Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 129: Mask Off (1)

’Forgive me, Myrtle, for using you like this.’ Adrienne thought. Seeing Airi’s expression after hearing Myrtle’s words confirmed that the young woman had already set her eyes on Valerie’s possession. If she was indeed the kind-hearted person she claimed she was, Adrienne would only be seeing uneasiness on her face. Valerie’s next words only made Airi’s expression worse than it already was.

"I’m lucky then. Airi has never given me trouble. She always listens to me and never causes any issue to demean the Xia family." Valerie beamed with a smile.

"She should be." Diana smiled at Airi Xia. "It’s her greatest luck to enter the prestigious Xia family in her life."

Adrienne wanted to howl in laughter after hearing what Diana said. She was starting to understand each personality of Valerie’s friends. While Katherine was like Valerie, honest and straightforward, Diana was slightly insensitive with her words. She said words without considering what others would think of her. By saying that Airi’s greatest luck was entering the Xia family as its second miss was an indirect insult to the young scheming woman before her.

"Yes, I’m indeed lucky," Airi beamed them with a bright smile, but she cursed Diana Zhou in her heart.

If Adrienne hadn’t known what happened to Valerie and the Xia family in her past life, she would have never suspected that something was wrong with Airi. She looked like any other young lady of society. Adrienne thought that the scariest people out there were always the ones who seemed normal. They can fake their smiles and laughter and trick others into believing nothing was wrong with them.

Airi excused herself as she couldn’t tolerate being in their presence anymore. Adrienne looked at her retreating gaze. She wasn’t sure whether to help Valerie discover her younger sister’s true color. Of course, she didn’t want Valerie to suffer the same tragic end she did in her past life, but she wanted Valerie to open her eyes to how two-faced Airi was.

When they sent off Katherine, Diana and Stephanie, Adrienne held Valerie’s wrist to stop her from leaving. Valerie and Myrtle looked at her confusedly, thinking Adrienne was acting strange today.

"How much do you know about Airi?" She asked with a straight face.

Valerie was confused by Adrienne’s question. She couldn’t understand why her friend was acting like this.

"Is there something wrong with Airi? Did my sister offend you in any way, Addie?" She answered in response. Valerie knew Adrienne wouldn’t act like this without a reason.

Adrienne considered her next words. She had to plant the seed of suspicion in Valerie without making it seem like she was trying to sow discord between them. It was important that Valerie became suspicious of Airi on her own. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Don’t misunderstand, Val. I’m just curious. You see, I’m pretty sure I have seen your sister before. I was with Uncle Shark visiting Aunt Camilla’s parents in a nursing home when Uncle Shark asked to stop by to see a friend who happens to own a pawn shop downtown. I saw your sister pawning some jewelry there. I’m sure Airi isn’t lacking here in Xia household, but what would compel her to pawn an expensive piece of jewelry at the pawnshop?"

Of course, this event never happened, and Adrienne feared she would get used to lying if she kept doing it. However, Airi Xia pawning the precious jewelry owned by the late Madam Xia was true. But whether Valerie and her older brother knew about it, Adrienne wasn’t sure.

Alistair had mentioned that Airi Xia was slowly eating the Xia family from the inside. Had Valerie not murdered her in a blind rage, Airi Xia would have left the Xia family’s treasury dry, keeping all the money to herself.

"Is Airi short of money? But why would she do something like that? Also, isn’t she only sixteen? Isn’t it illegal for minors to make a transaction at pawn shops?" Myrtle cupped her chin as she pondered the reason behind it. "What Addie said is true. Airi didn’t seem to lack anything, considering how refined her clothes and how healthy her complexion was. Is someone trying to extort money from her?"

"Who would dare?!" Valerie sneered, clenching her fist so hard that her nails bit her palm painfully.

"Calm down, Val. Maybe we’re just overthinking things. It’s not too late to retrieve your mother’s heirlooms from the pawn shop. Perhaps, Airi had lied about her age to pawn them." Adrienne tried to console her. "However, if there’s really someone trying to extort money from your sister, wouldn’t that mean she’s in a precarious situation? She would surely deny all the allegations if you confronted her."

"But what should I do?" Valerie panicked as she thought about the heirloom and jewelry her late mother owned. She knew how valuable they were and if Airi indeed pawned them to get some money, Valerie wouldn’t have enough money to buy it back.

"Are you worried about the money or Airi?"

"Both," Valerie easily admitted. She didn’t think Adrienne would lie to her about this. "Can you confirm if my sister truly pawned them? If they were indeed pawned, how much money do I need to buy them back?"

She doubted Airi could return those precious things alone, and Valerie wasn’t willing to sell her out to her father and Arthur. They wouldn’t hesitate to kick her out of the Xia family if they knew what Airi had done. The only reason they were tolerating her presence was to acknowledge Madam Xia’s final wish before she passed away.

"Of course, Val. I can ask Uncle Shark to make an inquiry about the things your sister pawned, but I’ll warn you, this will be messy if we’re proven right."

Valerie remained silent for a moment but eventually nodded in agreement. Though she and Airi got along well, her little sister never shared anything personally with her. Valerie doubted Airi would admit it if she confronted her.

"Alright, I’ll be troubling you, Addie, but please make that inquiry. I want to know what my sister is up to."