Chapter 309

“I’ve changed a bit from four years ago, but as the saying goes, ‘You can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy.’ My essence remains the same,” Sienna said, leaning back in her seat, a faint smile playing on her lips. “You used to dislike me so much; you wouldn’t like me much more now.”

This had been evident in their recent interactions. He held some affection for her, but it wasn't enough for her to forget the past, let alone build a future. Josiah’s insides churned, but his lips curled into a mocking smile. “Whether I like you or not, you should know better than I do, right?”

“Hmm,” Sienna raised an eyebrow. “Never heard of the onlookers seeing most of the game?” She stared intently at his handsome face, speaking seriously. “I’m just your second choice. Four years ago, I was foolish and paid a heavy price. Four years later, why would I repeat the same mistake? Just because you find me more tolerable?”

The man’s eyes darkened. Sienna took a deep breath. “I’m grateful that you’ve accepted Joyce and are responsible for her. You’re not entirely without redeeming qualities. But we don’t need to force ourselves together for Joyce’s sake. We can just love her from our own sides.” She closed her eyes and leaned back, ending the conversation.

Faced with her resistance, Josiah wanted to speak but stopped, managing only a bitter twist of his lips and a heavy silence. The car stopped before her apartment building.

“Thanks,” Sienna turned to open the car door, only to find it locked. “Josiah, open the door, please.”

Josiah remained motionless, retrieving a piece of gum, popping it in his mouth, and even offering some to Sienna with a wave. “Want some?”

Sienna was startled. “I need to get out of the car!” Seeing his continued inaction, she anxiously lunged forward, attempting to unlock the door. Josiah seized the opportunity, pulling her into a tight embrace. Sienna looked up in shock. “Sienna,” he called out, murmuring her name affectionately. “We’ve been together for so long. Don’t you have any feelings for me at all? You used to like me a jot.”

Sienna frowned, struggling to break free, but despite his seemingly gentle hold, she couldn’t budge. “Like you? You already know that. If it weren’t for Joyce, would I be with someone who abandoned me for four years!” Struck by her words, Josiah froze, his expression blank. Sienna pushed him away and turned to leave the car.

“Sienna,” Josiah said, then leaned in, hugging her from behind, his arm outstretched before her. He complained in a low voice, “What am I supposed to do? I didn’t like you before! I treated you badly. But I can’t go back to the past. Tell me, what should I do?”

Josiah thought, How could I have anticipated this day back then?

Sienna’s back stiffened. Staring blankly out the window, her voice was cold. “Then look forward.” She closed her eyes, a memory of boarding a plane to Fliraty four years ago flashing through her mind. “You are already a thing of the past to me. What we had ended four years ago.”

After leaving Sunshine Neighborhood, it was still early. Josiah, not wanting to return to the desolate Silver Beach, went to Mouse House instead. To his surprise, he found only Thomas, not Yosef.

“What’s keeping Yosef so busy?” Josiah asked casually.

Thomas shook his head. “Not sure. He mentioned some family matters.”

Josiah was taken aback. “What kind of matters? Does he need help?”

“He didn’t say. He’ll ask if he needs to.” Thomas nodded. “Let’s play a game.”

“Sure,” Josiah replied.

Yosef’s family did have matters at hand, but it wasn’t the Compton family; it was Xenia’s. Upon Yosef’s arrival, Xenia anxiously grabbed his hand. “Yosef, you have to help Cedric!”

“Don’t worry, Auntie,” Yosef nodded. “I’ll do my best.” He asked, “Where’s Cedric?”

In the upstairs study, Xenia frowned, leading Yosef upstairs. “I don’t know why he’s so stubborn about going abroad.”

They reached the study and knocked. Xenia said, “Cedric, it’s Mom and your cousin.”

“Come in,” Cedric’s voice replied.

Xenia pushed open the door to reveal a chaotic study, books piled everywhere. “What’s going on!” Xenia frowned. “Your cousin is here, and there’s no place to even put a foot down!”

“It’s fine,” Yosef replied.

Cedric smiled at Yosef. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were coming. I’m packing up these books. They’ll just gather dust if I leave them here.”

Xenia became anxious. “Why are you so stubborn!” She hugged Cedric. “Mom knows that the blind date with Reyna made you uncomfortable, but that was the Fischer family’s fault. They’re the ones who lost face. You don’t have to leave your hometown because of them.”

Cedric calmly waited for her to finish, then smiled gently. “Do you think that’s the reason?”

Xenia was taken aback. “Then what else could it be?”

Cedric lightly furrowed his brows, his tone heavy. “I’m an adult. I want to decide my own life. I don’t want every move I make to be under your surveillance and control.”

Xenia was shocked. My son is leaving because of me? “What are you talking about?”

Xenia, unaware of her own failings, laughed coldly. “I’m your mom. Everything I do, isn’t it all for your own good?”

Cedric glanced at Yosef. “See! Now you understand why I want to leave, right?”

Xenia became agitated, shouting, “In front of Yosef, what are you saying! I do everything for your own good, and I’m wrong?”

Cedric snorted lightly. “For my own good? Doing good for me means scheming to separate me from the person I love and then forcing on me someone you like?”

“You!” Xenia was speechless with anger, her face turning blue. “So in the end, it’s still because of Sienna? That thing I did, even though I shouldn’t have, so what? Are you going to judge me?”

“I dare not,” Cedric said coldly. “Do as you please.”

“You…” Xenia began.

Yosef hurriedly pulled Xenia aside. “Didn’t you ask me to persuade Cedric? Let me talk to him.”

“Yosef…” Xenia’s face alternated between blue and white as she patted Yosef’s hand. “Auntie leaves it to you.”

Xenia glared at her son and sighed as she left the study. The moment the door closed, Cedric looked at Yosef and smiled faintly. “Yosef, you don’t need to persuade me. My mind is made up.”

Yosef looked at his cousin and shook his head helplessly. “What if I told you Sienna and Josiah broke up?”