CHAPTER 162: CHAPTER 163: FORMALWEAR CONTROVERSY

Grandma thought for a moment, then replied, "You need a proper homecoming ceremony!" She added, "And the ceremony must be grand."

Grandma turned to Sienna Johnson and said, "If you’re going to celebrate your birthday, make it big!"

"Okay."

Sienna Johnson had always been low-key in the Johnson family; it was rare for her to be so high-profile. She indeed needs this birthday banquet to reintroduce herself to everyone, not just as the daughter of the Johnson family, but also as their heiress!

"Kathryn and Dillon will take care of the birthday banquet. You should spend some time with me getting to know some people." Grandma looked at Sienna, her gaze not entirely trusting or assured. After all, she was still just a girl.

"Grandma, I will do my best!" Sienna said seriously.

"Sienna, the burden of the Johnson family is heavy. You need to prepare yourself mentally," Grandma sighed.

"Grandma, I didn’t decide impulsively; I’ve thought it all through. When Father was alive, he spoke to me about inheriting the family business. I just didn’t expect him to pass away so suddenly. I thought he would be able to teach me more... Actually, I’m still somewhat apprehensive now..."

The Johnson family had no sons. Father Johnson had long intended to hand over the company to his elder daughter, but he hadn’t anticipated life’s unpredictability.

"Sienna, I will help you as much as I can, but you have to walk the rest of the path on your own... Sienna, from now on, you can only rely on yourself!"

"Grandma, I know."

Grandma gently patted her hand. Many words were left unspoken. Her granddaughter was intelligent; Sienna naturally understood her meaning.

「...」

Her 22nd birthday banquet.

This was Sienna Johnson’s first official appearance as the heiress of the Johnson family. Sienna was excited. Not only would all influential political and business figures in Sileria City be present, but many members of the media would be there too. Sienna felt apprehensive. For this debut, she could not allow herself to make any mistakes!

"Miss, this is the dress Madam asked me to give you." Iris Harris’s face was flushed, her excitement palpable, as she walked in holding a pink box containing the gown.

"Put it down."

Mother Johnson had proactively offered to have Sienna’s evening gown custom-made. Sienna didn’t want to escalate tensions with Mother Johnson, and since it wasn’t a major issue, she had let her handle the gown arrangements.

"Miss, look! The gown Madam prepared for you is so beautiful. When you wear it, Miss, you’ll look just like a princess!" Iris Harris said admiringly as she opened the gown’s box for Sienna Johnson, revealing the evening gown inside.

Sienna Johnson, with light makeup enhancing her beautiful, charming face, walked over and opened the gown box. The moment she saw the little dress inside, her smile froze solid.

A pink, princess-style cocktail dress—Sabrina Johnson’s favorite.

She, Sienna Johnson, disliked pink and detested this kind of princess-style dress.

"Miss, would you like to try it on? With your fair skin, you’ll look absolutely beautiful in it!" Iris Harris said excitedly from the side, her expression clearly showing she wished she could wear the dress herself.

Sienna Johnson’s expression darkened. She stared at the dress her mother had prepared and sneered. Mother Johnson is so childish. If I displease her, she absolutely has to retaliate.

No wonder she was so enthusiastic about preparing an evening gown for me; she clearly intended to cause me trouble. However, Mother Johnson thinks too highly of herself. I, Sienna Johnson, have always been able to take things in stride and let them go. I no longer consider Pauline Briggs my mother, so her actions can’t hurt me.

"Sienna, what’s wrong with the dress?" Kiki asked in confusion, seeing her staring blankly at the gown.

The dynamic between Sienna Johnson and Mother Johnson had always been one of condescension from her mother and deferential attempts to please from Sienna. Now, the one who had always been deferential and eager to please had decided she would no longer continue.

"Huh? Is this dress a mistake, Sienna? Don’t you wear a size M? This one is a size S," Kiki said, instantly spotting the size on the tag.

Sienna Johnson looked up and said to Iris Harris, "Madam Johnson got the dress wrong again. Take it directly to the Stewart family and give this gown to Mrs. Stewart."

Sabrina Johnson always wore a size S. Pink was her favorite color, and her room was filled with cutesy, princess-pink items. This was definitely not Sienna Johnson’s style; she detested pink. Since Madam Johnson is so considerate of her adopted daughter, I’ll indulge her!

"If you give the gown to her, what will you wear?" Kiki asked.

Sienna Johnson’s clothing style leaned towards a more mature, sophisticated look. She would never wear such a childishly styled dress; Kiki herself wouldn’t wear it either.

"We’ll just go buy one," Sienna replied.

Sienna Johnson took a moment to check her private account. Curly Baby’s dad is really generous! Kiki had even told her that the money from Adrian Desmond was just pocket money. Though she had only been with Adrian Desmond for a year, her account already held over 7.5 million in pocket money. This didn’t even include the jewelry, luxury clothes, and bags he had given her.

She had heard that Adrian Desmond had also gifted her a yacht worth over 1.5 million.

Of course, apart from the pocket money in her account, she hadn’t actually received any of those other gifts yet.

Although Sienna Johnson was reluctant to admit it, she felt she had truly hit the jackpot by being with him.

"Exactly! We’ll go buy one ourselves. This is just too much bullying. It’s bad enough the dress she sent doesn’t suit you, but to get the size wrong too!" Kiki said indignantly on Sienna’s behalf.

"Take it away. Send it over to Mrs. Stewart," Kiki said, stuffing the dress back into Iris Harris’s arms. Seeing Iris still standing there motionless, Kiki practically pushed and dragged her out the door.

Her cell phone rang. It was Noah Phillips’s number.

"Hello..."

"Baby..." His rich, deep voice, carrying the steadiness and charm of a mature man, made Sienna Johnson’s heart flutter. "Is something wrong?"

"Can’t I call you even if there’s nothing specific?" he asked.

"Of course, you can. But President Phillips is so busy; I’m truly flattered that you’d find time in your hectic schedule to call little old me." Sienna Johnson looked at herself in the mirror, a smile playing at the corners of her eyes and lips.

Sienna Johnson didn’t know what kind of business the Phillips family was in. She only knew that Noah Phillips was almost constantly traveling the globe. Whenever they spoke on the phone, he was either in Avrupa, Westoria, or Southeast Agaia.

Compared to the Phillips family, the Johnson family’s enterprise paled in significance. The Phillips family had already expanded beyond Agaia, while the Johnson family was still confined to Sileria City.

"I’m in Sileria City. However, I didn’t have time to get you a gift. What would you like?"

"Didn’t you say you were still in Kandara yesterday?"

"I rushed over to celebrate your birthday with you. Happy birthday, baby."

A warmth spread through Sienna Johnson’s heart. Even though her own mother didn’t like her, there were still many people who genuinely cared for her.

"Thank you."

"So, tell me, what gift do you want?"

"Brother, are you very rich now?"

Back when they were at the orphanage, they had been too poor. On her birthdays, Noah Phillips could only afford to buy her a single sugar-coated haw berry stick, which the two of them would share.

That sweet and sour taste... she remembered it clearly, even now.