Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 180: Familial Ties (2)

Meanwhile, at the Zhao family estate, Hunter could finally sigh relief, knowing that the problem had already been dealt with. He was grateful for Uncle Shark’s and Lennox’s assistance this time. The other night, Uncle Shark and Lennox’s guards came to confront the men following his sister for the past week.

Now that the threat was eliminated, Adrienne didn’t need to coop up inside the estate, choosing to remain by Rosemary’s side instead of hanging out with her friends. Hunter decided to check on his sister, hoping to get her out of the house for a while. He heard muffled sobs coming from inside as he walked towards her room. His heart dropped at the sound of Adrienne crying.

He knocked on the door gently, but there was no answer. He pushed the door open slowly to find Adrienne sitting on the bed, hugging a pillow to her chest. Her eyes were red and puffy, and tears streamed down her face.

Hunter sat down beside her and put his arm around her shoulders. "What’s wrong, Addie?" he asked.

He had never seen his sister shed tears like this. Hunter was used to seeing her calm and collected, and it pained him to know that there were still things he didn’t know about his sister. He had hoped to lessen the burden on her shoulders and wanted Adrienne to experience things other young women normally do.

Adrienne sniffed and lowered her gaze.

"Brother, do you think Mom will wake up one day? She hasn’t woken up to this day despite Camilla and Cayden having stopped drugging her. It’s my fault for not realizing sooner that they were drugging her."

Hunter was stunned in place. So this was what she’d been worrying about. He reached out and gently touched Adrienne’s shoulder, trying to offer some comfort. "Adrienne, it’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known what they were doing. We’re doing everything we can to help Mom wake up, and we won’t stop until she does."

Although the doctors assured them their mother’s condition wasn’t critical anymore, they couldn’t tell when Rosemary would wake up. Hunter had been spending more time with their mother whenever Adrienne was at school or visiting her friends and Lennox Qin, so he was updated whenever there was a change in their mother’s health.

"You know Mom more than I, Addie? I doubt Mom will recognize me as her child once she wakes up. We’ve been apart for many years, and I wouldn’t blame her if she thought I was dead. However, I hope she will wake up so we can make up the time we’ve lost. I’m not willing to let her go yet." He confessed to Adrienne.

Adrienne stopped her tears and dried her cheeks. Seeing her mother remain bedridden and unconscious with each passing day was hard for her. She wanted nothing but to see her mother awake, smiling at her like Rosemary used to when Adrienne was younger.

Hunter wasn’t aware that she had returned in time and had lost their mother in her past life. She managed to change the course of her fate, but she knew some things were already set in place and could never be changed, no matter how she tried to change them.

Adrienne hoped that her mother’s death wasn’t one of them. She hoped her actions had altered the future enough to save her mother. She couldn’t bear the thought of going through the pain of losing her all over again. As she watched her mother, Adrienne silently prayed for a different outcome this time, desperately longing for a future where they could be together.

Hunter noticed the worry on his sister’s face, and he knew he needed to distract her from her thoughts. "I have an idea," he said, standing up. "Why don’t we go out for some fresh air? We can take a walk by the lake and enjoy the sunset."

Adrienne looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears. "Really?"

Hunter smiled. "Of course. Besides, it’s a beautiful day outside, and I think we both could use some fresh air."

Adrienne nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. Hunter knew that it wasn’t a permanent solution to her worries, but he hoped that it would bring some comfort to her and take her mind off things for a little while.

They headed out of the estate and walked towards the small lake near the Zhao estate. It was the first time Adrienne saw the place, and she was stunned at how beautiful it was in the late afternoon.

The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the city. Hunter could feel the weight lifting off his shoulders as he walked with his sister, enjoying the scenery and each other’s company. As they reached the edge of the lake, Adrienne couldn’t help but feel a sense of serenity wash over her. The tranquil water mirrored the vibrant colors of the sky, creating a breathtaking view that momentarily transported them away from their troubles.

As they sat by the lake, enjoying the cold breeze and watching the sunset, Hunter spoke up. "Addie, I want you to know that no matter what happens, I’m here for you. We may have failed Mom in the past, but we have each other now. And I promise you, no matter what the future holds, we’ll face it together."

Adrienne looked at her brother with a small smile on her lips. "You always know what to say, Hunter."

Hunter smiled back at her. "That’s what big brothers are for."

Brother. Adrienne smiled at the thought.

She used to envy the relationship and closeness Cayden and Elise had in the past. She thought it would have been nice to have a big brother to rely on. But now, as she looked at Hunter, she realized that she didn’t need to envy anyone anymore. She had her own big brother who had always been there for her, and she couldn’t be more grateful.