"What?" Mia raised her head and looked at the man; at first, she thought that she had misheard him. After all, with their identities, Lucas should be avoiding her at all costs.
But apparently, that meant nothing to Lucas. Not only did he not avoid her or pretend to not know her, he also leaned towards her and wiped the sauce that was sticking at the corner of her mouth.
If that was all he did, Mia wouldn't have been bothered, but the man did more than that. He brought his thumb, which he had used to wipe the sauce off, to his lips and, as if there was no one around them, licked that sauce off his thumb.
He then said to her, "You eat like a child; do you know that?"
There was a hint of tenderness in his voice, which didn't sit well with the situation.
After all, from the second he stepped into the main hall, he had been polite yet distant with everyone. Including Benjamin, who was more than just friendly. Now that Lucas had done such a thing, it would be a surprise if others didn't find it a bit confusing.
Especially Henry, who seemed to be paying more attention to Mia. He glanced at her and then turned to look at Lucas; even though Jamie was sitting right next to him, he for once didn't bother with her.
"Henry, can you get me some rolls?" Jamie, sensing the disinterest of the man who sat next to her, immediately jumped in to gain his attention. She smiled at him sweetly before pointing to the small tray that held the beef rolls.
Hearing her request, Henry broke his glaring contest with Mia's head and hummed. He brought the tray of beef rolls close to Jamie and let her serve some on her tray before putting the tray down and going back to the staring contest.
Jamie's lips thinned upon seeing this.
She turned her head and glared at Mia as if it were her fault.
Mia smiled helplessly. She hadn't even said a word and yet somehow it was her who got caught in yet another trouble.
The meal was destined to be tasteless. After the small stunt that Lucas pulled on her, Mia didn't even pay attention to what she was eating. With Henry eyeing her in distaste and Jamie glaring at her, Mia felt like she was chewing wax.
All in all, she was quite relieved when the meal came to an end.
"How do you know him?" This was Henry's first question just as Mia stepped out of the restroom after washing her hands. He looked down at her condescendingly and sneered, "I really have to admit that I underestimated you."
Mia had hardly calmed down after what happened at the dining table when Henry came to look for her. She was a bit overwhelmed by his momentum but after handling a bunch of business dealings for Henry, she managed to calm herself down.
She questioned, "What do you mean?"
Speaking of which, the two of them had never been this close ever since the day of their marriage. She looked at those golden eyes that had once charmed her and pursed her lips in a thin line.
"Is it so hard for you to understand normal language?" Henry scoffed with a hint of contempt in his eyes. But somewhere deep within his heart, he couldn't help but be enthralled by Mia.
Even though he hated this woman in front of him, he had to admit that Mia had everything that could charm a man. From her sultry voice to those hypnotising eyes. Everything about her sent a jolt to a man's spine.
'Snap out of it, Henry.' He scolded himself.
He then turned his attention back to Mia and scornfully remarked, "I thought that you were quite smart. How come you cannot even answer such a small question?" His gaze became even more disdainful as he questioned, "Or is there something that you cannot speak?"
Mia felt her heart skip a beat. However, she turned her head just in time and threw the napkin in the trash can to avoid Henry's gaze.
"It is not that I cannot understand your question," Mia answered while trying to calm her wildly beating heart. "Firstly, you do not have the right to question me, Mister Holman. The two of us have been divorced for a while now. Even if I knew Mister Lucas, it has nothing to do with you."
She paused and silkily remarked, "What's more, as the heir of the Holman family, even you were not aware of the existence of this half-brother of yours; how can I, a small director's daughter, be aware of it? Aren't you attaching too much importance to my name?"
"Are you trying to fuck with me?" Henry asked as he took a threatening step close to Mia, who stepped away from him. She used to once believe that Henry wouldn't hurt her but after the night in the pub, she didn't dare anymore. She couldn't afford to trust him.
"I am not trying to do anything," Mia responded, her voice dry and devoid of the panic that she was feeling at that moment. "If anything, I am being honest with you. You asked me whether I knew Mister Lucas and I answered you honestly. I don't."
"If you do not believe me, then you can investigate my past trips and meetings, Mister Holman. I have nothing to hide."
"Are you speaking the truth?" Henry sneered as he caught hold of her chin and pinched her skin harshly. It made Mia wince in pain but she didn't close her eyes and looked right into Henry's gaze.
She could feel her pulse speeding. Mia was not a good liar, and she had to lie continuously now.
'What did that man even want from me?' She wondered. Because Mia held her own suspicions towards Lucas. That man, did he deliberately do that?
She swallowed hard before nodding. "Like I said, you can investigate this matter if you do not believe me."
Mia dared to say this because she knew that Henry must have taken care of what happened last night with his own hands. After all, he was the one involved in the drugging incident and wouldn't leave any evidence behind; as for the rest, she had indeed never met with Lucas.
So, even if Henry investigated, which she knew he wouldn't, he would find nothing.