Chapter 266: Slapping the Face of Miles Everett and Ophelia Warren

On the way to the auction house.

Keith Sterling was in the driver’s seat, glancing over at Sienna Everett in the passenger seat. He asked curiously, “Sierra, this skill you have with appraising and restoring artifacts—did you learn it all from your grandfather?”

Sienna Everett propped her elbow on the car window, resting her forehead against her hand. “Yeah.”

The light ahead turned red, and Keith Sterling stopped the car. “I asked my brother before. Your grandfather’s last name is Tate, right?”

At the mention of her grandfather, Sienna Everett couldn’t help but feel a wave of nostalgia for the days she spent living with her grandparents. She gave a sad nod.

Keith Sterling sighed wistfully. “I really envy the love your grandfather and grandmother had.”

When his brother had told him Sienna Everett’s grandfather was Victor Tate, Keith Sterling had been so shocked his eyes had gone wide as saucers.

Victor Tate was no ordinary man. He had mastered the guqin and traditional Chinese painting, reaching the pinnacle of both arts. Not only that, but he was also a famous master Restorer and was deeply in love with Sienna Everett’s grandmother.

Sienna Everett’s grandmother had loved to dance. She was a world-renowned dancer who chose not to have children to maintain her figure. Victor Tate supported his wife’s decision unconditionally, and the two of them never had children of their own.

After Sienna Everett’s grandmother passed away, Mr. Tate was overcome with grief. His sorrow turned into an illness, and it wasn’t long before he passed away too, following his wife.

A love like that, supporting each other and walking hand in hand through life, was the kind of thing anyone would envy.

Keith Sterling sighed a few more times before a question suddenly occurred to him. “Sierra, your grandfather’s last name was Tate, and your grandmother was the famous dancer Helen Norris, last name Norris. So why is your last name Everett? It’s different from both of your grandparents.”

Sienna Everett tugged at her seatbelt. “I was adopted from an orphanage. I’ve had a small gold lock with me since I was a child, engraved with my birth date. It also had the character for ‘Everett’ on it, so that’s the surname they presumed for me.”

“Oh, so that’s how it is.” The light turned green, and Keith Sterling started the car again.

‘So she really has the same surname as the Everett Family,’ he thought. ‘But Sierra has already cut all ties with them. Even if they share a name, she has nothing to do with the Everetts anymore.’

…

「At The Argent Auction House」

An auction had just ended.

Miles Everett and Ophelia Warren were sitting in the audience. Nothing had caught their interest, so they hadn’t bid on anything.

Ophelia Warren raised a hand to touch the swelling on her lip, hissing in pain. When she saw the bruises on her arm, a cold, dark look flashed in her eyes.

When she looked at Miles Everett beside her, her expression returned to its usual gentleness. “Mr. Everett, you still really want that painting, *Rivers and Mountains Like a Painting*, by Whisperwind?”

Miles Everett nodded stubbornly. “I do.”

Ophelia Warren said, “Sienna is Whisperwind. It seems you really like Sienna’s painting, Mr. Everett.”

A look of admiration appeared in Miles Everett’s eyes. “I don’t know why, but when I see *Rivers and Mountains Like a Painting*, it reminds me of the late Mr. Tate. I greatly admire him.”

“Victor Tate?” Ophelia Warren looked surprised for a moment. That Mr. Tate was a man of immense talent—not just a master of traditional painting, but also a top-tier master Restorer.

It was only natural for a Restorer like Miles Everett to admire Victor Tate.

“It’s just a pity that *Rivers and Mountains Like a Painting* was painted by Sienna, and she’s unwilling to sell it to you.”

Ophelia Warren’s lips curved into a smile, but the movement pulled at the cut on her mouth, making her hiss in pain. She paused for two seconds before continuing, “Sienna is too emotional. Just because she dislikes the Everett Family, she shouldn’t involve you.”

Miles Everett sighed, his heart filled with regret.

‘When it comes to *Rivers and Mountains Like a Painting*, Sienna Everett is being truly unreasonable.’

‘Even if she painted it, I genuinely love this piece. Can’t she just give in and sell it to me?’

And then there was Winchester, whom he’d been wanting to meet but couldn’t. Thinking of this, Miles Everett’s mood grew even heavier.

…

Sienna Everett and Keith Sterling arrived at The Argent Auction House. They had only taken a few steps inside when they ran into Miles Everett and Ophelia Warren in the hallway.

Seeing Ophelia Warren’s swollen lip and the bruises on her arm, Keith Sterling let out a derisive laugh. He spoke in a deliberately taunting tone, “Well, well, if it isn’t the gentle and kind little fairy, Ophelia Warren. Haven’t seen you in a few days. How did you end up all black and blue?”

‘Hmph. Serves her right for trying to hurt Sierra.’

‘She’s reaping what she sowed!’

Hearing Keith Sterling’s sneer, before Ophelia Warren could even speak, Miles Everett jumped to her defense, his brows furrowed tightly. “Sierra, there must be some misunderstanding about the recording from a few days ago. Ophelia wouldn’t hire someone to hurt you behind your back.”

Sienna Everett shot him a cold glance. “Are we close?”

‘Sierra, Sierra… Hearing him call me that makes me sick.’

Miles Everett’s frown deepened. ‘Why is Sienna Everett so prickly now? Can’t she just be as obedient and docile as she used to be back at the Everett Family home?’

Ophelia Warren raised a hand to hide her swollen lip and turned to Miles Everett, her tone gentle. “Mr. Everett, I’d like to explain things to Sienna alone. Could you please give us a moment?”

Miles Everett looked worried. ‘Sienna Everett is so prickly right now, and Ophelia is so gentle and never loses her temper. It would be too easy for Sienna Everett to bully her.’

Uneasily, Miles Everett warned Sienna Everett, “Sierra, I hope you can talk calmly with Ophelia. Don’t bully her again.”

Sienna Everett’s gaze turned icy.

Keith Sterling couldn’t hold back any longer. “Miles Everett, what the fuck are you talking about? How rare! Even dogs are learning to talk like humans these days!”

Miles Everett looked utterly bewildered. Keith Sterling was calling him a dog!

“Mr. Everett,” Ophelia Warren spoke up then, her voice soft. “Thank you for defending me, but don’t worry. I’ll have a proper talk with Sienna.”

Miles Everett glanced at Ophelia Warren, then at Sienna Everett, before temporarily stepping away.

Ophelia Warren looked at Keith Sterling and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her voice sickly sweet. “Mr. Sterling, could I trouble you to step aside as well?”

Keith Sterling was so disgusted he nearly threw up. He sneered, his expression dripping with contempt and disdain. “Ophelia Warren, what gives you the right to trouble me?”

‘There’s no way I’m leaving.’

‘Of course I have to stay here and protect my Sierra!’

Sienna Everett knew exactly what Keith Sterling was thinking. She couldn’t help but smile, then leaned in and whispered something in his ear.

Keith Sterling’s eyes lit up, and he grew excited. “Okay, I get it!”

After shooting Ophelia Warren one last vicious glare, he turned and left.

Only Sienna Everett and Ophelia Warren were left in the hallway.

“Sienna, the thing with the recording really was a misunderstanding, I…”

“There’s no one else here. You can drop the act,” Sienna Everett cut in, her expression blank.

“‘Drop the act…'” Ophelia Warren repeated the three words softly, then let out a strange laugh.

Ophelia Warren lifted her arm, revealing the bruises on her skin. Her eyes, still looking at Sienna Everett with a gentle expression, belied the coldness in her words. “Did you have Ian Prescott come after me?”

Sienna Everett froze. ‘Ian Prescott?’

‘So it was Ian Prescott who taught Ophelia Warren a lesson?’

A few days ago, after Ophelia Warren’s recording was exposed online, Ian Prescott and Javier Prescott had both sent her messages to check on her.

She hadn’t expected them to actually get justice for her from Ophelia Warren.

Sienna Everett’s heart clenched, and a wave of indescribable emotion washed over her.

She and the Prescotts didn’t have the kind of deep bond forged over many years. They had even done a DNA test and confirmed they weren’t family. And yet, the two of them had silently stood up for her…

Ophelia Warren took a step forward, the twisted look in her eyes now impossible to hide. Her voice was so low only the two of them could hear. “Weren’t Ian Prescott and Javier Prescott enough for you? You had to get Julian Forrester to teach me a lesson, too, didn’t you?”

Sienna Everett: “…”

‘So besides Ian and Javier Prescott, there was also Julian Forrester.’

‘So Ophelia Warren got taught a lesson twice.’

“All these men are so good to you. It really makes one envious, you know.” Ophelia Warren was smiling as she said this, but it looked strangely dark and sinister.

“But what a pity,” Ophelia Warren’s tone shifted, her words like a knife trying to pierce Sienna Everett’s heart. “The Everett you care about most, Miles Everett, he doesn’t believe you. He only believes me.”

Sienna Everett watched her with a placid expression. After Ophelia finished speaking, the corner of her mouth lifted in a slight smile. “Aren’t you afraid I might have a voice recorder on me, recording everything you’re saying?”