She arrived at the Ginger Family a few days ago, he clearly saw expectations in her eyes.
Having grown up without a father, her eyes had held hopes and intimacy when she looked at him, and just now when she was coming downstairs, she seemed sincere and laughed with him, like a good daughter.
He seemed to hear a "bang" sound.
The heart that had been open suddenly slammed shut, turning cold and rigid.
The little bit of father-daughter relationship they had managed to build vanished utterly after his recent hesitation and suspicion.
Aiden Jiang regretted his initial doubts.
"If you're unhappy, take some money and have fun outside for a few days," Aiden looked at her, trying to offer reluctant comfort, "Don't forget your birthday on the twenty-third."
"Okay." Mia Ginger replied briefly and left.
Koa Jackson swept his gaze around, ultimately didn't say anything, nodded slightly, and followed her out.
Everyone in the hall seemed a bit dejected.
After a moment, Zuri Ginger was the first to stand up, finding an excuse to return to her room.
This incident was unexpected, she felt exhausted and a bit confused, surely feeling like she had been outmaneuvered by Mia, which made her very angry.
Zuri Ginger closed the door with a stiff face.
She hadn't even exhaled yet when Bob Ginger suddenly opened the door and entered.
"Sister, take a break," Zuri Ginger glanced at him, forcing a smile, "Is there anything? If not, go back to your room."
"Was it you?" Bob Ginger clenched his fist, his voice trembling.
"Was it you?" Bob Ginger looked at her with a complex expression, enunciating each word, "Was it you who bribed Amelia Miller to put mom's Jade Bracelet into Mia Ginger's bag, deliberately framing her?"
Zuri Ginger's expression froze.
After a moment, she laughed incredulously, "What are you talking about?"
"I saw it!" Bob Ginger, agitated and frantic, "I saw Amelia Miller putting stuff into her bag, and I saw you signaling to her!"
Bob Ginger raised one hand and rubbed his fingers together, "Money! Do you think I don't understand this gesture?"
"I did not." Zuri Ginger's face changed slightly, "You're seeing things."
"Sister!" Bob Ginger called out, his expression extremely complex, "Why? Why would you do such a thing! It's so malicious and unethical!"
Zuri Ginger bit her lip, staring at him for a while without speaking, then walked to the balcony.
"Sister!" Bob Ginger pursued her closely, "Are you admitting it? Why exactly did you do it?"
Zuri Ginger sat on the chair with her back to him, her shoulders trembling.
Bob Ginger bit his lip, and the anger in his heart inexplicably subsided a bit.
He suddenly thought of Mia Ginger.
She had been living in this household for over a month, Zuri Ginger cried often, yet she seemed not to have cried much besides just now downstairs.
Usually, her eyes would glisten with tears.
It felt almost like an illusion, as if she never actually cried.
But this time was different.
She was trembling with anger, her thin shoulders quaking violently, her eyes blazed as she looked at him, smiling even while tears spilled out.
Her crying was different from Zuri Ginger.
Big teardrops fell one by one, but still, she was clenching her fists and grinding her teeth, desperately holding back, speaking coldly and firmly, as if she refused to admit defeat.
It made him feel heartache.
Bob Ginger's mind was in disarray, feeling even worse.