Chapter 64: You Miss Him?

Chapter 64: Chapter 64: You Miss Him?

When Sienna Everett saw the three messages from Dustin Everett, her clear eyes filled with cold disgust.

The Dustin Everett of the past had been so down-and-out and pitiful. He had no inspiration, couldn’t write good songs, was ridiculed by netizens, and suffered from depression to the point of wanting to quit the industry and end his life.

Back then, she had genuinely treated Dustin Everett as a real brother. Her heart ached for her fifth brother’s plight, and she helped him without asking for anything in return.

At Dustin Everett’s lowest point, she had used her identity as SG to take him on as her apprentice, helping him compose new songs, win the Most Popular Male Singer award, and emerge from the darkness to regain his confidence.

But now, after severing ties with the Everett Family, the very sight of Dustin Everett annoyed her, and she had no desire to reply to his messages.

Once again, Sienna Everett didn’t reply. She put her phone away, her expression cold.

’I need to find the time to formally disown him and sever our master-apprentice relationship.’

’From now on, Dustin Everett would no longer be her, SG’s, apprentice.’

Sienna Everett put her phone away and had barely taken two steps forward when Dustin Everett suddenly ran over to block her path.

"Sienna Everett, what were you just looking at? Who sent you that message?"

"What does that have to do with you?" Sienna Everett’s tone was frigid.

Dustin Everett’s brows furrowed, an inexplicable panic seizing his heart.

’SG hadn’t been replying to his messages, and he was panicking. He was terrified his master would come to despise him.’

’If his master truly despised him, it would be a fate worse than death.’

Dustin Everett looked at Sienna Everett and asked through gritted teeth, "The piece you played on the show just now, ’Nine Provinces,’ sounded a lot like SG’s own performance. It was almost identical."

Sienna Everett couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. ’So he did notice.’

’But...’

Sienna Everett retorted lightly, "And what does that have to do with you?"

"Sienna Everett!" Dustin Everett, who had become famous at a young age and carried a certain arrogance, roared at her, his eyes bloodshot. "What kind of attitude is that!"

Just as Sienna Everett was about to fire back, a punchable voice drawled lazily from behind her, "That’s how you treat a dog. Seems about right."

Sienna Everett looked over and saw that it was, surprisingly, Orion Hawthorne.

He had come over with Isabelle Sutton.

Orion Hawthorne stood with his hands in his pockets, chin tilted up, his gaze toward Dustin Everett brazenly arrogant. "Sienna Everett has already cut ties with the Everett Family, and you still expect her to respect you? Who the hell do you think you are?"

Dustin Everett had never been spoken to like that before, and his face instantly darkened.

"Orion Hawthorne, this is the Everett Family’s business. It has nothing to do with you."

Orion Hawthorne clicked his tongue in exasperation. "TSK. Didn’t I just say? Sienna Everett already cut ties with your family. What, is the Everett Family regretting it now? Want to beg her to come back?"

While Orion Hawthorne was talking, Isabelle Sutton moved to Sienna Everett’s side, shielding her in a subtle but protective stance.

A wave of warmth washed over Sienna Everett. She took Isabelle Sutton’s hand. "Let’s not waste time on irrelevant people. Let’s go."

Dustin Everett wanted to speak again, but all he saw was Sienna Everett walking away without a backward glance.

Orion Hawthorne shot Dustin Everett one last glance, then turned and followed Sienna Everett.

After they had walked some distance away,

Orion Hawthorne cleared his throat and solemnly declared, "Sienna Everett, let’s get one thing straight. I wasn’t helping you back there. I just really can’t stand that guy, Dustin Everett."

Sienna Everett glanced at him. "I never said you were."

Orion Hawthorne was choked speechless.

Isabelle Sutton chuckled. "Alright, alright, you two stop bickering. Sienna, I just got a call. Something came up at home, so I have to go."

"Okay, be safe on your way."

"Mhm, I’m heading out then!"

After Isabelle Sutton left, Sienna Everett and Orion Hawthorne had only taken a few steps before Stella Shaw found them.

Stella Shaw patted Sienna Everett’s shoulder. Though her expression was as cool as ever, her tone was gratified. "You did well for your first variety show appearance."

Not to be outdone, Orion Hawthorne chimed in, seeking praise. "What about me? What about me? I did great too, you know."

Stella Shaw just gave him a look, leaving him to interpret it himself.

Orion Hawthorne grumbled, "Ophelia, you’re so biased! Sienna Everett, what kind of spell did you cast on her?"

Sienna Everett gave him a look, leaving him to interpret it himself. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

Orion Hawthorne: "..."

A hint of a smile flickered in Stella Shaw’s eyes. "Come on, it’s almost lunchtime. I’ll treat you two."

The three of them went to a nearby restaurant for lunch.

After lunch, Orion Hawthorne’s assistant came to pick him up. He had to rush to another engagement in the afternoon.

Before leaving, Orion Hawthorne sat in the car, rolled down the window, and looked out at Sienna Everett.

"Want me to follow you on X? Help you get some more followers. You don’t have to say it, I know you want me to. Other stars beg for my follow and I don’t even bother."

Sienna Everett smiled elegantly. "No need."

Orion Hawthorne: "..."

’Damn it.’

’You’re ruthless.’

Orion Hawthorne shot her an indignant glare, rolled up the window, and the car drove off.

Stella Shaw shook her head, exasperated. She was about to offer Sienna Everett a ride home.

But as it happened, Sienna Everett ran into an old acquaintance.

Sienna Everett told Stella Shaw to go on ahead, saying she didn’t need a ride.

In a private room on the second floor of a coffee shop.

"Sienna, what a coincidence running into you here."

The man sitting opposite Sienna Everett had a handsome, refined face alight with the joy of their reunion. His smile was warm and bright, and he exuded a gentle, scholarly elegance.

Sienna Everett curved her lips into a smile. "It is a coincidence."

The man opposite her was Maxwell Sawyer, a high school classmate of hers. In the past, to get out of her childhood engagement to Julian Forrester, she had lied and claimed to be in love with a male classmate, using Maxwell as a cover.

Maxwell Sawyer didn’t know about this, which spared them any awkwardness. Now, it was simply a reunion between old friends.

Maxwell Sawyer smiled faintly, his expression as warm as a spring breeze. "I watched your show today. I had no idea you were so incredible at playing the guqin. It sounded beautiful!"

Sienna Everett: "Thank you."

Maxwell Sawyer took out his phone. "Oh, right, we should exchange numbers so we can keep in touch."

Sienna Everett thought for a moment. ’There’s no harm in it.’ She recited her phone number for him.

Maxwell Sawyer saved the number and said with a smile, "I went into fashion design after graduating from college. I had a work matter over here today, I never expected to run into you."

"Fashion design?" Sienna Everett raised a brow slightly.

"Are you interested in it?" Maxwell Sawyer didn’t miss her change in expression and quickly asked.

"Somewhat," Sienna Everett said with a smile, not elaborating.

The two chatted for a while longer before Sienna Everett, having other things to do, stood up to say goodbye to Maxwell Sawyer.

As they walked out of the coffee shop, Maxwell Sawyer’s assistant was waiting outside for him. "Director Sawyer."

Maxwell Sawyer draped his suit jacket over his arm, the very picture of a refined gentleman as he looked at Sienna Everett. "Where are you headed? Shall I give you a ride?"

Sienna Everett politely declined, "Thank you, but there’s no need."

Maxwell Sawyer stood by his car watching her. After a moment of silence, his lips curved into a smile. "Alright then. I’ll see you around."

「...」

「Back at Veridian Gardens.」

As soon as Sienna Everett entered the living room, she saw Keith Sterling on the sofa.

The guy was sprawled on the sofa with fruit and snacks laid out on the coffee table before him, making himself more at home than if he were in his own house.

"Good afternoon, Sis-in-law~~"

"Good afternoon." Sienna Everett’s gaze swept the room, but she didn’t see any sign of Julian Forrester. "Where’s your brother?" she asked curiously.

Keith Sterling chuckled slyly and gave her a suggestive wink. "Sis-in-law, asking for my bro the moment you walk in the door. You miss him?"

Sienna Everett sat down opposite Keith Sterling and popped a grape into her mouth. "I just asked where your brother was. How did your mind leap to that?"

Keith Sterling yelled toward the staircase, "Bro, get down here! Sis-in-law is back! She says she misses you!!"

Startled, Sienna Everett picked up a grape and threw it at him. "Stop shouting nonsense!"

Keith Sterling nimbly dodged it, grinning mischievously. "Sis-in-law, don’t waste food."

Sienna Everett: "...Fine. I won’t waste food. I’ll just use something else to hit you with, how about that!"

With that, she grabbed a throw pillow, ready to hurl it at him.

Just then, Julian Forrester came down the stairs.

On closer inspection, his usually calm and unruffled face held a hint of surprise, and even the way he came down the stairs betrayed a hint of urgency.