Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 384: I Owe You My Life (4)

Hunter excused himself to see his mother, whom he had no doubt was in her garden again, leaving Adrienne with her friends. Adrienne glanced at her friend as soon as he was gone and considered confronting Valerie about her infatuation with her brother. She had seen how her friend looked at her brother, and Adrienne wasn’t sure how to deal with it.

Valerie had already annulled her engagement with Derek, but if she suddenly got involved with Hunter, Adrienne feared it would cause her brother trouble. Valerie was at the age where she was susceptible to kindness, which she could easily mistake for love.

Adrienne knew she needed to approach the situation delicately, as she didn’t want to risk damaging her friendship with Valerie. However, she also couldn’t ignore the potential consequences of Valerie’s infatuation with her brother’s emotional well-being. She decided that it was important to have an open and honest conversation with Valerie about her feelings to ensure that everyone involved could navigate this situation with understanding and respect.

"Val, I want to ask you something, but I hope it won’t offend you." She told her friend. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Valerie lowered her cup to the table between them and curiously looked up at her friend.

"Of course, you can ask me anything," she replied, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.

"Then, do you have any feelings towards my brother?"

Valerie was too stunned to speak, but her reaction was enough for Adrienne to understand her answer.

"I see. So it is like this." Adrienne looked thoughtfully at the cup she held while Myrtle looked at them nervously.

Once Valerie recovered from her shock, she asked Adrienne. "You disapprove of it, Addie?"

"I’m not sure, but I must warn you that cultivating these feelings might hurt you in the end. My brother isn’t interested in pursuing anyone romantically or focusing on his career. It’s best to manage your expectations and not invest too much emotionally." Adrienne admitted to observing the young woman before her.

Infatuation could potentially hurt her friend, but who was she to decide for Valerie and act on her brother’s behalf? If her brother were interested in Valerie, then, by all means, Adrienne would support them, but Hunter hadn’t shown even a hint of interest in Valerie at all.

Myrtle nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation, but she couldn’t help feeling a pang of disappointment for Valerie. She was the first one to notice Valerie’s admiration for Hunter. Myrtle thought it would be nice if the two ended up together, as Valerie deserved to be with someone who could treat her well, unlike Derek did to her. However, hearing Adrienne’s words reminded Myrtle that our desires and expectations can sometimes lead us down a path of heartache and disappointment.

Adrienne pondered the complexity of the situation, realizing that interfering in matters of the heart could have unintended consequences. Emotions such as admiration could turn into poison. She didn’t want Valerie to become obsessed with the idea of being with her brother, only to have her heart broken in the end.

Also, from Valerie’s interaction with Hunter earlier, she could see that her brother didn’t have any intentions toward her friend. Valerie came from an affluent family, while Hunter grew up as a commoner, despite his true identity as the eldest son of the Jiang family and the grandson of the Zhao family.

Hunter could never get used to the luxurious lifestyle that Valerie was accustomed to, and this stark difference in their backgrounds could potentially create a rift between them if they were to pursue a romantic relationship. Moreover, Valerie’s infatuation with Hunter might blind her to the fact that he may not be the right person for her, leading to further heartbreak and disappointment.

"But if my brother likes you, then all of this wouldn’t matter," Adrienne continued. "Unfortunately, my brother hasn’t shown or hinted any interest in pursuing a romantic relationship with anyone lately. It’s possible that your feelings for Hunter could go unrequited, causing you even more pain and frustration in the long run."

"I know what you mean, Addie." Valerie smiled weakly, her voice filled with sadness. "I understand your concern. It’s just hard to let go of these feelings when I see how happy Hunter makes me. But I also don’t want to hold onto false hope and get hurt even more."

Adrienne gave her friend a reassuring pat on the arm, feeling a little relieved that Valerie understood where she was coming from. Though it wasn’t right to compare her brother to Alistair Han, Alistair Han’s little kindness caused her to mistake it for love, and she didn’t want Valerie to commit the same mistake.

"I’m not saying you should stop seeing him altogether, Val. Just be careful with your heart, and don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment. You’re a smart woman, and I know you’ll make the right decision."

Valerie nodded, taking in her friend’s words. A part of her felt disappointed that Hunter wasn’t interested in her, but she also appreciated Adrienne’s honesty. She realized that she didn’t want to ruin her friendship with Adrienne and that she needed to take things slow and not rush into anything with Hunter.

"I appreciate your concern, Addie. You’re a good friend," Valerie said, smiling weakly.

Adrienne smiled back, relieved that their conversation didn’t end in an argument or a misunderstanding. She knew that it wasn’t easy to confront someone about their feelings, especially when it involved matters of the heart, but she also knew that it was necessary to maintain healthy relationships. She realized she couldn’t control Valerie’s feelings but could be there for her and support her through whatever decisions she made.

As they continued to chat, Hunter returned from seeing his mother, and Adrienne couldn’t help but feel a little guilty as she watched Valerie steal a glance at him. But she knew she had done the right thing by conversing openly and honestly with her friend.

Sometimes, the truth was hard to confront, but in the end, it was always better than living in a world of fantasy and false hope. And with her honesty, Adrienne hoped she could protect her friend from getting hurt in the long run.