Sienna Johnson didn’t return alone this time; she brought Rose Collins and Marvin Rafael with her.
At first, they were reluctant. Sienna used both persuasion and pressure to convince them to come. Rose’s health was poor, and the hospitals in a large city could offer better treatment. Marvin, approaching thirty, couldn’t remain in their small town indefinitely.
"Mom, we’re here. This is Sileria City."
"It truly is a big city. There are tall buildings everywhere." Rose was captivated by the vibrant metropolis.
Sienna smiled gently. "Mom, from now on, this will be your home."
Rose took her daughter’s hand, worried. "The Johnson Family won’t object, will they?"
"Mom, you won’t be living with them, so what could they possibly say?"
"Mom, don’t worry. When I divorced Curly Baby’s father, he gave me a substantial alimony payment. It’s more than enough for your retirement."
"That’s Curly Baby’s money. Don’t you go spending it recklessly," Rose cautioned.
Upon her return, Sienna looked much improved. The despair and sorrow had vanished from her face, replaced by an aura of energy and confidence in her every gesture. To her surprise, her grandmother came to pick her up personally.
"Grandma, you didn’t have to come. A driver would have been fine."
Sienna’s smile was radiant as she affectionately took her grandmother’s arm. "I missed my little one." ’Little one’ was her grandmother’s nickname for Curly Baby.
At that moment, Curly Baby was sound asleep in Kiki’s arms. Grandmother glanced at the mother and son accompanying Sienna and asked, "And these are?"
"My adoptive mother and her son."
"A pleasure to meet you, Madam." Rose was extremely nervous, unsure what to do with her hands.
Grandmother smiled kindly at them. "So, you are Sienna’s adoptive mother and brother. Sienna speaks of you often."
Rose was even more overwhelmed. "That girl, always saying such things..." She glanced nervously at Sienna, who nodded reassuringly.
"We’re all family here; there’s no need for such formality." Grandmother showed great consideration for Sienna.
"Grandma, let’s go home."
「Johnson Family Kitchen.」
Mother Johnson had been busy since the previous day, when she learned Sienna was returning.
She was personally cooking a lavish dinner for Sienna, attempting to mend their mother-daughter relationship. Sienna’s words on that day had deeply wounded her.
She had raised Sabrina since she was a child. When Sabrina had chickenpox as a little girl, she had held her night after night, sleepless, until she recovered. They weren’t biological mother and daughter, yet their bond was closer than many who were. Then, to suddenly discover that the child she cherished so deeply wasn’t her own... Mother Johnson’s first reaction had been denial. Both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh. Sabrina had always been the palm of her hand, while Sienna was the back. Due to years of neglect, the back of her hand had been injured.
"Madam, Miss has returned," Iris Harris reported, entering the room.
"She’s here?" Mother Johnson exclaimed.
"Yes." Iris’s eyes flickered. "However... Miss’s adoptive mother and brother are here as well."
"What are they here for?" Water gushed from the faucet as Mother Johnson momentarily forgot to turn it off.
"What else could it be? They’re obviously here to live with the Johnson Family."
"It’s true what they say: you’re closest to whoever raises you," Iris said, adding fuel to the fire. "Although Miss has returned to the Johnson Family, her heart has always been with her adoptive mother. Now that the old lady plans to hand over the company to Miss, Miss can speak more freely in the family. Consequently, she hurriedly invited her adoptive mother over to enjoy the benefits."
"Madam, you can’t let just any riffraff stay. Those people don’t understand the rules. If they stay with the Johnson Family, they’ll only bring shame upon us all."
Mother Johnson didn’t hear any of that. All she remembered was what Iris had just said: you’re closest to whoever raises you. Her daughter had been raised by the woman named Rose Collins and had always been closer to Rose.
This left a bitter taste in Mother Johnson’s mouth.
Rose had been tense since disembarking the plane, and her anxiety only intensified upon entering the Johnson home. Sienna walked over from her grandmother’s side, took Rose’s arm, and gently reassured her, "Don’t be nervous. Just have dinner, and then Lucas Robertson will take you back to the hotel."
"I’m fine. You go and be with your grandmother."
Sienna glanced at Lucas Robertson. "Lucas," she said, "please take good care of them."
Lucas Robertson understood Sienna’s concerns. In this world, too many people looked down on others. The Rafael family’s small-minded demeanor couldn’t even compare to that of the Johnson family’s servants. Given their awkward position, they would likely face much mockery during this dinner.
Mother Johnson approached with Samara to welcome them. Her eyes, filled with sorrow, rested on Sienna, who met her gaze only briefly before looking away.
"Samara..." Sienna beckoned to her biological sister. Dressed in a princess gown, Samara ran over happily, calling out sweetly, "Sister."
"When I went back to my hometown, I chanced upon the annual temple fair. I brought back lots of little trinkets for you. You can come to my room later to get them."
"Okay." Samara turned to look behind Sienna, her gaze falling on the soundly sleeping Curly Baby. "Curly Baby..." Samara was very fond of Curly Baby.
She ran to Kiki, wanting to hold Curly Baby. Kiki, however, looked at Samara’s small frame and frowned. "She’s too heavy for you to hold."
"I can lift her." Samara insisted, stretching out her arms.
Sienna laughed. "Let her try! If she drops my baby..."
Samara interjected, "I’ll just get you another one!"
Sienna pressed her forehead. "She treats Curly Baby like a doll."
Curly Baby woke up, looking confusedly at the little aunt holding her. "Curly Baby, I’m your little aunt," Samara explained, filled with pride at her new status, having always been the youngest herself.
Sienna walked over, stroked her sister’s head, and introduced her. "Mom, this is my sister, Samara Johnson. You can just call her Samara."
"Samara." Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by nοvelfire.net
"Auntie Agatha, hello." Cradling Curly Baby, Samara greeted Rose sweetly. Beside them, Kiki watched intently, terrified Samara might drop the baby.
"She’s so pretty, just like you were when you were young." Looking at Samara, Rose saw a miniature version of Sienna, though Sienna had never possessed Samara’s pure innocence.
Gazing at the sullen Mother Johnson standing nearby, Sienna maintained her smile as she made the introduction. "Mom, this is Madam Johnson, Samara’s mother. Not *my* mother."
Mother Johnson’s expression darkened further, while Rose looked increasingly distressed. "You silly girl, how can you address your mother as Madam Johnson?"