Samantha overslept and missed school. Though she disliked going to school because of her mean classmates, she still forced herself to wake up early and drag her feet to attend her classes every day. It was the first time she had a sleepover, though her companions were clearly not around when she woke up.
She found a note written by Adriene on the dining table with two paper bags containing a change of clothes and some food for her to eat. She sat down and ate in silence, occasionally glancing at the time. It was ten in the morning, and she knew it would take some time before Adrienne and Myrtle returned from school.
After finishing her meal and cleaning Myrtle's kitchen, Samantha bathed and decided to do her homework and review for an upcoming exam. She had already brought inconvenience to Adrienne and Myrtle, and she didn't want to be seen as useless by her older brother.
Her pen stopped as she thought about it. Samantha knew that she wasn't the only child Richard Qin had out of wedlock. She wasn't sure how many were out there, but she knew who Lennox Qin was.
When she was younger, she searched for Lennox Qin online and was surprised at how outstanding he was. At a young age, he had been an exceptional student - earning multiple awards in local and international competitions. Even when he turned eighteen, Lennox had already been involved in and was working at Qin Corporation - earning decent money for himself.
Samantha knew she wasn't anything like him, but she wanted to be self-sufficient. They shared the same father, but clearly, they were both raised differently. One was given everything, while the other was kicked to the curb and abandoned. Their upbringing was different, and their chances in life were complete opposites despite sharing the same father.
Then suddenly, Lennox came into her life through Adrienne. Was it because of their father's sudden death, or was there another reason for it?
Samantha pushed these thoughts aside and continued studying. She wasn't good at anything but studying. However, she couldn't stop thinking of the unknown. Given her living arrangements, her grades were inconsistent with her actual ability in school. Her life was about to change, yet she was scared of what would await her after this. She wasn't oblivious to the internal war within the Qin family and what would happen to her if she got involved with him.
It was already 2 PM when she lowered her pen after hearing her stomach grumble. She went to the fridge and heated her lunch in the microwave, checking her phone with a broken screen for any messages, but there were none. Her mother would throw a fit if she found out she wasn't home.
'It doesn't matter. She would find another reason to beat me anyway.'
After waiting for two more hours, the front door opened, revealing Adrienne with her driver bringing several bags with them. Samantha recognized the few famous brands and logos printed on them. Was this a common occurrence for a young mistress from a wealthy family? It must have cost Adrienne a fortune for all of these purchases.
"Myrte wouldn't be home until seven, so I came home before her. See if the clothes are to your liking, Sam." Adrienne said once she sent her driver off.
Samantha was frozen in place upon hearing that.
"These are for me?" She asked incredulously. "Addie, you shouldn't have bothered to spend money on me."
"Who said I was the one who paid for it, dear?" Adrienne chuckled as she dropped her school bag on the chair and pulled one of the bags from the floor.
"It's on your brother's tab. I didn't spend a single dime on it, but I was the one who chose them all." She added.
"But I…" Samantha found herself rendered speechless.
"Don't worry about it. Since your brother insisted on getting your custody from your mother, it's only natural that he provides your necessities." Adrienne paused for a moment, considering her next words. "I should have asked you first if you are okay with it. How do you feel about it, Sam?"
Samantha sat down, her hands on her lap.
"I-I'm not sure, Addie." She admitted. "I don't know whether I should trust him or not."
"You don't need to." Adrienne replied, earning a surprised look from the young lady.
"The world isn't fair. You should know this by now. However, you also have a choice to change your future. You don't need to put your trust in anyone but yourself. You're fifteen now and you'll reach legal age in a few years. Although eighteen is still young, you can decide for yourself. Lennox agreed to look after you until you are old enough to support yourself." She continued to explain.
"But Mom doesn't have anyone but me…" Samantha murmured. "I cannot just abandon her."
"But she can abandon you? How is it alright for a mother to let her daughter fend for herself at such a young age? You and I both know what's in your mother's heart."
Adrienne understood that it wouldn't be easy for Samantha to let go of her mother.
Samantha fell silent. How can she not know? From the moment she was born, her mother only had her father in her heart. Everything was about her father, and she had never received maternal love from her.
"Even if I want to, Mom won't allow me to leave, Addie. She would surely try to ask my brother for more money. She thinks that the Qin family owed her money because of me."
"That's why I need your cooperation, Sam. I want you to think about your future and what you want to do. You don't need to endure this kind of life when you have a chance to leave it behind. I know how to help you free yourself from your mother."
She then handed the thing she asked from Gavin.
"Only you can decide, Sam. You'll face many difficulties and losses in life, but never allow yourself to lose."
"Are you sure it's alright to leave Sam on her own?" Myrtle asked Adrienne as they walked away from Samantha's home. Adrienne's face was calm, but her eyes showed freezing coldness.
Seeing her best friend's reaction upon seeing Samantha's home, Myrtle was slightly frightened. She never knew that Adrienne was capable of evoking such fear from others. Her hair stood upright whenever she thought about how Adrienne beat those girls.
Who would have thought that this seemingly weak girl could have such a terrifying power! If she hadn't known Adrienne for years, Myrtle would have wondered if her friend was pretending to be weak the whole time she was being bullied in the past.
Adrienne used to be submissive and introverted, so when did she become so sharp-tongued? Did an evil or vengeful ghost possess her? Myrtle couldn't think of any reason behind her best friend's sudden change.
"Are you okay, Addie?" She dared to ask her friend again.
Myrtle wondered what terrible thing had happened for Adrienne to change like this. She wasn't sure if this was a good thing, but it wasn't all bad either.
"Sorry, Myrtle. I'm just a little upset. Seeing where Sam lives proves how irresponsible her mother is. I'm surprised Sam still has some attachments to her mother despite being treated like this." Adrienne replied.
Samantha's house was small, dark, and dilapidated. For a young miss raised in a wealthy family, Uncle Mo, and Myrtle were both surprised that Adrienne didn't show any disgust at the sight of it. The old house was owned by Samantha's maternal grandmother, who raised her for seven years before the old woman died of old age. By then, Samantha started living alone as her mother was away and was constantly trying to gain her father's attention.
"Then wouldn't it be better if she stayed with me for the meantime, Addie? I don't mind having a housemate. It's quite lonely when you aren't around to hang out. At least with Sam staying at my house, I can look after her meals and give her temporary shelter." Myrtle suggested, but Adrienne shook her head.
"No, Myrtle. It's better to get to the root of the problem before it gets out of hand. Lennox and I agreed to look after her welfare after this, but we both want Sam to realize things on her own. She must strengthen her resolve to relinquish her mother's hold on her and stand up for herself."
Adrienne believed it would be pointless to help Samantha if the girl remained as she was. For Adrienne, it was better to rely on oneself because people you thought you could depend on would mostly vanish when you needed them the most.
"She is still a minor, and yet she's been working hard while her mother used the monthly allowance given by the Qin family - instead of feeding her and sending her to school. Some things need to change, that's true, but more than anything else, Sam needs to realize that change would start only if she starts it with herself."
Adrienne slid into the backseat of the car and followed Myrtle. Uncle Mo closed the door and drove away, intending to send Myrtle home before returning to the Jiang Estate with Adrienne. Adrienne's meeting with the Zhao family was set for tomorrow morning, and she needed to do some preparation.
Adrienne was just in time for dinner. Old Master Jiang urged her to join them, and Adrienne scoffed at how this family continued to act like they were one big family without her. Her father even pretended not to notice her arrival. Camilla and Cayden's moods were exceptionally good today.
They must have been able to delete all the scandalous videos Elise had over the internet and were confident that they would be able to officially introduce Elise to the high society during the old man's birthday banquet.
"Addie, you are meeting your Grandpa Zhao tomorrow, right? Would you mind if I ask you to bring some gifts for him? We haven't seen or talked to each other for a long time. It's time to patch things up between us. Don't forget to deliver the invitation for the banquet to him." Old Master Jiang commented during their meal.
Lewis Jiang's face darkened, but he didn't dare to object to his father's words. As expected, his father was a coward. However, wouldn't that make him shameless if he went with her and saw her Grandpa Zhao?
"Of course, Grandpa. You don't need to worry over trivial things. I know Grandpa Zhao would eventually understand your sentiments." Adrienne replied curtly. "Would Brother like to join me instead since Father couldn't come with me?"
Cayden was stunned and opened his mouth but found himself pinned in place by Adrienne's cold gaze. He couldn't help but shudder, Adrienne's expression was terrifying!
"I have something to do tomorrow. Perhaps some other time." He said, lowering his gaze, not daring to meet his little sister's eyes anymore. Despite the changes he noticed two weeks ago - on her eighteenth birthday, she didn't seem to be as intimidating as she was today. It was as if she had become a totally different person.
He couldn't understand why his weak sister had suddenly grown some backbone. Did Adrienne find out something she shouldn't? Cayden wondered. Did she find out about the drugs being injected into her mother?
No, impossible! The Adrienne they knew was a simple-minded person. It wouldn't take long before they could break her resolve and force her to give up on Rosemary Zhao. Once Rosemary Zhao is dead, it would be easy for them to get rid of Adrienne, and by then, everything would eventually fall into their hands.
"That's a pity." Adrienne sighed, feigning disappointment, but Cayden saw the mockery in her eyes when he raised his gaze. "I'm sure Grandpa Zhao and Uncle Reese are both curious about what kind of person you are." Adrienne said with a smile, enough to make Cayden's blood boil in anger because of her arrogance. He couldn't wait to see the despair on her face once they snatched everything from her.