She took a deep breath, stopped stirring her coffee, and looked directly at Sienna.
“Sienna, you have lived in the world of fame and fortune for decades, and in the end, you chose to stay with the quiet company of the ancient Buddha. I suppose, apart from your own persistence, the external disturbances were also the reason.”
She slightly curved her lips, her smile bitter, and her clear bright eyes looked like they could read Sienna’s mind.
Sienna’s heart tightened slightly, and she felt an urge to avoid her gaze.
“You see, people living here, although poor, lead simple and regular lives. The biggest events they encounter are getting married, having children, getting promoted, and getting a raise. Their whole life passes just like that,” Callie said, looking at the crowd outside with a sense of loss.
“But in our circle, the temptation is ever-present, and scheming never stops. Many things are beyond our control.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Maeve wanted to marry Nelson. You didn’t agree at first, did you?”
Sienna’s eyes flickered. “She could have had a better life.”
“But she insisted, and you had no choice,” Callie looked at her. “Nelson insists, and I have no choice either.”
“Just like you didn’t want Maeve to interfere with us back then, I don’t want to interfere with them now.”
Sienna frowned slightly. “If you didn’t want to, you wouldn’t have shown up on Maeve’s birthday.”
“Are you blaming me?” Callie was straightforward. Was she blaming her for hurting Charlotte’s feelings?
Sienna remained noncommittal.
“It’s different, Sienna.”
“That day, the gift you gave Maeve was a fake. What was your intention?” Sienna finally asked. She had pondered it for a long time but couldn’t figure it out.
Callie stiffened for a moment, then smiled. “Plagiarism is despised. Her paintings are just fakes.”
This explanation made sense, but Sienna didn’t believe it. “Is that really what you meant?”
The woman in front of her had a kind face and rarely got angry. Callie looked at her and couldn’t help but feel pain in her heart. “You can trust me because I grew up here. With Pepper following me, it will fulfill your purpose and give him a free life.”
Sienna frowned again. She hadn’t expected the now dignified Callie to have grown up in this rundown and backward place.
For some reason, when she thought of Callie living in such a place, the bitterness in her heart almost overflowed.
“Trust me,” she repeated.
Sienna then stood up. A car was parked outside. The bodyguard saw this and led Pepper out of the car.
Callie walked over. When Pepper saw her, his previously low spirits suddenly became lively. He barked excitedly at Callie, trying to break free from the leash to jump into her arms.
He leaped into her embrace, making her laugh joyfully as she petted his head. “Long time no see, Pepper.”
Pepper became even more excited, wriggling in her arms.
Sienna watched all this from the side. “Pepper has never been so affectionate with anyone else.”
Callie teased him. “Maybe we just hit it off. Perhaps I am his true owner.”
Her casual remark struck a chord with Sienna. She narrowed her eyes slightly. “I am entrusting him to you. You must report his condition to me regularly. If anything happens to him, you know the consequences.”
Callie’s movements slowed down. Her tone seemed to indicate significant dissatisfaction with Charlotte or at least a lack of belonging to her. Had she sensed something?