by bringing us here my dear brother?
Theo
Can't we just be one whole family?
Mina
Things are complicated dear.
Theo
How can you say that Mom? Lea's your flesh and blood!
Grandpa Joo
That woman will stay away from our family! She's not part of us.
Russel sat beside Lea and grabbed a plate.
Lea and Russel continued eating as if the situation wasn't tense.
Lea
Thanks. You look sloppy.
Lea
Did you just came from work?
Russel
Yeah. Pulled an all nighter.
Lea
Oh yeah. Russel this is my boyfriend Zeke.
Zeke
N-nice to meet you Big brother but I don't think this is the right time...
Everyone was baffled at how nonchalant Russel and Lea was.
Theo
This is not the time to eat!
Theo stopped mid-sentence when Mina poured wine at Lea.
Russel
Well damn. That's a waste of a really good wine.
Lea squinted to avoid getting the wine into her eyes.
Russel
Must be cheap then.
Mina
You ruined the night!
Lea
I see. That's too bad.
Russel wiped his mouth and stood up.
Russel
Still a pathetic excuse of a mother I guess.
Mina
You talk as if you know everything!
Russel
I do know everything Mom.
Russel
You were glad that Lea was born because the Old Man stopped getting mad at you.
Russel
You used Lea as a shield to protect yourself from that mysoginist.
Russel
Is it really the time to concern yourself with your image Dad?
Russel
Let them hear how wicked our family is.
Russel
Theo's the only innocent one I guess.
Grandpa Joo
You ungrateful brat!
Russel
Your bites are getting weaker Old Man. Must be your age.
Zeke wiped the wine off of Lea.
Russel
We're sorry that we ruined your birthday Theo my dear baby brother.
Russel
But its impossible to bring our family back together.
Russel
With a selfish mother and money-driven father, we can't live peacefully. Not to mention your angelic grandpa who dotes on you, is a mysoginist.
Russel and Lea approached Theo and hugged him.
Lea
We will always be your sibling Theo. You can always come to us.
Russel
Yeah. But we can't be together like the old times.
Lea
This is too much to take in. Let's call it a night.
Theo grabbed Lea and Russel's arms tightly.
Theo
Don't go. Don't leave me alone.
Russel and Lea looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
Russel
Should we stay somewhere then?
Lea
Yeah, you decide where.
Zeke decided to let Lea go with Theo and Russel.
Meanwhile, Zeke joined the rest and went to a private bar to drink.
Everyone was quietly observing Zeke as he straight up gulp the shot.
Harry
The night's still young.
Jim
We should talk about this calmly.
Jae
And you can tell us slowly.
Mia
We're here for you Zeke.
Brent
I'll go and order some more.
Zeke
I knew his grandfather was a tool but I never expected that they'd go this low.
Jae
We were surprised with Mr and Mrs. Chen as well.
Zeke
If I knew this would happen, I never would've convinced her.
Jim
So she wasn't willing in the first place?
Zeke
Yeah. But I thought they needed some sort of closure or something.
Harry
Don't beat yourself over this.
Ren
It was a good opportunity. Theo needed this more than Lea.
Jae
Yeah man. Lea's been liberated from her family but Theo was kept in the dark for the longest time.
Mia
I'm sure he was torned when he found out.
Jim
But is it really Lea's fault? They keep blaming her.
Zeke
What could she even possibly have done?
Zeke
Nothing! Even she knows nothing why her grandfather hates women.
Jen
He hates women alright. I only talked to him for a few minutes and I can tell that he looks down on me.
Brent
Guys, you're driven by your emotions right now.
Zeke
Yeah! Your boyfriend Ken is a father figure to Lea. He considered Lea as his own daughter. Should you really be this calm?
Jim
That's right! You've been awfully detached! Does sir Ken knows you're this cold to his daughter huh?
Harry
Maybe Sir Ken made the wrong choice.
Brent
😢😢Why are you getting mad at me?
Ren
Poor Lea, getting herself a cold Momma Brent.
Mia
You boys lay off Brent's back. I'm sure he just meant to calmly assess the situation so that we can help our friends when they need us.
Jim
Says the woman who selfishly push her ideas to people. Are you really one to talk?
Mia
💢You've been throwing shades since earlier. Cut if out already.
Ren
Lover's spat. What a development.
Jim
We ain't lovers anymore.
Inside Russel's house, Lea and Theo lounged comfortably on the beanbags.
Theo was still upset but Lea tried hard to lift his spirits.
Russel
Stop pouting already.
Theo
But you seem to know Lea before tonight.
Russel
Of course I know her, I'm older than you are. I was there when you two were born.
Theo
But how do you know Russel Lea?
Lea
I see him buy coffee at the cafe sometimes.
Russel
Ara. You knew who I was?
Lea
But you had black hair the last time I saw you.
Theo
Why was I kept in the dark?
Lea
How would you feel if you grow up knowing?
Russel
You might've rebelled right?
Theo
Of course I will! Lea suffered!
Lea
That's why they kept you in the dark.
Russel
They might be crappy parents, but at least they raised you to be a good man.
Lea
Yeah. All the patience I've endured was worth it. I wouldn't want you to be led astray just because of this.
Theo
That's not making me feel any better.
Russel
Lea, I commend your strength. But its okay to feel frustrated.
Lea
What about you then Oppa?
Lea
Why did you leave that household?
Russel
Did you want to subtle way or the bare truth?
Lea
The bare. Sounds more interesting.
Theo
What happened when I was training? Did they mistreated you?
Russel
Dad tried to marry me off to some old woman who happened to be that Old Man's business partner.
Lea
Was that the only reason tho?
Russel
No. After I refused, Dad tried to set up marriage interviews to various influential families.
Russel
I'm not a tool for trades.
Theo
You two suffered while I was living like this.
Lea
By the way, do you manage your own money?
Theo
But Mom asks me for money sometimes.
Theo
Mmmm. depends. She sometimes asks for half, sometimes, ninety percent of my basic pay.
Lea
Why does she need that much?
Russel
Probably saving to fend for herself once she decided she's had enough.
Russel
Mom's not that dumb.
Lea
You can tell how much she invests on her body and face and image.
Russel
We don't know what she's thinking.
Theo
Can you not forgive her?
Lea
She's never sorry, but I do understand her.
Russel patted Lea's head.
It was different with the headpats that Zeke gives her but its as comforting.
Russel
Our Lea became this pretty.
Lea
Oppa, are you currently dating someone?
Theo
Does she have big chests?
Russel
She is pretty and voluptuous. She'll come home later.
Lea
Eh?? You live together?
Russel
Yeah. We're married and all.
Iza Chen
Aigoo, you didn't even tell your siblings?
The three of them looked at Iza who just came in.
Lea
Woah. You're wife's a looker Oppa.
Theo
Waaahhh. She even have big chests.
Iza Chen
Your brother is kind of detached so you have to forgive him.
Russel
Did you have a good day at work?
Russel stood up and helped Iza with her clothes.
Theo and Lea looked at each other and wondered what it was about.
Their eyes widened as they saw two mechanical arms emerged as Russel removed Iza's jacket.
Iza Chen
Did we scare you?
Lea
N-no. But are you okay with us seeing you?
Iza Chen
Of course. You are my siblings now as well.
Theo
D-do you mind if we ask what happened?
Lea
O-of course, we won't force you.
Iza Chen
I'm fine with it, but you should ask Russel if you really want to know.
Russel
Get inside, your bath's ready.
Iza gave him a quick peck and left for her bath.
Lea
Is that the bare truth?
Theo
Eh? what do you mean Lea?
Russel
Quick to catch on huh.
Lea
Tell us the truth Oppa.
Russel
Old man didn't want Iza for me so he asked Dad to dispose her behind my back.
Russel
Luckily, I was able to put a tracking device on her necklace and found her on a garbage bin with her hands already missing.
Lea
Did they really do it?
Russel
Yeah. Apparently, Mom was there when they...
Theo
Please tell me that's a lie.
Russel
How I wish I could lie.
Lea can only cover her mouth in shock. It's unbelievable and she can't stomach the facts.
Theo cried while Lea gave Russel a hug.
Russel
Don't think too much of it. We're fine now.
Lea
It must have cost a fortune to buy both of her arms.
Iza Chen
Fortunately, your brother here made it for me.
Lea turned around and hugged Iza.
Theo did the same and warmed her.
Russel
Don't hog my wife's attention all to your selves. I'm getting cold here.
Lea
What do you mean Oppa made it for you?
Iza Chen
He works for a company that makes prosthetic parts for people who lacks them.
Theo
Are you a genius Big brother?
Russel
Do I not look like it?
Iza Chen
Our Russel's sloppy but he is smart.
Lea touched Iza's metal hands.
Lea
Your hands are amazing.
Russel
See? Lea understands its aesthetic appeal.
Iza Chen
She really is your sister.
Iza hugged Theo. But theo was too tall so he had to crouch down.
Accidentally, his face was sandwiched between Iza's chest.
Theo smiled feeling the softness.
Russel
No feeling up my wife Theo.
Theo
Whatever do you mean big brother?
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