Chapter 139 - Trying too hard (2)

As Mana and Lila sat and made small talk, the maids brought in an elaborate tea tray for both ladies.

On Mana's tea tray, there was a deep earl grey and beautiful lemon meringue tarts. She held her breath for a minute….was it?

Lila laughed gently at Mana's reaction.

"Yes, my brother sends his apologies for not being able to be present today."

Lila had annoyed her brother into spilling the details of his run in with Lina and her 'boring little friend'. She had specially made sure that the cooks made lemon meringue tarts to keep Mana hooked.

"Oh- Oh dear, I don't know what to say! How kind of Loren…and how thoughtful!" she exclaimed in euphoria as she tucked a strand of her straight brown hair behind her ear, blushing lightly.

The truth was Loren didn't even know they had a visitor, and even if he knew, he never really cared.

Now that Lila knew she had honed in on Mana's weakness, her need for affirmation, she decided to get to the point.

"Mana, I saw you were quite upset that day at the University fair. Do you want to talk about it?" she asked gently, in that same nurturing tone she had used before to coax Mana.

Suddenly the sparkle left Mana's eyes. She remembered the disagreement between herself and Lina and the anger rose in her chest once again.

"There's not so much to talk about" Mana said, her voice tightening.

Lila knew something was up. But she couldn't be so crass as to ask Mana straight out. She'd have to ease her way in.

"Don't worry, forget about it, we don't have to ponder over silly things that don't matter anyway."

Those words latched on to Mana just as Lila had planned. She had baited her.

'silly things that don't matter anyway'

Mana had felt insignificant all her life, and those words hit the spot, just as Lila had predicted.

"Actually no. They do matter. Who does Lina think she is? Just because she married into some powerful household, doesn't maker her superior than the rest of the world. It's not like she was born into royalty like you!"

Lila held her breath. Lina was married into a powerful household? What was this? Did this have something to do with her backing? She couldn't have been married already during college right? And who could have strong-armed HER family and kept Lina safe from expulsion?

"Wait, what do you mean? I'm confused. Which family is Lina married into?"

Lila suddenly felt a sense of foreboding, as if she didn't really want to know the answer. Suddenly the image of Shen Moshi popped into her head, near the bathrooms at the University.

Mana paused. She didn't want to outrightly betray Lina. She bit her lower lip, and her fingers fidgeted with the ends of her dress.

But Lila grew impatient. She felt like she needed to know, even if it hurt her feelings.

"Mana, just tell me, now that you've opened Pandora's box. If you want me to go through this with you, just be honest"

Mana sighed. Lila was right. If she was going to pick a fight with Lina, she might as well definitely choose what side she was on.

"She is Shen Moshi's wife."

Mana's reply froze Lila. Now she knew why the mention of Lina being married to an influential family had got a rise out of her.

That's why her brother had been insisting to go to the University fair that day when he never went anywhere, least of all accompanying her on outings.

That's why Shen had been at the University fair too. He was just protecting his wife's identity when he spoke to whoever 'Ayu' was on the phone!

It made her angry to think Shen was protecting her. That means he actually cared about her. That's why he was even there! There was no need for him to make an appearance at the fair - he wasn't even an alumnus. Shen had been educated abroad.

That's why he wasn't snapping up her father's offer to invest if he agreed to marry Lila. Shen really didn't WANT to marry her because he cared about his wife…Lina.

But she needed to confirm this fact with Mana.

"Are they close?" she asked coldly.

Mana grew slightly uncomfortable. She knew Lila hated Lina, but there was something strange about Lila's reaction. She seemed almost…wounded.

"Yes. Shen seems to really dote on her. He's extremely overprotective, from what I've seen."

Lila was doing everything in her power to maintain her poise. But internally, she could feel her heart thumping in anger, her fingers tingling with anxiety.

But she couldn't let Mana see her weaknesses. Nobody should be able to exploit her. Her mind needed to remain sharp if she wanted to achieve her goals.

Lila's face turned composed again, confusing Mana immensely.

Have some tea, Mana. I hope you're liking the taste. This Earl Gray was gifted to my father by a very close business associate in L city."

"Uh, yes, it's very relaxing" Mana responded, confused all of a sudden. Lila Lim was hard to read.

"Lila, what do you want to do about it?" she asked slowly, taking another sip of her tea.

Lila looked up, a charming smile on her lips, as if she hadn't fully understood Mana's intent.

"Do about what?" she asked casually.

"Lina?"

Lila's eyes widened as look of surprise crept into her eyes. Mana seemed more intent on hurting her once best friend than she had initially thought.

"Well, let's take things slow. Why don't you…apologise to her, about your fight?" Lila suggested, a soft gleam in her eyes, the gears in her mind turning.

Mana almost dropped her teacup and saucer. Apologise? Had she heard correctly?

"What? Why would I do that? So she can walk over me and lord her life over me again? Make it all about her again?" Mana sputtered ungracefully.

"If you want to win the war, you need to keep your cards close to your chest. Let your opponent reveal theirs first. Lina was gonna for so long, I wonder what she's hiding besides her marriage to Shen" Lila schemed.

"Ha! I know everything, she is so gullible" Mana crowed.

Lila raised her eyebrows. There was more?

"Oh yes, there is so much more. She was in a coma this whole time she disappeared. Double assassination attempt. I wonder who could have been so dumb as to not have finished her off already!" Mana scowled savagely.

Lila smirked. Lina had made a lot more enemies than she had expected. Maybe she wouldn't have to get her hands dirty at all. She could just feed Lina to the wolves. No doubt, her brother knew more. He was always spying on the Moshis anyway.

That was her next thought. Loren was going to be her instrument.