Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 303: No Remorse (2)

"Mom, I’m just saying that we need to be careful. Hunter is not someone to be trifled with, and he’s made it clear that he won’t let go of his vendetta against our family." Cayden spoke up again, his voice laced with concern.

Camilla shrugged, dismissing her son’s worries. "I’ve dealt with worse than him before. I’ll handle it if he becomes a problem."

As Camilla spoke, she could feel her blood boiling with anger. The mere thought of Hunter Nian and his adoptive mother caused her to grit her teeth. Eleanor Nian’s death had been a necessary sacrifice, and she had no regrets. If it weren’t for her actions, Cayden’s position in the Jiang family would have been in jeopardy.

–

Elise watched as her mother and brother continued their argument, her thoughts drifting to her worries. Despite the impending engagement, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of her stomach. Something didn’t feel right, and Elise couldn’t shake off the feeling that the Jiang family was walking on thin ice.

As she thought about it, they only suffered a loss against Adrienne Jiang. Just as they thought they could finally get rid of her using the Gu family, Adrienne turned the table in her favor, and Elise suffered a massive loss. She had no remorse for destroying the Jiang family.

Elise unconsciously trembled. She was still having nightmares of that night when Ares Gu defiled her. The memory was still fresh despite the years since it happened. She could still remember the cold touch of his hands and how he had laughed as he forced himself upon her. She had struggled and fought, but it had all been for naught. She had been powerless against him.

Elise shuddered, pushing the memories away. She had tried her best to forget about it, but every time she closed her eyes, the images would come flooding back, and she would be consumed by fear and shame all over again.

She resented her mother and the Jiang family but hated Adrienne the most. She got defiled by that lecher and fell pregnant with his child. During her earliest days overseas, Elise was horrified to know she was pregnant and decided to get rid of it. She didn’t want any reminder of that man and that night with him.

It was a secret she had kept hidden, something she had never told anyone, not even her mother. Elise wanted nothing but to tear Adrienne apart and make her suffer a thousand times more than she suffered three years ago.

Adrienne had shamelessly opposed their father during the shareholders’ meeting and managed to secure a considerable percentage of shares in her favor. Since Adrienne was at odds with their father, Elise wasn’t surprised that Adrienne refused to give her vote in turn of their father keeping the CEO position.

Elise had also noticed the change in Adrienne over the years of not seeing her. Her half-sister was no longer the spoiled girl that she used to bully in the past. There was a different aura coming from Adrienne these days, and it made Elise somewhat envious. If only she could get what Adrienne had to have some sense of self-worth.

Adrienne wasn’t part of the Jiang family anymore but was doing well despite it. Elise’s envy was palpable as she watched her sister rise up and take control of her own destiny. Meanwhile, Elise was stuck in a life she didn’t want, engaged to a man she had never met, and with a family that only cared about money and power.

As Elise sat in silence, lost in her thoughts, she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to have the same confidence and independence as Adrienne. To be able to take risks and make decisions that weren’t solely based on pleasing her family.

She looked up to her mother, hoping for some guidance, but all she saw was a reflection of her envy and bitterness. Her mother envied and hated Rosemary Zhao, and Elise felt the same towards Adrienne.

Elise wondered what it would feel like to have someone who truly loved her, someone who she could rely on no matter what. But Elise knew that such thoughts were useless. She had to focus on becoming Madam Ji and securing the future of the Jiang Corporation. She didn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps and be content with being the mistress of a wealthy man.

Her father might have married her mother, but Camilla couldn’t shed the impression of her being a homewrecker and a mistress and was being constantly compared to Rosemary Zhao. Elise knew it was inevitable for everyone to compare her to Adrienne, but she would make sure to outshine her half-sister and prove that she was way better than Adrienne.

It took a long time before she could show herself in public. Everyone had almost forgotten about the rumors about her involvement with Ares Gu three years prior, and those who had heard about them weren’t sure of their veracity. However, no one dared to mention the rumors recklessly before her now that she was engaged to Aleksey Ji.

Camilla noticed her daughter’s trembling and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "What’s wrong, Elise?" she asked, her tone softening.

She couldn’t help but notice that her daughter grew distant from everyone and rarely spoke to her and her husband. Camilla hated that Elise had drastically changed since she woke up disheveled and defiled at the Gu family mansion.

Elise shook her head, not wanting to burden her mother with her troubles.

"Nothing, Mom. I just... I’m worried about the engagement," she lied, hoping her mother wouldn’t pry too much. She didn’t want anyone to know what she had done to her unborn child three years ago.

Camilla gave her a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry about it, my dear. Everything will go as planned. Just focus on making the Ji family happy, and everything else will fall into place."

Elise stood up, her eyes scanning the room for a way out. She needed to clear her head to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the Jiang family’s mansion.

She heard her mother’s voice behind her as she reached the door. "Elise, where are you going?"

"I need to go. Sierra invited me to go shopping." Elise replied, her voice low. "I’ll be back soon."

Camilla nodded a frown on her face. "Be careful. Come back before dinner."