CHAPTER 85: CHAPTER 085 FADED EMOTIONS

Kiki didn’t overthink it and simply replied, "Wherever Mai goes, I’ll follow."

Sienna was fond of Kiki. Hearing that she was willing to follow her, she said excitedly, "Okay, when I go, I’ll take you with me."

"Okay."

Kiki had just finished preparing a plate of sliced potatoes. Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. She looked up at Sienna and asked in a hushed tone, "Are you planning to...run away again?" She lowered her voice so much when she said "run away," afraid others might hear.

"Yes." Sienna was busy making the spice blend – the crucial part of a flavorful hotpot.

"But...what if the Sixth Master finds out... You know how temperamental he is. Mai, can’t you just stay?"

"No!"

"Kiki, I like you a lot and hope you’ll come with me, but I won’t force you. If you think it’s better to stay, then stay. Remember, you don’t have to help me, but you absolutely cannot stand in my way. Otherwise, we can no longer be friends." Sienna’s tone was stern.

"If you’re not here, why should I stay? If you must leave, then I’ll leave with you." Kiki had never considered staying behind by herself.

"..."

Kiki sighed. Seeing that Sienna had made up her mind and was unswayable, she didn’t try to argue anymore.

"It’s settled then. Once my baby is born, you’ll be the Godmother. With you as Godmother, my baby will definitely grow up healthy and chubby."

"Really?"

"Of course, it’s true."

Kiki thought for a moment and said bashfully, "I’ve never been a Godmother before. What if I’m not good at it?"

"I’ve never been a mother before, either."

"..."

"Here, have a cherry." Sienna rinsed a plate of cherries and popped one into Kiki’s mouth. "Is it good?"

"It’s delicious!" Kiki grinned, delighted. Sienna pinched Kiki’s cheek, a playful sparkle in her eyes. "You’re so pretty. If I take you back home, the line of suitors at our doorstep will be endless!"

"Nonsense," Kiki said, dodging Sienna’s teasing hand and dutifully returning to her chores.

The cherries were plump, bright red, and exquisitely translucent, enough to make anyone’s mouth water just looking at them.

Lately, Sienna wanted to eat everything she saw. She picked up a triple-dimpled cherry, popped it into her mouth, and bit down. With a push of her tongue, she spat out the pits. The sweet, slightly tart flavor and rich fruity aroma filled her mouth. Adrian walked in just in time to see this.

"Why the sudden craving for hotpot today?"

"Don’t you know a pregnant woman’s tastes are fickle?" Sienna replied, unwilling to look at Adrian. She turned her back and continued to prepare the hotpot ingredients.

Adrian washed his hands and took the kitchen knife from Kiki. "You can go. I’ll do it."

Kiki hesitated. "But..." Men in Abyanabad never set foot in the kitchen. What was the Sixth Master planning?

"Get out!" Adrian ordered, seeing Kiki just standing there.

Kiki glanced at the nonchalant Sienna, lowered her head, and left the kitchen.

The Desmond Family’s kitchen was also very large, big enough for several people to cook at once. With only Sienna and Adrian there, it seemed even more spacious.

Adrian rolled up the sleeves of his black shirt and, with swift, precise movements, expertly sliced the cucumbers. When he finished, he looked at Sienna, expecting praise. "How about it? I did pretty well, right?"

Sienna picked up a thin slice of cucumber he had cut and placed it on her face. Then, she took a whole, washed cucumber, dipped it in sauce, and took a bite. CRUNCH. "Sixth Master," Sienna said, "this is how you eat cucumber."

"Huh?"

"Don’t tell me all you can do is chop vegetables?"

"Yes, I can only chop vegetables. I don’t know how to cook them... But don’t you think I’m amazing? I chop vegetables so well."

"’Hmm, amazing,’ Sienna replied perfunctorily, then began to use Adrian as free labor, ordering him to do this and that until even the servants couldn’t bear to watch.

Looking at the cucumber slice on her face, Adrian asked, "Can you put things like that on your face?"

"Of course. For beauty and nourishment."

"Your face is already beautiful enough; you don’t need it."

"Who would complain about becoming even more beautiful?"

Hearing this, Adrian began to apply the cucumber slices he’d cut to her face as well. Her face was small, and soon it was covered. Frowning, he said, "How is this beautiful? It’s hideous!"

"Then don’t look."

Adrian suddenly pulled her into an embrace, his hand forcefully kneading her breast. "It’s been three months..." he insinuated.

"My stomach doesn’t feel well today..."

"I’ll be gentle, Mai. I miss you so much..." As he spoke, he leaned in to kiss her, but Sienna had no interest in doing *that* with him. "Adrian, I don’t want to."

"Are you still angry with me?"

"No."

Sienna called in the servants, who took out all the prepared ingredients. Only then did Adrian reluctantly let her go.

"I won’t let you off tonight," he said, his tone determined and resolute.

At the dining table, only Sienna and Adrian were present; no one else was permitted to join them. Sienna wanted to invite Kiki over to eat, but seeing Kiki shrink back, not even daring to look at Adrian, Sienna didn’t press the issue.

"The hotpot has a unique flavor," Adrian praised after a few bites.

"Hotpot is more fun with more people."

Adrian looked at Sienna, who sat to his left, picking at her food. "I’m so glad you can eat now. Eat more, fatten up our son."

Seeing her enjoy the meal, he fished out pieces of meat from the pot for her. Sienna had a good appetite and ate quite a lot, which made Adrian increasingly happy. "If you like hotpot, I’ll have Affen make it for you again tomorrow."

"I won’t want it tomorrow."

"If you don’t want it, then we won’t have it," he said affectionately, wiping the sauce from the corner of her mouth with a napkin, his eyes filled with a gentle light. Sienna glanced at him sideways, not fooled by his tender expression. What a hypocrite, she thought.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"

Sienna had eaten a lot of meat, so Kiki brought her a bowl of yogurt to aid her digestion. Sienna had just scooped up a spoonful and was about to eat it when Adrian snatched it and gulped it down. "Hmm, tastes good. Kiki’s cooking is getting better and better."

Sienna looked at him with disgust. "If you want some, I’ll have Kiki bring you a bowl."

"I want yours."

Sienna simply stopped eating and pushed the bowl of yogurt, of which she’d only had a few bites, toward him. "I’m full. You can have it."

Adrian took her hand, guiding her to sit back down in her chair. "You may be full, but I’ve barely eaten. Keep me company while I finish."