Chapter 1207 - 1147: Old Madam Johnson Passes Away

"I wish to enjoy the loneliness of this world." Sabrina Conner looked up at a 45-degree angle and spoke in the tone of a melancholic young man.

"Speak plainly."

"Women are truly the most terrifying beings in the world. I think I won’t get married; I’ll just live alone." Sabrina said.

"I can’t be bothered with you! You’ll leave tomorrow! I’ve deducted two-thirds of this task’s salary and transferred it to Curly’s card. You now have only 1.5 thousand dollars, spend it sparingly, or it won’t even cover the airfare."

"Alyssa, I feel so miserable..."

Brandon Potter said coldly, "Go to Goldland and see the refugees there, and you’ll realize how fortunate you are. Sabrina, stop talking nonsense and get to work. When you return, I have more tasks for you."

Sabrina: ...

...

On Friday, there was a sudden drop in temperature, and it was especially cold. Sienna Johnson woke up freezing in the middle of the night and found that Adrian Desmond was not beside her.

"Adrian?"

Adrian wasn’t in the room. Sienna Johnson wrapped herself in a thick coat, put on cotton slippers, got out of bed, and searched everywhere but couldn’t find Adrian.

"Where did you go at this hour?"

Hurried footsteps came from outside. Sienna Johnson thought Adrian had returned and opened the door, only to find Kathryn raising her hand to knock just as the door opened.

"Kathryn?"

"Madam, Old Madam, she..." Kathryn choked with emotion, unable to finish her words before bursting into tears.

"What’s happened to my grandmother?"

"Old Madam has passed away... sob..."

"What?"

Old Madam’s health had been worsening since the start of this winter, frequently falling ill every few days. After Adrian woke up, Sienna Johnson’s greatest concern was her grandmother’s health.

Unexpectedly, Old Madam couldn’t make it through this winter.

Sienna Johnson walked briskly out towards her grandmother’s courtyard.

Outside, it was bone-chillingly cold. The cold moon hung in the deep blue sky, surrounded by quiet except for the whistling north wind.

Sienna Johnson arrived at her grandmother’s courtyard where her mother and Samara were already gathered. Just before entering the room, she heard the sound of crying.

"Grandma, wake up..."

"Grandma!" Sienna Johnson looked at the lifeless Old Madam lying on the bed, and tears instantly streamed down her face.

Old Madam Johnson had endured much hardship, losing husbands in middle age and children in her older years... She struggled through life for most of her years.

Pauline Briggs saw her daughter arrive and cried, "Sienna, your grandmother is gone..."

Overcome with grief, Sienna Johnson sat beside the Old Madam, holding her hand. Having just come in from outside, her hands were cold, but her grandmother’s were even colder.

She looked at her grandmother’s peaceful face, as if she were merely asleep. She couldn’t believe her grandmother had just left like that.

"Grandma... how could you just leave like this?" Sienna Johnson, who rarely shed tears in front of others, now cried like a torrent, just like Pauline Briggs.

...

Adrian Desmond had gone out for a while and returned to find the room cold and empty, with Sienna Johnson not there.

He touched the bed; it was cold too, indicating she had been out for quite some time. Just as Adrian was about to go out to look, he saw Sienna Johnson return, crying.

Adrian was quite frightened by Sienna Johnson’s cries, as she rarely cried otherwise.

"Sienna, what’s wrong? Why are you crying? Did someone bully you?"

Sienna Johnson looked at Adrian with tear-filled eyes, saying, "Adrian, my grandmother passed away."

"Huh?"

"I thought she’d make it through the winter, but who would have thought... sob..." Sienna Johnson said sorrowfully.

"Don’t be sad. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are all normal, especially considering how old your grandmother was."

Sienna Johnson knew this truth, but understanding was one thing—accepting it was another.

Sienna Johnson couldn’t accept her grandmother’s death.

"Adrian, I’m feeling really down..."

"I understand."

Adrian held her close, gently comforting her, sharing in her sorrow.

...

Old Madam Johnson had passed away. Many came to pay their respects, while Adrian still needed to continue "feigning sleep," leaving many responsibilities on Sienna Johnson’s shoulders.

Since Old Madam’s health had been deteriorating for a while, the funeral attire and coffin had long been prepared, so the funeral arrangements were not hurried.

Old Madam’s mourning hall,

"Madam, please have some chicken soup; you didn’t eat much this morning." Sally brought a bowl of chicken soup to Sienna Johnson’s side.

Sienna Johnson, wearing mourning clothes, knelt on the prayer mat, her expression full of sorrow.

She had no appetite, shaking her head. Sally whispered in her ear, "Sixth Master said if you don’t finish this bowl of chicken soup, he’ll come out himself to feed it to you."

"Adrian, he..."

Sienna Johnson obediently began to drink the soup, knowing that if Adrian decided to show up now, the whole world would learn he’s woken up.

Adrian was forced by circumstances to continue "sleeping."

The chicken soup wasn’t greasy; not a trace of oil was on top. With shiitake mushrooms added for flavor, it didn’t taste bad.

"All done." Sienna Johnson handed the bowl back to Sally.

Sally took the bowl out to the kitchen, where Marvin Rafael was. She paused for a moment when she saw him.

Rose Collins was preparing lunch in the kitchen while Marvin Rafael was sitting on the edge of the stove, eating noodles.

Sally once confessed her feelings to Marvin Rafael but was rejected by him. Unlike Melly, who’s persistent and won’t let go after being turned down by Reggie Dewey, Sally was different. After being rejected once by Marvin Rafael, she wouldn’t bring it up again.

"Sally, did Sienna drink it?"

"She did, Madam said it tasted good." Sally washed the bowl as she replied.

Rose Collins knew Sally fancied her son and liked Sally too. Although she wasn’t very talkative and average looking, she was quite attractive, certainly prettier than Ashley Hopper whom Marvin Rafael strangely took a liking to while claiming he didn’t like Sally.

"I just cooked some noodles; have some yourself. It’s freezing, and it’ll warm you up." Rose Collins offered a bowl of noodles to Sally.

Sally glanced at Marvin Rafael and nodded. Rose Collins handed her a bowl.

Sally sat on a small stool beside Marvin Rafael, eating.

Rose Collins said, "I’ll take a look outside to see how the meat is marinating. Sally, keep an eye on the soup for me, will you?"

"Sure."

Rose Collins glanced at her son, flashed a couple of signals, but Marvin didn’t pick up on them.

The two of them quietly ate noodles without speaking.

Marvin Rafael quickly finished his bowl and washed it before heading out.

Sally called out to him, "How have you been lately?"

"I’ve been alright."

"That’s good."

For a conversation to happen, both parties need to want to talk. One person alone can’t keep it going.

So the conversation stalled again between them.

Marvin Rafael put down the bowl and left.