From Exile To Queen Of Everything - Chapter 46: Chapter 46

Sienna said, "Alright, let me know if anything comes up. You may go now. Amber will be apologizing to you."
Vivian nodded and followed Sienna.
Amber glared at Vivian behind Sienna, her eyes flashing with displeasure.
Jocelyn began, "Hey, Sienna, Vivian. Amber and I were just talking about you. Sienna, you just got back, right? You probably don't know much about Amber yet.
"Let me fill you in. By the way, what were you doing abroad? I heard you took over Hart Corporation. Does Dad know about that?"
Jocelyn's smile never reached her eyes. In a word, it was utterly fake.
"Jocelyn, I know my sister better than anyone. I owe you no explanation," Sienna said, her tone cold.
Jocelyn's smile froze instantly. She looked at Sienna and said, "Sienna, I know you dislike me. You must think my mother came between your parents and took your father away.
"But they're truly in love. They've been together for ten years, and their bond is deep. I do hope we can be family. Don't you agree?"
Sienna shot her a cold look and warned bluntly, "Don't make me slap you."
Jocelyn froze under Sienna's razor-sharp gaze. An involuntary shiver ran down her spine as primal dread took hold. 'Bitch, how dare she threaten me,' she wondered.
Amber remained silent. Jocelyn shot her a piercing glare, urging her to stand up for her, but Amber just pretended not to notice and kept her mouth shut.
Jocelyn gave a hollow smile, her jaw clenched as she glared daggers at Amber. "Amber, I know I've always been an outsider in your hearts, but the truth is, I genuinely care about you. I really do see you as my sister."
Amber suddenly snapped back to attention, nodded earnestly, and said, "Don't you dare bully Jocelyn."
Amber's indifferent tone made Jocelyn's already ashen face contort hideously with rage, transforming into something barely recognizable.
'How could she be so indifferent? After all that talk about me being her one and only sister,' Jocelyn wondered.
Vivian shot Amber a contemptuous look and retorted, "That's utterly ridiculous. Did we bully her? She's blabbering nonsense nonstop. If she doesn't want to stay here, she can get the hell out."
Amber took a step forward, her eyes blazing with fury as she squared off against Vivian. Sparks flew between them, the tension crackling in the air.
Jocelyn was still fuming over what Vivian had said earlier, but now, seeing Vivian and Amber about to argue, she was practically giddy with excitement. Forcing back a smirk, she shot a triumphant glance at Sienna.
Sienna didn't even spare Jocelyn a glance, her expression icy and detached.
Amber's face flushed crimson with rage as she shouted at Vivian, "This is my home too. How dare you tell me to leave? Didn't you swear up and down you'd never come back?
"What gives you the right to show your face here again? You're the most shameless woman I've ever seen."
Vivian's throat tightened, and she was at a complete loss for words. She really had said that back when Aiden had slapped her.
Seeing Vivian at a loss for words, Amber lifted her chin proudly. 'Vivian? I don't even see her as competition,' she thought with disdain.
The two were at daggers drawn, and from the looks of it, their argument was about to escalate. 'It'd be even better if they came to blows,' Jocelyn thought, thrilled to the core.
Jocelyn said with feigned concern, "Amber, don't fight because of me. I really don't want to ruin your bond. After all, I'm just an outsider. You and Vivian are the real family, bound by blood."
Amber snapped back, "Family? With her? Never. Vivian, I will never admit that you are my sister."
Vivian, refusing to back down, shot back, "Amber, you think I actually care about being family with you? I'd never accept you as my sister. Dream on."
Sienna could tell Vivian and Amber didn't get along, but she never expected things to get this toxic between them.
Jocelyn stood by, practically itching to clap and egg them on. With every word, she stirred the pot and fanned the flames.
"Enough of that, Amber, remember what you promised me?" Sienna cut in.
Amber, still seething, froze when she saw Sienna. Vivian snorted disdainfully, shouldered past Amber, and plopped down next to Sienna, clutching her arm. Her eyes brimmed with grievance.
"I don't give a damn about her apology, Sienna. Amber doesn't care about our family, right? Then just kick them out," Vivian said.
Amber gritted her teeth and planted her hands on her hips, fuming. Yet her adorably pouty look made Sienna's heart soften.
"Vivian, spare me the act. This is my home too. You once said you didn't care and would never come back. You're a shameless and despicable person," said Amber.
Amber met Sienna's gaze, suddenly remembering she had promised to take her out for fun this weekend.
Amber crossed her arms over her chest, chin held high, and declared with unmistakable pride, "Vivian, I take responsibility for what I do. I was wrong to insult you. I apologize. Sorry, alright?"
Amber's sudden apology left both Jocelyn and Vivian completely stunned.
Jocelyn could hardly believe it, wondering, 'Amber actually apologized to Vivian? Weren't they just at each other's throats, ready to fight a moment ago? And now she's apologizing, just like that? What the hell? This can't be happening.'
Vivian stared at Amber in disbelief, wide-eyed and blinking. 'Did I hear that right?' she wondered. 'Did Amber really just apologize to me? This is absolutely insane. Pigs might fly.'
Vivian and Amber used to fight so often they'd end up with bruised faces, yet neither would back down.
Sienna said gently, "Vivian, Amber has already apologized to you."
Vivian flashed a toothy grin at Sienna, not wanting to upset her. "Sienna, I heard her. Apologizing is no big deal. I'll be the bigger person and forgive her, considering she's so little and short."
Amber's temper flared up again instantly. "Vivian, who are you calling short and tiny, huh? If apologizing is so easy, then let's see you say sorry to me, you coward."
"Fine then. Sorry, sorry—there, I said it twice. Happy now?" Vivian sprang to her feet. She arched an eyebrow, her expression radiating smug defiance.
Not to be outdone, Amber shot her a defiant glare. "Who can't say sorry? Sorry, sorry, sorry—see? Easy as that."
Jocelyn stared in stunned silence, her mind going completely blank as she watched the scene unfold. 'No. This isn't how it's supposed to be between them,' she wondered.
"Amber, I'm not feeling well. Could you help me back to my room?" Jocelyn said, her voice soft and weak, trying to get Amber away. She couldn't let Amber stay here.
Sienna's acting was strange. With just a word, she might help Vivian and Amber patch things up.
"Jocelyn, are you okay? Should I take you to the hospital?" said Amber.
"It's fine, just a little headache," Jocelyn murmured.
Sienna sneered inwardly, 'Does Jocelyn really think I can't see through her little tricks? Running scared already? Jocelyn, the real show is only just beginning. Letting you stay with the Hart residence was never an act of mercy.'
Sienna turned to Elisa and said coolly, "Elisa, Miss Turner isn't feeling well. Escort her back to her room."
At Sienna's command, Elisa marched up to Jocelyn, her presence intimidating. "I'll escort you back," she said curtly.
"No, I'm fine—ah." Before she could finish, Elisa's strong hands clamped down on her arms like a vise, making Jocelyn cry out in pain.
Jocelyn shrieked, "You brainless maid, you're hurting me. Are you blind? Who on earth gave you the nerve to touch me with your filthy hands? Get out of my sight this instant."
Elisa smirked and yanked her up, "Miss Turner, Miss Sienna said you're unwell and need to return to your room. Let's go."
Jocelyn's meager strength was no match for Elisa. She was dragged away like a rag doll.
Jocelyn seethed with rage, glaring daggers at Sienna and spitting, "You—all of you—this is utterly unacceptable."
Upon reaching the room, Elisa flung Jocelyn onto the floor. Staring down at her with a haughty, contemptuous gaze, she sneered, "Miss Turner, if you're not feeling well, just rest. I'll close the door for you."
"How dare you? I'm a heiress of the Hart family. Just wait until my parents return and make you pay. Don't think Sienna really runs this house, you pathetic lackeys," Jocelyn cursed.
Elisa was tempted to slap Jocelyn right then. She had never met a woman so shameless. "Miss Turner, who do you think you are means nothing here.
"As far as Miss Sienna is concerned, you're whoever she says you are. If Miss Sienna says you are Jocelyn Turner, then it shall be."
Elisa sneered and slammed the door shut with a loud bang. Jocelyn lunged at it, only to find it locked. She screamed, "Let me out. Open this door. Let me out right now."
With a satisfied glance at the locked door, Elisa went back to report to Sienna. "Miss Sienna, Miss Turner is resting now. Miss Amber, there's no need to worry. She's fine."
Amber nodded. Vivian prepared to apologize, with Sienna reminding her to bring a gift.
Amber pouted in her chair, shooting Vivian a disgruntled look. "Must've done something bad," she muttered.
Vivian looked despondent and didn't respond. After a long moment of silence, Amber glanced up at her in confusion and saw Vivian standing there, motionless, her eyes filled with emotions too complex for Amber to decipher.
Sienna gently ruffled Vivian's hair and said, "Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. What matters is that you correct them. Go on now, and be careful on your way."
Vivian nodded softly. "Okay."
Amber stared blankly at their interaction. 'Seriously? She's actually patting her head like she's some little girl. How childish,' she scoffed inwardly. 'Vivian is already twenty-five, so embarrassing. Trying to act all cutesy at her age.'
"Amber, I had your room redone. Why don't you go upstairs and see if you like it?" Sienna gave her a faint smile.
"As if I'd like it," Amber snorted. But even as she said that, she stood up, going straight upstairs.
Sienna followed behind her. When Amber saw the adorably pink room before her, her eyes widened, sparkling with stars of delight. 'Absolutely gorgeous,' she thought.
The pink and white palette was her absolute favorite.
The style was completely refreshed, not entirely pink, but with a tasteful design that kept it from feeling stuffy or dull, elegant and refreshingly unique.
"Do you like it?" Sienna asked.
Amber pocketed her phone, crossed her arms with a huff, and said, "What poor taste is this? It's so tacky, not my style at all. Well, I guess I can barely put up with it."
Sienna smirked as she caught the delight in Amber's eyes. "Well, if you really don't like it, I'll just have the whole room redone."
Amber froze for a split second. Seeing Sienna about to leave, she hastily grabbed her arm. "Wait. Just wait."
Sienna turned around. "What's up?"
Amber fidgeted with her fingers, absently staring down at the tips of her shoes. She murmured under her breath, "It's not that bad, I guess."
Sienna chuckled and teased, "Admit it, you do like it."
Amber's face instantly flushed crimson. She shot Sienna a flustered and indignant glare and snapped, "I never said that."
Amber dashed into her room and shut the door behind her. Sienna shook her head with an amused chuckle.
Amber flopped onto the massive, soft bed, the plush comfort making her sigh contentedly as she closed her eyes. Gazing up at the ceiling, she hugged the comforter and whispered to herself, "Thanks."
Vivian arrived at Anya's home, a grand, two-story mansion that exuded both spaciousness and grandeur.
Anya descended the stairs, towel-drying her damp red hair, while Vivian sat quietly in the living room.
Vivian gazed nervously at Anya. When she noticed the wound on Anya's hand, guilt washed over her, and she lowered her head in shame.
Anya, ever perceptive, saw right through Vivian. "Vivian, why are you here?"
Vivian immediately stood up and placed the gift on the table. "Miss Yeast, I-I've come to apologize. I'm sorry for biting you the other day. Please don't be angry with me."
Anya remained expressionless as she opened the gift box. The moment she saw its contents, a look of disdain flashed across her features. She scoffed, "An apology with just jewelry? That's all the sincerity you've got?"
Vivian stammered, her fingers twisting nervously. "I—"
Anya set down the towel. "Can you cook?"
"Ah?" Vivian blinked in momentary confusion, then quickly replied, "Yes, I can."
Anya said coolly, "I haven't eaten yet. Cook me dinner, and I'll consider accepting your apology."
"Alright, Miss Yeast. I'll get right to it." Vivian bounded cheerfully into the kitchen.
Anya crossed her long, elegant legs and lounged languidly on the taupe sofa, picking up her tablet to review reports.
Vivian told Sienna not to wait for her for dinner. Sienna simply replied, [Got it,] and asked Elisa to serve the meal.
Amber shuffled downstairs, yawning, her short hair sticking up in adorable disarray, a sleep-rumpled cuteness that made even Elisa steal a few glances.
"Miss Amber, dinner is ready," Elisa called warmly.
"Okay," Amber mumbled sleepily.
Sienna reminded, "Go wash your face."
"Such a hassle," Amber grumbled but obediently went to wash up.
Noticing it was just her and Sienna at the table, Amber thought to herself, 'Vivian must still be out.'
"Mmm, this is delicious," Amber exclaimed as she popped a shrimp ball into her mouth.
"Miss Amber, this was specially made for you under Miss Sienna's personal instructions," said Elisa.
Amber peeked at Sienna from under her lashes, taking in her elegant table manners, then quickly ducked her head and focused on her own meal.
As Amber was finishing her meal, she suddenly remembered Jocelyn and asked, "Why hasn't Jocelyn come down for dinner?"
Elisa explained, "Miss Amber, Miss Turner said she needed to rest. She's not hungry and doesn't want dinner. She told us not to disturb her."
Amber nodded.
Sienna's eyes flashed coldly for a brief moment. 'In the ten years I was gone,' she thought, 'Jocelyn bullied them relentlessly. Now, I'll take my time making sure you get a taste of your own medicine.'
Vivian finished the meal with Anya in nervous silence. Afterward, Anya said curtly, "Be punctual for work."
Vivian understood this was Anya's way of forgiving her. Relieved and grateful, she said her goodbyes and took her leave.
On the way, Vivian ran into Mason.
The recent rain had left the night air cool. Mason, in a simple white shirt and carrying a briefcase, walked with his head down, eyes on the pavement, oblivious to his surroundings.