"Mom, you mustn’t say anything like this to Sister. She’s already prejudiced against you. You’re doing it for her own good, but she doesn’t think so."
Upon hearing this, Pauline Briggs’s eyes reddened, and she said, aggrieved, "She always thinks I’m trying to hurt her, but I’m her biological mother. Wouldn’t I love her?"
"Mom, I know, I understand. Don’t be sad."
"Ever since she ca back three years ago, she’s been like a different person. I hardly recognize her now..."
Sabrina Johnson comforted Mother Johnson, saying, "Mom, you still have . Even if Sister doesn’t recognize you, you still have as your daughter."
Sabrina Johnson would love it if her adoptive mother and Sienna Johnson were at odds.
Pauline Briggs gently patted her adopted daughter’s hand and stopped complaining. She picked out her clothes and focused on applying light makeup, planning to et the Brown family later.
「...」
Sienna Johnson personally cooked, and Kenneth Brown helped her in the kitchen. The aroma from the dishes on the table was mouth-watering.
"It slls so good..." Kenneth Brown, wearing an apron, slled the freshly stir-fried lilies and gave Sienna Johnson a thumbs-up.
"I haven’t cooked in a long ti. My skills have gotten rusty," Sienna Johnson said, a little embarrassed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You could be a chef at a five-star hotel."
"You flatterer," she laughed softly, full of charm, leaving Kenneth, who was watching from the side, sowhat srized.
"Sister, Brother’s family is here..." Samara ran in and reported to her sister.
Sienna Johnson took off her apron, handed the remaining work to the kitchen servant, washed her hands, and walked out with Kenneth Brown.
"Mom and Dad... Little Sister, Little Brother..."
Kenneth’s whole family had arrived: his parents, sister, and brother. Kenneth’s sister, Carole Brown, had joined Eastminster Pharmaceutical Factory after graduation. Now, she worked in the Research and Developnt Departnt and was highly competent.
"Hello, Uncle and Aunt," Sienna Johnson greeted the elderly couple.
"Hello, hello..." The elderly couple seed a little reserved upon seeing Sienna Johnson. Kenneth’s parents were simple, honest people, while his younger siblings were much livelier.
"Hello, Sister Sienna."
"Hello."
"Co on in, everyone," Sienna Johnson called out.
Sienna Johnson supported Father Brown, who had a slight limp, into the Johnson family’s living room, where Grandma, Pauline Briggs, and the others had been waiting for so ti.
Seeing the Brown family enter, Grandma warmly greeted them, "You’re all here! Please, sit down, sit down. Kathryn, go get my treasured iron goddess tea and brew so for everyone."
"Uncle, Aunt, this is my grandmother, and this is my mother," Sienna introduced them to each other.
"Hello, Esteed Madam, and Mother-in-law," Mr. and Mrs. Brown replied.
"Hello," Pauline Briggs responded.
"Please, everyone, take a seat."
Everyone sat down. Kenneth Brown sat with his parents, while Sienna Johnson sat beside her grandmother. Curly, nestled in Sienna’s lap, curiously watched the newcors.
Simon Brown, Kenneth’s brother, was a businessman with a lively personality. With him present, there were no awkward silences.
"This beautiful child must be Curly?" Father Brown looked kindly at Curly. No wonder my high-standards son fell for a woman with a child, he thought. The child is beautiful, and Sienna Johnson is beautiful too.
Sabrina Johnson interjected, "Curly resembles her father."
Sabrina was reminding everyone of Sienna’s painful past. Sienna knew Sabrina hadn’t co today to offer blessings, but rely to watch the drama unfold.
However, Sienna wasn’t particularly angered by Sabrina’s remark. After all, Kenneth’s family had to accept Curly if she were to marry him.
"She also resembles her mother," soone comnted.
Kenneth Brown laughed. "Why do I feel like Curly looks a bit like too?"
Carole Brown joked, "Brother, you’re so plain! If Curly looks like you, you’ll have to prepare an extra-large dowry for her when she gets married."
Curly piped up, "Father Kenneth isn’t plain! He’s handso!"
Kenneth Brown looked at Curly with a pleased expression. "Curly, Daddy’s love for you hasn’t been in vain. You’re still on my side."
HAHAHA...
As the eldest family mber, Grandma spoke up, "We invited you here today mainly to discuss the children’s marriage. We are very satisfied with Kenneth. He is steady, considerate, and capable. It’s a blessing for the Johnson family to have a grandson-in-law like him."
Kenneth Brown was also the apple of his parents’ eyes. Although they knew their son was capable, they responded modestly, "Oh, you’re too kind. He’s not nearly as good as you say."
Despite having such a capable son, Mr. and Mrs. Brown had always been reluctant about him marrying into his wife’s family. In their view, sons-in-law who did so were typically n too poor to support themselves. The Brown family was well-respected in their village, and Father Brown, in particular, felt he couldn’t hold his head up high with their eldest son becoming a live-in son-in-law.
Seeing Sienna Johnson’s fairy-like beauty and Curly’s cherubic charm today, they understood their son’s choice sowhat, yet they still felt unreconciled and uneasy. Could their sowhat naive son truly hold onto such a stunningly beautiful woman?
Kenneth Brown laughed. "Can we skip the pleasantries and get to the main topic?"
Simon Brown teased, "Look at how impatient my brother is! Sister Sienna isn’t going anywhere..."
Everyone laughed. Kenneth Brown glanced at Sienna Johnson and blushed, but Sienna, wearing a faint smile, remained composed.
Sienna Johnson chatted cheerfully with Mr. and Mrs. Brown, with Kenneth Brown occasionally chiming in. The dinner passed in a peaceful and warm atmosphere. Afterward, Sienna played cards with them. She didn’t know any other gas, only Gouji, and they played until it was dark. Finally, Sienna felt she had accomplished her task for the evening.
Their engagent was set for the Double Seventh Festival, Orienta’s Valentine’s Day.
The date was chosen by Mr. and Mrs. Brown, who said it was an auspicious day. An engagent on the Double Seventh Festival, and the wedding on New Year’s Day. Originally, Mr. and Mrs. Brown had wanted them to marry directly, but Grandma said it wasn’t in accordance with tradition, and Mr. and Mrs. Brown didn’t press the matter further.
「The room was bathed in clear moonlight.」
Sienna Johnson sat on a stone bench in the garden, looking at the water-like moonlight, feeling an endless desolation in her heart.
She was engaged now...
Her emotions were as turbulent as water; she couldn’t describe her feelings at this mont.
"Sienna..."
Surprisingly, Frederick Stewart hadn’t left. Annoyed at being disturbed, Sienna Johnson asked coldly, "Mr. Stewart, why haven’t you left yet?"
"It seems Mother-in-law isn’t too happy. Sabrina wants to stay and comfort her. Seeing as it was getting late, I decided to stay as well."
Sienna Johnson stood up. She really had nothing to say to this man. She vividly rembered how Frederick Stewart and his wife had almost driven her to her death. Over the years, she hadn’t retaliated.
Not retaliating didn’t an she had forgotten.
Instead, she was busy expanding the Johnson family’s business. Frederick Stewart’s power was too great; she couldn’t make a move against them for now.
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