''…..''
Those words did not lessen the smile on her Ayana's face. Rather, she simply remained seated in silence and observed the small pout on Arabella's lips. A familiar habit of her cousin who always attempted to look cute and somewhat coquettish.
Both in her past and in this life.
Whenever her cousin desired something from her, she always acted in this manner. It was a very familiar trick that had always worked on her because she didn't want her cousin to be devastated about her refusal.
Her little brother had never gotten the chance to demand something from her, yet she had foolishly indulged Arabella, both in her past life and in this life before her return.
Just thinking of her foolish acts made Ayana feel a bit humiliated at the moment.
''Your words are quite amusing, Arabella.'' Ayana replied with her unwavering smile. ''Jason is more important than anything to me in the world.'' At the mention of her little brother, her eyes softened with undeniable warmth. ''He is also the family I have left apart from mother and father. You are the last-born child from Uncle and Aunt, so you can't comprehend the protectiveness that an elder sibling should have towards their younger ones.''
In other words, Jason requires my attention and care, and he's far more important than anyone else. Who are you to speak as if you're my only family?
Arabella's pout faded and her face changed as she realized the deeper meaning behind her cousin's words.
Not only her, but Mark and Lucinda reacted slightly at her words.
Mark still remained calm and deep in his thoughts. His reaction was not as bad as Lucinda, who almost could not digest that her precious daughter was spoken to in such manner.
''Haha, I didn't expect our Ayana to be such a good elder sister to Jason.'' She forced a chuckle out from her lips. ''If I had given Bella a younger one, perhaps she could learn a thing or two.'' With that sentence, Lucinda cleared away the rising tension in the atmosphere.
If it weren't for her husband's good plan, she wouldn't be this accommodating towards a spoiled brat.
'Once you're in our custody, I'll teach you a lesson to respect your elders.' A ruthless glint flashed past her eyes.
She then displayed a warm smile, staring at Ayana with a soft gaze, like she was her own daughter.
''Ayana, truth to be told, we came to meet with you concerning some matters.'' She used the opportunity to divert the attention from her daughter and gradually leaned towards the real reasons for their arrival.
''One of them is about the housekeeper who visited your uncle about her sudden dismissal.'' She glanced at the quiet Madam May as a gesture of whom she was speaking about to Ayana.
''I understand that you must have vented your anger and grief on another. However, that should not be an excuse to dismiss someone who has been working for the family for a long time. Your parents had chosen Madam May to care for you and your brother—''
''So, Aunt is saying that I should let a murderer stay near Jason and I in this mansion, right?'' Ayana interrupted calmly. Her action might have been rude towards an elder, but she couldn't listen to those hypocritical words any longer.
This was the reason why she deeply disliked her uncle's wife, Lucinda Barley.
Apart from her elegant beauty, this woman has a reputation of being a loving wife and mother to her family. Her reputation also boosted her image as a very kind and generous woman with the heart of an angel.
However, Ayana knew that this woman was a poisonous viper in disguise.
''Ayana, it's best if we stay together as a family. You and your elder sister can also be very close to each other.''
''Ayana, Your Uncle can help with the management of the Kingston corporation. There is no need to learn business management when your uncle is there for you and your brother.''
''Ayana, why don't you enter the entertainment industry with your elder sister? You must show that woman you are not one to be messed with.''
Her Uncle might have come up with plans for her downfall and her brother's. However, his wife was the real schemer who pulled the strings for him at every chance.
She and her daughter were like two devils who whispered every word to her ears that she took as their care and affection. All of her actions were practically influenced by them in her past life.
Like a foolish puppet.
"W-What…" Ayana's words caught Lucinda off guard. The woman did not expect to be interrupted—especially not by a child.
''Ayana…'' She tried to talk once more, but Ayana wasn't having any of her words.
''Nanny has always talked about Jason's slow development, and it was very suspicious since I was much different at his age.''
''Aunt, the Madam May you're defending? She poisoned my mother when she was pregnant with Jason.'' Ayana revealed with her gaze on the stunned Lucinda.
She inwardly scoffed at the woman's act.
Why should Lucinda be surprised when her family was behind everything?
When Ayana sent Jason to boarding school and only received his corpse in her past life, it was said that her little brother had died from an overdose of drugs.
Once many had learned of this news, her dead brother was instantly labelled as good-for-nothing heir who became a drug addict at a very young age.
Then, Ayana stood over his lifeless body, devastated and confused. She had been very disappointed in her little brother, wondering how he could have gotten involved with drugs. She didn't think look deeply into the situation and only wept bitterly over his coffin at his funeral.
Even though they had been estranged as siblings, it didn't change that Jason was her only blood-related family in the world. And he just disappeared from the world without warning like a puff of smoke.
Her grief had not lasted long as her relatives and her lover, that man, had instantly cheered her up.
Now, the question was exactly how did Jason get involved with drugs in her past life?
Just like her, Jason was like a prince in a fairytale with unimaginable wealth, power, and connections at the tips of his fingers. He was also the heir to the Kingston corporation, and not just a mere young master.
Why would someone like him get involved with drugs?
Was it merely a curiosity? Was it from the influence of another? Ayana did not have a way of knowing since she had paid little attention to her little brother. She didn't even know if he had struggled with slow development in her past life.
Jason must have been a late bloomer, since he seemed perfectly fine before she had sent him away to boarding school.
"The family doctor ran a full body checkup on Jason," Ayana's voice grew colder, perhaps stirred by the bitter memories of her past life.
"The report revealed that his body contains traces of teratogen."