"Aurelia, you haven't been home in a long time. Why don't you come by today?" Balthazar Shaw's voice came through the phone. He paused and added, "Don't bring Mason Nightshade, your father wants to talk to you alone."
Balthazar Shaw was considerate of her feelings and didn't say much, but that didn't mean she didn't understand.
Aurelia's eyes flashed, "Okay, I'll come over later."
Aurelia went upstairs to change clothes, left the house, looked at the rows of cars in the garage, pondered for a moment, and chose a new, expensive yet understated cobalt blue sports car to drive out.
Driving all the way to the Shaw residence, Jovana Shaw ran out, her eyes turning red with jealousy when she saw the car Aurelia was driving.
She had seen this car at last week's auto show. Although she liked it, her allowance couldn't possibly buy it. When she discussed it with her father, he said she was still a student and that such a car wasn't suitable for her, so she had to give up.
But unexpectedly, today she saw Aurelia driving that car over.
Did Mason Nightshade buy it for her?
The thought of this almost drove Jovana Shaw insane with jealousy, wanting to rush over and give Aurelia a hard slap to snatch the car keys away.
Aurelia's things should be hers!
Considering Balthazar was present, Jovana Shaw suppressed this impulse and instead put on a look of naive admiration. "Wow, sister, the car you're driving is so beautiful. It must have cost a lot, right?"
The car wasn't cheap. When she initially asked Balthazar to buy it, part of the reason was its high price.
Aurelia gave her a calm glance.
Jovana Shaw shivered all over, suddenly feeling a chilling sensation as if she had been seen through.
"Mason Nightshade bought it." She only uttered those four words.
In Jovana Shaw's mind, she misconstrued it into Mason buying it for her, the jealousy causing the red veins to crawl to her eyes. She held onto Aurelia's image tightly with her gaze, watching her walk inside only to be brought back to reality by Balthazar's eyes, her head lowering in timidity but with a terrifying hatred hidden behind her hair.
Balthazar Shaw frowned, gazing intently at Jovana for a moment before speaking in a deep voice, "Why are you standing there in a daze? Your sister is finally here; come inside."
"I got it, Dad." Jovana replied obediently, though her hands clenched tightly behind her, sharp nails digging into her palms.
Dinner was already laid out on the table, and it consisted of all the dishes Aurelia liked.
"Sit down and eat first," Balthazar said, "I instructed the servants to make all the dishes you like. This sweet and sour pork ribs..."
"I liked that when I was small," Aurelia's slightly indifferent voice interrupted the rest of Balthazar's words. Her eyes, like peach blossoms, lightly gazed at the table filled with dishes. Indeed, they were her favorites, but that was a long time ago. Tastes change, what you like today might not be liked tomorrow, what you liked as a child may not appeal when grown up.
Balthazar Shaw's expression stiffened, his hand holding the meat halted in mid-air, unsure of what to do next, a trace of guilt flashing across his face.
Clara Philips' eyes darted between the two of them, taking the ribs from Balthazar's hand with a smile, "See, you still treat Aurelia like a child. She's been living in M Nation for three years; of course, her tastes have changed."
She turned her head and smiled again at Aurelia, "Aurelia, next time you come back, I'll have the servants make some western food for you."
Aurelia lifted her peach blossom eyes, looking at Clara Philips' facade, "I hate western food."