CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

"Cynthia Giovanni, still as arrogant as ever," Ben said.
"I'm only arrogant to animals like you" Cynthia retorted back.
" The two of you know each other? " Lia asked.
" To an extent, we do" Ben answered Lia's question.
" Oh umm, my name is Ameliana. You can call me Lia if you like"
" I know your name," Cynthia said staring intensely at Lia.
" Oh"
" Say, Lia, how old are you? " Cynthia asked.
" I am twenty-five" Lia replied.
" When is your birthday? " Cynthia asked.
" It's... " Lia wanted to reply but Ben cut her off.
" Stop interrogating my daughter like she is some kind of criminal" Ben said.
" Well, she didn't complain" Cynthia snapped at Ben.
" I'm hungry let's order something," Lia said trying to break their convo before it can turn into a fight.
" Ah yes, you are right," Ben said and called for a waiter.
Throughout their meal, Lia tried to make small talk with Cynthia. Cynthia only gave short replies and said nothing more.
While the other two men looked at each other with looks filled with disdain.
After everyone was done eating Leo cleared his throat.
" Cynthia will come and live with us from now on" Leo announced.
" What? " The other three chorused.
" You skank, you wouldn't even allow me to live with my daughter," Ben said.
" Oh my baby boy, I knew this day would come soon" Cynthia cried tears of joy because she believed that Leo wanted to make peace with her.
" Leo can we talk," Lia said and Leo turned to face her giving her all his attention.
"In private" Lia said standing up.
Leo followed her until they reached a quiet corner.
"Don't you think you should have consulted me first before you made that kind of decision?" Lia asked.
"Is there something wrong with it?" Leo asked.
"No, it's just that... I feel kind of left out"
"If you don't want her to come and live with us, just say so and I will tell her," Leo said.
" How could I possibly do that? I wouldn't want to break your newly built bond"
" I wouldn't do anything to make you feel uncomfortable," Leo said and pecked Lia on her eye.
" I'm okay with it"
" It's time to start heading back to the office now," Leo said looking at his watch.
" Actually I think I would go home, I don't feel too good"
Leo placed his palm against her forehead to check for any sign of a fever. It was warm but not too warm.
" I will drop you off" Leo said.
" Thanks"
Leo and Lia headed back to the table. The sight before them completely baffled them.
Cynthia was holding Ben by the collar of his shirt from across the table and she was yelling her heart out at him.
Everyone's attention was on them.
"What's going on here?" Lia asked while Leo narrowed his eyes at both of them.
"Can't you both behave?" Leo asked.
Cynthia withdrew herself back and adjusted her clothes.
" It's his fault, tell him to watch his mouth the next time he opens it up to speak to me" Cynthia angrily.
" Dad, what did you tell her?"
" I just gave her a piece of advice, that's all," Ben said.
" I don't need your advice you stupid piece of scum," Cynthia said.
" I'm sorry that I offended you, grandma," Ben said and Cynthia gasped.
" Grandma? How dare you? I'm only four years older than your sorry ass" Cynthia said.
For someone that old she curses a lot, Lia thought.
" well at least I haven't reached my fifties yet," Ben said nonchalantly.
" Stupid Bastard, I will kill you today" Cynthia charged forward.
" Enough, both of you. Aren't you ashamed, arguing like kids?" Leo scolded them.
" I can argue anyhow I want to, as long as my enemy has to be dealt with," Cynthia said.
" We are leaving right now," Leo said.
"Oh darling, will you do well and take your mother home," Cynthia said pitifully.
"You have your car, take yourself home" Leo heartlessly rejected her.
"Brat" Cynthia said under her breath.
"Leo why don't you take her home, I will go with my father"
" No"
" Please, I want to spend as much time as I possibly can with him today"
" You don't have a ride," Leo said.
" We can always take a taxi," Ben said and Leo glared at him.
" Fine then, you can take the car," Leo said.
" But what about you?" Lia asked.
" You can always use my car, Leonardo," Cynthia said.
" But I can't drive" Lia whined.
" That is why you have your father here with you," Ben said.
" There is no way I will let you drive, you just came out of the hospital," Lia said.
" That doesn't mean I can't drive"
"It's too dangerous"
"I will drive, everyone," Leo said.
"You don't have to worry about us," Ben said.
"It's the least I can do for my father-in-law," Leo said faking a smile.
"Thank you, Leo, Let's go, dad"
They all walked together to Leo's car.
"You sit at the back with your father, if I sit with him I'm afraid that I would throw him out while the car is still moving," Cynthia said to Lia.
" Okay" Lia agreed scared for her father.
They all entered the vehicle and began the ride.
" So dad, how did you and Mrs. Giovanni meet?"
" She was my sister's friend" Ben replied.
" Oh, aunt Diana" Ben just nodded.
" Mrs. Giovanni, may I ask you a question?"
" What is it?" Cynthia asked.
" How was my aunt like?"

Everyone kept silent for a while.
" Why don't you ask your father?" Cynthia asked.
" He wouldn't disclose any information about her"
"Then don't ask"
Lia felt as if they were hiding something from her.
Cynthia on the other hand wondered how Ben found a replica of the deceased Lia and why he would give her the same name.
After their ambiguous discussion about Diana, no one else uttered a word.
***Somewhere else***
" Diana Smith or Anderson, It's nice to finally meet you"
A shocked woman turned around to face the person who had called her real name.
" It looks like changing your hair and eye color and even your name wasn't enough to hide you forever"
" Who are you?"
" Let's have a little chat now, shall we?"