Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 96: Brother and Sister (2)

"This is precisely why she sent someone to kill me. However, the one she sent had murdered my adoptive mother instead. If it wasn’t for my Mom, I’m afraid that you would only find my gravestone."

Their grandmother shed a few tears upon hearing Hunter’s words.

"This is too much... If Lewis doesn’t love or care about Rose, he should have returned her to us instead. Why would he allow that woman to harm you to this extent?!" She exclaimed, feeling her heart bleed as she thought how unjustly they had suffered all these years.

"Isn’t it because my brother’s existence is a threat to Cayden’s future? Father must have not planned to have children with Mom and was probably planning to divorce her once she served her purpose. If my brother isn’t around, even if Cayden was born from a mistress, he would surely have a better chance of becoming the successor of the Jiang family." Adrienne finally took a seat on the couch and rubbed her aching temple.

"But didn’t you say your Grandfather Jiang named you as the next heir?" Old Master Zhao could feel his simmering rage about to burst from his chest as he continued to think how his daughter and grandchildren suffered in Lewis Jiang’s hands.

"That’s right," Adrienne nodded. "He and Mom made an agreement to name me as the next heir and head of the Jiang family. Initially, I had no idea Cayden was Camilla’s son, so I thought this arrangement was unfair to him. I also thought that it was the reason we never got along."

"He’s the mistress’s son, after all. No matter how much your mother gives to him, he will never be satisfied." Old Master Zhao looked at his granddaughter. The young lady seated before him was calm, and her speech and conduct were no different from a matured woman. She appeared gentle-natured and noble, yet there was a cold indifference in her manner.

His son, Reese, had told him all of these. At first, Old Master Zhao thought that it was because Adrienne held some grudge against their Zhao family, but he knew better now. Adrienne had become so precocious because of the things she suffered in her father’s hands.

"Why don’t you and Addie stay for the night?" Old Madame Zhao could barely control her excitement. Several emotions welled up in her heart as she held onto Hunter’s arm and looked at Adrienne. After hearing how her daughter suffered during her years living with Lewis Jiang, she regretted not being able to help Rosemary at all.

"I don’t mind, as long as Adrienne would agree." Hunter then gave Adrienne a quick look.

Obviously, Adrienne didn’t have the heart to decline her grandmother’s wish. The Zhao estate was immediately sent into a busy state as servants moved around to prepare accommodation for the two grandchildren of the Zhao family.

As they sat down for dinner with their grandparents, Adrienne remained silent, while Hunter answered each question their elders threw their way. Hunter could sense that Adrienne was ignoring him, but couldn’t outrightly question her in front of everyone.

After several hours of chatting with their elders, the two were led to the guest rooms where they would stay for the night. Adrienne didn’t give Hunter a chance to ask her anything as she shut the door behind her even before he could utter a word.

Adrienne drew a long bath before going to bed. However, no matter how hard she tried, sleep evaded her. She tossed around in bed, trying to find a comfortable position but still failed in the end. The rain started to fall again outside, but it wasn’t enough to lull Adrienne to sleep. She could only sit on the bed, watching as the raindrops hit the windows of the guest room she was in.

Before the clock hit midnight, a steady knock was heard on Adrienne’s door. She already knew who it was and wasn’t surprised when she heard his voice outside. This morning, they were nothing but master and servant, so how did they become brother and sister at the end of the day?

"Adrienne, won’t you hear me out first?" Hunter’s voice called her.

Adrienne stared at the door for a moment, before pushing herself out of the bed and opened it slightly. She saw Hunter standing outside her door with a conflicted look on his face.

"So you’ve known all this while, but you never bothered to tell me..." She said in an accusing tone as she crossed her arms over her chest, eyes narrowing on him. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Hunter gave her a weak smile. "Would you believe me if I told you back then? I thought you already knew who I was and found me, but I was mistaken. I decided not to tell you because I’m certain your uncle would eventually find me, proving my identity..."

Adrienne couldn’t refute his words, because she knew Hunter was right. If Hunter had told her that day that he was her brother, she might have thought he’d already lost his mind during his stay inside the cell. However, she disliked being kept in the dark for too long and would have preferred if Hunter had come clean and told her about it.

Alas, things had already turned out this way and Adrienne knew she needed to change her plans after this. She cannot possibly use her own brother as a pawn, subjecting him to further danger.

She turned her back on him and held her forehead in one hand. Adrienne heard Hunter step inside the room and shut the door to give them some privacy.

"What is it that you want to hear in order to forgive me, Adrienne?" Hunter asked. His expression was now serene, the conflicted glint in his eyes vanished as he patiently waited for her answer.

He couldn’t see Adrienne’s face, but he could see that she was trembling.

"Addie..."

As the lightning struck outside, the flash of light provided enough illumination for Hunter to see the tears welling in Adrienne’s eyes.