CHAPTER 139: CHAPTER 139: TO BE LOVELY, DRESS MODESTLY

In the mourning hall, white chrysanthemums surrounded a portrait of the deceased. The black and white photograph showed a familiar face with a faint smile, looking down with sorrow and pity at his eldest daughter who had rushed to mourn his passing.

"Sienna?"

As soon as Sienna Johnson appeared, it was just as she had expected—like a drop of water falling into a hot frying pan, causing oil to splatter everywhere.

At this moment, her mind and eyes were filled only with her father. She had no time to care about the emotions of others. "Dad, I’m late... I’m late..."

She grieved that she hadn’t even seen her father for the last time. Sienna Johnson knelt before her father’s portrait in the mourning hall, kowtowing repeatedly, her forehead striking the floor. Noah Phillips quickly supported her, preventing her from continuing.

The room’s light cast a deathly pallor on her face, yet her eyes were so dark they were startling. As he reached out to help her up, a tear from her eye landed on his hand.

"Sienna, people cannot come back from the dead. You should grieve, but you must also accept it."

Sienna let out a loud cry, "Brother, my father is dead... My father is dead..." Sobs wracked her body. There were not many people in this world who loved her, and now there was one less.

"Sister..." A fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy ran out from the crowd and hugged Sienna. "Don’t cry, please don’t cry. I’ll give you all my candy."

"Teddy..." Sienna hugged the boy in front of her.

"You’re Teddy?" Noah looked at the young man in disbelief.

Back then, there weren’t many staff members in the orphanage. Older kids would take care of the younger ones. Noah and Sienna were responsible for Teddy Rafael. Teddy was only two years old when he was sent to the orphanage, and he seemed dazed and slow-witted.

"Sienna, how... how are you still alive?"

This voice was all too familiar. It was Sienna’s mother.

A mother-daughter relationship should be intimate, but Sienna and her mother were not close. In fact, Mother Johnson and Sabrina Johnson were more like mother and daughter.

"So you were looking forward to my death?" Sienna’s gaze fell on Sabrina Johnson. Their eyes met, and their hatred for each other was palpable.

"Sister, why would you say that? When Mom found out about your accident, she cried all day. You should comfort her instead of saying such terrible things." Sabrina supported Mother Johnson, her voice soft and gentle, appearing as harmless as a little rabbit.

No one could understand the poison running through this woman’s bones without experiencing it firsthand.

"I heard that my dear sister married my fiancé. I forgot to prepare a gift for her." Sienna’s words made the atmosphere tense.

Sabrina’s face paled and reddened in turns, a colorful display.

Mother Johnson gently patted Sabrina’s hand and explained for her, "Sienna, we all thought you..." She paused, not uttering the inauspicious word. "So, your sister married Frederick in your place. Rest assured, now that you’ve returned, your mother will surely find a good husband for you."

Sienna laughed coldly.

"Mom, my sister has just returned, and her emotions are unstable. Let her rest, please. We can talk about other things later." Sabrina gave Mother Johnson a look, hinting for a servant to take Sienna away.

Sienna knelt before her father’s portrait and said, "My sister doesn’t look too well. Has she been overworking herself taking care of everything since Father’s death? Now that I’m back, my sister won’t need to trouble herself with the Johnson family’s affairs anymore."

Actually, Sienna was quite happy about Sabrina marrying Frederick Stewart. At least that manipulative white lotus had finally left the Johnson family.

Noah’s hand held Sienna’s all along. Whenever her emotions escalated, he would grip her hand tightly, reminding her to stay calm.

She was already trying her best to restrain herself; otherwise, she would have jumped up and attacked Sabrina like a shrew long ago.

Father Johnson’s death, coupled with the return of the daughter who had been declared dead for two years, was enough to keep Sileria City buzzing for a long time.

Sienna Johnson was dressed in white, her hair twisted up and adorned with a small white flower. She knelt in the mourning hall, without makeup, yet breathtakingly beautiful.

Some young rakes whispered amongst themselves, "To look truly fetching, one must wear mourning! Miss Johnson is indeed a stunner."

「Three days later,」

Despite everyone’s pleas and advice, Sienna stubbornly kept vigil for nearly two full days and nights, almost collapsing in the mourning hall.

It was close to dusk now, and most of the relatives who had come during the day had left. The unusual hustle and bustle had subsided. Though it was only early spring, the gloomy sky over the white-clad Johnson estate seemed to exude a deep autumn chill.

"Sienna, even if you don’t care about yourself, you have to think about Curly Baby." Kiki, her eyes red, helped Sienna leave the mourning hall. "If you keep watch like this without sleep, your body won’t be able to take it!"

Her father had been her only warmth in the Johnson family. Now that he was gone, she felt the Johnson home was as cold as an icehouse.

After Kiki helped Sienna into bed, she said, "Sienna, I know you’re heartbroken, but you have to think about your health. After your accident, your body hasn’t fully recovered. If you get sick, what will happen to Curly Baby?"

Kiki knew that Sienna cared deeply for Curly Baby, so she kept mentioning her.

After Father Johnson’s death, Kiki had taken on all of Curly Baby’s care.

"How’s Curly doing?"

"The little one is eating and sleeping well; she’s doing great. She just misses you a lot."

"I haven’t been able to look after her recently. I’ll have to trouble you to take extra care of her."

Kiki didn’t consider Curly Baby a burden at all; she saw caring for her as her responsibility. "I’m her godmother, so don’t worry. I’ll take good care of her. But you must be strong and not let yourself get sick. Curly has already lost her father; you’re her only support now."

"Kiki, I understand."

A servant brought Sienna chicken soup. "Miss, Madam asked the kitchen to make you some thick soup."

"Put it here, I’ll feed Sienna," Kiki said, taking the soup from the servant and going over to help Sienna drink it.

"Sienna, you haven’t eaten all day. Please have some..."

Though Sienna was overcome with grief, she knew she couldn’t let herself break down.

With wolves at the front and tigers at the back, she had to gather her strength to face the challenges and survive.

Sienna rested in bed for a while. After Kiki helped her drink half a bowl of hot soup, she felt a little of her strength return. She then propped herself up and said, "It’s my father’s final journey. As his daughter, I must see him off."

Kiki looked at Sienna’s noticeably thinner face, her voice choked with sympathy. "The funeral rites begin tomorrow and will last for several days. You shouldn’t push yourself so hard."

"I know." Sienna looked at Kiki.

Sienna was naturally wary of people, but after only a short time together, she had let her guard down with Kiki. She could discern better than anyone whether someone genuinely cared for her.