Illana's face was suddenly pale as she got out of the car. Her anxiety only increased when the moment of confessing her divorce in front of the two families had to happen soon, ready or not—all of this was Illana's decision from the beginning.
"Why is your face pale? Are you sick?" asked Jena, Illana's mother. She tried to grasp her daughter's palm, but the woman's body temperature was acceptable.
"I'm fine, mom." Illana smiled, trying to hide her nervousness. "Let's go inside, Mark's family must be waiting."
Throughout the marriage, the meeting of the two families was infrequent, so it was a big question mark in many people's heads that Illana suddenly asked her family to meet Mark's family at the 'Griggori's House' mansion tonight.
"Yes, alright."
Not many were present because Illana only asked for her parents and how they would respond after everything that happened Illana would deal with in the background.
However, Illana's steps, as well as her parents, suddenly stopped on the terrace lawn when they heard a commotion from inside the house, making them look at each other, trying to find an answer.
"YOU DON'T EVEN PITY YOUR BROTHER, AND YOU'RE SO HEARTLESS!!! HOW COULD MOM CONTINUE TO ENTRUST THE FAMILY BUSINESS TO YOU? HUH! YOU CRAZY BASTARD!!!"
An emotional voice rang out. Illana recognized it, not Mark's, but Lucas'. So, her ex-husband's uncle was in this house right now.
"What's going on in there?" Samuel was getting curious.
"I don't know either, Dad."
"I PROMISE I'LL NEVER SET FOOT IN THIS HOUSE AGAIN, DAMMIT!!!"
They continued, and by the time everyone's feet reached the spacious house veranda, two servants were at the door ready to greet them, but the other man came out first—showing his face filled with hatred and anger.
However, Lucas immediately changed his expression when he saw Illana and the woman's parents.
They froze together, finding it difficult to utter a sentence in such an awkward situation, but Lucas showed another effort as he tried to smile and greet everyone.
"Illana. I just found out that you brought your parents to this house. I'm sorry for startling you with that little commotion." The words from his lips became very soft and polite.
"No, it's okay." Illana tried to break the ice. "No one knows when unpleasant situations happen. We're fine."
"Alright, I'll be going. I'm sorry again." Lucas walked past them to his car in the yard while Illana's parents looked at the man differently.
"Isn't he in jail?" asked Jena.
"Yes, but anyone can get out faster. It's an easy." Samuel responded carefree. "Come on in, Mark's family will be waiting."
They ignored their strange thoughts about Lucas having a more critical situation inside the Griggori mansion. At the same time, Lucas discouraged opening the car door as he shifted his gaze and noticed Illana's family.
Something had caught his attention.
"Did Illana want to do something to bring her parents here? Mark has made a big mistake."
***
They sat beside each other, but the distance was quite noticeable, making the separation even more evident in front of everyone.
"We are divorced." Mark unhesitatingly began with a casual expression, as if whatever had happened had never been a difficult situation.
Illana gave him an annoyed look, believing more and more that she was probably just a second choice when Deborah disappeared.
"DIVORCE?" Jena and Samuel were shocked, while Mark's parents looked down and grunted.
"Before you came here, I confessed it to my parents, and they're trying to come to terms with it," Mark spoke again, smiling carefree.
"What happened to make it this way, Illana? What was the big deal that you split up?" Jena pressed.
"Who filed for divorce?" Samuel asked something else.
"Me." Illana looked down as she swallowed, her courage momentarily stepping aside to face them all. "I was the first to file the suit against Mark. He accepted it."
"Then split up, huh? That easy?" Samuel moved on. "What's the matter, Mark? Tell me why my daughter filed for divorce?"
"Deborah is back in my life."
Illana looked up; she almost doubted that the crazy man near her had confessed to the silliness that broke everyone's hearts, but Mark did say it.
"Crazy man." Illana chuckled softly, and she felt terrible for realizing Mark Griggori's betrayal too late.
"Deborah?" Jena tried to remember something. "You mean that ex-lover of yours, huh? You cheated on my daughter, Mark?"
"Yeah, I'm sorry—"
Bugh!
Samuel punched Mark in the face in front of everyone, even his parents. Between Juliet and Steve, they could hardly react as they endured their son's mistake, shame being the most distressing thing.
"Dad!" Illana immediately pulled her father back. "No, don't hit him."
"How could this man do such an evil thing to my daughter? Are you out of your mind, huh? You don't know how to thank Illana!" Samuel continued to point at Mark's face as Illana tried to restrain her father from hitting her ex-husband again, but Mark just showed an innocent expression.
"LET'S GO!!!" Jena was so fed up that she quickly grabbed Samuel and stepped out of there while Illana still lingered.
The woman approached Mark slowly, taking something out of the pocket of her cotton pants. A wedding ring that Mark had put on Illana's ring finger on their wedding day.
She took Mark's hand and placed the ring there as she held back the tears.
"I'm sure you must have been so impatient to marry Deborah that I had to return it. It's expensive, I don't want to throw it away, but you can do that, Mark. You even spoke carelessly in front of my parents. You've hurt them more than me. You know that, huh?"
"I'm just being honest, Illana."
His ex-wife chuckled. Mark was different. "Yeah, alright. You're so free now, do whatever you want. I'll try to repair the damage to my life that you've done, even if your parents have trouble bearing the shame of their son's actions. You're amazing."
Illana stepped aside and lifted her chin. She wanted to show her courage in front of them even though her chest was rumbling again and her mind was in turmoil.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Lucas had been standing by the window long enough to witness it all, his hands clenched in response to how his nephew had brutally repaid the favor of someone who had done so much for the Griggori family business.
"How could I have a crazy nephew like Mark and be part of this strange family? They all look down on others. Do they think the law of karma doesn't apply, huh?"
Lucas looked the other way, and he found Illana and her parents hugging each other near the car. They were strengthening each other as they should.
"I feel very embarrassed about this situation, but my nephew and big brother will probably party afterward. They're not afraid of future punishment and retribution, huh?"
***