The banquet didn’t end until ten o’clock. Both the birthday feast and the subsequent auction were successful, raising over ten million in charitable donations for the Angel Investnt Fund.
This money would be able to save many people who couldn’t afford dical treatnt due to poverty.
The guests happily returned ho, and the Johnson family reaped both fa and fortune.
"I’m not drunk!"
Pauline Briggs was tipsy and began to ramble. She could barely walk straight, so Auntie Ingrid helped her into the car.
Sienna Johnson also got in the car. Curly and Samara were young and had already fallen asleep. Samara curled up in her seat, while Curly lay in Adrian Desmond’s arms, sleeping sweetly.
In the car, Pauline chattered incessantly.
"I don’t want to go ho. I haven’t had enough to drink..."
"Madam, you’ve drunk too much."
"Who says? I didn’t drink too much. I only had a..." Pauline counted on her fingers, trying to rember.
"I forgot how much I drank."
"Stop counting and go to sleep. I’ll wake you when we get ho," Sienna said.
Pauline looked at her daughter, her eyes glistening with tears. "Sienna, do you still hate ?"
Sienna remained silent.
"Mommy knows she was wrong. Can you stop calling Madam Johnson? I’m your mother. Do you know how painful it is for when you call Madam Johnson? Every ti you say it, it’s like a knife to my heart..."
Sienna couldn’t bring herself to look into Pauline’s eyes. She and Pauline were destined not to be mother and daughter in this lifeti, only mother and daughter in na. She could be close to Rose Collins, acting like a spoiled daughter around her, but she couldn’t open her heart to Pauline.
"You’re drunk. Get so rest."
"You still won’t forgive ..."
"I never blad you. You’re overthinking it."
Pauline leaned on her daughter’s shoulder, her breath reeking of alcohol. Sienna had never seen Madam Johnson so out of sorts.
In her mory, Pauline had always been a restrained, elegant woman who handled herself gracefully in social situations, never acting inappropriately.
Auntie Ingrid explained, "Miss, Madam is just overjoyed. I haven’t seen her this happy since the Master passed away."
Pauline, holding Sienna’s hand, giggled. "Yes, I’m happy, so happy... I haven’t been this happy since Dexter passed away."
"Being happy doesn’t an you should drink so much. You’ll have a headache when you wake up tomorrow," Sienna said.
Auntie Ingrid assured her, "Don’t worry, Miss. I’ll make hangover soup for Madam when we get back."
"Take good care of her tonight," Sienna said worriedly.
"I will, Miss."
Sienna glanced at her mother, who was leaning on her shoulder with closed eyes, and frowned slightly.
The car was quiet on the way. Adrian held his daughter. Curly was restless in her sleep, constantly stretching her arms and kicking her legs. If Adrian hadn’t held her tightly, she would have rolled onto the floor.
Sienna was also tired. When Sister Ingrid saw this, she moved to help Pauline, but Sienna stopped her.
"Let her sleep," Sienna said. "She might cause a scene if she wakes up."
"Yes, Miss."
The journey from the Eastminster Hotel to the Johnson residence wasn’t short, taking about half an hour. Fortunately, they were returning late, so there was no traffic, and the trip was smooth.
By the ti they arrived at the Johnson residence, Pauline had woken up.
After her nap, she had mostly sobered up, though her eyes showed fatigue.
"Did I get drunk?"
"We’re ho. You should go rest," Sienna said to Pauline. Then, turning to Auntie Ingrid, she added, "Please help Madam to her room and take good care of her."
"Yes, Miss."
Pauline glanced at Sienna but said nothing, allowing Auntie Ingrid to help her to her room.
Exhausted from the day, Sienna returned to her own room, took a bath, and lay on the bed, unwilling to move.
"Are you asleep?" Adrian asked as he walked in and saw her lying on the bed.
Sienna lazily opened her eyes and looked at Adrian. "Did you take our daughter to her room? She didn’t wake up, did she?"
"She played too hard today and slept like a little pig. Nothing could wake her. She’ll definitely be late for school tomorrow; there’s no way she’ll get up on ti."
"We’re going to Abyanabad in a few days anyway. If she can’t make it tomorrow, let’s just ask the teacher for a leave of absence," Sienna suggested.
"She’d be thrilled."
Sienna felt a pang of guilt towards her daughter. "I’ve been too busy these past few years. Kiki has been the one taking care of her. This ti, I really want to spend quality ti with her, just playing."
"Kids grow up so fast. I still rember when she was born, small as a kitten. In the blink of an eye, she’s this big. I want to spend more ti with her. I don’t want her to grow up and be distant from , like I am with Madam Johnson."
Adrian comforted her, "She’s your daughter, and you’ve raised her since she was little. How could she not be close to you?"
"I’m going to take a shower."
"Mhm."
Adrian grabbed a bathrobe and went into the bathroom to shower.
Sienna lay on the bed, tired but unable to sleep. She listened to the water RUSHING in the bathroom and felt a bit lost in thought.
About ten minutes later, Adrian ca out wearing a white bathrobe, his hair damp.
Seeing her still awake, he asked curiously, "Aren’t you exhausted? Why aren’t you asleep yet?"
Sienna got up from the bed, fetched a clean towel from the bathroom, and then returned to the bed.
"Co here, let dry your hair."
She guided him to sit in front of her, then knelt behind him, drying his damp hair.
"I’ve told you so many tis, but you never listen. You must dry your hair after a shower, or you’ll get migraines. You have so many old injuries. You might feel fine now because you’re young, but you’ll feel the effects when you’re older."
Adrian smiled and cheekily replied, "Dr. Johnson’s lecture is noted. Next ti, I’ll make sure to dry my hair."
Sienna shot him a look and complained, "You’re just saying that. You always promise, but you never actually dry your hair."
"Wife, you’re drying it for ."
His hair was coarse and very black, slightly prickly to the touch, much like his personality—if you went against his wishes, you’d definitely get hurt.
"Thank you for today. Madam Johnson was very happy."
Adrian grumbled, "You really owe for this. You have no idea what I endured today! Madam Johnson was lecturing the whole ti we danced. Even my own father never lectured like that when he was alive!"
Sienna chuckled, put the towel aside, and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind, resting her face on his broad shoulders.
"Oh, Sixth Master, you poor thing."
"Hmph, as long as you know."
Feeling her soft lips against the back of his neck, he registered their gentle pressure, the very curve of them, he warned, his voice hoarse, "Don’t ss with . I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself."
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