"Mom, this chicken soup is as bland as water, how did you make it? Look, there’s not a bit of oil in it," Ashley complained.

Rose Collins snapped, "If you don’t like it, let the nanny you hired make it."

"Did Brother’s family hire a nanny too?" In a place like Blackwood Town, that’s quite rare.

"It’s okay for your Johnson Family to hire a nanny, but not for our Rafael Family? Do you think our Rafael Family should serve your Johnson Family like slaves for life?" Ashley said sharply.

Sienna Johnson felt powerless talking to Ashley, like they weren’t in the same world; it was exhausting.

So, Sienna wisely chose to keep quiet.

After all, she mainly came to investigate the "fake medicine incident" at the Eastminster Traditional Herbal Factory. Once it’s clear who’s responsible, they’ll be accountable... Sienna’s eyes swept over Ashley and landed on Marvin Rafael’s deeply furrowed brow.

"Sister, what’s wrong?"

"Suddenly remembered something from the past," Sienna said to Adrian Desmond. "Do you still remember the Ebony snow lotus you bought from here back then?"

Of course, Adrian remembered. If he had insisted on meeting that heartless woman who tricked him back then, he wouldn’t have missed out on so many years with Sienna.

"Of course I remember. You sold me the Snow Lotus for 75 thousand when it was worth just 4.5 thousand, that’s really greedy of you."

"I didn’t want to sell it at the time. I set that price hoping you’d back off, who would’ve thought I’d run into someone with more money than sense."

More money than sense?

"You woman!"

"Is brother-in-law rich?" Ashley asked curiously, staring at Adrian, who looked like a handsome movie star.

Nobody paid attention to Ashley.

"I really wish I had been poorer. If I had been, I certainly wouldn’t have spared the money and would have wanted to meet you, the greedy seller back then. If I had met you, the two of us wouldn’t have been apart for so long," Adrian regretted.

"If not for my honest brother telling you the low price, how would you know I was greedy?"

Adrian looked at Marvin Rafael and said, "Yeah, I was foolish, Marvin Rafael even more so.

I gladly paid the money, and he actually resented me for not haggling.

You don’t know how funny your brother was back then, taking the money and then revealing the low price of the Snow Lotus to me. Were it someone else, they might have come back to settle the score with you."

Sienna laughed, "My brother isn’t foolish; he’s just simple. But now..." Sienna stopped speaking.

Rose Collins didn’t quite understand and asked, "What are you all talking about?"

"Nothing, let’s eat," was the reply.

Marvin Rafael felt uneasy; his sister had always been clever. The foolish things his brother-in-law did, he wasn’t sure if he could keep it hidden from Sienna.

"Adrian, come on, let’s have a drink, brother," Marvin offered.

Adrian declined, "No, Sienna doesn’t like me to have the smell of alcohol on me."

If it weren’t for Sienna, Adrian wouldn’t consider giving a second thought to these people who seemed like ants to him.

Marvin Rafael felt a bit embarrassed and drank silently, while Ashley occasionally caused a fuss, making the meal quite "eventful".

After the meal, fearing Ashley would cause more trouble, Marvin took Ashley away.

Sienna and Rose Collins chatted in the courtyard.

A summer night in the countryside is filled with the sound of insects, tranquility, and the shimmering stars and bright moon overhead.

In the courtyard, mugwort was lit to repel mosquitoes. With a fan gently waving in hand, enjoying watermelon, it was quite pleasant.

"Sienna, be honest with Mom, why did you come back suddenly this time?" Rose Collins couldn’t help but ask.

"Mom, I came to see you," Sienna hid the truth and had no intention of telling Rose Collins.

Rose Collins lived in the village, where everyone knew each other, so there were hardly any secrets, and she had heard something faintly.

"Did your brother get into trouble?"

Sienna did not respond.

Rose Collins also fell silent.

"Sienna, you’ve been tired all day, go and rest."

Sienna was indeed tired; she yawned and said, "I need a bath."

"Alright."

"Mom, I’ll go rest now," Sienna said to Rose Collins.

Rose Collins got up as well. "If your brother really did something wrong, don’t cover for him just because of me!"

"..."

"You saw the Hopper Family members; the more capable your brother is, the more trouble he might get into. If your brother were just a farmer, they wouldn’t be able to cause much trouble."

Sienna glanced at Rose Collins, and finally, her cold heart felt a warmth. She said, "Mom, I hope you won’t blame me."

"I know your character, you’re not confused. Whatever you wish to do, go ahead; I support you."

"..."

"I’ll go make your bed," Rose Collins went inside. Her lonely and somewhat hunched figure made Sienna feel a pang of sadness.

Obviously around the same age as Pauline Briggs, but when the two stand together, it looks like there’s a generational gap.

"Weren’t you going to take a bath? Let’s go," Adrian put his arm around her shoulders, breaking her sadness.

"Thankfully, my mom hasn’t changed." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"I haven’t changed either!"

Sienna turned to Adrian, "Sixth Master has changed too..."

"Is it for the better or worse?"

"Of course, for the better. If you had changed for the worse, I wouldn’t want you."

Adrian smiled, "One thing hasn’t changed..."

"What?"

"My love for you has never changed!" Adrian looked at Sienna tenderly, making her blush as if the cool little courtyard had suddenly heated up.

"How hasn’t it changed? Aren’t you supposed to love me a little more every day?"

"Greedy!"

"That’s just how greedy I am," she said domineeringly.

Adrian gave her a peck, "My love for you hasn’t changed, but it’s true that love grows every single day."

Sienna looked at him and smiled fondly.

"Silly!"