Adrian was used to having nice things, so he didn''t care much.


    "It''s fine, Giselle. If you like it, just take it-it''s only a piece of jade."


    His mom''s instructions had long been forgotten; to him, it was just a trinket.


    His house was full of them.


    Every year, his grandmother would gift him various emeralds, gold, and jewelry— so many that he couldn''t even y with them all, and they just gathered dust at home.


    As for his great-aunt''s sentiment?


    She was just an olddy he''d met once. His dad had told him that his mom''s rtives didn''t count as family and could be ignored like strangers.


    He wouldn''t havee today if it wasn''t to make up for his mom fainting.


    Since Giselle liked the jade someone else gave, it was better to let her have it than to exin to his dadter-it was less of a hassle.


    Giselle chuckled at the boy''s nonchnce about the gift from M''s side of the family and gave Adrian a gentle peck on the cheek.


    "Thank you, Adrian."


    She tossed the jade in the air, catching it deftly just before it slipped through her fingers and crashed to the ground.


    M, dear M, this is what you get for meddling in someone else''s love life. The thought of the jade shattering in front of M amused her.


    ...


    M spent some time at the hotel with her great-aunt, chatting about family matters before seeing her off.


    Afterward, she drove to the mall to shop for holiday supplies.


    Having just quit her job, her great-aunt advised her to take a break from work and


    rest for a few days. It was the perfect time to prepare for the holidays.


    As soon as she parked in the underground garage, her phone rang.


    It was an unknown number.


    She answered it on a whim, and a man''s voice immediately came through, "Sis, you finally picked up! I''ve sent you so many messages. Why haven''t you replied?"


    It was Hugo.


    She had already blocked his number, but he was nothing if not persistent, having called from a new one.


    M''s face darkened as she prepared to hang up.


    Sensing her intention, Hugo quickly interjected, "Sis, don''t hang up! Just hear me out this time! I''m not calling to ask for money!"


    M snorted, "Yeah, right."


    Hugo, desperate to keep her on the line, pleaded, "Please, sis, don''t ignore me. I just wanted to ask if you''reing home for the holidays this year. You haven''t been back in years, and Mom and Dad really miss you."


    "Hugo, don''t you think it''s a bit insincere?"


    M replied with a coldugh, "Do you really not know why I don''te home? Do you miss me, or do you miss my money? I''ve already cut ties with you all!" "Sis, don''t be like this."


    Hugo sighed, feeling frustrated by his sister''s stubbornness.


    "We''re only asking for a little-a few thousand, maybe a million. It''s small change for you and your husband, nothing that would hurt. Besides, we''re your family. What''s wrong with helping us out? I''m your only brother! What if your inws mistreat you? You''ll need us to stand up for you! And we haven''t asked for money in years. I just called because Mom and Dad are getting old and want to see you. They''re worried sick over you. Can you at least consider="


    M didn''t let him finish and hung up.


    Even though she had long epted what her family was like, hearing them talk like this still angered her. Such trash.


    The nerve of them.


    Back when she got into Northpoint University, her parents tried to sell her off for a dowry to help Hugo. When she knelt and begged them, weren''t they family then?