But the next second, Sienna Everett’s lips curved, her eyes crinkling into a smile. "I’ll move to the guest room!"
Julian Forrester: "..."
Sienna Everett bit her rosy lip. "I feel bad for hogging your room all this time."
Julian Forrester said nothing, staring at her intently for a long moment before his lips curled into a faint smile. "So, Sienna can feel embarrassed around me?"
Sienna Everett was stunned for a moment, then she glared at him fiercely. "What’s that supposed to mean!"
’He’s making me sound so shameless.’
The man lifted his left hand, the prominent bone of his wrist sharp and alluring. On it was a faint tooth mark. "Weren’t you pretty fierce when you bit me as a kid?"
Sienna Everett suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
Her fierce glare softened.
Julian Forrester raised an eyebrow slightly. "Just stay in the master bedroom."
Sienna Everett scratched her head. "But wouldn’t I be kicking you out of your own nest then?"
The man’s lips curved into a lazy smile, and a tantalizing chuckle escaped his throat. "For the sake of you calling me Julian when we were kids, I can’t mistreat you now, can I?"
Sienna Everett: "..."
’She did often call him Julian when they were little, but that was ages ago. Why is he still bringing it up?’
Sienna Everett’s gaze swept around the room. "There’s still a lot of your stuff in here. Do you want me to gather it up and move it to your room? It would be more convenient for you."
"No need. I’ll come get things myself when I need them."
"Huh? So you’ll be coming in here often? That sounds like a hassle."
"It’s no trouble," Julian Forrester said, his tone full of hidden meaning. ’How could he possibly find it a hassle?’
Julian Forrester looked down at her, his eyes dark and deep. "The finals for *Dancing National Style* are in a week?"
Sienna Everett nodded. "Yes. Why?"
Julian Forrester: "There’s an auction tomorrow night. Want to go have some fun?"
Sienna Everett thought for a moment. Taking one night off wouldn’t affect her preparations for the finals. Besides, she hadn’t been to an auction in a long time and was a bit tempted. She nodded immediately. "I want to go."
"Alright, I’ll take you tomorrow then." Julian Forrester picked up his documents, his voice low and magnetic. "Good night."
Sienna Everett blinked in surprise. "...Good night."
Julian Forrester turned and left, pulling the door closed behind him with impeccable manners.
Sienna Everett stood in place for a moment before falling backward, throwing herself onto the large, soft bed.
After being separated for so many years, Julian Forrester had felt like a stranger when she first saw him again. But after spending the past few days together, things were slowly starting to feel like they used to.
The next evening, Sienna Everett went to the auction with Julian Forrester.
Samuel Sutton drove.
Sienna Everett and Julian Forrester sat in the back.
They arrived at the auction house in less than half an hour.
Sienna Everett noticed staff at the entrance. To get into the auction, you had to present an invitation for inspection.
Sienna Everett stood beside Julian Forrester, waiting for him to produce an invitation. Instead, several of the auction house’s managers hurried over to greet them, respectfully escorting him to a private room on the second floor.
In the private room, staff had already prepared tea and refreshments.
Sienna Everett sat down in a chair.
From here, they had a clear view of the main hall on the first floor. It was obviously a prime location.
Julian Forrester picked up the teapot and poured her a cup of tea. His slender, fair fingers brushed against the cup to test the temperature. "Be careful," he murmured, "it’s a little hot."
Sienna Everett glanced at him. "I’m not a three-year-old."
His eyebrow lifted. "Then which four-year-old was it who burned her tongue drinking water and cried buckets of tears?"
Sienna Everett: "..."
Standing to the side, Samuel Sutton couldn’t help but lower his head and stifle a laugh.
The tips of Sienna Everett’s ears turned red. She shot Julian Forrester an embarrassed glare. "Stop making things up! I did not."
The man lowered his gaze and chuckled. "Alright, my mistake. Our Sienna has never cried from being burned. Not once."
Sienna Everett: "..."
’His denial just makes it more obvious!’
’Nice save. Now he’s never allowed to speak again!’
After sitting for a while, Sienna Everett got up to go to the restroom.
After coming out of the restroom, she took in the auction house’s decor. It was elegant and classic, a sophisticated beauty that was pleasing to the eye.
Paintings hung in the corridor, each one looking incredibly valuable.
Sienna Everett scanned them with interest, and a small smile touched her lips. She couldn’t help but smile when she noticed a forgery among them.
’Did the auction house staff fail to spot it?’
But it was none of her business, so she kept her observation to herself.
Just as Sienna Everett was admiring the paintings on the wall, someone called out to her from behind.
"Sister? Is that you?" Shannon Everett walked over, covering her mouth in feigned disbelief. "Sister, what are you doing here?"
Sienna Everett turned around coolly and saw Shannon Everett.
Shannon Everett’s eyes scanned Sienna Everett from head to toe, her gaze filled with astonishment. The people at this auction were all wealthy and influential; you needed an invitation to even get in.
The Everett Family had gone to great lengths just to get three invitations. She’d been so excited to come, so how could she not be shocked to run into Sienna Everett here?
"Dad, Wyatt, come quick! Sister is here too!" Shannon called to the men behind her, her tone deceptively innocent.
Behind Shannon Everett were Wyatt Everett and her father, Morgan Everett.
Morgan Everett had a well-maintained figure, but a few stark white hairs stood out on his head, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were pronounced.
Morgan Everett had been joking with Wyatt Everett, but the moment he saw Sienna Everett, his expression iced over. He strode toward her. "Sienna Everett, how did you sneak in here? Do you think this is a place you can just waltz into?!"
’Sneak in?’
Sienna Everett’s tone was distant and cold. "Where I am is none of your business."
"You... You insolent brat! Who do you think you are, talking to me like that!" Morgan Everett’s chest heaved with rage. He immediately raised his hand to slap her.
Sienna Everett’s eyes turned icy as she raised a hand to block his arm. "Chairman Everett, if you think you can still hit me like you used to, you’re mistaken."
’See? This was her biological father. He flew into a rage and even hit her without bothering to ask why, yet he doted on Shannon endlessly, practically worshipping the ground she walked on.’
Her block stunned Morgan Everett for a second, then his fury intensified. "You animal! How dare you dodge me!"
Before, Sienna Everett had seen Morgan Everett as her father. She had craved even the smallest scrap of paternal love from him, enduring his slaps without complaint.
But now, Sienna Everett had woken up.
’A man like this didn’t deserve to be her father!’
Morgan Everett glared at her, fury blazing in his eyes. "I’m out of the country for just a few days, and I come back to hear from Wyatt that you not only ran away from home but are also demanding to cut ties with the family! How can you be so thoughtless!"
A cold, mocking smile touched Sienna Everett’s lips. "Chairman Everett, since you already know I’ve cut ties with the Everett Family, you have even less right to hit me."
Morgan Everett never imagined that this daughter, who had always been so meek and submissive, had become so sharp-tongued.
Wyatt Everett fanned the flames from the side. "See, Dad? Now you know just how thoughtless this girl is. She doesn’t give a damn about us!"
Shannon pretended to mediate, "Wyatt, don’t say that about Sister..."
"That’s enough. Shannon, don’t plead for her," Morgan Everett interrupted gently, his voice soft as if he were afraid of startling Shannon. But when he turned back to Sienna Everett, his eyes were full of disgust and rage.
"Sienna Everett, you get out of this auction the same way you snuck in! Don’t wait to be discovered and bring shame upon the Everett Family!"
Sienna Everett stared at him, her face impassive, her eyes sharp and cold. "Chairman Everett, it would be much easier if *you* got out of my sight!"
"You... you wretched girl!" Enraged, Morgan Everett raised his hand to strike her again, but at that moment, he saw Samuel Sutton approaching.
Samuel Sutton was Julian Forrester’s special assistant, a man Morgan Everett certainly recognized.
The Everett Family had been desperately trying to curry favor with the powerful Forrester Family but had never found an opportunity. Seeing Samuel Sutton now, Morgan Everett’s expression instantly transformed into a fawning smile. "Special Assistant Sutton, what a coincidence to see you here."
However, Samuel Sutton didn’t even spare a glance for Morgan Everett’s sycophantic display.
Morgan Everett’s fawning expression froze on his face, leaving him in an awkward predicament. "Special Assistant Sutton, last time at the..."
Before Morgan Everett could finish, the words caught in his throat, completely stunned by the scene unfolding before him.
He could only watch as Samuel Sutton completely ignored him, walked right up to Sienna Everett, and bowed slightly, his posture respectful and discreet. "Miss Everett, I’ve come to escort you back to the private room."