They would have to start with Ava…
Sasha had thought about it before, but both the old master and Joseph said that they did the test in person. Nothing could have gone wrong unless someone in the family had betrayed them. No one could have tampered with the results either. Was there a spy in the family?
“I ‘m not here to doubt everyone. I’m here to greet Ava’s family members.”
Sasha turned around and smiled at Elena. She said, “Since Ava and Father had done the test, that must be it then.”
The little girl in front of her wanted to use her to bring down her sister. It seemed as if their sisterhood was somewhat fragile.
“Ava and I are a family. There shouldn’t be any doubts between family members, right?”
Elena smiled but did not respond to Sasha’s question.
She was not sure if they were a family yet. It was also not a question about her suspicions, but rather if she had ever doubted Ava.
“It’s late, Second Madam Garcia, and I’m tired. Why don’t you get some rest as well?”
Second Madam Garcia looked more amiable than Eldest Madam Garcia, but she was a cunning one. Elena did not want to be associated with such a person. Since she was not the Garcia family’s granddaughter, there was no need for her to have any relationship with any of them. Except for Old Master Garcia, Joseph was the other person in the Garcia family that she would trust.
“Well, rest early then. I shall take my leave now.”
Sasha smiled at her again before she turned toward the door. She did not expect to see a figure in the corridor when she turned into it. Sasha had an eerie feeling as they were the only ones in the spacious hallway.
“Auntie, it’s late. Why were you talking with Elena?”
Ava took the initiative to walk up to her. She had a meek smile on her face, and she was even more polite than before. No one was around them, but Sasha forced a smile on her face as she greeted Ava.
“Your sister is a guest here. Of course, I have to ask her if she needs anything else for the night.”
Sasha’s smile was the same as Ava’s—gentle and innocent.
“However, your sister seems to have a bad temper and is very impatient with me. I have no choice but to come back out.”
She approached Ava, but the younger lady suddenly took a step back and smiled at her.
“We are not related by blood. Furthermore, she has always been disobedient and playful since we were young. My adoptive parents and I have given up on her entirely.”
Sasha continued to approach Ava. The girl’s eyes darkened, but she still wore a smile on her face.
“What’s the matter, Auntie? Do you want to go to my room and talk as well?”
“It’s late…”
“Auntie, I heard that Eldest Cousin Brother had performed quite well in the company, much better than Second Cousin Brother.”
Ava stared at the footsteps that seemed to have moved closer toward her. The smile on her face had finally disappeared.
Her voice was cold. “I heard that Grandfather intended for Eldest Cousin Brother to be my right-hand man when he hands me the company in the future. His total shares will be second to mine.”
“What?” Sasha stunned as her smile had gone as well.
“Did your grandfather really say that?”
“Yeah. He said that yesterday, but he told me not to tell you.”
Ava stared at Sasha’s expression as her thin lips curled into a smile.
“However, I know that Eldest Cousin Brother is very capable. Would he be so powerful that he might look down on me in the future?”
“What do you mean?” Sasha finally realized that she knew very little about the girl in front of her!
“I don’t mean anything by it. I just think that if I have a choice, I would prefer Second Cousin Brother to help me in the company.”
Ava turned and walked toward her room.
“Auntie, do come to my room for a cup of tea. We haven’t had a good chat ever since I came here.”
Sasha was in a dilemma. If she were to go into Ava’s room, she would have to participate in her schemes. If she did not go with Ava…what other benefit could she reap?
Just as she was about to take a step, she caught a glimpse of someone from the corner of her eyes.
Sasha stopped dead and looked sideways at the long corridor. “Wait a minute.”
“Huh?” Ava stopped and spun around.
As she followed Sasha’s gaze, Ava spotted a figure at the other corridor’s other end.
“Elena?”
…
When Elena knocked on the door, Joseph had just come out of the shower. He only had a bathrobe on his body, and his short hair was still wet with water. Droplets of water fell from his hair’s tips, and that added a sense of impudence to the amicable Eldest Young Master Garcia.
Just like the Williams family from Beijing, the Garcia family had many good-looking members too. Elena was enthralled when she saw him.
“What’s wrong? Did the maids not attend to you?”
Joseph was a little surprised to see Elena at his door at such late hours. Eldest Young Master Williams, his grandfather, and his mother were still in the living hall. He had had to excuse himself because he was needed for a video conference. After that, he decided to take a shower before he headed to bed. It was already eleven at night.
Elena shook her head solemnly and said, “Eldest Young Master Garcia…”
“Grandfather said that you may address me as Eldest Cousin Brother, just like Ava does.” Joseph welcomed her into his room. Then, he closed the door, but he also made sure that he left a crack. He was a well-mannered gentleman, after all. He did that for her good name and reputation.
Something tugged at Elena’s heart when he said that. She knew she should not ponder on that issue anymore. She wished that he was her Eldest Cousin Brother, and Old Master Garcia was really her grandfather. Then, she would have a brother and a grandfather who loved her. Too bad, it was only wishful thinking.
“Eldest Cousin Brother,” she called out softly, just like how she had wished.
Joseph grinned and pulled a chair for her to sit down. He also poured her a glass of warm water before he took a seat across from her.
“What’s wrong? You don’t seem to be in a good mood. You even put down your chopsticks after only a few bites at dinner. Are you well?”
Elena did not expect that he would notice such tiny details about her.
“Grandfather told me to prepare some supper for you. He is afraid that you are not full. I forgot about it after the meeting.”
He picked up his phone and dialed a number. Before Elena could stop him, he had already given his orders. “Send some snacks to my room.”
“Eldest Cousin Brother, I am not hungry,” Elena immediately said.
Joseph disagreed with her. “You had so little dinner—two mouthfuls of green vegetables and one spoonful of soup. You also only had two small bites of rice and did not even touch the meat. Are you not hungry?”
“I…”
Elena thought about it and decided not to argue with him. The better Joseph and Grandfather Gu treated her, the more she felt as if she owed them an explanation.
“Eldest Cousin Brother.” Elena squeezed the cup in her hand as she met his concerned gaze.
She took a deep breath and said, “I…am Sang Qing’s daughter.”