Tessa Harrington looked at Vivian Abbey, unsure whether to accept or refuse the offer. Vivian Abbey said calmly, "Thank you, Madam."
"You girls are around my daughter’s age, just call Auntie Briggs," said Pauline Briggs with a smile.
Vivian Abbey replied respectfully, "Madam, how could I do that?"
"No need for formalities, just call Auntie Briggs."
"Yes, thank you... Auntie Briggs," Vivian Abbey respectfully answered.
Tessa Harrington, however, sounded much more affectionate, sweetly calling, "Auntie Briggs!"
"Co and eat, everyone. It won’t taste as good when it’s cold," Pauline Briggs beckoned.
"Alright."
Auntie Ingrid said, as she took the dishes from the thermal container, "Madam has been preparing this since this morning, cooking for more than three hours in the kitchen. Especially this Black Chicken Red Date Soup, it’s very nourishing. Madam started simring it early for you."
Auntie Ingrid had been with the Johnson family for more than a decade and was very knowledgeable about their situation. She knew Pauline Briggs and Sienna Johnson had a strained relationship, so she tried to help Pauline Briggs by bringing the mother and daughter closer.
"Alright." Sienna Johnson cooperated with Auntie Ingrid’s kindness.
She stood up and habitually looked at the Cloudscape Building across from her. Usually, at lunchti, Adrian Desmond would send her signals with a mirror from the building opposite. It was a kind of SOG code, originating from the na of the only secret military Special Forces unit in the Vietnam War—Studies and Observation Group (Reconnaissance Team). Sienna Johnson found it interesting and would sotis play along by the window when she felt tired.
Suddenly, her cell phone rang. Sienna Johnson hurriedly picked it up, only to see a promotional ssage, a flash of disappointnt crossing her eyes.
"Auntie Briggs, did you make all these dishes?" Tessa Harrington asked.
"Yes," Pauline Briggs replied.
Tessa Harrington gave a thumbs up. "Auntie Briggs, you’re amazing! You’re beautiful, and your cooking is so delicious. Whoever married you must be very lucky."
"You sweet talker..." Pauline Briggs chuckled. "People do love to hear pretty words; who wouldn’t feel good hearing them?"
"Auntie Briggs, I’m just telling the truth," Tessa Harrington insisted.
Pauline Briggs smiled.
"Auntie Briggs, are you coming to bring lunch for President Johnson again tomorrow?" Tessa Harrington asked.
Pauline Briggs glanced at Sienna Johnson. "Is Adrian making lunch for you tomorrow?"
"Adrian?" Sienna Johnson repeated, surprised.
"I an Adrian Desmond!" Pauline Briggs clarified.
Adrian Desmond? How did he beco just ’Adrian’? I wonder what Sixth Master’s expression would be if he heard soone calling him ’Adrian.’
"I’m not sure. He’s been busy lately," Sienna Johnson replied.
"Busy? How busy could he be that he couldn’t even make ti for your prenatal checkup?" Pauline Briggs questioned.
Although the way Pauline Briggs addressed him had changed and sounded much more familiar, she still didn’t have a good impression of Adrian Desmond.
"It’s just a prenatal checkup, not a big deal. I can go by myself," Sienna Johnson said.
"Why do you have to be so strong-willed? You’re just making it harder on yourself..." Pauline Briggs looked at her with sympathy. Other pregnant won were gaining weight, but Sienna Johnson didn’t seem to be putting on any.
"Not everyone is as fortunate as you," Sienna Johnson murmured.
Pampered by her parents and older brother, married to a gentle and considerate husband... Pauline Briggs’s happiness was a pattern that couldn’t be replicated for her.
"Of all the single n I introduced you to, any one of them was better than Adrian Desmond, but you just had to choose him! Serves you right!" Pauline Briggs exclaid.
Tessa Harrington and Vivian Abbey lowered their heads and focused on their food, not daring to comnt on such an outrageous statent. If Sixth Master found out, he’d surely deal with them.
The al was a colorful spread of well-balanced at and vegetable dishes. Even Sienna Johnson, who had little appetite, ate a few more bites, especially enjoying a seasonal dish—fried Locust Flower with eggs.
"Eat more," Pauline Briggs urged. "If the baby is well-nourished in the womb, delivery will be easier. Otherwise, if the baby is born small and sickly like a kitten, always getting ill, you’ll have a lot to worry about."
"Thank you," Sienna Johnson replied softly.
Tessa Harrington and Vivian Abbey also noticed that sothing was amiss between the mother and daughter. They were so polite with each other, one might mistake them for strangers. In fact, compared to Sienna Johnson, even Tessa Harrington seed to have a more harmonious rapport with Pauline Briggs.
"President Johnson, your phone is ringing," Vivian Abbey said. She put down her chopsticks, got up, and fetched Sienna Johnson’s phone from the table.
Vivian Abbey handed the phone to Sienna Johnson, who nodded and took it. It was Adrian Desmond calling.
Sienna Johnson’s heart leaped with joy, but her expression remained calm. She got up and walked to the window, looking at the Cloudscape Building opposite, but Adrian Desmond wasn’t in sight.
"Hello..." Sienna Johnson answered.
"Did you have lunch?" Adrian Desmond asked.
Feeling wronged, Sienna Johnson coldly replied, "I did."
"Takeout?" he asked.
"Do you even care what I eat anymore?" Sienna Johnson blurted out, her tone a mix of coquettishness and complaint.
"I’m sorry, I have so pressing issues here that I need to handle personally. When I get back, I’ll cook for you every day, alright?" Adrian Desmond said.
"Sixth Master, you’re so busy. I wouldn’t dare trouble you."
"It sounds like you’re really angry," he chuckled.
As a mature woman, Sienna Johnson felt a little embarrassed to be acting so petulantly with her husband. She softened her voice, "No, Madam Johnson made a delicious al for . I ate quite a bit. There was a dish of fried Locust Flower with eggs that was very tasty. When you co back, I’ll make it for you."
"That’s good. I’ll be busy for the next few days and probably won’t be able to be with you. Take good care of yourself. I’ll co back as soon as I’ve dealt with things," Adrian Desmond said.
"Are you going on a business trip?" Sienna Johnson asked.
"Yes," he confird.
"Where are you going? For how many days? When will you be back?"
"To Abyanabad, for about a week."
Sienna Johnson fell silent. Adrian Desmond comforted her, "It’s only for a week. I’ll be back quickly. I’ve left Walter Klein and Aiden Howard there. I’ve already instructed them about your father’s affairs, and they’ll help you handle things."
"When are you leaving?"
"Tonight."
"I’m at the company. Co see . We need to talk!" Sienna Johnson insisted.
"When I get back..."
"No! Right now!" Sienna Johnson’s tone was firm, allowing no refusal.
"What is it? We can talk about it on the phone!"
"No, I have to see you in person to say it!"
The man on the other end was silent for a mont as well. "Alright. You’re so perceptive, I probably couldn’t hide things from you even if I tried. Instead of letting your imagination run wild, it’s better if I explain things clearly."
"Okay."
Sienna Johnson hung up and stood there, motionless. After a mont of thought, she decided she had to ask him directly. For instance, that bite mark on Adrian Desmond’s chest that’s been bothering like a fishbone stuck in my throat—which woman did it? Adrian Desmond isn’t the type of man to let a woman casually bite his chest.
"Sienna, what are you doing standing there? Finish your soup before it gets cold and doesn’t taste good," Pauline Briggs said.
"Alright." Sienna Johnson walked back and continued to drink the remaining soup. Just then, Vivian Abbey’s phone rang. She answered, "Hello, this is she... What?... Understood. I’ll inform President Johnson."
Hearing Vivian Abbey refer to her by her title, Sienna Johnson asked, "What is it?"
"President Johnson, there’s been an incident at the Eastminster Pharmaceutical Factory."
Sienna Johnson put down the bone ceramic bowl, a bad premonition flashing through her mind.
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