Chapter 343 - The Empty Glass

"Madame Imel is here. Mr. Bima is worried that Mr. Aiden is uncomfortable with Mrs. Imel's arrival so he wants to ask her to leave," the servant said while looking awkwardly at Anya.

Anya's hand movements stopped for a moment. When she raised her head, her eyes met Maria's.

Maria looked at Aiden who was sitting on the living room sofa and said to Anya, "Father really loved Aiden, but he didn't know how to show his affection."

"Aiden also doesn't know how to express his feelings. If he is willing to return to this house even though he has to fight with his father, that means he really cares for his family," Anya said.

"After the accident that happened to him, Aiden came out of the house and always fought with his father when he returned. But father is still happy because Aiden wants to come back to this house," Maria said with a sad smile, "I also blamed father when he didn't want to pay the ransom that the kidnapper asked for,"

"Sis Maria..." Anya looked at Maria in surprise.

"Aiden is like my own son. I have taken care of him since he was little. Aiden had to be hurt because father refused to give the money. He didn't leave the house, but he didn't want to talk to dad for months."

After that, Maria lowered her head in embarrassment. "One day, father came home drunk. He held my hand and tearfully said that if he had paid the ransom, he was afraid Aiden would lose his price in the eyes of the kidnapper and that they would kill him right away. But not a single person understands him until now. We all blame him,"

"He didn't want to hand over the money, not because he didn't want to lose it, but because he didn't want his son to die. Plus, Aiden was very similar to him. That's why he loves Aiden so much,"

Maria nodded while removing the roast beef from the oven. She sprinkled it with herbs and then served it on the table.

"Of his three sons, he trusted my husband the most because my husband is his eldest son. Aiden is his favorite because Aiden is very similar to him. Ivan is the one who is the most depressed in this family," Maria said, looking at the door. She saw Bima was still carrying Imel inside.

Imel's eyes looked red as if she had just cried.

Anya's face looked uncomfortable when Imel arrived. She immediately looked at the sofa, afraid that Aiden would lose control of his emotions and leave without eating.

Aiden was sitting on the sofa calling someone when he heard the sound of high heels coming from the door. He immediately spoke briefly and then hung up the phone.

After that, he rose to his feet, left the living room and headed straight to the dining room. His face looked flat and expressionless, as if he did not see Bima and Imel at all.

Bima looked a little embarrassed and said to him, "Aiden, Aunt Imel just wants to come visit Ivan. She will leave after dinner,"

"This is your home. It's up to you what you want to do with your guests," Aiden said without expression on his face. However, he stressed the word 'guest' firmly.

In the Atmajaya Family, not a single person considered Imel as a family member. She was just a guest.

When he heard that Imel was coming, Ivan immediately came down from upstairs.

"Mother, why did you come?" Ivan's face showed neither anger nor joy.

"I went to the hospital, but you weren't there. I was worried for you, so I came home. Are you alright?" Imel asked.

When Imel and Ivan were showing the love of mother and child, Aiden was already walking to Anya's place. He put his hands behind Anya's chair, embracing her whole body.

"Sis Maria is making grilled meat. We can eat first before going home," Aiden whispered in her ear.

When she heard this, Anya was relieved. She was afraid that Aiden would get angry and leave without dinner like before.

"Anya, do you like grilled meat?" Hearing what Anya and Aiden were talking about, Maria chimed in. Her hands were busy moving the plates on the table and placing a large plate in front of them. "You and Aiden sit here. I will put the roast beef in front of you,"

Anya laughed at that. "Thank you, Sis!"

"Wear the bracelet that dad gave you at dinner. I will prepare food and then go back to the room wearing the same bracelet," Maria said.

Anya couldn't understand why Maria told her to wear the bracelet while eating. What if the bracelet got dirty or stained with oil from the food?

However, remembering that the bracelet was passed on by the Atmajaya Family to their daughter-in-law, Anya thought that maybe this was a rule from the Atmajaya Family. Was there a tradition that the daughter-in-law must wear a family legacy bracelet at the dinner table?

Anya was too innocent and didn't think much. She just obeyed what Maria said.

When she returned to the dining room again, Maria was already wearing the same bracelet as Anya's. She greeted Imel with a smile.

"Father, it's time for dinner."

Anya was cutting fruit at the bar near the kitchen and Aiden was standing beside her. Nobody knew what they were talking about, but Anya was seen smiling whenever Aiden spoke.

Ivan looked at the two people. When he saw the smile on Anya's lips, he smiled too.

Imel looked at his son and followed the direction of his gaze. She saw Anya smiling and being very affectionate with Aiden, making her grit her teeth hatefully.

"Ivan, your sister-in-law called you for dinner," Imel patted Ivan's shoulder.

Ivan immediately looked away. When he saw the various kinds of dishes that were already served on the table, he said with a smile, "Sis, thank you for cooking so much food. It must be troublesome for you,"

"Anya also helped me to prepare it. It's not troublesome at all," Maria deliberately mentioned the help from Anya.

Bima looked happy when he heard that. "It would be great if the family could get together and eat together,"

"Grandpa, I'll sit next to you," No matter how old Nico was, he would always act spoiled in front of his grandfather. Especially in times of need like this…

Bima sat on the main chair right at the end of the table. On his left were Aiden and Anya's seats. After that, Maria sat beside Anya.

On his right, Nico took the first place, right in the middle of Bima and Imel. Meanwhile, Ivan sat beside Imel.

As daughter-in-law, Anya took the initiative to pour wine in Bima's glass.

After that, Nico said, "Auntie, let me pour the wine for Grandpa. Auntie can pour wine for Uncle Aiden and my mother. Uncle Ivan, let me fill your glass…"

Nico wanted to pour wine for his uncle, but Imel's current position prevented him so he gave Imel a disgusted look. "Can you move your seat? I want to drink wine with my uncle,"

Imel felt that her anger was getting worse. But she didn't dare to say anything.

She immediately moved with Ivan and sat on the side, the farthest place from Bima.

What made her even more angry was that she couldn't enjoy the dishes at all. Although there was a wide variety of food on the dining table, the only food within her reach was a vegetable salad on the side.

"It's rare for our family to gather and have dinner together. Let's toast!" Nico rose to his feet, raising his glass, inviting everyone to come with him.

Maria lowered her voice and whispered to Anya, "Look, Imel's glass is still empty."