Do You Still Remember This ce?
Jean’s expression was cold and still, like the deep, unmoving waters at the bottom of a frozenke.
She didn’t move an inch; her gaze seemed glued to that figure in the distance.
In a single moment, everything clicked into ce. <i>So </i><i>that’s </i><i>what </i><i>this </i><i>was</i>.
Right then, the unexpected guest who had captured everyone’s attention was none other than Sarah.
Her outfit was in and modest,pletely out of ce amid thevish crowd in the grand hall.
And yet, her bare face, untouched by makeup, was stunning–radiant under the golden light, as if glowing on its own.
Step by step, Sarah finally stopped right in front of Sienna.
There was only a single step between them.
She stared straight into Sienna’s eyes, her expression calm, but a storm churned beneath the surface of her gaze.
Jean watched the scene unfold; the initial shock had passed, and her emotions settled into a steady calm. <i>Was </i><i>Tyler’s </i><i>painting </i><i>of </i><i>the </i><i>real </i><i>and </i><i>false </i><i>phoenix </i><i>part </i><i>of </i><i>Sarah’s </i><i>design</i><i>, </i><i>too</i>? <i>Had </i><i>this </i><i>entire </i><i>painting </i><i>been </i><i>meant </i>for <i>tonight</i><i>? </i>
“You…”
Sienna parted her lips, but only managed a single word–she couldn’t even form aplete sentence.
Because the girl standing before him looked so familiar. <i>Like </i><i>Matheo</i>. Like <i>myself</i><i>. </i>Like <i>my </i><i>children</i>. <i>Was </i><i>this </i><i>a </i><i>coincidence </i><i>or </i><i>something </i><i>else</i><i>? </i>
Dominic and the others noticed it immediately as well.
Their sharp, watchful eyes, full of scrutiny,nded squarely on Sarah’s face.
Sarah bit her lip. Her gaze remained calm as she looked at Sienna, finally speaking first.
“I’m from ckpond Vige, in Vale City. Do you remember that ce?”
<i>Vale </i><i>City</i>, <i>ckpond </i><i>Vige</i><i>? </i><i>It </i><i>sounded </i><i>familiar</i>. Sienna blinked, her thoughts spinning at lightning spe
She fell silent, thinking hard. And finally, somewhere deep in her memory, the connection surfaced.
More than ten years ago, she had been to Vale City. She had been to ckpond Vige…
Back then, she was still hopelessly in love with Matheo, her entire world revolved around him.
The only reason she had gone there was for him.
That year, Matheo had taken over a number of Ginger family business projects from her<b>, </b>and he had made the decision to build a resort in Vale City, outside of irford.
It was supposed to be Matheo’s project from beginning to end.
At the time, Sienna had been pregnant with Jean, already near her due date. Even if she had wanted <b>to </b><b>help</b>, she wasn’t in any condition to do so.
But she trusted Matheopletely.
She never expected that what should’ve been a simple resort project would turn into a mess.
Matheo’s methods were too aggressive; he angered the nearby vigers and was even driven out and openly opposed.
Faced with their fierce resistance, Matheo didn’t try to de–escte–he doubled down with even more forceful tactics. Tensions escted quickly, leading to physical altercations that nearly made national headlines<b>. </b>
Confronted with such a vtile situation, Sienna understood, if this wasn’t resolved properly, the Ginger family’s reputation would be dragged through the mud.
The Ginger family was powerful enough that they didn’t have to care what a few vigers thought, they didn’t have to worry about public opinion.
But to Sienna, allowing the family to be branded as bullies–especially when they had been in the wrong- was uneptable.
If she turned a blind eye, she’d never forgive herself.
The most direct and effective way to calm the vigers and restore the family’s image was for Sienna to step in personally.
As the highest–ranking representative of the Ginger family, her going to Vale City herself would show the greatest sincerity.
Sienna didn’t hesitate.