Chapter 7 Deal

• "WHY did you bring me here?" Jillian asked Victoria.
• "So you can see how many people will lose their jobs if you don’t marry Sake," her aunt replied.
• She had brought her to their family’s shoe factory—something Jillian hadn’t even known they owned, since their livelihood had changed after her father’s death.
• "The wedding is still happening. How many times do I have to tell you? Nothing has changed from the original plan," she said irritably. Was Victoria trying to guilt-trip her?
• "JSF can’t wait any longer, Jillian." Real sadness flickered across Victoria’s face. "I’ve done everything I could, but we’re drowning in debt. We’ve been bankrupt for two years. I don’t think the business can last another six months."
• "The brand isn’t known in the market, Aunt Victoria," Jillian commented. She had never even heard of their shoes in stores. "Maybe you need a rebrand."
• Victoria shrugged.
• "Well, I guess I have no choice but to shut it down."
• Jillian paused to think. The factory had many workers. If each of them had families to support, shutting it down would mean many people going hungry. And she wasn’t heartless. Maybe there was another way besides rushing into marriage.
• "Please, Jillian. Even if not for our family—do it for these people."
• —
• "Aunt Lora!" Jillian was surprised to see Sake’s mother talking with Valeria when they got home. "You dropped by."
• "Mrs. Fortalejo, what a surprise," Victoria said.
• "I came to visit my future daughter-in-law." Lora stood and kissed Jillian’s cheek. "How are you, dear?"
• "I’m okay. You should have called, Auntie, so we could have stayed in."
• "It’s fine. Your mother was a lovely host. Right, Valeria?" she said to Valeria, who just smiled.
• "‘Ma, I’ll take care of Aunt Lora. Please rest. Aunt Victoria, please accompany Mama to her room... I’m sorry, Aunt Lora, my mom isn’t feeling well. I hope—"
• "I told you it’s fine. Valeria looks alright. Don’t worry—Sake told me about her condition. I don’t see anything wrong with her. You’ve taken good care of your mother," Lora replied, her gaze shifting to the women heading upstairs.
• "Thank you. Um, would you like anything, Auntie? A drink? Juice? Water? Coffee?"
• "Coffee would be lovely," Lora said with a smile.
• Jillian asked the maid to prepare it, and they moved to the garden where Lora said she wanted a private word. Jillian felt a bit anxious.
• "Auntie, if this is about the wedding—" she began hesitantly.
• "I understand now why you said no, Jillian."
• Jillian froze. Lora had called her Jillian—not Julia!
• "You’re not Julia," Lora said calmly, to Jillian’s shock. "I know the truth."
• "Y-you’re not mad, Auntie?" she asked, unsure whether to deny it or not.
• "I don’t know about my son, but I noticed right away you weren’t Julia. Maybe because Sake truly believed in the amnesia excuse. Clever move. But I’m not easily fooled, Jillian. I know Julia’s still in a coma. I never believed she suddenly recovered. Also, I liked you from the moment I saw you. And when you sang for me, it confirmed everything. Your sister can’t sing. She has no talents except looking pretty. But those were just suspicions—until today. Valeria may be ill, but a mother doesn’t forget she has two daughters."
• "So you came here because...?"
• "I like you for my son," Lora said without hesitation.
• "But I’m not Julia," Jillian said, still confused.
• "Exactly why I like you. Because you’re not Julia. Marry Sake, and I promise I’ll help you save JSF Shoes," she said, as if she already knew exactly what Jillian needed.
• "But why? Are you really going to be part of this lie against your own son?"
• "Sake will thank me someday."
• "What if Julia wakes up?"
• "We’ll deal with that when it happens. For now, I just want you to marry Sake. While Julia’s still asleep."
• "I don’t understand."
• "You don’t need to. One more thing—don’t tell Victoria I know who you are. It’s our secret. Our deal."
• Even after Lora left, Jillian couldn’t believe what had just happened. All because she didn’t like Julia, Lora now wanted her to marry her only son? But how could Jillian turn down an offer to save their company?
• —
• "Hey, my love, you called?" Sake answered on the other end of the line.
• She hadn’t seen him in two days since that dinner. Though he’d said he’d be busy at work, she still couldn’t help but worry that he might be upset.
• "I was wondering if I could see you tonight," she asked, gathering her courage. "I’ll cook dinner here at home. Ask Aunt Lora to come, too."
• "Wait, did you just say you’ll cook?" he asked with a laugh.
• "Yeah...?" she replied. "I want to make it up to you, for how I acted."
• "Julia, it’s okay. I told you—you were right. We’re not in a rush. See you tonight. Just make sure the food’s edible," he joked.
• "Of course!" Hello, she was actually a good cook.
• "And don’t burn the house down," he teased again. "Bye, Juls."
• She laughed, realizing Julia probably didn’t know how to cook.
• "Bye, S—" She was about to end the call when she heard a woman’s voice in the background.
• “Sake.”
• Then the line went dead.