CHAPTER 149: CHAPTER 149: ASKING GRANDMA FOR POCKET MONEY

The green suburban train meandered through the remote countryside. They were on a slow train, which moved sluggishly like an old cow that stopped for a rest at every station. Passengers got off, and passengers got on.

In a fit of rage, Sienna Johnson left. Kiki, holding Curly Baby, followed. Since her daughter was with her, it did not feel like running away, but more like a soul-soothing retreat.

"Grandma, I’m fine. I’m just tired lately, so I wanted to get out and take a walk..."

Sienna didn’t answer anyone’s calls except for her grandmother’s. After all, there were still many things to deal with back home, and her absence required her grandmother to step in temporarily.

"Sienna, your mother is sick."

Upon hearing this news, Sienna’s emotions didn’t waver much. After venting her long-held discontent and rage towards her birth mother, she had a feeling of desolation; without expectation, there was no disappointment.

"Grandma, you should call Mrs. Stewart to inform her. Madam Johnson probably needs Mrs. Stewart by her side now more than ever," Sienna said coldly.

"Sienna, your mother is devoted to Sabrina, as she raised her since she was a child, and they have a deep bond. However, you are her biological daughter, and she loves you too..."

With her son gone, Madam Johnson was left a widow. The grandmother didn’t want to see her own granddaughter, Sienna, and her daughter-in-law, Madam Johnson, grow estranged. However, the damage was already done, and it wasn’t something that could be patched up simply by wishing for it.

"Grandma, from now on, that woman is just Madam Johnson in my heart! She is my father’s wife. Now that he’s gone, I will take care of her on my father’s behalf. As for anything else..." Sienna’s tone was even. "She already has a daughter. If she wants to play the doting mother and daughter, let her find Sabrina. I’ll be very busy in the future, and I guess I won’t have time to play along."

Her grandmother wanted to continue the persuasion, but Sienna interrupted her, "Grandma, I’m exhausted. Let me rest well. I need to regain my energy to go back and face those people. Grandma, I won’t let the foundation my father left behind be destroyed in my hands!" This was an oath!

"Sienna! Grandma..." Her grandmother choked.

"Wumi’s deer antler velvet and ginseng are excellent tonics. When I return, I’ll bring you a box. Eat it every day, and you’ll surely live a long life. My adoptive mother makes delicious pickled cabbage, and since you haven’t had much appetite lately, I’ll bring some back for you—it’s great with sour cabbage fish stew."

On this trip, Sienna wanted to go to Gilesland and see her adoptive mother and brother.

They had once been a happy "family." When the Johnson family found Sienna, she was unwilling to go back with them. It was her adoptive mother who ruthlessly drove her away while saying many harsh words. Sienna was too young at the time and didn’t understand. As she grew older, she suddenly realized the truth.

Her adoptive mother hadn’t despised her; it was because of her adoptive father’s serious illness that the family couldn’t make ends meet. Her adoptive mother didn’t want Sienna to suffer with them.

"I have everything I need. As long as you’re doing well and don’t make me worry." When people grew old, they craved family affection even more. Although her grandmother said this, her heart felt sweet and warm.

The train started moving again. Sienna looked at the scenery of the small station and said with a smile, "Grandma, when I left, I didn’t bring any money. Could you send me some?"

The old lady on the other end was obviously stunned, probably because she hadn’t expected Sienna to make such a request.

The Johnson family was wealthy. Money was the least of their concerns.

"Will 150 thousand dollars be enough?"

"Grandma, the deer antler velvet and ginseng from Wumi are not expensive. Just send me 15 thousand dollars. When I leave, I will leave some money for my adoptive mother."

Sienna had never had to spend much money while living in the Johnson household—her pocket money and New Year’s money mostly went to her adoptive mother. For the past two years since she disappeared, Sienna hadn’t sent a single penny.

"...I heard your adoptive mother is very poor. Since you’re going back after all this time, give her some more money. After all, she raised you for so many years," her grandmother said.

"I know."

"Later, send your card number to Kathryn’s phone, and I’ll have her transfer the money to you. Since you’re out, have a good time. Come back when you’re ready; I’m here to take care of things at home."

Grandmother’s sudden indulgence of Sienna was a kind of compensation. It wasn’t easy being a strong woman, and Sienna’s future path would be difficult.

"Thank you, Grandma."

"Why are you being so formal with me? If you want to thank me, get well-fed and plump so you don’t look like a bamboo stick that the wind could blow over..."

"Grandma, bamboo doesn’t get blown over by the wind!"

After spending some time together recently, the bond between the grandmother and Sienna seemed to have grown stronger. Sienna wasn’t as reverent of her grandmother as before and occasionally showed her candid side. For example, now, audaciously asking her grandmother for spending money, something that was once unimaginable.

"Sienna, you must become strong and unyielding like bamboo." This was her grandmother’s expectation for Sienna.

A strong wind could break a tall tree, but not a bamboo stick because, unlike the unforgiving tree, the bamboo is resilient and unyielding.

She would become that bamboo.

「...」

After getting off the train, they took a bus to Wumi.

Sienna had only been there once, and she relied on her memory to navigate. The dirt roads had turned into paved cement ones, much smoother now.

"Sienna, why did you stop walking?"

Standing at a fork in the road, Sienna suddenly stood still.

"I forgot how to get there."

Lucas Robertson was momentarily speechless.

"What should we do?"

Lucas handed the sleeping Curly Baby to Kiki and said, "You wait here. I’ll go ask."

"Okay, hurry back."

"Alright."

Lucas walked towards the right path. Kiki, holding the baby, watched him go, her gaze rather infatuated. Sienna sensed something different in her expression.

Sensing this, Sienna asked probingly, "Kiki, he’s already gone. Why are you still staring?"

"I wasn’t staring at him!" Kiki quickly averted her eyes but didn’t look at Sienna either, trying to avoid her. Sienna’s heart sank. This was the unmistakable air of a girl nursing a crush; what else could it be but her heart being stirred?

"Do you have feelings for Lucas?"

"No, no, yes... HAHAHA... How could that be possible? Mai, don’t make things up..." Kiki laughed awkwardly, hastily explaining to Sienna.

"I only asked casually, and you’re already flustered and tripping over your words," Sienna remarked. "You even accidentally called me Mai."

"Kiki, you can deceive me, but you can’t deceive your own heart. Lucas is not interested in you. You must pull your heart back. Otherwise, you’ll only end up heartbroken," Sienna said solemnly.

Kiki couldn’t say anything. She clenched her lips and held Curly Baby tighter.

"I know. He only has eyes for his fiancée. I... I hadn’t thought about what would happen between us in the future," Kiki confessed to Sienna.