Chapter 524 - Siblings

Daniel stared at her indistinctly. "Sister..."

"Take it. This card is for you and I'm trying to help you. It's mine and the password is your birthday. I've put twenty million in it. You try to arrange your expenses for a month first, and if you feel that's not enough, you can tell me."

Lilia seemed to be smiling, while Daniel's eyes were filled with warmth. But then he gritted his teeth and chose to shake his head in refusal. "No, sis ... I ... I can do it myself!"

"You sure?" Lilia didn't give him a chance to answer. "Then tell me, how do you plan to pay tuition fees after the Pangestu family went bankrupt? How are you going to handle your daily expenses?"

Daniel lowered his head speechless, unable to answer.

He didn't know how to answer this question and he couldn't say anything either, so he could only keep quiet.

When Lilia saw him shut up, she changed the topic. "Is what Hugo said just now true?"

"Which one?"

"He said you worked part time in the library."

Daniel then took a deep breath and smiled dryly, "Did you know it?"

Lilia didn't say a word and only looked at him meaningfully.

Seeing this, Daniel smiled bitterly.

The two siblings were silent for a few minutes. After a moment, Daniel reluctantly raised his eyes and his tone reeked of depression. "Actually, this incident is quite good for me. I've never had a hard time making money before. Now, I know that making money is not easy. I dare not spend it on things that are no longer important."

"Daniel, we are siblings. If you don't plan to tell the truth to me, then don't call me sister again!"

Lilia knew that if she wasn't straight forward and didn't threaten him, her little brother would still suppress all his thoughts and try to hide his true feelings.

Her purpose to come to this place was to give him the relief and help he needed.

Daniel stared at Lilia blankly, he suddenly felt that the ATM card under his fingertips was getting hot.

He didn't open his eyes for a moment then looked out the window and rubbed his face. "Sister, I ..."

Daniel seemed to speak with great difficulty. He paused for a long time before he went on saying, "I really don't have any money left, even our house is mortgaged."

"Father has to pay off his debt and can no longer give me credit cards and pocket money like before, so he deactivated all my cards. He also told me to find a way to afford my own expenses, including school and living expenses," he added.

"Now, whenever I have no class, I will find a part-time job to make a little money. Sister, I beg you don't feel sorry for me. Even though it's a bit difficult, I don't think it's a bad thing," he said with a forced smile.

Daniel told how his life was now, but what depressed Lilia the most was the last sentence.

Lilia shook her head slightly, she didn't want Daniel to have such thoughts. She then replied with honesty, "Daniel, I don't have any pity for you."

"Do you remember the words you said when you went to the Lakeside Villa to meet me? Because you only recognized me as your older sister, in my heart, you truly believe that we are siblings, and not outsiders. Why do you think I'm sympathizing with you as if you're a beggar!"

Lilia was a little sad when she said this, even her face was slightly lowered when she spoke.

Seeing this, Daniel waved his hand anxiously. "Sister, I didn't mean that and I never treated you as an outsider!"

"Then, please keep the card. Even though this card is in my name, I will not take the money in it. Use it to your own liking, but be wise," Lilia replied.

"I also still want to remind you about the current situation of the Pangestu family. If you think that my kindness can overcome their bankruptcy, you are really wrong. The money on this card is just like a drop of water in a bucket compared to the bottomless pit that the Pangestu family has dug."

"I give you this card does not mean I pity you. Why wouldn't I want my brother living happily and continue his study without worrying about money? Can you understand how I feel?"

Lilia worked hard to convince Daniel that this was the only thing she could do for her little brother.

They didn't stay in this cafe for long, and after Lilia saw that her brother had received her ATM card, she added a few words to comfort him before leaving.

Daniel stood at the gate of his school and watched his sister leave. He lowered his head and looked at the card in his hand, a shallow drop of water appeared in the corner of his eye.

He never blamed Lilia for everything that had happened. Even when his mother blamed Lilia for their family's bankruptcy, Daniel never felt that her sister had done anything wrong.

He had been siblings with Lilia for 20 years, he knew better than anyone what kind of treatment Lilia received since childhood.

On the contrary, he felt that it was a sin his family had to pay for. Now, he lived in a dilapidated boarding house. Instead of brooding and blaming others, Daniel chose to work and improve his life.

His father hadn't been home in days. Perhaps, he also wanted to avoid that woman's nagging.

His mother really turned into a whole circus now. No wonder his classmates laughed at him behind his back and gossiped about his family in secret.

While pondering this, Daniel's cell phone in his pocket rang.

He glanced at it, and took it out without changing expression. "Yeah?"

"Daniel, the phone number I gave you, have you called it today?"

His mother's question from across the phone was still very ironic.

She gave him Leila's number and asked him to call her once a day. If it worked, he had to tell her as quickly as possible.

Daniel never once expected much.

He hoped that her call would never reach her, so that he could see how long his mother could hold on to false hope her 'beloved' daughter had given her.

Daniel thought without further ado, and his mother's worried voice sounded in his ear, "Hey, did you listen to what I said?"

"Yeah, I'm still in class now and I don't have time."

After speaking, he immediately hung up the phone.

Now that his family fell apart, he truly hoped that his mother and father would soon forget about their dream.

His family was too focused on Leila.

He heard that Leila had a lot of money and property in her hands. His father wanted to take it back from her to help with the urgent needs of the Pangestu family.

Daniel felt that both of his parents were stupid.

How could such a selfish woman like Leila possibly help the Pangestu family overcome their hard times?

...

In the afternoon of the same day, the news on the Internet about Lilia wearing a faux dress to attend the event stirred some debates among netizens.

Even the entertainment journalists followed this news with enthusiasm.

More media releases related news said that there was still no response from Aphrodite Agency regarding the dress Lilia was wearing. The Van brand had also been asked for a response, but they only said that they would provide a relevant response as soon as possible.

With this, netizens and fashion enthusiasts were increasingly convinced that the dress Lilia was wearing was not authentic.

At ten past four, someone in the Genesis company seemed to have worked himself to death.

Kenny slept until four in the afternoon and woke up on the office sofa as he instinctively pulled out his cell phone to check the time.

When he turned on the screen, he was shocked.

Twenty-four missed calls and countless messages!

What was this?!

Could there be a problem with the tender project?

Kenny opened his cell phone with a horrified expression. After reading all of the messages briefly, he ran to the president's office with his cell phone.

He felt this was more serious than the failure of his project!

Mrs. Lilia was getting slandered on the Internet again.. And this time, Mr. Alex from the Van brand was also involved!