novelraw Chapter 324 - 325: Returning the Diamond Necklace
Chapter 324 - 325: Returning the Diamond Necklace
Chapter 324: Chapter 325: Returning the Diamond Necklace
Adrian Desmond’s car slowly pulled into the Phillips’ residence.
The Phillips’ residence was a large villa with a tall, European-style entrance. In the garden, a gardener was watering flowers, and on the green lawn, a Samoyed dog chased a butterfly.
The Phillips’ home was beautiful.
Adrian led Sienna Johnson by the hand as a servant guided them into the Phillips’ residence.
In the Phillips’ living room, Sienna met Noah’s mother for the first time.
Noah’s mother was much younger than Sienna had imagined, and she could see parts of Noah in her.
She remembered that when they were in the orphanage, they had often discussed what their mothers were like. It turned out Noah’s mother was such a beautiful and elegant woman.
But...
Mrs. Phillips’ expression seemed much colder.
"Miss Johnson?"
Adrian replied, "Please, call her Mrs. Desmond!"
Mrs. Phillips snorted, "Oh?"
Adrian and Sienna sat down. Sienna was clearly a little restrained, and Adrian held her hand tightly, not letting go.
Sienna politely nodded to Mrs. Phillips. "Hello... Mrs. Phillips, I am Sienna Johnson."
"I asked the servant to prepare Red Dates and Longan Tea for you," Mrs. Phillips said. "This type of tea is warming, nourishing, and very good for women."
Although Mrs. Powell was smiling and her intentions were clearly good, Sienna felt thoroughly uncomfortable.
"Thank you," Sienna said reluctantly.
"The gentleman just asked me to call you Mrs. Desmond," Mrs. Phillips continued. "What’s going on? Aren’t you planning to have him marry into your family? If so, how can you take your husband’s surname?"
"Whether marrying him or having him marry into my family, it’s just a formality. People nowadays don’t take it so seriously," Sienna explained.
"Smaller families might not care, but for a centuries-old esteemed family like ours, the Phillips Family, it is of great importance. When a man marries into the wife’s family, it means starting anew, rewriting the family register. He is removed from his own family’s records and added to his wife’s."
Mrs. Phillips looked at Adrian and asked, "I’m curious, Mr. Desmond, how did your parents agree to you marrying into her family? After all, it’s a shameful thing."
Marrying into a family, even in today’s more open-minded society, was still not considered a particularly glorious thing.
Sienna glanced at Adrian, feeling embarrassed for him. She squeezed his hand in return and explained, "Adrian and I have a son, and our son will take his surname. The Desmond family will not be without an heir to carry on the line."
"My parents have passed away," Adrian said.
"No wonder," Mrs. Phillips said. "For parents who have gone through the hardship of raising a son, only for him to marry into another family... if his parents were still alive, they would likely be angered to death. Mrs. Desmond, wouldn’t you agree?"
"Please, just call me Sienna," she responded.
"Alright... Sienna!"
...
"I only have one son, Noah," Mrs. Phillips went on. "As his mother, I feel I’ve failed him in many ways over the years, so I must be meticulous with his important life decisions. He told me he’d found a girl he liked, and I was very happy. I just never expected it to be you..." Mrs. Phillips said, sizing Sienna up, her gaze clearly showing her dissatisfaction.
"Mrs. Phillips..." Sienna’s voice was a little strained. She felt increasingly uncomfortable facing Noah’s mother. "This is the necklace you wanted. I’ve brought it to you."
Sienna took the blue box from her bag, held it with both hands, and offered it to Mrs. Phillips. When Mrs. Phillips didn’t accept it, Sienna, somewhat embarrassed, placed the box on the table.
Mrs. Powell smiled again. When she smiled this time, there was a touch more softness and a little less of her earlier coldness.
"Sienna, you are a considerate child," Mrs. Phillips remarked.
"You flatter me, Mrs. Phillips."
Actually, Sienna really wanted to ask about Noah’s condition, but she couldn’t. Adrian was very concerned about Noah, and Mrs. Phillips wouldn’t appreciate her asking either.
"Mrs. Phillips, please check if the necklace is the one you wanted. If there are no other issues, we’ll take our leave now."
Mrs. Phillips picked up the box, opened it, looked inside, then closed it. "It is indeed our family heirloom," she said.
"That’s good. Since the item has been delivered, we’ll take our leave now."
Mrs. Phillips’ gaze swept past Adrian before landing on Sienna’s face. "Since you’re here, stay for dinner. I imagine Noah would be pleased to see you and your fiancé getting along so well. He might even be happy for you."
How could Sienna not understand Mrs. Phillips’ intention? It was simply to let her son see her happy with another man, to make him give up on her.
"Since Mrs. Phillips has invited us so warmly, Sienna and I will gladly accept," Adrian agreed on Sienna’s behalf.
"Adrian!" Sienna looked at him with dissatisfaction. In front of Mrs. Phillips, some things just couldn’t be said.
"I’d also like to meet this brother of yours from the orphanage," Adrian said.
"There’s nothing much to see. Let’s go. Curly is waiting for us at home." Sienna even brought up their daughter, knowing Adrian was most attentive to her words.
"I’ve already told Curly that I’m going on a business trip with you and won’t be home for the next two days." Adrian had clearly made preparations.
Mrs. Phillips’ gaze was probing, curious about Adrian’s background. Judging by his aura, he’s definitely no ordinary person. So why would he agree to marry into her family?
Could he have been bewitched by Sienna’s beauty?
Mrs. Phillips’ gaze lingered on Sienna’s stunningly beautiful face. She’s truly pretty, she thought silently. No wonder our stubborn boy searched for this woman for so many years, his heart completely captivated by her.
’Femme fatale.’ That saying really is true. Our Phillips family has a clean and upright reputation; we can’t let a woman like this marry in.
"Mr. Desmond, what did your parents do?" Mrs. Phillips asked.
"My father was formerly a minister in the Ministry of Justice in Abyanabad, and my mother inherited a shipping company from my maternal grandfather."
Sienna only knew that Adrian’s parents had been killed by enemies. She didn’t actually know much about them. His parents were just ordinary people; who could they possibly have offended to meet such a fate?
"Mr. Desmond, are you from Abyanabad?"
"Yes, I am a Chinese descendant from Abyanabad."
"Mr. Desmond, your family is quite prominent. Why would you choose to marry into the Johnson family?" Mrs. Phillips had met countless people; she hadn’t expected this man to indeed be no ordinary person.
"I’m utterly captivated by her. If she asked for my life, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second." He took Sienna’s hand, placed it on his lap, and patted it gently twice, his expression full of deep affection.
Mrs. Phillips laughed. "I didn’t expect Mr. Desmond to be such a romantic."
"Romantic? I wouldn’t dare claim the title. I just feel that life is a long journey, and one should find someone they love to share it with, so it isn’t so dull. Thankfully, I’ve been fortunate enough to find that person."
Sienna smiled at Adrian, pressing her lips together without speaking.
"Sienna, don’t you agree?"
"I feel the same way."
Seeing the couple looking so affectionate and harmonious, Mrs. Phillips thought of her own hopelessly devoted son and found it impossible to like Sienna, no matter what.