CHAPTER 22: CHAPTER 22: SELINA HUGHES’S ORIGINS

The visitor was a graceful and dignified woman, appearing to be in her thirties.

Adrian Jennings introduced, "Talia, this is the top restorer I recommended to you, Shirley Rowan."

A look of surprise flashed in Talia’s eyes. She had thought the top restorer Adrian was referring to was an elder, but she didn’t expect such a beautiful woman.

Talia stood up and walked over to shake hands with her, excitedly saying, "Master Lu, hello, I’m Talia Rhodes, I’m entrusting you with my porcelain doll."

"Pfft—" Shirley Rowan couldn’t help but laugh, looking at Talia with her eyes crinkled in amusement. "Master Lu? Is that some antivirus software?"

Talia realized her mistake, feeling very regretful.

How could she slip up like that?

She ended up calling a beautiful woman an antivirus software.

"I’m sorry, really sorry, I slipped up," Talia quickly apologized.

"It’s fine." Shirley Rowan was still smiling, her gaze drifting to Adrian Jennings, "You’re so aloof and picky, I was curious about what kind of girl could win over someone as formidable as you. Now that I’ve met Talia, I get it. If it were me, I’d like her too."

"Master, please have a seat," Talia pulled out a chair.

Shirley Rowan sat down, and Talia poured her a cup of tea.

"Please enjoy slowly."

Shirley Rowan sipped the tea with a gentle smile, "Not bad."

"Talia, you don’t have to do this. I paid her a significant service fee; you’re the client, you can be more assertive."

Talia smiled lightly, nodding as she obediently sat back down beside Adrian Jennings.

"Adrian, why are you such a wet blanket," Shirley Rowan pouted.

She turned to Talia, her eyes curving like crescent moons, "Sister Talia, did you bring the items today?"

"No, Master Lu... oh no, Sister Shirley, can you come home with me after dinner? I’ll give it to you."

Shirley Rowan agreed cheerfully, "Sure."

...

After dinner, Shirley Rowan followed Talia to The Rhodes Family villa.

Talia carefully brought the wrapped porcelain pieces to Shirley Rowan, "Sister Shirley, do you think this is salvageable?"

Shirley Rowan opened it.

Her brows furrowed, "It’s shattered like this, tsk tsk."

Talia’s heart was in her throat.

"Don’t worry, Sister Talia, since this is in my hands, I will surely fix it for you," Shirley Rowan patted Talia’s shoulder, showing a brotherly demeanor.

Talia finally relaxed, "Thank you, it’s a lot to ask."

"It’s nothing."

Shirley Rowan was delighted.

For this small job, Adrian Jennings offered her a million as a repair fee.

What a steal!

"Sister Talia, do you have a picture of the original?"

"Yes, I’ll send it to you."

"Okay, I’ll ask you about the details later, I’ll head back now."

Talia said, "I’ll have the driver take you."

"Alright."

The matter of repairing the porcelain doll was handled.

It was time to settle scores with Vivian Coleman and Ethan Grant.

Talia made a call to her cousin, Oscar Sterling.

"Hey cousin, there’s something I need your help with."

...

In the evening, Talia lay in bed after taking a bath, her phone vibrating.

She glanced at it, and it was an unfamiliar number from Mirehaven.

Thinking it might be a client calling for a consultation, she answered.

"Hello, may I help you?"

There was no sound on the other end.

Talia called out a couple more times.

It remained quiet.

"If you don’t speak, I’ll hang up."

"It’s me." Ethan Grant’s voice sounded. "Talia Rhodes, take my WeChat and phone number out of the blacklist."

Talia frowned.

"No."

Ethan Grant’s tone was a bit awkward, "Let’s not fight, okay? I’ve missed you these past few days. It was my fault that day, I shouldn’t have said those things to upset you."

"It’s okay, anyway, we’ve broken up, it doesn’t matter anymore." Talia’s tone was indifferent.

"Break up?" Ethan Grant’s voice turned cold, "I didn’t agree to break up."

"Breaking up isn’t like getting a divorce, I don’t need your consent." Talia’s attitude was cold and firm. "Ethan Grant, don’t contact me again."

With that, she hung up and blocked the number too.

Talia began to think about work.

She wanted to build her career.

Although she could open her own law firm, she didn’t have much reputation in the industry at the moment, so it would be hard to establish a name for her firm.

Talia wanted to work at a well-known firm first, to gain experience and build her reputation.

Once she had a certain level of recognition, it wouldn’t be too late to start her own firm.

When she shared this idea with Adrian Jennings, he was very supportive.

"Our Talia is so outstanding, you can definitely make a name for yourself in Oakhaven. Why not try Senco first? It’s currently the best law firm in Oakhaven."

After some thought, Talia said, "Okay, I’ll apply."

...

Meanwhile, Ethan Grant listened to the busy tone on his phone, feeling empty inside.

How could Talia be so heartless, breaking up just like that without a hint of reluctance?

He lay on the bed Talia had slept on and took a deep breath in the comforter.

It still held her scent.

He buried his face in it, thinking of Talia’s face, and exhaled a breath, "Talia, I miss you."

He missed her so, so much.

At that moment, Vivian Coleman pushed the door open, "Ethan, dinner’s ready."

Ethan Grant pulled Vivian Coleman over and pinned her beneath him.

Sparks flew, passion ignited.

At the peak of their passion, Ethan Grant incoherently called out, "Talia, my Talia, I miss you so much..."

The woman beneath him, Vivian Coleman, suddenly froze.

Her face turned pale.

...

The next day, Yvonne Coleman organized a gathering to celebrate Talia’s return to Oakhaven.

In the bar, the three girls sat in a booth drinking and chatting.

"I don’t think that Selina Hughes is easy to deal with." Yvonne Coleman downed a glass and turned to Talia, "The way she treated you yesterday was really infuriating."

Winter Donovan chimed in from the side, "I agree, your little cousin doesn’t seem easy to get along with."

Yvonne Coleman said disdainfully, "Ha, what kind of cousin is she? The daughter of The Jennings Family’s housemaid, at best she’s an adopted girl, at worst she’s just an orphan living off others. Does she really think she’s the lady of The Jennings Family?"

Talia knew The Jennings Family had an adopted girl, but she didn’t know she was the housemaid’s daughter.

She asked in surprise, "Why did The Jennings Family adopt the housemaid’s daughter?"

Winter Donovan said, "According to my brother, it seems like back in the day, Mrs. Jennings was robbed, and the housemaid took a knife for her, saving her life. Before she died, Mrs. Jennings promised to fulfill one request."

Here, Winter Donovan paused for a moment, looking at Talia with a curious gaze.

Talia blinked at her, "Why did you stop?"

Winter Donovan continued, "Do you know what the maid asked Mrs. Jennings to promise her on her deathbed?"