From Exile To Queen Of Everything - Chapter 64: Chapter 64

"Amber, it's great here, right? I know all the best places to eat and which rides are the most fun. Do you want to hang out together? I can show you around," Claire carefully scooted closer to her and asked.
Amber, like a proud peacock, haughtily narrowed her eyes at Claire, disdain flashing in her pretty eyes. She scoffed coldly, "No."
'As if I don't know what she's up to,' Amber thought. 'That scheming girl is totally up to no good, just trying to get close to Sienna. No way.'
Claire put on a pitiful expression and looked at Sienna. "Sienna, I just don't have any friends to hang out with. Even though my grades are top-notch at school, I'm still pretty much friendless.
"You're so kind and gentle. I thought your sister Amber would be just as nice as you, but it turns out she can't stand me either."
"Don't take it personally," Sienna explained gently. "She doesn't dislike you, Claire. Amber just isn't used to being around new people yet."
Amber butted in defiantly, "Yeah, I do dislike her."
After saying that, Amber quickly ducked her head, poking at the strawberries in her cup. She scooped one up and popped it into her mouth, her eyes curving into happy crescents.
Sienna ruffled Amber's hair affectionately. "Don't be rude. Claire is a lovely girl. I heard she's ranked fifth in her grade."
When Sienna mentioned her grades, Claire was on cloud nine. She felt like she was walking on clouds, soaring high above the world.
"Sienna, I'm just a tiny bit better than average, and that's all. No big deal," Claire said with a falsely modest smile.
Amber lowered her head, pausing mid-chew. 'Does she like people with good grades?' she wondered.
Amber's voice was subdued as she looked up at Sienna. "You like top students, right?"
The last few words were so soft they were almost lost in the noisy crowd.
Sienna only caught the first part and nodded honestly. "Yeah, I do."
The words struck deep in Amber's heart, and her face fell.
Lana walked over, leaned down, and whispered something in Sienna's ear. Sienna immediately stood up, her eyes flashing with urgency. "Are you sure? She's really there?"
"On the street ahead, Miss Enna. Are you going now?" said Lana.
Sienna nodded. "She's hard to track down. I'll go myself. You stay here with Amber."
"Understood, Miss Enna." Lana nodded.
Sienna reached out and gently pinched Amber's soft cheeks. "Amber, why don't you stay and play with Claire and Lana for a while? I have something to take care of, but I'll be back soon."
Amber nodded obediently. "Go ahead. I won't wander off."
'I'm not some clueless kid,' Amber thought. 'Sienna must have had a good reason to leave.'
Claire slung an arm around Amber's shoulders and grinned. "Hey Amber, you heard Sienna. She wants you to hang out with me. All done eating? Come on, I'll take you on the roller coaster. It's super intense. Let's go."
"No way." Amber struggled against Claire's grip, shooting her a furious glare.
Claire arched an eyebrow at her, flashed a playful grin, and grabbed her hand. "No isn't an option. Come on, I'm taking you out. Consider this an honor. Most people would kill for this chance."
Amber turned her head away stubbornly. "Then go play with them. Like I care," she huffed.
Claire couldn't resist. Amber was just too cute. She reached out and pinched Amber's cheek. 'Wow, so soft and tender,' she wondered. 'No wonder Sienna loves pinching her cheeks so much.'
Amber froze in stunned silence for a moment before exploding with rage. Her face flushed crimson as she snapped at Claire, "What the hell, Claire? Who said you could pinch my face?
"Don't you know how annoying you are? You scheming old hag, I'm not playing with you. Get lost."
Claire wrapped her arms around Amber's, batting her big eyes coquettishly. "Amber, don't be mad," she cooed, "I'm sorry. Let's hang out together, okay? Look how pitiful I am, all alone. If we team up, we'll make the perfect pair."
Amber's face burned crimson at Claire's sudden coquetry. Flustered, she shoved her away. "Who says I'd pair up with you, Claire? I'm not forgiving you," Amber huffed, turning away with a pout.
Amber glanced at Claire, a flicker of softness crossing her face before she hugged her arms tightly, putting on a cold, stern facade.
With an exaggerated huff, she said, "I'm only tolerating you out of pity. If you touch me again, I'm done with you."
"Got it." Claire grabbed Amber's hand and pulled her along at a run.
"Slow down. My water's going to fall." Amber protested.
Lana quietly picked up the water cup and followed behind them.
Following Lana's lead, Sienna stepped into Culturein Street, a trendy area lined with small shops and graffiti-covered walls, clearly a hotspot for young trendsetters.
She combed through several spots but found no trace of the person she was looking for. Sienna asked the shop owner, but he shook his head with a frown and said he didn't know the girl she was talking about.
The owner added, "There are just a bunch of delinquent teens here, always causing trouble, real bad ones."
Sienna nodded and said nothing more. Suddenly, she spotted a girl dashing past. Instantly, she grabbed the girl's shoulder. "Winifred?"
The girl turned around. It wasn't Winifred.
"What the hell? Let go of me," she snapped.
"Sorry." Sienna apologized and checked the time. Several hours had passed. It was time for her to head back.
Adrian was taking out the trash when he spotted a familiar silhouette. He wondered, 'Could it be her?'
He quickened his pace to follow. Sienna, sensing she was being tailed, deliberately slowed her steps and turned into an alley corner. Adrian lost sight of her and anxiously rushed forward.
Suddenly, Sienna was standing right beside him. 'So, it's him,' she wondered.
"Why are you following me?" Sienna's voice rang out suddenly, making Adrian jump. He spun around and found himself face-to-face with her.
She wore a black long-sleeved T-shirt that hugged her figure, paired with simple blue pants, an ordinary outfit, yet on her, it exuded an indescribable cool aloofness.
Even with a hat and mask on, Sienna's imposing aura was impossible to hide. Adrian flinched at her ice-cold gaze, quickly stepping back to put distance between them before dropping his gaze in embarrassment.
Adrian stammered, his face flushing a little. "Sorry, I-I didn't mean to follow you. I just wanted to thank you for helping me last time. Really, thank you."
Sienna studied the boy in front of her, wondering, 'I remember he is sixteen.'
His posture was straight as an arrow. He looked undeniably handsome, and his mature eyes hid a sharp glint. If Sienna had to put it into words, the young man carried a brooding ferocity about him.
Thinking of what Lana said, Sienna wondered, 'So, is he the Winslow family's illegitimate son?'
"No need." With icy composure, Sienna brushed past him without a glance. Adrian held his breath, not daring to move until her retreating figure faded into the distance.
'What's her name?' he wondered, yet he couldn't bring himself to ask.
Amber and Claire had an absolute blast together. By the end of the afternoon, both were drenched in sweat and just like that, they'd become inseparable best friends who could talk about anything.
"Amber, that was a close call. We almost wiped out just now," Claire exclaimed.
"Don't pin this on me, Claire. Wasn't it your shoe that got stuck?" Amber shot back.
Claire said with a grin, "My bad, OK? Amber, I have to head home now. Don't forget to bring me that gift tomorrow."
Amber gave her a playful shove. "God, you're so annoying. I said I'd get it for you, so I will. Now hurry up before your driver loses patience."
"Bye. And don't forget to say goodbye to Sienna for me," Claire called out, waving enthusiastically as she climbed into the car.
Amber watched Claire's retreating figure, surprised to feel a pang of reluctance. She shook her head, trying to banish those silly thoughts.
'It's not like we won't see each other again,' Amber told herself. 'Why should I even care? Hmph, I still have to bring her a gift tomorrow. What a pain. Claire really is such a high-maintenance friend.'
Sienna appeared behind her and asked gently, "Amber, did you have a good time?"
Amber looked up at Sienna, her eyes meeting her bright, smiling gaze.
She nodded vigorously. "So much fun." She had never been this happy before.
Sienna had taken Amber to the amusement park, and she'd even made a new friend. Sure, Claire was a total chatterbox and way too handsy—honestly, kind of annoying, but Amber had to admit, she wasn't so bad after all.
"Let's go home then?" Sienna suggested gently.
"Okay," Amber replied.
After getting in the car, Amber took a few sips of water, her eyes filled with confusion. Her gaze wandered between the window and Sienna, clearly lost in thought.
Noticing her troubled expression, Sienna asked gently, "Amber, is there something on your mind you'd like to share?"
Amber fidgeted with her fingers, her head hanging low, and even her little cowlick drooped weakly. "What makes a real friend?" she asked softly.
Sienna explained patiently, "Everyone defines friendship differently. We're all unique, with our own preferences, but what matters is that being together makes you happy.
"Maybe it's someone you can share everything with, someone who'd go through fire for you, or someone you consider your closest companion—"
As Sienna spoke, her mind drifted, her eyes flickering with loneliness.
Amber drifted into her thoughts. 'Am I really happy?'
She had to admit, she genuinely enjoyed being with Claire, but it was different from hanging out with Mia.
Claire was open and straightforward, never making her second-guess, while Mia always spoke in cryptic ways that Amber couldn't understand.
'Does that mean Mia and I aren't real friends after all?' Amber wondered.
Sienna couldn't help but think of Nora, the once radiant, vivacious young girl now labeled a jealous, unreasonable madwoman.
'It's so ironic. It's time I went to see her,' Sienna wondered.
When Vivian returned from the restroom, a bouquet of roses and a hotel key card were waiting on her workstation.
'Who left these here?' she wondered.
As Vivian reached for the roses, Richard burst in, panic written all over his face. He rushed over, shouting, "No, don't touch those. Vivian, they're mine. Please, don't."
He quickly scooped up both the roses and the key card, hugging them to his chest with a nervous smile as he looked at Vivian.
Afraid she might misunderstand, Richard hurried to explain, "Don't get the wrong idea, hey. These are from my wife. She had them delivered for our anniversary tonight. They must've been sent to you by mistake. I'll take them right away."
Vivian's eyes lit up with understanding. "Oh, I see, Mr. Wood. Wishing you both happiness."
Richard beamed an exaggerated smile as he carried a bouquet of roses into his office, wiping his dry brow in feigned relief. 'That's close. Vivian has almost seen the card,' he wondered.
Richard quickly snatched up the card from the bouquet of roses. In bold letters, it read: [Vivian, my dear, 8 p.m. tonight at the Chowmin Hotel. Don't stand me up. Looking forward to our pleasant cooperation.]
'That damn sleazeball Peter just won't quit,' Richard wondered furiously. 'After I ignored him last time, he kept snooping around. Now he's actively trying to work with us, specifically demanding that Vivian sign the contract.
'So that's how you want to play? Fine. Tonight, I'll make sure he gets a taste of his own medicine.'
Richard ripped the card into tiny pieces and scattered them into the air. He grabbed the roses and hurled them into the trash, then stomped on them until they were nothing but a ruined mess.
Still fuming, he clenched his fists, struggling to contain his anger.
Ever since Peter met Vivian, he couldn't get her out of his head. He swore that he would make her his, no matter what.
'Richard actually dares to ignore me? Who does he think he is? If it weren't for Vivian, would I ever stoop to work with their pathetic little company? They really have no idea where they stand,' Peter wondered.
Chloe eyed Peter, noticing how he was all slicked up. She swayed her hips as she sidled up to him, purring, "Babe, where are you headed?"
Peter shoved her away impatiently, his eyes flashing with disdain and boredom. "Back off. I'm going to an important dinner meeting. Just behave yourself. Got it?"
Chloe flipped her hair with a bright smile and asked sweetly, "Honey, what kind of dinner meeting is it? Why don't you take me along? I'd love to go."
Peter stood up with a blank expression, straightening his tie. "Chloe, don't meddle. Stay home, or you'll regret it."
Chloe plopped down grudgingly, fuming to herself. 'Jerk, like I'd ever believe he's just going to some dinner. He's definitely fallen for another woman again.
'If it weren't for his money, I wouldn't even bother putting up with him. Who does he think he is, acting all high and mighty?'
Peter poured two glasses of whiskey, rubbing his hands together in excitement as he paced back and forth. 'Vivian, you'll be mine in the end,' he wondered.
Nora, dressed in a white dress, walked into the cemetery and stopped before an unnamed headstone. Whenever she had a moment, she would come here to chat with her friend. Her best friend was gone.
After the plane crash, Sienna perished without a trace. All that was buried here was her bracelet.
The driver panted heavily as he helped her unload a lot of flowers from the car. After placing them in front of her, he nearly threw out his back.
'Man, how much did all this cost,' he wondered and gasped, "Mrs. Preston, would you like some assistance?"
Nora waved her hand dismissively. "No need. You may leave."
Nora placed the flowers for Enna. 'Enna, how could you be so heartless, leaving me all alone,' she wondered.
Nora murmured at the graveside, "Enna, thank you for visiting me in my dream last night. After all these years apart, I finally saw you again. A decade has passed.
"You've shed your youthful innocence, and you're just as breathtaking as ever. Honestly, when I saw you, I thought you'd come to take me with you.
"Who would've thought that when I opened my eyes this morning, I was still among the living?"
Nora sat with perfect poise in her elegant white dress. Her hair was neatly coiled at the nape of her neck, secured with a silver jeweled hairpin. Delicate emerald earrings accentuated her flawless skin.