Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 49: The Jiang family (1)
When Adrienne returned home, she wasn’t surprised to see other members of the Jiang family waiting for her. She knew that her uncles and their families would arrive today to attend the upcoming birthday banquet. They were busy chatting in the living area when she arrived, and that was not the first time Adrienne had felt like she was unwelcomed at her own home.
They look picturesque, portraying a harmonious and joyful scene as almost everyone attended. Her father and Camilla were seated on a couch together, conversing happily with her uncles and aunts. On the other side, she spotted her cousins busy with their phones and occasionally glancing at their elders. Old Master Jiang and his wife were silent as if waiting for someone. Meanwhile, Cayden and Elise were nowhere to be found.
Adrienne’s eyes turned cold. Her father has two younger brothers who were also as corrupt as him. Adrienne’s second uncle was Alfred Jiang. He was a government official and had often used his position to cater to several businessmen to gain favors from them. He had three children with his wife; Victor, Sierra, and Michael.
Her third uncle was Waylen Jiang. He was a university professor at a prestigious school in the capital. Adrienne didn’t have many interactions with him in her previous life, but that didn’t mean he and his family didn’t offend her.
Adrienne didn’t have a good relationship with them, as her mother tried to warn her once not to get involved with her uncles and cousins. She initially thought that her mother was worrying too much. However, their true colors started showing after her mother’s accident.
Adrienne was now fully aware of what kind of people the Jiang family was, and what their hidden intentions were. They were a bunch of vultures, waiting for her mother to die in order to get everything from her.
"Addie, you’ve arrived." A young lady called her out before Adrienne could go upstairs and completely ignore them. She stood from her seat and walked towards Adrienne but stopped once she saw Adrienne’s indifferent gaze.
This was Ayla Jiang, the daughter and only child of her third uncle. She was the same age as Adrienne. She was clad in a pale pink dress with a pleated skirt, and her hair was delicately tied in a braid. Her complexion was fair, and she had the vibe of a dignified scholar, which Adrienne had no doubt was due to her father’s influence.
Adrienne looked at her cousin with an impassive expression. The Jiang family was known to have three young misses, excluding Elise Jiang. Sierra Jiang was known as an easygoing person. At the same time, Ayla Jiang was famous for her talents, and it was only Adrienne whose disposition and reputation needed to be improved in many ways. Though many people praised her for being a beauty, Adrienne is known as a brainless one.
In her past life, before Adrienne left the Jiang family and married Alistair Han, she had a good relationship with Ayla Jiang. Ayla had a good temperament, and many times Adrienne would seek her for comfort and advice. At that time, Adrienne could not see past her cousin’s facade and would blindly listen to Ayla’s words.
"I heard that you visited your Zhao family. You should have called me instead if Brother Cayden couldn’t accompany you." Ayla continued, pushing Adrienne straight under the spotlight. She knew that Adrienne resented the Zhao family in the past and was eager to use this against her today.
Ayla waited for Adrienne to acknowledge her, but she only received a cold look in the end. Her heart skipped a beat, not knowing how Adrienne instilled fear in her.
"Addie?" Ayla unconsciously quivered and didn’t know why, but she felt an indescribable panic in her heart. It seemed like the one before her could see past her facade, not the usual stupid Adrienne she was familiar with. How could this be possible?
"The Zhao family doesn’t let strangers enter their premises easily." Adrienne finally answered.
"But Addie..." Ayla didn’t expect that Adrienne would say something like that. A stranger? How dare Adrienne act so haughty before her?
"Addie, are you still upset? It’s not like I have the power to change my uncle’s mind..."
Ayla was pertaining to the time Lewis Jiang gave one of Rosemary’s jewelry to their cousin, Sierra for her nineteenth birthday. Obviously, Adrienne was upset because it was her mother’s belongings. She tried to seek Ayla’s help only to be humiliated as selfish and inconsiderate in the end. The emerald brooch was passed down from Rosemary’s grandmother to her, so how could Adrienne not be upset when it should be hers?
"It was just a gift. I hope Sierra treats it well, just as my mother did. I envy Sierra. She isn’t a descendant of the Zhao family, yet she received such a valuable heirloom." Adrienne laughed with sarcasm. "With such a great insult, I hope Uncle would be prepared once my Uncle Reese knocks on your door, asking for an explanation."
Those who heard her words felt an icy chill down their spines. Her Uncle Alfred’s face darkened while her father, Lewis, glared furiously at Adrienne. Sierra’s face contorted with anger as she looked at Adrienne.
"Addie, if you are upset, just say so. Is threatening us really necessary?" Sierra said coldly.
"Hmm? I’m just a daughter of the Zhao-Jiang family. Why would I dare to threaten my family? It’s not my fault that Uncle Reese inquired about the inventory of my mother’s properties." Adrienne said in defense. "Taking someone else’s belonging without permission can be considered theft, right?"
"But it was Uncle Lewis who gave it to me?!" Sierra exclaimed.
Adrienne scoffed inwardly. The Jiang family were all shameless bastards. They tried to seize everything from her mother, leaving nothing for her in the end.
"Addie, did your Uncle Reese tell you this?" Old Master Jiang asked. Among the Jiang family members, he was the most worried about how the Zhao family viewed them. He knew his eldest son’s remarriage would further ruin their family relationship with the Zhaos.
