No matter how much of a lady Nina Kerr is, being called an old aunt inevitably made her feel a bit unsettled. Her smile was slightly stiff as she feigned generosity, patting Jude Sinclair’s little head, "You’re so naughty, calling me aunt. You should follow your brothers and call me sister, got it?"
"So you mean to call you Sister Nina then?" Jude maintained a spirit of inquiry.
Nina smiled sweetly and charmingly, "Of course."
"Since you say so, Sister Nina, if I call you sister, does that mean we’re of the same generation?" Jude blinked with wide-eyed innocence, confusion all over his little face.
Nina nodded, "That’s right."
Jude suddenly seemed to understand something, clapping his hands, "Mommy, now you have another goddaughter! Sister Nina says we’re of the same generation and wants me and my brothers to call her sister, so now she should call you godmother!"
Saying this, Jude turned to Nina with a sweet smile, showing his pearly white teeth, "Sister Nina, hurry and call her godmother. Then we’ll truly be one family."
Nina never expected Jude to say something and was momentarily at a loss for words.
Seraphina Sinclair chuckled sarcastically, curling her lips with a feigned seriousness as she scolded Jude, "Jude, what nonsense are you talking? Do you think your mommy is just anyone? How can she randomly accept people as goddaughters? Quickly apologize to Auntie Nina."
The reproved Jude pouted unhappily but still obediently apologized to Nina, "Sorry, Auntie. My mommy has high standards for accepting goddaughters. They have to be pretty, young, and highly educated. I was too impulsive."
Nina had hoped to hear some kind words from Jude, but she was thinking too much.
Jude’s words clearly implied she wasn’t good-looking, young, or highly educated, right?
Her smile grew even stiffer, but she didn’t dare to lose her temper in front of Old Master White and could only softly protest, "Jude, sister graduated from the best university on Diamond Island, how can you say....."
She didn’t care about anything else, but when it came to education, she was indisputably the top student at school, feeling indignant about being belittled by a brat like Jude.
"University graduate? Is that high education?" Jude blinked with innocent eyes, "Mommy, are you lying to me? Didn’t you say one had to at least have dual Ph.D. degrees like you to be truly educated?"
Jude seemed to see the dawn of victory, his eyes shining brighter, "So if I’m already taking high school courses, does it mean I’ll be highly educated once I finish university?"
One can only tolerate so much. Despite her prestigious background, being jeered at by Jude , Nina couldn’t hold back her irritation.
"Jude, don’t be so disrespectful. No matter how smart you are, you can’t be arrogant, understand?" Seraphina sternly reprimanded, lightly tapping his head.
Jude held his head, pouting adorably, "I got it, mommy. I won’t do it again."
"Nina, Jude is just a child and means no harm with his words. Don’t take it to heart." Seraphina seemed apologetic but was subtly telling Nina not to argue with Jude.
After all, Nina was twenty years older than Jude. If she really held grudges against a child, she would be overstepping her bounds.
Before Nina could respond, even Old Master White interjected, "That’s right, Jude is still young. Nina, you’re no youngster yourself. Don’t take issue with him."
"Yes, Grandpa, you’re right." Nina seethed internally while pretending to be gracious on the outside.
Jude couldn’t let the matter rest and asked, "Great-Grandpa, why does Auntie Nina call you grandpa when my brothers call her sister?"
"This..." Old Master White was stumped.
The explanation wasn’t difficult. Nina was technically the cousin of the White brothers. However, since they were merely relatives without blood ties, and Nina didn’t want to be addressed as ’aunt’ by men just two years younger, she insisted on being called ’sister.’ This text is hosted at N0veI.Fiɾe.net
Jude certainly knew the reason but played dumb, leaving others to guess his sincerity.
Only Nina knew that Jude was intentionally provoking her.
From the moment he entered, he had been deliberately targeting her, calling her aunt to mock her age despite her attempts to appear youthful.
Old Master White couldn’t explain to Jude, so Jude directly asked Nina, "Auntie, can you tell me why?"
Nina’s smile turned awkward, unsure how to respond. She couldn’t just admit she didn’t want to be called ’auntie’.
Everyone could see Nina’s embarrassment, but neither Seraphina nor Old Master White came to her aid, and the servants were too afraid to speak.
Jude noticed the cracks in Nina’s facade and silently mocked her, "Old witch, trying to put on a show."
The issue was finally resolved with Joel White’s arrival.
He took Jude’s hand and said firmly, "Jude, come over, I need to talk to you."
"Oh." Jude stuck his tongue out at Seraphina and followed Joel.
Seraphina waved him off, indicating he should go without worry.
With Jude gone, Seraphina couldn’t continue her banter. But Nina, annoyed after Jude’s taunting, didn’t wish to start another sparring match with Seraphina and left with a random excuse.
After she left, Old Master White thoughtfully told Seraphina, "I’ve spoiled that girl since she was young. If she’s crossed a line, feel free to teach her a lesson, don’t worry about me."
"Aren’t you afraid I’ll pick on your little princess?" Seraphina looked at Old Master White with a half-smile.
"Though we’ve only known each other for six or seven years, I understand your nature very well. If you wanted to make someone’s life difficult, they wouldn’t stand a chance." Old Master White had met countless people, understanding Seraphina thoroughly.
Her eyes held many emotions, but kindness always prevailed.
Old Master White knew Seraphina’s intelligence better than anyone, or she wouldn’t have achieved her position single-handedly.
If Nina behaved, all would be well. But if she chose to challenge Seraphina, she’d surely suffer.
Old Master White sighed, lamenting, "I hope Nina understands my intention and stops competing with you at every turn."
"You’re quite perceptive, sir. I thought she’d deceived everyone with that face." Seraphina mused, peeling a mandarin, a fleeting surprise in her eyes.