Secrets of Lakefront House
CHAPTER 31. JONATHAN AND VINO

Jilena liked the little boy who was so adorable. Yeah, it's worth stealing his handsome father's heart. Vino pushed his little shoulders back and stood upright, he felt proud to hear the praise of Jilena, his idolized father's 'old friend.

Her face was beaming at Jilena, looking as if she was hypnotized by her beauty. Then he turned his eyes and tilted his head. “How about Daddy? What handsome daddy?”

Jilena glanced at Jonathan before looking back at Vino. “I think he's handsome too, his body is tall, his eyes are beautiful, and his smile is sweet.” Unknowingly the sentence slid from his lips. Vino who heard Jilena's words rounded his eyes and smiled.

"Daddy likes a pretty aunt, too" he stared at Jilena and Jonathan in turn.

Jilena threw a mischievous smile at Jonathan who was leaning back and his hand was placed on his left chest, his face sparkling. Vino is a smart boy who knows how to unite his father with the idol. "Daddy? Can daddy take her with us for a walk? Dating?”

"Oh, Vino, what are you talking about? I don't think he wants—" said Jonathan, astonished to hear his son's words.

"Auntie would, right? Want huh?" he said with a face. This boy is adorable.

"By pleasure." Jilena stood up and her gaze shifted from Vino to Jonathan. "That's fine, if I don't interrupt father-son time.” A smile emanated on Jonathan's face, lighting up his eyes. “No bothering. It's nice to be with you.”

"Hore...hore..daddy is dating an old friend." she said, clapping in pleasure. The phrase 'old friend' that his father once uttered was misinterpreted by the boy as an ex-girlfriend.

Jilena and Jonathan looked at each other with meaningful gazes and threw smiles at each other.

"Ehem...Vino can't talk like that" Jonathan said as he stroked his son's head. To be honest, he was pleased with his son.

"A pretty aunt doesn't get mad at koq, dad," he said staring straight unblinkingly at Jilena's face.

The girl's face was blushing, ashamed of being teased by a child. Did Vino deliberately talk like that? Or maybe Jonathan told him to? His mind was filled with thousands of questions. There was no way a child like Vino could talk that way, he thought.

Jilena glanced at her watch. “Sorry, I have to go, there is an interview to do in about an hour, but I can catch up with you after that.” He crouched back parallel to Vino. “Can I? You don't mind, do you?”

Vino nodded his head up and down with deliberate movements. "Yes. But don't be a pretty aunt."

"Now, what can I bring you two?" Ramira asked from behind the counter.

"Coffee, as always," Jonathan replied.

“Nothing for Vino? Maybe chocolate cupcake.”

“He ate, Ramira. But thank you.”

“Oh, he can't leave here empty-handed. This handsome boy must be sad.” Ramira gave him a mock pout. “How about a very special chip chocolate cake? For snacks at home."

A big smile on Vino's face and he jumped up and down while on his tiptoes. "Please, Daddy, please."

"You're not helping at all." Jonathan frowned, his gaze shifting from Jilena to Ramira.

"I think one cake is enough." Jonathan takes the cake and napkin from Ramira and hands it to his son before turning his attention back to Jilena.

“Who did you interview this morning? If you don't mind my question .”

"Well, Detective Jonathan, I'm gonna interview Arlina Arsyanendra" while putting her hand on Jonathan's.

“I'm not a detective yet. I'm curious." He leaned closer to Jilena and— lowered his voice. "Does this have anything to do with the murder?"

“No, Mr. pretentious. I have to write a story about the Flower Party, and it just so happens to be Miss. Arsyanendra becomes president of the Lembayung Club. However, I also want to hear the story from him myself, I plan to ask him some questions about what he knows about Mariana and the murder.”

"You were once a researcher." Sermai slowly slanted on his lips. “Wira not—like you in doing his job.”

“It was also my job. You think he'll thank me for my help.”

“Don't step over it in that case. Let the hero detective think that what you do is his idea and you will get along well" Jonathan said. He doesn't want Jilena to get into trouble at his job.

Jilena turned her eyes to Vino who was seen enjoying her chocolate cake. It was so adorable that the boy, just as his father muttered in his heart with a smile.

...*...

Upon arriving at a mansion belonging to the Arsyanendra family, a housekeeper invited Jilena in and sat in the living room to wait for Arlina Arsyanendra. As he waited, while watching the surroundings of the room, the bright colors of the walls made of marble and the large and tall windows, were bright, flanked with floor-to-ceiling silk curtains—flower design in yellow, green, and red.

His decoration might have changed over the years, but he still clearly remembered the last time he had been there. That night she and Noah gather their parents to deliver the news that she is pregnant.

That night, she was a terrified teenager seeking help and direction from an adult. In his view, Mr. Arsyanendra looked big, maybe bigger than his father. His presence and attitude made his knees feel trembling and weak. But today, Jilena was determined, she would no longer be intimidated by the man. As he gazed around Arsyanendra's magnificent palace, new beliefs began to appear in him.

He is a professional reporter now. He will vigorously investigate this brutal crime, he will follow wherever the case takes him. Even if it leads him to the door of the Arsyanendra family home.

Before long, Arlina Arsyanendra came out of the room and sat on the white sofa, opposite Jilena's chair.

"Thank you for meeting me, Mrs Arsyanendra."

"Please, call me Arlina."

Arlina was almost forty years old, but looked like she was thirty, her skin was tight and she looked young, her body as well. From what Auntie Dewi told her, about the woman who always went to the dermatologist and beauty spa to get rid of wrinkles, and other disturbing signs of aging.

The woman is slim but beautiful and her clothes are very fitting probably from a famous designer. She is beautiful by anyone size — pointed nose, full lips, long hair with blonde highlights, and black eyes outlined with thick eyelashes. It's clear how he can snare Arsyanendra. Still, Jilena wondered if that was enough to keep her loyal—as wife number two. There must be another reason that kept him alive.