Chapter 1417: True Family Reunion with Love

Noticing that Sienna Johnson seemed uninterested, Adrian Desmond quickly wrapped things up.

Adrian helped her tidy up her clothes and held her hand as they slowly walked out of the small forest.

By this time, the moon had already risen.

The bright moon hung in the sky, with snow covering the ground, lighting up the surroundings. Adrian glanced at Sienna’s face in the moonlight and saw that she was unhappy.

Adrian assumed Sienna was mad at him for being too reckless earlier, so he apologized, “Are you mad?”

“No.”

“But your entire face, every part, is saying you’re unhappy.” Adrian hugged Sienna and gently said, “It’s so dull to always do it in bed. Besides, Hugo, that little rascal, always interrupts at key moments… If I keep holding it in like this, I’m afraid I’ll get sick.”

“…”

“Alright, alright, if you don’t like it, I won’t take you outside next time, okay?”

“…”

“Mrs. Desmond, I have apologized, why are you still unhappy?”

Sienna wrapped her arms around Adrian’s waist, looked ahead, and slowly said,

“That woman just now is Richardson Smith’s wife.”

“Oh.” Adrian didn’t care since it wasn’t his wife. Of course, his woman wouldn’t do such a thing either.

“I heard about Richardson when he worked at Cloudscape Mansion. His mother-in-law fell seriously ill, and Richardson borrowed a heap of debt to pay for her treatment. Later, as he couldn’t repay the debt, he went to Raelnia to do illegal labor. He worked there for five years before he repaid the money…”

Sienna’s voice was lovely, soft and gentle in this quiet night, even though the content wasn’t something Adrian liked, he still enjoyed listening to her.

So, Adrian listened patiently, occasionally making perfunctory responses.

“Richardson stayed in Raelnia for five whole years, not daring to return during that period for fear of deportation. He only came back after paying off the debt.”

“…”

“Richardson’s house changed from an earthen house to a bungalow, and now it’s a two-story building, all earned from his work over these years…”

Adrian was getting impatient; what was this woman doing talking so much about Richardson?

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“I feel uncomfortable…” Sienna’s sense of justice was at play, disturbing her peace.

“Because Richardson’s wife had an affair?”

“Yes.”

“It’s not me having the affair, why are you so worried?” Adrian complained, feeling this woman was overthinking.

He initially thought she was glum because he forced her in the forest earlier. If he had known it was because of that loose woman, he would have taken her to the forest a few more times.

“Adrian, as long as you don’t betray me, I will never betray you. If you choose to leave before me, I will remain loyal like my mother, until I die and be buried in a grave with you.”

“I’m going to live a long life, you’d better not jinx me.” Adrian’s lips curved up, feeling delighted.

“Yeah, I wish you a long life.”

Adrian hugged her close and said, “Alright, don’t fuss over things all day. They’re not related to you, is it worth being upset about?”

“I just feel sometimes people’s hearts can be so hurtful…”

Adrian changed the subject, “I thought you were mad I was messing with you in the forest. Since you’re not mad, why don’t we do it again? It’s still early, plenty of time… There’s a bamboo grove ahead…”

Sienna let Adrian’s words shift her focus, she turned her head and glared fiercely at the man.

“Don’t you notice that you’re particularly quick outside?” Adrian said mischievously.

“Adrian, believe it or not, I won’t let you sleep in my bed tonight?”

Sienna’s words successfully shut Adrian up.

…

When they returned, the family was making sticky rice dumplings, not wrapping dumplings.

Sienna immediately knew it was Rose Collins’s idea.

Rose Collins’s family is from Northeast Raelnia. Making sticky rice dumplings is a Northeast Raelnia custom.

The temperatures are low in the Northeast, so outside serves as a natural fridge. Every winter, every household makes sticky rice dumplings to freeze in the big jars outside, which can be eaten until the new year begins.

Sienna and Adrian returned just as a batch of sticky rice dumplings were freshly made. Sienna, having walked for a long time and feeling hungry, took one to eat.

Curly teased her, “Mom, you’re so greedy. We’ve worked hard for so long and just made them, and you’re already eating.”

“You stingy brat, what’s wrong with mom having a bite?” Sienna stuffed the half-eaten sticky rice dumpling into her daughter’s mouth, who tasted a bite and said, “Tastes great.”

Curly liked it, so Sienna fed her the rest.

Pauline Briggs asked, “Where did you go? Why did it take so long to come back?”

Sienna blushed slightly and said, “The snow view outside was beautiful, so we went for a walk.”

“Hmm, didn’t take me.” Curly complained.

“You went sledding, didn’t want to come with us?”

Mentioning the sled, Curly had something to say, and she happily talked about it, “Uncle made a great sled, and he painted it with a beautiful red color…”

Adrian saw Sienna liked eating and handed her a sticky rice dumpling. Sienna sat beside her daughter, watching them make more as she nibbled on the dumpling.

In making sticky rice dumplings, Pauline and Rose were the main contributors, working quickly and well. After Sienna finished one, she joined in.

The steamed sticky rice dumplings placed in the icy outdoors would soon freeze solid. Once frozen hard, they’d be stored in the big jars and warmed in a steamer before eating.

This was Sienna’s memory.

When she was young, there were few treats, and she thought sticky rice dumplings were the world’s delicacy.

As she grew up, she seldom ate them, and Sienna hadn’t expected Rose to make sticky rice dumplings.

“Mom, why did you decide to make sticky rice dumplings this year?” Sienna asked.

“Since there are many people, and many kids, I thought I’d make them. They can have them as snacks.” Rose said.

“…”

“I remember you loved eating them as a child.” Rose looked at Sienna with a face full of nostalgia.

“I still love eating them now.”

Rose said, “I’ll pack more for you to take home.”

“Alright.”

Outside, someone started setting off firecrackers, and Curly felt excited, “Dad, when are we setting off fireworks?”

“After dinner we’ll go set off fireworks.”

Curly asked, “Grandma, when do we eat?”

“Once we finish making sticky rice dumplings, we can cook dumplings.”

Rose finished making the last one, using up all the ingredients, “Alright, we’re done. Let’s cook dumplings.”

“I want to set off firecrackers!” Curly shouted.

Sienna said, “Girls don’t set off firecrackers!”