CHAPTER 147: CHAPTER 147: THE UNQUALIFIED MISS

"Sister, what on earth did I do to make you hate me so much? I know you hate me for taking your status as Miss Johnson, but I’ve given it back to you, haven’t I? You and Mom don’t get along, but I’ve always put in a good word for you with her. What more do you want from me?"

Sabrina Johnson looked at Sienna Johnson, her expression full of grievance. In Mother Johnson’s eyes, the adopted daughter was sensible and magnanimous, while her biological daughter was petty and unbearable.

Sienna watched Sabrina’s act. Previously, she would have been furious, but now, Sabrina was merely a buffoon in her eyes.

"Sabrina Johnson, you’re just a slut!" Sienna suddenly blurted out. The expressions of the two "noble" women of the Johnson Family changed instantly.

"Sienna Johnson!" Mother Johnson was a lady of good breeding. Such vulgar words were an assault on her ears, let alone something she would ever utter.

Her own daughter was speaking like a common shrew from the streets.

Mother Johnson pointed at her angrily, about to scold her. But seeing Sienna’s impassive expression, she finally said, her voice laced with the frustration of unmet expectations, "Who do you think you are? You are Miss Johnson! Are such words for you to speak?"

"You should learn from Sabrina. Be more sensible, so I can have fewer worries!"

Sabrina was the fuse, and Sienna finally exploded.

"Her? Obedient? Sensible? Ha! She’s the most despicable!" Sienna burst out laughing.

"You are my biological mother, my closest family, yet you are the person in this world who trusts me the least.

But I have to say it! If I don’t, I’ll suffocate! The reason I was missing for two years is because of that woman—the one you see as so obedient and sensible—and Frederick Stewart. If I hadn’t been lucky, I would have drowned at sea long ago.

I will settle this score with them, sooner or later!

If they have the guts, let them kill me. If I survive, I will fight them to the death!"

In some ways, Sienna and Adrian Desmond were very much alike. Both were vengeful. If someone showed them an ounce of kindness, they would repay it tenfold; if someone showed them an ounce of malice, they would return it tenfold as well!

Sienna furiously pointed at the woman who had stolen her mother’s affection and her own glory, her voice filled with hatred. "You want me to be good sisters with her? Would a ’good sister’ constantly sabotage me? Would a ’good sister’ seduce my fiance? Would a ’good sister’ team up with my fiance, point a gun at me, and try to kill me?"

Another stinging slap landed on her cheek. Sienna’s head swam. No matter how strong she was, she couldn’t endure these repeated blows. Through a blur of tears, she looked at the refined face of the person who had struck her—her own mother.

"Mom, you hit me again?" she asked, her voice choked with sobs.

"Sienna Johnson, stop your nonsense! Frederick is your brother-in-law now. What’s past is past. I promise, I will find you a good man."

"You hit me again for her?" she screamed at her. "You hit me again for her! You hit me again for her! You hit me again for her!"

She shrieked it several times.

"I know you resent Sabrina for marrying Frederick. But you were missing for two years, and we all thought you were... The Johnson and Stewart Families were keen on this marriage alliance, so we made the decision for Sabrina to marry Frederick. If you want to blame Sabrina for ’stealing’ Frederick, then blame me. I was the one who approved it at the time."

Sienna sneered. "I don’t blame you. That man is worse than an animal; I wouldn’t want him even if you begged me! Those two scoundrels are a perfect match!"

"Sienna Johnson, how can you still be so unrepentant? If I hadn’t had someone unlock the door and come in today, Sabrina would be dead! And you still dare to slander her? I am truly ashamed of you. You are not my daughter! My daughter would never do such a thing."

Am I not worthy of being your daughter?

For seven long years, Sienna Johnson had striven desperately—learning music, dance, etiquette, everything a young lady from a distinguished family should know—all for her mother’s "acknowledgment."

But no matter how hard she tried, in her mother’s heart, there was only one precious daughter: Sabrina Johnson! She, Sienna Johnson, was forever the unwanted burden, the nuisance.

She had endured enough. She truly had.

"I’m not worthy of being your daughter? Haha..." Tears welled in her eyes as she laughed like a woman unhinged. "I know who is worthy of being your daughter—Sabrina Johnson, of course! In your lofty eyes, Mrs. Johnson, an unpresentable creature like me naturally wouldn’t pass muster..." Sienna’s gaze swept across Mother Johnson’s face.

"Mrs. Johnson, let me tell you, that precious daughter of yours isn’t as innocent and kind as you imagine. She and Frederick Stewart did indeed trick me and lure me to Amwan. They tried to kill me! I was forced to jump into the sea, and I nearly died!

Believe it or not, I had to say it!"

The address "Mrs. Johnson" stung Mother Johnson’s heart. Furious, she scolded, "Sienna Johnson, if you want to remain in the Johnson Family, then shut your mouth, go back to your room, and stop this ludicrous talk!"

Sienna said coldly, "Mrs. Johnson, whether my words are true or not could easily be discovered with a little investigation. But you all subconsciously assume I’m lying, and you’ve already judged me..."

She looked up, fixing her gaze on Mother Johnson for a long moment before speaking, her voice filled with utter disappointment. "Though I hate to admit it, I know that even if Sabrina truly did something atrocious to me, you wouldn’t reprimand her the way you reprimand me... In your heart, Sabrina will always be more important than I am!"

"Mrs. Johnson, if you never wanted to be my mother, why did you bother bringing me back?" She truly didn’t understand, not in the slightest.

"Before I came to the Johnson family, my life was poor, but I was happy. I had a mother who loved me dearly. She wasn’t as beautiful or as noble as you. Her hands were rough with calluses from housework, but those callused hands would often stroke me, making me feel warm.

Mrs. Johnson, do you know? Since coming to the Johnson Family, I haven’t known a moment of happiness."

"Mrs. Johnson, do you know how many times you yelled at me during my first week in the Johnson Family?"

After this outburst, she suddenly grew calm.

"You said, ’Sienna Johnson, use a spoon when you drink soup. Don’t drink directly from the bowl; it’s too crude.’

"You said, ’Sienna Johnson, don’t smack your lips when you eat. Only pigs make that kind of sound.’

"You said, ’You must not use your own chopsticks to serve food to others; it’s unhygienic and impolite!’

"You said, ’Sienna Johnson, your hands are as stiff and rough as a man’s.’

"You said, ’Sienna Johnson, how can you be so clumsy? You can’t even play such simple sheet music.’

"You said, ’Sienna Johnson, leftovers can cause cancer! Why are you eating leftovers?’

"You said, ’Sienna Johnson, the knife and fork are placed incorrectly.’

"You said..."