"What are you copying this for?"
Pauline Briggs still didn’t raise her head, but her brush trembled slightly, and a stroke of one character went awry. A nearly finished sheet of paper was ruined because of this single mistake.
"I’m sorry." Seeing that Pauline’s error was caused by her distraction, Sienna Johnson quickly apologized.
Pauline Briggs showed no sign of regret. She crumpled the ruined paper, tossed it into a nearby trash can, placed her brush on the inkstone, then looked up at her daughter and asked, "It’s working hours. Why are you back? Is there sothing you need to discuss with ?"
Sienna Johnson was diligent and not one to skip work without reason.
"Not really. I just suddenly had a craving for your cooking..."
Pauline Briggs looked at her in surprise. She hadn’t expected Sienna to show such a willful side, coming all the way back from the company just for a ho-cooked al. Pauline Briggs knew her daughter well; Sienna wasn’t usually this willful. She had been sensible and reserved since childhood.
However, since Sienna didn’t seem to want to reveal her reasons, Pauline didn’t press her. "Alright," she said. "Tell what you want to eat, and I’ll go make it for you right now."
"White peony kale, Pineapple Ribs, black pepper chicken popcorn, pan-fried barramundi..."
Hearing Sienna list these dishes, Pauline Briggs frowned. These were all Sabrina Johnson’s favorites.
For example, Sienna never ate white peony kale or black pepper chicken popcorn. Pauline asked, "You never eat white peony kale or black pepper chicken popcorn. Can you tell why you want to make these two dishes?"
Sienna didn’t hide the reason. "I’m going to see Sabrina Johnson! She hasn’t had your cooking in a long ti. I’m sure she misses it terribly, so I wanted to ask you to make so of her favorite dishes for to take to her."
Unexpectedly, Pauline Briggs reacted vehently. "No!" she refused. "She killed your father. I will not cook for soone like her."
"You have to!"
"Why?"
"Because I want her to feel furious, to suffer..."
Pauline Briggs couldn’t wrap her head around it. It was just a al; how could it possibly make Sabrina Johnson angry and miserable?
Sienna slowly explained, "You used to cook for only two people: Dad and Sabrina Johnson. Do you know how smug Sabrina was back then? She said you would never cook for , ever.
"She said I’d never get to eat a al you cooked yourself, not in my entire life."
A pang of guilt struck Pauline Briggs. She lowered her head and whispered, "I’m sorry! Sabrina was frail when she was little, so I wanted to dote on her more. I never expected her to be such an ungrateful wretch, so treacherous and heartless, that she would actually kill your father..."
She couldn’t continue, tears welling up as she looked utterly heartbroken.
"It’s all in the past. Try to move on."
Pauline Briggs could never move on; she had indirectly caused Dexter Johnson’s death. She couldn’t hold back any longer and finally asked, "Your father’s grave was desecrated. Was it Sabrina Johnson who had it done?"
Sienna looked at her in surprise. "You know?"
Pauline Briggs nodded slowly. "I told you a few days ago that I’ve been feeling uneasy, constantly dreaming of your father. So I went to Phoenix Hill to visit his grave, and I never expected..." She choked up, unable to say more.
"Don’t be sad. I’ve had Dad’s remains moved to Purity Temple. The senior monks there are praying and chanting sutras for him. Once Sabrina Johnson is brought to justice and the dust settles, I’ll have a senior monk choose an auspicious date to rebury Father!" Sienna said somberly.
"Was it Sabrina Johnson who did it?" Pauline asked.
"You could say that."
It wasn’t an unfair accusation. If not for Sabrina Johnson, the Johnson Family and the Leland Family would never have crossed paths, and Dexter Johnson’s grave would never have been desecrated.
"Why would she do such a thing?" Pauline asked through gritted teeth.
"There’s no point in asking that. All you need to know is that I will avenge Father."
Pauline grabbed Sienna’s hand, her grip tight. "Sienna, you must avenge your father. Bring that ungrateful monster, Sabrina Johnson, to justice.
"Your father died so unjustly. He was still so young; he could have lived for many more years..."
"I will," Sienna said firmly.
...
「Sileria City North District Police Station.」
Auntie Ingrid and Mr. Leonard, the driver, carrying food containers, followed Sienna Johnson. The three of them entered the police station, one after the other.
"Hello, I want to see Sabrina Johnson," Sienna said to the officer at the reception desk.
"May I ask your relationship to her?"
Sienna thought for a mont and said sarcastically, "Her sister." And wasn’t she? Sabrina Johnson had called her ’sister’ for many years.
"Please register here."
"Alright."
Sienna took the registration form, filled in her information, and then followed a police officer to et Sabrina Johnson.
The eting room was simple: a large table, two chairs, and a police officer standing guard. The windows and door had iron bars to prevent escape.
Sienna wore a knee-length, V-neck Cerruti dress, her overall look fresh and elegant. The subtle floral pattern on the white skirt was particularly lovely. Her silver-pink, pointed-toe flat shoes were a perfect complent, highlighting a youthful playfulness. Since she was in the early stages of pregnancy, her belly hadn’t begun to show, and her waist remained slender.
In contrast, Sabrina Johnson wore an orange prison vest. Her hair was unkempt, the roots showing her natural color from lack of maintenance. Perhaps due to extre anxiety, even the ends of her hair were split. Seeing this, combined with Sabrina’s haggard face, brought Sienna a sharp sense of satisfaction.
So, Sabrina Johnson, your day has co!
"What are you here for?" Sabrina Johnson glared at the impeccably dressed Sienna, her eyes practically shooting fire.
"Nothing much. Just ca to see how you’re doing."
"Spare your crocodile tears! Such hypocrisy!" Sabrina Johnson scoffed, clearly unappreciative.
Sienna, unbothered, sat down opposite her. She deliberately dangled the bracelet on her wrist and said, "This is a new bracelet from Van Cleef & Arpels. Beautiful, isn’t it? I bought one for myself too..."
Van Cleef & Arpels was Sabrina Johnson’s favorite jewelry brand. Every season, when Van Cleef & Arpels released new pieces, Sabrina would invariably buy several.
"I rember this used to be your favorite brand. What’s wrong? Didn’t you pick up any new pieces?"
"Sienna Johnson! Don’t you dare go too far!"
Sabrina Johnson, hands cuffed, was visibly agitated. The officer standing nearby interjected, "Quiet! Or the visit will be terminated."
"I’m not a criminal! What right do you have to treat like this?" Sabrina yelled at the officer.
The officer remained impassive, standing there like a statue.
"Sabrina Johnson, you *are* a criminal!" Sienna retorted. "From the mont you killed my father, you were a criminal, even if no one else knew! Even if you manage to escape the law’s punishnt in this life, you will still face judgnt when you die. You will... go to hell!"
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