The Vicious Wife

A beautiful face

It was a fickle another Monday in June. One minute the sun was shining and the next, the sky became dark and gloomy.

Roseanne stared at the pitter and patter of raindrops against the window of her beetle. It was almost nine in the morning and Roseanne knew that she was running late for the reading of the Will at the Li family estate.

"Still no word from the security company?" she asked Lia who was driving.

"Oh... they said that they will be sending one security personnel over this afternoon," Lia answered. "Um President... I hope you don't mind me asking but... why exactly did you bring this beetle with you to Seoul? The beetle is too small and cramped. I mean... we could have brought with us another car that is more luxurious and spacious for our commute." Lia asked curiously, eyeing Roseanne for a moment, before focusing her eyes on the road again.

In Lia's knowledge, Roseanne only had two cars - a low-key Bentley and an old Mercedes. Moreover, Roseanne had a peculiar habit. She would only ride in her own car. When she had to travel, she would bring along one of her cars with her. So Lia was surprised to see that Roseanne had brought with her a beetle instead.

"This beetle may be small but it is more expensive than any other cars in this city," Roseanne answered. Seeing the confusion on her assistant's face, she let out a chuckle and explained, "Let's just say, though I don't know how to drive a car, I know a lot about them."

"Oh, like a mechanic?" Lia asked, confusion was shown on her face. Everyone knows that President Lilian does not know how to drive. But, Lia never thought that the latter would know anything about cars at all.

"Yes, like a mechanic." Roseanne smiled. "In fact, I built this car from scratch. I love building my own cars. This beetle was my latest car project. In fact, I only finished building it last month. It had taken me almost a year to finish this project. So I am giving it a try in this city." Her explanation was sufficient for Lia and she stopped asking any further questions

"President, the traffic is bad in this area. I think there might be an accident in front of us. Do you think we should..."

"No... let's wait," Roseanne answered, interrupting her assistant's words. She was not in a hurry. Why bother rerouting? Roseanne knew that the lawyer wouldn't start the reading of the Will without her anyway, so there was really no point in rushing herself just to attend this meeting.

...

At the Li Mansion.

Meanwhile, everyone inside Li Jung Wang's study was getting agitated. They were all seated before a rectangular mahogany table, waiting for the lawyer to start. But to their surprise, Lawyer Yan refused to start without Roseanne's presence.

"How hateful!" Jihyo crossed her arms over her chest. Her baby bump was showing because she was already seven months pregnant. "She already said that she would be here! How dare she act high and mighty just because she knew that the reading cannot start without her? What a prima donna!?"

"Jihyo... I already told you, you need to control your temper. This will affect your child," Tang Ling coaxed her immediately, stroking her daughter's back to calm her down. She then shook her head and eyed her husband who was sitting across her. "It's just the pregnancy hormones. I can't help it sometimes."

"However, I agree with you that Rosella is truly in the wrong this time," Tang Ling sighed. "She knew that the reading cannot start without her, yet she still dare to be late. I think it's because she hates me."

"Mother, stop saying that. How could she hate you? You practically raised her since she was young!" Jihyo's younger brother, Li Yeonjun sneered. "If she does, then she is truly ungrateful! The things that happened in the past were all her fault. She was too ambitious and selfish."

"I agree with Yeonjun, Mother. You really should not blame yourself. You raised her into a proper lady but how did she repay your love and care? She only brought embarrassment to our family," Jihyo added.

"I heard that Rosella had an international number," said Li Jung Wang. His face was stern and stoic, but the anger in his eyes was apparent. "Did anyone trace it? Did anyone of you find out where exactly she had been all these years?"

"Madam Ye wrote that she had been in Europe all these while," Lawyer Yan answered.

"Europe? What was she doing in Europe?" Li Yeonjun asked.

The lawyer only shrugged in response.

"What else? She must have found an old man to seduce. How else could she have survived all these years after leaving Seoul? She does not have any skills in business nor any notable talents. All she has is a beautiful face," Jihyo blurted.

"Jihyo... you really should stop belittling about your elder sister. No matter what she had done to embarrass this family, she is still your sister. A Lilian, by blood. She still deserves your respect," Tang Ling righteously scolded.

"Hmp! Respect is earned! Not given!" Jihyo uttered, feeling indignant. "It's getting late. Where is she? Can you call her again Lawyer Yan?"

Lawyer Yan was about to pick up his phone to make a call when suddenly the door was opened from the outside and entered Kang Daniel's bodyguard. Everyone watched as he approached Daniel and leaned in to whisper something to him.

Daniel's complexion instantly darkened as he looked at everyone. "I think Rosella Lilian just arrived."